bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Source Fingerprinting Techniques to Investigate Sediment Sources during Snowmelt and Rainfall Erosion Events in a Small Catchment in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China
Authors: Du Pengfei , Huang Donghao , Liu Bing , Qin Wei
Published: February 2023

Concern for the offsite impact of eroded sediment and the need to develop effective catchment sediment management strategies has directed attention to the need for an improved understanding of the primary sediment sources within catchments and the potential of sediment source fingerprinting techniques to provide such information. The study reported here was undertaken in the black soil region of Northeast China, where soil erosion is seen as a serious threat to the sustainable use of soil resources and offsite impacts of eroded soil are also concerned. The study applies source fingerprinting techniques to the evaluation of sediment sources in a small (3.46 km2) agricultural catchment. Sediment sources from five snowmelt and five rainfall events of varying magnitude were contrasted. Three key potential sediment sources were identified within the study catchment: gullies, cultivated topsoil and uncultivated topsoil. Geochemical properties of the source materials (Ti, Ga, Br and Ba) were used as composite fingerprints capable of discriminating between the three potential sources. A mixing model, optimized using a genetic algorithm and coupled with a Monte Carlo procedure to quantify the uncertainty associated with the resulting estimates, was used for source apportionment. The results indicated mean source contributions for the set of 10 events for cultivated topsoil, uncultivated topsoil and the gullies of ~30%, ~10% and ~60%, respectively. In general, snowmelt and rainfall events were characterized by increased contributions from gully sources and cultivated topsoil, respectively. The study is seen as demonstrating the potential for using source tracing techniques to investigate sediment sources in environments where strong seasonal contrasts between snowmelt and rainfall events exist.
Analysis of Microstructure and Properties in Cold Rotary Swaged Copper-Clad Magnesium Wires
Authors: Tian Wei , Zhang Fuwei , Han Shengli , Chen Xiaohong , Gao Pengfei , Zheng Kaihong
Published: February 2023

The copper-clad magnesium composite wire with a diameter of 3.12 mm and good interface bonding was prepared by cold rotary swaging. The effects of cold rotary swaging and annealing temperature on microstructure and properties of the wire were studied by electron backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, as well as mechanical and electrical properties tests. The results show that the multi-pass cold rotary swaging composite has a great effect on grain refinement, microstructure recovery and structural unit reorientation, and can also make the wire obtain good interfacial bonding quality, improve mechanical properties, and the tensile strength can reach 289 MPa. The width of the interface layer widened with the increase of temperature, and the increase improved significantly at annealing temperatures of 450 °C and 500 °C, and the intermetallic compounds Mg2Cu and MgCu2 were found in the longitudinal section of the wire, respectively. After a reasonable annealing process of 400 °C/1 h, the interface layer did not thicken significantly, and the ductility and conductivity of the wire were the best, and the elongation after fracture and conductivity could reach 17% and 81.1% IACS, which increased by 15.2% and 3.8% compared with before annealing, respectively.
Engineering Magnetic Anisotropy of Rhenium Atom in Nitrogenized Divacancy of Graphene
Authors: Liu Honglei , Ji Guangtian , Ge Pingji , Ge Guixian , Yang Xiaodong , Zhang Jinli
Published: February 2023

The effects of charging on the magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of rhenium atom in nitrogenized-divacancy graphene (Re@NDV) are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. High-stability and large MAE of 71.2 meV are found in Re@NDV. The more exciting finding is that the magnitude of MAE of a system can be tuned by charge injection. Moreover, the easy magnetization direction of a system may also be controlled by charge injection. The controllable MAE of a system is attributed to the critical variation in dz2 and dyz of Re under charge injection. Our results show that Re@NDV is very promising in high-performance magnetic storage and spintronics devices.
Doping of Transparent Electrode Based on Oriented Networks of Nickel in Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrene Sulfonate Matrix with P-Toluenesulfonic Acid
Authors: Nizameev Irek R. , Nizameeva Guliya R. , Kadirov Marsil K.
Published: February 2023

