bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postharvest spoilage pathogen associated with turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) product in Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Jibat Merga , Alo Shamil
Published: August 2023

The primary reason for postharvest deterioration, which is primarily brought on by fungal invasion, is the loss of turmeric products in Southwestern Ethiopia. The study was conducted to determine the main fungi responsible for the postharvest deterioration of turmeric in major turmeric-growing areas of southwestern Ethiopia. In total, 60 samples of dried and stored turmeric were gathered in 2020 and 2021 from different production zones of southwestern Ethiopia. The fungus that causes postharvest turmeric to deteriorate was isolated and identified at the genus level. At the study locations, rhizomes were not cleaned, washed, sorted, or separated from healthy rhizomes. The spoiled turmeric samples contain fungi from four genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Rhizopus. Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium were isolated from drying and storage samples in all zones. However, Rhizopus was only isolated from samples that had been stored. It was discovered that Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium were primarily responsible for the observed deterioration. The identified genera's percentage incidence ranged from 15.1% (Fusarium) to 45.2% (Aspergillus). Proper harvesting, postharvest handling procedures, and adopting suitable turmeric harvesting and postharvest handling technology can help decrease turmeric postharvest degradation.
Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 1-5, June 2023
On-farm evaluation of drip irrigation system on coffee production in Western Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Genemo Gudeta , Bedane Habtamu , Mekonen Eshetu
Published: August 2023

Ethiopian coffee production is greatly hampered by frequent droughts.This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a drip irrigation system for coffee production on a farm. Additionally, it estimated the amount of water required for coffee crops. An experiment was conducted on a 5-year-old coffee plant with 2m spacing between lines and 2m between plants. Catch cans were used to evaluate the system performance of the installed drip irrigation system. Based on these, the average hydraulic characteristics of the installed drip irrigation system, distribution uniformity was 93.55%, Christiansen uniformity coefficient was 95.40%, flow variation was 18.52%, and coefficient of variation was 5.59%. Coffee plants grew and produced more when irrigation was used. A fresh cherry yield of 6785 kg ha-1 was obtained under irrigated coffee and 2346 kg ha-1 under non-irrigated coffee. Compared to non-irrigated coffee, irrigated coffee had the highest crop water use efficiency of 2.5 kg ha-1 mm-1, and the lowest was obtained 1.7 kg ha-1 mm-1, under non-irrigated coffee. Similarly, irrigated coffee had the highest irrigation water use efficiency (3.6 kg m-3), whereas non-irrigated coffee had the lowest (1.4 kg m-3). These findings show that drip irrigation, compared to non-irrigated coffee plants, enhances yield and water use efficiency by 65% and 60%, respectively. In order to boost production, yield, yield components, and irrigation water use efficiency, drip irrigation is a helpful irrigation technique in locations with limited water resources and extended drought spells.
Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 42-47, June 2023
Analyzing the existing value chains of fruits and vegetables in selected upazilas of Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md Atiqur , Saha Mitul Kumar
Published: August 2023

Reducing postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables is a major pathway to food and nutrition security in Bangladesh. A survey was conducted in 30 selected upazilas of Bangladesh from February to October 2021 to explore the nature and magnitude of postharvest losses. This study assessed the knowledge gap, attitudes and practices of the value chain’s key actors, and the status of market opportunities in the country. A total of 515 farmers and 295 traders were interviewed from selected upazilas of the country. The findings of this study revealed that 50-70% of growers showed a positive attitude toward good agriculture practices (GAP), maturity indices, and the role of good packaging in keeping the products safe for consumers. More than 41% of farmers aggregated their harvested commodities beside the field on direct soil contact under open sunlight. Only 27% of farmers and traders washed fruits and vegetables before marketing, of which 32% used unsafe water found in the canal or ditches. On average, 86.91% of farmers and traders sorted out their products before marketing for a better price. More than 56% of farmers and traders used jute or nylon sac for packaging fresh fruit and vegetables. Nevertheless, only 20.2% of farmers and 24.41% of traders used plastic crates as packaging containers. Generally, the farmer used different local vehicles, including three-wheeler van, rickshaw, bi-cycle, tempo, etc. In contrast, the traders transported their produce to the wholesale market using a truck and pick-up van. The average postharvest losses were estimated 12.5% at the farm level, whereas 6.7% at trader’s level up to the wholesale market.
Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 123-130, June 2023
ANALISIS PENINGKATAN KUALITAS PELAYANAN MENGGUNAKAN PENDEKATAN E-SERVQUAL, IMPORTANCE PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS (IPA) DAN POTENTIAL GAIN CUSTOMER VALUE (PGCV) PADA WEBSITE PT.POS INDONESIA
Authors: Segonang Safura Mutiara , Alfansi Lizar , Putri Seprianti Eka
Published: August 2023

