bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilization of Manalagi Apple Pomace and Its Effect on Dietary Fibre, Texture and Sensory of Waffle Cone
Authors: Austin Michael , Matita Intan Cidarbulan , Soedirga Lucia Crysanthy
Published: July 2022

As food waste, apple pomace contains significant amount of dietary fibre that makes it a potential source of dietary fibre. In previous studies, partial substitution of wheat flour using apple pomace flour was done up to 30% due to problems in texture of the products. Since waffle cone shows originally hard texture compared to the previously studied bakery products, the present study expected that the partial substitution can be done beyond 30%. Utilization of local apple pomace, particularly Manalagi apple, as source of dietary fibre was performed to improve nutritional value of waffle cone. Collected pomace was dried at 50°C for 24 hours in a cabinet dryer. Afterwards, the dried pomace was ground with herb grinder and sieved using an 80-mesh sieve to obtain dried apple pomace powder. Objective of this study was to determine the total dietary fibre, hardness, friability as well as some organoleptic properties of waffle cones at 50 and 70 % partial substitution levels. Partial substitution at 50 and 70 % resulted in significant improvement of total dietary fibre at 13.55 and 14.59 %, respectively. Despite of hard and non-crispy texture, comparable sensory properties to the traditionally made waffle cone can still be achieved. Considering the total dietary fiber content, texture and sensory results, 70% partial substitution level is seen as the optimum level with panelists overall acceptance of ‘slightly like’.
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) made from Sidoarjo mud (Lusi mud)
Authors: Perdanawati Rizqi Abdi , Ekaputri Januarti Jaya , Triwulan  , Sawiji Asri , Noverma  , Setiawan Fajar
Published: July 2022

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) containing Sidoarjo Mud (Lusi) mud to utilize the mud.  Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) made from fine Artificial Lightweight Aggregate from Lusi mud and Fly Ash as a filler, sintered Lusi mud as the binder, aluminium powder as the foaming agent. Autoclaving process was conducted at 14 bars for 6 hours. AAC prepared in 3 (three) compositions, based on the variation of filler. The filler used in the research were sands (M-sand), fine ALWA made from Lusi mud (M-0), and fine ALWA made from Lusi mud mixed by fly ash (M-50). The workability of AAC investigated in this research was compressive strength of the AAC after 14 days, density, and X-Ray Diffraction. Experimental data showing that the compressive strength of AAC depends on the filler that is used, AAC classified at AAC-3 and AAC-4. The density of all the AAC can’t be classified as lightweight concrete. Experiment data showed the density occurs at 1148,0 kg/m3 to 1206,4 kg/m3. Chemical compounds of AAC with fine ALWA filler consisted of quartz, hematite, tobermorite, calcite, anorthite, magnetite, lime, and forsterite.
Analysis of the Influence of Social and Economic Factors on COVID-19 Cases with the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Method
Authors: Ferdinand Ferry Vincenttius , Virrienza Xenia , Margaretha Helena
Published: July 2022

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus which infects the human respiratory. On March 11, 2019, World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic because in less than three months it had infected more than 120,000 people in 123 countries from Asia, Europe, United States, to South Africa. This rapid growth of cases is caused by many factors. Therefore, the author wants to examine social and economic factors in 29 countries regarding the COVID-19 case. In this study, the author uses 122 variables; consisting of 107 variables from social factors and 15 variables from economic factors. Because the number of variables used was quite large, the author reduced the data using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Then, 15 main components are formed from the results of the application of PCA carried out on 122 variables. It will then be used to form a regression equation for the COVID-19 case which consists of the average new cases of COVID-19 per day, the rate of infected population COVID-19, the percentage of deaths caused by COVID-19, and the percentile of the new cases of COVID-19 per day.
Kernel Equations for a Modified Disability Income Insurance Model
Authors: Chandra Sylviani , Margaretha Helena , Gracianti Giovani
Published: July 2022

