bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Media and Democratic Culture: A Study Of Indonesia's Anti-Graft 'Facebook Movement' 2009 As The New 'Non-Party' Politics In Indonesia
Authors: Masduki Masduki
Published: January 2024

Internet or Social Network Site is a new media facilitating collective action and a "public sphere" for political and social interactions. The Internet is not only a big marketplace. Blogs, wikis and other social networking sites provide a technological basis for grassroots action to coordinate and communicate. Movement of 1,000,000 Facebookers Supporting Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Riyanto in Indonesia 2009, was launched after the two suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KFK) officers were arrested on suspicion of abuse of power. This, become an interesting new phenomenon in Indonesia. It is an example of wide spread popular support for the anti corruption leaders and the anti graft movement.My paper aims to explore the development of social media in Indonesia and its contribution to implementation of transparency and anti graft movement. Particularly, the paper will identify the role of Facebook in establishing a non political party, online parliament and the future of it in Indonesia as the democratic moslem country in the world.Many active discussions has been generated along 2000s on the topic of social media and its effect on the formation and mobilization of social and political movement. For example, the emergence of the Coffee Party in US. Since 2009, Facebook in Indonesia has played an important role in politics and its importance was first noticed by KPK case. Since then there has been growth in the role of Facebook in political movements. The power of civil society in the form of Facebookers replaces democratic checks and balance which in the real world should be the function of political parties in Indonesian parliament.
The Use of Discourse Completion Task (DCT) As Explicit Instruction On Indonesian Efl Learners' Production of Suggestion Acts
Authors: Aufa Fauzul
Published: January 2024

There are some activities that can be developed to bring up EFL learners' pragmatic awareness, such as contextualized language practice in given situations, constructed peer dialogues, and metapragmatic discussions. This task-based approach used in these activities can be either explicit or implicit instruction. One of them is a metapragmatic discussion prompted by Discourse Completion Task (DCT). In this paper, DCT, as an explicit pragmatic instruction, was practically investigated its effectiveness to facilitate EFL learners in developing their pragmatic competence. The results demonstrated from the analysis of RP2 prompted by the DCT support the fact that the explicit instruction results in some variations of linguistic forms that contribute to the development of subjects' pragmatic competence Key words : Discourse Completion Task (DCT), pragmatic competence, explicit pragmatic instruction, English as a Foreign Language (EFL).
English Bilingual Education: The Challenge Of Communication And Cognition Aspects Of Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) In Indonesia
Authors: Hapsari Astri
Published: January 2024

This essay analyses the challenge of the implementation of Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in the curriculum framework in Indonesia. Review on related literature and research findings support the arguments that the implementation of CLIL brings about the issues in cognition and communication aspects. Unless more appropriate English language education and more educational linguistic research are established, the implementation of CLIL should be reconsidered.Key words: English bilingual education, CLIL, Indonesia
Teaching English To Non-English Students' Department At Islamic University Of Indonesia Through Formula 33: Students' Reflections
Authors: Sadiq Nizamuddin
Published: January 2024

Results of students' need analysis show that grammar (tenses) is the students' lowest ability that they wanted to learn at that time. In order to cope with that contextual situation, Formula 33 is proposed to be the main concern on the learning English for students of non-English deparment at Islamic University in the academic year 2012/2013. Students must write reflections - express their emotion and knowledge gain in the form of essay to e-learning provided - every time the class end. The students' reflections were considered as data. The data were classified based on some categories/themes descriptively. Those data are then read very carefully to find out the keywords that became the instruments to classify them into themes, while irrelevant data were sorted. The results show that learning English through Formula 33 addressed in three aspects - learning domain, teaching delivery, and students' best practice. In learning domain, students have positive and negative cognitive feedback. Formula 33 was considered improving their skills especially in writing English sentences with correct grammatical structure as well as they have excellent attitude toward Formula. In teaching delivery that consists of two keywords method and materials. Students said that both method and materials are super.Key words: Formula 33, positive and negative cognitive feedback, teaching delivery
Learning Theories In Instructional Multimedia For English Learning
Authors: Farani Rizki
Published: January 2024

Learning theory is the concept of human learning. This concept is one of the important components in instructional for learning, especially English learning. English subject becomes one of important subjects for students but learning English needs specific strategy since it is not our vernacular. Considering human learning process in English learning is expected to increase students' motivation to understand English better. Nowadays, the application of learning theories in English learning has appeared in several learning methods and media. One of popular media today is instructional multimedia by using computer. There are many educators who design English material in certain computer software or games. It is still possible to apply learning theories in instructional multimedia program since multimedia provides complete learning by using text, picture, sound, video and animation. Multimedia program can adapt students' differences in learning. It is a good potential of collaborating learning process and technology to learn English better. The program will help students to master the whole English language competence (listening, speaking, reading and writing). This paper will discuss the types of learning theory that can be used in instructional multimedia to learn English. This paper also provides several examples of instructional multimedia product that contain learning theories application.Key Words: Learning theories, Instructional multimedia, English learning
Deconstructing The Position Of The Savior And The Damned In Flannery O'connor's “The Lame Shall Enter First”
Authors: Sumaryani Sri
Published: January 2024

