bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Bacterial Nanocellulose Interfaces for Recording Surface Biopotentials from Plants
Authors: Reynolds James , Wilkins Michael , Martin Devon , Taggart Matthew , Rivera Kristina R. , Tunc-Ozdemir Meral , Rufty Thomas , Lobaton Edgar , Bozkurt Alper , Daniele Michael A.
Published: April 2024

The study of plant electrophysiology offers promising techniques to track plant health and stress in vivo for both agricultural and environmental monitoring applications. Use of superficial electrodes on the plant body to record surface potentials may provide new phenotyping insights. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a flexible, optically translucent, and water-vapor-permeable material with low manufacturing costs, making it an ideal substrate for non-invasive and non-destructive plant electrodes. This work presents BNC electrodes with screen-printed carbon (graphite) ink-based conductive traces and pads. It investigates the potential of these electrodes for plant surface electrophysiology measurements in comparison to commercially available standard wet gel and needle electrodes. The electrochemically active surface area and impedance of the BNC electrodes varied based on the annealing temperature and time over the ranges of 50 °C to 90 °C and 5 to 60 min, respectively. The water vapor transfer rate and optical transmittance of the BNC substrate were measured to estimate the level of occlusion caused by these surface electrodes on the plant tissue. The total reduction in chlorophyll content under the electrodes was measured after the electrodes were placed on maize leaves for up to 300 h, showing that the BNC caused only a 16% reduction. Maize leaf transpiration was reduced by only 20% under the BNC electrodes after 72 h compared to a 60% reduction under wet gel electrodes in 48 h. On three different model plants, BNC–carbon ink surface electrodes and standard invasive needle electrodes were shown to have a comparable signal quality, with a correlation coefficient of >0.9, when measuring surface biopotentials induced by acute environmental stressors. These are strong indications of the superior performance of the BNC substrate with screen-printed graphite ink as an electrode material for plant surface biopotential recordings.
Biomechanical Assessment Methods Used in Chronic Stroke: A Scoping Review of Non-Linear Approaches
Authors: Freitas Marta , Pinho Francisco , Pinho Liliana , Silva Sandra , Figueira Vânia , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Silva Augusta
Published: April 2024

Non-linear and dynamic systems analysis of human movement has recently become increasingly widespread with the intention of better reflecting how complexity affects the adaptability of motor systems, especially after a stroke. The main objective of this scoping review was to summarize the non-linear measures used in the analysis of kinetic, kinematic, and EMG data of human movement after stroke. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed, establishing the eligibility criteria, the population, the concept, and the contextual framework. The examined studies were published between 1 January 2013 and 12 April 2023, in English or Portuguese, and were indexed in the databases selected for this research: PubMed®, Web of Science®, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers®, Science Direct® and Google Scholar®. In total, 14 of the 763 articles met the inclusion criteria. The non-linear measures identified included entropy (n = 11), fractal analysis (n = 1), the short-term local divergence exponent (n = 1), the maximum Floquet multiplier (n = 1), and the Lyapunov exponent (n = 1). These studies focused on different motor tasks: reaching to grasp (n = 2), reaching to point (n = 1), arm tracking (n = 2), elbow flexion (n = 5), elbow extension (n = 1), wrist and finger extension upward (lifting) (n = 1), knee extension (n = 1), and walking (n = 4). When studying the complexity of human movement in chronic post-stroke adults, entropy measures, particularly sample entropy, were preferred. Kinematic assessment was mainly performed using motion capture systems, with a focus on joint angles of the upper limbs.
On Difference Pattern Synthesis for Spherical Sensor Arrays
Authors: Huang Zhijiang , Chen Maolin , Li Xianglu , Xie Shunqin , Ma Guoning , Tian Jie
Published: April 2024

An innovative method for synthesizing optimum difference patterns of the spherical sensor array is introduced, along with a sidelobe tapering technique. Firstly, we suggest employing the spherical harmonics of degree ±1 to synthesize the spherical array difference pattern; secondly, we study the mapping relationship between the difference pattern of the spherical sensor array and the difference pattern of the uniformly spaced linear array (ULA) with odd-numbered elements; finally, we enhance the Zolotarev difference pattern, which is a counterpart to the Dolph–Chebyshev sum pattern that traditionally allows synthesis only for ULA with even-numbered elements. Our modification extends its applicability to synthesize difference patterns for ULA with odd-numbered elements. Leveraging the optimal difference pattern, a generalized Bayliss difference pattern synthesis method designed for the ULA with odd-numbered elements is further proposed. To illustrate the effectiveness of our approach, we present several design examples through experimental simulation.
Assessing the Cloud-RAN in the Linux Kernel: Sharing Computing and Network Resources
Authors: Ocampo Andres F. , Fida Mah-Rukh , Elmokashfi Ahmed , Bryhni Haakon
Published: April 2024