A disabled worker does not earn enough for a living. Disability income insurance is a long-term guarantee that provides supplementary income when a worker is disabled or dies. In the standard model for disability income insurance, people who recovered from a disability condition are assumed to return to the initial healthy condition (i.e., before being disabled). This assumption might not be realistic. In this paper, we present a modification of the standard disability income insurance model, in which the recovery state is separated from the initial healthy/active state. Disability benefit is given in terms of annuities while the policyholder is disabled. The annuities cease as he/she recovers and resume if he/she becomes disabled again. The death benefit is given if the policyholder dies. To make the model more realistic, we apply semi-Markov assumptions. In this assumption, the length of staying in a condition affects the probability of leaving that condition. We present the kernel equations for the model and take a case study using the US Social Security Administration data for workers born in 1996 with an age range of 20 to 62 years. We calculate the transition probabilities and premiums for some examples of insurance products.
Implications of Unisex Assumptions in the Analysis of Longevity for Insurance Portfolios in Indonesia
Authors: Linoto Josephine
Published: July 2022

Unisex pricing in insurance policies eliminates the use of gender as a rating factor, and it is increasingly implemented by insurance companies around the world during the last decade. Also known as “gender-neutral” pricing, unisex pricing ensures that insurance premiums for man and woman with the same risk characteristics is the same. This change in pricing method drives us to look into the mortality rate calculations as it is well known that the experience of mortality differs between men and women. This study focuses on longevity risks; therefore, it focuses on the mortality experience in the elderly. This study replicates “Implications of Unisex Assumptions in the Analysis of Longevity for Insurance Portfolios” written by Ornelas et al. using Indonesia’s population data. Five possible scenarios of gender proportion in a portfolio were created and analyzed on the effect of gender proportion on quantifying longevity risks. This study uses Weibull distribution and Value at Risk to quantify the longevity risks. This study found that longevity risk is larger when the number of female policyholders is increased in the gender proportion of a portfolio. Through the findings, we recommend an insurance company in Indonesia to calculate the gender proportion in a portfolio accurately, or they may face a large loss.
Introducing IQoro: A Clinically Effective Oral Neuromuscular Treatment for Dysphagia
Authors: Hägg Mary , R. Morris Natalie
Published: July 2022

There is a clear need for new advances in treating dysphagia; healthcare professionals currently have a restricted range of options to treat swallowing problems and related conditions. Usual treatments for dysphagia are based on compensatory measures which allow patients to live within the limitations of their condition. These measures do not address the underlying cause of dysphagia: neurological and physiological dysfunction. A senior speech and language therapist working with young people with Cerebral Palsy bemoans the fact that official care pathway guidelines list only medication and surgical intervention as alternatives to treat drooling. Neither of which, she contends, is effective or desirable. Esophageal dysphagia causes reflux-based diseases, which are also poorly served by current treatment alternatives and are currently managed by medication, or remedied by surgical intervention. Medication reduces the symptoms of reflux but does nothing to address the underlying pathophysiology, muscular dysfunction, at the root of the problem. That now changes with IQoro: a simple, innovative treatment that is available to patients and healthcare professionals to address all of the above conditions. The chapter explains the physiological and neurological process of the functional swallow in detail, with illustrations and explanations. The efficacy of IQoro treatment is proven with evidence from internationally published scientific studies, case studies, an NHS service evaluation, and NICE briefings.
Mechanical Resistance of a Superficially Treated Alloy Drill Pipe during Onshore Drilling
Authors: Belkacem Lallia
Published: July 2022

A theoretical study was conducted to investigate the limit depth reached by aluminum alloy drill pipes combined with steel pipes for deep well drilling in the Algerian country. Therefore, the present study is based on various parameters that have an impact on the fatigue behavior of these tubes, focusing particularly on the damage caused by the gravity of the dogleg in the crooked path in addition to their mechanical behavior, and determines the extent to which the aluminum drill pipe can drill without failures using well-engineering software modeling which provides the expected loads in the drilling and provides results more or less close to reality. This analysis indicates that the aluminum drill pipe has good fatigue resistance, despite the cumulative presence of axial and bending stress concentrations in the dogleg zones.
The Remodeling in Cancer Radiotherapy
Authors: Christian Chiricuta Ion
Published: July 2022