This paper aims to show the use of deconstruction theory by Jacques Derrida to offer other possible meanings in a short story entitled “The Lame Shall Enter First” by Flannery O'Connor. The researcher shows the flaw in the binary oppositions constructed by the text and reveals the failure of the logical arguments of the oppositions by redefining qualities of the opposite characters in the story, Sheppard, Norton, and Rufus. The researcher used descriptive-qualitative method as it is a qualitative research of which the data are nonnumeric. The researcher finds three binary oppositions that become the center of the story. The first pair of binary opposition is religion and logic. The second are selfishness and compassion, and the third is ignorance and sympathy. The oppositions are represented by characters Sheppard, Rufus, and Norton. By closely reading the text and attacking the basic premises of the text, the researcher finds that the binary oppositions no longer serve as the foundation of the story since the story proves that all those binary oppositions eventually show otherwise.Keywords: deconstruction, binary opposition, character
Rich and Easy to Deceive? The Influence of Money Priming on the Ability to Detect Deception
Authors: Ende Luise , Reinhard Marc-André
Published: January 2024

Based on recent popular money priming research results, which conclude that money makes self-sufficient (e.g. less interest in other people), we assumed that people are less interested in finding out whether others are lying or telling the truth. In a laboratory experiment, 163 students (85 women, 78 men, MAge = 23.08, ranging from 18 to 36 years) were primed by actively handling money (versus paper sheets). Afterwards, they classified 24 video statements as true or deceptive (senders describing their most/least favorite movie), rated their classification confidence for each decision and then answered control questions. Results revealed no influence of priming condition on judgmental bias, classification accuracy, and classification confidence. Also the level of self-reported motivation to find out who lied or told the truth did not differ between conditions. Higher motivation was correlated to higher classification confidence. Additionally, and in line with Reinhard (2010) and Reinhard et al. (2011), higher classification accuracy correlated to a higher use of verbal content cues for classification decisions. Thus, while we were able to replicate these findings, our results contradict the assumption of a money prime influence on lie detection ability. Concluding, our results make self-sufficiency in this context questionable and offer next steps for research.
A Global Review of Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease from 2000–2023: Current Status, Challenges and Future Perspectives
Authors: Abdi Abas Mahammed , Yehualaw Desta Damtie , Kebede Tirusew Sema , Darod Ziad Abdilahi
Published: January 2024

Haemophilus influenzae is one of causative agent of invasive bacterial pathogen that affects both children and adults. Haemophilus influenzae is a pleomorphic gram-negative coccobacillus and it is a common commensal of the upper respiratory tract. It is a human-only pathogen that can cause severe invasive diseases. These bacterial infections can range from mild, such as ear infections, to severe, such as bloodstream infections. The infections typically affect children younger than 5 years old and old age person older than 65 years. They also affect people who are immunocompromised, such as those with certain medical conditions. The highest incidence rates of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease have recently been discovered in various nations, including North America, Canada, and parts of Europe. In order to monitor the evolving nature of invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease critically reviewed data is required to capture the true status of invasiveness of the Haemophilus influenza diseases. Developing new vaccines against Haemilus influenzae is a potential solution to protect some vulnerable populations against the invasive disease due to this bacterial species. This review article thoroughly investigate recent and up-to-date biomedical science perspective development, innovation, findings, publications and current areas of scientific interest and gap including pathogenicity, diagnosis, multidrug-resistance, Molecular characterization and genetic evolution, epidemiology and immunological characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae, including specific current issues that are affecting the research and development of vaccines to treat Haemophilus influenzae non serotype b diseases and providing insight into how these problems may be overcome.
Bacteriophage St_134 and its Endolysin as a Potential Staphylococcus Biofilm-Removing Biological Agent
Authors: Golosova Natalia N. , Matveev Andrey L. , Tikunova Nina V. , Khlusevich Yana A. , Kozlova Yulia N. , Morozova Vera V. , Babkin Igor V. , Ushakova Tatiana A. , Zhirakovskaya Elena V. , Panina Elisaveta A. , Ryabchikova Elena I. , Tikunov Artem Y.
Published: January 2024

Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus are a significant a challenge for medicine, as many species are resistant to multiple antibiotics and even to all of the antibiotics used. One of the approaches to develop new therapeutics to treat staphylococcal infections is the use of bacteriophages specif-ic to these bacteria or lysins of such bacteriophages capable to hydrolyze the cell walls of these bacteria. In this study, a new bacteriophage St_134 specific to Staphylococcus epedermidis was de-scribed. This small podophage belonging to the Andhravirus genus showed relatively wide host range and was able to infect more than 60 strain of Staphylococcus spp., including a clinical strain from the Staphylococcus aureus complex. Two genes encoding different phage lysins were identi-fied in the Ste134 genome. Both lysins LysSte134_1 and LysSte134_2 were produced in Escherichia coli cells. Endolysin LysSte134_1 was demonstrated catalytic activity against a wide panel of staphylococcal peptidoglycans (4 species, 6 strains), was active against S. aureus and S. epidermidis planktonic cultures and destroyed biofilms formed by clinical strains of S. aureus and S. epider-midis.
Patient-Derived Free-Floating Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Organoids: A Versatile Tool for Personalized Testing of Chemotherapeutic Drugs
Authors: Ismail Lilian , Zahid Komal , Polyanskaya Anna , Al Othman Aya , Shen Ningfei , Qi Xiaoli , Sulimanov Rushan A. , Esakov Yuri , Makarov Vladimir A. , Filkov Gleb I. , Trofimenko Alexander V. , Mezentsev Alexandre , Durymanov Mikhail
Published: January 2024

Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) are a novel preclinical model of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for studying tumor biology and precision medicine, which recapitulates tumor morphology and gene expression profile. However, some issues such as low establishment rates, long-term production, and the loss of the immune microenvironment have hindered their widespread practical use. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a recently introduced free-floating organoid production method to address these issues. The free-floating approach provided PDTO establishment success rate of over 90 % resulting in organoid formation within a short period of one week. These organoids retained the elements of the parental tumor morphology and contained stroma and immune cell populations, as confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. Importantly, we found that the cytokine and growth factor expression profiles of the free-floating organoids correlated with those of the original tumors in 58 % of cases, indicating the preservation of tumor-associated signaling pathways. Obtained organoids exhibited different responses to anticancer chemotherapeutics that might be a result of variable expression of drug resistance-associated genes. Considering the high establishment rate and short time of free-floating organoid production, this technique provides a valuable tool for a more accurate evaluation of therapeutic strategies and cancer biology studies.
Hygroscopicity in Epoxy Powder Composites
Authors: Maguire James , Wang Jin-Yu , Ó Brádaigh Conchúr
Published: January 2024

Epoxy powders offer a low-cost means of manufacturing thick section composite parts, such as those found in wind and tidal turbines. Currently, their processing cycle includes a lengthy drying stage (≥ 15 h) to remove ambient moisture. This prevents void defect formation and, thereby, a reduction in mechanical properties, however, it constitutes up to 60% of the processing time. Little research has been published on the study of this process or its optimisation. Experimental and simulated analyses are used to investigate the effects of hygroscopicity in epoxy powder composites. In particular, focus is given to the drying process, which is used to prevent void defect formation and, thereby, a reduction in mechanical properties. As such, tests are performed to quantify the void content of dried and undried laminates, and to measure its impact on transverse flexural strength. Dynamic vapour sorption analysis is used to study the sorption behaviour of the epoxy powder. Sorption data is fitted to a modified linear driving force model, and then implemented in existing process simulations tools. The drying of a thick epoxy powder composite section is simulated to investigate the influence of powder sintering on the duration required for drying. It is shown that the epoxy powder is slightly hygroscopic (1.36 wt%) and exhibits sorption behaviour that is characteristic of glassy polymers. This results in up to 4.8% voids (by volume) if processed in an undried state, leading to a 43% reduction in transverse flexural strength. Process simulations reveal that a standard drying cycle prematurely sinters the powder; inhibiting moisture release. By maintaining a powder state, simulations show that the drying cycle can be reduced to 5 h.
Effect of Foliar Feeding of Nutrients and Bioregulators on Yield and Quality Attributes of Litchi cv. Bombai
Authors: Nayak Sushrita , TARAI RANJAN , Swain Subashh chandra , Samal Sunil , Pradhan Satyabrata , Sethy Bijaya Kumar , Behera Subrat Kumar , Vali Dudekula Mastan , Ranjith Pamirelli , Mandal Purandar , Selvi Senthamizh
Published: January 2024

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is considered as one of the most important sub-tropical fruits of the World. Under western part of Odisha, India, the litchi growers are facing problem of unstable and lower marketable yield and inferior quality due to higher incidence of fruit cracking, fruit drop, low sugar content and higher fruit acidity. Keeping in mind the positive effects of nutrients and bioregulators, the current study was conducted to elucidate their impact on fruit yield, and quality in the farmers field of Jamankira block in Sambalpur district of Odisha under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, India. For the studies, eight years old litchi trees were selected. With 12 treatments, the experiment was set up in a randomized block design replicated thrice viz, T1: Spray treatment of Borax @ 0.5%; T2: Spray treatment of Borax @ 0.3%; T3: Spray treatment of ZnSO4 @ 0.75% ; T4: Spray treatment of ZnSO4 @ 0.5%; T5: Spray treatment of CaCl2 @ 0.5%; T6: Spray treatment of CaCl2 @ 0.1%; T7: Spray treatment of Humic acid @ 1.5%; T8: Spray treatment of Humic acid @ 1%; T9: Spray treatment of Seaweed extract @ 0.5%; T10: Spray treatment of Seaweed extract @ 0.1 %; T11: Foliar spray of NAA @ 20 ppm and T12 : Control (water spray).The current study compared foliar feeding of different nutrient and bioregulators treatments, which were applied during the first week of December, just after completion of new leaf formation and untreated control. The total number of fruits per plant was recorded highest in plants sprayed with ZnSO4 @ 0.5% (T4) followed by those treated with humic acid @ 1% (T8). The highest total fruit yield was recorded in plants with foliar feeding of 0.3% Borax (T2) which was found to be statistically similar to plants treated with seaweed extract @ 0.1% (T10)and seaweed extract @ 0.5% (T9).Among the treatments better response for higher number of marketable fruits and marketable yield was recorded in plants treated with both 0.3% Borax (T2) followed by 0.5% Zinc sulphate (T4), 1% Humic acid (T8) and 0.1% CaCl2 (T6) in litchi. Application of 1% Humic acid (T8) followed by 1.5% Humic acid (T9) enhanced the fruit set (%) and fruit retention (%) along with reduction in fruit drop (%). The enhanced fruit size (fruit length and fruit breadth) and higher fruit weight was obtained in plants treated with 0.3% Borax in litchi. The foliar application of 0.3% Borax (T2) had also resulted in higher TSS, total sugars, reducing sugar, lower acidity, highest aril weight and lower seed weight in litchi cv. Bombai.
A Bibliography Study of Biofilm Life Cycle
Authors: Ding Yuanzhao
Published: January 2024

