bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuromuscular Fitness Is Associated with Serve Speed in Young Female Tennis Players
Authors: Bilić Zlatan , Martić Paola , Barbaros Petar , Sinković Filip , Novak Dario
Published: April 2024

In tennis, the serve plays a key role in determining the success of a player. The speed of a serve is influenced by a multitude of interconnected skills and abilities. The objective of this study was to establish the correlation between the explosive strength of the throwing type, the grip strength and flexibility of the arms, and the shoulder girdle with the serve speed in young female tennis players. Additionally, the study aimed to develop a regression model that accurately predicts the serve speed by analyzing the interplay among these variables. The study was carried out on a group of 20 tennis players, who had an average age of 13.10 ± 0.74 years. Additionally, their height was recorded as 165.70 ± 4.90 cm, and their body mass was measured at 51.45 ± 5.84 kg. To assess the motor abilities of the upper extremities, four tests were used that aimed to measure the explosive strength of the throwing type; one test was for the strength of the hand and forearm muscles, and one test was for the flexibility of the arms and shoulder girdle. Of all the variables examined, the medicine ball throw shot put (MBTSP) (r = 0.75), overhead medicine ball throw (OMBT) (r = 0.70), and grip strength (GS) (r = 0.71) displayed a notable correlation with serve speed (p < 0.05). The results obtained from the multiple regression analysis indicate that the combination of selected predictors (MBTSP—medicine ball throw shot put, OMBT—overhead medicine ball throw and GS—grip strength) explained 75% of the variability in serve speed. Significantly, MBTSP surfaced as the predominant predictor, autonomously elucidating 51% of the variability in serve speed. The importance of improving the analyzed motor skills of young female tennis players to enhance their serve in terms of speed is emphasized by the findings of this research.
Place Matters: A Study on the Influence of Birthplace and the Place of Development on Soccer Academy Players’ Careers
Authors: Hernández-Simal Lander , Calleja-González Julio , Larruskain Jon , Lorenzo Calvo Alberto , Aurrekoetxea-Casaus Maite
Published: April 2024

The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthplace. The main purposes of this study were: (1) establish whether there is a difference between the birthplace and sporting growth according to the stages of entry into the academy, (2) to evaluate the influence of geographical and contextual variables on sporting development, and (3) assess the chances of making a professional team debut. Applied logistic regression was used in order to analyse the birthplace and growth of 1411 male soccer players, of which 40.1% are incorporated in the U-12 category from a Spanish First division club, and the results showed a statistically significant association between a change from one’s birthplace to the place of sporting growth and later success (79%). Key contextual variables such as number of inhabitants, population density, proximity to sports facilities, average household income and presence of sports clubs have been considered. The analysis of the contextual variables revealed that there was a positive relationship between certain variables, like a higher population, and being selected for the academy (p < 0.01; r = 0.28). Finally, the findings showed that players who experienced a geographical transition were 38% more likely to make a professional debut. The importance of considering the place of sporting growth when analysing the “birthplace effect” has therefore been demonstrated.
Comparison of the Effects of Gradual and Acute Treatment with Mn on Physiological Responses of Rumex hydrolapathum Plants
Authors: Samsone Ineta , Ievinsh Gederts
Published: April 2024

An understudied problem in plant heavy metal biology is the effects of acute versus gradual or chronic metal exposure. The aim of the present study was to compare the growth and physiological responses of Rumex hydrolapathum Huds. plants subjected to gradual or acute Mn stress treatment in controlled conditions. Heavy metal was applied to substrate either as one 1.00 g L−1 Mn dose (acute treatment) or the same dose in four steps of increasing amounts within 12 days (gradual treatment). Peroxidase activity in actively photosynthesizing leaves was used for monitoring induced biochemical changes resulting from Mn treatment. The number of leaves per plant significantly increased in the case of gradual treatment with Mn, but this effect was not statistically significant for acute treatment. Leaf fresh mass significantly decreased in both cases due to the decrease in leaf water content, but dry biomass of leaves was not affected, with no significant differences between the two types of treatments. A significantly lower chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Performance Index in large leaves of plants under the acute Mn treatment than in plants under the gradual treatment was evident. An increase in leaf peroxidase activity by Mn treatment was proportional to the metal dose received, but plants in the acute treatment with 1.00 g L−1 Mn had a significantly lower peroxidase response in comparison to the gradual treatment with 1.00 g L−1 Mn. In conclusion, under gradual treatment, biochemical changes related to the induction of tolerance to the heavy metal are expressed, as indicated by the continuous increase in leaf peroxidase activity after each treatment step.
Eco-Efficiency Performance for Multi-Objective Optimal Design of Carbon/Glass/Flax Fibre-Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Authors: Biswas Wahidul , Dong Chensong
Published: April 2024