Remodeling is a new concept used to describe the effects of cancer cells properties to modify the extracellular microenvironment (ECM) to favor the proliferation, invasiveness, migration, and metastatic potential of the tumor. All these characteristics are determined by both the direct and indirect interactions of the cancer cells, with components of their microenvironment. The remodeling concept described in this chapter considers the changes produced by the local treatment alone, or in combination with systemic treatments on local advanced primary tumors or bone metastases (vertebral body or pelvic bones). The cases presented considered locally advanced cancer that disturbed the local anatomy at different levels as chest wall, the skin of the face, eye orbit, and vertebral or pelvic bones. Changes in the extracellular microenvironment, after the applied treatment, normalized all or only in special parts of the extracellular matrix, with a remodeling organ-specific process to the treated tumor bed. In some of these cases was reached a restitutio till to the most important component, the basal membrane. The four phases of the healing process of lesions produced by radiotherapy (the hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phase) and the possible changes at the level of ECM were here analyzed.
Processing of Graphene/Elastomer Nanocomposites: A Minireview
Authors: A. Sharaf Mohammed , Kloczkowski Andrzej
Published: July 2022

Since the isolation and identification of graphene, the academic and industrial communities are utilizing its superior properties. This minireview deals with the processing of graphene-based fillers/elastomer nanocomposites. The incorporation of graphene in an elastomeric matrices has significant effects on the properties of nanocomposites. The dispersion of graphene in elastomers is discussed. The processing of graphene/elastomer nanocomposites is discussed. The mechanical properties of the elastomeric matrix can be enhanced due to the presence of graphene. In this review and due to space limitations, we will present an example of improvements in the mechanical characteristics of graphene/styrene-butadiene (SBR) elastomer nanocomposites.
Necessity of Herbal Medicine in the Management of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Sabarathinam Sarvesh , Chandra Satish Kumar Rajappan , Mahalingam Vijayakumar Thangavel
Published: July 2022

People are more susceptible to a variety of diseases based on their lifestyle and occupational patterns. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a worldwide health issue that is linked to a variety of risk factors, including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. Herbal medicine has been used for a long time. Herbal medicines have emerged as a significant source and major focus for future drug development and human health care. Botanicals may be useful for treating or preventing metabolic syndrome because they often have a wide range of biologically active compounds that can work together to boost each other’s effectiveness or have a synergistic effect, giving more benefit than a single chemical substance. Some extracts of botanicals frequently contain natural active components that act on multiple biological targets, creating an opportunity to concurrently resolve multiple defects associated with metabolic syndrome. To find out if botanicals can be used to treat metabolic syndrome as a group, trials must be stratified to look at differences in disease severity, age, gender, and genetic variation in the sample populations.
Simulation of a Mathematical Model of an Aircraft Using Parallel Techniques (MPI and GPU)
Authors: Kvasnica Peter
Published: July 2022

This chapter is focused on creation, accuracy, and simulation of two-parameter control of a mathematical model of motion of aircraft in a flying simulator. We are discussing many of the important advances in applied aircraft modeling. Modeling on various computer architectures (central, distributed, parallel) has an impact on a structure of a mathematical model of aircraft. An important part is the way of description of a numerical method and its accuracy, use of distributed memory system, and shared memory system are presented in the chapter. Motivation of this research is implementation of the general-purpose message passing interface and graphics processing units as inexpensive arithmetic-processing units bring a relevant amount of computing power to desktop personal computers. The chapter is focused on exploitation of parallel techniques of simulation features, computation time of parallel methods of implementation, and improved simulation of a continuous mathematical model of aircraft motion in a flying simulator. The use and application of modeling methods and parallel simulation techniques determine the structure of the mathematical model used in the flying simulator. The effectiveness of our solution is confirmed by providing simulation results obtained by two-parameter control of the mathematical model of aircraft motion.
Recent Pharmaceutical Developments in the Treatment of Cancer Using Nanosponges
Authors: Gore Kapil , Bhattacharya Sankha , Prajapati Bhupendra
Published: July 2022

