bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factores asociados al auto-reporte de recaída de enfermedades crónicas en la población venezolana en Perú en el año 2018
Authors:   , Lercari Colareta Ornella , Rodriguez Bolaños Crhissie Allison
Published: May 2024

Introducción: En el año 2018, el Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) realizó la Encuesta Dirigida a la Población Venezolana que Reside en el País (ENPOVE), donde encontramos datos importantes de prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas como asma, diabetes, hipertensión arterial y artritis en esta población migrante, por lo que este tema sería novedoso. Métodos: Este es un estudio exploratorio, de tipo observacional transversal analítico, basado en el análisis secundario de la base de datos. La encuesta ENPOVE incluyó personas nacidas en Venezuela residentes en el área urbana de 5 ciudades: La Libertad, Tumbes, Cusco y Arequipa, y Lima Metropolitana dividida por zonas (Lima Centro, Lima Este, Lima Norte, y Lima Sur) y la provincia Constitucional del Callao; quienes respondieron voluntariamente la encuesta ENPOVE. Resultados: Lima tuvo la mayor proporción (91.27%) los terciles de edad fueron de 18-28 años (35.77%), 29-40 años (31.46%), y 41-87 años (32.77%); y sexo femenino tuvo mayor frecuencia (58.19%). Casado/conviviente tuvo mayor frecuencia (55.11%); educación superior (58.53%), así como el tercil medio de nivel socioeconómico (54.1%). Trabajaron la semana anterior (76.21%), los que no estaban afiliados a un seguro de salud (92.71%), migración en el 2018 (73.3%), situación migratoria en proceso (49.1%), los que sufrieron discriminación (54.79%), no presenciaron violencia (58.75%), no discapacitados (94.21%). Índice de hacinamiento 1-2 (66.19%), solo tener una enfermedad crónica (94.95%), no recibir tratamiento para su enfermedad (78.03%). Conclusiones: La tasa de recaídas de enfermedades crónicas fue 13.34%,. En Perú en el año 2018 tuvo 63% menos probabilidad de auto-reportar recaídas de enfermedades crónicas, comparado con los que llegaron antes del 2017 (RP 0.37; IC 95% 0.20-0.68). Hubo mayor prevalencia de recaídas en personas de sexo femenino, estrato socioeconómico bajo, y los que no recibían tratamiento para su enfermedad crónica.
Centro de acogida residencial para niños, niñas y adolescentes en Trujillo
Authors:   , Mantilla Lozano Rodrigo Alonso
Published: May 2024

La siguiente investigación consiste en un proyecto de protección y bienestar social para los menores de edad que se encuentran en estado de abandono o situación de riesgo en la ciudad de Trujillo, en el departamento de La Libertad, en Perú, donde el índice de casos supera la capacidad de los pocos centros existentes, los cuales tampoco cuentan con una buena infraestructura. El Centro de Acogida Residencial tiene como objetivo albergar a estos niños, niñas y adolescentes afectados por la orfandad, la explotación, la pobreza extrema o el propio entorno familiar, para brindarles la seguridad, el cuidado y la atención integral que necesitan. La finalidad de ello es buscar la adopción, reintegración familiar o reinserción social del menor a través de una serie de medidas apropiadas al perfil de cada uno que permitan fomentar el desarrollo de sus capacidades y habilidades sociales para, así, fortalecer los vínculos familiares y las relaciones sociales. De esta manera, la propuesta ofrece la infraestructura, los servicios y el equipamiento adecuado a las necesidades de este sector vulnerable de la población para que puedan realizar diversas actividades y dinámicas educativas por medio de espacios diseñados bajo determinados criterios arquitectónicos. Aparte, este tipo de proyectos permite concientizar a la población sobre una realidad que se vive en todo el país y que, de no darle la debida importancia, afectará a las futuras generaciones y, por ende, a la sociedad.
Grammatical Errors in Using Adverbial Clauses of Reason as Modifiers in Some Indonesian Journalistic Headlines
Authors: Subagyo Kukuh Prayitno , Chotib Mochamad Nasrul , Widodo Herditya Wahyu , Sujiatmoko Ahmad Heki
Published: May 2024

This journal article examines the grammatical construction of some TV news headlines, highlighting the issues that arise due to their structure. The primary concern is that the headlines use adverbial clauses or phrases of reason before the main clauses which inadvertently cause some confusion about the subjects and the actions of the news stories. That is because the adverbial clauses or phrases often function as appositives to modify the subject of the main clause. When used as clauses of reason as in the headlines, this grammatical construction creates ambiguity in understanding who is then performing the described actions. The study finds that these headlines are structurally complex and misleading, making them fail to convey their intended meaning. To address this issue, the article suggests that the headlines be rephrased to eliminate ambiguity. Improved headline construction not only enhances communication but also ensures that potential confusion for the audience is minimized.
Looking for early indicators of vascular modification in young healthy tobacco smokers
Authors: Fallone Andrade Sérgio , Monteiro Rodrigues Luís
Published: May 2024