research objectives are to identify the service quality level of PT. Pos Indonesia website and to recognize certain criteria which needs to be improved based on the improvement priority scale in the service quality of PT. Pos Indonesia website. This research was conducted by using E-ServQual method (Electronic Service Quality), Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and Potential Gain Customer Value (PGCV). The analysis was conducted using 20 items criteria in terms of 6 dimensions included Efficiency, Fullfilment, System availability, Privacy, Responsiveness, and Contact. The data collection method used was questionnaire, which involved the sharing of google forms link through social media to share and collect the questionnaire result. The result of this research showed that the electronic service quality of PT. Pos Indonesia website is in a good category. Generally, the service performance of PT. Pos Indonesia website has meet customers’ expectation, or satisfactory. However, fulfillment dimension still has a negative gap. On the E-Servqual method found 4 (four) criteria with the negative gap value and other 16 criteria with the positive gap value. By using Cartesian diagram on the Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method found 3 (three) priority criteria which believed as the very important criteria by the customer of PT. Pos Indonesia, however, the services given were not quite satisfactory. From 3 (three) obtained criteria, arranged based on the improvement priority level by using Potential Gain Customer Value (PGCV) method, the order were : 1) the tracking point compatibility of the most up-to-date and proper product delivery, 2) the availability of PT. Pos Indonesia website’s customer service representative website, 3) the estimation of product shipping cost listed on PT. Pos Indonesia website matches the cost to be paid.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI LOYALITAS PELANGGAN INDOSAT OOREDOO PADA MAHASISWA UNIVERSITAS BENGKULU
Authors: Ramadhan Ricky , Alfansi Lizar , Anggarawati Sularsih
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this research is to find out the factors that influence customer loyalty: service quality, perceived switching costs, trust, customer satisfaction, perceived value, corporate image of Indosat Ooredoo customer loyalty to Bengkulu university students. The populations in the study were students of the Bengkulu University consist of 100 respondents. The accidental sampling method is used. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression linear analysis, test t, and test f are used to analyze the data. The results showed that the service quality, perceived switching costs, trust, customer satisfaction, perceived value, corporate image have a positive effect on Indosat Ooredoo customer loyalty to Bengkulu University Students. the meaning, if the Good quality service increased customer loyalty if the perceived switching cost of high customer loyalty will increase If trust increases customer loyalty will increase if the perceived value increases customer loyalty will increase and if the corporate image is good then customer loyalty will increase as well.
The Effectiveness of Supervision Over Dimensionand Over LoadTrucks in Bengkulu Province (Study on UPPKB Padang Ulak Tanding Bengkulu Province)
Authors: Hariyanto Bambang , Widodo Slamet , Murni Trisna
Published: August 2023

The current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of supervision, the causes of ineffectiveness and solutions to the empirical problem of ODOL trucks at UPPKB Padang Ulak Tandaing. Qualitative approaches and in-depth interview methods were used to collect data. Drivers, BPTD officials, and UPKKB personnel became the informants of this research. Data were collected from 16 informants involved in the process of monitoring ODOL trucks at UPPKB Padang Ulak Tanding. Descriptive analysis is used to describe the results of interviews and documentation from informants. The results of the research show that: (1) the percentage of the results of measuring the effectiveness of supervision based on the process reaches 78%, which means it is quite effective; (2) The inhibiting factors for supervision, namely the condition of human resources are not yet ideal and the implementation of work standards is not perfect, internal control is weak, law enforcement  is weak, legalawareness of owners of freight transport is weak and facilities/infrastructure are not adequate; (3) Efforts to overcome the empirical problem of ODOL trucks include the recruitment of specializations for motor vehicle testers, the leadership must be a role model for subordinates, the application of rewards/punishments for the performance of investigators, the implementation of a legal awareness campaign and the provision of inadequate facilities/infrastructure. Discussions, implications and recommendations are presented.
Pengaruh Persepsi Dukungan Organisasi Dan Komitmen Organisasi Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Dimediasi Oleh Kepuasan Kerja Pada Pemerintah Daerah Kabupaten Bengkulu Tengah
Authors: Kurniawan Sekti , Praningrum  , Dharmayana I Wayan
Published: August 2023

Abstract

This study aims to examine a model to improve employee performance through perceptions of organizational support and organizational commitment to employee performance through job satisfaction as a mediating variable in the Central Bengkulu Regency Government. Quantitative approaches and survey methods were used to collect data. Based on the statistical test, the results of the study indicate that the perception of organizational support and organizational commitment has a significant positive effect on employee performance. Meanwhile, job satisfaction can mediate between perceived organizational support and organizational commitment to employee performance because it has a significant positive value.

 

Keywords: Perception of Organizational Support, Organizational Commitment,   

                   Job Satisfaction and Performance

 

Abstrak

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji model peningkatan kinerja pegawai melalui persepsi dukungan organisasi dan komitmen organisasi terhadap kinerja pegawai melalui kepuasan kerja sebagai variabel mediasi di Pemerintah Kabupaten Bengkulu Tengah. Pendekatan kuantitatif dan metode survei digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data. Berdasarkan uji statistik, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa persepsi dukungan organisasi dan komitmen organisasi berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan. Sedangkan kepuasan kerja dapat memediasi antara persepsi dukungan organisasi dan komitmen organisasi terhadap kinerja karyawan karena memiliki nilai positif yang signifikan.