Cloud-based Radio Access Network (Cloud-RAN) leverages virtualization to enable the coexistence of multiple virtual Base Band Units (vBBUs) with collocated workloads on a single edge computer, aiming for economic and operational efficiency. However, this coexistence can cause performance degradation in vBBUs due to resource contention. In this paper, we conduct an empirical analysis of vBBU performance on a Linux RT-Kernel, highlighting the impact of resource sharing with user-space tasks and Kernel threads. Furthermore, we evaluate CPU management strategies such as CPU affinity and CPU isolation as potential solutions to these performance challenges. Our results highlight that the implementation of CPU affinity can significantly reduce throughput variability by up to 40%, decrease vBBU’s NACK ratios, and reduce vBBU scheduling latency within the Linux RT-Kernel. Collectively, these findings underscore the potential of CPU management strategies to enhance vBBU performance in Cloud-RAN environments, enabling more efficient and stable network operations. The paper concludes with a discussion on the efficient realization of Cloud-RAN, elucidating the benefits of implementing proposed CPU affinity allocations. The demonstrated enhancements, including reduced scheduling latency and improved end-to-end throughput, affirm the practicality and efficacy of the proposed strategies for optimizing Cloud-RAN deployments.
Monitoring Bioindication of Plankton through the Analysis of the Fourier Spectra of the Underwater Digital Holographic Sensor Data
Authors: Dyomin Victor , Davydova Alexandra , Kirillov Nikolay , Kondratova Oksana , Morgalev Yuri , Morgalev Sergey , Morgaleva Tamara , Polovtsev Igor
Published: April 2024

The study presents a bioindication complex and a technology of the experiment based on a submersible digital holographic camera with advanced monitoring capabilities for the study of plankton and its behavioral characteristics in situ. Additional mechanical and software options expand the capabilities of the digital holographic camera, thus making it possible to adapt the depth of the holographing scene to the parameters of the plankton habitat, perform automatic registration of the “zero” frame and automatic calibration, and carry out natural experiments with plankton photostimulation. The paper considers the results of a long-term digital holographic experiment on the biotesting of the water area in Arctic latitudes. It shows additional possibilities arising during the spectral processing of long time series of plankton parameters obtained during monitoring measurements by a submersible digital holographic camera. In particular, information on the rhythmic components of the ecosystem and behavioral characteristics of plankton, which can be used as a marker of the ecosystem well-being disturbance, is thus obtained.
An Urban Intelligence Architecture for Heterogeneous Data and Application Integration, Deployment and Orchestration
Authors: Silvestri Stefano , Tricomi Giuseppe , Bassolillo Salvatore Rosario , De Benedictis Riccardo , Ciampi Mario
Published: April 2024

This paper describes a novel architecture that aims to create a template for the implementation of an IT platform, supporting the deployment and integration of the different digital twin subsystems that compose a complex urban intelligence system. In more detail, the proposed Smart City IT architecture has the following main purposes: (i) facilitating the deployment of the subsystems in a cloud environment; (ii) effectively storing, integrating, managing, and sharing the huge amount of heterogeneous data acquired and produced by each subsystem, using a data lake; (iii) supporting data exchange and sharing; (iv) managing and executing workflows, to automatically coordinate and run processes; and (v) to provide and visualize the required information. A prototype of the proposed IT solution was implemented leveraging open-source frameworks and technologies, to test its functionalities and performance. The results of the tests performed in real-world settings confirmed that the proposed architecture could efficiently and easily support the deployment and integration of heterogeneous subsystems, allowing them to share and integrate their data and to select, extract, and visualize the information required by a user, as well as promoting the integration with other external systems, and defining and executing workflows to orchestrate the various subsystems involved in complex analyses and processes.
Recognition of Human Lower Limb Motion and Muscle Fatigue Status Using a Wearable FES-sEMG System
Authors: Zhang Wenbo , Bai Ziqian , Yan Pengfei , Liu Hongwei , Shao Li
Published: April 2024

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) devices are widely employed for clinical treatment, rehabilitation, and sports training. However, existing FES devices are inadequate in terms of wearability and cannot recognize a user’s intention to move or muscle fatigue. These issues impede the user’s ability to incorporate FES devices into their daily life. In response to these issues, this paper introduces a novel wearable FES system based on customized textile electrodes. The system is driven by surface electromyography (sEMG) movement intention. A parallel structured deep learning model based on a wearable FES device is used, which enables the identification of both the type of motion and muscle fatigue status without being affected by electrical stimulation. Five subjects took part in an experiment to test the proposed system, and the results showed that our method achieved a high level of accuracy for lower limb motion recognition and muscle fatigue status detection. The preliminary results presented here prove the effectiveness of the novel wearable FES system in terms of recognizing lower limb motions and muscle fatigue status.
Sensor-Based Indoor Fire Forecasting Using Transformer Encoder
Authors: Jeong Young-Seob , Hwang JunHa , Lee SeungDong , Ndomba Goodwill Erasmo , Kim Youngjin , Kim Jeung-Im
Published: April 2024