This work aimed to obtain an optically transparent electrode based on the oriented nanonetworks of nickel in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate matrix. Optically transparent electrodes are used in many modern devices. Therefore, the search for new inexpensive and environmentally friendly materials for them remains an urgent task. We have previously developed a material for optically transparent electrodes based on oriented platinum nanonetworks. This technique was upgraded to obtain a cheaper option from oriented nickel networks. The study was carried out to find the optimal electrical conductivity and optical transparency values of the developed coating, and the dependence of these values on the amount of nickel used was investigated. The figure of merit (FoM) was used as a criterion for the quality of the material in terms of finding the optimal characteristics. It was shown that doping PEDOT: PSS with p-toluenesulfonic acid in the design of an optically transparent electroconductive composite coating based on oriented nickel networks in a polymer matrix is expedient. It was found that the addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid to an aqueous dispersion of PEDOT: PSS with a concentration of 0.5% led to an eight-fold decrease in the surface resistance of the resulting coating.
Exploring Effects of Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes on Rheology and Flow Instability for Designing Printable Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Kotsilkova Rumiana , Tabakova Sonia
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, a strong demand exists for printable materials with multifunctionality and proper rheological properties to overcome the limitations to deposit layer-by-layer in additive extrusion. The present study discusses rheological properties related to the microstructure of hybrid poly (lactic) acid (PLA) nanocomposites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to produce multifunctional filament for 3D printing. The alignment and slip effects of 2D-nanoplatelets in the shear-thinning flow are compared with the strong reinforcement effects of entangled 1D-nanotubes, which govern the printability of nanocomposites at high filler contents. The mechanism of reinforcement is related to the network connectivity of nanofillers and interfacial interactions. The measured shear stress by a plate–plate rheometer of PLA, 1.5% and 9% GNP/PLA and MWCNT/PLA shows an instability for high shear rates, which is expressed as shear banding. A rheological complex model consisting of the Herschel–Bulkley model and banding stress is proposed for all considered materials. On this basis, the flow in the nozzle tube of a 3D printer is studied by a simple analytical model. The flow region is separated into three different regions in the tube, which match their boundaries. The present model gives an insight into the flow structure and better explains the reasons for printing enhancement. Experimental and modeling parameters are explored in designing printable hybrid polymer nanocomposites with added functionality.
Preparation of Functional Nanoparticles-Loaded Magnetic Carbon Nanohorn Nanocomposites towards Composite Treatment
Authors: Rahmania Fitriani Jati , Huang Yi-Shou , Workie Yitayal Admassu , Imae Toyoko , Kondo Anna , Miki Yukiko , Imai Ritsuko , Nagai Takashi , Nakagawa Hiroshi , Kawai Noriyasu , Tsutsumiuchi Kaname
Published: February 2023

Combination therapy for cancer is expected for the synergetic effect of different treatments, and the development of promising carrier materials is demanded for new therapeutics. In this study, nanocomposites including functional nanoparticles (NPs) such as samarium oxide NP for radiotherapy and gadolinium oxide NP as a magnetic resonance imaging agent were synthesized and chemically combined with iron oxide NP-embedded or carbon dot-coating iron oxide NP-embedded carbon nanohorn carriers, where iron oxide NP is a hyperthermia reagent and carbon dot exerts effects on photodynamic/photothermal treatments. These nanocomposites exerted potential for delivery of anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, gemcitabine, and camptothecin) even after being coated with poly(ethylene glycol). The co-delivery of these anticancer drugs played better drug-release efficacy than the independent drug delivery, and the thermal and photothermal procedures enlarged the drug release. Thus, the prepared nanocomposites can be expected as materials to develop advanced medication for combination treatment.
Antimicrobial Activity of Gelatin Nanofibers Enriched by Essential Oils against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Uhlířová Renata , Langová Denisa , Bendová Agáta , Gross Michal , Skoumalová Petra , Márová Ivana
Published: February 2023

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin condition that is caused by an imbalance in skin microbiomes mainly by the overgrowth of strains such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis which affect both teenagers and adults. Drug resistance, dosing, mood alteration, and other issues hinder traditional therapy. This study aimed to create a novel dissolvable nanofiber patch containing essential oils (EOs) from Lavandula angustifolia and Mentha piperita for acne vulgaris treatment. The EOs were characterized based on antioxidant activity and chemical composition using HPLC and GC/MS analysis. The antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. epidermidis was observed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The MICs were in the range of 5.7–9.4 μL/mL, and MBCs 9.4–25.0 μL/mL. The EOs were integrated into gelatin nanofibers by electrospinning and SEM images of the fibers were taken. Only the addition of 20% of pure essential oil led to minor diameter and morphology alteration. The agar diffusion tests were performed. Pure and diluted Eos in almond oil exhibited a strong antibacterial effect on C. acnes and S. epidermidis. After incorporation into nanofibers, we were able to focus the antimicrobial effect only on the spot of application with no effect on the surrounding microorganisms. Lastly, for cytotoxicity evaluation, and MTT assay was performed with promising results that samples in the tested range had a low impact on HaCaT cell line viability. In conclusion, our gelatin nanofibers containing EOs are suitable for further investigation as prospective antimicrobial patches for acne vulgaris local treatment.
Combination of Hairy Root and Whole-Plant Transformation Protocols to Achieve Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Soybean
Authors: Kong Qihui , Li Jie , Wang Shoudong , Feng Xianzhong , Shou Huixia
Published: February 2023

The new gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas system has been widely used for genome engineering in various organisms. Since the CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system has a certain possibility of low efficiency and the whole plant transformation of soybean is time-consuming and laborious, it is important to evaluate the editing efficiency of designed CRISPR constructs before the stable whole plant transformation process starts. Here, we provide a modified protocol for generating transgenic hairy soybean roots to assess the efficiency of guide RNA (gRNA) sequences of the CRISPR/Cas constructs within 14 days. The cost- and space-effective protocol was first tested in transgenic soybean harboring the GUS reporter gene for the efficiency of different gRNA sequences. Targeted DNA mutations were detected in 71.43–97.62% of the transgenic hairy roots analyzed as evident by GUS staining and DNA sequencing of the target region. Among the four designed gene-editing sites, the highest editing efficiency occurred at the 3′ terminal of the GUS gene. In addition to the reporter gene, the protocol was tested for the gene-editing of 26 soybean genes. Among the gRNAs selected for stable transformation, the editing efficiency of hairy root transformation and stable transformation ranged from 5% to 88.8% and 2.7% to 80%, respectively. The editing efficiencies of stable transformation were positively correlated with those of hairy root transformation with a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of 0.83. Our results demonstrated that soybean hairy root transformation could rapidly assess the efficiency of designed gRNA sequences on genome editing. This method can not only be directly applied to the functional study of root-specific genes, but more importantly, it can be applied to the pre-screening of gRNA in CRISPR/Cas gene editing.
Calcium Dynamics, WUSCHEL Expression and Callose Deposition during Somatic Embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana Immature Zygotic Embryos
Authors: Calabuig-Serna Antonio , Mir Ricardo , Seguí-Simarro Jose M.
Published: February 2023

