bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients on diabetes self-care management in Fiji
Authors: Kumar Reshma , Mohammadnezhad Masoud , Khan Sabiha
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The prevalence of diabetes has increased globally where Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is more common than any other type of diabetes. Self- care management education of diabetes provides skills and information for diabetic patients to effectively perform their own self diabetic self-care for optimum glycemic index control. As T2DM is a growing health issue in Fiji, promoting diabetes self manages among patients is a need, however there is lack of evidence in this regard. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the perception of T2DM patients on diabetic self-care management.

Method

This study used a qualitative method among T2DM patients regarding diabetic self-care management in Central Division, Fiji in 2022. This study was conducted in SOPD (Special Out Patient Department) clinics in the three chosen governmental health centers in the central division of Fiji. The study sample inclusion criteria were only T2DM patients, and no other types of diabetes, patients who are 18years and above, patients who are attending clinic at least for more than 6 months, self-identified as Fijian participants of any ethnicity or gender. The study settings were also purposively selected but the study sample was selected using purposive sampling. In depth interview using semi-structured open-ended questionnaires was used to collect data. Thematic analysis was done, followed by reviewing themes, defining and naming them.

Results

Thirty patients participated in this study. Five major themes emerged from the in-depth interview including; patient factors that affect diabetes self-care management, behavior and attitude towards T2DM self-care management, health services delivery, challenges and barriers faced by patients to perform diabetes self-care management, and recommendations to improve patient self-care management. Patients in this study have good knowledge about T2DM and the self-care management they have to perform. It is the patients’ attitude and behavior towards T2DM self-care management that affects patients to perform self-care management. The study also showed patients have gained good knowledge from Health Care Workers (HCW). Socio-economic and psychological status also played a vital part in patients’ self-care management. Apart from challenges, there were opportunities to learn the difficulties patients face in order to perform self-care management.

Conclusion

The results of this study revealed a combination of individual, cultural, and health systematic related factors as the mots influencer of diabetes self-management among patients in Fiji. Patients have to take ownership of their own health in order to improve their blood sugar reading and reduce complication of diabetes. Tailored interventions that consider patients’ belief and address potential challenges would be useful. A lot is needed in terms of upgrading facilities for the comfort of patients and need to collaborate more with other multidisciplinary team and stakeholders.
Social norms that sustain transactional sex and associations with sexual health outcomes: A mixed-methods study in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, a rural-Indigenous region of Panama
Authors: Gabster Amanda , Mayaud Philippe , Jhangimal Mónica , Pascale Juan Miguel , Francis Suzanna C. , Cislaghi Ben
Published: May 2024

The Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé (CNB), home to >200,000 Indigenous people, is one of the poorest regions in Panama. We describe transactional sex (TS) behaviours, normative beliefs and factors associated with TS among Indigenous adolescents(14-19years) in the CNB. We conducted a mixed-methods study in the CNB between January and November 2018, which included a qualitative study with participant observation and semi-structured interviews that focused on descriptive norms related to TS; and a cross-sectional study among public-school-going adolescents using self-administered questionnaire to report sexual behaviour and injunctive norms related to TS. Participants in the epidemiological study were also asked to submit samples for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea testing. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to organise and analyse field notes and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis included four models: TS experience and acceptance of a TS offer and the associations of these outcome variables with demographic and behavioural variables and HIV/STI infections. In the qualitative study among 20 adolescents, we found that people offering TS were reported to be from within and outside of the community, and included older men and women, and disturbingly, teachers. Participants reported feeling individual and collective agency in the decision to engage in TS and described little social sanctions for participation. In the quantitative study among 700 adolescents(309 girls[45.1%],379 boys[54.9%]), we found that girls(18.8%;58/309) and boys(15.5%;58/379) reported similar levels of having been offered TS, and of acceptance among those offered(girls 81.4% [35/43]; boys 77.8% [35/45]). TS was found to be associated with the reported forced sex and HIV/syphilis seropositivity. Due to widespread acceptance and feelings of agency, interventions would not be effective if they focused on eliminating the transactional component of sexual encounters. Instead, interventions should focus on individual and household economic stability, increasing violence reporting, bringing perpetrators to justice, and adopting condom use during all sexual encounters.
Time-varying causality relationships between trade openness, technological innovation, industrialization, financial development, and carbon emissions in Thailand
Authors: Thi Quy Nguyen , Hai Nguyen Chi , Dao Ha Thi Thieu
Published: May 2024

Over the last twenty years, there has been swift growth in industrialization and technological advancements, driving economic progress. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that these sectors will bring about environmental shifts. Thus far, endeavors have been undertaken to assess the influence of industrialization and technological advancements on environmental deterioration. Additionally, the extensive discussion surrounding the impact of financial development, trade openness, and technological innovation on the environment has not yielded conclusive empirical findings. Studies often operate under the assumption of symmetric relationships, potentially leading to biased results. Adding to the discussion on the drivers of carbon neutrality, the time-dependent effects of critical aspects such as financial development and technological innovation should inform meaningful policies for environmental management. This article explores the time-varying causal association between trade openness, industrialization, financial development, technological innovation, and CO2 emissions in Thailand using novel time-varying Granger causality tests. The time-varying causality outcomes demonstrate that the associations change significantly over time, in contrast to the results of Toda-Yamamoto causality. Overall, there exists a bidirectional relationship between industrialization, financial development, trade openness, technological innovation, and CO2 emissions over different time sequences. These outcomes have implications for both policy and research.
Ultrasonic Assisted Synthesis of 1,5-Bis(3'-ethoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one: Effect of Time and Temperature
Authors: Mulatsari Esti , Mumpuni Esti , Purwanggana Agus , Rahmadani Sinta
Published: May 2024