 

Kata Kunci: Persepsi Dukungan Organisasi, Komitmen Organisasi, Kepuasan dan Kinerja Kerja
Effect Of Ownership Structure On Company Value With Leverage Mediation (Studies In Manufacturing Companies That Listed On The Indonesia Stock Exchange)
Authors: Prabawa Sri Adji
Published: August 2023

Abstract:

This research aims to test and analyze the impact of ownership structure on value of the firm and mediated by leverage in one integrated research model of the manufacturing company of the basic and chemical industry sectors listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2012-2018. Using a regression analysis tool and a Sobel test to see if the ownership structure has an indirect impact on the value of the firm. The results showed there was a significant negative influence of ownership structures on the company's value. Results also showed significant negative influence over the ownership structure on the leverage, and there was a significant positive influence of leverage on the company's value. The results of Sobel test showed that the leverage variable did not act to impact the indirect relationship of the ownership structure on the company's value.

Keywords: Ownership Structure, Leverage, Value of the Firms.

 

Abstrak:

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji dan menganalisis pengaruh struktur kepemilikan terhadap nilai perusahaan dan dimediasi oleh leverage dalam satu model penelitian terpadu pada perusahaan manufaktur sektor industri dasar dan kimia yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia tahun 2012-2018. Menggunakan alat analisis regresi dan uji Sobel untuk melihat apakah struktur kepemilikan memiliki dampak tidak langsung terhadap nilai perusahaan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat pengaruh negatif signifikan struktur kepemilikan terhadap nilai perusahaan. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan pengaruh negatif signifikan struktur kepemilikan terhadap leverage, dan terdapat pengaruh positif signifikan leverage terhadap nilai perusahaan. Hasil uji Sobel menunjukkan bahwa variabel leverage tidak berpengaruh terhadap hubungan tidak langsung struktur kepemilikan terhadap nilai perusahaan.

Kata kunci: Struktur Kepemilikan, Leverage, Nilai Perusahaan.
Organizational Performance Analysis Of The Bengkulu VII Sumatera River Regional Area
Authors: Agusprawira Deky , Widodo Slamet , Kamaludin Kamaludin
Published: August 2023

This study aims at the performance of the Sumatra VII Bengkulu River Basin Center in terms of the availability of water resources infrastructure and the quality of organizational governance. This type of research uses qualitative descriptive approach research with survey methods. In this study, the authors collected information data and basic information using disseminated questionnaires, interviews and documentation studies. The data to be used in this study is primary data obtained directly from respondents of ASN employees of the Sumatra VII River Basin Center Bengkulu totaling 163 people. Data analysis methods are used, descriptive analysis and qualitative analysis. The results showed that (1) The achievement of the organizational performance of the Sumatra VII Bengkulu River Basin Center in the aspect of providing water resources infrastructure was already in the very high category (AA). The results illustrate that the strategic work program for the provision of water resources infrastructure has been fully implemented; and (2) The achievement of organizational performance of the Sumatra VII River Basin Center Bengkulu from the aspect of the quality of organizational governance is already in the high (AB) and very high (AA) categories. The results illustrate that the quality of organizational governance quality strategic work programs have been implemented and some others are still not optimal.

 

Keywords: Performance, Water Resources Infrastructure and Quality of Governance
SENTIMENT ANALYSIS ON REVIEWS OF WOMEN'S TOPS ON SHOPEE MARKETPLACE USING NAIVE BAYES ALGORITHM
Authors: Subarkah Pungkas , Rahayu Prastyadi Wibawa , Darmayanti Irma , Riyanto Riyanto
Published: August 2023

Reviews of women's tops in the market are valuable information if processed properly. Merchants can conduct product review analysis to obtain information that can be used to evaluate products and services. Product review analysis activities are not enough just to see the number of stars, it is necessary to see the entire content of the review comments to be able to know the intent of the review. Sentiment analysis system is a system used to automatically analyze online product reviews to obtain information including sentiment information that is part of online reviews. The data is classified using Naive Bayes. The data collected were 1,000 product reviews of women's tops as samples.  The purpose of this study is to determine the sentiment analysis of female top product reviews using the Naive Bayes algorithm. The stages of this research include data collection, labeling, pre-processing, sentiment classification, and evaluation. In the pre-processing stage there are 6 stages, namely Cleaning emoticons & symbols, Case folding, Word Normalizer, Tokenize, Stopword Removal and Stemming. TF-IDF (Term Frequency - Inverse Document Frequency) method is used for word weighting. The data will be classified into 3 (three) classes, namely negative, positive and neutral. The data will then be evaluated using accuracy parameter testing. The test results show an accuracy value of 89%, this result shows that the product reviews of women's tops are more positive.
Human Dignity as the Ground of Human Rights
Authors:   , Göbel Marie Christine
Published: August 2023