An eco-efficiency optimisation study on unidirectional carbon/glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites with natural fibre (i.e., flax) and without flax is presented in this paper. The mechanical performance was assessed by determining the flexural properties obtained via finite element analysis (FEA)-based simulation. Given the required flexural strength, optimal candidate designs were found using a set of design rules and regression analysis, with minimising the cost and weight being the objectives. An eco-efficiency framework was applied to determine the eco-efficient hybrid composites. Life cycle assessment was an indispensable component of the framework as it helped determine the life cycle environmental impacts and costs of the hybrid composite materials. The environmental impacts and cost values were converted to the eco-efficiency portfolios of these composites for both comparison and selection purposes. The hybrid composites using bio-based flax fibre have been found to be eco-efficient in most of the cases due to the avoidance of energy-intensive and expensive reinforcing materials. The environmental impacts of the hybrid composites using flaxes are 12 to 13% less than the ones using no flaxes and the former are 7 to 13% cheaper than the latter, making the flax-based hybrid composites eco-efficient.
Does Transportation Infrastructure Construction Enhance Enterprise Innovation Resilience in China?
Authors: Li Enji , An Ziwei
Published: April 2024

With increasing uncertainty and ambiguity in the external business environment, the risks and challenges faced by enterprises also increase accordingly; resilience has become a necessary characteristic for the evolution and upgrading of enterprise innovation systems, and improving enterprise innovation resilience becomes the key for enterprises to establish sustainable competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development. Based on the panel data of Chinese listed companies and cities, we employ the common factor method to measure enterprise innovation resilience and explore the impact of transportation infrastructure construction on enterprise innovation resilience. The results reveal that, firstly, enterprise innovation resilience shows an overall upward trend, but there is a certain degree of temporal–spatial and industrial disparity. Secondly, transportation infrastructure construction, represented by HSR opening, can significantly improve enterprise innovation resilience. However, this effect performs the following heterogeneity: (1) Regionally, the promotion effect is more obvious in eastern regions, central cities, and non-central cities within 107 km and 764 km away from the central city. (2) For enterprises, compared to state-owned enterprises and non-high-tech industries, transportation infrastructure construction has a greater effect in non-state-owned enterprises and high-tech industries. (3) The higher the degree of centrality and closeness centrality, the more obvious the promotion effect of transportation infrastructure construction. Finally, mechanism tests show that enterprise resource acquisition and resource allocation abilities are important channels for transportation infrastructure construction, to enhance enterprise innovation resilience.
Preparation of Adsorbent from Mechanochemical Reaction-Based Waste Seashell with Sodium Oxalate and Its Application in Pb Ion Adsorption
Authors: Maruyama Hideo
Published: April 2024

Waste seashell (scallop shell)-based adsorbent was prepared via mechanochemical reaction with sodium oxalate using ball milling. The oxalate-modified seashell-based adsorbents (OS) were prepared by varying the molar ratio of calcium and oxalate to 0.5, 1, and 2. Sodium oxalate was used as the aqueous solution in ball milling. Lead ion adsorption was conducted with the prepared adsorbent. The adsorption behavior of lead ions was investigated in terms of adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium. The time course of the amount of Pb adsorbed agreed well with Langmuir rate equation. The adsorption equilibrium relationship of OS adsorbent and Pb agreed well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Increasing with the molar ratio, the saturated amount of Pb adsorbed increased slightly from 5.45 × 10−3 to 6.23 × 10−3 mol/g. Under the present experimental conditions, the maximum equilibrium adsorption was 5.93 × 10−3 mol/g, which is greater than that reported in the literature.
Sustainable Technological Applications of Green Carbon Materials
Authors: Freitas Martinho , da Silva Luís Pinto , Rodrigues Pedro M. S. M. , Esteves da Silva Joaquim
Published: April 2024

Green carbon-based materials (GCM), i.e., carbon materials produced using renewable biomass or recycled waste, ought to be used to make processes sustainable and carbon-neutral. Carbon nanomaterials, like carbon dots and the nanobichar families, and carbon materials, like activated carbon and biochar substances, are sustainable materials with great potential to be used in different technological applications. In this review, the following four applications were selected, and the works published in the last two years (since 2022) were critically reviewed: agriculture, water treatment, energy management, and carbon dioxide reduction and sequestration. GCM improved the performance of the technological applications under revision and played an important role in the sustainability of the processes, contributing to the mitigation of climate change, by reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of CO2eq.
Adaptive Multi-Channel Deep Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Wang Renbiao , Li Fengtai , Liu Shuwei , Li Weihao , Chen Shizhan , Feng Bin , Jin Di
Published: April 2024

Graph neural networks (GNNs) have shown significant success in graph representation learning. However, the performance of existing GNNs degrades seriously when their layers deepen due to the over-smoothing issue. The node embedding incline converges to a certain value when GNNs repeat, aggregating the representations of the receptive field. The main reason for over-smoothing is that the receptive field of each node tends to be similar as the layers increase, which leads to different nodes aggregating similar information. To solve this problem, we propose an adaptive multi-channel deep graph neural network (AMD-GNN) to adaptively and symmetrically aggregate information from the deep receptive field. The proposed model ensures that the receptive field of each node in the deep layer is different so that the node representations are distinguishable. The experimental results demonstrate that AMD-GNN achieves state-of-the-art performance on node classification tasks with deep models.
Early Fault Diagnosis of Bearings Based on Symplectic Geometry Mode Decomposition Guided by Optimal Weight Spectrum Index
Authors: Wei Chenglong , Zhou Yiqi , Han Bo , Liu Pengchuan
Published: April 2024

