bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Factors Affecting Profitability of Islamic Banks in Yogyakarta
Authors: Aini Ratri Zhohratun , Rusdianto Rusdianto
Published: January 2025

Islamic banks have a strategic task to encourage economic growth and national progress. The greater the contribution of banking, it is estimated that the more advanced a country’s economy will be. As a financial institution, Islamic banks must also pay attention to their performance to operate well and develop rapidly in Indonesia, one of which is by paying attention to financial performance through financial reports. Profitability is an assessment aspect used to measure bank performance in generating profits. This study aims to determine the results of the effect of mudharabah and musyarakah financing on bank profitability as measured using ROA by comparing the company's net income with the total assets it has as a whole. The data analysis method uses secondary data obtained from the monthly financial statement data of Islamic Banks on mudharabah financing and musyarakah financing with the help of SPSS 27 software. The results showed that mudharabah and musyarakah financing had a positive and significant effect on the profitability of Islamic Banks in 2018-2022. This shows that the increasing value of the contract distributed also contributes to increased profitability. It is hoped that a significant increase in profitability can attract investors to invest more in Islamic Banks.
IMPACT OF WORD CLOUDS ON STUDENTS' VOCABULARY ENHANCEMENT
Authors: FaqeAbdulla Baraat Ismael
Published: January 2025

A strong vocabulary is essential for improved communication, which entails engaging with people in an effective manner. University freshmen always have a hard time learning a lot of new words related to their new academic lives. This problem can be resolved with the aid of Word Cloud, a language-related application. One Word Cloud is examined in the current study as a potential app to help students increase their vocabulary. The purpose of this study is to look into how Word Clouds affect students' ability to expand their vocabulary in English. The study hypothesizes that Word Clouds significantly influence students' vocabulary development. Not every student will find traditional vocabulary instruction methods to be interesting or useful. To assess the students' vocabulary growth, this experimental study compares the pre- and post-assessments of two groups of students before and after the treatment using the statistical T-Test. The findings indicate that Word Clouds have some effect on students' vocabulary, but not much because there was little variation in the post-test scores between the two groups. The study's conclusion aids in the advancement of language instruction and supports teachers in expanding their students' vocabulary.
ANALYZING ILLOCUTIONARY ACTS IN THE WHERE HOPE GROWS MOVIE: A FOCUS ON CALVIN AND PRODUCE
Authors: Larasati Agnes , Marginingsih Marginingsih
Published: January 2025

This study explores the use of illocutionary acts in the movie Where Hope Grows, focusing on the communication dynamics between the main characters, Calvin and Produce. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, the dialogues and interactions between Calvin and Produce were transcribed and coded based on John Searle's Speech Act Theory. The analysis reveals that representative acts account for 42.25% of the total illocutionary acts, while expressive acts account for 29.58%, reflecting the movie's emphasis on emotional expression and personal struggles. Directive acts contribute 23.94%, while commissive acts are found to be only 4.23% and declarative acts are absent. These findings suggest that Where Hope Grows highlights the use of representative and expressive acts to build a narrative based on the characters' beliefs and emotions, while directive and commissive acts are more limited. The study provides insights into how language is used to convey emotions, share thoughts, and influence others within the movie's context, and its implications for communication in various settings, such as personal relationships, education, and counseling.
PERAN HUMAS POLDA KALIMANTAN TENGAH TERHADAP KASUS PEMERASAN MELALUI MEDIA SOSIAL DENGAN ANCAMAN PENYEBARAN VIDEO CALL SEX
Authors: Saudah Saudah , Lestarini Mutmainah Indah , Firdaus Rico Candra
Published: January 2025

Video Call Sex (VCS) dilakukan dengan berpenampilan seksi dengan maksud menggoda, menunjukan bentuk tubuh secara utuh. Tujuan dalam tulisan ini agar masyarakat dapat lebih mengerti tentang bahaya Video Call sex yang dapat terjadi pada siapa saja dan dijadikan sebagai bahan ancaman untuk melakukan pemerasan terhadap korban. Penelitian ini menganalisis peran Humas Polda Kalimantan Tengah terhadap kasus pemerasan melalui media sosial dengan ancaman penyebaran Video Call Sex dengan tujuan untuk mencegah dan menanggulangi terjadinya pemerasan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penulisan yaitu penelitian empiris dengan tipe sosiologi hukum dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa observasi partisipatif. Dalam penelitian ini, selain menelaah suatu Peraturan Perundang-Undangan juga melihat berdasarkan suatu realita yang ada di lapangan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan peran Humas Polda Kalimantan Tengah sangat tanggap dalam menerima aduan korban dan memperhatikan dengan sungguh-sungguh kasus yang terjadi serta tegas dalam memberikan nasehat dan pembinaan sebagai efek jera terhadap pelaku guna memberikan pemahaman lebih jauh tentang bahaya penyebaran Video Call Sex di media sosial.
Islamic Banks and Monetary Variables in Indonesia
Authors: Sari Rahma , Subagya Denysa Cristiana , Laela Khusnul , Ridani Fara , Kurniawan Mahrus Lutfi Adi
Published: January 2025

