bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
If “Everything Is Mapu”
Authors: Madarieta Ethan
Published: June 2024

Chile has created its national cohesion and territorial assertion of sovereignty through a colonial metonymic operation whereby the removal of the Indigenous body, or part of this body, is possession of the land; whereby the Black body is instrumentalized as an extension of settler occupation, inhabitation, and Indigenous elimination. This operation is based on the “associative matter” or qualifying characteristics of a metonymic relation within settler logics that performatively call into being both “territory” and “nation.” This essay argues that this is an ontoepistemological substitution and the foundation on which the current 1980 Chilean constitution is based, and on which the majority rejected the proposed 2022 constitution. The essay critiques both the 1980 and the recently rejected constitutions through consideration of what a Mapuche cosmological conception of land-as-mapu, of mapu as everything rather than as propertied resource, might mean for demolishing the land and body logics of the settler-colonial state that continue to devastate ecological relations through the dispossession and elimination of Indigenous and Black peoples.
The effect of green mussel (Perna viridis) shells’ hydroxyapatite application on alkaline phosphatase levels in rabbit femur bone defect
Authors: Tjandra Kevin Christian , Novriansyah Robin , Limijadi Edward Kurnia Setiawan , Kuntjoro Lydia , Hendrianingtyas Meita
Published: June 2024

Background Non-union fractures can be prevented with bone grafts, such as hydroxyapatite made from green mussel shells. Green mussel shells contain a high percentage of HA, making them a promising alternative for bone healing. This research aims to reveal the effectiveness of green mussel shell HA as a bone substitute material and to provide knowledge for further research. Methods This research was conducted for four months using a true experimental research method with a post-test-only control group design. This study used 36 New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) which were divided into 9 groups: positive control, negative control, and intervention at weeks 2, 4 and 6 after the intervention. All groups were subjected to three general procedures: pre-surgery, surgery, and post-surgery. This study utilized histological evaluation and biochemical assessment, specifically measuring serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, to investigate the effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) from green mussel shells on bone healing in rabbits. Results The findings demonstrated that green mussel shell HA hashad efficacy in accelerating bone healing, better than HA bovine HA i.e. green mussel shell hydroxyapatite showed superior efficacy compared to bovine hydroxyapatite in accelerating and maximizing fracture healing, as compared to the 6-week negative control group and demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.05). Conclusions Green mussel hydroxyapatite is proven to be able to fasten and maximize the bone healing process as fast as bovine HA, and even has higher efficacy than bovine HA.
Systematic Review of the Epidemiology, disease severity and preventive measures of Mpox disease: A public health guideline for densely-populated countries
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Meshbahur
Published: June 2024

Background Research on Mpox is essential to protect public health, develop effective interventions, and enhance global preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks. Owing to the scarcity of any specific treatment for Mpox disease, public health guidelines are important for patient care and management. Therefore, this systematic review suggests a public health policy guidelines to control Mpox diseases, especially in densely populated countries. Methods In this systematic review study, the databases and search engines PubMed, Scopus, BanglaJol, WHO, and Google Scholar were searched, and related literature was retrieved for further investigation. Articles describing monkeypox epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and preventive strategies, and published in English language were the core inclusion criteria; articles published in other languages were excluded. All records in the literature were managed through Mendeley (version 1.19.4) reference manager and summarized for further investigation. Results Mpox severity is prevalent in America and Europe. Male (96.3%) and young adults aged 18-44 years (mean: 34 years) were the most vulnerable population due to the virus. Among the patients, rash and fever were the most frequent symptoms, with cough, vomiting, anogenital pain and/or bleeding, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and genital edema being the least prevalent symptoms in less than 5% of the patients. As there is no specific treatment for the disease, infection control in densely populated countries require early detection, isolation of infected individuals, strict infection control measures, mass vaccination campaigns, education, public awareness campaigns, and continued investment in research. Conclusions This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive infection control strategies, including early detection, strict isolation protocols, mass vaccination initiatives, and ongoing research investment given the absence of specific treatment options for the disease.
A Case Study on Measuring AI Assistant Competence in Narrative Interviews
Authors: Chan Chitat , Zhao Yunmeng
Published: June 2024