Cigarette smoking is a main risk factor for cardiovascular disease but early indicators of damage specially in young smokers with no clinical evidence of impairment are lacking. Our study identifies adaptive responses in young smokers following a Reactive Hyperemia (RH) maneuver and compares those responses with an equivalent non-smoker group. The study respected all principles of good clinical practice, involved 42 healthy volunteers (21 smokers, 21 non-smokers), with similar anthropometric data, except for smoking habits. Smokers were mostly (17/21) mild, according with the calculated smoking index, and had followed this regular practice for 11.1±4.5 years. RH was obtained by applying a suprasystolic pressure to one of the participants' arms for two minutes. Perfusion was measured in the third finger on the ipsilateral side. Perfusion early recovery after occlusion was significantly faster in non-smokers (***p<0.0001) compared with smokers. These differences were attributed to smoking, suggesting that even in the absence of any clinical expression, the reflex adaptive responses evoked by RH in both groups are altered. These results justify further studies to better understand the early subclinical impacts of smoking on healthy individuals.
Conhecer para pertencer
Authors: Baptista Maria Vitoria , Ruffino Paulo Henrique Peira , Santos Silvia Aparecida Martins dos , Rezende Gabriela Rahal de
Published: May 2024

Introdução. Bacias Hidrográficas proporcionam uma visão sistêmica e interdisciplinar do território, configurando importantes espaços educativos. O Centro de Divulgação Científica e Cultural da USP São Carlos (CDCC/USP) é protagonista na construção de metodologias e dispositivos de ensino sobre recursos hídricos na região, dispondo de um amplo acervo didático que é referência no tema. Objetivo. A presente pesquisa visou à construção participativa de materiais educativos sobre afluentes do rio Mogi-Guaçu nos municípios de Descalvado, Luiz Antônio, Porto Ferreira, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro e São Carlos. Metodologia. Foram realizadas reuniões com gestores públicos, rodas de conversa com a comunidade, pesquisas bibliográficas e trabalhos de campo. Os modelos 3D de bacias hidrográficas foram elaborados em SIG e confeccionados nas instalações do CDCC. Resultados. Foram produzidas 7 maquetes de microbacias que, somadas ao resgate histórico-ambiental e cultural da região, irão compor materiais educativos sobre os recursos hídricos locais para distribuição. Conclusão. O mapeamento participativo se mostrou uma ferramenta fundamental para a Educação Ambiental, pois permitiu conciliar saberes populares, técnicos, científicos e políticos sobre o território como a base para a cidadania ambiental.
Could controversies in the arena of fatty liver disease be a potential gate for the democratization of science
Authors: Fouad Yasser , Alboraie Mohamed , Gomaa Ahmed , Zheng Ming-Hua , Lonardo Amedeo
Published: May 2024

The term “democratization of science” describes the process of more evenly allocating epistemic authority between scientists, members of dominant civilizations, and the academic community at large, or members of less dominant societies. This means that it includes initiatives aimed at democratizing the decision-making process by acknowledging the presence of diverse types of “wisdom of crowd” and so reducing the barriers between the various stakeholders. Our purpose is to separate influence from involvement that contributes to the breakdown of conventional closed-circuit authority structures and to prevent future abuses of power by academic institutions, scientific societies, and even individual opinion leaders. A conceptual framework for comprehending the idea of the democratization of science is presented in this perspective piece. Our considerations are pertinent to the politics of widespread academic engagement in scientific decision-making, even though they were spurred by the discussion surrounding the definitions of fatty liver disease.
Yerel Yönetim Çalışanlarının Mobbing Algısı ve İş Doyumu İlişkisi: Aydın İli Belediyeleri Örneği
Authors: Yüceyılmaz Hilal , Gercek Oter Emine , Ertekin Halil İbrahim
Published: May 2024

Çalışmanın amacı yerel yönetimlerde çalışanların mobbing algısı, iş doyumu ve aralarındaki ilişkinin farklı değişkenlerle ortaya konulmasıdır. Bu kapsamda çalışmada Aydın ili ilçe belediyelerinde farklı istihdam türlerinde çalışan 410 belediye personeline anket uygulanmıştır. Araştırma verileri Birey Tanıtım Formu, Mobbing Ölçeği ve Minnesota İş Tatmin Ölçeği kullanılarak toplanmış, elde edilen veriler SPSS 27.0 versiyon paket programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın analizinde Kolmogorov-Smirnov testi, Mann Whitney U Testi, Kruskal Wallis H Testi ve Posthoc testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre yerel yönetimlerde düşük düzey mobbing algısı ve yüksek iş tatmini gözlemlenmektedir. Ayrıca, erkeklerin kendilerini daha fazla tehdit altında hissettikleri, sözleşmeli personelin daha fazla tehdit ve taciz altında olduğu, yüksek lisans mezunlarının kendilerini daha çok mobbing altında hissettikleri belirlenmiştir. İstihdam türünün mobbing algısında önemli bir değişken olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Ayrıca, yüksek lisans mezunlarının iş tatmin düzeyinin düşük olduğu, çalışma yılının iş doyumunu etkilediği, kurumda gündüz mesaisi ve vardiyalı mesai yapmanın iş tatmininde farklılık yaratan önemli unsurlar olduğu bulunmuştur.
Ön Ergenlik Dönemindeki Çocukların Okul Yaşantılarının İncelenmesi
Authors: Mercan Akçay Hilal , Demircioğlu Haktan
Published: May 2024

