bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘We’ve stood on that precipice’
Authors: Maguire K. , Hodgson P. , Kamoche K. , Long M. , Love K.
Published: August 2023

UK police services constantly endure pressures to reduce spending and to reorganise in ways thought to be more efficient. In these moments of scrutiny, non-standard work practices become more noticeable. We report a study of a specialist unit, the Child Protection Unit (CPU), in one police service. In 2011, an initial exploratory interview with the unit head was followed by two discussion groups carried out with a three month gap between them. We found the unit existing and working dynamically between two forces: (a) the needs and expectations of society regarding child protection and (b) how more general expectations and needs regarding crime are normally met by the police service. While ‘traditional’ policing might see the offender successfully prosecuted, there can be deleterious effects on the victim. In consequence, CPU members are: more focused on and sensitive to the victim leading to a risk management philosophy; are more team-oriented with greater awareness of and sense of responsibility for each other; receive greater public support than other parts of the service. These differences result in the CPU members having non-standard organisational and operational work practices: they are less performance target-based; they investigate and prosecute a smaller number of cases; they use different documentation; they are not available to help with other work at times of greater general demand on the police service. Thus existing dynamically and anomalously, the unit’s very vulnerability that helps its members to do their difficult job also raises their profile and increases vulnerability to financial cuts. Their precipice in the title quotation is at several levels. We theorise our findings using contingency and cultural theories believing the findings relevant to other organisations with specialist units.
Can Triglyceride/Glucose Index (TyG) and Triglyceride/HDL-Cholesterol Ratio (TG/HDL-c) Predict Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?
Authors: YILMAZ ERGANİ Seval , İLHAN Tolgay Tuyan , TOKGÖZ Betül , BAYRAKTAR Burak , BUCAK Mevlüt , İBANOĞLU Müjde Can , YAKUT YÜCEL Kadriye , ERDOĞAN Kadriye , İSKENDER Cantekin , ÜSTÜN Yaprak
Published: August 2023

AIM: We investigated whether measurement of triglyceride/glucose index (TyG) and triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol ratio (TG /HDL-c) in the first trimester can predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-five patients with GDM and 52 women without GDM with normal glycemic control during pregnancy were included in the study as a control group. Both insulin-controlled diabetes and diet-controlled diabetes were included in the diagnosis of GDM. Fasting glucose and plasma lipid profiles including TG, HDL-c, TyG index, and TG /HDL-c measured in the first trimester were analyzed.

RESULTS: Triglyceride values (mean 133±40 mg/dL in the gestational diabetes group, 100±54 mg/dL in the control group), TyG index (15.0±8.9 in the mean gestational diabetes group, 8.8±5.0 in the control group), and TG/HDL-C ratio (mean 3.3±2.6 in the gestational diabetes group and 1.9±2.6 in the control group) was found to be significantly higher in the GDM group (p=0.01, p=0.01, p=0.01, respectively). The optimal cutoff value for TyG index was 10.4, sensitivity was 76%, specificity was 77%, and area under the receiver characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.765 to predict GDM (p < 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for the TG /HDL-C ratio was 2.3, sensitivity was 76%, specificity was 69, AUC 0.697 to predict GDM (p=0.005).

CONCLUSION: TyG and TG/HDL-C ratio measured in the first trimester are thought to predict GDM better than fasting plasma glucose.
Exploring the Future Design Approach to Ageing Based on the Double Diamond Model
Authors: Wang Xiaochun , Huang Zihan , Xu Tongfei , Li Yuting , Qin Xiangang
Published: August 2023

As the global aging trend continues to intensify, there will inevitably be more complex and diverse aging problems in the future. There is no doubt that designers have the responsibility to explore the possibilities of the future and solve the problems that will be faced in the future. Based on the Future Cone, the Double Diamond Model and the IDEO Method Cards, this study proposes a new model to guide the design practice of future aging issues in the context of aging. With the aim of validating and refining the framework, an ageing designer workshop was held where participants were asked to imagine, explore and express ideas about future ageing issues. The workshop was used to refine the proposed model. More specifically, the model includes a future concept, a design guidance process based on the Double Diamond Model, and tools that can be applied at all stages of design, which can help designers generate ideas and solutions for future aging problems, and collectively lead society to a more desirable future. Moreover, this study also explores broader directions for the development of the model and provides a reference for continued research on this topic in the future.
Advancing the Sustainability of Risk Assessments within the Renewable Energy Sector- Review of Published Risk Assessments
Authors: Jenkins Mark , Loughney Sean , Matellini Dante Ben , Wang Jin
Published: August 2023

The epistemology of the traditional risk assessment examined has a taxonomy based upon deterministic, behaviouristic and compatibilist methodologies which are likely driven by neo-liberal market related requirements for bigger, faster cheaper wind-turbines. Analysis of available risk assessments suggested that there is no conscious effort to deceive the reader although the intended audience is unclear. The language, and scoring mechanisms utilized indicates the presence of conformity bias, confirmation bias, and numerical inconsistency leading to data ossification. By reverse engineering risk assessment content, Pragmatic and Social Psychological aspects can be investigated, and the adequacy of the document can be evaluated using evidence-based models.
GPT-4 Can't Reason
Authors: Arkoudas Konstantine
Published: August 2023