Abstract* Background Researchers are leading the development of AI designed to conduct interviews. These developments imply that AI's role is expanding from mere data analysis to becoming a tool for social researchers to interact with and comprehend their subjects. Yet, academic discussions have not addressed the potential impacts of AI on narrative interviews. In narrative interviews, the method of collecting data is a collaborative effort. The interviewer also contributes to exploring and shaping the interviewee's story. A compelling narrative interviewer has to display critical skills, such as maintaining a specific questioning order, showing empathy, and helping participants delve into and build their own stories. Methods This case study configured an OpenAI Assistant on WhatsApp to conduct narrative interviews with a human participant. The participant shared the same story in two distinct conversations: first, following a standard cycle and answering questions earnestly, and second, deliberately sidetracking the assistant from the main interview path as instructed by the researcher, to test how well the metrics could reflect the deliberate differences between different conversations. The AI's performance was evaluated through conversation analysis and specific narrative indicators, focusing on its adherence to the interview structure, empathy, narrative coherence, complexity, and support for human participant agency. The study sought to answer these questions: 1) How can the proposed metrics help us, as social researchers without a technical background, understand the quality of the AI-driven interviews in this study? 2) What do these findings contribute to our discussion on using AI in narrative interviews for social research? 3) What further research could these results inspire? Results The findings show to what extent the AI maintained structure and adaptability in conversations, illustrating its potential to support personalized, flexible narrative interviews based on specific needs. Conclusions These results suggest that social researchers without a technical background can use observation-based metrics to gauge how well an AI assistant conducts narrative interviews. They also prompt reflection on AI's role in narrative interviews and spark further research.
Large-scale bedforms in the vicinity of Serwy Lake (NE Poland): their morphometry and links to the high-energy glaciofluvial environment
Authors: Suwiński Mateusz , Weckwerth Piotr
Published: June 2024

The Suwałki Glacial Megaflood Landsystem documented in NE Poland led to further morphological analysis of bedforms that originated from glacial lake-outburst floods (GLOFs) in the central and eastern parts of the Augustów Plain. This article focuses on (1) the recognition of large-scale subaqueous dunes in the vicinity of Serwy Lake, (2) the creation of a database consisting of relevant morphometric parameters (lengths, heights and gradients of stoss and lee slopes) and indexes (steepness and asymmetry ratios) and (3) comparison with other landforms that undoubtably indicate glacial floods (e.g., Missoula, Altai, British Columbia, Wigry Lake). The remote identification and measurement of the megadunes’ morphometry based on LiDAR data and digital elevation model with resolution 1×1 m (using hillshade and geomorphons) yielded data characterising 254 bedforms. These represent two-dimensional large-scale subaqueous dunes, which have lengths varying between 23.6 and 241.8 m and average heights of 0.6–5.4 m. Moreover, their morphometric variation creates a continuum typical of subaqueous dunes and has similarities to prominent examples linked to GLOFs. The study is especially crucial due to the lack of a wide range of information about megadune development under unconfined settings during the Weichselian glaciation.
Between Secularity and Ultra-Orthodoxy: The Cultural Conflict between Hilonim and Haredim and Its Impact on Israel’s Cultural Security
Authors: Kosiorek Piotr , Szydzisz Marcin , Szyszlak Elżbieta
Published: June 2024

This study deals with the dispute between secular Jews (Hilonim) and Orthodox Jews (Haredim) that is taking place in Israel today. Because of its nature – it concerns values, lifestyles, religion, worldview, and identity issues – it can be categorised as a cultural conflict. They represent one of the most significant challenges to cultural security. The case of Israel is no different. This paper looks closely at the determinants of the dispute between Haredim and Hilonim and the critical issues at stake. The discussion is placed in the context of Israel’s major cultural security issues.
European Union in the Face of Russian Aggression against Ukraine (2014–2023)
Authors: Willa Rafał , Płonka Jakub
Published: June 2024

In 2014, Russia – despite denying it – began the first stage of the conflict in Ukraine by military occupation of a part of Ukraine’s territory. The European Union as an entity that wants to be considered one of the key participants in international relations could not leave this without reaction, especially since the events took place in its immediate neighbourhood and constituted an obvious violation of international law. Therefore, sanctions and restrictions were imposed on Russia hoping that they would trigger some reflection in the Kremlin. Nothing of the sort happened, so in 2022, Russia started the second stage of the conflict intended to seize further Ukrainian territories and place a government in Kiev that would be obedient to Moscow. This time the EU’s reaction was slightly different. This article is an attempt to familiarize the reader with EU activities regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
Security of the Financial System of Ukraine under Martial Law
Authors: Petryshyn Halyna
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the article is to present the financial situation in Ukraine and the activities of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) for the stability of the financial system during the ongoing war with Russia. The impact of the war on the financial stability of the banking sector is undeniable. The main goal was to analyze and assess the causes of the deteriorating financial situation of the country, the increase in the level of credit risk, the causes of the deterioration of the quality of the loan portfolio, and the increase in the level of non-performing assets in Ukrainian banks. The development of the ratio of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies in Ukrainian banks in the years 2018–2022 was considered. Statistical data published in the reports of the National Bank of Ukraine and the State Statistical Service of Ukraine were used for the analyses and assessments carried out.
Shades of Violence
Authors: Leão Hermina Cielas , Pontillo Tiziana , Sudyka Lidia
Published: June 2024