The compound 1,5-bis(3′-ethoxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (EHP), an analog of curcumin, displays significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Synthesized through an aldol condensation reaction, EHP modifies the structure of curcumin by substituting methoxy groups with ethoxy groups and converting diketones to monoketone. This study explores the influence of time and temperature on the ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of 1,5-bis(3′-ethoxy-4′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadiene-3-one (EHP). The synthesis process involved precise measurements and controlled conditions to achieve the desired compound. Through a series of experiments conducted at varying temperatures and irradiation times, the synthesis yield and purity of EHP were evaluated. Analysis techniques including thin layer chromatography (TLC), densitometry, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the EHP compound. The results indicate the sensitivity of EHP synthesis to reaction conditions, it reduce synthesis time (10 min) with improve the product yield (87.17%) at moderate temperature (30 ºC). The findings provide valuable insights into optimizing synthesis conditions for enhanced product quality.
Formulation of Novel Boswellic Acid Loaded-PEGlyated Nanoparticles and Effect on SARS COVID 19 Virus: in silico Docking Analysis and ADMET Studies
Authors: Thakur Sneha , Kiranmai M.
Published: May 2024

SARS COVID-19 virus is serious threats to the mankind changing its virulence. The pandemic emergence resulted in the change of health care scenario since its outbreak and suggested the inclusion of molecular modeling and combinatorial chemistry process that hastens the drug discovery process resulting in screening of large number of compounds for the therapeutic target proposed. The studies revealed that the boswellic acid (pentacyclic triterpenoid) obtained from gum resin of Boswellia serrata is found to have potential against the SARS covid virus. The present study was conducted to synthesize boswellic acid–PEG from isolated boswellic acid (gum resin of B. serrata) and evaluated the anti-covid potential of boswellic acid by in silico docking studies and toxicity analysis by ADMET Pro. The target protein PDB RNA polymerase (1S76), protease (6LU7), ACE2 (6M0J) were downloaded from RCDB database. The boswellic acid was active against the selected target proteins active for SARS virus entry into the cells and also prevent the viral multiplication. ADMET studies have proved slight endo-carcinogenecity, which increases with dose. Thus, this novel molecule can be developed as lead against the SARS virus by formulating boswellic acid–PEG nanoparticles with sustained release characteristics. As an attempt to develop the drug boswellic acid-PEG nanoparticles with PEG as permeation enhancer for oral drug delivery and characterized using DLS, FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques, which has proven the 253 nm size, stable, highly dispersed, spherical shape without any agglomeration. The drug release studies proved the sustained release nature of the nanoparticles, which leads to reduce dosage. Further, in vivo-in vitro correlation proves the clinical validation for drug discovery process.
Physico-Chemical and Biological Properties of Lanthanide(III) Complexes with Schiff Base of 4-Formyl Antipyrine
Authors: Rijulal G. , Krishnakumar A. , Krishnan K. Anoop , Nambiar M.K. Geetha
Published: May 2024

The synthesis of two novel Schiff base ligands viz. 4-[N-(3-methoxyphenylmethanamine)formyl]-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyazolin-5-one (3MPMAFA) and 4-[N-(4-methoxyphenylmethanamine)formyl]-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyazolin-5-one (4MPMAFA) was undertaken with the aim of synthesizing a total of 14 novel lanthanide(III) complexes. The synthesized ligands and its lanthanide(III) complexes were characterized by various analytical techniques such as elemental analysis, molecular mass, molar conductance, magnetic moment, FTIR, UV-visible and 13C NMR spectral data. According to the physico-chemical data, both Schiff bases (3MPMAFA and 4MPMAFA) appear as a neutral bidentate ligand coordinated through azomethine nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atom. With a tentative monocapped octahedral geometry and coordination number seven, all the complexes have the same general formula, [ML2(NO3)3] (where M = La(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), Dy(III), Yb(III) and L = 3MPMAFA/4MPMAFA). The ligands and their Ln(III) complexes were evaluated for their biological activities revealing that all the lanthanide(III) complexes exhibited superior antibacterial capabilities compared to the ligands.
Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of Modified Starches Derived from Tapioca Starch
Authors: Lakshmi K.N.V. Chenchu , Aminabee Shaik , Shankar K. Ravi , Sudha Penta D. Chaithanya , Indusree G. , Sushmasri M. , Tejaswi M. , Pavan M. Sampath , Kiran M. , Sastry V. Girija
Published: May 2024