In this work, we studied the induction of somatic embryogenesis in Arabidopsis using IZEs as explants. We characterized the process at the light and scanning electron microscope level and studied several specific aspects such as WUS expression, callose deposition, and principally Ca2+ dynamics during the first stages of the process of embryogenesis induction, by confocal FRET analysis with an Arabidopsis line expressing a cameleon calcium sensor. We also performed a pharmacological study with a series of chemicals know to alter calcium homeostasis (CaCl2, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, ionophore A23187, EGTA), the calcium–calmodulin interaction (chlorpromazine, W-7), and callose deposition (2-deoxy-D-glucose). We showed that, after determination of the cotiledonary protrusions as embryogenic regions, a finger-like appendix may emerge from the shoot apical region and somatic embryos are produced from the WUS-expressing cells of the appendix tip. Ca2+ levels increase and callose is deposited in the cells of the regions where somatic embryos will be formed, thereby constituting early markers of the embryogenic regions. We also found that Ca2+ homeostasis in this system is strictly maintained and cannot be altered to modulate embryo production, as shown for other systems. Together, these results contribute to a better knowledge and understanding of the process of induction of somatic embryos in this system.
Key Technologies and Evaluation of a MiniSAR Experimental System for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Detection
Authors: Li Ke , Liu Qianqian , Li Xiang
Published: February 2023

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging has important application potential in sea environments research, such as submarine detection. It has become one of the most significant research topics in the current SAR imaging field. In order to promote the development and application of SAR imaging technology, a MiniSAR experiment system is designed and developed, which provides a platform for related technology investigation and verification. A flight experiment is then conducted to detect the movement of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) through the wake, which can be captured by SAR. This paper introduces the basic structure and the performance of the experimental system. The key technologies for Doppler frequency estimation and motion compensation, the implementation of the flight experiment, and the image data processing results are given. The imaging performances are evaluated, and the imaging capabilities of the system are verified. The system provides a good experimental verification platform to construct the follow-up SAR imaging dataset of UUV wake and investigate related digital signal processing algorithms.
Mapping Fire Severity in Southwest China Using the Combination of Sentinel 2 and GF Series Satellite Images
Authors: Zhang Xiyu , Fan Jianrong , Zhou Jun , Gui Linhua , Bi Yongqing
Published: February 2023

Fire severity mapping can capture heterogeneous fire severity patterns over large spatial extents. Although numerous remote sensing approaches have been established, regional-scale fire severity mapping at fine spatial scales (<5 m) from high-resolution satellite images is challenging. The fire severity of a vast forest fire that occurred in Southwest China was mapped at 2 m spatial resolution by random forest models using Sentinel 2 and GF series remote sensing images. This study demonstrated that using the combination of Sentinel 2 and GF series satellite images showed some improvement (from 85% to 91%) in global classification accuracy compared to using only Sentinel 2 images. The classification accuracy of unburnt, moderate, and high severity classes was significantly higher (>85%) than the accuracy of low severity classes in both cases. Adding high-resolution GF series images to the training dataset reduced the probability of low severity being under-predicted and improved the accuracy of the low severity class from 54.55% to 72.73%. RdNBR was the most important feature, and the red edge bands of Sentinel 2 images had relatively high importance. Additional studies are needed to explore the sensitivity of different spatial scales satellite images for mapping fire severity at fine spatial scales across various ecosystems.
Supporting Heterogenous Traffic on Top of Point-to-Multipoint Light-Trees
Authors: Iqbal Masab , Velasco Luis , Ruiz Marc , Costa Nelson , Napoli Antonio , Pedro Joao , Comellas Jaume
Published: February 2023