No abstract is avaliable for this article.
Agonistic Scenes of the mahāvrata Rite
Authors: Rossi Paola M.
Published: June 2024

The present paper focuses on one of the competitive scenes staged during the Vedic classical mahāvrata rite: a sort of “agonistic” play performed between someone defined as abhigara, basically translated as “praiser,” and someone who is called apagara, interpreted as “reviler.” They appear to take part only in a verbal and not a physical duel. In fact, scholars consider the scene an example of a verbal contest. However, given that abhigara and apagara are never mentioned in the Rigvedic and Atharvavedic collections and rarely occur in the Vedic corpus, appearing mostly in sections concerning the peculiar mahāvrata ceremony, this dichotomous pair certainly sparks interest since they are associable with the Mahābhārata context. The analysis of the Vedic textual sources concerning the abhigara / apagara contest on the mahāvrata day, a survey of the terminology correlated to these two terms and their etymological reconstruction may offer a peculiar perspective on the relationship between violence, ritualism and narration in the Mahābhārata.
Así perciben los académicos a las editoriales en Colombia
Authors: Córdoba Restrepo Juan Felipe , Abondano Felipe
Published: June 2024

Los resultados de la investigación científica suelen ser publicados en revistas indexadas, pero raras veces se suele mencionar el rol de los libros académicos y los capítulos de libro como indicadores del desempeño de la actividad científica. Para entender su verdadero papel, un estudio, en el que participaron investigadores de la Universidad del Rosario, analiza el prestigio de las editoriales académicas colombianas y extranjeras entre los académicos del país.
A Buddhist Mindfulness View of Paradox: Silence and Skepticism of Language to Dismantle Paradoxes
Authors: Song Hee-Chan
Published: June 2024

This study explores how Buddhist mindfulness as a self-reflective practice helps individuals respond to a paradox and ultimately dismantle it. To deeply immerse myself into this context, I conducted a nine-month ethnographic fieldwork in three Korean Buddhist temples that confront the paradox between the need for financial resources and spiritual values that disavow money. The findings show a series of cognitive mechanisms that reveal multiple roles of mindfulness, manifested as silence and skepticism of language. First, the monastic environment enables monks to become familiar with a life of silence that turns their attention to the inner mind from the external-empirical world. The silence serves as a mental buffer when monks switch between their sacred role and their business role. Over time, deep silence directs them to skepticism of language that triggers doubt on preexisting linguistic categories, boundaries, and separations. When the preexisting linguistic categories finally disappear in their mind, monks no longer rely on any differentiating or integrating tactic to navigate their paradox. In other words, they no longer perceive a paradox, which means the paradox has disappeared from their life. These cognitive mechanisms construct the monks’ worldview on contradictions, conflicts, and dualities, leading them from the experience of paradox to a unique mental state, the nonexperience of paradox. Integrating this mental state and the worldview of Buddhist monks with paradox research, this study theorizes a Buddhist mindfulness view of paradox.

Funding: This work was supported by Chulalongkorn University.
Asset sharing in the healthcare sector: part one—impact on perceptions of service quality and intention to use the service again
Authors: Rothert-Schnell Caroline , Böddeker Sebastian , Walsh Gianfranco
Published: June 2024

Background/Aims

The sharing economy comprises three main actors: sharing platforms, asset providers and end users (consumers). These actors arguably possess decision-making autonomy and make sharing-related decisions on their own behalf, but the growing prevalence of asset sharing in the healthcare sector implies the possibility of heteronomous, provider-driven decisions. This article reports the findings of the first part of a two-part study providing insights into the unintended effects of sharing healthcare assets when the sharing decision is made by the healthcare service provider, not the service user.

Methods

Building on reactance theory, this study used an experimental scenario-based design. A total of 398 participants (all members of the general public) were randomly assigned to three groups and given a scenario involving a consultation with a physician. In one scenario, participants were told they would undergo an operation in a theatre used solely by the physician's practice, while in the other two scenarios the theatre was shared with either five or 10 other practices. Participants were asked about their perceptions of the physician and whether they would use their services again, ranking agreement to items on a 7-point Likert scale. Regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between asset sharing conditions, participants’ perception of the quality of the service and the intention to use the service again.

Results

Healthcare asset sharing was significantly and negatively associated with perceived service quality (b=−0.54; P=0.000). While perceived service quality had a significant positive effect on intention to use the service again (b=0.91; P<0.001), none of the sharing or non-sharing conditions had a significant direct effect on intention to use the service again. This indicates that perceived service quality had a full mediating effect on the relationship between asset sharing and intention to use the service again.