How can we make sense of the claim that human dignity is the moral ground of human rights? And what does this assumption imply for our understanding of the interconnections and tensions between the moral and legal dimension of human rights? In my dissertation I address these questions by distinguishing systematically between a concept of human rights as a specific kind of moral norms and a specific kind of legal norms. I defend a hermeneutical approach to our understanding of the “nature” of human rights: As moral norms, human rights are grounded in the necessary practical self-understanding of every human agent. In judicial practice, the concrete meaning of legal human rights-norms is interpreted in the light of the particular self-understanding of legal communities. What a moral and a legal understanding of human rights have in common is the assumption that they have a universal moral ground – human dignity. I argue that human dignity should be understood as a universal moral status that expresses the fundamental moral obligation to respect every human being as a holder of moral human rights. Human dignity so understood implies a criterion for specifying human rights and for putting them into a hierarchy, while at the same time it leaves significant room for their context-specific interpretation. To the extent that the legal human rights practice claims to be morally committed to protecting human dignity, judicial interpretations of human rights should be guided by this understanding of human dignity.
Responsive Neurostimulation for Management of Refractory Precuneus Onset Epilepsy: A Case Report
Authors: Swaminathan Arun
Published: August 2023

Posterior quadrant epilepsy is relatively uncommon and refractory seizures from these regions are difficult to diagnose and manage. A 28-year-old woman presented for evaluation of her seizures. Scalp Electroencephalogram (EEG) showed seizures with independent onset over the right posterior and left anterior regions. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans revealed multiple regions of hypometabolism in the brain with maximum decrease in metabolism seen over the left and right precuneus and both occipital lobes. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) revealed epileptogenic dipoles over bilateral precuneus regions. Intracranial EEG revealed seizure onset from the left precuneus and left frontal regions with rapid generalization. She underwent Responsive Neurostimulation System (RNS) implantation targeting the left precuneus and left frontal regions for network modulation. She has had a 90 percent seizure reduction and remains on 2 medications as she continues to follow up in clinic. Posterior quadrant epilepsy remains a challenging condition to manage, and the use of neuromodulation may improve response rates and improve our understanding of these networks. Definite guidelines on location of electrode placement of RNS in such cases remain absent and improved understanding of such seizure networks is expected to improve our ability to target therapeutic nodes accurately to achieve greater seizure control.
INFLUENCE OF INCOMPATIBILITY OF THERMOMECHANICAL PARAMETERS OF THE BEARING
LAYERS OF A BRIDGE STRUCTURE ON ITS THERMOSTRESSED STATE
Authors: Shevchuk Liudmyla , Bilobrytska Olena , Hrynchak Ilona
Published: August 2023

On the basis of the theory of thermoelasticity, the problem of the thermally stressed state of a two-layer fragment of a bridge structure, consisting of a metal base and an asphalt-concrete upper layer, under conditions of a change in the ambient temperature at different values of the coefficients of thermal linear expansion of the layers is considered. Using the finite element method, the fields of thermal stresses, deformations and displacements are constructed for various values of the thermomechanical characteristics of the layers. The analysis of the influence of the values of thermomechanical parameters on the stress-strain state of the system is carried out. It is shown that with an increase in the incompatibility of these characteristics, the intensities of stresses and strains increase. The zones of concentration of these functions are found.
It is recommended to use materials with close values of their thermomechanical parameters when designing bridges to avoid their premature
destruction.
Initial high throughput proteomic analysis reveals alterations in CD19+ B lymphocyte profile in acute COVID-19 patients
Authors: Marcin Miroslav , Zahornacký Ondrej , Kacírová Mária , Šuliková Michaela , Bajer-Ďuráčová Miloslava , Řehulka Pavel , Bober Peter , Fedačko Ján , Jarčuška Pavol , Sabo Ján
Published: August 2023

The immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, involves intricate interactions between immune cells and viral antigens. CD19+ lymphocytes play a critical role in driving the humoral immune response. In this study, high-throughput proteomic analysis was performed using tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the changes in proteomic profiles of CD19+ whole cell lysates from 6 healthy individuals and 6 acute COVID-19 patients. The volcano plot and heat map showed significant differences in proteomic profiles between these two groups, indicating a distinct molecular signature associated with acute COVID-19. Enrichment analysis, especially over-representation analysis (ORA) using the Reactome database, revealed that proteins involved in neutrophil degranulation and interferon alpha/beta signaling pathways were among the most affected, indicating alterations in key defense processes. These findings, therefore, provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying CD19+ cell responses in acute COVID-19.
Halimanes and cancer: ent-halimic acid as a starting material for the synthesis of antitumor drugs
Authors: Roncero Alejandro M. , Tobal Ignacio E. , Moro Rosalina F. , Diez David , Marcos Isidro S.
Published: August 2023