This study explores the pivotal biofilm life cycle, essential for comprehending intricate processes in biofilm formation and dispersal. With profound implications for medicine, environmental science, and industrial applications, the life cycle involves initial attachment, irreversible attachment, maturation, and dispersion. Employing bibliographic analysis, the paper unravels critical aspects, unveiling key keywords, prominent research countries/regions, and significant research organizations. This comprehensive approach provides insights into the current biofilm research landscape, identifying gaps for future exploration. Biofilm's influence extends to medical conditions, environmental ecosystems, and industrial challenges, accentuating the urgency of understanding its life cycle. The study also delves into global research distribution and influential organizations, guiding collaborative efforts. As a forward-looking initiative, it proposes future research opportunities, aiming to steer advancements and address challenges in biofilm science. Ultimately, this analysis contributes to the ongoing progress of biofilm research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and inspiring future initiatives.
Passwordless Authentication Using a Combination of Cryptography, Steganography, and Biometrics
Authors: Oduguwa Tunde , Arabo Abdullahi
Published: January 2024

User-generated passwords often pose a security risk in authentication systems. However, providing a comparative substitute poses a challenge, given the common tradeoff between security and user experience. This paper integrates cryptographic methods (both asymmetric and symmetric), steganography, and a combination of physiological and behavioral biometrics to construct a prototype for a passwordless authentication system. We demonstrate the feasibility of scalable passwordless authentication while maintaining a balance between usability and security. We employed threat modeling techniques to pinpoint the security prerequisites for the system, along with choosing appropriate cryptographic protocols. In addition, a comparative analysis is conducted, examining the security impacts of the proposed system in contrast to that of traditional password-based systems. Results from the prototype indicate that authentication is possible within a timeframe similar to passwords (within 2 seconds), without imposing additional hardware costs on users to enhance security or compromising usability. Given the scalable nature of the system design and the elimination of shared secrets, the financial and efficiency burdens associated with password resets are alleviated. Furthermore, the risk of breaches is mitigated, as there is no longer a need to store passwords and/or their hashes. Differing from prior research, our study presents a pragmatic design and prototype that deserves consideration as a viable alternative for both password-based and passwordless authentication systems.
Albino Lethal 13, a Chloroplast Imported Protein Required for Chloroplast Development in Rice
Authors: Guo Xiaoqiong , Wang Chunli , Zhu Qian , Dongchen Wenhua , Zhang Xiaoling , Li Wei , Zhang Hui , Zhang Cui , Naing Nant Nyein Zar Ni , Li Mengting , Chen Lijuan , Lee Dongsun
Published: January 2024

The chloroplast is important organelle responsible for photosynthesis and various bio-
synthetic functions essential to green plants. However, the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast development remains elusive. Here, we characterized a mutant with defective chloroplasts in rice (Oryza sativa L.) named it albino and lethal 13(osal13), which exhibited a distinct albino phenotype in leaves, eventually leading to seedling lethality. Molecular cloning revealed that OsAL13 encodes a novel protein in rice for which no homologous gene or known conserved domain was found. Analysis of the biological characteristics showed that the RNAi2 leaf was completely albino phenotype, the root and shoot lengths were significantly inhibited compared with wild type. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that RNAi2 were defective in chloroplast development. Overexpression of OsAL13 resulted the photosynthetic rate increase, So the total grain number per panicle also would be significantly increase. Besides, OsAL13 was located in chloroplast and constitutively expressed in various tissues, including green and non-green tissues. In addition, disruption of OsAL13 resulted in altered expression of plastid-encoded polymerases and nuclear-encoded chloroplast genes, OsAL13 also affected hormone levels in plant tissues. Therefore, our results provide new insights into the role of OsAL13 in regulating chloroplast development
in rice.
Review of the State-of-Art Practice of Foundation Engineering in Northern Canada
Authors: Dourado João Batista de Oliveira Libório , Deng Lijun , Chen Yuxiang , Chui Ying-Hei
Published: January 2024