The pattern of sharia banking which is different from conventional banks can be seen during the crisis, where sharia banking is procyclical during the crisis and countercyclical during the expansion period, this shows that sharia banking prevents a worse crisis from occurring. This pattern must be balanced with caution in implementing monetary policy, because monetary policy is very closely related to the financial sector, including the sharia financial sector. This research aims to analyze monetary variables on sharia banking financing. Monetary variables used include the BI rate, money supply, exchange rate, production index as a proxy for GDP and inflation. The research use time-series data and the OLS method. The research result show that monetary variables have a significant effect on sharia banking financing. This research implication is that the monetary policy implemented focuses on price stability and the domestic economy to support the growth of sharia banking financing.
Funcionalidad familiar y consumo de alcohol en escolares de secundaria de instituciones educativas de la provincia de Lamas - San Martín
Authors:   , Ponte Tarazona Anais Nelly , Samame Heredia Luz Ebelith
Published: January 2025

Este trabajo buscó determinar la relación entre funcionalidad familiar y el consumo de alcohol en escolares de secundaria de instituciones educativas del distrito de Alonso Alvarado de Roque, provincia de Lamas-San Martín. En este sentido, se tomo en cuenta una metodología cuantitativa-correlacional, tuvo un diseño no experimental, en una muestra de 236 escolares del nivel secundario. Las variables se evaluaron mediante la Prueba (AUDIT) y la Prueba APGAR-Familiar. Los resultados arrojan la presencia de familias con disfuncionalidad severa (39.4%), y el (28.8%) perciben buena funcionalidad en sus hogares, además tienen un consumo de bajo riesgo (93.2%). Por consiguiente, existe relación inversa y significativa entre funcionalidad familiar y consumo de alcohol (r: -.270; p= .000). Del mismo modo, los factores de funcionalidad familiar se correlacionan de manera inversa con el consumo de alcohol. Por lo tanto, resulta relevante, el diseño y ejecución de programas enfocados en el fortalecimiento de los sistemas familiares como medidas preventivas contra la ingesta alcohol en la población escolar, puesto que atraviesan un periodo de desarrollo físico, psicológico y social importante en el ciclo vital humano.
Asociación entre el grado de fragilidad y síndrome depresivo en los adultos mayores durante la pandemia por COVID-19
Authors:   , Ordoñez Varillas Karla Pamela , Requena Manco Javier Junior
Published: January 2025

Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la asociación entre fragilidad y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Lima-Perú. Material y método: Estudio observacional, analítico transversal de tipo retrospectivo, análisis secundario del estudio “Comprendiendo como el grado de fragilidad afecta la evolución de COVID-19”. Resultados: En total se contó con datos de 444 adultos mayores (51.13% hombres) de los cuales encontramos que la mayoría de las pacientes son frágiles, ocupando estos un 79.05% de los casos. El estudio encontró que las personas con auto reporte de soledad tenían 3,03 veces más probabilidades de tener fragilidad (IC 95%: 1.23, 7.42), el síntoma de desmotivación se asociaba 3,03 veces las probabilidades de tener fragilidad (IC 95%: 1.23, 7.42) y en participantes que reportaron que sus actividades suponen un esfuerzo se encontró una probabilidad 3,75 veces mayor de sufrir fragilidad (IC 95%: 2.99, 4.71). Así, podemos ver que los participantes frágiles tienen mayores probabilidades de presentar síntomas depresivos. Conclusiones: La fragilidad es un predictor de depresión en los adultos mayores, los participantes frágiles tenían mayor probabilidad de presentar síntomas depresivos que los no frágiles.
Preferencias estéticas de individuos al evaluar fotografías de perfiles faciales con diferentes patrones de crecimiento sagital y vertical. Un estudio transversal
Authors:   , Salinas Mendoza Gina Yanin
Published: January 2025