The development of new anti-cancer agents is an urgent necessity nowadays, as it is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. Many drugs currently used are derived from natural products. Halimanes are a class of bicyclic diterpenoids present in various plants and microorganisms. Many of them exhibit biological activities such as antitumor, antimicrobial, or anti-inflammatory. Among them, ent-halimic acid is an easily accessible compound, in large quantities, from the ethyl acetate extract of the plant Halimium viscosum, and it has been used as a starting material in a number of bioactive molecules. In this work, we review all the natural halimanes with antitumor and related activities until date as well as the synthesis of antitumor compounds using ent-halimic acid as a starting material.
Changes in n-alkane distribution of the Tianshui Basin and its links to the Tibetan plateau uplift and global climate change
Authors: Li Xiaomiao , Peng Tingjiang , Han Churun , Liu Zhichao , Ma Zhenhua , Li Meng , Song Chunhui
Published: August 2023

The Neogene fluvial–lacustrine sediments of the Tianshui Basin provide records of the interactions among tectonic activity, and climatic and ecological changes on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NE TP), from ∼12.4 to 2.6 Ma. We investigated the n-alkane record of a sedimentary sequence from the Tianshui Basin, which reveals shifts in the productivity and sources of n-alkanes. The productivity of n-alkanes doubled many times during ∼4.2–3.2 Ma, accompanied by the increased contribution from aquatic plants; in addition, non-emergent macrophytes occurred sporadically after ∼4.2 Ma but became a significant n-alkane source after ∼3.2 Ma. Changes in the inferred Late Miocene ecology of the region are consistent with the major climate transition in response to global cooling. The oscillations of the types and concentrations of n-alkanes during 4.2–3.2 Ma were likely related to the evolution of the East Asian monsoon (EAM), driven by the tectonic uplift of NE TP and global cooling. The major increase in aquatic plants and biological productivity of this region at ∼3.2 Ma may have been caused by the strengthening of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) and the regional tectonic uplift.
The professionalization of English medium instruction lecturer: content and certification
Authors: Sun Yi
Published: August 2023

As there is no unified standard for EMI teacher professional certification, this paper surveys the professional competence requirements and professional certification of English medium instruction (EMI) lecturers worldwide in order to inform decisions by researchers and administrators tasked with the design and delivery of the certification activity. The study uses a semi-systematic review method to tease 46 articles which include information about EMI lecturer ability, professional development, and certification. The paper analyzed the content of them about competence components and delivery methods. The analysis reveals five main dimensions: language competence, communicate competence, pedagogical competence, multicultural competence and EMI awareness. The certification in current can be divided into two categories depending on whether they include a training program. Certification that consists only of tests usually focuses more on the teacher’s English proficiency in teaching. Another certification usually has the essential English requirement for the participants and pays more attention to the pedagogical methodology. The paper concludes with recommendations for the development of the EMI lecturer competence framework and certification program.
Data-driven methods for situation awareness and operational adjustment of sustainable energy integration into power systems
Authors: Jin Shi , Liu Qian , Zhang Wenlu , He Zhihong , He Yuxiong , Zhang Lihong , Liu Yuan , Xu Peidong , Zhang Xiao , He Yuhong
Published: August 2023

In the context of increasing complexity in power system operations due to the integration of renewable energy sources, two main challenges arise: accurate short-term wind power forecasting and power flow convergence control. Accurate wind power forecasting plays a crucial role in power system scheduling, while controlling power flow convergence is essential for system stability. This study proposes a concise short-term wind power generation prediction model that combines a feature selection-based convolutional neural network-bidirectional long short-term memory network (CNN-BiLSTM) model. By effectively screening multidimensional feature datasets, the model optimizes the selection of highly correlated feature parameters and assigns weights to input data based on feature correlation. The CNN-BiLSTM combination model is then employed to establish a predictive model for wind power generation based on multiple features. Additionally, this study introduces an automatic adjustment model for power flow convergence using the D3QN (Double Dueling Q Network) reinforcement learning algorithm. This addresses the challenge of power imbalance leading to flow non-convergence, enabling effective control of power flow convergence and adaptive adjustment of operating modes. Experiments conducted using the KDD Cup 2022 wind power prediction dataset validate the wind power prediction method. The results demonstrate that the CNN-BiLSTM model effectively utilizes time-series data, surpassing other neural networks in prediction accuracy. Simulation results based on the PYPOWER case39 standard case reveal that the reinforcement learning model’s reward value increases with training rounds and stabilizes at 40. Remarkably, more than 72% of abnormal flow samples achieve rapid convergence within 10 steps, affirming the proposed method's efficacy and computational efficiency. The findings of this study contribute to enhancing the accurate awareness of new energy integration into power systems and provide a novel adaptive control method for power flow.
Revolutionizing quality performance through digitization, technology management, and environmental management: a cutting-edge PLS-SEM model analysis with organizational agility as mediator and culture as moderator
Authors: Fangqi Dong , Irfan Muhammad , Baloch Zarbakht
Published: August 2023