Minnettarlık, iyimserlik, yaşam coşkusu ve sebat içeren okul temelli pozitif özellikler, çocukların okuldaki pozitif yaşantılarının temelini oluşturmaktadır ve çocukların okuldaki pozitif yaşantıları onların gelişimleri açısından önemlidir. Bu nedenle araştırma çeşitli değişkenler açısından ön ergenlik dönemindeki çocukların okul yaşantılarını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarama modeline göre planlanmış olup örnekleme yöntemlerinden basit seçkisiz örnekleme kullanılmıştır. Araştırma 2022-2023 eğitim-öğretim yılı bahar döneminde 6., 7. ve 8. sınıfa giden ve çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 549 çocuk ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veri toplamak için “Demografik Bilgi Formu” ve “Okulda Pozitif Yaşantılar Ölçeği” kullanılmıştır. Veriler normal dağılım gösterdiği için verilerin analizinde t testi ve tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA), post-hoc t-testi ve Tukey HSD kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucuna göre çocukların okuldaki yaşantıları ile cinsiyet, başarı durumu, anne, baba, öğretmen ve sınıf arkadaşları ile olan ilişki durumu, dijital oyun oynama süresi, sosyal medya kullanım süresi arasında anlamlı fark bulunmuştur.
Antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of limpasu (Baccaurea lanceolata) pericarpium with the ultrasound assisted extraction method against Propionibacterium acne
Authors: Ulpah Rusmili , Nashihah Siti , Zamzani Irfan
Published: May 2024

Background: Acne, a prevalent skin condition, can arise from factors such as an unhealthy lifestyle, dietary habits, hormonal imbalances, and bacterial infections. Propionibacterium acnes is a notable bacterium responsible for acne. In South Borneo, the pericarpium of the limpasu plant (Baccaurea lanceolata) is traditionally used to treat acne.
Objective: This study aims to scientifically validate the empirical antibacterial effects of limpasu pericarpium against Propionibacterium acnes, as reported by the communities in South Borneo.
Methods: The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was utilized to extract compounds from limpasu pericarpium. The antibacterial activity of the limpasu pericarpium extract was evaluated using the disc diffusion method at concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% w/v. Clindamycin served as the positive control, and 1% DMSO was the negative control.
Results: The lowest concentration (20%) fell within the strong activity category, producing a clear zone diameter of 18.76 mm. Higher concentrations (40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) demonstrated more potent antibacterial effects, with inhibition zones of 23.23 mm, 26.06 mm, 26.93 mm, and 27.33 mm, respectively. Notably, 60% to 100% concentrations exhibited greater inhibitory effects than the positive control, clindamycin, which had an inhibition zone of 25.23 mm.
Conclusion: The study confirms the antibacterial properties of limpasu pericarpium against Propionibacterium acnes, supporting the traditional claims of its efficacy by the South Borneo communities.
Online Sale of Pirated Books from a Legal and Moral Perspective
Authors: Kartika Wati Ratna , Usman Zuraini Jamil , Soediro Soediro
Published: May 2024

The increase in online book sales without permission and copyright violations in Indonesia poses a major threat to written works. This problem requires normative legal and moral studies to find solutions that complement previous research. This article aims to analyze and describe the legal regulations for buying and selling pirated books online and explain that the act of pirating books for sale is a moral crime. Normative legal research was used, which produced prescriptive conclusions. The data in this article consists of the Copyright Law, Information and Electronic Transactions Law, and other technical regulations. These regulations are equipped with various supporting references that discuss copyright issues, moral rights, and integrative legal theory, which describes a comprehensive legal system for responding to regulatory violations. This article reveals that national legal policies are not sufficient to guarantee protection for authors and publishers against book piracy and even make it difficult to report this crime to the police so that the use of the criminal justice system becomes ineffective. Indonesian society's perception of book piracy must be improved from previously being a common practice to a moral crime that is financially detrimental, and to the good name of authors and publishers. This article suggests several changes to the regulatory structure. First, we determine the authenticity verification scheme for books sold in bookstores and on marketplace platforms. Second, eliminating the concept of Klach Delict in criminal provisions so that reporting the crime of book piracy can be done by anyone, especially publishers and the public, who observe copyright.
DISKRESI DALAM PENANGANAN COVID-19 BERDASARKAN UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 2 TAHUN 2020 TENTANG PENETAPAN PERATURAN PEMERINTAH PENGGANTI UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 1 TAHUN 2020 TENTANG KEBIJAKAN KEUANGAN NEGARA DAN STABILITAS SISTEM KEUANGAN UNTUK PENANGANAN PANDEMI COVID-19 DAN/ATAU DALAM RANGKA MENGHADAPI ANCAMAN YANG MEMBAHAYAKAN PEREKONOMIAN NASIONAL DAN/ATAU STABILITAS SISTEM KEUANGAN MENJADI UNDANG-UNDANG
Authors: Akbar Tenggar Miftakhul , Pamuji Kadar , Nasihuddin Abdul Aziz , - Kartono
Published: May 2024

Adanya pandemi Covid-19 berdampak besar bagi perekonomian nasional di dunia, terutama Indonesia, maka dari itu Presiden Joko Widodo menggunakan kewenangan atributif dengan mengeluarkan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2020, dengan tujuan memberikan kepastian hukum bagi Pemerintah dan lembaga terkait untuk mengambil kebijakan dan langkah-langkah agar dampak dari adanya pandemi Covid-19 dapat segera teratasi.  Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui apakah diskresi berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2020 sudah sesuai dengan Asas-asas Umum Pemerintahan yang Baik dan Undang-Undang Nomor 30 Tahun 2014. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode yuridis normatif dengan analisis secara normatif kualitatif. Spesifikasi penelitian menggunakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif, metode pengumpulan data dengan menggunakan data sekunder melalui studi kepustakaan dengan menggunakan metode penyajian data dalam bentuk teks naratif dan disusun secara sistematis. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat diketahui bahwa Pasal 27 Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2020 yang dinilai menimbulkan kekebalan hukum bagi pejabat negara serta menghapuskan unsur “kerugian negara” dalam tindak pidana korupsi sebagaimana yang tercantum dalam Pasal 2 Undang-Undang Nomor 31 Tahun 1999 tentang Tindak Pidana Korupsi tidaklah benar, rumusan Pasal 27 tersebut sudah sesuai dengan Undang-Undang Nomor 31 Tahun 2014 tentang Administrasi Pemerintahan dan Asas-Asas Umum Pemerintahan yang Baik serta pendapat para ahli mengenai diskresi.
Peran WHO dalam Memberikan Panduan terhadap Peraturan di Indonesia terkait Penanganan Penyebaran Penyakit dari Limbah Medis Covid-19
Authors: Khalid Baginda , Pambudi Lintang Ario
Published: May 2024