Indoor fires may cause casualties and property damage, so it is important to develop a system that predicts fires in advance. There have been studies to predict potential fires using sensor values, and they mostly exploited machine learning models or recurrent neural networks. In this paper, we propose a stack of Transformer encoders for fire prediction using multiple sensors. Our model takes the time-series values collected from the sensors as input, and predicts the potential fire based on the sequential patterns underlying the time-series data. We compared our model with traditional machine learning models and recurrent neural networks on two datasets. For a simple dataset, we found that the machine learning models are better than ours, whereas our model gave better performance for a complex dataset. This implies that our model has a greater potential for real-world applications that probably have complex patterns and scenarios.
Toward Gender Understanding: Examining Ambivalent Sexism among University Students and Its Impact on Faculty Evaluation
Authors: Yurrebaso Macho Amaia , Guzmán-Ordaz Raquel , Picado-Valverde Eva , Jáñez González Álvaro
Published: April 2024

This study examines gender differences in levels of sexism among university students and evaluates variations in assessing sexist attitudes toward professors. The aim is to analyze potential disparities between men and women regarding ambivalent sexism (both hostile and benevolent) and to determine if these differences influence the evaluation of specific behaviors by teaching faculty. Additionally, the present study seeks to validate the variability hypothesis, asserting that men are over-represented in the extremes of distributions compared to women concerning analyzed sexist attitudes. Eighty university students participated voluntarily and anonymously, completing three questionnaires on ambivalent sexism, neosexism, and the assessment of sexist behaviors by their instructors. Consistent with prior research, the results reveal higher levels of sexism among men in this context. Despite these differences, both men and women align in evaluating specific behaviors in teaching faculty, irrespective of their individual levels of sexism. Finally, the data presented support the variability hypothesis, indicating greater variability in sexist attitudes among men than women. These findings suggest that general attitudes assessed in most questionnaires might not be representative of the behaviors and attitudes that people display in real specific situations. This could change how future research and interventions approach these issues.
Sustained Decline in Hospitalisations for Anogenital Warts in Australia: Analysis of National Hospital Morbidity Data 2003–2020
Authors: Rashid Harunor , Dey Aditi , Wang Han , Beard Frank
Published: April 2024

In Australia, school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was introduced initially for girls in 2007, and then also for boys in 2013. While studies have shown declines in the incidence of anogenital warts, there is a paucity of recent data analysis assessing the impact of vaccination on more severe disease. The National Hospital Morbidity Database of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) hospitalisation admission data that included ICD-10-AM code A63.0 (‘anogenital warts’) as the diagnoses, for the years 2003–2020, were analysed to estimate hospitalisation rates per 100,000 mid-year population. The annual average hospitalisation rates per 100,000 population for anogenital warts in both genders combined in the age groups 10–19 years, 20–29 years, and 30–39 years decreased, respectively, from 16.9, 49.6, and 23.6 in 2003–2007 (pre-vaccine period) to 2.6, 15.2, and 14.6 in 2008–2020 (post-vaccine period), equating to declines of 84.7%, 69.4%, and 38.2%, respectively. Following the introduction of the boy’s vaccination, hospitalisation rates decreased further in the respective age bands from 4.3, 22.8, and 18.4 in 2008–2013 (early post-vaccine period) to 1.1, 9.3, and 11.7 in 2014–2020 (late post-vaccine period), equating to respective declines of 73.4%, 59.3%, and 36.4%. This analysis confirms that there is a substantial incremental decline in anogenital warts hospitalisations among Australians aged 10–39 years.
Synergistic Effect between Eugenol and 1,8-Cineole on Anesthesia in Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata)
Authors: Nuanmanee Saransiri , Sriwanayos Preeyanan , Boonyo Khemmapat , Chaisri Wasana , Saengsitthisak Banthita , Tajai Preechaya , Pikulkaew Surachai
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect between eugenol and 1,8-cineole on anesthesia in female guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata). Experiment I evaluated the concentrations of 0, 12.5, 25, 50, and 75 mg/L of eugenol and 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/L of 1,8-cineole for times of induction and recovery from anesthesia. Experiment II divided fish into 16 study groups, combining eugenol and 1,8-cineole in pairs at varying concentrations, based on the dosage of the chemicals in experiment I. The results of the anesthesia showed that eugenol induced fish anesthesia at concentrations of 50 and 70 mg/L, with durations of 256.5 and 171.5 s, respectively. In contrast, 1,8-cineole did not induce fish anesthesia. In combination, using eugenol at 12.5 mg/L along with 1,8-cineole at 400 mg/L resulted in fish anesthesia at a time of 224.5 s. Increasing the eugenol concentration to 25 mg/L, combined with 1,8-cineole at 300 and 400 mg/L, induced fish anesthesia at times of 259.0 and 230.5 s, respectively. For treatments with eugenol at 50 mg/L combined with 1,8-cineole at 100 to 400 mg/L, fish exhibited anesthesia at times of 189.5, 181.5, 166.0, and 157.5 s. In the case of eugenol at 75 mg/L, fish showed anesthesia at times of 175.5, 156.5, 140.5, and 121.5 s, respectively. The testing results revealed that 1,8-cineole as a single treatment could not induce fish anesthesia. However, when supplementing 1,8-cineole in formulations containing eugenol, fish exhibited a significantly faster induction of anesthesia (p < 0.05). Furthermore, all fish that underwent anesthesia were able to fully recover without any mortality. However, the shorter anesthesia duration resulted in a significantly prolonged recovery time. In conclusion, eugenol and 1,8-cineole work better together as anesthetics than when used separately, and demonstrated the safety of using these anesthetic agents on guppy fish.
AVALIAÇÃO DA TAXA DE PRENHEZ EM NOVILHAS SUBMETIDAS A IATF APÓS INDUÇÃO DE PUBERDADE
Authors: Mendes Breno Rodrigues , Cunha Andrielle Thainar Mendes
Published: April 2024