In today’s era of increasing environmental awareness, organizations need to consider the environmental economics and management perspective in addition to quality performance. Recent societal changes have led to a significant digital revolution that has made it challenging for industrialized nations to manage technology transfer. Organizations must integrate digitalization, technology, culture, and environmental sustainability to survive in this highly competitive climate. This study examines the relationship between digitalization and technology management and their impact on Total Quality Management (TQM) performance in Pakistani businesses, considering the environmental economics and management perspective. A quantitative approach was taken, and senior executives from the public and private sectors were surveyed to obtain information. The data was analyzed using SMART PLS 3, which utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The study found that digitalization and technology management significantly enhanced TQM performance, with organizational agility mediating and organizational culture moderating. The organizational agility also played a crucial role in mediating the relationship between technology management and TQM performance. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for quality management practitioners and policymakers, highlighting the importance of incorporating environmental economics and management practices into an overall quality performance.
Spatial heterogeneity of human activities and its driving factors in karst areas of Southwest China over the past 20 years
Authors: Chen Chen , Xu Yufeng
Published: August 2023

Guizhou Province is located in the karst mountain regions of Southwest China, where the ecological environment is extremely fragile and particularly sensitive to human activities. Therefore, understanding the changing characteristics and driving factors of human activity in recent decades is urgent. In this study, least squares, correlation analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and GeoDetector model were used. Based on a large collection of nightlight, topography, and meteorological data, combined with geographical information technology, we investigated the spatial distribution, intensity change, and degree of impact of human activity from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that during the study period, human activities intensity and range were expanding. The human activity areas expanded from 15,963 to 86,923 km2 at an increasing rate of 4,279.2 km2/a, which was 1,118.4 km2/a from 2000 to 2010 and 6,375.3 km2/a from 2010 to 2020. The human activity intensity increased from 0.009 to 0.018, with an increasing rate of 0.0006/a, which was 0.00028/a from 2000 to 2010 and 0.00073/a from 2010 to 2020. The rate of increase in the human activity intensity and the rate of expansion in the human activity range from 2010–2020 were significantly higher than that from 2000–2010, becoming more notable (p ≤ 0.01), especially after 2012. With the expansion of human activities, the center of gravity of human activity moved towards the northeast by 20.71 km. The human activities were primarily distributed in areas with the gentlest slopes (6–15°), middle and low altitudes (489–1,982 m), suitable temperatures (12.36–17.74°C), and abundant precipitation (1,001.99–1,276.99 mm). The research results using the GeoDetector model indicate that slope had the greatest impact on human activities with a q value of 0.1338; precipitation, elevation, and temperature had q values of 0.0626, 0.0253, and 0.0136, respectively. The combined impact between the precipitation and slope was the greatest with a q value of 0.1803. In Guizhou Province, under policy guidance, human activities that promoted vegetation change accounted for 79.60%. This study attempts to enhance sustainable development and provides valuable information on the environmental protection of karst mountain regions.
Castanea crenata honey reduces influenza infection by activating the innate immune response
Authors: Kwon Eun-Bin , Kim Se-Gun , Kim Young Soo , Kim Buyun , Han Sang Mi , Lee Hye Jin , Choi Hong Min , Choi Jang-Gi
Published: August 2023

Influenza is an acute respiratory disorder caused by the influenza virus and is associated with prolonged hospitalization and high mortality rates in older individuals and chronically ill patients. Vaccination is the most effective preventive strategy for ameliorating seasonal influenza. However, the vaccine is not fully effective in cases of antigenic mismatch with the viral strains circulating in the community. The emergence of resistance to antiviral drugs aggravates the situation. Therefore, developing new vaccines and antiviral drugs is essential. Castanea crenata honey (CH) is an extensively cultivated food worldwide and has been used as a nutritional supplement or herbal medicine. However, the potential anti-influenza properties of CH remain unexplored. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antiviral effects of CH were assessed. CH significantly prevented influenza virus infection in mouse Raw264.7 macrophages. CH pretreatment inhibited the expression of the viral proteins M2, PA, and PB1 and enhanced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and type-I interferon (IFN)-related proteins in vitro. CH increased the expression of RIG-1, mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) protein, and IFN-inducible transmembrane protein, which interferes with virus replication. CH reduced body weight loss by 20.9%, increased survival by 60%, and decreased viral replication and inflammatory response in the lungs of influenza A virus-infected mice. Therefore, CH stimulates an antiviral response in murine macrophages and mice by preventing viral infection through the RIG-1-mediated MAVS pathway. Further investigation is warranted to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effects of CH on influenza virus infection.
Protein O-GlcNAcylation in multiple immune cells and its therapeutic potential
Authors: Cai Huanhuan , Xiong Wei , Zhu Haoyan , Wang Qiongxin , Liu Shi , Lu Zhibing
Published: August 2023