When the rotating machinery fails, the signal generated by the faulty component often no longer maintains the original symmetry, which makes the vibration signal with nonlinear and non-stationary characteristics, and is easily affected by background noise and other equipment excitation sources. In the early stage of fault occurrence, the fault signal is weak and difficult to extract. Traditional fault diagnosis methods are not able to easily diagnose fault information. To address this issue, this paper proposes an early fault diagnosis method for symplectic geometry mode decomposition (SGMD) based on the optimal weight spectrum index (OWSI). Firstly, using normal and fault signals, the optimal weight spectrum is derived through convex optimization. Secondly, SGMD is used to decompose the fault signal, obtaining a series of symplectic geometric modal components (SGCs) and calculating the optimal weight index of each component signal. Finally, using the principle of maximizing the OWSI, sensitive components reflecting fault characteristics are selected, and the signal is reconstructed based on this index. Then, envelope analysis is performed on the sensitive components to extract early fault characteristics of rolling bearings. OWSI can effectively distinguish the interference components in fault signals using normal signals, while SGMD has the characteristic of unchanged phase space structure, which can effectively ensure the integrity of internal features in data. Using actual fault data of rolling bearings for verification, the results show that the proposed method can effectively extract sensitive components that reflect fault characteristics. Compared with existing methods such as Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), Feature Mode Decomposition (FMD), and Spectral Kurtosis (SK), this method has better performance.
Solving Boundary Value Problems by Sinc Method and Geometric Sinc Method
Authors: Darweesh Amer , Al-Khaled Kamel , Algamara Mohammed
Published: April 2024

This paper introduces an efficient numerical method for approximating solutions to geometric boundary value problems. We propose the multiplicative sinc–Galerkin method, tailored specifically for solving multiplicative differential equations. The method utilizes the geometric Whittaker cardinal function to approximate functions and their geometric derivatives. By reducing the geometric differential equation to a system of algebraic equations, we achieve computational efficiency. The method not only proves to be computationally efficient but also showcases a valuable symmetric property, aligning with inherent patterns in geometric structures. This symmetry enhances the method’s compatibility with the often-present symmetries in geometric boundary value problems, offering both computational advantages and a deeper understanding of geometric calculus. To demonstrate the reliability and efficiency of the proposed method, we present several examples with both homogeneous and non-homogeneous boundary conditions. These examples serve to validate the method’s performance in practice.
Test–Retest Reproducibility of Reduced-Field-of-View Density-Weighted CRT MRSI at 3T
Authors: Farley Nicholas , Susnjar Antonia , Chiew Mark , Emir Uzay E.
Published: April 2024

Quantifying an imaging modality’s ability to reproduce results is important for establishing its utility. In magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI), new acquisition protocols are regularly introduced which improve upon their precursors with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), total acquisition duration, and nominal voxel resolution. This study has quantified the within-subject and between-subject reproducibility of one such new protocol (reduced-field-of-view density-weighted concentric ring trajectory (rFOV-DW-CRT) MRSI) by calculating the coefficient of variance of data acquired from a test–retest experiment. The posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the right superior corona radiata (SCR) were selected as the regions of interest (ROIs) for grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM), respectively. CVs for between-subject and within-subject were consistently around or below 15% for Glx, tCho, and Myo-Ins, and below 5% for tNAA and tCr.
Chatbot Service Quality: An Experiment Comparing Two Countries with Different Levels of Digital Literacy
Authors: Vena-Oya Julio , Castañeda-García José Alberto , Burys Jan
Published: April 2024

The use of new technologies in tourism is bringing about a genuine revolution in the sector, where automated services, such as chatbots, are increasingly being used to perform some of the tasks involved in service delivery. However, the emergence of new technologies in a sector as globalized as tourism can mean that not all users are able to perceive the benefits of these innovations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine whether the digital literacy (DL) of a tourist may lead to different evaluations of the quality of the electronic service they received, both overall and as per the different dimensions of quality. This study compares a more innovative and interactive service-provision technology (a chatbot) with a more traditional one (email). To this end, an experiment was conducted in which 124 participants from Spain (higher DL) and the Czech Republic (lower DL) were asked to interact with these two technologies in a simulated hotel customer-service scenario. The results show that individuals with higher DL rated the quality of service received via chatbot higher than individuals with lower DL. The latter prefer email because they perceived it to provide greater security, empathy, reliability, and information quality. However, participants with higher DL preferred the chatbot due to its greater competence in completing the task. Finally, the participants rated the responsiveness of the chatbot higher than that of email. These results can help the introduction of chatbot-based customer service in the tourism sector.
Immunogenicity of Two Doses of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine with a ChAdOx1-S Booster Dose among Navy Personnel in Mexico
Authors: Ventura-Enríquez Yanet , Cortina-De la Rosa Evelyn , Díaz-Padilla Elizabeth , Murrieta Sandra , Segundo-Martínez Silvia , Fernández-Sánchez Verónica , Vargas-De-León Cruz
Published: April 2024