GPT-4 was released in March 2023 to wide acclaim, marking a very substantial improvement across the board over GPT-3.5 (OpenAI's previously best model, which had powered the initial release of ChatGPT). Despite the genuinely impressive improvement, however, there are good reasons to be highly skeptical of GPT-4's ability to reason. This position paper discusses the nature of reasoning; criticizes the current formulation of reasoning problems in the NLP community and the way in which the reasoning performance of LLMs is currently evaluated; introduces a collection of 21 diverse reasoning problems; and performs a detailed qualitative analysis of GPT-4's performance on these problems. Based on the results of this analysis, the paper argues that, despite the occasional flashes of analytical brilliance, GPT-4 at present is utterly incapable of reasoning.
Primary psychopathy in formal leaders and job satisfaction levels of employees working in family and non-family firms.
Authors: Pimentel Duarte , Pedra André
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to explore differences in personality traits, focusing on the levels of primary psychopathy, between formal leaders of family and non-family companies as well as assessing differences in the job satisfaction levels of their employees. Moreover, we assess the relationship between the employees' perception of their formal leader’s primary psychopathy levels and their job satisfaction levels in family firms. The empirical evidence is provided by a sample of 95 Portuguese employees, who responded to a questionnaire that included their perception of their formal leader’s primary psychopathy level and job satisfaction measures. All respondents work in small and medium-sized private companies with no management responsibilities and under formal hieratical supervision. The initial idea that family firms’ employees perceive lower levels of primary psychopathy in their formal leaders than non-family firms’ employees was confirmed. However, employees of family and non-family firms did not differ in their job satisfaction levels. The results also support the notion that perceived levels of primary psychopathy in formal leaders are negatively associated with the employees’ job satisfaction levels. These findings contribute to the research literature by addressing two aspects under-addressed in the comparison between family and non-family firms, while offering insights on the relationship between primary psychopathy in formal leaders and job satisfaction levels of employees working in family firms.
Graph-Based Deep Learning Model for Forecasting Chloride Concentration in Urban Streams to Protect Salt-Vulnerable Areas
Authors: Oliveira Santos Victor , Costa Rocha Paulo Alexandre , Gharabaghi Bahram , Thé Jesse Van Griensven
Published: August 2023

In cold-climate regions, road salt is used as a de-icer for winter road maintenance. The applied road salt melts ice and snow on roads, being washed off through storm sewer systems into nearby urban streams, harming the freshwater ecosystem. Addressing the gap in the knowledge regarding the use of deep learning approaches for urban stream water quality forecasting, the present work discusses our implementation of a “Graph Neural Network” - “Sample and Aggregate” (GNN-SAGE) model for forecasting chloride concentrations in the Credit River in Ontario, Canada. The proposed GNN-SAGE is compared to other models, including a Deep Neural Network based transformer (DNN-Transformer) and a benchmarking persistence model for 6 hours forecasting horizon. Ac-cording to the results, the GNN-SAGE model surpasses other models in providing accurate predic-tions of chloride concentrations within the assessed prediction window. Also, a SHAP analysis provides insight into the variables that influence the model’s forecasting, showing the impact of the spatiotemporal neighbouring data from the network and the seasonality variables on the model’s result. The GNN-SAGE model shows potential for use in real-time forecasting of water quality in urban streams, aiding in the development of regulatory policies to protect the vulnerable freshwater ecosystems in urban areas.
From Monoamine Oxidases Inhibition to Antiproliferative Activity: New Biological Perspective for Polyamine Analogs
Authors: Nordio Giulia , Piazzola Francesco , Cozza Giorgio , Rossetto Monica , Cervelli Manuela , Minarini Anna , Basagni Filippo , Tassinari Elisa , Via Lisa Dalla , Milelli Andrea , Di Paolo Maria Luisa
Published: August 2023

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are well-known pharmacological targets in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. However, recent studies have revealed a new role for MAOs in certain types of cancer, such as glioblastoma and prostate cancer, where they have been found overexpressed. This finding is opening new frontiers for MAOs inhibitors as potential antiproliferative agents. In light of our previous studies demonstrating how a polyamine scaffold can act as MAOs inhibitor, our aim was to search for novel analogues with even greater inhibitory potency for human MAOs and, possibly, endowed with antiproliferative activity. A small in house library of polyamine analogs (2-7) was selected to investigate the effect of a constrained linkers between the inner amine functions of a polyamine backbone on the inhibitory potency. Compound 4 and 5, characterized by a dianiline (4) or dianilide (5) moiety emerged as the most potent, reversible and mainly competitive MAO inhibitors (Ki < 1uM). Additionally, they exhibited a high antiproliferative activity in three tumor cell lines, in particular in the LN-229 line, a glioblastoma model (GI50 < 1uM). The scaffold of compound 5, in particular, could represent a potential starting point for future development of anticancer agents endowed with MAO inhibitory activity.
Investigations of 13 Genes in Non-Cicatricial Alopecia
Authors: Păun Monica , Torres Gustavo , Țiplica George Sorin , Cauni Victor Mihail
Published: August 2023