Over the past few decades, progressions in the preparation of starch-derived products from a variety of biodiverse sources have yielded substances with novel or improved characteristics. Present work focus on modification of tapioca starch by acids and anhydrides. Around 11 modified starches were synthesized using 9 acids and 2 anhydrides and characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and also their swelling property was also determined. For the optimization of molecular geometry, the HOMO and the LUMO modelling for initial starch and modified starch was performed by GAMES 64 software. Orbital investigations have revealed that the modified starch succinate form has an energy gap of 197 eV, indicating a loss in energy. This decrease in the energy of anhydride after reacting with starch shows the stability and absence of orbitals at the reaction site. Using modified starch, olmesartan tablets were formulated and compared with tablets prepared by crospovidone and croscarmellose sodium. In each instance, two distinct concentrations of the superdisintegrant (2% and 4%) were employed. Olmesartan tablets formulated dissolution rate adhered to first-order kinetics which was evidenced by R2 values exceeding 0.940 across all the experiments. Notably, in the dissolution rate study, the modified starch exhibited rapid and enhanced dissolution of olmesartan from the tablets, comparable to the performance of commercial available super-disintegrants such as croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone.
Magnesium Sulfide Nanoparticles of Hordeum vulgare: Green Synthesis and their Nano-nutrient Impact on Seed Priming Effect, Germination, Root and Shoot Length of Brassica nigra and Trigonella foenum-graecum
Authors: Elizabeth M. Kezia , Uma Devi Randhi , Parameshwar Makam , Ratnamala A.
Published: May 2024

This work describes the green synthesis of magnesium sulfide nanoparticles (MgS NPs) using an extract from Hordeum vulgare leaves and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The MgS NPs generated were spherical and had a high level of purity. They had a band gap of 2.0 eV, a uniform distribution and an average crystal size of 14 nm. The synthesized MgS nanoparticles exhibited several geometrical morphologies, including spherical, rod-shaped and bean-shaped structures. The nanoparticles exhibited an average size of 5 nm with a band gap of precisely 4.85 eV. The efficacy of MgS NPs on Brassica nigra and Trigonella foenum-graecum for seed priming, germination rate and time, root length and shoot length has also been assessed using different doses. The optimal germination occurs at concentrations of 15 mg/100 mL and 20 mg/100 mL, while the germination is impeded when the concentration exceed 30 mg/100 mL. The MgS NPs exhibit a diminutive size and high reactivity, which allows them to augment the water absorption and nutrient control capacities of seeds. Consequently, this promotes the germination process and plant growth by decreasing the average duration of germination. Seeds of Brassica nigra and Trigonella foenum-graecum that had been subjected to treatment with MgS NPs had enhanced average root and shoot lengths, as well as accelerated germination. This study suggests several possibilities for using environmental friendly nanotechnology to improve agricultural practices.
Limiting Molar Conductivity Dynamics of κcar/PEO/NaClO4 Aqueous Electrolyte System at Different Temperature
Authors: Ramli Roslaili Yuhanis Binti , Hanibah Hussein , Nor Hashim Nor Zakiah Binti , Shamsudin Intan Juliana Binti
Published: May 2024

The limiting molar conductivity behaviour (Λo) of κcar/PEO/NaClO4 blend liquid electrolyte systems in aqueous solution at 20 and 25 ºC was studied. The ionic conductivity (κ) of the electrolyte system was measured using Mettler Toledo Seven Compact S230 AC conductivity meter. The κ of the electrolyte was measured at a range of salt concentration, Csalt (10-5-10-8) and at different polymer concentration, Cpoly (0.001-0.003 g cm-3). The data analysis showed a directly proportion relation between Λo and Cpoly, which indicates a decrease in total salt dissociation (α) and consequently, an increase in the formation of ion pairing occurs due to the increase in salt dissociation and less dynamic volume. In addition, a direct relation between Λo and temperature was also observed. An increase in temperature causes a decrease in the total ion pairing while increase the ion movement.
Determination of Some Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Residues in Industrial Wastewater Effluents in Al-Kharj City using Capillary-Zone Electrophoresis Technique
Authors: Abdel-Gawad Sherif A.
Published: May 2024

Surveillance and quantification of pharmaceutical contaminants in environmental samples is an essential and intricate undertaking because of their potential adverse impacts on human well-being, even at the minimal concentrations. The separation and quantification of three frequently utilized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drugs, namely indomethacin (IND), ketoprofen (KTP) and ibuprofen (IBP), were achieved by the application of capillary-zone electrophoresis (CZE) in the wastewater effluents of a pharmaceutical facilities available in Al-Kharj city of Saudi Arabia. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique was optimized and employed as an efficient approach for the sample preparation prior to analysis. In order to optimize the separation profile for the drugs under investigation, the parameters of the capillary electrophoretic method were fine-tuned. The experimental medications exhibited a concentration range spanning from 5 to 100 µg/mL. The developed assay was subsequently utilized in an efficient manner to detect the substances accurately in the real wastewater samples. The proposed method can be efficiently utilized to monitor the extent of environmental contamination caused by the NSAIDs drugs being studied.
Analysis on the Main Function of the COVID-19 Response Policy for the Infection Disaster Continuity of Operating Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS)
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Seo Kyungmin , Shin Hee Young
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study is to provide the guidelines on securing the Continuity of Operation in case of large-scale epidemics, by analyzing measures on disaster responses. At first, we divided whole period into three phases, which are the early, the middle and the end of phase, through finding the turning points on the COVID-19’s spreads, and classified their major response measures. And then, we reclassified the essential roles and the responsibilities in Korea disaster management system, with comparing the SPRP. As results, the essential measures on epidemic responses of Korea disaster management system, were classified into the operation of disaster management headquaters, the management of the isolated, the supports to local governments and the publics for living stability subsidy and the vaccinations. The major roles were classified as follows; the disaster managements(A), the management of the isolated(B,C/B,C,D,I), the supports to the local governments and the publics(F,H/C,F,H), and the Vaccinations(I,J). The result of this study could be expected to be used for establishing the guidelines of MOIS.
Influencing Factors for Stage Transition from Ignition to Early Stage of Spread of Forest Fires: A Case of East Coast of Gangwon State, South Korea
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Jeong Jingyu , Ahn Sujung , Lee Chulwon , Im Sangjun
Published: May 2024