Booster doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine have been recommended to improve and prolong immunity, address waning immunity over time, and contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. A heterologous booster vaccine strategy may offer advantages over a homologous approach. To compare the immunogenicity of two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with a ChAdOx1-S booster dose, immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-spike (anti-S) and anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) antibody titers (Ab) were compared over 1 year and post-booster vaccination. Results showed that, at 3- to 9-month assessments in vaccinated subjects, an-ti-N Ab were undetectable in participants with no history of COVID-19. In contrast, anti-S Ab measurements were lower than those with COVID-19, and a decrease was observed during the 9 months of observation. After booster vaccination, no differences were found in anti-S between participants who reported a history of COVID-19 and those who did not. Anti-S levels were higher after booster vaccination measurement vs. at 9 months in participants with COVID-19 and without COVID-19, i.e., independent of an infection history. Vaccine administration elicited a response of higher anti-S IgG levels in those infected before vaccination, although levels decreased during the first nine months. IgG anti-N titers were higher in participants with a history of declared infection and who were asymptomatic. The ChAdOx1-S booster increased anti-S Ab levels in participants regardless of whether they had been infected or not to a significantly higher value than with the first two vaccines. These findings underscore the importance of booster vaccination in eliciting a robust and sustained immune response against COVID-19, regardless of the prior infection status.
Correction: Sun, Y.-D.; Yokomi, R. Genotype Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis Revealed the Origins of Citrus Yellow Vein Clearing Virus California Isolates. Viruses 2024, 16, 188
Authors: Sun Yong-Duo , Yokomi Raymond
Published: April 2024

In the original publication [...]
Establishment of the First National Standard for Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 XBB Variants
Authors: Zhang Xuanxuan , Guan Lidong , Li Na , Wang Ying , Li Lu , Liu Mingchen , He Qian , Lu Jiansheng , Zeng Haiyuan , Yu Shan , Guo Xinyi , Gong Jiali , Li Jing , Gao Fan , Wu Xing , Chen Si , Wang Qian , Wang Zhongfang , Huang Weijin , Mao Qunying , Liang Zhenglun , Xu Miao
Published: April 2024

Neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are indicators of vaccine efficacy that enable immunity surveillance. However, the rapid mutation of SARS-CoV-2 variants prevents the timely establishment of standards required for effective XBB vaccine evaluation. Therefore, we prepared four candidate standards (No. 11, No. 44, No. 22, and No. 33) using plasma, purified immunoglobulin, and a broad-spectrum neutralizing monoclonal antibody. Collaborative calibration was conducted across nine Chinese laboratories using neutralization methods against 11 strains containing the XBB and BA.2.86 sublineages. This study demonstrated the reduced neutralization potency of the first International Standard antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern against XBB variants. No. 44 displayed broad-spectrum neutralizing activity against XBB sublineages, effectively reduced interlaboratory variability for nearly all XBB variants, and effectively minimized the geometric mean titer (GMT) difference between the live and pseudotyped virus. No. 22 showed a broader spectrum and higher neutralizing activity against all strains but failed to reduce interlaboratory variability. Thus, No. 44 was approved as a National Standard for NtAbs against XBB variants, providing a unified NtAb measurement standard for XBB variants for the first time. Moreover, No. 22 was approved as a national reference reagent for NtAbs against SARS-CoV-2, offering a broad-spectrum activity reference for current and potentially emerging variants.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Influenza Vaccination Coverage of Healthcare Personnel in Alicante, Spain
Authors: Guerrero-Soler María , Gras-Valenti Paula , Platas-Abenza Guillermo , Sánchez-Payá José , Sanjuan-Quiles Ángela , Chico-Sánchez Pablo ,   on behalf of the Preventive Medicine Vaccination Work Group
Published: April 2024