New 5 G and beyond services demand innovative solutions in optical transport to increase efficiency and flexibility and reduce capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) expenditures to support heterogeneous and dynamic traffic. In this context, optical point-to-multipoint (P2MP) connectivity is seen as an alternative to provide connectivity to multiple sites from a single source, thus potentially both reducing CAPEX and OPEX. Digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) has been shown as a feasible candidate for optical P2MP in view of its ability to generate multiple subcarriers (SC) in the frequency domain that can be used to serve several destinations. This paper proposes a different technology, named optical constellation slicing (OCS), that enables a source to communicate with multiple destinations by focusing on the time domain. OCS is described in detail and compared to DSCM by simulation, where the results show that both OCS and DSCM provide a good performance in terms of the bit error rate (BER) for access/metro applications. An exhaustive quantitative study is afterwards carried out to compare OCS and DSCM considering its support to dynamic packet layer P2P traffic only and mixed P2P and P2MP traffic; throughput, efficiency, and cost are used here as the metrics. As a baseline for comparison, the traditional optical P2P solution is also considered in this study. Numerical results show that OCS and DSCM provide a better efficiency and cost savings than traditional optical P2P connectivity. For P2P only traffic, OCS and DSCM are utmost 14.6% more efficient than the traditional lightpath solution, whereas for heterogeneous P2P + P2MP traffic, a 25% efficiency improvement is achieved, making OCS 12% more efficient than DSCM. Interestingly, the results show that for P2P only traffic, DSCM provides more savings of up to 12% than OCS, whereas for heterogeneous traffic, OCS can save up to 24.6% more than DSCM.
BlockEdge: A Privacy-Aware Secured Edge Computing Framework Using Blockchain for Industry 4.0
Authors: Guha Roy Deepsubhra
Published: February 2023

Edge computing has its application in a lot of areas now, but with the increasing popularity and benefits, it suffers from some challenges such as data privacy and security. Intruder attacks should be prevented and only authentic users should have access to data storage. Most of the authentication techniques apply some trusted entity to undergo the process. Users and servers both have to be registered in the trusted entity to get permission of authenticating other users. In this scenario, the entire system depends on a single trusted entity; so, a single point of failure can cause the failure of the total system, and scalability issues are there also. To address these issues remaining in the existing systems, in this paper, a decentralized approach has been discussed which is capable of eliminating the concept of a single trusted entity by introducing a blockchain paradigm in edge computing where every time a user or server wants to enter the system, it does not have to register itself manually, but the authentication process is carried out throughout the scheme automatically. Experimental results and performance analysis prove that the proposed architecture is definitely beneficial and it outperforms the existing ones in the concerned domain.
Acceptability, Feasibility, and Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Technologies to Promote Exercise in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Doré Benjamin , Gaudreault Alex , Everard Gauthier , Ayena Johannes C. , Abboud Ahmad , Robitaille Nicolas , Batcho Charles Sebiyo
Published: February 2023

Context: This review aimed to synthesize the literature on the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of immersive virtual technologies to promote physical exercise in older people. Method: We performed a literature review, based on four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus; last search: 30 January 2023). Eligible studies had to use immersive technology with participants aged 60 years and over. The results regarding acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of immersive technology-based interventions in older people were extracted. The standardized mean differences were then computed using a random model effect. Results: In total, 54 relevant studies (1853 participants) were identified through search strategies. Concerning the acceptability, most participants reported a pleasant experience and a desire to use the technology again. The average increase in the pre/post Simulator Sickness Questionnaire score was 0.43 in healthy subjects and 3.23 in subjects with neurological disorders, demonstrating this technology’s feasibility. Regarding the effectiveness, our meta-analysis showed a positive effect of the use of virtual reality technology on balance (SMD = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.75–1.36; p < 0.001) and gait outcomes (SMD = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.14–0.80; p < 0.001). However, these results suffered from inconsistency and the number of trials dealing with these outcomes remains low, calling for further studies. Conclusions: Virtual reality seems to be well accepted by older people and its use with this population is feasible. However, more studies are needed to conclude its effectiveness in promoting exercise in older people.
Innovative Fusion Strategy for MEMS Redundant-IMU Exploiting Custom 3D Components
Authors: de Alteriis Giorgio , Silvestri Alessia Teresa , Conte Claudia , Bottino Verdiana , Caputo Enzo , Squillace Antonino , Accardo Domenico , Schiano Lo Moriello Rosario
Published: February 2023

In recent years, the overall performances of inertial Micro-Electro Mechanical Sensors (MEMSs) exhibited substantial improvements to values very close or similar to so-called tactical-grade sensors. However, due to their high costs, numerous researchers are currently focusing on the performance enhancement of cheap consumer-grade MEMS inertial sensors for all those applications (as an example, small unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs), where cost effectiveness is a relevant request; the use of redundancy proves to be a feasible method for this purpose. In this regard, the authors propose, hereinafter, a suitable strategy aimed at fusing raw measurements provided by multiple inertial sensors mounted on a 3D-printed structure. In particular, accelerations and angular rates measured by the sensors are averaged according to weights associated with the results of an Allan variance approach; the lower the noise figure of the sensors, the greater their weight on the final averaged values. On the other hand, possible effects on the measurements due to the use of a 3D structure in reinforced ONYX (a material capable of providing better mechanical specifications for avionic applications with respect to other solutions for additive manufacturing) were evaluated. The performance of a prototype implementing the considered strategy is compared with that of a tactical-grade inertial measurement unit in stationary conditions, exhibiting differences as low as 0.3 degrees in heading measurements. Moreover, the reinforced ONYX structure does not significantly affect the measured values in terms of both thermal and magnetic field while assuring better mechanical characteristics with respect to other 3D printing materials, thanks to a tensile strength of about 250 MPa and a specific stacking sequence of continuous fibers. Finally, a test conducted on an actual UAV highlights performance very close to that of a reference unit, with root-mean-square error in heading measurements as low as 0.3 degrees in observation intervals up to 140 s.
Development of the Tele-Measurement of Plasma Uniformity via Surface Wave Information (TUSI) Probe for Non-Invasive In-Situ Monitoring of Electron Density Uniformity in Plasma Display Fabrication Process
Authors: Kim Si-Jun , Choi Min-Su , Lee Sang-Ho , Jeong Won-Nyoung , Lee Young-Seok , Seong In-Ho , Cho Chul-Hee , Kim Dae-Woong , You Shin-Jae
Published: February 2023