Conclusions

Sharing healthcare assets could negatively affect patients’ intention to use the service again by reducing the perceived quality of the service. Healthcare organisations should work to reduce the impact of asset sharing on perceived quality in order to prevent a negative effect on patient-related outcomes, such as satisfaction and intention to use the service again.
“The End of Our World”: Transnational Feminist Literary Practice and the Right to Self-Determination
Authors: Parikh Crystal
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This essay considers how a transnational feminist literary practice, one that proceeds through the modality of rereading and rewriting, opens up the meaning and possibilities for the right to self-determination, against and beyond the settler state sovereignty into which it has hardened. It examines the 1995 short story “My Elizabeth,” by the Arab American writer Diana Abu-Jaber, as an unexpected source of political theory, which rewrites self-determination from the perspective of occupied peoples—namely, Native peoples in the United States and Palestinians—subject to ongoing settler colonialism. Abu-Jaber’s portrait of intimacies between subjects “in transit” imagines how “radical futures past” become the source of alternate affective and political communities in the present.
"Des essais de son": Sonic Geographies of Racial Capitalism in Med Hondo's Soleil Ô
Authors: Schlesinger Matt
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Through a historically situated close reading of Mauritanian-French filmmaker Med Hondo's first feature-length film, Soleil Ô (1970), this article traces the development of a deeply inventive, decolonial form of audiovisual critique that retains its analytical and affective force. The analytic framework of racial capitalism, I propose, makes it possible to hold together the film's fragmented vignettes. Focusing on how the work attentively sifts through the powerful auditory cacophony of the postcolonial city, I argue that the film traces a sonic cartography, generating an oppositional 'sound-essay' that critically interrogates racial capitalism's structuring dynamics of social differentiation and spatial domination.
Why Was Jeannot Executed? A Possible Plan for General Liberty, Independence, and a Black-Coloured Alliance at the Beginning of the Haitian Revolution
Authors: Von Eggers Nicolai
Published: June 2024

Abstract: The Haitian revolutionary leader Jeannot is described in the historiography as a violent and sadistic figure who was executed because of his excessive violence. Critically examining available sources, this article argues instead that Jeannot was killed because he stood for an aggressive revolutionary strategy, which managed to unite a broad movement and aimed at the complete abolition of the system of slavery as opposed to the reformism pursued by those who had him killed. By revising the narrative surrounding Jeannot, this article sheds light on the political visions of the first Haitian revolutionaries, as well as the political divisions amongst them.
Sparse-angle optical projection tomography based on multi-layer sparsity and deep image priors
Authors: Chen Hantang , Ma Xu , Wang Jihui , Zhao Qile , Arce Gonzalo R.
Published: June 2024

Optical projection tomography (OPT) is a computational imaging technique to acquire the volumetric images of biological samples ranging from millimeters to centimeters. For in-vivo OPT, it is essential to minimize the inspection time to reduce the adverse impacts on organisms, including the anesthetic side effect and phototoxicity. It can be achieved by projecting the samples from equally spaced sparse angles, but this method will induce radial artifacts in the reconstructed tomographic images. This paper develops a high-quality reconstruction method for sparse-angle OPT by jointly exploiting the multi-layer sparsity prior and deep image prior (DIP) on the volumetric images. The DIP module works in an unsupervised manner without requirement on a training dataset. This method can also address the inter-layer correlation within the samples, and process multi-layer images in parallel to improve the reconstruction accuracy and efficiency. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method over some widely used reconstruction algorithms for sparse-angle OPT.
Sparse sampling photoacoustic reconstruction with a graph regularization group sparse dictionary
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Zhang Zhimin , Shan Shihao , Wildgruber Moritz , Liu Nian , Cheng Qiyuan , Ma Xiaopeng
Published: June 2024

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has emerged as a promising biomedical imaging technique. The combination of optical contrast and ultrasound spatial resolution in photoacoustic tomography overcomes the limitations of optical scattering, enabling clear imaging of tissue structures. However, achieving high-resolution photoacoustic images typically requires a large number of sensor detection elements for sufficient angular coverage. This demand for extensive data acquisition and processing raises concerns about efficiency and system complexity. While sparse sampling strategies can improve efficiency, preserving detailed structural information becomes challenging with a minimal number of detectors. To address the challenges of sparse sampling, compressed sensing (CS) techniques have been successfully applied for image reconstructions in 2D and 3D photoacoustic embodiments. In this context, we propose a joint graph regularization group sparse dictionary and total variational regularization (GRGS-TV) algorithm based on our previous work of a group sparse dictionary. It preserves structured information and geometric relationships among dictionary atoms. Moreover, TV regularization effectively preserves edge structures while exhibiting a certain degree of robustness and flexibility. Numerical simulations and in vivo experiments on mice validate the effectiveness of this method in improving photoacoustic image quality and suppressing artifacts. Comparative evaluations against other algorithms show enhanced performance in terms of image reconstruction evaluation indices. This innovative approach holds promise for advancing photoacoustic imaging in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.
N-slit quantum interferometry in the Planck domain
Authors: Duarte Francisco , Olivares Ignacio
Published: June 2024