Influenza is a health problem and vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent it. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccination coverage (VC) against influenza in healthcare workers (HCWs). A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dr. Balmis University General Hospital in the province of Alicante (Spain), in which vaccination data were collected retrospectively. Adverse effects (AEs) were detected via telephone call between 15 and 30 days after vaccination. The existence of significant changes in VC between the different seasons studied was evaluated using Chi square with a statistical significance level of p < 0.05. A total of 8403 HCWs vaccinated throughout the different seasons were studied. The vaccination coverage of HCWs for influenza pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2019/20 season) was 51.9%; increased during the pandemic to 67.9% (2020/21 season) and 65.5% (2021/22 season); and, after the pandemic, it decreased to 42.7% (2022/23 season) (p < 0.05). The most frequent reason for vaccination during the periods evaluated was “self-protection”, followed by “protection of patients” and “protection of family members”. Of all HCWs evaluated, 26.6% (1460/5493) reported at least one AE. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs’ influenza vaccination coverage fluctuated considerably. There has been an increase in VC during the most critical moments of the pandemic, both in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, which has, subsequently, decreased in the 2022/2023 season, to levels below pre-pandemic (2019/2020 season), which justifies implementing specific measures to recover VC in Spain.
Immunogenicity Assessment of the SARS-CoV-2 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine (CoV2-IB 0322) in a Substudy of a Phase 3 Trial in Indonesia
Authors: Shakinah Sharifah , Aini Muhammad Hafiz , Sekartini Rini , Soedjatmiko  , Medise Bernie Endyarni , Gunardi Hartono , Yuniar Irene , Indawati Wahyuni , Koesnoe Sukamto , Harimurti Kuntjoro , Maria Suzy , Wirahmadi Angga , Sari Rini Mulia , Setyaningsih Lilis , Surachman Fikrianti
Published: April 2024

Background: COVID-19 is one of the most devastating pandemics of the 21st century. Vaccination is one of the most effective prevention methods in combating COVID-19, and one type of vaccine being developed was the protein subunit recombinant vaccine. We evaluated the efficacy of the CoV2-IB 0322 vaccine in Depok, Indonesia. Methods: This study aimed to assess the humoral and cellular immune response of the CoV2-IB 0322 vaccine compared to an active control vaccine (COVOVAX™ Vaccine). A total of 120 subjects were enrolled and randomized into two groups, with 60 subjects in each group. Participants received either two doses of the CoV2-IB 0322 vaccine or two doses of the control vaccine with a 28-day interval between doses. Safety assessments were conducted through onsite monitoring and participant-reported adverse events. Immunogenicity was evaluated by measuring IgG anti-RBD SARS-CoV-2 and IgG-neutralizing antibodies. Cellular immunity was assessed by specific T-cell responses. Whole blood samples were collected at baseline, 14 days, 6 months, and 12 months after the second dose for cellular immunity evaluation. Results: Both vaccines showed high seropositive rates, with neutralizing antibody and IgG titers peaking 14 days after the second dose and declining by 12 months. The seroconversion rate of anti-S IgG was 100% in both groups, but the rate of neutralizing antibody seroconversion was lower in the CoV2-IB 0322 vaccine group at 14 days after the second dose (p = 0.004). The CoV2-IB 0322 vaccine showed higher IgG GMT levels 6 and 12 months after the second dose (p < 0.001 and p = 0.01). T-cell responses, evaluated by IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 production by CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, showed similar results without significant differences between both groups, except for %IL-2/CD4+ cells 6 months after the second dose (p = 0.038). Conclusion: Both vaccines showed comparable B- and T-cell immunological response that diminish over time.
“You Don’t Know If It’s the Truth or a Lie”: Exploring Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Hesitancy among Communities with Low HPV Vaccine Uptake in Northern California
Authors: Dang Julie H. T. , Gori Alexandra , Rios Lucy , Rolon Angelica M. , Zhang Jingwen , Chen Moon S.
Published: April 2024

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, delaying or refusing to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines, impedes the progress of achieving optimal HPV vaccine coverage. Little is known about the sources of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy among racially/ethnically and geographically diverse communities. The purpose of this paper is to explore HPV vaccine hesitancy among rural, Slavic, and Latino communities that reside in counties with low HPV vaccine uptake rates. Methods: Key informant interviews and focus groups were conducted with rural, Slavic, and Latino communities that reside within counties in California that have low HPV vaccine up to date rates (16–25%). Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: A total of seven focus groups and 14 key informant interviews were conducted with 39 individuals from seven California counties. Salient themes that contributed to HPV vaccine hesitancy included the following: social media and the anti-vaccination movement; a strong belief in acquiring immunity naturally; prior vaccine experiences; and vaccine timing concerns. Participants suggested the provision of culturally appropriate, in-language, in-person easy to understand HPV vaccine education to mitigate HPV vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: Our findings can inform future interventions to increase HPV vaccine uptake among hesitant communities.
Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Therapeutic Ultrasound on Quadriceps Contracture of Immobilized Rats
Authors: Suwankanit Kanokwan , Shimizu Miki
Published: April 2024

Quadriceps contracture is a condition where the muscle–tendon unit is abnormally shortened. The treatment prognosis is guarded to poor depending on the progress of the disease. To improve the prognosis, we investigated the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound and NMES in treating quadriceps contracture in an immobilized rat model. Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomized into control, immobilization alone, immobilization and spontaneous recovery, immobilization and therapeutic ultrasound, immobilization and NMES, and immobilization and therapeutic ultrasound and NMES combination groups. The continuous therapeutic ultrasound (frequency, 3 MHz, intensity 1 W/cm2) and NMES (TENS mode, frequency 50 Hz; intensity 5.0 ± 0.8 mA) were performed on the quadriceps muscle. On Day 15, immobilization-induced quadriceps contracture resulted in a decreased ROM of the stifle joint, reduction in the sarcomere length, muscle atrophy, and muscle fibrosis. On Day 43, therapeutic ultrasound, NMES, and combining both methods improved muscle atrophy and shortening and decreased collagen type I and III and α-SMA protein. The combination of therapeutic ultrasound and NMES significantly reduced the mRNA expression of IL-1β, TGF-β1, and HIF-1α and increased TGF-β3. Therefore, the combination of therapeutic ultrasound and NMES is the most potent rehabilitation program for treating quadriceps contracture.
A Sustainability Approach between the Water–Energy–Food Nexus and Clean Energy
Authors: Herrera-Franco Gricelda , Bravo-Montero Lady , Caicedo-Potosí Jhon , Carrión-Mero Paúl
Published: April 2024