The importance of monitoring the electron density uniformity of plasma has attracted significant attention in material processing, with the goal of improving production yield. This paper presents a non-invasive microwave probe for in-situ monitoring electron density uniformity, called the Tele-measurement of plasma Uniformity via Surface wave Information (TUSI) probe. The TUSI probe consists of eight non-invasive antennae and each antenna estimates electron density above the antenna by measuring the surface wave resonance frequency in a reflection microwave frequency spectrum (S11). The estimated densities provide electron density uniformity. For demonstration, we compared it with the precise microwave probe and results revealed that the TUSI probe can monitor plasma uniformity. Furthermore, we demonstrated the operation of the TUSI probe beneath a quartz or wafer. In conclusion, the demonstration results indicated that the TUSI probe can be used as an instrument for a non-invasive in-situ method for measuring electron density uniformity.
Tectomer-Mediated Optical Nanosensors for Tyramine Determination
Authors: Domínguez Mario , Oliver Sofía , Garriga Rosa , Muñoz Edgar , Cebolla Vicente L. , de Marcos Susana , Galbán Javier
Published: February 2023

The development of optical sensors for in situ testing has become of great interest in the rapid diagnostics industry. We report here the development of simple, low-cost optical nanosensors for the semi-quantitative detection or naked-eye detection of tyramine (a biogenic amine whose production is commonly associated with food spoilage) when coupled to Au(III)/tectomer films deposited on polylactic acid (PLA) supports. Tectomers are two-dimensional oligoglycine self-assemblies, whose terminal amino groups enable both the immobilization of Au(III) and its adhesion to PLA. Upon exposure to tyramine, a non-enzymatic redox reaction takes place in which Au(III) in the tectomer matrix is reduced by tyramine to gold nanoparticles, whose reddish-purple color depends on the tyramine concentration and can be identified by measuring the RGB coordinates (Red–Green–Blue coordinates) using a smartphone color recognition app. Moreover, a more accurate quantification of tyramine in the range from 0.048 to 10 μM could be performed by measuring the reflectance of the sensing layers and the absorbance of the characteristic 550 nm plasmon band of the gold nanoparticles. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the method was 4.2% (n = 5) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.014 μM. A remarkable selectivity was achieved for tyramine detection in the presence of other biogenic amines, especially histamine. This methodology, based on the optical properties of Au(III)/tectomer hybrid coatings, is promising for its application in food quality control and smart food packaging.
Tenders for Institutional Communication Campaigns in the Spanish Autonomous Communities: Transparency or Digital Disinformation
Authors: Vázquez-Gestal Montserrat , Pérez-Seoane Jesús , Fernández-Souto Ana Belén
Published: February 2023

With an investment of over 700 million euros, the public sector is the main advertiser in the Spanish market. Altogether, the central, regional, and local governments launch more than 5000 institutional advertising and communication contracts. In Spain, these tenders are governed by Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts and Law 19/2013 on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good Governance, in compliance with which governments have developed openly accessible websites that provide practical information on the contracts for interested individuals and companies. This paper compares all regional procurement platforms through the study of a hundred institutional communication public contracts launched in 2021, assessing the usefulness of the published content, detecting good practices, and identifying gaps and areas of improvement. The results obtained support the idea that these platforms do not provide exhaustive information on public contracts, which limits their potential as tools aimed at ensuring competition and transparency in public contracts. Based on this last criterion, a ranking is created among the regions analysed.
Effectiveness and Protection Duration of Anti-COVID-19 Vaccinations among Healthcare Personnel in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Authors: Brumboiu Maria I. , Iuga Edina , Ivanciuc Andreea , Mutaffof Sergiu , Tudosa Alice S. , Gherasimovici Cristina , Iaru Irina
Published: February 2023

The anti-COVID-19 vaccines, developed for use during the pandemic period, must be evaluated for effectiveness in order to coordinate the vaccination program. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the anti-COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) and duration of protection against symptomatic forms of infection among healthcare personnel who were professionally exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A prospective cohort study, which was conducted in a university hospital between January 2021 and April 2022, compared immunologically naïve and previously infected personnel who were vaccinated, revaccinated, or unvaccinated. The VE was measured based on survival rates constructed with the actuarial method, using 30 day intervals. Among the 783 subjects that were included in the study, those that were vaccinated showed a decrease in VE from 90.98% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 74.87–96.77) in the first 30 days to 69.95% (95% CI: 40.29–84.87) at 60 days after vaccination. The VE for revaccinated personnel was 93.27% (95% CI: 77.53–97.99) at 60 days and 86.54% (95% CI: 75.59–92.58) at 90 days after revaccination. For previously infected personnel, protection against reinfection was 94.03% (95% CI: 79.41–98.27) at 420 days and 82.08% (95% CI: 53.93–93.03) at 450 days after revaccination. The highest VE for preventing the symptomatic forms of COVID-19 was observed in the revaccinated, but only for a 3-month duration. Better protection against reinfection was provided by revaccination after passing through infection.
Mechanisms of Immune-Related Long Non-Coding RNAs in Spleens of Mice Vaccinated with 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV23)
Authors: Zhu Nan , Zhang Fan , Zhou Huan , Ma Wei , Mao Haiguang , Wang Mengting , Ke Zhijian , Wang Jinbo , Qi Lili
Published: February 2023