Masalah pengolahan limbah medis menjadi salah satu perhatian utama banyak negara di dunia. Limbah medis berkontribusi dalam mempercepat penyebaran banyak penyakit menular, dan penting untuk melakukan studi tentang pengelolaan limbah ini, termasuk pengolahan limbah medis. Sebagai anggota WHO, Indonesia juga perlu menangani masalah ini. Fokus utama dari tulisan ini adalah implementasi peran WHO dalam mengatasi masalah tersebut, khususnya dalam menetapkan peraturan pengolahan sampah di negara-negara anggota WHO, khususnya Indonesia. Tulisan ini akan difokuskan untuk menganalisis penerapan berbagai undang-undang pengelolaan sampah di tingkat internasional dan nasional. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penulisan ini menggunakan pendekatan sosio-legal dengan kajian melalui ilmu sosiologi, lingkungan, dan kesehatan serta pendekatan hukum normatif. Hasilnya menunjukkan berbagai regulasi di tingkat internasional dan nasional, seiring dengan peran penting WHO dalam penanganan limbah medis di era Covid-19. Kerjasama internasional ke nasional sangat diperlukan, terutama antara berbagai elemen masyarakat, untuk meningkatkan kesadaran akan dampak buruk limbah medis.Kata kunci: Regulasi Limbah Medis, WHO, Covid-19, Pencegahan Penyakit
Enhancement of anti-PD-L1 antibody plus anlotinib efficacy due to downregulation of PD-L1 in the micro-conduit endothelium within the tumor: a randomized double-blind trial
Authors: Zhang Cuicui , Chu Tianqing , Wang Qiming , Cheng Ying , Zhang Yongxiang , Wang Ruili , Ma Leilei , Qian Chaonan , Han Baohui , Li Kai
Published: May 2024

Objective: The possible enhancing effect of anlotinib on programmed death receptor ligand (PD-L1) antibody and the efficacy-predicting power of PD-L1 in micro-conduit endothelium, including lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and blood endothelial cells (BECs), were determined to identify patients who would benefit from this treatment. Methods: PD-L1 positivity in LECs, BECs, and tumor cells (TCs) was assessed using paraffin sections with multicolor immunofluorescence in an investigator’s brochure clinical trial of TQB2450 (PD-L1 antibody) alone or in combination with anlotinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Progression-free survival (PFS) with different levels of PD-L1 expression was compared between the two groups. Results: Among 75 patients, the median PFS (mPFS) was longer in patients who received TQB2450 with anlotinib [10 and 12 mg (161 and 194 days, respectively)] than patients receiving TQB2450 alone (61 days) [hazard ratio (HR)10 mg = 0.390 (95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.201–0.756), P = 0.005; HR12 mg = 0.397 (0.208–0.756), P = 0.005]. The results were similar among 58 patients with high PD-L1 expression in LECs and TCs [159 and 209 vs. 82 days, HR10 mg = 0.445 (0.210–0.939), P = 0.034; HR12 mg = 0.369 (0.174–0.784), P = 0.009], and 53 patients with high PD-L1 expression in BECs and TCs [161 and 209 vs. 41 days, HR10 mg = 0.340 (0.156–0.742), P = 0.007; HR12 mg = 0.340 (0.159–0.727), P = 0.005]. No differences were detected in the mPFS between the TQB2450 and combination therapy groups in 13 low/no LEC-expressing and 18 low/no BEC-expressing PD-L1 cases. Conclusions: Mono-immunotherapy is not effective in patients with high PD-L1 expression in LECs and/or BECs. Anlotinib may increase efficacy by downregulating PD-L1 expression in LECs and/or BECs, which is presumed to be a feasible marker for screening the optimal immune patient population undergoing anti-angiogenic therapy.
Molecular Insights into Female Hybrid Sterility in Interspecific Crosses between Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans
Authors: Kotov Alexei A. , Adashev Vladimir E. , Kombarov Ilia A. , Bazylev Sergei S. , Shatskikh Aleksei S. , Olenina Ludmila V.
Published: May 2024