The excessive use of energy from fossil fuels, which corresponds to population, industrialisation, and unsustainable economic growth, is the cause of carbon dioxide production and climate change. The Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is an applicable conceptual framework that helps manage the balance between human development and natural resource constraints, and it becomes a valuable tool to address the challenges of resource depletion and clean energy. This article aims to analyse the relationship between the WEF nexus and clean energy through a statistical analysis and a systematic review of knowledge on energy sustainability. The methodology involves the selection of bibliographic information databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), a statistical analysis, specifically the Scientometrics applied to the information obtained, and the identification of 179 scientific publications related to the study variables through a screening process called Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The interaction of green energy and sustainability with the WEF nexus has been approached mainly by developed countries such as China (10%), the United States (9.49%), India (7.26%), and Brazil (5.02%). The review of 55 scientific papers identified strategies that balance economic growth and environmental impact, applying clean energy systems (e.g., solar and wind), and the importance of adaptation to the subsystems of the WEF nexus. This study also highlights adaptability to climate change in rural and urban communities. Therefore, it is consistent with the four pillars of sustainable development (Economic: 7 papers, Environmental: 22, Social: 18, and Cultural: 8). This study highlights the following: (a) the importance of the use of renewable energy either in mixed systems and consumption, energy storage, and seeking energy efficiency in systems adapted to diverse environments and (b) the relevance of community participation in the decision-making process for the use of clean energy, such as a strategy for climate change adaptation.
A Hybrid PIV/Optical Flow Method for Incompressible Turbulent Flows
Authors: Mendes Luís P. N. , Ricardo Ana M. C. , Bernardino Alexandre J. M. , Ferreira Rui M. L.
Published: April 2024

We present novel velocimetry algorithms based on the hybridization of correlation-based Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and a combination of Lucas–Kanade and Liu–Shen optical flow (OpF) methods. An efficient Aparapi/OpenCL implementation of those methods is also provided in the accompanying open-source QuickLabPIV-ng tool enabled with a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Two different options of hybridization were developed and tested: OpF as a last step, after correlation-based PIV, and OpF as a substitute for sub-pixel interpolation. Hybridization increases the spatial resolution of PIV, enabling the characterization of small turbulent scales and the computation of key turbulence parameters such as the rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy. The method was evaluated using both synthetic and real databases, representing flows that exhibit a variety of locally isotropic homogeneous turbulent scales. The proposed hybrid PIV-OpF results in a 3-fold increase in the PIV density for synthetic images. The analysis of power spectral density functions and auto-correlation demonstrated the impact of PIV image quality on the accuracy of the method and its ability to extend the turbulence range. We discuss the challenges posed by optical noise and tracer density in the quality of the vector map density.
Unlocking Energy from Waste: A Comprehensive Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Recovery Potential in Ghana
Authors: Tahiru Abdul-Wahab , Cobbina Samuel Jerry , Asare Wilhemina , Takal Silas Uwumborge
Published: April 2024

Ghana is currently facing a waste crisis that presents considerable risks to its environment, economy, and public health. This investigation evaluates four prospective waste-to-energy options—namely, incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and landfill gas—with the objective of mapping out a sustainable strategy for efficient waste management. Among these solutions, anaerobic digestion stands out as a superior option, offering renewable energy production, valuable bio-product creation, and a comparatively lower greenhouse gas emission effect. A cost analysis further reveals that utilizing biogas from anaerobic digestion is not only environmentally friendly but also economically more viable than relying on light crude oil. Producing 200 MW of energy using biogas costs 36% less, potentially resulting in monthly savings of USD 5.46 million for Ghana. However, several obstacles impede the development of WtE. Inaccurate waste data and a lack of clear policies on waste-to-energy hinder the harnessing of Ghana’s WtE potential. To address this, the study recommends (1) implementing a well-defined national strategy complete with regulations and incentives to attract investments and (2) conducting specialized research to optimize WtE technologies for Ghana’s unique waste composition and context. By surmounting these challenges, Ghana stands poised to secure a sustainable future, simultaneously meeting the targets of Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 11. This entails ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all (SDG 7) and fostering inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements (SDG 11).
A Quantitative Investigation of Black and Latina Adolescent Girls’ Experiences of Gendered Racial Microaggressions, Familial Racial Socialization, and Critical Action
Authors: Quiles Taina B. , Mathews Channing J. , Ross Raven A. , Rosario Maria , Leath Seanna
Published: April 2024