𝑁-slit quantum interferometers, with dimensions in the near Planck-scale range, are designed and theoretically quantified. Illumination is assumed to be at wavelengths in the Planck length regime (𝑙 𝑝 ) . These calculations demonstrate that, from an interferometric perspective, standard quantum mechanics via the Dirac-Feynman principle, can reach spatial resolution scales in the 10 × 𝑙 𝑝 range.
An evaluation model for interactive gaming furniture design based on parent-child behavior
Authors: Miao Yanfeng , Gao Xuefei , Jiang Weiye , Xu Wei
Published: June 2024

This study takes the parent-child game behavior of children aged 3~6 and their parents as the research object, and extracts and summarizes the user behavioral needs of parents and children when they use game-based furniture together by using the questionnaire research method, observation method, and interview method. Based on the KJ method, 16 behavioral demand indicators were compiled by five furniture design students to construct a user behavioral demand system. In addition, AHP and entropy weight method were used to solve the user behavioral demand weights from subjective and objective perspectives in this study. Twenty experts and designers in this research field scored the indicators two by two and solved the subjective weights of user behavioral requirements according to the AHP algorithm. A seven-level Likert scale was used to design the questionnaire and distribute it to the parents of children aged 3–6 to fill in, and the 121 valid questionnaires obtained were used as raw data for entropy weighting to obtain the objective weights of user behavioral needs representing the opinions of interactive game-based furniture users. Finally, with 0.4 as the proportion coefficient of subjective weights, the subjective and objective weights were weighted to get the comprehensive weight value of each demand. The results show that the eight items with higher weights for user behavioral needs include: firm and stable, safe in use, comfortable for both parents and children, holding behavior by human-machine dimensions, able to sit on the ground and play, able to play face-to-face, easy to find for picking up, and sufficient operating space. In general, parent-child interactive game furniture firstly needs to meet the user’s needs for safety and comfort, and secondly needs to meet the user’s needs for the state of the game posture and the furniture size to meet the needs of the fetching and storage posture and the game space. The fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model established based on these needs can take into account the opinions of design experts and users at the same time and put the needs of children and parents in an equally important position so that the design of children’s play furniture can tend to meet the needs of parents and children when they use it together, and to promote parent-child interaction and the healthy growth of children.
Detecting the ecological footprint of selection
Authors: Luiselli Juliette , Overcast Isaac , Rominger Andrew , Ruffley Megan , Morlon Hélène , Rosindell James
Published: June 2024

The structure of communities is influenced by many ecological and evolutionary processes, but the way these manifest in classic biodiversity patterns often remains unclear. Here we aim to distinguish the ecological footprint of selection–through competition or environmental filtering–from that of neutral processes that are invariant to species identity. We build on existing Massive Eco-evolutionary Synthesis Simulations (MESS), which uses information from three biodiversity axes–species abundances, genetic diversity, and trait variation–to distinguish between mechanistic processes. To correctly detect and characterise competition, we add a new and more realistic form of competition that explicitly compares the traits of each pair of individuals. Our results are qualitatively different to those of previous work in which competition is based on the distance of each individual’s trait to the community mean. We find that our new form of competition is easier to identify in empirical data compared to the alternatives. This is especially true when trait data are available and used in the inference procedure. Our findings hint that signatures in empirical data previously attributed to neutrality may in fact be the result of pairwise-acting selective forces. We conclude that gathering more different types of data, together with more advanced mechanistic models and inference as done here, could be the key to unravelling the mechanisms of community assembly and question the relative roles of neutral and selective processes.
Menstrual cycle disorders as an early symptom of energy deficiency among female physique athletes assessed using the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q)
Authors: Witkoś Joanna , Luberda Edyta , Błażejewski Grzegorz , Strój Ewa
Published: June 2024

Physique competitions are weight-sensitive sports in which stage presentation, aesthetic appearance and posing ability of the athletes are judged rather than physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess low energy availability among female physique athletes by using the LEAF-Q. The study involved 104 females who were physique athletes. Monthly cycle disorders were reported in 58.65% of the women, that is periods stopped for three consecutive months or longer (amenorrhea). This situation occurred before the research was conducted in 43.27% of athletes and during the research in 15.38%. The physique athletes claimed that menstruation changes occurred when there was an increased exercise intensity, frequency or duration. Absence from training due to injury was reported by 27.88% of the women. The LEAF-Q identified 46.15% of the physique athletes as at risk (score ≥ 8) of low energy availability and the physiological consequences related to RED-S. Women who had menstrual cycle disorders were younger and did more training per week. Among women with menstrual disorders, cramps or stomach ache which cannot be related to menstruation occurred more frequently (p = 0.004). Absence from training or lack of participation in competition due to injuries occurred more frequently in the score ≥ 8 group (p = 0.024) thank the ≤ score 8 group. In the score ≥ 8 group menstruation changes, that is less bleeding or cessation of menstruation (p = 0.035), occurred more frequently when there was an increase in exercise intensity, frequency or duration (p = 0.002).
Examining the causal relationship between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and infertility: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Ma Hanghao , Chen Yan
Published: June 2024

Background

The causal relationship between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and infertility has remained unclear. Thus, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate this relationship.