Identifying the key factors that influence the transition from ignition to the early stage of spread is important for effective early response to forest fires. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the stage transition of forest fires, focusing on those that occurred in five cities along the east coast of Gangwon State in South Korea from 2007 to 2019. The study analyzed the association of factors including terrain, forest characteristics, social and geographical factors of the burned areas with the transition from ignition to early stage of spread, using independence tests and logistic regression. The results showed that elevation, slope and the distance to the nearest initial firefighting resources were highly associated with the stage transition. Forest type, crown density and the number of fire monitoring resources observing burned area showed relatively low association with the stage transition. However, these factors had a relation with the frequency of forest fire occurrences. These findings are expected to be helpful in establishing strategies for early response to, and initial suppression of, forest fires.
Addressing Issues and Challenges in Disaster Emergency Resource Management: Practical Improvement Strategies for Shandong Province, China
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Li Jinhao , Lee Jae Eun
Published: May 2024

This study aims to identify the issues and challenges within Shandong's disaster emergency resource management system and propose practical improvement plans to enhance its efficiency and responsiveness, thereby reducing the impact of disasters. In Shandong province, several key issues are identified in the management of disaster emergency resources: suboptimal management system for emergency resource reserves; structural deficiencies in emergency resource reserves; the gap in professional talent: challenges and strategies; limited legal oversight in management systems; and inadequate rotation of emergency resources. To address these challenges, we suggest practical improvement strategies: enhancing the reserve management system; strengthening the foundations of legal framework development; enhancing the efficacy of talent development programs; optimizing the rotation system for emergency resource management; advancements in infrastructure development strategies.
La recepción textual de los nombres propios y la atribución de fragmentos gramaticales: el caso de Aufidio Modesto
Authors: Burghini Julia , Pérez Alonso Marco Antonio
Published: May 2024

Este trabajo pone de relieve las dificultades que experimentan los editores de fragmentos a la hora de atribuir la autoría de un fragmento debido a la transmisión, a menudo deficiente, de los nombres propios en las fuentes. Aufidio Modesto es un claro ejemplo, ya que solo fue citado con su nomen en una ocasión, mientras que el nombre de Julio Modesto –también gramático del siglo I d.C., pero anterior–  es mencionado de manera completa en varios pasajes. Como resultado, los editores no solo han atribuido a Julio aquellos fragmentos que carecen de nomen, sino que también han dudado de la existencia de Aufidio. Este artículo da coherencia a la figura de Aufidio y ofrece claves para atribuir la autoría de los pasajes dudosos a un gramático u otro.
Development of a Mental Model Diagnostic Test using Predict, Observe, Explain (TDM-POE) on Voltaic Cell Materials
Authors: Rahayu Dea Santika , Rahayu Dita Puji , Yanti Meili
Published: May 2024

Understanding chemical concepts as a whole show that students can connect three levels of chemical representation. The three levels in chemical representation are related and reflected in students' mental models. A teacher must know the student's mental model as a reflection of learning. This research aims to develop an instrument for students' mental models on voltaic cell submaterials using the prediction-observation-explanation (TDM-POE) mental model diagnostic test. The method used in this research is the research and development method using the Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate (ADDIE) development model. The instrument was validated by five validators consisting of four lecturers in the Department of Chemistry Education and one chemistry teacher at school. Validity is determined by content validity response. Then, the instrument was tested on class XII students who had received learning about voltaic cells. The instrument consists of four questions for four concepts: voltaic cell construction, calculating standard cell potential values, voltaic cells in alkaline batteries, and corrosion phenomena. Each question consists of 3 stages, namely, the first stage contains questions about predicting phenomena (predict), the second stage contains video or image observations (observe), and the third stage contains detailed explanations (explanation). The validation results show that the validity of the TDM-POE instrument obtained a score of 0.99, which is categorized as valid. So, the TDM-POE instrument can be used to understand chemical concepts.
Eusebio de Cesarea y la controversia arriana. Una nueva interpretación del estallido de la crisis
Authors: Fernández Samuel
Published: May 2024