In northern Canada where permafrost is prevalent, a shortage of accessible, affordable, and high-quality housing has been ongoing for decades. Design of foundations in permafrost presents unique engineering challenges due to permafrost soil mechanics and climate change. There is no specific design code for pile or shallow foundations in northern Canada. Consequently, the design process heavily relies on the expertise and experience of Arctic geotechnical engineers who have specialized knowledge in this field. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the practice or literature in foundation design in the Arctic would be necessary. The main objective of this review paper is to provide an overview of the common foundations in permafrost and the techniques adopted to counteract the effects of frozen soils. This study conducted a literature review of state-of-the-art practices on deep and shallow foundations used in northern Canada, including common steel pipe piles and thermosyphons. The review summarized the current principles, including adfreeze strength, creep settlement, and frost heave, used in the foundation design in permafrost. Then this paper summarized the findings from interviewing several engineers or professionals who have experiences in the design of foundations in permafrost. The interviews revealed the technical and non-technical aspects of foundation design practice in northern Canada. Lastly, in order to demonstrate the design methods, the paper presented two examples where screw piles and steel pipe piles were designed to support a residential building in northern Canada, according to the state-of-practice criteria for adfreeze strength, long term settlement and frost heave.
SDG 17: Advances and Setbacks in Rural Women a Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Garizurieta Bernabe Jessica , Gazca Herrera Luis Alejandro , Ladrón de Guevara Smith Maridalia , Bolaños Cristina , Villegas Juan de Dios , Botero Carvajal Alejandro
Published: January 2024

Rural women constitute one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in the world. Despite playing a critical role in sustainable development and food security, they face systemic inequalities and structural constraints that limit their access to resources, services and opportunities. The purpose of this research is to identify advances and setbacks in the formulation of 17 SDG indicators for rural women. Systematic Review Registered in PROSPERO: CRD42023420583. Sixteen articles were included. Three indicators were identified: entrepreneurship, empowerment and gender equality. Due to its relevance in rural areas where women have an active role in family income through cooperatives, associations and companies to improve quality of life and that of their community, however, aspects of discrimination are still evident in gender and inequality in participation in economic spheres and decision making.
Effect of Additives on Tribological Performance of Magnetorheological Fluids
Authors: Zhuang Songran , Cao Yongbing , Song Wanli , Zhang Peng , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: January 2024

In this study, nano-diamond (ND) and MoS2 powder are used as additives in a carbonyl iron based magnetorheological fluid (MRF) to improve its tribological performance. MRFs are prepared by dispersing 35 wt.% of CI particles in silicone oil, and adding different proportions (0, 1, 3 or 5 wt.%) of ND and MoS2 additives. Seven kinds of MRFs are made and tested using reciprocating friction and wear tester under different normal loads, and then the friction characteristics are evaluated through analyzing experiment results. The morphology properties of MRFs and contacting surfaces before and after tests are also observed using a scanning electron microscope and analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results show that the appropriate weight percentage of MoS2 additives may decrease friction coefficient and wear zone. It is also demonstrated from the detailed analyses of worn surfaces that the wear mechanism is influenced not only by additives but also by applied normal load and magnetic field strength.
Rbf-Fd Solution with the Level-Set Embedded Boundary Method for the Diffusive Logistic Model with a Free Boundary
Authors: Zhang Chunyan , Qiao Yuanyang
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we propose an efficient numerical method to solve the diffusive logistic model with a free boundary which is often used to simulate the spreading of the new or invasive species. The boundary movement is tracked by the level-set method, where the Hamilton-Jacobi weighted essentially nonoscillatory (HJ-WENO) scheme is utilized to capture the boundary curve embedded by the Cartesian grids via the embedded boundary method. Then the radial basis function-finite difference (RBF-FD) method is adopted to the spatial discretization and the IMEX scheme is considered for time integration. A variety of numerical examples are carried out to demonstrate the evolution of diffusive logistic model in different initial boundaries.
Enhancing Elderly Nutrition: A Qualitative Evaluation of Menus in a Social Solidarity Institution in the North of Portugal
Authors: Fonseca Sandra Celina Fernandes , Barroso Suzanne Carvalho , Santos Maria Cristina Teixeira
Published: January 2024

The article addresses the importance of nutrition in the health of the elderly population and focuses on the qualitative evaluation of menus provided by a social solidarity institution in Portugal, in order to prevent and/or treat malnutrition or the risk of malnutrition in this vulnerable population. The methodology involves the evaluation of four weekly menus, totalling 28 complete daily menus for the elderly, using the “Avaliação Qualitativa de Ementas para a População Idosa” (AQEDI) tool. The assessment grid is organized into six domains (general items, soup, protein suppliers, carbohydrate supplier side, vegetable side and dessert), each composed of various parameters. The results indicate that all menus were classified as "acceptable”, with percentages ranging from 60.73% to 68.84%, and suggests that while the menus are deemed acceptable, there is room for improvement. Recommendations include increasing the presence of eggs and including seasonal fruits daily, avoiding canned fruit. The study emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts within the institution to enhance menu planning, considering both nutritional guidelines and the sensory aspects of food. Coordination efforts within the institution are crucial for preserving positive aspects and addressing inadequacies in menu planning.
Integration of Hepatitis C and Addiction Treatment in People Who Injects Drugs. The San Patrignano HCV-Free and Drug-Free Experience
Authors: Piselli Pierluca , Boschini Antonio , Gianfreda Romina , Nappo Alessandra , Cimaglia Claudia , Scarfò Gianpaolo , Smacchia Camillo , Paoletti Raffaella , Duehren Sarah , Girardi Enrico
Published: January 2024

Persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) represent an important reservoir of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, hence therapeutic communities (TCs) are promising points of care for the identification and treatment of HCV-infected PWIDs. We evaluated the effectiveness and efficacy of an HCV micro-elimination program targeting PWIDs in the context of a drug-free TC applying Cascade of Care (CoC) evaluation by calculating frequencies of infection diagnosis, confirmation, treatment and achievement of a sustained virological response (SVR). We also evaluated the risk of reinfection of PWIDs achieving HCV eradication, by collecting follow-up virologic information of previously recovered individuals and eventual relapse in drug use, assuming the latter as a potential source of reinfection. We considered all PWIDs (aged 18+ years) residing in the San Patrignano TC at the beginning of the observation period (Jan/2018–Mar/2022) or admitted thereafter, assessing for HCV and HIV serology and viral load by standard laboratory procedures. Ongoing infections were treated with direct acting antivirals (DAA), according to the current national guidelines. Out of the 792 individuals tested on admission, 503 (63.5%) were found to be seropositive for antibodies against HCV. 481 of these 503 individuals (95.6%) underwent HCV-RNA testing. Out of the 331 participants positive for HCV-RNA, 225 were ultimately prescribed a DAA treatment with a Sustained Viral Response (SVR), which was achieved by 222 PWIDs (98.7%). 186 of 222 PWIDs (83.8%) with SVR remained HCV-free on follow-up (with a median follow-up of 2.73 years after SVR ascertainment). The CoC model in our TC proved efficient in implementing HCV micro-elimination, as well as in preventing reinfection and promoting retention in care of individuals, which aligns with the therapeutic goals of addiction treatment.
Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead Levels in School Meals and Their Risk Assessment in Municipalities of Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Santos Larissa da Silva , Martinho Martinho Gamas Diniz , Gomes-Júnior Erival Amorim , França Fabiana Chagas Oliveira de , Silva Mariângela Vieira Lopes , Menezes-Filho José Antonio
Published: January 2024

Background: School meals represent a significant supply of nutrients for children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in meals served in public elementary schools in four municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and assess the risk posed to children's health. Methods: Ninety-six samples were collected from 16 schools, freeze-dried, and subjected to microwave-assisted digestion. The As, Cd, and Pb levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The risk assessment was based on calculating each element's hazard quotient (HQ). Results: None of the samples reached or exceeded the tolerable levels for the elements analyzed. Pb was the metal that obtained the most significant result, reaching maximum levels of 39-157 µg.kg-¹. Conclusions: No element exceeded the PTWI proposed by JECFA; thus, the toxic metal content in school meals poses a negligible risk to children´s health.
Summary of Document Image Binarization
Authors: Yang Zhengxian , Zhang Rui , Zhou Yanxi , He Jinlong , Shi Jianwen , Zuo Shikai
Published: January 2024

Document image binarization is a challenging task, especially when it comes to text segmentation in degraded document images. The binarization, as a pre-processing step of optical character recognition (OCR), is one of the most fundamental and commonly used segmentation methods. It separates the foreground text from the background of the document image to facilitate subsequent image processing. In view of the different degradation degree of document image, researchers have proposed a variety of solutions. This paper reviews the main binarization techniques, including both traditional algorithms and deep learning-based algorithms. We also summarize some difficulties and challenges in the field of document image binarization. Here, we evaluate various image binarization techniques to identify shortcomings in current methods and provide some help for future research.
Autochthonous Fermentation as a Mean to Improve the Bioaccesibility and Antioxidant Activity of Proteins and Phenolic Compounds of Yellow Pea Flour
Authors: Cipollone María Agustina , Abraham Analía , Fontana Ariel , Tironi Valeria
Published: January 2024