Nanosponges are a class of nanoparticles characterized by their sponge-like surface that ensures high loading capacity. Cancer causes high mortality and requires precise treatment without harming the body. Hence, nanoparticles are required to target medications to tumor. Nanosponges may be synthesized from various polymers and metals, giving them distinct properties. The majority of polymer synthesis entails crosslinking, while metal synthesis entails the isolation of metal nanoparticles accompanied by their assembly into sponges. Nanosponges must be functionalized to precisely attack tumors. There are several patents on nanosponges synthesis and their use. Future trends in the usage of nanosponges include simultaneous distribution of several molecules and expanding the spectrum of use from medicinal delivery to substance encapsulation for a multitude of applications. As their usage in the pharmaceutical industry grows, more emphasis should be put on toxicity-related aspects induced by the near association of cell membrane and nanosponge resulting in intracellular dissolution or reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which in turn damages various cellular components. Many techniques have been created to reduce toxicity, including functionalization with various materials such as antioxidants, polymers and altering nanosponges composition. As the application of nanosponges increases in many industries, the phenomenon related to toxicity must be further explored through research.
Sex Differences in and Pharmacotherapy of Schizophrenia
Authors: Yasui-Furukori Norio , Yoshida Ryota , Shimoda Kazutaka
Published: July 2022

Schizophrenia is a common disorder with a prevalence rate of approximately 1%; its symptoms primarily of consist of positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive decline. Moreover, sex differences are present in schizophrenia. The age of onset differs between men and women, but other sex differences occur in the symptoms, severity, number of treatments, and suicide rates. Important sex differences in the treatment of schizophrenia include the use of antipsychotic pharmacokinetics, side effects such as metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, QT prolongation, and gonadal dysfunction, and safety during pregnancy and lactation. Sex differences in antipsychotic side effects have not been fully investigated, but some have been reported to be worse in women. This article outlines sex differences in pharmacokinetics, side effects such as metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, QT prolongation, gonadal dysfunction, and pregnancy and lactation, as well as the precautions for each antipsychotic.
COVID-19 Myths and Music Advocacy in Nigeria
Authors: Tade Oludayo
Published: July 2022

Myth mongering constitutes major impediment to the fight against COVID-19 and adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols in Nigeria. Against this background, this chapter analyses three COVID-19 advocacy songs to unpack how lyrics were used to neutralise myths and articulates adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols. To burst the myths that the COVID-19 is a disease of the rich and the aged, the lyrics indicated that the virus does not respect social status or spare any age group. The songs contributed to advocacy by preaching adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols to be safe and survive the ‘plague’. The paper stresses the importance of incorporating religious institutions, particularly music evangelists, in the fight against pandemics and other health crisis.
Esterification of propanoic acid in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst
Authors: Kastratović Vlatko , Radulović Milica , Kastratović Kristina
Published: July 2022

Esters are organic compounds that are widely used even on an industrial scale, so their production has been extensively investigated. The aim of this work is to carry out the optimization process of esterification of propionic acid with lower monohydric alcohols. The influence of the amount of catalyst (H2SO4), the size and structure of the alcohol, the influence of the a-substituent, the molar acid/alcohol ratio and temperature on the esterification process were investigated. The descending order of reactivity tested alcohol is: 1-butanol> 1-propanol> ethanol> 2-propanol. As the acid/alcohol molar ratio increases, the rate and yield of the esterification reaction increase. The maximum yield of n-propyl propanoate in our experiments was 96.9%, achieved at a molar ratio of propanoic acid/1-propanol/catalyst 1/10/0.20 and a temperature of 65°C for 210 minutes of reaction.
Undercover investigator in specific countries of the European continental legal system
Authors: Filipović Nemanja , Koprivica Anja
Published: July 2022

Elaborate mechanisms of a criminal activity, a high level of secrecy, a hierarchical structure and diversification of tasks among the members of the organized criminal group, make it a complex phenomenon. Due to its specificity, uncovering the crimes and perpetrators of the organized crime requires the use of special methods and techniques. One of them is a special evidentiary action, the deployment of an undercover investigator, which is used to obtain evidence and information necessary for uncovering criminal acts, as well as the organized criminal groups. The purpose of this paper is to present the specific characteristics of this special evidentiary action in certain countries of the European continental legal system, where the covered questions are, when, in what way, and under what conditions a certain person can act as an undercover investigator.
Public service broadcasting in Serbia: Challenges and perspectives from the professionals' point of view
Authors: Krminac Ljubica
Published: July 2022