As Black and Latina adolescent girls experience race and gender discrimination, they may turn to their families to explore their beliefs about and responses to systemic injustice and oppression. Familial racial socialization is a likely entry point for critical action (like community activism), linking ethnic–racial identity and critical consciousness in youth development. We used hierarchical linear regression to investigate whether familial racial socialization moderated the relationship between experiences of gendered racism and community activism. We analyzed survey data for 315 Black (n = 158) and Latina/Afro-Latina (n = 157) girls (n = 282) and gender-expansive youth (age 13–17) from the southern United States. We found that girls who received more familial socialization and were more frequently stereotyped as being angry participated in more low-risk and formal political activism. Also, Black and Latina girls who were more frequently stereotyped as angry and received more messages about racism from their families engaged in more high-risk activism, while girls who were more frequently perceived as angry and received less racial socialization engaged in less high-risk activism. We discuss the implications of our results for families, educators, and scholars who support Black and Latina girls’ sociopolitical development.
Self-Regulation as a Protective Factor against Bullying during Early Adolescence
Authors: Williams Christopher , Griffin Kenneth W. , Botvin Caroline M. , Sousa Sandra , Botvin Gilbert J.
Published: April 2024

Self-regulation has been shown to play a protective role against youth substance abuse, but less is known about its influence on bullying behavior. In the present study, we examined several forms of bullying (physical, social, cyber, and all forms combined) and roles (bullies, victims, and bully-victims). Students (N = 1977, ages 11 to 13) from 27 middle schools throughout the United States (US) completed an online self-reported assessment of bullying and its hypothesized etiologic determinants. Across the outcomes, analyses revealed that social bullying was most prevalent, followed by physical bullying and cyberbullying. For bullying roles, almost two-thirds of students reported bullying victimization, nearly one-quarter reported bullying perpetration, and one in five students reported both. Of those reporting perpetration, 9 of 10 reported being victimized. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between self-regulation, bystander intervention skills, and bullying. For all forms of bullying combined, self-regulation was protective against bullying perpetration (OR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.63) and perpetration/victimization (OR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.68), while bystander intervention skills were not protective. Similar patterns emerged for physical, social, and cyberbullying. Collectively, these findings indicate that building self-regulation skills may be a critical component of interventions aimed at preventing bullying among school-aged youth.
Concentration of vitamin D in the blood serum of women and men of different ages in the Ural Federal District in 2020–2022
Authors:   High Technology Park, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Krivosheev V. V. , Nikitina L. Yu. ,   National Medical Research Center, specializing in pulmonology, Moscow, Russia, Kozlovskiy I. V. ,   BU «District Clinical Hospital», Khant y-Mansiysk, Russia, Fedorov A. V. ,   High Technology Park, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Published: April 2024

Currently, the international medical community lacks systematic, scientifically based data concerning status of vitamin D in various age and gender groups of the population. This situation can lead to incorrect identification of risk groups and the choice of suboptimal ways to solve the problem of vitamin D deficiency in the population. Therefore, the purpose of this work was the study of the status of vitamin D in men and women of different ages. Our research was conducted using a unique database containing 263,269 anonymized measurements of vitamin D levels in residents of all constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the Ural Federal District in 2020–2022, freely provided at our disposal by INVITRO-Ural LLC. The results of our calculations show that in the Urals Federal District the lowest level of vitamin D was observed among adolescents of both sexes, which is on average lower than in the oldest age group of 80+ years. This effect is most noticeable in females, in whom the decline in vitamin D levels begins earlier than in boys and also ends earlier. The explanation for this phenomenon may lie in a combination of processes, the most important of which is puberty of the body, accompanied by an intense increase in bone mass and an increase in body mass index. Many scientists and practitioners associate the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescents with increased levels of a number of diseases, which can be prevented and/or reduced by using the vitamin D supplements.
FORMULASI DAN SIFAT ORGANOLEPTIK NUGGET BERBASIS TEMPE DAN SERBUK DAUN KELOR SEBAGAI MAKANAN SELINGAN TINGGI KALSIUM UNTUK LACTO-OVO VEGETARIAN
Authors: Salsabila Rifa , Rosmana Dadang , Mahmudah Umi , Priawantiputri Witri , Fikri Elanda
Published: April 2024