This study focused on evaluating the potential of natural fermentation of pea flour (F) to improve the release of antioxidant compounds. Two fermentation conditions of F were performed: 1: 36.4% w/w, 24 h, 30°C (FF1); 2: 14.3% w/w, 24 h, 37°C (FF2); pH values decreased to 4.4-4.7, with a predominance of lactic acid bacteria. An increment of the proteolysis degree (TNBS method) (greater for FF2), polypeptides aggregation and decrease of solubility, increase of < 2 kDa peptides, and increase in the ORAC potency of PBS-soluble fractions after fermentation was demonstrated. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID, COST-INFOGEST), FF1D and FF2D showed greater proteolysis degrees (63 and 53%) than F1D and F2D (45%), with differences in the molecular composition of the different digests. ORAC and HORAC potencies increased in all cases. FF2D presented the greater ORAC value, with higher activities for > 4 kDa, some in the range 2 to 0.3 kDa. and < 0.10 kDa fractions. Fermentation also increased the 60 % ethanol extracted phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids, and the ORAC activity. After SGID, the flavan-3-ols disappeared but some phenolic acids increased respect to F. Fermentation in condition 2 was considered the most appropriate to obtain a functional antioxidant ingredient.
Effects of High Insertion Torques (≥75ncm) in Secondary Stability of Implants Placed under the “All-on-Four Concept”: A Case Series
Authors: Coppedê Abílio , De Mayo Thiago , Bassani Rafaela , Olivio Isabela Rodrigues , Figueiredo Daniela de Rossi , Formiga Márcio de Carvalho , Shibli Jamil Awad
Published: January 2024

High insertion torques increase the primary stability of dental implants, which might be beneficial for immediate loading protocols, but may lead to local ischemia and necrosis of the bone-implant interface. This study compared the outcomes of implants placed with low (<45Ncm), conventional(45-70Ncm), and high (≥75Ncm) insertion torques in All-on-4 concept cases with up to 2-year follow-up. Patients included in this study presented edentulous or partially dentate arches with an indication for full-arch rehabilitation. Implants were installed following the All on four protocol and were divided into 3 groups: Low, Conventional, and High torque, and were followed periodically for 2 years with ISQ measurements. The results showed no significant differences in success rates between the three groups. This suggests that high insertion torques may maintain higher primary stability values for immediately loaded implants during the healing period. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Biological and Antibacterial Evaluation of a New Approach to Zirconia Implant Surfaces Modified with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA)
Authors: Fernandes Beatriz Ferreira , Silva Neusa , Cruz Mariana Brito Da , Garret Gonçalo , Carvalho Óscar , Silva Filipe , Mata António , Francisco Helena , Marques Joana Faria
Published: January 2024

Peri-implantitis continues to be one of the major reasons for implant failures. We propose a new approach for incorporating MTA into Zirconia implant surfaces with Nd:YAG laser and investigate the biological response of peri-implant cells as well as the microbiological response. Discs of Zirconia stabilized with Yttria and Titanium were produced according 4 tested groups: Nd:YAG laser textured Zirconia coated with MTA (Zr MTA); Nd:YAG laser textured Zirconia (Zr Textured); Zirconia and Titanium discs (Zr and Ti ). Contact profilometry was used to evaluate surface roughness. Human osteoblasts, gingival fibroblasts and S. oralis were cultured on samples. Cell adhesion and morphology, cell viability, cell differentiation markers and bacterial growth were assessed. Zr Textured roughness was significantly higher compared to all other groups. Cellular adhesion was observed at 1 day in all samples in both cell lines. Osteoblasts viability was lower in Zr MTA group, unlike fibroblasts viability was shown to be higher in Zr MTA group compared to Zr Textured group at 3 and 7 days. Osteocalcin and IL-8 release by osteoblasts were higher in Zr MTA. Zr Textured showed higher IL-8 values released by fibroblasts. No differences in S. oralis CFUs were observed between groups. The results suggest that Zirconia implant surfaces coated with MTA seems to promote fibroblasts proliferation and osteoblasts differentiation, however does not appear to have antibacterial properties.
Random Convolutional Kernel Transform with Empirical Mode Decomposition for Medium Voltage Insulator Classification based on Ultrasound Sensor
Authors: Klaar Anne Carolina Rodrigues , Seman Laio Oriel , Mariani Viviana Cocco , Coelho Leandro dos Santos
Published: January 2024

The electrical energy supply relies on the satisfactory operation of insulators. The ultrasound recorded from insulators in different conditions has a time series output, which can be used to classify faulty insulators. The random convolutional kernel transform (Rocket) algorithms use convolutional filters to extract various features from time series data. This paper proposes the combination of Rocket algorithms, machine learning classifiers, and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) methods, such as complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), empirical wavelet transform (EWT), and variational mode decomposition (VMD). The results show that the EMD methods combined with MiniRocket, significantly improve the accuracy of logistic regression in insulator fault diagnosis. The proposed strategy achieves respectively an accuracy of 0.992 using CEEMDAN, 0.995 with EWT, and 0.980 with VMD. These results highlight the potential of incorporating EMD methods in insulator failure detection models to enhance the safety and dependability of power systems.
London Dispersive and Lewis Acid-Base Surface Energy of 2D Single-Crystalline and Polycrystalline Covalent Organic Frameworks
Authors: Hamieh Tayssir
Published: January 2024