Objetivo: Evaluar las preferencias estéticas de individuos al observar fotografías de distintos perfiles faciales con diferente patrón de crecimiento sagital y vertical. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal que evaluó 300 estudiantes de una universidad privada. Se utilizaron fotografías editadas de un hombre y una mujer. La maxila fue movida en dirección vertical, mientras que la mandíbula fue movida en dirección sagital. Se crearon varias combinaciones del perfil fotográfico de los dos individuos. Estos movimientos crearon 9 perfiles fotográficos para la mujer y el hombre. Para la confiabilidad intraobservador, se duplicaron dos perfiles de fotos de ambos sexos. Se utilizaron las pruebas de chi cuadrado y regresión logística binaria. p < 0,05. Resultados: En general, los individuos evaluados (hombres y mujeres) prefirieron el perfil de tipo 6 (65,7%), seguido por el perfil de tipo 5 (21,7%) (ligeramente convexos). Se encontró que, por cada año que aumenta un individuo, hay un 31% más posibilidad de elegir alguno de estos perfiles. Conclusiones: Ambos sexos prefieren un perfil recto o ligeramente convexo, y conforme aumenta la edad los individuos prefieren un perfil recto.
Nivel de conocimiento sobre bioseguridad en enfermedades infectocontagiosas en estudiantes de pregrado de una Universidad privada de Lima
Authors:   , Galvez Lopez Melanie Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de conocimiento sobre bioseguridad en enfermedades infectocontagiosas en estudiantes de pregrado de estomatología. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal aplicado a una muestra de 108 estudiantes (75 mujeres y 33 hombres) del VI al X ciclo matriculados en cursos de clínicas integrales de una universidad privada de Lima. El conocimiento se valoró mediante un cuestionario virtual de 22 preguntas estructurado en 5 dimensiones (bioseguridad, barreras de protección, esterilización, transmisión e infecciones de enfermedades, y desecho de materiales contaminantes) que pasó el proceso de evaluación por juicio de expertos (V de Aiken = 1,0) y confiabilidad KR-20 (0,74). Resultados: El nivel de conocimiento sobre bioseguridad en enfermedades infectocontagiosas fue regular (73,2%) mostrando un mayor rango de respuestas correctas en las dimensiones conceptos y principios de bioseguridad (61,1% a 81,5%) y manejo de desechos contaminantes (51% a 84,3%). El nivel de conocimiento fue similar por sexo (p=0,334) y regular/alto asociado a ciclos inferiores (p=0,007). Un mayor puntaje de conocimiento se correlacionó a ciclos inferiores (rho=-0,22; p=0,021) y entre las dimensiones de desecho de materiales contaminantes con barreras protectoras (rho=0,25) y transmisión (rho=0,31) y trasmisión con barreras (rho=0,21) (p<0,05). Conclusiones: El nivel de conocimiento fue regular y se asoció al ciclo de estudios.
Modeling of rheological deformation processes for room and pillar mining at the Verkhnekamsk potash salt deposit
Authors:   Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Kovalkiy Evgeniy , Kongar - Syuryun Cheynesh ,   Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Sirenko Yuriy ,   Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Mironov Nikita ,   Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The purpose of this work is to estimate and predict geo - mechanical parameters such as the stability time of pillars and roof, rate and magnitude of surface subsidence, displacement of mine workings contours considering salt rock creep. This is important in the development of potash deposits and is relevant for the extraction of reserves from previously abandoned pillars and areas. Materials and methods. The paper uses numerical (computer) modeling to assess the geo - mechanical state of salt mass at a particular point in time. A mining and geological model developed in the FLAC software with creep process FISH function. Results and discussion. The general mining conditions of Verkhnekamsk deposit mining have been investigated. The results show that the data obtained by the proposed model are in satisfactory agreement with the results of real observations. Conclusion. The paper shows that the backfilling contributes to a significant unloading of rib pillars from stresses when the roof is lowering on the fill mass. Resume. The proposed model of room and pillar mining elements deformation for potash deposit can serve both as a tool for retrospective analysis of mining and geo - mechanical situations at the Verkhnekamskoe deposit and as a predictive tool. Suggestions for practical applications and directions for future research. The developed methodological approaches can be useful when planning additional extraction of pillars or close - lying strata (several - stage stopping), because it allows predicting the time of roof lowering to the fill mass and relieving of pillars from increased stresses.
Prediction of soil acidity in mountainous areas using machine learning
Authors:   Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Tynchenko Vadim , Shitikova Alexandra ,   Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Konstantinovich Anastasia ,   Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Orlov Vasiliy ,   Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The paper considers the issue of predicting soil acidity in mountainous regions using machine learning methods. The study focuses on optimizing the model by removing redundant factors and identifying the most significant variables affecting soil acidity. The primary goal was to create an accurate model to predict soil pH by analyzing various soil properties. Materials and methods. The research utilized soil property data from the Marshall Gulch project in Arizona, including nitrogen content, clay percentage, and organic matter, among others. «Random Forest» and Gradient Boosting models were employed to analyze the data and predict soil pH. Missing values were filled with median values, and categorical variables were excluded. Numerical features were standardized using Standard Scalar. Results. The Random Forest model was applied to the dataset. After removing factors highly correlated with soil pH, such as pH-KCl and pH-CaCl2, the model’s accuracy was maintained, but slightly reduced. Further analysis identified nitrogen content, nitrogen isotope ratio, and clay percentage as the most influential factors. A simplified model using only these three factors demonstrated sufficient accuracy for practical applications. Discussion. The reduction of factors led to a more interpretable model without significant loss in prediction accuracy. While the exclusion of pH-related factors decreased precision slightly, the analysis highlighted the importance of nitrogen and clay content in predicting soil acidity. The findings suggest that reducing data collection efforts without compromising model accuracy can streamline soil resource management. Conclusion. The study demonstrated that optimizing feature selection based on their importance allows maintaining predictive accuracy while reducing the amount of required data. This is crucial for effective soil resource management, particularly in mountainous areas. Resume. The research focused on predicting soil acidity using machine learning. Key factors such as nitrogen content and clay percentage were identified. A «Random Forest» model showed that using fewer factors could still provide accurate predictions, simplifying data collection and analysis. Suggestions for Practical Applications and Directions for Future Research. The results can be applied to improve soil resource management in mountainous areas, reducing costs associated with data collection. Future research should focus on refining prediction models for other soil properties and environmental factors using a similar approach.
Bio - ecological substantiation of shrubs application for plantations on slope lands
Authors:   Nizhnevolzhskaya station for selection of tree species - branch of the Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology, Complex Reclamation and Protective Afforestation Russian Academy of Sciences, Sapronova Darya , Khuzhakhmetova Aliya ,   Federal scientific centre of agroecology, complex meliorations and protective afforestation of Russian Federation Academy of Sciences, Belyaev Alexander ,   Federal scientific centre of agroecology, complex meliorations and protective afforestation of Russian Federation Academy of Sciences
Published: January 2025