Species of the genus Drosophila have served as favorite models in speciation studies; however, genetic factors of interspecific reproductive incompatibility are underinvestigated. Here we performed the analysis of hybrid female sterility by crossing Drosophila melanogaster females and Drosophila simulans males. Using transcriptomic data analysis, molecular, cellular, and genetic approaches, we analyzed differential gene expression, transposable element (TE) activity, piRNA biogenesis, and functional defects of oogenesis in hybrids. Premature germline stem cell loss was the most prominent defect of oogenesis in hybrid ovaries. Due to the differential expression of genes encoding piRNA pathway components, rhino and deadlock, the functional RDCmel complex in hybrid ovaries was not assembled. However, the activity of the RDCsim complex was maintained in hybrids, independent of the genomic origin of piRNA clusters. Despite the identification of a cohort of overexpressed TEs in hybrid ovaries, we found no evidence that their activity can be considered the main cause of hybrid sterility. We revealed a complicated pattern of Vasa protein expression in the hybrid germline, including partial AT-chX piRNA targeting of the vasasim allele and a significant zygotic delay in vasamel expression. We arrived at the conclusion that the hybrid sterility phenotype was caused by intricate multi-locus differences between the species.
Consumers’ Purchase Intention of Electric Vehicles from the Perspective of Perceived Green Value: An Empirical Survey from China
Authors: Haipeng Zhao , Furuoka Fumitaka , Rasiah Rajah A/L , Erhuan Shen
Published: May 2024

This study aims to broaden the current understanding of the antecedents and consequences of green purchase intention within the realm of perceived green value (PGV) A mixed-method approach is deployed, integrating PLS-SEM and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to examine the role of influence and interaction as key precursors to perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy, and explores how perceived responsibility and perceived self-efficacy impacts green purchasing intention, mainly through the mediation of perceived responsibility (PER) and perceived self-efficacy (PSE) using survey data gathered from consumers participating. The results indicate that PGV positively influences green purchase intention (GPI). Moreover, PER and PSE exhibit significant chain mediation effects, with the mediation effect of perceived environmental responsibility being particularly strong. It is recommended that the government intensify green disseminate and education, promote the establishment of certification and evaluation systems for electric vehicle products, and that electric vehicle factories emphasize the environmental attributes and economic interest of their products to encourage green purchasing behavior.
Photodynamic Therapy, Past, Current and Future
Authors: Aebisher David , Czech Sara , Bartusik-Aebisher Dorota
Published: May 2024

Greek roots: "phos" (φῶς) - means "light" and "dynamis" (δύναμις) - means "force" or "power". Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative treatment method based on the ability of photosensitizers to produce reactive oxygen species after exposure to light of a specific wavelength range, either in the visible or near infrared range. This process results in damage to pathological cells, such as cancer cells, while minimizing the impact on healthy tissues. PDT is a promising direction in the treatment of many diseases, with particular emphasis on the fight against cancer and other diseases asso-ciated with excessive cell growth. The power of light contributed to the creation of phototherapy, whose history dates back to ancient times. It was then noticed that some substances exposed to the sun have a negative effect on the body, while others have a therapeutic effect.
This work provides a detailed review of photodynamic therapy, from its origins to the present day. It is surprising how a seemingly simple beam of light can have such a powerful healing effect, which is used not only in dermatology, but also in oncology, surgery, microbiology, virology, and even dentistry. However, despite promising re-sults, photodynamic therapy still faces many challenges. The availability of this thera-py is limited due to the small number of centers offering this type of treatment and the high costs, which may be unaffordable for many patients. Moreover, photodynamic therapy requires further research and improvement.
Strategic Optimization of Influenza Vaccine Allocation: A Case Study of Age-Specific Approaches in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhamis Asma Khalil , Hosny Manar
Published: May 2024

Acute lower respiratory tract infection is a major health problem that affects more than 15% of the total population of Saudi Arabia each year. Epidemiological studies conducted over the last three decades have indicated that viruses are responsible for the majority of these infections. The epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Saudi Arabia is believed to be affected mainly by the presence and mobility of large numbers of foreign workers and the gathering of millions of Muslims in Mecca during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Knowledge concerning the epidemiology, circulation pattern, and evolutionary kinetics of respiratory viruses in Saudi Arabia are scant, with the available literature being inconsistent. After reviewing the available data on epidemiology and evolution of respiratory viruses, this study examines the effect of varying vaccination rates across different age groups during the 2019/2020 influenza season in Saudi Arabia. Utilizing an age-structured SEIR (Susceptible–Exposed–Infectious–Recovered) model, it develops customized vaccination policies by considering age-specific incidence rates. This pioneering research segments the population into five age groups—infants and school-aged children, junior and older youth, young adults and adults, middle-aged, and seniors—across five regional areas in Saudi Arabis: Eastern, Central, Northern, Western, and Southern. A contact matrix, compiled from multiple sources, is used to delineate the dynamics of influenza transmission. The study undertakes a thorough comparison of three distinct vaccination scenarios: no vaccination, national vaccination, and optimized vaccine allocation policy, under various potential pandemic situations. It examines their impact on vaccination campaigns in terms of the total number of infections, mortality, and morbidity rates. The results emphasize the crucial impact of population demographics on disease transmission and vaccine distribution. According to the findings, the optimized vaccination scenario proved to be the most effective strategy in all scenarios.
Pricing and Financing Strategies of Dual-Channel Green Supply Chain with Risk Aversion and Consumer Preferences
Authors: Zhang Maojun , Li Jiaqi , Liu Feifei , Nan Jiangxia , Jiang Jiawen
Published: May 2024