This paper presents the results of a part of research into the manner in which the employees of the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation (hereinafter: the SBC) see and understand their social roles, functionality and idiosyncrasies of this media company, as public service broadcasting (hereinafter: PSB). This paper is focused on operational-level editors at the SBC and their perception of the functions and principles of PSB, as well as the implementation of such roles and principles through various forms of programming content. Empirical research, conducted by means of the focus group method, has shown that editors play a significant role in creating content and that they are fully aware of the roles of PSB. However, they are not entirely familiar with its principles. The research has demonstrated a significant discrepancy between the official editorial policies of the SBC and the views of respondents-editors regarding editorial policies of PSB.
Between the judiciary and advocacy: Professional preferences of law students in Serbia
Authors: Đorđević Mila
Published: July 2022

In this paper, the author will present the issue of professional preferences of law students, with a special emphasis on the preferences towards the judiciary and the advocacy as professions. The first part of the paper presents the most important legal professions in Serbia, while the second part of the text presents the results of quantitative research conducted at the Faculty of Law, the University of Belgrade. In the concluding discussion, the author will try to systematize the obtained results and give an explanation for them by presenting the motives that students are guided by when choosing a future profession and by comparing working conditions in the judicial and attorney professions.
Practical application of the tourism carrying capacity concept in cultural tourism: Example of the Maritime Museum of Montenegro
Authors: Petronijević Aleksandra
Published: July 2022

Until 2019, the picturesque nature, interesting geographical position and rich cultural heritage of Kotor kept attracting many visitors, result inginan increasing number of visits to the Old Town and Maritime Museum of Montenegro, situated in Kotor. Currently (2020), the global pandemic brought everything to a halt, but once tourism starts recovering again the issue of sustainable management of tourism flows and use of cultural resources in Kotor will inevitably arise again. Since the Maritime Museum is included among the most popular visiting points in Kotor, this research aims to assess its real carrying capacity in order to compare the results to the official visitor statistics and determine whether the Museum, once the noble captain family Grgurina's home, with its valuable collections is exposed to high tourism pressure. The results indicated that the Maritime Museum, together with its valuable collections, was not subject to overconsumption or "overtourism", since the total number of realized visits in general ,and visits by tourists organized in guided groups during 2019 was below the Museum's real carrying capacity. This paper builds on existing knowledge about the tourism carrying capacity in cultural tourism in Montenegro, suggests and elaborates concrete and replicable calculation methods, and offers useful data for sustainable management and strategic planning of visitor flows in cultural institutions situated at heritage sites.
Developing ecological indicators of sustainable tourism in new protected areas: A case study of saline steppe and forest steppehabitats in Serbia
Authors: Stojanović Vladimir , Delić Jadranka , Perić Ranko , Dunjić Jelena , Obradović Sanja
Published: July 2022

This paper is one of the results of three years research (2016-2019) of specific habitats of salinesteppes and forest steppes along the Mostonga River, in the northern part of Serbia (Autonomous Province of Vojvodina), with the aim of their valorization and protection in the future. Here is also situated a natural areain the process of protection known as "Middle Mostonga".An integral part of protection declaration procedure is the creation of so-called "Protection study", as a basic document for the planning of protection guidelines for certain natural areas, buttt also includes tourism development analysis. Therefore, the working group, composed of representatives of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province in Novi Sad and the University of Novi Sad (Faculty of Sciences - Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management), examined the opportunities for ecotourism development in the area of "Middle Mostonga". The main objective of this article is to forthwith frame the possibility for consistent application of sustainable development goals in the future protected area "Middle Mostonga" and its surroundings by setting a scheme of indicators of sustainable tourism. Total of 160 indicators were analyzed by the team of the experts in the field relying mostly on BACI design of ecological indicators of sustainable tourism. Five main steps in identification of the relevant indicators were defined. The results showed that it is possible to apply indicators related to the number of protected species, the number of individuals (units) within populations and habitat endangerment, as well as indicators that reflect the interest of the tourism industry for the development of tourism in this particular area.
Crack initiation and growth in welded joint of steel for operation at elevated temperature
Authors: Burzić Zijah , Perković Srđa , Lisov Miodrag , Grabulov Vencislav , Burzić Meri
Published: July 2022

In a paper given, experimental investigations have included the analysis of crack initiation and growth in welded joint of steel for operation at elevated temperatures. For better understanding of the phenomenon of crack initiation and propagation in welded joints of A-204 Gr. A steel, designed for high-temperature and high-pressure application, it is necessary to determine the effect of heterogeneity of microstructural and mechanical properties on fracture toughness and fatigue crack initiation and propagation in welded components. Based on the tests conducted with pre-cracked CT and Charpy size specimens, the effect of heterogeneity of microstructural and mechanical properties of welded joints on fracture toughness and fatigue-crack growth parameters was determined.
Long-Term Relationships Between Mathematics Instructional Time During Teacher Preparation and Specialized Content Knowledge
Authors: Corven Julien , DiNapoli Joseph , Willoughby Laura , Hiebert James
Published: July 2022