Methods

Risk factors for SHBG were extracted from European individuals within the UK Biobank using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Summary-level data for infertility outcomes were obtained from the FinnGen dataset. The causal relationship between SHBG and infertility was examined using inverse variance weighted, weighted model, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression analyses. Additionally, Cochran’s Q test and Egger intercept tests were used to confirm the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of identified instrumental variables (IVs).

Results

Our findings revealed a significant negative association between sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and infertility, particularly with anovulation, a specific form of female infertility. However, SHBG did not exert a causal impact on male infertility or on female infertility of tubal origin.

Conclusions

SHBG expression offers protection against the development of certain types of female infertility, suggesting it is a potential therapeutic target for infertility.
La formación del notariado en Euskal Herria (siglos XVI-XIX)
Authors: Urrutia Badiola Andrés M.
Published: June 2024

Uno de los aspectos más interesantes del notariado en Euskal Herria es el de su evolución a lo largo de los siglos desde los escribanos forales a los notarios públicos. Incide especialmente en este campo la labor de formación del notariado, jurista desde el siglo XIX y la introducción de la Ley del Notariado española de 1862 en Álava/Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa y Nafarroa. El análisis efectuado incluye la incorporación en ese proceso de formación del notariado de dos rasgos específicos de los territorios forales, como son la lengua vasca y el Derecho civil propio de cada uno de ellos.
Recent Applications of Cloud Computing in Medical Imaging: Advances in Medical Image Analysis and Storage of Medical Imaging Data
Authors: Yordanova Mariana
Published: June 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to offer an overview of the recent applications of cloud computing in medical imaging and their advances in the field. It reviews existing scientific and academic literature on cloud computing-based platforms and solutions for medical image analysis and storage of medical imaging data. Materials and methods: This article uses available scientific literature on the applications of cloud computing in medical imaging from PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. Results: The review shows that interest and research in cloud computing applications in medical imaging has increased in recent years. This has led to new and more effective platforms and solutions for medical image analysis and storage of medical imaging data. Innovative applications of cloud computing in medical imaging try to address ethical and security concerns using authentication, encryption, anonymization and access controls. Conclusions: Cloud computing offers promising applications in medical imaging. Notwithstanding, further research is necessary to demonstrate their effectiveness, safety and security in a medical setting.
Application of Auxiliary Teaching Software in Middle School Chemistry Teaching-Taking “Chlorine and Its Compounds” as an Example
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Wu Liming , Sun Lin
Published: June 2024

The new curriculum reform in 2022 requires teachers to focus on cultivating students’ comprehensive quality, strengthen chemistry teaching methods, and enhance students’ scientific learning attitude and values. In the process of traditional middle school chemistry teaching, some chemistry experiment teaching is difficult to operate in real class due to the lack of experimental conditions, which leads to students’ difficulty in understanding experimental phenomena. The virtual experiment software enables the operator to operate the experiment as in the real environment, which not only solves the problem of traditional chemistry experiment teaching, but also improves the classroom efficiency and students’ learning ability. In this paper, NOBOOK virtual chemical simulation software and Jinhuake simulation virtual laboratory two kinds of auxiliary teaching software are used to design classroom teaching cases respectively and analyze the methods and effects of the application of auxiliary teaching software by taking two periods of the teaching unit “Chlorine and its compounds”, a compulsory chemistry course in high school of human education version as examples, aiming at improving teaching methods through auxiliary teaching software. Cultivate students’ scientific cooperative inquiry and independent problem solving ability, improve students’ learning efficiency, form learning interest, and realize efficient classroom teaching.
Different forms of civilizations and the development of woodlands: systems of interactions
Authors: Küster Hansjörg
Published: June 2024

The development of woodland was influenced by different management since some thousands of years. During prehistoric times settlements were founded and given up after some decades. In connection with this, a secondary succession of woodland took place. The spread of beech in Central Europe was favoured and some other tree species expanded in other parts of Europe. This is documented by pollen diagrams. During historic times woodland exploitation was intensified. Some tree species became rarer by more intensive management such as beech. So human impact did not have generally the same effect on the development of woodlands. As management influenced the development of woodland more than climatic changes it is likely that this will also happen in the future. Pollen diagrams are not historic sources but can be well paralleled with historic sources. It is an advantage of pollen diagrams that they encompass a total development of vegetation and do not only reflect a single event at special points of time.
Reintroductions of Forest Fauna in the Second Polish Republic
Authors: Daszkiewicz Piotr
Published: June 2024