Nowadays, considering the growing tendency of companies towards e-commerce as well as green production, and dual-channel green supply chain management has become particularly important. This paper investigates pricing decisions within a dual-channel green supply chain framework while considering the capital constraints faced by risk-averse manufacturer. Simultaneously, the impact of the degree of risk aversion, consumer green preferences, and channel preferences on the optimal decision-making process of green supply chain members is analyzed. We address the issue of financial constraints faced by manufacturer through bank loans and trade credit financing and compare the two cases. Our findings illustrate that trade credit financing outperforms bank loan financing in the dual-channel green supply chain. Moreover, pricing decisions under different models are influenced by consumer preferences and risk aversion. Specifically, the greenness of the product, wholesale price, and sale price exhibit negative correlations with manufacturers' risk aversion but positive correlations with consumer preferences.
Intermittent Fasting: Myths, Fakes and Truth on this Dietary Regimen Approach
Authors: Brogi Simone , Tabanelli Rita , Puca Sara , Calderone Vincenzo
Published: May 2024

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been indicated as a valuable alternative to the classical caloric restriction dietary regimen for lowering body weight and preventing obesity-related complications such as metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. However, is it effective? In this review article, we analyzed over 50 clinical studies in which IF, conducted by alternate day fasting (ADF) or time-restricted feeding (TRF), was compared with the caloric restriction approach. We evaluated the different roles of IF in treating and preventing human disorders such as metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, and some types of cancer, as well as the usefulness of IF in reducing body weight and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension. Furthermore, we explored the cellular pathway targeted by IF to exert their beneficial effects by activating effector proteins that modulate cell functions and resistance to oxidative stress. In contrast, we investigated the concerns for human health related to the adoption of IF dietary regimen, highlighting the profound debate on weight loss regimens. We have examined and compared several clinical trials to formulate an updated conception regarding IF and its therapeutic potential.
Landscape Composition Matters for Mammals in Agricultural Ecosystems: A Multiscale Study
Authors: Pedroso Rayssa Faria , Rosa Clarissa , Passamani Marcelo
Published: May 2024

The conversion of native habitats into anthropogenic ones compromises the original composition and configuration of the landscapes, influencing ecological dynamics and affecting biodiversity. Increasingly, landscape ecology has shown that these effects can only be understood if accessed at adequate spatial scales, as the scale which landscape structure is evaluated influences species responses. Here, we investigated how three variables of landscape composition (proportion of forest, coffee crop and pasture) and two of configuration (number of fragments and mean nearest neighbor distance) interfere in the richness and composition of medium and large-sized mammals considering a multiscale approach. We recorded medium and large-sized mammal species in 13 landscapes with predominantly matrices of coffee and pasture in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Then, we built distance-based linear models to identify the scale of effect of each landscape variable for both response variables considering eight scales (from 250 m to 2000 m). Finally, we verified the influence of the landscape on the richness and composition of mammals, considering the landscape variables in their respective scales of effect. We found 67% of the probable species occurring in the region. The scales of effect varied among landscape variables probably due to the different variables affect different aspects of organisms' ecological requirements. The proportion of pasture in the landscape explained the variation in species richness, while the proportion of forest explained the variation in species composition. In addition, the proportion of pasture in the landscape had a positive influence on species richness, indicating that this matrix may favor the presence of generalist species of habitat and/or this result is due to the higher concentration of species in the fragments immersed in this matrix. These results suggest that considering different responses to biodiversity is important to understand different aspects of the landscape's influence on biodiversity. In addition, the composition of the landscape is fundamental for the perpetuation of species and, therefore, both forest cover and types of matrices in the landscape must be considered to improve species conservation strategies. Finally, generalizing a spatial scale can lead to misinterpretations about the influence of the landscape on biodiversity.
A Novel Mixed Finite/Infinite Dimensional Port-Hamiltonian Model of a Mechanical Ventilator
Authors: Madahana Milka C.I , Ekoru John Ekoru , Nyandoro Otis T.C
Published: May 2024

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving treatment for critically ill patients who are struggling to breathe independently due to injury or disease. Globally, large numbers of Individuals have always required mechanical ventilation per year. The Covid-19 pandemic elevated the significance of the mechanical ventilation which have played a significant role in sustaining Covid 19 infected critically ill patients who could not breathe on their own. The pandemic drew the attention of the world to the shortage of ventilators globally.This research work presents the formulation of a detailed Port Hamiltonian model of a mechanical ventilator integrated to the human respiratory system. The interconnection and coupling conditions for the various subsystem within the mechanical ventilator and the coupling between the mechanical ventilator and the human respiratory system is also presented.A structure preservation discretization is provided along side numerical simulations and results. The obtained results are found to be comparable to results presented in literature.The future work will include the design of suitable controllers for system.
Thermal Expansion of Alkaline-Earth Borates
Authors: Bubnova Rimma Sergeevna , Yukhno Valentina Anatolevna , Krzhizhanovskaya Maria Georgievna , Sizov Georgii Svyatoslavovich , Filatov Stanislav Konstantinovich
Published: May 2024