Atualmente a inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) possui destaque entre as biotécnicas utilizadas dentro da pecuária de corte no Brasil. Os protocolos de IATF são baseados na manipulação hormonal exógena do estro. A indução à puberdade em novilhas precoces tem sido proposta para que atinjam a maturidade sexual antes do período fisiológico natural, para então serem precocemente incluídas no programa de IATF. Para a realização da indução à precocidade, o animal é exposto a progesterona, oriunda de dispositivos intravaginais ou por injeções intramusculares, esta indução tem sido relacionada a fatores benéficos como o aumento nos resultados das taxas de concepção, e também a antecipação do período reprodutivo da fêmea bovina. Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a taxa de prenhez em novilhas submetidas, à IATF após a indução de puberdade, como possibilidade para maximizar a produtividade das matrizes. Materiais e métodos: Após a seleção por peso corporal na desmama, 33 novilhas foram expostas a progesterona de longa ação, e 25 fêmeas apresentaram boa resposta à indução, sendo selecionadas para a IATF. Para o grupo controle, 24 fêmeas nulíparas foram utilizadas sem tratamento hormonal de indução. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Santa Helena no município de Talismã-TO. Resultados e conclusão: O grupo de fêmeas induzidas à precocidade resultou em 52% de prenhez e o grupo controle 37,5% de prenhez, estes resultados foram similares perante a análise estatística.
Actitudes hacia la matemática en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Ricaldi Echevarria Myrian Luz
Published: April 2024

Son varias las investigaciones que reconocen a los aspectos afectivos como condicionantes para el aprendizaje. En particular, se reporta una estrecha relación entre las actitudes y el aprendizaje de la matemática. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo describir los factores predominantes de las actitudes hacia la matemática en estudiantes universitarios. El diseño fue no experimental y de la naturaleza cuantitativa. Los datos fueron analizados considerando las dimensiones actitudes positivas y negativas hacia la matemática. Los resultados determinaron que los descriptores cognoscitivos relativos a la valoración emocional de agrado mostraron mayor rango promedio; mientras que los descriptores conductuales relativos a las conductas negativos tuvieron en los factores conductuales un elemento que marca diferencia de rangos. Así también, la mayoría se posicionó en un nivel intermedio de actitudes con ligera predominancia hacia el nivel superior en el caso de las actitudes positivas y tendencia hacia el nivel bajo en las actitudes negativas.
Assessment of computing systems reliability by non-parametric method by small samples of operational data
Authors: Nikulin V. S. , Pestunov A. I.
Published: April 2024

A new method for assessing the reliability of small computing systems that allows the generation of only small samples of operational data is proposed in the article. The result of applying the technique is the posterior failure distribution density, on the basis of which various reliability indicators can be calculated. The methodology consists of two stages: the first is the preparation of operational data, including detection of failures using machine learning methods, and the second is the construction of the failure distribution density using the adapted Rosenblatt–Parzen method. Increasing the efficiency of estimates using the proposed method is achieved by taking into account censored data, compensating for the shift of failure distribution densities and finding the optimal smoothing parameter.
Prospects and challenges of digital transformation of the general education system in the Russian Federation
Authors: Kislyakov A. N. , Golubeva A. N.
Published: April 2024

The paper is devoted to the urgent problem of increasing the effectiveness of digital transformation mechanisms in the sphere of general education, aimed at improving the efficiency of functioning of general educational organizations. The analysis of normative legal acts regulating state regulation in the field of information technology application in education, domestic and foreign literature devoted to digital transformation of the economy and society as a whole has been carried out. The main directions of digital transformation of education were analyzed. The lack of elaboration of the issues of digital transformation of general education along with a large number of publications related to higher education institutions is noted. The main technological transformations preceding the current stage of introducing end-to-end technologies in the sphere of general education in the Russian Federation are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of digital transformation of general education management. The problems of introducing end-to-end technologies in the sphere of general education management are considered against the background of the acute need to master new technologies and the transition of the economy to a new stage of development. The tasks of digital transformation of education have been studied and the analysis of the reasons hindering the introduction of modern digital technologies has been carried out, which allowed us to identify the need to update not only the methods of conducting the educational process with the use of digital educational content, but also to qualitatively change the management system of a modern educational organization. The study showed that the digital transformation of general education cannot take place without state regulation and research in the field of correlation between the classroom and digital component. Recommendations on the implementation of projects in the system of general education are given, which allow to eliminate the duplication of management functions, reduce the cost of software development and implementation at different levels of education management.
Three aspects of the critical analysis of the bank of Russia’s activities
Authors: Balikoev V. Z.
Published: April 2024