O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification of proteins that involves the addition of O-GlcNAc to serine or threonine residues of nuclear or cytoplasmic proteins, catalyzed by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). This modification is highly dynamic and can be reversed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation is widespread in the immune system, which engages in multiple physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. There is substantial evidence indicating that both the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and O-GlcNAcylation are critically involved in regulating immune cell function. However, the precise role of O-GlcNAcylation in the immune system needs to be adequately elucidated. This review offers a thorough synopsis of the present research on protein O-GlcNAcylation, accentuating the molecular mechanisms that control immune cells’ growth, maturation, and performance via this PTM.
The aging kidney is characterized by tubuloinflammaging, a phenotype associated with MHC-II gene expression
Authors: Sinning Julius , Funk Nils David , Soerensen-Zender Inga , Wulfmeyer Vera Christine , Liao Chieh Ming , Haller Hermann , Hinze Christian , Schmidt-Ott Kai Martin , Melk Anette , Schmitt Roland
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Even during physiologic aging, the kidney experiences a loss of mass and a progressive functional decline. This is clinically relevant as it leads to an increased risk of acute and chronic kidney disease. The kidney tubular system plays an important role in the underlying aging process, but the involved cellular mechanisms remain largely elusive.

Methods

Kidneys of 3-, 12- and 24-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were used for RNA sequencing, histological examination, immunostaining and RNA-in-situ-hybridization. Single cell RNA sequencing data of differentially aged murine and human kidneys was analyzed to identify age-dependent expression patterns in tubular epithelial cells. Senescent and non-senescent primary tubular epithelial cells from mouse kidney were used for in vitro experiments.

Results

During normal kidney aging, tubular cells adopt an inflammatory phenotype, characterized by the expression of MHC class II related genes. In our analysis of bulk and single cell transcriptional data we found that subsets of tubular cells show an age-related expression of Cd74, H2-Eb1 and H2-Ab1 in mice and CD74, HLA-DQB1 and HLADRB1 in humans. Expression of MHC class II related genes was associated with a phenotype of tubular cell senescence, and the selective elimination of senescent cells reversed the phenotype. Exposure to the Cd74 ligand MIF promoted a prosenescent phenotype in tubular cell cultures.

Discussion

Together, these data suggest that during normal renal aging tubular cells activate a program of ‘tubuloinflammaging’, which might contribute to age-related phenotypical changes and to increased disease susceptibility.
Distribution of macrophages in the developing cochlea of the common marmoset, a primate model animal
Authors: Hosoya Makoto , Kitama Tsubasa , Shimanuki Marie N. , Nishiyama Takanori , Oishi Naoki , Okano Hideyuki , Ozawa Hiroyuki
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Macrophages are essential immune cells in the cochlea that contribute to inflammation, tissue repair, and homeostasis. They also play an important role in local cochlear immunity. The developmental immigration and maturation of macrophages in the cochlea have been investigated and are considered essential for normal hearing acquisition. Most of our current knowledge regarding cochlear development is based on rodent models because of the ethical challenges of using human fetal samples for research. However, inter-species differences between rodents and humans have been reported. In this study, we used a primate animal model to investigate the distributions of macrophages in the developing cochlea. The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a small monkey species that inhabits the New World, was used as the model.

Methods

We investigated the distribution of macrophages in the developing cochlea of the common marmoset by performing immunohistochemical analyses of cochlear tissue from common marmoset embryos at different development stages.

Results

We revealed detailed distribution changes in the macrophages of a primate animal model cochlea. This observation indicates that most of the changes in the general distribution of macrophages were well preserved between rodents and this primate. The distribution changes observed in the common marmoset were also compatible with observations in the human fetus; although, observations in the human fetus are limited. Our observations in this study also revealed several differences between common marmosets and rodents.

Conclusion

The time course of immunological development and maturations established in this study will aid in the study of the primate-specific developmental biology of the inner ear. These observations may eventually lead to new therapeutic strategies for hearing loss in humans. In addition, understanding the immunological steady-state of the cochlea may help in the study of age- and genetic-induced hearing loss and in the design of regenerative therapies.
BAFF system expression in double negative 2, activated naïve and activated memory B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Álvarez Gómez Jhonatan Antonio , Salazar-Camarena Diana Celeste , Román-Fernández Ilce Valeria , Ortiz-Lazareno Pablo César , Cruz Alvaro , Muñoz-Valle José Francisco , Marín-Rosales Miguel , Espinoza-García Noemí , Sagrero-Fabela Nefertari , Palafox-Sánchez Claudia Azucena
Published: August 2023

Introduction

B cell activating factor (BAFF) has an important role in normal B cell development. The aberrant expression of BAFF is related with the autoimmune diseases development like Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) for promoting self-reactive B cells survival. BAFF functions are exerted through its receptors BAFF-R (BR3), transmembrane activator calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) that are reported to have differential expression on B cells in SLE. Recently, atypical B cells that express CD11c have been associated with SLE because they are prone to develop into antibody-secreting cells, however the relationship with BAFF remains unclear. This study aims to analyze the BAFF system expression on CXCR5- CD11c+ atypical B cell subsets double negative 2 (DN2), activated naïve (aNAV), switched memory (SWM) and unswitched memory (USM) B cells.