A problem for vegetarians is the risk of calcium deficiency. Nuggets made from tempeh and moringa leaf powder can be used as an alternative for additional foods that contain calcium so that it is expected to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This study aims to obtain a formula and determine the effect of the balance of nugget and Moringa leaf powder on the organoleptic properties of nuggets, as well as to determine the calcium levels in each balance. The research design is experimental, the research method used is hedonic test for testing organoleptic properties and spectrophotometry for testing calcium levels. The research was carried out in January 2021 by sending products to the homes of 30 panelists by implementing health protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This nugget formula consists of a balance, with a ratio of tempeh and Moringa leaf powder (%) F1 (97% : 3%) F2 (94% : 6%), and F3 (91% : 9%). The results of statistical tests showed that there was no difference in the aspects of color, taste, texture and overall. As for the aroma, there was a significant difference between the F2 and F3 nuggets. Calcium levels of F1, F2, and F3 produced are 16.4; 16.6 and 16;8 mg/100gr. It is necessary to modify and further research on the manufacture of nuggets with other vegetable protein sources so that the product has a high calcium content so that it can increase calcium in the body, especially for lacto-ovo vegetarians.
ANALISIS MUTU PRODUK COOKIES BERBASIS JANTUNG PISANG SEBAGAI ALTERNATIF MAKANAN SELINGAN IBU MENYUSUI
Authors: Aulia Arsy , Sulaeman Agus , Dewi Maryati , Fitria Mona
Published: April 2024

Low production of breast milk in breastfeeding mothers is one of the factors causing the low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding in infants. One of the efforts to increase breast milk production is to provide food lactogenic formula. Indonesia has many local foodstuffs that can help facilitate breast milk production, one of which is the banana heart. Banana heart-based cookies are a form of food product development to improve product quality as an alternative food interlude for breastfeeding mothers rich in flavonoids. This study aims to determine the effect of wheat flour and banana heart flour formulations on organoleptic properties and total flavonoid levels. The research was experimental using a Complete Random Design (CRD) one factor; the balance of wheat flour and banana heart flour 25%:75%, 50%:50%, and 75%:25%. The quality testing of cookies was conducted by a hedonic test conducted by 30 trained panelists. The UV-Vis Spectrophotometric method analyzed the total flavonoid levels with AlCl3 reagents. The results showed an influence of the balance of wheat flour and banana heart flour on the taste, texture, and overall cookies (p<0.05).  The most preferred cookies by panelists are cookies with wheat flour formula and banana heart flour 75%:25%. One serving of cookies is 52 grams or as many as four pieces. The total content of flavonoid cookies is based on the test results on the most preferred products at 36.92 ppm. Further research is needed to determine the effect of giving cookies on the production of breast milk intended as a snack for breastfeeding mothers.
ANALISIS KUALITAS SNACK BAR FORMULASI TEPUNG KACANG TUNGGAK DAN IKAN BANDENG SEBAGAI MAKANAN SELINGAN TINGGI ZAT BESI BAGI REMAJA PUTRI
Authors: Yuliati Dewi Yusrina , Judiono Judiono , Mahmudah Umi , Hastuti Widi , Mulyo Gurid PE
Published: April 2024

Snack bar milkfish cowpea is a snack with the main raw materials, cowpea flour, and milkfish flour. Snack bars are needed for young women, which can be useful in increasing iron and protein so that they can prevent iron anemia. This study aimed to determine the formulation snack bar of milkfish cowpea according to organoleptic properties, protein, and iron content with an experimental study research design with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The research used a hedonic test to determine organoleptic properties, atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) for the iron test, and micro Kjeldahl for the protein test. The formulation snack bar consists of three balances: the 90%:10% formula, the 80%:20% formula, and the 70%:30% formula. The organoleptic statistical tests showed no differences in color, aroma, taste, and texture. The 90%:10% formula is superior in color, aroma, taste, and texture. The iron content in the formula 90%:10%, formula 80%:20%, and formula 70%:30% resulted in 1.8602 ppm, 1.5765 ppm, and 1.3313 ppm. The protein content of the formula 90%:10%, formula 80%:20%, and formula 70%:30% are 8.0669%, 8.8988%, and 9.6619%. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of giving snack bars to young women.
LITERATUR REVIEW : POLA MAKAN PADA PENDERITA HIPERTENSI
Authors: Pebriandini Peni peni , Sugiyanto Sugiyanto , Ruslaeni Ruslaeni , Supriadi Supriadi
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Hypertension is the number one cause of death in the world. An unhealthy lifestyle is an important risk factor for hypertension. One of the things that includes unhealthy lifestyles is one of which is not maintaining a diet. Diet is a way taken by a person or group to choose food and consume every day that is obtained through a daily landing called a serve diet. According to Adi Prasetyo, Donny, et al. 2015 stated in his research entitled "Factors Related to the Occurrence of Hypertension at a Young Age in the Sibela Surakarta Public Health Center Area" that there was a relationship between eating patterns and the incidence of hypertension, so researchers were interested in conducting a literature review about eating patterns in hypertensive patients. This review literature aims to determine dietary patterns in hypertension sufferers. This study uses a systematic literature review method in research on eating patterns in patients with hypertension obtained from the review of scientific research articles from the range of 2011-2019 using google schoolar database. There are 3 scientific studies on eating patterns in hypertensive patients who found that most of the diets in the literature review are not good. This is caused by several factors, namely economic, socio-cultural, educational, and environmental factors. Researchers hope that all people are given health education about diet, especially for people with a history of hypertension, so that eating patterns in people with a history of certain diseases including hypertension can be better.