The article analyzes the policy of the Central Bank of Russia in three aspects: setting the key rate, the low level of monetization of Russia’s GDP and determining the causes of inflation. The transition of the Bank of Russia from a liberal to an ultra-liberal policy is proved, expressed in the policy of targeting inflation, the floating exchange rate of the ruble and the liberalization of cross-border capital flows. The logical error of the Central Bank in determining the consequences of raising the key rate is shown. It rises to stop the inflation of demand, and thus causes the inflation of production costs. As a result, the opposite effect is achieved – an increase in inflation. The same process is facilitated by maintaining a low level of GDP monetization and incorrectly determining the causes of inflation in Russia, which is non-monetary in nature in the country. The author concludes that in its policy of expensive money, the Central Bank relies more on political factors than economic ones.
N.A. Blatov and his ideas of balance analysis: history and modernity
Authors: Glazko A. I.
Published: April 2024

This article is devoted to the contribution to the analysis of the balance sheet of one of the famous scientists in the accounting – Nikolai Alexandrovich Blatov. Being a model of flows of three types values, «Blatov’s Square» illustrates the boundaries of balance sheet as an enterprise model. Half of the requirements, noted by Blatov for checking the correctness of the balance, are subjective and cast doubt on the possibility of drawing up the correct balance sheet. Blatov is one of the first authors who presented algorithms for balance analysis techniques and formalized analytical procedures, calling it «economic analysis». These methods remain relevant. The calculation of turnover and liquidity indicators proposed by the author may complement the methods of modern practice. An assumption was made about the relevance of using knowledge of the balance studies in modern conditions. Based on the study of Blatov’s works, it can be concluded that to a greater extent it is advisable to internal rather than external users to apply his ideas for the enterprise analysis.
Assessment of the impact of external factors on the business model of public catering enterprises
Authors: Niroda I. V. , Anisimov A. Yu.
Published: April 2024

The transformation of traditional business models of public catering enterprises into their innovative version occurs under the influence of a certain set of external factors. The assessment, both negative and positive, of the influence of external factors should be carried out according to adapted methods suitable for the situation and the chosen industry. At the moment, a set of external factors that have a significant impact on the formation of successful business models remains insufficiently studied. The need for research is also due to the lack of a system of factors that must be taken into account when forming an adaptive business model for public catering enterprises. The purpose of the study is to form a system of factors that have a significant impact on the public catering sector, and to assess the nature of the influence of each factor on the activities of public catering enterprises. The research methods are: comparative analysis, statistical analysis, benchmarking, classification and ranking, Churchman – Akoff method, PEST-analysis. The result of the study is a developed system of factors that have a significant impact on the catering industry, and an assessment of the nature of the influence of each factor, as well as identified industry risks and identified strategies for responding to them. The authors conclude that the most significant factors influencing the formation of a successful business model in the field of public catering are: the sanctions imposed against Russia by some countries; increased investment in catering projects; increasing the importance of higher education; technological improvements, the introduction of modern technologies in the catering infrastructure.
Neurociência e Novas Tecnologias Aplicadas ao Ensino de Línguas
Authors: Montiel Aline , Frontino de Medeiros Luciano
Published: April 2024

Introdução.  Estudos em neurociência elucidam os mecanismos envolvidos na aprendizagem, os quais são de grande ajuda ao professor. Objetivo.  Levantar as descobertas científicas que promovam um diálogo entre a neurociência cognitiva aplicada à educação, as novas tecnologias da informação e comunicação e o ensino de línguas na busca de pontos de intersecção. Método. Pesquisa Revisão Sistemática de Literatura. Resultados. Percebeu-se que, no contexto atual, não se pode prescindir da tecnologia em sala de aula, pois elas se fazem presente no dia a dia dos alunos, o que afastaria ainda mais a escola de suas realidades. Além disso, as tecnologias são capazes de instrumentalizar estratégias neurocientíficas, otimizando o processo de aprendizagem, sobretudo no que concerne o ensino de línguas. Conclusão. Fica evidente a necessidade de o professor ter conhecimento sobre o funcionamento cerebral a fim de oferecer ferramentas eficazes para contribuir no desenvolvimento cognitivo de seus alunos.
The Medication Therapies and Existing COVID-19 Vaccines, the Nature of Manufacture, and the Degree of Immunity
Authors: Eslami Farsani Mohsen , Heidari Fatemeh , Ababzadeh Shima , Seyedebrahimi Reihaneh
Published: April 2024