The 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23) is a classical common vaccine used to prevent pneumococcal disease. In past decades, it was thought that vaccination with this vaccine induces humoral immunity, thereby reducing the disease associated with infection with 23 common serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp). However, for this polysaccharide vaccine, the mechanism of immune response at the transcriptional level has not been fully studied. To identify the lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs) and mRNAs in spleens related to immunity after PPV23 vaccination in mice, high-throughput RNA sequencing of spleens between a PPV23 treatment group and a control group were performed and evaluated in this study. The RNA-seq results identified a total of 41,321 mRNAs and 34,375 lncRNAs, including 55 significantly differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 389 DE lncRNAs (p < 0.05) between the two groups. GO and KEGG annotation analysis indicated that the target genes of DE lncRNAs and DE mRNAs were related to T-cell costimulation, positive regulation of alpha–beta T-cell differentiation, the CD86 biosynthetic process, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, indicating that the polysaccharide component antigens of PPV23 might activate a cellular immune response during the PPV23 immunization process. Moreover, we found that Trim35 (tripartite motif containing 35), a target gene of lncRNA MSTRG.9127, was involved in regulating immunity. Our study provides a catalog of lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with immune cells’ proliferation and differentiation, and they deserve further study to deepen the understanding of the biological processes in the regulation of PPV23 during humoral immunity and cellular immunity.
Qualitative Insights into Vaccine Uptake of Nursing Staff in Long-Term Care Facilities in Finland
Authors: Lohiniva Anna-Leena , Hussein Idil , Lehtinen Jaana-Marija , Sivelä Jonas , Hyökki Suvi , Nohynek Hanna , Nuorti Pekka , Lyytikäinen Outi
Published: February 2023

Vaccine hesitancy and refusal have undermined COVID-19 vaccination efforts of nursing staff. This study aimed to identify behavioral factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among unvaccinated nursing staff in long-term care facilities (LTCF) in Finland. Methodology: The study was based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. Data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews among nursing staff and managers of LTCFs. The analysis was based on thematic analysis. We identified seven behavioral domains, with several themes, that reduced the staff’s intention to get vaccinated: knowledge (information overload, inability to identify trustworthy information sources, lack of vaccine-specific and understandable scientific information), beliefs about consequences (incorrect perceptions about the vaccine effectiveness, and lack of trust in the safety of the vaccine), social influences (influence of family and friends), reinforcement (limited abilities of the management to encourage vaccination), beliefs about capabilities (pregnancy or desire to get pregnant), psychological factors (coping with changing opinion), and emotions (confusion, suspicion, disappointment, and fatigue). We also identified three behavioral domains that encouraged vaccine uptake: social influences (trust in health authorities), environmental context and resources (vaccination logistics), and work and professional role (professional pride). The study findings can help authorities to develop tailored vaccine promotion strategies for healthcare workers in LTCFs.
ANALISIS BIAYA MANPOWER MENGGUNAKAN METODE CRASHING PADA REPLATING REPARASI KAPAL DI PT. DAYA RADAR UTAMA LAMPUNG
Authors: Rahman Taufik
Published: February 2023

Kapal laut telah dikenal lama sebagai alat transportasi yang menghubungkan antar pelabuhan. Pada saat ini bagian kapal sebagian besar terbuat dari logam yang disebabkan oleh faktor usian kapal atau akibat benturan menyebabkan korosi dan kerusakan pada bagian kapal. Untuk menjaga agar kapal tetap dapat beroperasi melayani penumpang, barang dan kendaraan maka kapal harus melakukan pemeliharaan dan perawatan.

Kegiatan pemeliharaan dan perawatan salah satunya adalah replating yaitu proses pergantian dan pembaharuan pelat besi maupun plat baja yang baru untuk menggantikan pelat lama уаng telah mengalami penipisan diakibatkan korosi maupun deformasi terhadap air laut atau terkena benturan.

Aktivitas replating ini memerlukan waktu sehingga diperlukan suatu perencanaan kebutuhan manpower untuk reparasi kapal.

Harus dilakukan analisis terhadap banyaknya manpower yang dibutuhkan dan menghitung penambahan biaya dengan digunakannya metode crashing. Dari hasil perhitungan biaya manpower untuk pekerjaan di replating pada proyek reparasi kapal KMP. Jatra III, di dapatkan jumlah manpower saat kondisi normal adalah 10 orang dan setelah menggunakan metode crashing memerlukan manpower 14 orang dengan total selisih biaya pada durasi normal dengan durasi crashing yaitu Rp.480.000,- Dengan demikian presentase kenaikan biaya manpower akibat adanya penambahan tenaga kerja adalah 1,8 % dari biaya normal yang di perlukan.