The article presents the action of the reintroduction of forest fauna conducted in the interwar period in Poland. The activities that led to the rescue of bison were discussed. The success of saving the last beaver populations in this part of Europe was recalled and analyzed. The activities, pioneering in Europe, carried out by the State Forests, for the protection of moose, were also presented. The article draws attention to the modernity of the ecological policy in Poland during the period of 1918–1939, as well as to the importance of the policy implemented by the State Forests in this period. Despite the Soviet-German occupation of Poland, some of the activities of interwar Poland managed to survive and to this day constitute an important part of the ecological policy of the EU.
THE ROLE OF BANKING SYSTEM IN PROVINCIAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF TURKIYE, FROM THE 70S TO THE 2000S
Authors: Esen Şefika Betül
Published: June 2024

This research examines the relationship between banking activities and provincial economic development. In particular, the study offers insight on the nature of the regional economic development discrepancies in Turkiye. The study finds that, despite the trend towards decentralisation that takes place in regional economic policies, the banking system adopts centralisation policies. Using dynamic generalised method of moment (GMM) estimates, we evaluated a unique data set including 39 years of provincial demographic, socioeconomic, and financial factors in Turkey. The study demonstrates that the banking intermediation is detrimental to provincial development. The Turkish banking system’s hierarchical structure prevents financial intermediaries from fulfilling their role in fostering development. Consolidation and concentration strategies must be reassessed, since they tend to favour centralisation, which has been shown to be inefficient for regional convergence. The results also suggest that branch managers should be granted greater decision-making authority to make better use of locally produced information when approving or rejecting projects, which would eventually lead to a reduction in provincial disparities.
DETERMINANTS OF CAPITAL STRUCTURE IN ENERGY SECTOR: EVIDENCE FROM BORSA İSTANBUL
Authors: Bayraktar Güneş Beyza , Şavlı Tuba
Published: June 2024

This study aims to examine the determinants of capital structure in the energy sector of Turkey and their relation to relevant theories. The panel data analysis method was used to analyze annual data from 8 energy companies operating in Borsa Istanbul between 2014 and 2021. Results of the analysis showed that while the median debt ratio on a sector basis affects leverage positively; asset structure, growth opportunities, profitability, liquidity, industrial production and distribution index, and GDP annual growth variables negatively affect leverage. No significant relationship was found between the size of the business, non-debt tax shield, inflation, tax revenue, and leverage. It has been noted that the findings are in line with the previous studies, and the capital structure of the Turkish energy sector is generally compatible with the pecking-order theory.
Strength assessment of fiberglass layer configurations in FRP ship materials from yard practices using a statistical approach
Authors: Ismail Abdi , Ma’ruf Buana , Zubaydi Achmad , Octavanny Made Ayu Dwi , Ginta Turnad Lenggo
Published: June 2024

Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) is a type of composite extensively used in small boats in Indonesia. Most FRP research focuses on general applications and research on FRP materials is not aligned with actual yard practices in lamination. This study examined the mechanical characteristics of marine-grade FRP composites applied to ships, considering fiberglass layer configurations that conform to yard practices and their compliance analysis with several international classification rules. Samples from Bojonegara and Makassar 3 met the criteria of the Indonesian Classification Bureau, Korean Register, and American Bureau of Shipping rules for tensile and bending strength and have the best specific strength. Analysis of Variance showed that the differences in fiberglass layer configurations had a significant impact on tensile and bending strength. Grouping using Tukey Simultaneous Tests indicated that samples with four or five layers showed tensile and bending strength that were not significantly different statistically. The Unsaturated Polyester Resin brand had a considerable impact on tensile strength but a less pronounced effect on bending strength. Sample Bojonegara and Makassar 3 can be recommended for practitioners in FRP shipyards as they have met the requirements of international regulations.
Some new fixed point theorems of α-partially nonexpansive mappings
Authors: Shukla Rahul
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we introduce a new class of nonlinear mappings and compare it to other classes of nonlinear mappings that have appeared in the literature. We establish various existence and convergence theorems for this class of mappings under different assumptions in Banach spaces, particularly Banach spaces with a normal structure. In addition, we provide examples to substantiate the findings presented in this study. We prove the existence of a common fixed point for a family of commuting

α

\alpha

-partially nonexpansive self-mappings. Furthermore, we extend the results reported by Suzuki (Fixed point theorems and convergence theorems for some generalized nonexpansive mappings, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 340 (2008), no. 2, 1088–1095), Llorens-Fuster (Partially nonexpansive mappings, Adv. Theory Nonlinear Anal. Appl. 6 (2022), no. 4, 565–573), and Dhompongsa et al. (Edelstein’s method and fixed point theorems for some generalized nonexpansive mappings, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 350 (2009), no. 1, 12–17). Finally, we present an open problem concerning the existence of fixed points for