El artículo busca dilucidar el papel que desempeñó Eusebio de Cesarea en la primera fase de la llamada crisis arriana. Con este propósito, se analiza la teología trinitaria de Eusebio y de los dos protagonistas del estallido de la crisis: el artículo examina la enseñanza del obispo de Cesarea antes del inicio de la controversia, luego estudia la teología del presbítero Arrio y la doctrina del obispo Alejandro. El análisis se basa en los escritos auténticos de los autores. De manera particular, se evita atribuir a Arrio las enseñanzas que los resúmenes polémicos asignan a «los arrianos». La última parte del artículo estudia las convergencias y divergencias de estos tres autores. La conclusión propone que la así llamada crisis arriana fue un conflicto entre dos recepciones de la tradición origeniana representadas por Alejandro y Eusebio. Arrio no sería un pensador original, sino un representante radical de una tendencia más amplia. El centro de la discrepancia teológica entre estas dos tendencias sería la coeternidad del Hijo (Alejandro) o su posterioridad anterior al tiempo (Eusebio). La interpretación que se propone resuelve ciertos problemas históricos que presenta la historiografía tradicional.
Does Tiktok and Instagram Affect Brand Awareness? Empirical Study on Asiacommerce Companies
Authors: Yudha Aji , Norsiva Rifki Irham , Lestari Lela , Yasmin Annisa
Published: May 2024

This study is a qualitative descriptive research aimed at describing the use of social media to increase brand awareness for AsiaCommerce on Instagram and TikTok. The data collection methods used in this research include observation, interviews, and documentation. The results indicate that the social media activities on these platforms have significantly increased AsiaCommerce's brand awareness, reaching hundreds of thousands of potential clients. However, the activities have not always met the key performance indicator (KPI) targets due to factors such as content delivery adjustments, limited demographic targeting, difficulty in appealing to the audience, and keeping up with changing trends. To maximize brand awareness, strategic efforts such as giveaways, advertisements, key opinion leader (KOL) strategies, live marketing, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for content creation have been implemented. This research has practical implications for social media applications.
Analisis Pengaruh Kualitas Website Shopee Terhadap Kepuasan Pengguna Berdasarkan Metode WebQual 4.0 (Studi Kasus : Mahasiswa Pengguna Shopee di Universitas Diponegoro)
Authors: Adieb M. Risqi Amirul , Sugiharto Aris , Adhy Satriyo
Published: May 2024

Maraknya pelaku bisnis e-commerce membuat persaingan jual beli online menjadi ketat sehingga e-commerce harus mampu mempertahankan keberadaannya. Salah satu faktor utama yang mendorong pelanggan melakukan kegiatan e-commerce adalah tingkat kepuasan pengguna dalam penerimaan website terhadap kualitas layanan website e-commerce tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor kualitas website Shopee yang memengaruhi tingkat kepuasan pengguna dengan menggunakan metode WebQual 4.0 dan variabel tambahan user satisfaction. Hasil pengolahan dan analisis data didapatkan bahwa sumbangan pengaruh yang diberikan dimensi WebQual 4.0 secara bersama-sama terhadap user satisfaction dalam penerimaan website Shopee adalah 76,2%, yaitu dimensi WebQual 4.0 secara bersama-sama memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap user satisfaction, usability berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap user satisfaction, information quality berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap user satisfaction, dan service interaction quality berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap user satisfaction.
Kriptografi Teks Berbasis Algoritma Substitusi Vigenere Cipher 8 Bit
Authors: Karima Nida Aulia , Aisyah Ade Nurul , Silla Hercio Venceslau , Handoko Lekso Budi , Sani Ramadhan Rakhmat
Published: May 2024

Vigenere Cipher merupakan salah satu algoritma kriptografi klasik dalam dunia kriptografi. Penelitian ini berfokus pada penggunaan metode Vigenere Cipher dan implementasinya dalam mengamankan sebuah teks pesan berbentuk ASCII. Penelitian ini menggunakan empat metode pengujian yaitu, Avalanche Effect, Character Error Rate (CER), Bit Error Rate (BER), dan Entropi. Hasil pengujian mendapatkan bahwa nilai Avalanche Effect yang dihasilkan rata-rata berada pada angka 50% ke atas, artinya diperoleh nilai Avalanche Effect yang baik. Selain itu, CER dan BER yang dihasilkan bernilai 0, artinya tidak terjadi kesalahan selama proses enkripsi. Nilai Entropi yang dihasilkan juga meningkat seiring dengan panjang plaintext yang digunakan dan juga dipengaruhi penggunaan ASCII 256 berupa huruf, angka, dan simbol.
Accelerating Merkle Patricia Trie with GPU
Authors: Deng Yangshen , Yan Muxi , Tang Bo
Published: May 2024

Merkle Patricia Trie (MPT) is a type of trie structure that offers efficient lookup and insert operators for immutable data systems that require multi-version access and tamper-evident controls, such as blockchains and verifiable databases. The performance of these systems is critically dependent on the throughput of the underlying index structure MPT. In this paper, we present a novel approach to accelerate MPT by leveraging the massive parallelism of GPU. However, achieving it is challenging as (i) lock-free data structures are difficult to implement and (ii) traditional fine-grained locking does not scale on GPU.