Introduction. In connection with the increase in the area of degraded territories and the decrease in biodiversity of bio geo - cenose, studies on bio - ecological assessment of introduced shrub species, which can perform forest ameliorative function, are becoming urgent. The purpose of the research. To carry out selection of shrubs according to bioecological criteria for flow - regulating plantations. Materials and methods. The register of taxonomic diversity of shrubs for the purposes of forest amelioration was compiled using an information database. Shrubs were evaluated according to a group of bioecological traits using generally accepted methods. Results. Under the conditions of introduction they are distributed by height into: tall (or small trees) - species of Crataegus, Amelanchier (3,0-5,0 m), Viburnum (2,5-3,0 m), Caraganaarborescens (3,4 m); medium shrubs - Aroniamelanocarpa (1,5-2,5 m), Cotoneaster lucidus, C. tomentosus (1.5-2.0 m), Spiraea species (0.8-1.5 m), Amorpha species (1.2-1.5 m), Caraganafrutex (1.5-2.5 m), Coluteaarborescens (up to 1.3 m), Berberis species (1.4-2.5 m), Ligustrum vulgare (1.5-2.0 m). Low - growing shrubs - Amygdalus nana (up to 0.5-0.7 m), Mahonia species. The response of biorhythms in the development of woody plants taking into account climatic parameters of the region was established. The schemes of species combination for plantation establishment on slope lands of Volgograd region are proposed. Resume. The article analyzes the experience of plant introduction on the basis of the arboretum of the Nizhnevolzhskaya station for selection of tree species. Shrubs - reproducers of I and II generations from 17 genera were evaluated according to the group of bioecological traits. Longevity of shrubs in rainfed conditions amounted from 30 to 40 years. The species were ranked according to their prospects for introduction into artificial plantations in areas subject to degradation. Suggestions for practical application and direction of future research. Data on the ecological tolerance of the shrub gene pool in the genotype - environment system allows us to predict the ecological, economic and reclamation efficiency of creating agroforestry plantations, which meets the requirements of rational use of dendrological collections.
Justification of technology for anthropogenic deposits development
Authors:   Tula State University, Kachurin Nikolai , Prokhorov Dmitriy ,   Tula State University, Stas Galina ,   Tula State University, Gavrina Oksana ,   North Caucasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (State Technological University)
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The article contains information on the development of technology for the development of man - made deposits represented by the tailings of mining and processing of coal mines in the coal - mining regions of the country. The development of the resources of man - made deposits will stimulate the integrated development of the mining region and increase its economic attractiveness. Research methods include the analysis of best practices, literature sources, analysis of the results of field and remote observations, laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling. The results of the research. The experience of borehole excavation is generalized and is widely used in the underground and open - pit mining of coal deposits and tailings dumps, as well as sand deposits. Information is provided on a new technology for mining man - made deposits using a drilling rig for destruction and delivery of raw materials by rotating and feeding a drilling screw shaft. Calculation models are given to determine the parameters of mining a man - made deposit by a drilling rig using conveyor transport. The organizational factors of using the machine during the shift and technological factors are detailed, taking into account the conditions of its operation differentially in a specific situation. The issues of geomechanics of the drilling process with the calculation of the size of the natural collapse arch above the borehole and the natural collapse arch are considered. The advantages of auger mining of technogenic deposits are substantiated in comparison with existing technologies and an assessment of the prospects for using this technology in the development of technogenic deposits of coal - mining regions is given. Resume. The proposed technology for the development of man - made deposits has a promising use and is provided by the use of continuous operation technology, cost minimization and the possibility of selective extraction of raw materials and is recommended for the development of solid minerals at mining enterprises
The concept of waste-free mining of ores and metals with a combination of technologies
Authors:   Moscow Polytechnic University, Golik Vladimir
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The article details the concept of waste - free mining of ores and metals with a combination of traditional and new technologies of underground mining in solving mining problems under the influence of natural and economic factors. Its relevance is explained by the steady increase in the demand for metal for the needs of industries and an increase in the volume of metal - containing waste from mining and processing on a global scale with a negative impact on environmental ecosystems. Research methods: organization of laboratory and field studies using generally accepted and proprietary methods, generalization and critical analysis of literary and reporting statistical data, as well as engineering forecasting. The results of the study. The characteristic of the stages of development of mining industry in the historical context is given. The scheme of the traditional technology of enrichment with the opening of ores in the range of 50...80 % with the loss of metals in the tailings is given. A new direction of modernization of leaching enrichment technologies in disintegrator - type activators is presented. Examples of increasing production efficiency through the use of the phenomenon of activation of ore processing processes are given. An algorithm for converting metals into the liquid phase with subsequent processing of metal - containing solutions by hydrometallurgical methods is recommended. A forecast of the prospects for the development of metal mining technologies is made and the concept of humanization of mining processes based on a combination of traditional and new technologies is formulated. The results of the research can be in demand when modernizing technologies at existing and under construction mining enterprises in new economic conditions, as well as used in the process of training mining specialists.
Forecasting the speed of an autonomous dump truck on quarry routes using spatial - temporal graph convolutional networks
Authors:   MISIS University of Science and Technology, Al-Saeedi Adnan , Ivannikov Alexander ,   MISIS University of Science and Technology, Temkin Igor ,   MISIS University of Science and Technology
Published: January 2025