We investigated how the time elementary preservice teachers (PSTs) spent studying certain mathematics topics during teacher education coursework was related to performance on teaching-related tasks administered after graduation. In two studies, participants completed tasks assessing their specialized content knowledge (SCK) for teaching 12 mathematical topics addressed to varying degrees in the preparation program. We found that instructional time was positively associated with SCK demonstrated both immediately postgraduation and 2 years later. Several possible confounding factors were assessed; one, entering PSTs’ average SCK for topics, appeared to influence the relationship. Accounting for professional learning postgraduation, such as attending professional development, did not change the underlying relationship. Considering these findings, we identify policy implications for the mathematics curriculum of PST education.
Only for Multilingual Students at Risk? Cluster-Randomized Trial on Language-Responsive Mathematics Instruction
Authors: Prediger Susanne , Erath Kirstin , Weinert Henrike , Quabeck Kim
Published: July 2022

Empirical evidence exists that enhancing students’ language can promote the mathematics learning of multilingual students at risk, whereas other target groups (e.g., monolingual students, successful students, both with diverse academic language proficiency) have hardly been considered. This cluster-randomized controlled trial (N = 589) investigates differential effects for these extended target groups, comparing two language-responsive interventions (with or without vocabulary work) and a control group. The regression analysis reveals that all students significantly deepened their conceptual understanding in both interventions. Unlike what was anticipated, multilingual students’ growth of conceptual understanding had no significant additional benefit from integrated vocabulary work. These findings call for promoting language-responsive mathematics instruction for all students and for using a discursive rather than a vocabulary focus.
Escapar de la pérdida. Dilemas morales alrededor de la familia en Life is Strange 2
Authors: Porta-Pérez Alberto
Published: July 2022

Esta investigación parte de la hipótesis de que ciertas aventuras narrativas buscan implicar al jugador en un debate –tanto interno como con el juego– sobre cuestiones morales y éticas de nuestra sociedad actual, con el fin de contribuir a la construcción de su propio juicio. Para llevar a cabo el estudio, contemplamos y analizamos cómo diferentes dilemas morales se aplican en el videojuego por medio de la ludonarrativa, concretamente a través de las mecánicas y del diseño narrativo. Como caso de estudio utilizamos Life Is Strange 2 (Dontnod 2018), por tratarse de una obra cuyo eje ludonarrativo se basa en un diseño de ramificaciones que invita al jugador a la reflexión y que lo recompensa o penaliza según su comportamiento en el mundo ludoficcional. Para su análisis nos acogemos a una metodología multidisciplinar que aúna la filosofía y los estudios de juego, y nos apoyamos en herramientas para el análisis textual y ludonarrativo. En los resultados observamos que las decisiones difíciles que toma el jugador se ven afectadas por la educación del hermano menor y limitan la actuación bajo un contexto de tragedia. Los dilemas morales alrededor de la familia se dejan entrever en las mecánicas significantes que afectan al comportamiento del hermano menor –constituido por dos valores: moralidad y hermandad– y a la experiencia del jugador que está continuamente cuestionando sus propios valores morales y éticos para ser capaz de afrontar el relato videolúdico.
A case report of small-plaque parapsoriasis
Authors: Borowska Katarzyna , Zoń Bartłomiej , Faryna Jan
Published: July 2022

Small-Plaque Parapsoriasis (SPP) is a relatively rare, chronic, idiopathic dermatosis, most often seen in middle age people. This disease shows a definite male predominance of approximately 3-4: 1. It is characterized by the presence of round or oval erythematous, slightly scaly plaques on the limbs and trunk. The plaques are usually asymptomatic. The etiology of parapsoriasis is still unknown. This report describes the case of a 64-year-old man with SPP. Histopathologic examination of the skin specimen was compatible with clinical diagnosis.
Exploring regulatory obstacles to the development of short food supply chains: empirical evidence from selected european countries
Authors: Živković Lazar , Pešić Mirjana , Schebesta Hanna , Nedović Viktor A.
Published: July 2022