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) are most common types of non-cicatricial alopecia. Both diseases have limited effective therapeutic options and affect patients' quality of life. Pharmacogenetic tests can help predict the most appropriate treatment option by evaluating the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) corresponding to genes related to alopecia. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare selected SNPs and genes in AA and AGA patients from Romania and Brazil. Materials and methods: We investigated associations between AA and AGA and 45 tag SNPs of 13 genes in 287 Romanian and 882 Brazilian patients. The DNA samples were extracted from saliva using qPCR technique. Results: GR-alpha gene, GPR44-2 gene, SULT1A1 gene and CRABP2 gene were statistically significantly different in Brazil compared to Romania. Minoxidil may be recommended in half of the cases of AGA and AA. Patients with AGA and high expression of SRD5A1 or PTGFR-2 may benefit from Dutasteride, respectively Latanoprost treatment. Most of the studied genes showed no differences between the two population. Conclusion: The DNA analysis of the patients with alopecia may contribute to a successful treatment.
Expanding the Analytical Toolbox: Developing New Peptide Map Methods to Fully Characterize the Proteolysis-resistant Single-domain Antibody New Modality
Authors: Liu Y Diana , Beardsley Michelle Irwin , Yang Feng
Published: August 2023

Peptide mapping is an important tool to confirm the correct sequence expressed for a protein and to evaluate protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) that may arise during production, processing, or storage of protein drugs. Our new orally administered drug (Ab-1), a single-domain antibody, is highly stable and resistant to proteolysis. Analysis by the commonly used tryptic map method did not generate sufficient sequence coverage. Alternative methods were needed to study the Ab-1 drug substance (75 mg/mL) and drug product (3 mg/mL). To meet analytical needs, we developed two new peptide map methods with lysyl endopeptidase (Lys-C) digestion. These newly developed protein digestion protocols do not require desalting/buffer-exchange steps, thereby reducing sample preparation time and improving method robustness. Additionally, the protein digestion was performed under neutral pH with methionine acting as a scavenger to minimize artifacts, such as deamidation and oxidation, which are induced during sample preparation. Further, the method for low concentration samples performs comparably to the method for high concentration samples. Both methods provide 100% sequence coverage for Ab-1, and therefore, enable comprehensive characterization for its product quality attributes (PQA) assessment. Both methods can be used to study other antibody modalities.
Mental Health Outcomes and Vulnerability to COVID-19: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dondashe Ncebakazi , Anakpo Godfred , Mishi Syden
Published: August 2023

Mental health impacts of COVID-19 pandemic have received a great deal of attention by policymakers for the management of present and future cases of the pandemic, especially as new COVID-19 variant cases are on the rise. Thus, this study seeks to conduct a systematic review to address the following research questions: (1) What are the mental health impacts of COVID-19 in the empirical literature? (2) Which categories of people are at higher risk of the mental health impacts of the pandemic based on the extant literature? A sample of 35 studies out of 196 potential studies (from various databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, , Research Gate, PubMed, , and libraries, from 2020 to 2022) were used after a comprehensive literature search and thorough assessment based on PRISMA-P guidelines. The study reveals that the pandemic has led to severe cases of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological disorders, mood disorders, and insomnia. The review identified groups such as health workers, patients with pre-existing psychiatric or mental health issues, COVID-19 survivors, patients with underlying health conditions, and the elderly as the most vulnerable groups to mental health challenges from the pandemic.
Ameliorative Inhibition of SIRT6 by Imidazole Derivative Triggers Oxidative Stress-Mediated Apoptosis Associated with Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling in NSCLC Cell Lines
Authors: Dindi Uma Maheswara Rao , Al-Ghamdi Sammer , Alrudian Naif , Salman Bin Dayelb , Abuderman Abdulwahab A. , Mohammad Shahidc , Ramesh Thiyagarajan , Vilwanathan Ravikumar
Published: August 2023

The nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2, also called Nfe2l2)/Kelchlike ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling is the major regulator of redox homeostasis. The imbalance of redox homeostasis causes oxidative stress. Keap1 is the one that regulates Nrf2 by binding to Nrf2. Nrf2/Keap1 signaling is reported to be involved in cancer cell growth and survival. The high level of Nrf2 in cancers is associated with poor prognosis, resistance to therapeutics and rapid proliferation framing Nrf2 as an interesting target in cancer biology. Sirtuins (SIRT1-7) are class III histone deacetylases with NAD+-dependent deacetylase activity. High levels of SIRT6 are contributing to cancer progression in many types of human tumors, and its overexpression has been reported to involve positive modulation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, suggesting SIRT6 is a key regulator of this Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling. The natural or synthetic compound that inhibits key regulators of Nrf2 signaling becomes an attractive target. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological effect of Ethyl (5-(4-Chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl) - acetate an imidazole derivative on Nrf2/Keap1 in A549 and NIC-H460 cell lines. Imidazole derivative inhibited the SIRT6 expression at gene and protein levels. The gene and protein expression of Nrf2 and Keap1 were modulated during SIRT6 inhibition. The level of anti-oxidant enzymes such as GSH, GPx, Catalase, and % ROS scavenging activity were depleted upon SIRT6 inhibition. Further, morphological studies support ROS generation, mitochondrial damage, nuclear damage, and apoptosis. The molecular examination of apoptosis by gene and protein expression of apoptotic factors confirms apoptotic cell death. Our results suggest that the Imidazole derivative affects Nrf2/Keap1 signaling by targeting SIRT6 might be a new promising approach to cancer treatment opportunity for disrupting Nrf2/Keap1 signaling in lung cancer.
Hepato-Renal Protective Potential of Dimethyl Fumarate in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice Model by Modulating of Sirt1, Nrf2 and Inflammatory Genes Expressions
Authors: Saberi Hasanabadi Parisa , Shaki Fatemeh , Karami Mohammad , Bagheri Abouzar , Ranaee Mohammad , Ataee Ramin
Published: August 2023

Background: Despite advances in diabetes-related treatments, the effects of the disease have not yet been adequately reversed or prevented in patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more effective medication-assisted treatments in this field.