 

Kata Kunci : manpower, crashing, replating, kapal.
Primer registro de Xanthopastis regnatrix (Grote, 1864) (Lepidoptera: Noctiudae) y sus enemigos naturales para Panamá
Authors: Santos-Murgas Alonso , Abrego L. Jeancarlos , Rivera José A.
Published: February 2023

El género Xanthopastis Hubner (1821) es un complejo de al menos seis especies, conocida comúnmente como “polilla rosa manchada”; “polilla española” o “larva convicta”. Con el objetivo de dar a conocer las especies del complejo Xanthopastis presente en Panamá, se georreferencio los sitios de muestreo con un GPS 62S y se tomaron fotografías con una cámara Nikon D7000 en los lugares de muestreo de adultos y grupos de huevos. Se colectó un total de 40 adultos, de las cuales 25 eran hembras ovipositando sobre láminas del lirio Hymenocallis littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb. (Asparagales: Amarilidáceas) en el Parque Nacional Altos de Campana; además, se obtuvieron 11 registros fotográficos en la aplicación iNaturalits Panamá. Se observó dos depredadores de los huevos y larvas recién eclosionadas de X. regnatrix, en horas de la noche se observó a la cucaracha Paratropes bilunata (Saussure & Zehntner, 1893) (Blattaria: Ectobiidae) depredando masas de huevos. En horas del día se observó al escarabajo depredador Cycloneda sanguínea (L., 1763) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), depredando larvas del primer estadio de X. ragnatrix. Podemos concluir que en Panamá pueden ocurrir dos especies Xanthopastis regnatrix (Grote, 1863) que es un sinónimo de Xanthopastis timais y Xanthopastis moctezuma Dyar, 1913, esta especie solo se tenía registros para Texas y México; los registros de X. moctezuma podrían considerarse dudosos, se recomienda realizar muestreos en el sitio donde fue registrada por el observador e ingresada a la aplicación iNaturalist.
Designing and assessing virtual learning objects to foster english for specific purposes in higher education
Authors: Fernández David William Fernando , Aguilar-Cruz Paola Julie
Published: February 2023

Four Virtual Learning Objects (VLO) were designed to incorporate English for Specific Purposes (ESP) learning at a public university in Colombia. Each VLO comprised a series of Virtual Learning Scenarios (VLS), including a vocabulary bank, a set of activities related to the six linguistic competencies (listening comprehension, oral interaction, oral production, reading comprehension, writing production, writing interaction), and an assessment and feedback sections. The impact of the VLO on students' perceptions of their progress was measured through entry and exit surveys composed of a 5-point Likert scale, multiple choice and open-ended questions. 139 students from Software Engineering (18), Journalism (22), Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences (50) and Nursing (49) enrolled in the University English Courses (UEC) and five teachers participated. The results reveal that students' perceptions of the VLS are positive, as each VLO is innovative and motivates learning strategies. Additionally, each VLO improved students listening and speaking skills. Therefore, the researchers recommend that teachers who design and implement VLOs focus on providing their students with skills and knowledge necessary to their specific study fields.
Estimulación del lenguaje oral en niños con implante coclear
Authors: Barrera Carballo Maidolis , Lince Acosta Nora Maite
Published: February 2023

Esta investigación constituye un estudio de caso realizado a una escolar portadora de implante coclear y un retraso secundario en el lenguaje, tiene como finalidad la elaboración de actividades logopédicas para desarrollar el lenguaje oral de la escolar diagnosticada con discapacidad auditiva. Se utiliza la metodología cualitativa, métodos del nivel teórico y del nivel empírico. Se fundamenta en considerar al hombre un ser social, su desarrollo se da en el marco de la relación de la actividad y comunicación, la novedad científica se fundamenta en brindar actividades logopédicas encaminadas a estimular el desarrollo del lenguaje oral caracterizado por ser dinámico, transformador, desarrollando las habilidades participativas y socializadoras también incluyen el desarrollo del lenguaje oral, el vocabulario, la construcción gramatical, el uso de analizadores conservados, la corrección de la pronunciación, el desarrollo de la lectura labio-facial y la percepción auditiva. Su aplicación constituyó el desarrollo del lenguaje oral de la escolar sorda con Implante Coclear (IC), siendo eficaz en el desarrollo del lenguaje, logrando la sistematización de la discriminación de fonemas en palabras, desarrollo cognitivo de la esfera emocional volitiva, socialización con niños de su edad en el contexto escolar, familiar y comunitario, elevando así su autoestima y calidad de vida.
Validation of endophytic bacteria colonisation in tissue culture-derived oil palm plantlets via green fluorescent visualization
Authors: Sirajuddin Salwa Abdullah , Mohamed Azni Intan Nur Ainni , Roslan Nur Diyana , Sundram Shamala
Published: February 2023