Introduction. Accurate speed prediction for autonomous mining trucks (AMTs) is paramount to addressing critical aspects of safety, efficiency and productivity in mining operations. The application of spatiotemporal graph convolution networks (ST-GCNs) represents a promising and innovative approach to modeling the behavior of autonomous mining trucks (AMTs) in quarrying operations. This advanced computing technology is well suited for solving dynamic and complex problems associated with the movement of ACS in spatial and temporal dimensions. Methodology. The teaching and assessment methodology consists of several key stages. First, the dataset is loaded and preprocessed: temporal features are extracted from timestamps and spatial features are normalized. The data set is then split into training and test sets to train and evaluate the model. An ST-GCN model architecture is defined, consisting of convolution layers followed by a fully connected layer. The model is trained using a mini - batch stochastic gradient descent with a mean squared error (MSE) loss function and an Adam optimizer. Computational experiments and their discussion. The model was trained. Graphs of actual and expected speeds were constructed. A comparison of actual and expected speeds depending on the number of epochs is shown. The model demonstrates reasonable accuracy in predicting speed, but further evaluation and validation on additional data sets will provide better insight into its generalization ability. Conclusion. The analysis made it possible to find out the factors influencing the speed prediction. The ST-GCN model captures the complex spatiotemporal relationships in ACN trajectory data very effectively. The combination of ST-GCNs and accurate speed prediction allows for safer and more efficient quarrying operations.
Directions of tourist and recreational activities development in the territories of the North Caucasus
Authors:   Perm Institute (branch) of G.V. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Oborin Matvey
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The study and selection of directions for the integration of the unique potential of tourism and recreation of the North Caucasus Federal District is the basis for a systematic solution of socio - economic problems based on the development of such types of tourism as skiing, cultural and educational, agricultural, environmental and other services. The purpose of the study. Substantiation of the directions of development of tourist and recreational activities of the territories of the North Caucasus Federal District, taking into account the analysis of the state and determination of trends in the development of resource potential. Materials and methods of research. The study is based on a set of scientific publications devoted to the problems of disclosure of tourist and recreational specialization of the territories of the North Caucasus Federal District, their integration into the system of domestic tourism of the Russian Federation. The main research methods are analysis, description, content analysis of regulatory documents, processing and analysis of statistical data on the main macroeconomic indicators of the North Caucasus Federal District. Research results and their discussion. In the context of state support for domestic tourism in the North Caucasus Federal District, regional strategies and programs of the subjects of the district, there is a steady increase in the interest of Russian tourists and attendance, the leadership in terms of indicators belongs to the Republic of Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory. It is necessary to focus on the traditional advantages and features of the potential: the high birth rate and the share of the rural population, the unique diversity of flora and fauna, the bright features of the ethno - economy, the significant contribution of individual farms to the leading agricultural specialization. The development of agricultural and ecological tourism should become the main types of tourist and recreational activities in rural areas. Conclusion. The formation of agricultural and ecological tourism as independent activities with the involvement of large agribusiness will contribute to the infrastructural and transport and logistics development of regions and rural areas of the district, improve the standard of living of the local population and increase their incomes.
Optimization of Multiproduct Pipeline Pump Scheduling with Rigorous Description of Pipeline Operating Points
Authors: Lin Jianyang , Liu Gang , Chen Lei , He Yuyu
Published: January 2025