Methods: In this study, type 1 diabetes mice models was established using multiple low-dose alloxan, and the diabetic mice were treated with three doses of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) i.e low, medium, and high viz. 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, respectively for a period of 21 days. Then, specific test were done to evaluate blood biochemical parameters, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory genes expression, and histopathological changes in the mice kidney and liver.

Results: The obtained results showed remarkably improved anti-diabetic, hepato-renal-protective, and oxidative stress indexes of DMF in alloxan-induced diabetic mice (p< 0.001). Treated mice with DMF demonstrated a noteworthy decrease in blood glucose levels when compared with diabetic group (p< 0.001). Diabetic liver and kidney tissues showed marked dilation of bile ducts, tubules, infiltration, and inflammation. On the contrary, the histological features of the treated mice with DMF improve as shown by normal size of glomerular capillaries along with decrease in less dilatation of ducts in comparison with diabetic mice. The real-time quantitative PCR results indicated that DMF injection decreased the alloxan-induced increase of significant elevations in mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules such as TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB levels in both kidney and liver tissues. Meanwhile, mice treated with DMF showed an increase in Sirt1 and Nrf2 expression in comparison to diabetic group.

Conclusion: In conclusion, it can be concluded that DMF treatment provides hepato-renal protective effects on alloxan-induced diabetic mice model by attenuating ROS inflammatory pathways.

Keywords: Diabetes, Dimethyl fumarate, Alloxan, Anti-inflammatory responses, Hepato-renal-protective effects.
Pipe Cavitation Parameters Reveal Bubble Embolism Dynamics in Maize Xylem Ducts Across Water Potential Gradients
Authors: Ren Yangjie , Zhang Yitong , Guo Shiyang , Wang Ben , Wang Siqi , Gao Wei
Published: August 2023

Maize, a crop of international relevance, frequently undergoes xylem embolism due to water shortage, negatively impacting growth, yield, and quality. Consequently, a refined comprehension of xylem embolism is vital for enhancing maize cultivation. Notwithstanding extensive research and the generation of analytical models for embolism mechanisms, prevalent models often disregard crop-specific hydraulic processes and the formation of embolisms via air bubbles in the xylem conduit. In this research, we present an inventive model applying pipe cavitation parameters to discern water potential and bubble formation in maize leaf xylem. The model integrates pivotal physiological traits of maize—leaf count, leaf vein count, and average leaf radius—demonstrating robust correlations. Furthermore, we constructed a percentage conductivity loss (PLC) curve based on pre-dawn leaf water potential and compared it with our model, offering interval data to observe embolisation events triggered by air bubbles. Utilizing experimental data, our novel cavitation-parameters based model effectively corresponds with observed bubble phenomena and appropriately characterizes water transport in plant xylem conduits. This method enabled us to observe the transition from bubble occurrence to cavitation embolism microscopically, which aligned with the embolism intervals provided by the model. This procedure reveals potential trends in bubble-induced embolism and deepens our knowledge of microscopic plant hydraulics and crop embolism. This work establishes a basis for understanding the generation of bubble embolisms in maize, assists in evaluating maize plant water status for efficient water supply management throughout the growth cycle, and contributes towards potential water management strategies for maize.
Development of Microwave Filters with Tunable Frequency and Flexibility using Carbon Nanotube Paper
Authors: LIU JIH-HSIN , HUANG YAO-SHENG
Published: August 2023

This study aims to exploit the distinctive properties of carbon nanotube materials, which are particularly pronounced at the microscopic scale, by deploying fabrication techniques that allow their features to be observed macroscopically. Specifically, we aim to create a semiconductor device that exhibits flexibility and the ability to modulate its electromagnetic wave absorption frequency by means of biasing. Initially, we fabricate a sheet of carbon nanotubes through a vacuum filtration process. Subsequently, phosphorus and boron elements are separately doped into the nanotube sheet, enabling it to embody the characteristics of a PN diode.
Measurements indicate that, in addition to the fundamental diode's current-voltage relationship, the device also demonstrates intriguing transmission properties under the TEM mode of electromagnetic waves. It exhibits a frequency shift of approximately 2.3125 GHz for each volt of bias change.
The final result is a lightweight and flexible carbon-based semiconductor microwave filter, which can conform to curved surfaces. This feat underscores the potential of such materials for innovative and effective electromagnetic wave manipulation.
Troubles With Gravitational Frequency Shift Derived From Energy Conservation
Authors: D'Abramo Germano
Published: August 2023