Thermal expansion of four alkaline-earth borates, namely Ca3B2O6 (0D), CaB2O4 (1D), Sr3B14O24 (2D) and CaB4O7 (3D), have been studied by in situ high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (HTXRD). Strong anisotropy of thermal expansion is observed for the structures of Ca3B2O6 (0D) and CaB2O4 (1D) built up from BO3 triangles only: these borates exhibit the maximal expansion perpendicular to the BO3 plane, i.e. along the direction of weaker bonding in the crystal structure. Layered Sr3B14O24 (2D) and framework CaB4O7 (3D) built up from various B-O groups expand less anisotropically. Thermal properties of the studied compounds compared to the other alka-line-earth borates are summarized depending on the selected structural characteristics like anion dimensionality, residual charge per one polyhedron (BO3 BO4), cationic size, and structural com-plexity. For the first time these dependencies were established as an average for both types of polyhedra (triangle and tetrahedron) occurring in the same structure at the same time. The most common trends were identified for : (i) Melting temperature decreases as the dimensionality of the borate polyanion, and more precisely, as the residual charge per one polyhedron (triangle or tetrahedron) decreases; (ii) volumetric expansion decreases while the degree of anisotropy in-creases weakly when the residual charge decreases; (iii)both trends (i) and (ii) are most steady within borates built by the triangles only, while the borates built by both triangles and tetrahedra show a larger scatter in values.
C-reactive Protein Pretreatment-Level Evaluation with Histopathological Correlation for Chondrosarcoma Prognosis Assessment—a 15-Year Retrospective Single-Centre Study
Authors: Consalvo Sarah , Hinterwimmer Florian , Stephan Maximilian , Breden Sebastian , Lenze Ulrich , Peeken Jan , von Einsenhart-Rothe Rüdinger , Knebel Carolin
Published: May 2024

Background: An aberrant cellular microenvironment characterized by pathological cells or inflammation represents an added risk factor across various cancer types. While the significance of chronic inflammation in the development of most diffuse tumors has been extensively studied, an exception to this analysis exists in the context of Chondrosarcomas. Chondrosarcomas represent 20–30% of all skeletal sarcomas and have an estimated incidence of 1 in 100,000 worldwide. The mean age of presentation is 50, with over 70% of patients over the age of 40 at the time of diagnosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the role of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a prognostic factor in relation to the histopathological findings for Chondrosarcoma. Methods: This retrospective study included 73 patients with confirmed Chondrosarcoma diagnosis treated between 2004 and 2019. Preoperative CRP determination was assessed in mg/dL with a non-pathological value below 0.5 mg/dL. Disease-free survival time was calculated as the time between the initial diagnosis and an event like local recurrence or metastasis. Follow-up status was described in death of disease, no evidence of disease and alive with disease. The exclusion criteria of this study included insufficient laboratory values, lack of information regarding the follow-up status and incomplete histopathological report. Results: The calculate risk estimation of a reduced follow-up time was 2,25 time higher in the patients with an CRP level >0.5 mg/dL (HR 2,25 and 95% CI 1,13-4,45) and 3 times higher in patients with a tumour size >pT2 (HR 3 and 95% CI 1,59-5,92). We can easily confirm that the most elevated risk for a reduce follow-up time relies in chondrosarcomas high grading, preoperative pathological CRP- level and a size >8 cm. Conclusions: In Chondrosarcoma cases, we can consider CRP pretreatment value >0.5 mg/dL a sensitive prognostic and sensitive risk factor for distant metastasis.
Comparison of Health and Data Science Methodologies for Identifying Avoidable Hospitalizations in Patients with Diabetes: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Hernandez-Nava Carlos , Mata-Rivera Miguel-Felix , Flores-Hernandez Sergio
Published: May 2024

In the whole world, including Mexico, the rising prevalence of diabetes poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, with a notable impact on hospital admissions even being an ambulatory care sensitive condition, that means, hospital admissions are avoidable. Traditional healthcare methodologies have been instrumental in managing diabetes and preventing complications, yet they often face limitations such as merging, cleansing, and outlier analysis of health data to identify and address diseases effectively. This paper aims to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive comparison of the methodologies used in healthcare and data science for this purpose. This work uses hospital diabetes discharge records from 2010 to 2023, a total of 36,665,793 records, which belong to medical units of the Ministry of Health of Mexico. In this work, we seek to provide the arguments why as a data scientist it is mandatory to learn the field of knowledge of the problem and its implications if this is not done, and therefore to disclose insights that can help in policy decisions and reduce the burden of avoidable hospitalizations. The approach is mainly based on the standardization or adjust rates by sex and age groups. This study provides the foundations for a new way of data scientist must deal with health data.
HPV, HBV, and HIV-1 Viral Integration Site Mapping: A Streamlined Workflow from NGS to Genomic Insights of Carcinogenesis
Authors: Shen-Gunther Jane , Easley Acarizia
Published: May 2024

Viral integration within the host genome plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. Various disruptive mechanisms are involved, leading to genomic instability, mutations, and DNA damage. With next-generation sequencing (NGS), we can now precisely identify viral and host genomic breakpoints and chimeric sequences, which are useful for integration site analysis. In this study, we evaluated a commercial hybrid-capture NGS panel specifically designed for detecting three key viruses: HPV, HBV, and HIV-1. We also tested workflows for Viral Hybrid Capture (VHC) and Viral Integration Site (VIS) analysis, leveraging customized viral databases in CLC Microbial Ge-nomics. By analyzing sequenced data from virally infected cancer cell lines (including SiHa, HeLa, CaSki, C-33A, DoTc2, 2A3, SCC154 for HPV; 3B2, SNU-182 for HBV; and ACH-2 for HIV-1), we precisely pinpointed viral integration sites. The workflow also highlighted disrupted and neigh-boring human genes that may play a crucial role in tumor development. Our results included in-formative virus-host read mappings, genomic breakpoints, and integration circular plots. These visual representations enhance our understanding of the integration process. In conclusion, our seamless end-to-end workflow bridges the gap in understanding viral contributions to cancer development, paving the way for improved diagnostics and treatment strategies.
Loop-Terminated Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Integrated with Functional Polymer for CO2 Gas Sensing
Authors: Butt Muhammad A.
Published: May 2024