Multiproduct pipelines are the main way of transporting petroleum products, and they have a crucial function in ensuring a consistent supply of energy to downstream consumers. Pipelines carry various oil products using a “back-to-back” method. An effective pump scheduling method can efficiently accomplish the transportation operation while minimizing energy consumption. In this work, we present a method for accurately tracking the operating points of multiproduct pipelines by taking into consideration the physical variations among different oil batches and the impact of complex topography on pressure loss. The proposed approach uses the discrete-time method. We developed a nonlinear integer programming (NIP) model and solved it using a genetic algorithm (GA) for scheduling pumps for multiproduct pipelines. The model takes into consideration batch tracking, flow rate, pressure, and delivery schedule constraints. Ultimately, we successfully applied the developed model in a multiproduct pipeline in China, and confirmed the model’s superiority through comparison with current models. The suggested approach may offer a multiproduct pipeline pump scheduling strategy that is more precise and effective.
The Mediating Effects of Grit on the Relationship Between General Self-Efficacy and Happiness Among Unemployment Benefit Recipients
Authors:   Soc Cognitive Enhancement Intervention, Choi HeeChoel , Kim YoungMi , Kang HyeJin , Lee WooJin
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of grit—defined as persistence of interest and effort-on the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness among 206 recipients of unemployment benefits.
Methods: The participants were selected from the population of unemployment benefit recipients using convenience sampling. To examine the mediating effects, structural equation modeling was utilized. The analysis showed that the goodness-of-fit indices for the measurement model satisfied the criteria (CFI: .968, TLI: .960, RMSEA: .045), and all factor loadings were statistically significant. Moreover, the goodness-of-fit indices for the structural model, which posited that general self-efficacy and happiness are mediated by the sub-factors girt, specificially consistency fo interest and perseverance of effort, also met the required standards (CFI: .967, TLI: .959, RMSEA: .046).
Results: The key findings are as follows. First, the mediating effect of consistency of interest in the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness was positively significant, suggesting that general self-efficacy contributes to happiness by enhancing consistency of interest. Second, the mediating effect of persistence of effort in the relationship between general self-efficacy and happiness was also positively significant, indicating that general self-efficacy promotes happiness through persistence of effort.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that improving the sub-factors of grit-consistency of interest and persistence of effort-could enhance happiness for those with low general self-efficacy among unemployment benefit recipients. Therefore, there is a need for educational programs that address the connections between general self-efficacy, grit, and happiness for this population.
A practical approach to choosing formulae for economic index numbers
Authors: Wood John
Published: January 2025

Traditional axiomatic, economic and stochastic approaches to choosing a formula for economic index numbers are based on theoretical considerations, with little regard to whether they reflect the actual circumstances affecting the markets to which they relate. This paper presents an approach to index number formulation based on how markets operate and presents a general, parameter-based formula for price and quantity indices. Two variants of this general formula cater for the “substitution effect” in different ways and one of these variants provides a practical expression for an economic-theoretic index based on purchasers' revealed preferences. Another variant applies this approach to short-term inflation indices. A final variant provides a straightforward means of estimating purchasing power parities for spatial indices. The analysis also emphasizes the importance of using coherent price and quantity indices, whose products generate the corresponding value indices.
Novel flaB gene variants of Leptospira interrogans detected in leptospirosis patient samples from the Western province of Sri Lanka
Authors: Handunnetti Shiroma , De Silva Yomendra , Weerasena Jagathpriya , Fernando Narmada , Sathkumara Harindra , Chandrapadma Nadeema , Premawansa Sunil , Rajapakse Senaka
Published: January 2025