This study aimed to validate the colonisation capability of endophytic bacteria (EB) isolates, Bacillus cereus EB2 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa EB35, that previously exhibited their potentials as biological control agents (BCAs) against the Ganoderma spp., a pathogen for Ganoderma disease in oil palm. Here, we demonstrated a rapid method to determine the colonisation capacity of the selected EB using oil palm tissue culture plantlets and a green fluorescent protein (GFP) visual marker. Wounded plantlet roots were inoculated with GFP-tagged B. cereus EB2 and P. aeruginosa EB35 while the plantlets without EB inoculation served as controls. The GFP signals appeared as bright green spots or lines in the inoculated GFP-tagged EB cells in root and leaf plantlet tissues, respectively, under the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) 5 days post-inoculation. In contrast, there was no intense GFP spots in neither the control root nor leaf tissues. The cracks in the roots by wounding facilitated the entry of the GFP-tagged EB cells into root tissues, allowing for endophytically colonisation of the root and above-ground tissues. Subsequent result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-GFP analysis further displayed the endophytic nature and early chronological colonisation of the tested EB. This is a preliminary report on root colonisation by a Gram-positive endophyte, B. cereus EB2 and leaf tissues colonisation by both EB isolates as internal colonisers, demonstrating their potential as BCAs to protect oil palm against Ganoderma spp. for a sustainable disease management.
MÉTODO DE PUNÇÃO GUIADA POR ULTRASSOM NO DIAGNÓSTICO DE HEMATOMA DE BARBELA EM BOVINO- RELATO DE CASO
Authors: Nascimento Neto José da Páscoa , Mendes Azevedo Carvalho André Luis , Chalfun de Sant'Ana Ana Carolina , Mota Martins Clara Emmanuelly , Rogana Müller Luiz Felipe , Andrade Rodrigues Luísa Holanda , De Faria Pinto Gabriella Henriques , Lima Chalfun Luthesco Haddad
Published: February 2023

Injúrias relacionadas a interação animal/estrutura podem ser encontradas em sistema de confinamento Free-Stall. O hematoma de barbela pode estar relacionado a uma lesão por contato sofrido pelo animal com o tronco limitador da cama do Free-Stall no momento em que ele deita para descansar. O objetivo do presente relato é descrever um método de diagnóstico e tratamento utilizado em uma fêmea leiteira que apresentou aumento de volume localizado na região da barbela. Um bovino ½ HZ, fêmea, primípara, com aproximadamente 60 dias em lactação (DEL), acomodada em sistema de confinamento Free-Stall e proveniente de fazenda localizada no município de Lavras – MG apresentou aumento de volume na região da barbela, sem mais nenhuma manifestação clínica. Durante o exame físico, identificou-se a presença de líquido na região edemaciada da barbela, próximo a região do peito. Foi realizado exame ultrassonográfico e descartada a presença de pus. Com isso, foi feita uma punção guiada por ultrassom no local e confirmado a presença de sangue. Com esses resultados, confirmou-se o diagnóstico de hematoma e determinou-se a etiologia: lesão de contato do animal com o limitador da contenção da cama. Foi realizado o tratamento e houve recuperação significativa do animal. A punção guiada por ultrassom proporcionou a verificação da composição do líquido e comprovou a utilidade do exame ultrassonográfico, que foi de extrema importância para o relato.
THE EFFECT OF PRODUCT UTILITARIAN ON SWITCHING OF PREMIUM TO PERTALITE PRODUCTS IN BENGKALIS
Authors: Liyani Annisa April , Maulana Hutomo Atman
Published: February 2023

This study aims to the effect of product utilitarian on switching of premium to pertalite products in Bengkalis. The independent variable is productutilitarian and the dependent variable is switching. The type of research used is associative research with a quantitative approach by collecting primary data through a survey method by distributing questionnaires to 100 consumers who have used pertalitein Bengkalis. Data processing uses the SPSS 23 application. The data analysis used is descriptive analysis, classical assumption, simple linier regression, and t-test. Based on the tests carried out, the results of this study indicate that the product utilitarian has a positive and significant effect on the switching of premium to pertalite products. The quality T value product utilitarian 11.805 which shows that utilitarian affect switching then can be seen with the analysis R square 0.587, which means that 58.7% variables of ProductUtilitariancan affect the variable of s Switching, and 41.3% Other variable that affect products switchingoutside of this study. Respondentsprefer to switch premium products to Pertalite because the quality of Pertalite is good for vehicles, it is more economical and the materials used are more environmentally friendly.
APPLICATION OF OZONE TREATMENT IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD INDUSTRY. A REVIEW
Authors: WANG Ying , QIAO Xiao Jun , WANG ZhiBin
Published: February 2023

Ozone is a strong oxidant and strong disinfectant that has a strong anti-pathogenic effect on bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Because of its high reactivity, strong permeability, low residue, and other advantages, the application of ozone is gaining more and more attention, and ozone has been widely used in water treatment, equipment disinfection, public scene disinfection, and other fields. The purpose of this review is to discuss the use of ozone technology for animal and plant protection that can be applied to agriculture, and to emphasize the need for further studies to determine the optimal concentration and application of ozone for different crops so that, in the future, ozone technology can be applied in agriculture to gain a significant competitive advantage and improve product safety.