In this work, a numerical study on the loop-terminated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (LT-MZI) structure for CO2 gas sensing application is carried out via the finite element method. The sensing arm is covered with a polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) polymer which is highly receptive to CO2 gas. The refractive index of the host material decreases due to the absorption of the CO2 gas resulting in a shift in the interference pattern of the LT-MZI structure. As a result, a redshift in the wavelength is observed in the transmission spectrum of the device. The sensitivity of the device is estimated at 7.63 pm/ppm, 34.46 pm/ppm and 74.78 pm/ppm for the sensing arm length of 5 µm, 10 µm, and 15 µm, respectively. The sensitivity can be further enhanced, however at the cost of the bigger footprint of the device. Utilizing the innovative sensor design, a comprehensive range of CO2 gas concentrations spanning from 0 to 524 ppm is successfully detected. This compact and highly sensitive device serves as a vital tool for monitoring indoor CO2 levels, fostering a healthier breathing environment for all occupants.
Video-Based Sign Language Recognition via ResNet and LSTM Network
Authors: Huang Jiayu , Chouvatut Varin
Published: May 2024

Sign language recognition technology can help people with hearing impairments to communicate with those who are hearing impaired. At present, with the rapid development of society, deep learning technology also provided certain technical support for sign language recognition work. In sign language recognition tasks, the use of traditional convolutional neural networks to extract spatio-temporal features from sign language videos suffers from insufficient feature extraction, resulting in low recognition rates. Nevertheless, video-based sign language datasets are very large and require a lot of computational resources for training and generalisation must be ensured, which poses a challenge for recognition. In this paper, we have presented a video-based sign language recognition method based on resnet and lstm. As the number of network layers increases, the ResNet network can effectively solve the granularity explosion problem and obtain better time series features. We use the Resnet convolutional network as the backbone model. At the initialisation stage, we obtain sign language features using ResNet; then, the learned feature space is used as the input of LSTM network to obtain long sequence features. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the above model is better than the mainstream model, and it can effectively extract the spatio-temporal features in sign language videos and improve the recognition rate of sign language actions.
Sustainable Electromagnetic Prototype to Detect Interior Deterioration of Building Facades
Authors: Ascona Garcia Papa Pio , Aguirre Camacho Marco Antonio , Cuadros Rojas Emerson Julio
Published: May 2024

In the provinces of the region, empirical constructions reached maximum points with these practices. The effects and pathologies appear as physical, chemical and mechanical failures in pillars, walls and roofs, generating uncertainty for the user. The current powerful design can detect the interior deterioration of coatings in adobe, brick and concrete constructions, and prevent collapses, material and economic losses. Experimental methods performed affirm the serious validity. The accuracy of the simulation and design provide a pre-test reliability of 95%. Five piles constructed of various materials participate in the prototype performance test, there is a correlation (R=0.9997) between the magnetic field range "B" (cm) and density "ρ" (g/cm³), also by increasing the current (i) in transit Q1 and coil L1, the induction of the "B" increases proportionally until penetrating the density of the wall of the building, having 5% reading error.
Effects of Reduced N Application, Nitrification Inhibitor, and Straw Incorporation on Fertilizer-N Fates in Maize Cropping System: A Field 15N Tracer Study in Northeastern China
Authors: Quan Zhi , Li Shanlong , Xun Zhifeng , Liu Chang , Liu Dong , Wang Yanzhi , Zhao Xinghan , Yang Ming , Lu Caiyan , Chen Xin , Fang Yunting
Published: May 2024

Reducing fertilizer-N rate, applying nitrification inhibitor (NI), and incorporating straw are widely recommended to improve N use efficiency of crops and decrease N losses. However, how these practices affect crop N uptake by regulating the fertilizer-N fate during the growing season is not well understood. We conducted a field 15N tracer study to explore the effectiveness of reduced N application, NI, and straw incorporation on fertilizer-N fates for maize cultivation in Northeast China. The following six treatments were used: 1) no N fertilization (control); 2) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 (100%N); 3) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 and 2400 kg dry-straw ha−1 (100%N+S); 4) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 (80%N, i.e., 20% reduction of N fertilization); 5) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 and nitrification inhibitor (Nitrapyrin) (80%N+NI); 6) 160 kg urea-N ha−1, nitrification inhibitor and 2400 kg dry-straw ha−1 (80%N+NI+S). Our results showed that the five N fertilization treatments yielded 16%–25% more grain and 39%–60% more crop N uptake than the control receiving no N fertilizer, but the differences among the five treatments were not statistically significant. In contrast to plant growth, changes in fertilizer-N fates in soil and plant pools were more pronounced. Compared with the 100%N treatment, 20% fertilizer-N reduction (80%N) decreased 15N concentration in topsoil and plant pools but increased the proportion of plant 15N recovery at harvesting (N use efficiency, NUE15N, 60% vs. 50%) (P < 0.05). Nitrapyrin co-application (80%N+NI) delayed soil nitrification and increased soil 15N retention at harvesting (52% vs. 36%), thereby decreasing NUE15N significantly (P < 0.05). Straw incorporation (100%N+S) decreased fertilizer-N retention compared with NI co-application because it promoted NUE15N significantly (P < 0.05). The combined application of NI and straw (80%N+NI+S) was more conducive to fertilizer-N retention in soil. Our findings demonstrate that NI and straw additions are efficient strategies for stabilizing fertilizer-N in soils and potentially minimizing N loss; however, their effects on NUE15N vary and the related mechanism must be further clarified in long-term trials.