To address them, we first analyze the technical challenges of accelerating MPT via GPU, including node splitting conflicts and hash computing conflicts caused by parallel insert operations. We then propose a lock-free algorithm PhaseNU and a lock-based algorithm LockNU on GPU to resolve the node splitting conflict. We also devise a decision model for users to choose the proper one for different workloads. We next propose a GPU-based hash-compute algorithm PhaseHC to avoid hash computing conflicts. Last, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed techniques by: (i) integrating them into both the real-world blockchain system Geth and verifiable database LedgerDB, and demonstrating its superiority with corresponding workloads; and (ii) conducting extensive experimental studies on two real-world datasets and one synthetic dataset. Our proposed solutions significantly outperform the deployed MPT solution in Geth in all datasets.
Mitochondrial DNA drives neuroinflammation through the cGAS-IFN signaling pathway in the spinal cord of neuropathic pain mice
Authors: Huang Penghui , Li Li , Chen Yaohua , Li Yuping , Zhu Dan , Cui Jian
Published: May 2024

Neuroinflammation is pivotal in the development of neuropathic pain (NeP). While mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) are recognized for inducing inflammation in various neurological disorders, their involvement in NeP remains ambiguous. In this study, we examined: (1) the changes in mtDNA and cGAS in mice with NeP induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, whether mtDNA triggers inflammation via the cGAS signaling; (2) the effects of RU.521, a cGAS antagonist, on CCI-induced nociception (allodynia and hyperalgesia) and relative inflammatory protein expression; (3) the activation of microglia and the cGAS-IFN pathway mediated by mtDNA in BV2 cell; (4) the effect of RU.521 on mtDNA-induced inflammatory response in BV2 cells. Results revealed reduced mtDNA levels in the sciatic nerve but increased levels in the spinal cord of CCI mice, along with elevated cGAS expression and inflammatory factors. RU.521 alleviated nociceptive behaviors in CCI mice, possibly by normalizing cGAS levels and suppressing inflammation. Neuron-derived mtDNA provoked cellular activation and upregulated cGAS signaling in BV2 cells. Additionally, RU.521 and DNase I effectively inhibited cGAS-induced inflammation. These findings underscore the critical role of mtDNA accumulation and mtDNA-mediated cGAS signaling in NeP development after peripheral nerve injury.
Robust biaxially stretchable polylactic acid films based on the highly oriented chain network and “nano-walls” containing zinc phenylphosphonate and calcium sulfate whisker: Superior mechanical, barrier, and optical properties
Authors: Ding Shi-Juan , Cui Ling-Na , Liu Yue-Jun
Published: May 2024

It is urgent to acquire a feasible strategy for balancing the strength and ductility of polylactic acid (PLA) in the application of biodegradable packaging materials. In this study, a new strategy is provided to enhance mechanical, barrier, and optical properties by the synergetic effect of manipulating the amorphous chain entanglement network and constructing the “nano- walls” of highly aligned calcium sulfate whisker (CSW), zinc phenylphosphonate (PPZn), and well-defined crystals via biaxial stretching. PPZn is verified as a nucleator to accelerate the crystallization rate and induce α-form crystals. CSW is regarded as a supporting skeleton to strengthen the entanglement density of the chain network. The extensional stress, which is induced by biaxial stretching, regulates the amorphous chain entanglement network and facilitates the chain orientation. As a result, the synergetic structure displays an outstanding capacity for improving the mechanical, barrier, and optical properties of PLA. Compared to the PLA film, the biaxially stretched PLA/PPZn/CSW films exhibit high strength, excellent ductility, and superior crystallinity, which are significantly increased by up to 53.2%, 381.3%, and 748.9%, respectively. And their gas and water vapor barrier properties remarkably increased by 65.39% and 73.11%, respectively. The optical property with a haze value of 52.4% and good transmittance of 97.4% is also obtained via the synergetic effect. With the excellent comprehensive properties of PLA films, this new strategy explores a new field in environmentally friendly packaging materials and is relevant to future work.
Synthesis of EPAN and applications in the encapsulation of potassium humate
Authors: Smailov Bakyt , Aravind Usha , Kadirbayeva Almagul , Sarypbekova Nursulu , Azimov Abdugani , Issabayev Nurpeis
Published: May 2024