The globe is currently dealing with one of the worst epidemics, SARS-CoV-2. The various drugs can treat the clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, and combination therapies may be more effective than monotherapy. This study discussed various COVID-19 subtypes, pharmaceutical effectiveness, the advantages and disadvantages of medications, and mortality rates in various countries. The drugs were reviewed as well. The macrolides family can produce anti-inflammatory cytokines against COVID-19, but they may cause side effects such as bacterial resistance. Although anti-malarial drugs may inhibit the entrance of the virus into cells, they are not a common medicine in COVID-19 treatment. The simultaneous consumption of corticosteroids with other drugs can be beneficial for high-intensity patients. In addition, remdesivir may be effective in severe cases of the disease. However, the administration of several drugs can be more effective compared to a single drug. Although pharmacological combinations can be effective in treating SARS-CoV-2, vaccines are considered to be the most successful approach for reducing COVID-19. Pfizer/ BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are based on the mRNA of viruses and provide an efficiency of about 95%. Sputnik V was prepared by two replication-incompetent adenovirus vectors. The AstraZeneca–Oxford vaccine was prepared based on viral vectors, and its efficacy has a variable range of 62%–90%. The vaccines based on an inactivated virus provided innate immunity in the body. Soberana 2 is a recombinant vaccine. Generally, all vaccines may have positive effects on the prevention of COVID-19, but further clinical trials are necessary. These findings suggest each available vaccine is advised for protection against COVID-19.
Total Antioxidant Capacity, Lipid Peroxidation, and Erythrocyte Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Subjects with Obesity: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Hamedi-Shahraki Soudabeh , Khademolhosseini Reza , Amirkhizi Farshad
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Considering that the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years, one of the key targets of public health is obesity and its associated pathological conditions. Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress (OS) may be the mechanistic link between obesity and the development of metabolic and vascular diseases related to obesity. In this study, it was hypothesized that obesity would be associated with lipid peroxidation (LP) and antioxidant enzyme activities in erythrocytes. Methods: In this case-control study, 80 subjects with obesity and 80 age- and gender-matched subjects with normal weight were selected from the health centers affiliated with Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. General information was gathered from each participant using questionnaires. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) activities underwent assessment. Results: The study sample consisted of 160 obese adults (42.5% males and 57.5% females, with a mean age of 41.0±7.6 years). Serum MDA levels (P=0.016) and erythrocyte SOD activity (P=0.013) were significantly higher in subjects with obesity compared to non-obese controls. Moreover, subjects with obesity had significantly lower serum TAC (P=0.008) in comparison to the controls. There were no significant differences in erythrocyte GPX and CAT activities between subjects with obesity and non-obese controls. Significant positive correlations were observed between body mass index (BMI) and serum MDA levels (r=-0.461, P<0.001) and erythrocyte SOD activity (r=-0.442, P=0.002). Furthermore, a significant inverse correlation was found between BMI and serum TAC levels (r=-0.426, P=0.008). Conclusion: The present findings provide further evidence suggesting that obesity leads to substantial LP and OS, which, in turn, may contribute to the development of obesity-related diseases.
The Influences of Chrysin on Stress-Induced Changes of Melanin-Concentrating Hormone and Orexin Gene Expression in Rats
Authors: Haghighat Khadijeh , Mahmoudi Fariba , Khazali Homayoun
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Chrysin is a bioactive component of herbal medicines such as Passiflora incarnate, Passiflora caerulea, and Oroxylum indicum. Although evidence has demonstrated the neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving effects of chrysin, the intra-hypothalamic molecular mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic effects of chrysin are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of chrysin on hypothalamic orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) gene expression in a rat model of stress. Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats (200±10 g) were segregated into four groups (n=5). For the induction of stress, the animals were placed in the restraint cage for 2 hours. The intact and stressed groups received saline. Thirty minutes before the induction of stress, chrysin was injected into the other two groups of the stress model at a dosage of 20 or 40 µg via the third cerebral ventricle. Hypothalamic samples were removed and frozen, and the relative gene expression of orexin and MCH was measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: The induction of stress significantly increased mRNA levels of orexin and MCH compared to the control rats. The mRNA levels of MCH and orexin significantly declined in rats receiving chrysin compared to the stress group. Conclusion: The inhibition of the hypothalamic MCH and orexin neuronal circuits may be involved in the preventive effects of chrysin against stressful situations. Chrysin may be a potential target to manage anxiogenic behaviors due to the down-regulation of MCH and orexin gene expression upstream the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone.
Mapping and Characterization of Physical-Natural Units in the Municipality of Massapê - Ceará, Brazil
Authors: Alves Vanessa Campos , Sobrinho José Falcão , Diniz Simone Ferreira , Carvalho Bruna Lima , de Sousa Rejane Maria Lima , Fernandes Nayane
Published: April 2024

The research "Mapping and Characterization of the Physical-Natural Units of the Municipality of Massapê, Ceará" aims to shed light on the geographical and environmental richness of the backcountry region of northeastern Brazil, exploring the complexity of the northeastern hinterland. In this way, it covers the mapping of physical-natural units in the municipality of Massapê, in the state of Ceará, considering its importance for territorial planning and environmental management, the characterization of the nature of the municipality allows the understanding of the dynamics and interactions between the environment and the human activities, providing relevant data for preservation and sustainable development strategies. It is concluded that the research contributes significantly to the integrated understanding of the geographic space in question, providing valuable information for the reader's knowledge and for the preservation of its geodiversity and sustainable management of the region.
Formation, Clashes and Struggles of the Agrarian Extractive and Socio-Environmental Frontiers in the Southwest of Pará
Authors: Domingues Gabriel M. , Sauer Sérgio
Published: April 2024