In physics, thought experiments are impressive heuristic tools. They are valuable instruments to help scientists find new results and to teach students the known ones. However, as we shall show, they should always be received with prudence, even when they are a shortcut to 'prove' well-established results. Here, we show that the most widely known thought experiments devised to derive the gravitational frequency shift from energy conservation are, in fact, problematic. Unfortunately, even some criticism of them found in the literature seems to share a similar fate. When properly set and correctly read, those thought experiments reveal that the existence of the gravitational frequency shift is, in fact, at odds with energy conservation. However, in light of the well-known experimental proofs of the gravitational redshift, our findings cannot be considered a confutation of the phenomenon. Nonetheless, our results may be of some epistemological interest and could serve as a warning sign on how thought experiments should be received and trusted.
Facile Purification and Use of Tobamoviral Nanocarriers for Antibody-Mediated Display of a Two-Enzyme System
Authors: Wendlandt Tim , Koch Claudia , Britz Beate , Liedek Anke , Schmidt Nora , Werner Stefan , Gleba Yuri , Vahidpour Farnoosh , Welden Melanie , Poghossian Arshak , Schöning Michael J. , Eber Fabian J. , Jeske Holger , Wege Christina
Published: August 2023

Immunosorbent turnip vein clearing virus (TVCV) particles displaying the IgG-binding domains D and E of Staphylococcus aureus protein A (PA) on every coat protein (CP) subunit (TVCVPA) were purified from plants via optimized and new protocols. The latter used polyethylene glycol (PEG) raw precipitates, from which virions were selectively re-solubilized in reverse PEG concentration gradients. This procedure improved the integrity of both TVCVPA and the wildtype subgroup 3 tobamovirus. TVCVPA could be loaded with more than 500 IgGs per virion, which mediated the immunocapture of fluorescent dyes, GFP and active enzymes. Bi-enzyme ensembles of cooperating glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase were tethered together on the TVCVPA carriers by a single antibody type, with one enzyme conjugated chemically to its Fc region, and the other one bound as target, yielding synthetic multienzyme-complexes. In microtiter plates, the TVCVPA-displayed sugar-sensing system possessed a considerably increased reusability upon repeated testing, compared to the IgG-bound enzyme pair in the absence of the virus. A high coverage of the viral adapters was achieved also on Ta2O5 sensor chip surfaces coated with a polyelectrolyte interlayer, as a prerequisite for durable, TVCVPA-assisted electrochemical biosensing through modularly IgG-assembled sensor enzymes.
Recent Reforms and Improvement Efforts in Management in Government: Field Observation and Analysis
Authors: Khaled Moslehuddin Chowdhury
Published: August 2023

Purpose: When it comes to improving citizen service delivery standard and processes, or broadly, management in government (MIG), many reform programs and improvement efforts are ongoing across different ministries, departments, and agencies. This paper is part of a larger empirical research where we are interested to know what those programs and projects are, and how they are doing, and what the gaps are. Design/methodology/approach: Analyzing the publicly available data on the government portal and donors’ website, this article provides an overall idea of current reforms in various places of government. In parallel, field research was conducted through visiting agency offices, observing office environment and mechanisms, and interviewing public managers who are working at district and sub-district level offices of directorates or agencies.Findings: As a trend, state-led development process and the traditional mode of administration have moved to New Public Management based quality and performance approach. All donors have their own strategy framework document like ‘Country Assistance strategy’, ‘Country Operations and Business Plan’, Logical Framework Document, Focus or Priority Streams, etc. Many of the projects are sectoral and agency or ministry specific and have an inherent limitations, due to ‘cadre’ based organizational structural arrangement. So, it is common ‘not to own the projects’, rather ‘using the fund as much as possible anyway within the given project duration’. When the fund ends, implementing units, either government or NGOs, abandon the projects. That is why many projects are actually half done without significant and sustained direction.Originality/value: We can conclude that the typical ‘top-down’ or ‘trickle down’ conception is still dominant in design and implementation of reforms programs and service quality efforts. So, how to reach systemically at the bottom where public managers provide services to citizens, needs even more deliberation.
Colorimetric PADs Backed by Chemometrics for Pd(II) Detection
Authors: Alberti Giancarla , Magnaghi Lisa Rita , Iurato Marzia , Zanoni Camilla , Biesuz Raffaela
Published: August 2023