Methods

Forty-five SLE patients and 15 healthy subjects (HS) were included. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the expression of the receptors in the B cell subpopulations. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to quantify the soluble levels of BAFF (sBAFF) and IL-21.

Results

We found increased frequency of CXCR5- CD11c+ atypical B cell subpopulations DN2, aNAV, SWM and USM B cells in SLE patients compared to HS. SLE patients had increased expression of membrane BAFF (mBAFF) and BCMA receptor in classic B cell subsets (DN, NAV, SWM and USM). Also, the CXCR5+ CD11c- DN1, resting naïve (rNAV), SWM and USM B cell subsets showed higher mBAFF expression in SLE. CXCR5- CD11c+ atypical B cell subpopulations DN2, SWM and USM B cells showed strong correlations with the expression of BAFF receptors. The atypical B cells DN2 in SLE showed significant decreased expression of TACI, which correlated with higher IL-21 levels. Also, lower expression of TACI in atypical B cell DN2 was associated with high disease activity.

Discussion

These results suggest a participation of the BAFF system in CXCR5- CD11c+ atypical B cell subsets in SLE patients. Decreased TACI expression on atypical B cells DN2 correlated with high disease activity in SLE patients supporting the immunoregulatory role of TACI in autoimmunity.
Pavement dynamic monitoring data processing based on wavelet decomposition and reconfiguration methods
Authors: Shang Shujie , Liang Ming , Wang Hao , Jiao Yuepeng , Liu Zhaoxin , Bi Congwei , Xu Fei , Zhang Runzhi , Li Hongjie , Zhao Yongfeng , Yao Zhanyong
Published: August 2023

Early damage to asphalt pavements generally occurs due to the increasing traffic flow and the loads of vehicles, coupled with alternating high- and low-temperature cycles, freeze–thaw cycles, ultraviolet radiation, and other harsh environments. Several types of distress, such as rutting, cracking, and other damage, deteriorate the serviceability of asphalt pavements and shorten the road service life. Thus, the long-term structural mechanical response of asphalt pavements under the influence of loads and the environment is crucial data for the road sector, which provides guidance about road maintenance. Effectively processing the pavement dynamic monitoring data is a prerequisite to obtain the dynamic response of asphalt pavement structures. However, the dynamic monitoring data of pavements are often characterized by transient weak signals with strong noises, making it challenging to extract their essential characteristics. In this study, wavelet decomposition and reconstruction methods were applied to reduce the noise of pavement dynamic response data. The parameters of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and root mean square error (RMSE) were introduced to compare and analyze the effect of the decomposition of two different wavelet functions: the symlet (sym) wavelet function and the Daubechies (db) wavelet function. The results showed that both the sym and db wavelet functions can effectively obtain the average similarity information and the detailed information of the dynamic response signals of the pavement, the SNR after the sym wavelet fixed-threshold denoising process is relatively higher, and the RMSE is smaller than that of the db wavelet. Thus, wavelet transformation exhibits good localization properties in both the time and frequency domains for processing pavement dynamic monitoring data, making it a suitable approach for handling massive pavement dynamic monitoring data.
Implementing an interprofessional point-of-care ultrasound protocol for dyspneic patients in an emergency department as a blended learning concept—Feasibility of Employing Thoracic Ultrasound in Shortness of Breath
Authors: Witte Matthies , Ott Matthias , Schilling Tobias , Müller Martina , Schmid Stephan , Krohn Alexander
Published: August 2023

Objective

Dyspnea is a common symptom in the Emergency Department, with a wide variety of differential diagnoses. Previous research has demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in this field of interest. Our goal was to better establish sonography in our emergency department with a practicable and time effective method. Therefore, we implemented a sonography protocol in an interprofessional emergency team using blended learning as a modern didactic approach and evaluated the learning and teaching success. We named the study FETUS, which stands for “Feasibility of Employing Thoracic Ultrasound in Shortness of Breath.”

Methods

A demonstration of the POCUS protocol was given, followed by individual supervision during clinical routine. A written manual, a pocket card, and further materials for personal training supplemented the training. A post-training questionnaire measured several parameters regarding the training, e.g., subjective skill-acquisition or media use.

Results

32 medical and nursing staff participated in this study, 14 of whom completed the questionnaire. All training modalities offered were well received. A pre-post comparison of subjective sonographic competence shows a significant increase in both medical and nursing staff.

The other items surveyed also indicate the success of the intervention undertaken.

Conclusion

The use of different media as a blended learning approach can support the implementation of new measures in the ongoing working routine within an interprofessional team.