Background
Leptospirosis caused by pathogenic spirochaetes of Leptospira spp remains the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world. Clinical status in leptospirosis patients varies from asymptomatic infection to mild illness to severe/fatal outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine the species of Leptospira that cause mild and severe infections, from patient blood samples obtained from the Western Province in Sri Lanka.
Methods
DNA extracted from 60 blood samples of previously confirmed leptospirosis patients by Lipl32 based Real Time PCR, and clinically characterized as mild and severe (n = 30 each) were used to perform nested PCR with primers designed from flaB gene sequence.
Results
Of the 45 samples that gave a 725 bp fragment in flaB nested PCR, 23 and 22 were from severe and mild leptospirosis patients respectively. Of these flaB PCR positive samples, 16 which exhibited strong bands (8 severe cases and 8 mild) were selected for Sanger’s dideoxy sequencing. The sequences obtained from 16 samples were deposited in GenBank. Those partial flaB gene sequences showed highest similarity with L. interrogans sequences available in GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with 82 other randomly selected Leptospira flaB gene sequences (from the GenBank) by Neighbor-Joining method using MEGA 11 tool. According to dendrogram, 16 partial flaB gene sequences obtained in this study clustered together with L. interrogans. Three sequences, one from a severe leptospirosis patient and two from mild leptospirosis patients exhibited novel mutations. Computational analysis of the predicted amino acid substitutions in these three variants deduced from mutant DNA sequences with that of the wild type FlaB indicate possible functional changes in the flagellar protein. However, the impact of these novel mutations on the flagella assembly and motility could not be determined without functional confirmation. This highlights the need for further functional conformational studies to elucidate possible impact on motility which may influence the pathogenicity of different isolates of L. interrogans.
Marine Phanerozoic biodiversity increased in presence of ecosystem engineers
Authors: Cribb Alison , Darroch Simon , Gearty William
Published: January 2025

Phanerozoic marine biodiversity dynamics have been shaped by continuous environmental change and biotic interactions. Although ecosystem engineers – animals whose behaviours modify resource availability – have established impacts on modern community ecology and diversity, their impacts on ancient ecosystems over geologic time have remained quantitatively underexplored. Here, we investigate the impacts of reef-building and bioturbating marine ecosystem engineers on biodiversity at each stage of the Phanerozoic, including their ability to maintain biodiversity over mass extinctions, and identify extrinsic conditions that modulate their impacts. We analysed fossil communities with and without ecosystem engineers to calculate effect sizes, thereby quantifying effects of the presence of ecosystem engineers on Shannon’s Diversity (H) at each stage in the Phanerozoic. We show that ecosystem engineers are significantly associated with increased biodiversity during the majority of the Phanerozoic. We also show that, over the last ~250 million years, the effectiveness of modern-type reef-builders is more sensitive to climate-driven stress than for modern-style bioturbators. Finally, our results reveal that climate can modulate ecosystem engineer impacts, with both bioturbators and reef-builders exhibiting strongest effect sizes within an optimal moderate temperature range. These results underscore ecosystem engineers’ crucial role in contributing to fluctuating biodiversity dynamics over the Phanerozoic.
Correcting Loop Detector Positional Bias When Estimating Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams
Authors: Maiti Nandan , Leclercq Ludovic
Published: January 2025

This study explores the use of machine learning models (ML) to transform localized loop detector (LD) speeds into spatial link speeds for accurate estimation of network macroscopic fundamental diagrams ( NMFDs). We compare the performance of Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLSR), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost models, using a comprehensive dataset to evaluate their effectiveness in aligning LD speeds with floating car device (FCD) as ground truth average speed. The RF model showed the highest accuracy, with a 37.44% improvement over original LDD speeds and a Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 9.54 km/hr. Additionally, we investigated the impact of LD positions and demand by separating loading and unloading periods. The RF model's adjustments were especially effective under these conditions, resulting in an improved accuracy of 44.9%. Our analysis of NMFDs further validated the RF model's robustness and accurate estimation of NMFDs using corrected LDD.
ChatGPT-4 Prompt: A Tool to Enhance Novice Radiologists' Diagnostic Capabilities in Cystic Renal Masses to Expert-Level Accuracy
Authors: Jin Dong-dong , Zhang Nan , Wang Yan , Lin Ke , Qiao Bin , Yang Yue , Lin Jin-hua , Xie Ding-xiang , Xie Xiao-yan , Xie Xiao-hua , Zhuang Bo-wen
Published: January 2025