The paper presents the development of cheap and selective Paper-based Analytical Devices (PADs) for Pd(II) determination. The PADs were obtained with an azoic ligand, (2-(tetrazolylazo)-1,8 dihydroxy naphthalene-3,6,-disulphonic acid), termed TazoC, and filter paper as the substrate. The orange TazoC-PADs interact quickly with Pd(II) solutions by forming a complex purple-blue-colored already at a very acidic pH (lower than 2). The dye complexes no other metal ions at such an acidic media, making TazoC-PADs highly selective to Pd(II) detection. Besides, at higher pH values, other cations, for example, Cu(II) and Ni(II), can interact with TazoC through the formation of stable and pink-magenta-colored complexes; however, it is possible to quantify Pd(II) also in the presence of other cations using a multivariate approach. Indeed, by applying Partial Least Square regression (PLS), the spectra of the TazoC-PADs were related to the Pd(II) concentrations both when present alone in solution and also in the presence of Cu(II) and Ni(II). The PLS models correctly predicted Pd(II) concentrations in unknown samples and tap water spiked with the metal cation.
TRIM6: An Upregulated Biomarker with Prognostic Significance and Immune Correlations in Gliomas
Authors: Guo Jianrong , Feng Shoucheng , Liu Hong , Ding Chao , Jin Yukai , Chen Xiaojiang , Ling Yudong , Zeng Yi , Chen Zhuopeng , Long Hao , Qiu Haibo
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the expression and prognostic value of TRIM6 in gliomas, the most prevalent primary brain and spinal cord tumors. Our results show that TRIM6 is predominantly overexpressed in glioma tissues and is associated with reduced overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval. Furthermore, TRIM6 expression is correlated with WHO grade and primary treatment outcomes. Functional analysis indicates that interactions between cytokines and their receptors play a critical role in the prognosis of glioma patients. A protein-protein interaction network reveals 10 hub genes closely linked to cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. In vitro experiments demonstrate that silencing TRIM6 impairs the proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells, while overexpressing TRIM6 enhances these abilities. Additionally, TRIM6 expression is positively associated with the abundance of innate immune cells and negatively associated with the abundance of adaptive immune cells. In summary, TRIM6 is significantly upregulated in gliomas and linked to poor prognosis, making it a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. TRIM6 plays a crucial role in promoting cell viability, clonogenic potential, migration, and invasion in glioma cells. It may regulate glioma progression by modulating cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, leading to an inflammatory response and an imbalance in immunomodulation, thereby representing a potential therapeutic target.
PhysioKit: Open-source, Low-cost Physiological Computing Toolkit for Single and Multi-user Studies
Authors: Joshi Jitesh , Wang Katherine , Cho Youngjun
Published: August 2023

The proliferation of physiological sensors opens new opportunities to explore interactions, conduct experiments and evaluate the user experience with continuous monitoring of bodily functions. Commercial devices, however, can be costly or limit access to raw waveform data, while low-cost sensors are efforts-intensive to setup. To address these challenges, we introduce PhysioKit, an open-source, low-cost physiological computing toolkit. PhysioKit consists of (i) a sensor and hardware layer that can be configured in a modular manner per research needs, (ii) a software application layer that enables data acquisition, real-time visualization and machine learning (ML)-enabled signal quality assessment. This also supports basic visual biofeedback configurations and synchronized acquisition for co-located or remote multi-user settings. In a validation study for photo-plethysmography (PPG) sensor with 15 participants, PhysioKit shows strong agreement with research-grade PPG sensors. Furthermore, we report usability survey results from 10 micro-project teams (44 individual members in total) who use PhysioKit for 4-6 weeks, providing insights into its use cases and research benefits. We conclude by discussing extensibility and potential impact of the toolkit on the research community.
Impact of Phantom Size on Low-Energy Virtual Monoenergetic Images of Three Dual-Energy CT Platforms
Authors: Greffier Joël , Van Ngoc Ty Claire , Fitton Isabelle , Frandon Julien , Beregi Jean-Paul , Dabli Djamel
Published: August 2023

To compare the quality of low-energy VMIs obtained with three DECT platforms according to phantom diameter. Three sections of the Mercury Phantom 4.0 were scanned on two generations of split-filter CTs (SFCT-1st and SFCT-2nd) and on one Dual-source CT (DSCT). Noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d’) were assessed on VMIs from 40 to 70keV. Highest noise magnitude values were found with SFCT-1st and noise magnitude was higher with DSCT than with SFCT-2nd for 26-cm (10.2±1.3%) and 31-cm (7.0±2.5%), and the opposite for 36-cm (-4.2±2.5%). The highest average NPS spatial frequencies and TTF values at 50% (f50) values were found with DSCT. For all energy levels, f50 values were higher with SFCT-2nd than SFCT-1st for 26-cm (3.2±0.4%) and the opposite for 31-cm (-6.9±0.5%) and 36-cm (-5.6±0.7%). The lowest d’ values were found with SFCT-1st. For all energy levels, d’ values were lower with SFCT-2nd than with DSCT for 26-cm (-6.2±0.7%), similar for 31-cm (-0.3±1.9%) and higher for 36-cm (5.4±2.7%). In conclusion, compared to SFCT-1st, SFCT-2nd exhibited lower noise magnitude and higher detectability values. Compared with DSCT, SFCT-2nd had lower noise magnitude and higher detectability for the 26-cm but the opposite was true for the 36-cm.
The Role of Biomarkers in the Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Therapeutic Approach in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Bazsó Anna , Kiss Emese
Published: August 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that mainly affects the skin. There are other clinical manifestations as renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal tract involvements. Based on the skin involvement there are two subtypes of SSc, as limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc) which involves the acral part of the body and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) resulting in significant skin thickening of the body. The lSSc has usually moderate internal organ manifestations, except for the late-onset pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) mainly appearing in this form. In dSSc the severity of the organ manifestations or failure is more intensive such as scleroderma renal crisis (RSC), interstitial lung disease (ILD), myocardial fibrosis, and chronic gastrointestinal dysmotility with consequent malabsorption
Improvements and Evaluation of the Agro-Hydrologic VegET Model for Large-Area Water Budget Analysis and Drought Monitoring
Authors: Senay Gabriel , Kagone Stefanie , Parrish Gabriel , Khand Kul , Boiko Olena , Velpuri Manohar
Published: August 2023