This paper is devoted to an accurate determination of the London dispersive and polar free energy of adsorption, the two Lewis acid γs+ and base γs- components of polar surface energy γsAB of 2D single-crystalline and polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks such as TAPPy-TPA-COFs. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution was used to quantify the different surface parameters of the different materials. From IGC measurements, one determined the net retention time of the adsorption of n-alkanes and several polar solvents on single-crystalline and polycrystalline covalent organic frameworks. The free surface Gibbs energy of adsorption was obtained for the various organic molecules at different temperatures from their net retention volume values. The separation between the London dispersive energy and the polar energy of adsorbed molecules was carried out by using a new thermodynamic parameter PSX chosen as new indicator variable and taken into account the deformation polarizability and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of solvents and solid materials, derived from London dispersion equation. The obtained results are very promising for the accurate determination of the surface thermodynamic parameters of adsorption of organic solvents on solid surfaces.
Oxidative Stress-Mediated Repression of Virulence Gene Transcription and Biofilm Formation as Antibacterial Action of Cinnamomum burmannii Essential Oil on Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Shi Lingling , Lin Wei , Cai Yanling , Chen Feng , Zhang Qian , Liang Dongcheng , Xiu Yu , Lin Shanzhi , He Boxiang
Published: January 2024

This work aimed to identify chemical compounds of Cinnamomum burmannii leaf essential oil (CBLEO) and to unravel antibacterial mechanism of CBLEO at molecular level for developing antimicrobial. CBLEO had 37 volatile profiling with abundant borneol (28.40 %), and showed good potential to control foodborne pathogens, of which Staphylococcus aureus had the greatest inhibition zone diameter (28.72 nm) with the lowest values of minimum inhibitory concentration (1.0 μg/mL) and bactericidal concentration (2.0 μg/mL). To unravel antibacterial action of CBLEO on S. aureus, a dynamic exploration of antibacterial growth, material leakage, ROS formation, protein oxidation, cell morphology and interaction with genome DNA were conducted on S. aureus exposed to CBLEO at different doses (1/2-2×MIC) and times (0-24 h), indicating that CBLEO acts as inducer for ROS production and oxidative stress of S. aureus. To highlight antibacterial action of CBLEO on S. aureus at molecular level, a comparative association of ROS accumulation with some key virulence-related gene (sigB/agrA/sarA/icaA/cidA/rsbU) transcription, protease production and biofilm formation in S. aureus subjected to CBLEO at different levels and times, revealing that CBLEO-induced oxidative stress caused transcript suppression of virulence regulators (RsbU and SigB) and its targeted genes, causing protease level increase destined for biofilm formation and growth inhibition of S. aureus, which may be as key bactericidal action. Our findings provide valuable information for studying the antibacterial mechanism of essential oil against pathogens.
Comprehensive Atlas of Alternative Splicing Reveals NSRP1 Promoting Adipogenesis through CCDC18
Authors: Liu Lei , Wang Wei , Liu WeiWei , Li Xingzheng , Yi Guoqiang , Adetula Adeyinka Abiola , Huang Haibo , Tang Zhonglin
Published: January 2024

Alternative splicing (AS) plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression, function and diversity. However, limited reports exist on identification and comparation of AS in Eastern and Western pigs. Here, we analyzed 243 transcriptome data from eight tissues, integrating information on transcription factors (TFs), selection signals, splicing factors (SFs), and QTLs to comprehensively study alternative splicing events (ASEs) in pigs. Five ASE types were identified, with Mutually Exclusive Exon (MXE) and Skipped Exon (SE) ASEs being the most prevalent. A significant portion of genes with ASEs (ASGs) showed conservation across all eight tissues (63.21% - 76.13% per tissue). Differentially alternative splicing genes (DASGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibited tissue specificity, with blood and adipose tissues having more DASGs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed coDASG_DEGs in adipose were enriched in pathways associated with adipose deposition and immune inflammation, while coDASG_DEGs in blood were enriched in pathways related to immune inflammation and metabolism. Adipose deposition in Eastern pigs might be linked to down-regulation of immune-inflammation-related pathways and reduced insulin resistance. The TFs, selection signals, and SFs appeared to regulate ASEs. Notably, ARID4A (TF), NSRP1 (SF), ANKRD12, IFT74, KIAA2026, CCDC18, NEXN, PPIG, and ROCK1 genes in adipose tissue showed potential regulatory effects on adipose-deposition traits. And NSRP1 could promote adipogenesis by regulating alternative splicing and expression of CCDC18. Conducting an in-depth investigation into AS, this study has successfully identified key marker genes essential for pig genetic breeding and the enhancement of meat quality, which will play important roles in promoting the diversity of pork quality and meeting market demand.
Factors Influencing Timely Initiation of Clinical Trials: An Analysis of Start-up Phase Delays
Authors: Das Shriya
Published: January 2024

Efficient commencement of clinical trials is pivotal for their successful execution. The purpose of this study was to determine and examine the factors that contribute to trial start-up delays. The study assessed 20 clinical trials' start-up stages in order to identify relevant variables. Results showed that trials with an emphasis on devices, trials that did not outsource, trials that utilized less auxiliary services, and trials that employed interventional designs had quicker start-up times than observational studies. Furthermore, approval times were substantially shortened by using a centralized Institutional Review Board (IRB) rather than a local IRB. Furthermore, compared to studies that successfully enrolled subjects, those who failed to do so required more time to complete contracts and budgets and secure IRB clearance. This study underscores the diverse impact of clinical trial features on start-up timelines. Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing the initiation process of clinical trials.