This article provides information on the synthesis of esterified derivatives of hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (EPAN) based on the polymer waste “Nitron” for use as an encapsulating reagent. The elemental and structural compositions of potassium humate and the organic polymer were determined using a scanning electron microscope (Jeol JSM-6490l V) and an IR Fourier spectrometer (Zhimadzu IR Prestige-21). A method is presented for determining the strength of the encapsulated granules of potassium humates using an IPG-1M device and a TAXTplus texture analyzer (Stable Microsystems). The scientific novelty of the article lies in the synthesis of EPAN from “Nitron” polymer waste using sodium hydroxide in the presence of ethylene glycol at a temperature of 370 K for 4 h, followed by the use of 0.5% synthesized solution for encapsulating the granular potassium humate produced from humic acid to give a strength of up to 17.3 kg and prolonged action to the granules. The effect of EPAN concentration on the encapsulation process of granular potassium humates was investigated and studied. The mechanism for the formation of a protective layer of granular potassium humates in the form of a transparent film has been established. The results of the experimental work were processed using the integrated program Statistica-10, which showed a 3D simulation of the process. Microscopic, IR spectral, X-ray phase and thermogravimetric analyses of the encapsulated potassium humate were carried out using modern instrumental devices (MicroXRF Analysis Report, monochromator D878-PC75-17.0, TGA/DSC 1HT/319). The encapsulated durable potassium humate granules provide longer-term nutrition, i.e., a slow, gradual release of plant nutrients in the soil. The use of the produced high-strength encapsulated potassium humate granules allows for restoring soil fertility and increasing the yield of agricultural plants. The encapsulated granules can withstand numerous transshipments and long-term transportation while maintaining the commercial and consumer properties of the product.
Wartezeiten. Zu einer wenig beachteten Dimension vormoderner Mobilität
Authors: Mauntel Christoph
Published: May 2024

Mobilität wird häufig als Bewegung zwischen konkreten Orten gefasst, geht aber zumeist mit Phasen der Immobilität einher: Verzögerungen und Wartezeiten sind ein fester Bestandteil des Reisens, der von der historischen Forschung jedoch bisher nicht näher untersucht wurde. Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt das Thema des „Wartens“ für die historische Forschung vor und lotet die Erkenntnispotenziale aus. Dafür werden in einem ersten Schritt die zahlreichen bereits existierenden soziologischen, ethnologischen und anthropologischen Studien auf zentrale Themen und Thesen ausgewertet. Auf dieser Grundlage zeigen dann drei Fallstudien auf, wie Pilger, Gesandte und Reisende des Mittelalters mit Wartezeiten konfrontiert wurden und sie in ihre Texte und Berichte einbetteten: Der fränkische Pilger Bernhard reiste zwischen 865 und 871 ins Heilige Land, wurde aber mehrfach aufgehalten, weil seine Reisedokumente nicht akzeptiert wurden. In seinem Bericht ist es ihm ein Anliegen, seinen Leserinnen und Lesern die erlittenen Verzögerungen zu erklären, vermutlich um sie für eigene Reisen mit Informationen zu versorgen. Im Jahr 968 reiste Liutprand von Cremona als Gesandter Ottos I. nach Konstantinopel und musste dort den Unmut des Hofs erleiden, der sich auch in langen Wartezeiten und in der wiederholt verzögerten Abreise zeigte. Er beklagte sich in seinem Bericht ausführlich darüber, auch um den diplomatischen Misserfolg der Reise zu rechtfertigen. Der Ulmer Dominikaner Felix Fabri schließlich unternahm 1480 eine Pilgerreise ins Heilige Land, mit der er höchst unzufrieden war, da er nach eigener Aussage zu wenig Zeit vor Ort hatte. Grund dafür waren zahlreiche Verzögerungen auf der Hinreise, die Fabri ausführlich und oft emotional beschrieb.
Strong coupling spontaneous emission interference near a graphene nanodisk
Authors: Thanopulos Ioannis , Karanikolas Vasilios , Paspalakis Emmanuel
Published: May 2024

In this work, we analyze the spontaneous emission dynamics of a V-type quantum emitter near a graphene nanodisk based on the combination of electromagnetic and quantum dynamical calculations. The presence of the graphene nanodisk gives strong anisotropy to the Purcell factors of the quantum emitter, leading to interference effects in spontaneous emission appearing as coupling between the emitter’s upper levels. This effect is further enhanced by the strong light–matter interaction of the quantum emitter with the modified electromagnetic mode continuum, which induces non-Markovian spontaneous emission dynamics. We have studied the population dynamics of the quantum emitter at a specific distance from the center of the graphene nanodisk for various free-space decay widths and different quantum emitter’s initial conditions and have shown weak coupling results appearing with Markovian decay dynamics, obtained for quantum emitters with small free-space decay widths, and population dynamics that exhibits distinctly non-Markovian features, such as prominent decaying Rabi oscillations in the population evolution of the quantum emitter’s excited states and energy exchange between them during the overall population decay into the photonic mode continuum for largest free-space decay widths. Also, for the largest value of the free-space decay width, we obtain significant population trapping effects in the excited states of the quantum emitter. Furthermore, we find that the population dynamics for specific light–matter interaction strength conditions between the quantum emitter and the graphene nanodisk depend distinctively on the initial state of the quantum emitter, whether it is a single state or a superposition state.
Crystal structure of 1-(4-bromophenyl)-3-(diphenylphosphoryl)-3-hydroxypropan-1-one, C21H18BrO3P
Authors: Liu Yifan , Cui Ronghai , Kang Jialing , Jin Xin , Huang Qiang , Zhang Jian
Published: May 2024