We enhanced the agro-hydrologic VegET model to include snow accumulation and melt processes and the separation of runoff into surface runoff and deep drainage. Driven by global weather datasets and parameterized by Land Surface Phenology (LSP), the enhanced VegET model was implemented in the cloud to simulate daily soil moisture (SM), actual evapotranspiration (ETa), and runoff (R) for the conterminous United States (CONUS) and the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). Evaluation of the VegET model with independent data showed satisfactory performance, capturing the temporal variability of SM (Pearson correlation r: 0.22–0.97), snowpack (r: 0.86–0.88), ETa (r: 0.41–0.97), and spatial variability of R (r: 0.81–0.90). Absolute magnitudes showed some biases, indicating the need of calibrating the model for water budget analysis. The seasonal Landscape Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (L-WRSI) for CONUS and GHA showed realistic depictions of drought hazard extent and severity, indicating the usefulness of the L-WRSI for the convergence of evidence toolkit used by the Famine Early Warning System Network to monitor potential food insecurity conditions in different parts of the world. Using projected weather datasets and landcover-based LSP, the VegET model can be used not only for global monitoring of drought conditions, but also for evaluating scenarios on the effect of a changing climate and land cover on agriculture and water resources.
Improved Synthesis of β-Adrenergic Agonist and Related Structures by Microwave-Assisted Metal-Catalysed Reductive Amination
Authors: Bucciol Fabio , Colia Mariachiara , Canova Erica , Grillo Giorgio , Calcio Gaudino Emanuela , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: August 2023

Reductive amination is a powerful tool in sustainable organic synthesis that allows chemists to access a wide range of valuable amine products using renewable feedstocks, mild reaction con-ditions, and with minimal waste generation. Practical applications can be found in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, contributing to greener and more sustainable chemical processes. In this work we present a heterogeneous (Rh and Pt) catalysed protocol for the fast and efficient synthesis of ractopamine hydrochloride (-adrenergic drug) under MW-assisted reductive ami-nation protocol starting from raspberry ketone and octapamine. Microwave (MW) successfully accelerated the hydrogenation reaction and reduced the reaction time from 13 hours to only 3 hours under mild conditions (50°C at 10 bar). The best catalysts were Pt/C and Rh/C, which led to high conversion and selectivity towards ractopamine:HCl. The solvent has a significant effect on the reaction outcome. The replacement of methanol with other solvents had a negative impact on the reaction yield. We also replaced the raspberry ketone with other ketone substrates, especially cyclohexanone. These preliminary experiments may be useful for further process improvements in the synthesis of β-adrenergic agonists and related structures.
Study into the Evolution of Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Production–Living–Ecological Spaces on the Indochina Peninsula
Authors: Lu Shuang , Zhou Zibo , Houding Mingyang , Yang Liu , Gao Qiang , Cao Chenglong , Li Xiang , Bu Ziqiang
Published: August 2023

Influenced by historical background, regional economic development, and the frequent occurrence of armed conflict, the human–earth relationship in the Central and Southern Peninsula, which is located in a "fragmented zone", is characteristic of the region. The Indochina Peninsula has now become an area of interest for the study of spatial changes in production–living–ecological spaces (PLES). Taking the Indochina Peninsula as the study area, this paper explores the evolution of the spatio-temporal patterns of PLES and its driving mechanism in the Central and Southern Peninsula, from 2010 to 2020, based on the grid scale. Methods such as the land-use transition matrix, land-use dynamics index, and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) were used in our model. Our results show that, from 2010 to 2020, ecological space dominated the PLES pattern on the Indochina Peninsula but its area gradually decreased, accompanied by a sharp increase in the areas of productive and living spaces. The area of PLES interconversion on the Indochina Peninsula in 2010–2020 was 212818.70 km2, and it is characterized by the conversion of ecological space into productive space, as well as the interconversion of woodland ecological and grassland ecological spaces. In addition, the intertransfer of production and ecological spaces was distributed in a network-like manner throughout the Indochina Peninsula, while the transfer of living space was distributed in a point-like manner. The migration path of the center of gravity of PLES on the In-dochina Peninsula demonstrates a significant directional difference. The PLES’s pattern evolution was affected by the degree of multiple factors, with a significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The positive and negative feedback effects of the factors were distributed in different areas and in different transfer directions.
Metodologi Penelitian Pendidikan (Prosedur Penelitian, Subyek Penelitian, Dan Pengembangan Teknik Pengumpulan Data)
Authors:   Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Nashrullah Mochamad , Fahyuni Eni Fariyatul , Nurdyansyah Nurdyansyah , Untari Rahmania Sri
Published: August 2023

Puji syukur kami panjatkan ke hadirat Allah SWT, atas segala rahmat, hidayah, dan karunia-Nya, sehingga kami dapat menyelesaikan buku ini dengan judul "Buku Prosedur: Penelitian Pendidikan". Buku ini merupakan hasil kerja keras dan dedikasi dari berbagai pihak yang tidak dapat kami sebutkan satu per satu. Namun, kami ingin mengungkapkan rasa terima kasih yang setinggi-tingginya kepada semua pihak yang telah memberikan dukungan, inspirasi, dan bantuan dalam proses penulisan buku ini.Penelitian dalam bidang pendidikan memiliki peranan penting dalam mengembangkan ilmu pengetahuan dan memberikan kontribusi bagi kemajuan bangsa dan negara. Oleh karena itu, buku ini kami susun dengan tujuan memberikan pemahaman yang komprehensif tentang prosedur penelitian pendidikan kepada para pembaca.
Juridical Fundamentals for the Establishment of Islamic Banking Law in Indonesia
Authors: Navisa Fitria Dewi
Published: August 2023