This work proposes to investigate the historical process of formation of the territory, the main actors, the adopted strategies and the clashes between the agrarian extractive frontier and the socio-environmental frontier in the Southwest of Pará. To carry out this work, technical materials were analyzed, such as studies, research and surveys, as well as journalistic articles produced about the region of Southwest Paraense in recent years. As a result of the research, it is observed the formation in the region of a mosaic of protected areas, possible thanks to the coalition of socio-environmentalist movements. There was, however, an agroextractive counter-offensive in the region, based on environmental, agrarian and indigenist deregulation and the dismantling of federal inspection bodies that led to an acceleration of the advance of all the fronts that make up the agrarian extractive frontier.
Enhancement of Sensory Quality, Nutritional and Health Benefits of Complementary Baby Food through 2–6μm mid-Infrared Irradiation
Authors: T Umakanthan , Mathi Madhu , U Umadevi
Published: April 2024

Complementary foods are provided to infants when the amount of breast milk produced by the mother is insufficient. Numerous baby foods are available in the market worldwide but their quality is questionable. Therefore, we used our recently invented 2–6μm mid-infrared generating atomizer (MIRGA) on various brands of complementary baby foods to safely enhance their quality in terms of nutrition and sensory attributes. The effects of mid-IR irradiation on baby food included compound transformation, changes in the protein concentration, changes in the chemical bond, and changes in the nanoparticle morphology. The matrix structure and sensory attributes and other benefits were analyzed and validated with various tests and are presented here.
EKSPRESI KREATIF FRAMEWORK: MENGGABUNGKAN MENGGAMBAR DAN BIOLOGI DALAM PEMBELAJARAN SD
Authors: Sidhartatik Dwi , Aliwafa Aliwafa
Published: April 2024

Pendidikan anak sekolah dasar (SD) membutuhkan pendekatan yang inovatif dan holistik untuk memastikan pembelajaran yang konstruktivistik dan bermakna. Dalam paper ini, kami memperkenalkan kerangka konseptual "Ekspresi Kreatif" yang menggabungkan konsep menggambar dan biologi dalam pembelajaran anak SD. Pendekatan ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan keterampilan berpikir visual, pemahaman konsep biologi yang lebih dalam, serta keterampilan sosial melalui kegiatan terintegrasi yang merangkul seni dan ilmu pengetahuan. Dalam "Ekspresi Kreatif", anak-anak dihadapkan pada kegiatan menggambar organisme dan konsep-konsep biologi. Melalui menggambar, mereka dapat memvisualisasikan struktur tubuh, fitur khusus, dan interaksi organisme dengan lingkungan. Konsep biologi yang relevan dengan kehidupan sehari-hari mereka disajikan dalam bahasa yang mudah dipahami. Setelah kegiatan menggambar, sesi refleksi dan diskusi dilakukan untuk mendalamkan pemahaman anak-anak. Namun, ada beberapa potensi penelitian di masa depan yang perlu dieksplorasi untuk memperluas pemahaman tentang framework ini. Penelitian yang lebih mendalam tentang efektivitas pendekatan "Ekspresi Kreatif" dalam meningkatkan pemahaman konsep biologi, peran guru dalam implementasi, dan pengaruh jangka panjang terhadap minat dan keberlanjutan pemahaman konsep biologi anak-anak SD dapat memberikan wawasan yang berharga.Kata kunci : framework, menggambar, biologi, ekspresi, kreatif
HAKIKAT SAINS (NATURE OF SCIENCE) DAN PERAN PENTINGNYA DALAM PEMBELAJARAN IPA
Authors: Listiani Listiani
Published: April 2024

Hakikat sains atau NOS memiliki peran penting dalam pembelajaran sains. Namun, NOS masih belum menjadi perhatian yang penting dalam kurikulum di Indonesia. Hal ini menyebabkan kurangnya pemahaman guru dan siswa terkait NOS. Sementara itu, penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dengan memahami NOS dapat memudahkan peserta didik untuk memahami sains dari segi konsep maupun konteks. Hal ini dikarenakan dengan NOS, sains disajikan sebagai sebuah proses pencarian informasi, bukan sebagai sebuah produk. Hal lain yang penting bagi pembelajaran IPA terkait NOS adalah aspekâ€“aspek yang terkandung di dalamnya. Aspekâ€“aspek NOS seperti tentativeness, subjectivity, observation dan inference menunjukkan bahwa sains adalah sebuah proses pencarian ilmu pengetahuan. Dengan memahami sains sebagai sebuah proses, peserta didik juga dapat terhindar dari miskonsepsi atau kesalahan dalam memahami konsepâ€“konsep sains. Oleh karena itu, penting untuk memahami tentang NOS dan mengimplementasikannya dalam pembelajaran sains.
Structural and optical properties of metal-organic frameworks of
lanthanides
Authors: Medina-Ambriz Alan Raúl
Published: April 2024