C21H18BrO3P, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 20.2890(9) Å, b = 5.9736(2) Å, c = 16.1577(8) Å, β = 105.371(2)°, V = 1888.24(14) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.1359, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1414, T = 298.00 K.
Development of silver-doped copper oxide and chitosan nanocomposites for enhanced antimicrobial activities
Authors: Anwar Yasir , Jaha Hisham Faiz , Ul-Islam Mazhar , Kamal Tahseen , Khan Sher Bahadar , Ullah Ihsan , Al-Maaqar Saleh M. , Ahmed Sameer
Published: May 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant and pressing public health concern, posing serious challenges to effectively preventing and treating persistent diseases. Despite various efforts made in recent years to address this problem, the global trends of AMR continue to escalate without any indication of decline. As AMR is well-known for antibiotics, developing new materials such as metal containing compounds with different mechanisms of action is crucial to effectively address this challenge. Copper, silver, and chitosan in various forms have demonstrated significant biological activities and hold promise for applications in medicine and biotechnology. Exploring the biological properties of these nanoparticles is essential for innovative therapeutic approaches in treating bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, and other diseases. To this end, the present study aimed to synthesize silver@copper oxide (Ag@CuO) nanoparticles and its chitosan nanocomposite (Chi-Ag@CuO) to investigate their antimicrobial efficacy. Various established spectroscopic and microscopic methods were employed for characterization purposes, encompassing scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Subsequently, the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles was assessed through MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration), and well-disk diffusion assays against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Candida albicans. The size of the CuO-NPs, Ag@CuO, and Chi-Ag@CuO NPs was found to be 70–120 nm with a spherical shape and an almost uniform distribution. The nanocomposites were found to possess a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5 μg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 250 μg/mL. Moreover, these nanocomposites generated varying clear inhibition zones, with diameters ranging from a minimum of 9 ± 0.5 mm to a maximum of 25 ± 0.5 mm. Consequently, it is evident that the amalgamation of copper–silver–chitosan nanoparticles has exhibited noteworthy antimicrobial properties in the controlled laboratory environment, surpassing the performance of other types of nanoparticles.
The Life of Boseong Gunsu Bang Jin and His Relations with Yi Sun-Shin
Authors:   Institute of Korean Cultural Studies Yeungnam University, Bang Ki-Cheol
Published: May 2024

This study examines Bang Jin(方震), who was an important helper of Yi Sun-shin(李舜臣) but is not well-known. Bang Jin had his family clan in Onyang Bang and was born in 1514. After growing up in Gyodong Island, he moved to Songsan and settled in Baekamri, Asan following his marriage to a daughter of Hong Yun-pil(洪胤弼). He served as Daejeong Hyeongam(大靜縣監) between 1535 and 1537. It seems that he entered the world of public offices through the Yu-il recommendation system(遺逸薦擧). Later, he passed the military service examination and was appointed as Boseong Gunsu(寶城郡守).
His daughter married Yi Sun-Shin in 1565. It was Yi Jun-gyeong(李浚慶) that led a discussion leading to their marriage. He passed the Saengwon examination(生員試) of 1522 along with Bang Guk-hyeong(方國亨), the father of Bang Jin, and Yi Baek-rok(李百祿), the grandfather of Yi Sun-Shin. Bang Jin kept an eye on Yi Sun-Shin who moved from Hanseong and asked Yi Jun-gyeong, one of his father's Dongbangs(同榜), to arrange a match for his daughter. As a result, his daughter married Yi Sun-Shin.
Yi Sun-Shin lived at the home of his wife's parents according to the custom of Seoryubuga marriage(婿留婦家婚) and converted his career path from civil service to military service after marriage. In addition to Bang Jin, Bang Woo-ju(方佑周), Bang Hee-min(方希閔), Bang Eung-won(方應元), and Hwang Se-deuk(黃世得) who passed the military service examination were all related to the clan of Onyang Bang. In this sense, the family of his wife had an absolute impact on the career path change of Yi Sun-Shin.
Bang Jin, who passed the military service examination, taught books on military science to Yi Sun-Shin as well as martial arts. Moreover, he lavished his economic support on him. As a consequence, Yi Sun-Shin was able to grow into a commander in literary and martial arts and become the hero to led the people to overcome the national crisis during Imjin War.
EUROPE’S CONTESTATION OF THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE JCPOA: UNVEILING EUROPEAN SUBJECTIVITY
Authors:   MGIMO University, Levchenko Alla
Published: May 2024

The article investigates the response of European nations to the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal, the implementation of a «maximum pressure» strategy, and the reinstatement of sanctions on Iran. European actions included open dissent towards American policies, active engagement in lobbying efforts, and the establishment of temporary political-diplomatic coalitions with like-minded partners. The examination is framed within the context of the theory of contestation, elucidating how European allies endeavored to contest the dominant partner despite disparities in resources, European business reliance on the American financial system, and potential risks to transatlantic relations. Through challenging U.S. decisions, European countries aimed to reaffirm their autonomy and sovereignty within the transatlantic partnership and broader global political landscape. This response was not solely influenced by divergent perspectives on international security and approaches to global challenges but also by Washington’s reduced influence on partners expectations regarding the repercussions of disloyalty. The U.S. exhibited a strong belief in its ability to address the issue independently, viewing European opposition as futile, thus showing little interest in substantive negotiating with partners or persuading them to align. Consequently, European allies, anticipating minimal negative effects on their relations with the U.S., felt emboldened to assertively defend their perspectives, thus bolstering their political subjectivity.