••• English ••• The existence of Islamic banks is a sign of the revival of the Islamic economy in Indonesia, especially since Indonesia is a country where the majority of its people are Muslims. So, the existence of Islamic banking in Indonesia should become an important matter because it is related to the establishment of the people's economy, moreover, Indonesia is a legal state that binds all activities and rules in legal writings that are ratified and agreed upon. This research was conducted to answer about the importance of the legal foundations of the establishment of Islamic banking law in Indonesia. This research method use a normative juridical approach. Legal research with this approach is oriented toward the norms contained in the legislation. The results is, the formal position of Islamic banking law in Indonesia is said to be strong from a juridical point of view, even in line with the position of other conventional banking. On this basis, the existence of laws and regulations related to Islamic banking in Indonesia is something that needs to exist. Because Islamic banking is the foundation of the economic milestone for the Muslim community. The existence of these laws and regulations will further strengthen the existence of Islamic banks in Indonesia, to provide services to all people with a sharia system and pattern, which is based on the Al-Qur'an and also the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad Saw. ••• Indonesian ••• Keberadaan bank syariah merupakan tanda bagi kebangkitan ekonomi syariah di Indonesia, apalagi Indonesia merupakan negara yang mayoritas penduduknya beragama Islam. Maka keberadaan perbankan syariah di Indonesia seharusnya menjadi suatu hal yang penting karena berkaitan dengan terwujudnya ekonomi kerakyatan, apalagi Indonesia adalah negara hukum yang mengikat segala kegiatan dan aturan dalam suatu tulisan hukum yang disahkan dan disepakati. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menjawab tentang pentingnya landasan hukum berdirinya hukum perbankan syariah di Indonesia. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan yuridis normatif. Penelitian hukum dengan pendekatan ini berorientasi pada norma-norma yang terkandung dalam peraturan perundang-undangan. Hasilnya, posisi formal hukum perbankan syariah di Indonesia dikatakan kuat secara yuridis, bahkan sejalan dengan posisi perbankan konvensional lainnya. Atas dasar tersebut, keberadaan peraturan perundang-undangan terkait perbankan syariah di Indonesia merupakan sesuatu yang perlu ada. Karena perbankan syariah merupakan tumpuan tonggak ekonomi bagi masyarakat muslim. Adanya peraturan perundang-undangan tersebut akan semakin memperkokoh eksistensi bank syariah di Indonesia, untuk memberikan pelayanan kepada seluruh masyarakat dengan sistem dan pola syariah, yang berlandaskan pada Al-Qur'an dan juga Hadith Nabi Muhammad Saw.
The Sources of Islamic Law on the Muamalah Concept About Contract Viewed on Philosophical Studies
Authors: Retnowati May Shinta , Faruqi Musta’an Al , Ihsan Syahrul
Published: August 2023

••• English ••• Islamic law of the contract is used as the basis for muamalah transaction, which is oriented towards developing a general theory of Islamic law. This research is significant because of the birth  of sharia institutions based on the provisions of Islamic contract and muamalah, as well as the growing business of Muslims accompanied by the emergence of a desire to harmonize business as a modern phenomenon, with the sharia principle. The methodology of this reseacrh, including normative Islamic law research, is to obtain concrete legal regulations which are the development of norms between Islamic legal doctrines, which are also derived from basic values in Al-Qur'an and Sunnah. The result is, based on the Islamic contract in Indonesia, several are used as basis  in carrying out and forming the Islamic contract law. The purpose of implementing muamalah in philosophy is a contract that upholds socio-economic justice and income/welfare justice which are considered important components of Islamic moral philosophy. Islamic economic philosophy in this regard can be summarized in three aspects namely at-tauhid, al-’adalah, and maslahah, where the source of law is Al-Qur'an and Sunnah. ••• Indonesian ••• Hukum Islam dalam akad digunakan sebagai dasar transaksi muamalah, yang berorientasi pada pengembangan teori umum hukum Islam. Penelitian ini penting karena lahirnya lembaga syariah berdasarkan ketentuan kontrak Islam dan muamalah, serta berkembangnya bisnis umat Islam disertai dengan munculnya keinginan untuk menyelaraskan bisnis sebagai fenomena modern, dengan prinsip syariah. Metodologi dalam penelitian ini termasuk pada penelitian hukum Islam normatif, yakni untuk mendapatkan peraturan hukum yang konkret yang merupakan pengembangan norma-norma antara doktrin hukum Islam, yang juga diturunkan dari nilai-nilai dasar dalam Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah. Hasil yang didapat, berdasarkan akad Islam di Indonesia, beberapa digunakan sebagai dasar dalam menjalankan dan membentuk hukum kontrak Islam. Tujuan pelaksanaan muamalah pada filsafat adalah kontrak yang menjunjung tinggi keadilan sosial ekonomi dan keadilan pendapatan/kesejahteraan yang dianggap sebagai komponen penting dari filsafat moral Islam. Filsafat ekonomi Islam dalam hal ini dapat diringkas dalam tiga aspek yaitu at-tauhid, al-‘adalah, dan maslahah di mana sumber hukumnya adalah Al-Qur'an dan Sunnah.