In this work, the synthesis of luminescent metal-organic
frameworks (LnMOF) was studied at room temperature
using different lanthanides ions as metal centers. LnMOFs
are materials that can emit light by absorbing energy from
other radiation and have been used mainly as sensors in
medicine, optics, electronics, and the chemical industry.
The synthesis was carried out by stirring at room
temperature and with a stoichiometry of 1:1, using
trimesic acid as an organic linker. Structural
characterization of these materials was carried out using
DRX, FT-IR, and SEM. Synthesis of isoreticular MOFs
with Eu, Tb, Dy, Nd, and Er with crystal sizes between 24-
64 nm was possible. Regarding the optical properties,
these were determined by photoluminescence
spectroscopy. The MOFs that presented intense emission
and excitation bands were those of Eu, Tb, and Dy, being
the most intense of Tb. With the results obtained, it is
possible to obtain 3D luminescent MOFs using a simple
and easy methodology, which does not involve highfrequency processes such as ultrasound or microwaves, or
post-synthesis procedures, which are very frequent and
considerably increase the synthesis time or the expense of
solvents for material washings but above all a high energy
consumption
Manufacturing cell reengineering for teaching Mechatronics Engineering
Authors: Cano-Corona Ariana
Published: April 2024

Next, the reengineering of a manufacturing cell is
presented, as a didactic intervention in the teaching of
Mechatronic Engineering, this redesign is proposed from
a previously proposed cell and in which a FANUC R2000iA/210F industrial robot is incorporated. And with
this modification to the cell, students are expected to
develop linkage projects with the industrial sector of the
State region. The results obtained by the teaching work
team are the reengineering, simulation and proposal of
educational intervention practices in which students
reinforce the expected skills during their professional
training and thus achieving the physical integration of the
teams, bringing future engineers to the real contexts of
professional development. The impact and relevance of
reengineering is based on the fact that the graduation
profile of mechatronics engineering establishes the
synergy of mechanical, electronic, control and automation
elements, to technologically improve companies in the
region.
Evaluation of perceived usability of an App for planning tourist destinations based on experiences
Authors: Hinojosa-Rodríguez Carlos Jesús
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate
the perceived usability of an App for planning tourist
destinations based on experiences, taking the Masiaca
community as a case study, which allows generating the
tourist and visitor profile appropriate to user preferences
and providing a space for interaction for service providers.
For this, a study with a quantitative approach was
developed, the design was non-experimental, of a
correlational type and transversal, the study subject was
tourists, visitors and service providers from the Masiaca
community, the study sample was non-probabilistic by
convenience, the technology acceptance model instrument
was applied to determine the level of perceived usability
of the App, later the data was collected and analyzed,
resulting in that the level of perceived usability of the App
was high and will be a tool which comes to strengthen the
way of using technology to transform the tourism sector,
currently considered one of the most relevant and growing
sectors for the countries, it will also promote the
development of communities and the opportunity to
display their cultural patrimony in the world.
Educational marketing for high schools
Authors: Lazcano-Cortés Gabriela
Published: April 2024

Educational marketing is a key tool for institutional
positioning and attracting new students in upper secondary
schools. In addition, it allows the offering of quality
services adapted to the educational needs of students and
potential applicants. The objective of this study was to
design an educational marketing plan for this educational
level, using a mixed research approach. Systematic,
empirical, and critical processes were applied, as well as
quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The data
collection instruments were addressed to the target
population, that is, third-grade students from seven
secondary schools in the city of Tulancingo, Hidalgo, and
their parents. Based on the results obtained, positioning,
loyalty, and attention strategies were proposed for the
applicants and the students of the campus where the
research was carried out. These strategies can be used by
other educational institutions of the same level.
Market research for internet sale ́s in the municipality of Landa de
Matamoros, Querétaro
Authors: Morado Huerta Ma. Guadalupe
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the study is to identify the characteristics
of market behavior in the context of Internet distribution
in the municipality of Landa de Matamoros, this, in order
to provide an overview that allows companies that wish
to enter the area to make decisions. and that also makes it
possible to make decisions about the business portfolio
that can be derived from the characteristics of the clients,
their levels of consumption and their loyalty to existing
brands.
Organizational diagnosis of an Industrial outsourcing company located in the State of Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Balderrabano-Briones Jazmín
Published: April 2024

Today's business world seeks to improve processes and
renew business plans to guarantee profitability over time
and permanence in the market. Strategic planning
processes make all important decisions, which requires a
systematic vision of the company and its environment to
increase competitiveness and productivity. In this sense,
organizational diagnosis is a specialized study that every
organization requires. It is mainly responsible for
evaluating the current strategic situation of the company,
its weaknesses reflected in its problems, as well as its
possibilities and scope, including its growth. The objective
of the research is to carry out a theoretical tour of the
organizational diagnosis, its components and how they are
developed, which must be systematically prepared and
that, by addressing all its factors, becomes a fundamental
strategy for achieving business purposes, avoiding
improvisations and ensuring the profitability, positioning
and competitiveness of the company.