α

\alpha

-partially nonexpansive mappings in the context of uniformly nonsquare Banach spaces.
War Memories, Monumental Activism, and Regional Identity in the Arctic Borderland
Authors: Spirin Artem
Published: June 2024

Given the recent trend toward the instrumentalization of memory of the Great Patriotic War (GPW) in Russian federal memory politics, this article examines regional features of this trend by assessing the transformations that occurred in the monumental GPW commemoration in the post-Soviet Murmansk region. The case study analyzes the process of creating war memorials dedicated to the Battle for Zapoliar’e, a Murmansk regional narrative of the Great Patriotic War, by observing new war memorials and activities of mnemonic actors initiating these memorials. The article sheds light on the vigorous commemorative activism pushed by a set of regional mnemonic actors who, although remaining loyal to the official patriotic state narrative of the Battle, tend to emphasize other aspects, particularly heroic or tragic, depending on their agendas. While veteran organizations and sometimes regional authorities promote the state-centric and triumphalist vision of the Battle, local poiskoviki activists, on the contrary, appeal to its tragic side, pointing out the importance of the personal remembrance of the fallen. The article concludes that, although the centralization and unification trends in Russian memory politics noticeably affect the regional domain, they are unlikely to fully explain the regional dynamics of developing the monumental media of war memory since such dynamics are set primarily by grassroots activists.
Formulation of Feed Pellet with MD2 Pineapple Peel Inclusion as Potential Prebiotic for Local Red Hybrid Tilapia Fish, Oreochromis Niloticus
Authors: Abdul Rahman Sukirah , Shukor M.Y.A. , Mustafa S. , Kamaruddin M.S. , Ting Y.S. , Jamaludin F.I. , Samad N. , Koh S.P.
Published: June 2024

Fruit waste such as pineapple peel is cost-effective, halal and can be applied as feed additives for the value-added feed. Unrestrained use of antibiotics to maintain the health of aquaculture has implicated resistance to pathogenic aquaculture bacteria towards the antibiotics and somehow leaking into the food chain. Therefore, incorporating prebiotics in aquaculture as feed additives could be a harmless and better option to promote aquaculture well-being. The aim of this study is to formulate fish feed for Red Hybrid tilapia, with the inclusion of 5% MD2 pineapple peel (PAP) as a prebiotic supplement and to evaluate the nutritional diet and physical characteristics of the pellet. The tilapia fish diet contains soybean meal, fish meal, corn, corn gluten meal, casava tuber meal, palm oil, mineral premix, vitamins, and MD2 pineapple peel. The formulation comprises calculated values of digestible energy;14MJ/kg and 32%digestible protein. The results for moisture content, bulk density, floatability, expansion ratio and hardness were 25.06%, 385.28kg/m3, 97%, 1.09 and 3.65 respectively. It can be concluded that the formulated pellet was comparable to the commercial feed, Starfeed brand.
In-silico Studies of Usnic Acid against DENV-3 Methyltransferase
Authors: Roney Miah , Dubey Amit , Huq AKM Moyeenul , Mohd Aluwi Mohd Fadhlizil Fasihi
Published: June 2024

There is currently no antiviral medication for dengue, a highly fatal tropical infectious disease spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The most conserved of the four Dengue serotypes and an essential element in viral replication, Dengue NS5 MTase is a promising therapeutic target. Applying in-silico techniques such as molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacophore analysis, we intend to discover novel inhibitors against Dengue NS5 MTase from Usnic acid. In the end, the docking results indicated that usnic acid had satisfactory docking values of -9.3 kcal/mol. We were able to confirm that the usnic acid had higher potential scores in docking and bound amino acids than the reference compound during our in-silico evaluation. Molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacophore evaluations revealed that usnic acid has high pharmacological potential. Additionally, we anticipate that the testing in vitro and in vivo of usnic acid would indicate potential medicinal benefits.
Synthesis and Characterization of Electrospun Fiber from Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle Waste
Authors: Ullah M. , Asri W. M. A. W. , Roslan R. , Jose R. , Misnon Izan Izwan
Published: June 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most recyclable plastic used for daily applications and the waste, especially from packaging, posed a significant environmental challenge. Inappropriate handling and disposal of plastic waste caused a majority of pollution, including microplastics. To address this issue, PET were chosen for recycling process. Electrospinning was employed to transform plastic waste into nanofibers. In this work, PET was successfully dissolved and electrospun. The electrospun fibers were characterized using FESEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, and tensile techniques. Overall, this research aimed to transform plastic waste into new materials with various future potential applications, contributing to waste reduction and sustainability.