Background
The impact of prompt engineering in LLMs on text-based questions has shown variability, whereas its influence on image-based diagnostic tasks remains largely unexplored.
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of various prompts in GPT-4 for the assessment of renal cystic masses (CRMs) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)Bosniak classification. And then test the ability of ChatGPT-4 prompts to assist radiologists with different experience.
Materials and Methods
This retrospective study included 103 images of CRMs from patients who underwent CEUS and CT. GPT-4 (OpenAI) and six radiologists (three experts and three novices) were independently tasked with assigning the Bosniak classification (BC) based solely on the original CEUS images. Subsequently,radiologists reassessed these images after knowing the BCs generated by GPT-4's prompt and determined whether to modify their initial assessments. The diagnostic performance of radiologists and GPT-4 prompts was assessed and quantified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Result
The AUC achieved by GPT-4 prompts ranged from 0.549 to 0.778, while radiologists' AUCs ranged from 0.820 to 0.901. Among all prompting strategies, ROT prompting achieved the highest AUC, demonstrating performance comparable to that of novices (0.778 vs. 0.820, P = 0.39). Although the AUC was lower than that of experts (0.778 vs. 0.901, P = 0.01), ROT prompting improved the AUCs of novices: from 0.714 to 0.834 for novice 1, from 0.685 to 0.782 for novice 2, and from 0.704 to 0.783 for novice 3, with all three novices approaching expert-level performance.
Conclusion
GPT-4 with different prompts showed variable performance in interpreting images. ROT prompting as the best-performing style achieved diagnostic accuracy comparable to novices, and it could aidnovices in improving their diagnostic performance to expert level.
Missed Golden hours of stroke
Authors: Sintayehu Robel , Tinsae Tsion , kefyalew Merahi
Published: January 2025

Background
Seeking medical attention promptly after an acute stroke is essential for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. However, delayed medical intervention after acute stroke contributes to increased mortality and morbidity. This study explored factors that contribute to delayed appearance of stroke patients at the emergency department.
Methods
A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for 9 months at referral hospital in Addis Ababa. Data was collected using questionnaires administered to stroke patients or their caregivers upon their arrival at the emergency department. Electronic medical records were further reviewed and the treating physicians described the subsequent management of the patient after their arrival at the emergency department. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytic parameters.
Results
Only 33.3% (n = 30) arrived at the Emergency department within 4.5hr. Hemorrhagic stroke was a statistically significant predictor of Early presentation to the Emergency Department (OR = 3.182;95% CI (1.258–8.046);p = 0.036 ). The absence of any substance was another marginally significant predictor for Early appearance (OR = 2.555;95% (0.936–6.970);p = 0.067). One of the marginally significant predictors for late presentation was low drug adherence (OR = 0.224; 95% CI(0.48–1.044);p = 0.057). The other factors attributed to the time of arrival, though not statistically significant were level of Education, Perception of stroke as a serious Illness and Prior number of health visits before arrival to the Emergency department.
Conclusion
The study found that many of the factors that cause delays in getting to the hospital can be changed, except for the type of stroke. Time spent in the hospital could also be positively impacted by the intervention from the appropriate authorities.
Prioritising natural heritage: Evaluating distribution, threats, and conservation needs of species recovery targets in Vietnam
Authors: Gray Russell J. , Gazagne Eva , Tilker Andrew , Pham Thong Van , Quang Bao Tran
Published: January 2025

Our study addresses the urgent need to identify and prioritise threatened species in Vietnam for conservation and recovery. With a focus on Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered species with high levels of endemicity (> 50% of their global range occurs in Vietnam), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of key species for conservation prioritisation, IUCN Green Status Assessment, and recovery strategies within the Vietnamese landscape. By integrating data on provincial hotspots and protected areas as key conservation sites, we established a robust framework to assess key species richness, threats, and conservation needs. We identified 203 key species across 12 taxonomic classes, establishing a viable list of wildlife recovery priorities. Habitat loss and exploitation were identified as primary threats to key species; alarmingly, only 38% of these key species had > 50% of their range within protected areas, emphasizing urgent conservation needs that extend beyond current protected area boundaries. Our findings hold significance for guiding conservation strategies, resource allocation, and policy decisions in relation to Vietnam's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and inform measurable species prioritisation goals under Target 4 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). By pinpointing species and regions that require immediate attention, our study provides essential guidance for policymakers, conservationists, and resource managers/donors. Acting on these insights will enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts and ensure the long-term sustainability of wildlife as a vital natural heritage.
The effect of depression and proteinuria on the all‑cause and cardiovascular disease mortality among adults: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: ZHANG QUAN
Published: January 2025

Background
The influence of both proteinuria and depression on mortality in the population is unclear.
Methods
This study included participants who had a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 from NHANES 2007 to 2018. The follow-up period spanned from the date of initial diagnosis until death or December 31, 2019, when the study period concluded. Proteinuria was defined as a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≥ 30 mg/g, while depression was defined as a PHQ-9 score of ≥ 10. Four groups were classified based on the presence of proteinuria and depression.
Results
A total of 25109 individuals aged ≥ 20 years were included in the study. A total of 2211 deaths, including 554 due to cardiovascular disease, were recorded during a median follow-up of 7.08 years (range: 4.00-10.08). Participants with both depression and proteinuria had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality and CVD death (HR: 2.589, 95% CI: 1.922–3.488, P < 0.001; HR: 2.174, 95% CI: 1.312-3.600, P = 0.003) compared to those without either condition, even after adjusting for all covariates.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that individuals with both depression and proteinuria have a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death.