This paper explores the challenges in meeting the regulatory requirements of short food supply chains in 9 European countries based upon findings from the European H2020 3-year project "SMARTCHAIN". The assessments of the barriers that small food producers face in meeting different regulatory requirements are presented. Drawing on the results of 10 multi-actor workshops that involved 124 participants, the most problematic policy frameworks for short food supply chains and key obstacles in different regulatory requirements are summarized. This research shows that current EU and national regulation is an obstacle to the development of short food supply chains, meaning that additional efforts are needed to tailor the regulations to small food producers involved in short supply chains. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the introduction of more effective support measures for short food supply chains.
Understanding social innovation in short food supply chains: an exploratory analysis
Authors: Petropoulou Eugenia , Benos Theo , Theodorakopoulou Irini , Iliopoulos Constantine , Castellini Alessandra , Xhakollari Vilma , Canavari Maurizio , Antonelli Annarita , Petruzzella Damiano
Published: July 2022

Short food supply chains (SFSCs) are alternative food chains that have gained ground and contribute to the global food system's sustainable transition. To explore how to enhance their capacity to act and benefit society at large, we turned to scholarly and policy work on Social Innovation (SI). We concentrated on understanding what SI in SFSCs is and how it may stimulate their potential, following a two-phase approach. In Phase 1, employing a two-step systematic literature review, we generated a rich database of SI definitions, but no suitable definition was found. We proceeded to craft a domain-specific systems-centred definition, positing that SFSCs can be seen as social living systems, while SIs in SFSCs may be seen as processes that bring about change (e.g., new mentalities) and result in the creation of sustainable value for the actors involved and beyond. With the aid of an additional scholarly review, we also determined that the drivers of SI that matter are those that secure actor engagement in the co-design and co-development stages of SI (e.g., training). In Phase 2, we attempted to empirically validate the findings from Phase 1 in 12 Community of Practice (CoP) events in nine European countries. We found partial support for the SI definition, strong support for the vital role of trust, and concluded that, in any SFSC, it is critical to have a group of dedicated actors that have realized their role as (co-)leaders in co-shaping their own future.
Suppression of non-Hermitian skin effect via Aharonov-Bohm cage
Authors: Chen Shu-Yue , Jiang Chuang , Ke Shao-Lin , Wang Bing , Lu Pei-Xiang ,   School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China,   Hubei Key Laboratory of Optical Information and Pattern Recognition, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
Published: July 2022

The application of energy band theory in optics provides an effective approach to modulating the flow of light. The recent discovery of non-Hermitian skin effect promotes the development of traditional energy band theory, which further enables an alternative way to realize light localization and unidirectional propagation. However, how to effectively generate and steer the non-Hermitian skin effect is still an important topic, especially in integrated optical systems. Here, we investigate the non-Hermitian skin effect in quasi-one-dimensional rhombic optical lattice with synthetic gauge potential. By calculating the eigenenergy spectra, spectral winding number, and wave dynamics, the gauge potential can be utilized to effectively tune the localization strength of skin modes. In particular, the skin effect is completely suppressed when the gauge potential in each plaquette is equal to π, while the flat-band localization caused by Aharonov-Bohm caging effect is dominant. By utilizing the indirectly coupled micro ring resonator array, the gauge potential and asymmetric coupling can be generated at the same time, which provides a potential experimental scheme to explore the competition between Aharonov-Bohm cage and skin effect. The present study provides an alternative way to steer the skin effect, which offers an approach to achieving the on-chip non-magnetic unidirectional optical devices.
Analysis of microRNA expression profiles in exosomes derived from acute myeloid leukemia by p62 knockdown and effect on angiogenesis
Authors: Li Chuan , Long Xinyi , Liang Peiqi , Liu Zhuogang , Wang Chen , Hu Rong
Published: July 2022

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of p62 on angiogenesis and microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exosomes.

Methods

An Exiqon v19.0 microRNA MicroArray was used to profile miRNAs in exosomes derived from parental and p62-knockdown U937 cells. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were used to predict the biological functions and potential mechanisms of differentially expressed miRNAs in AML exosomes. Endothelial cell tube formation assays using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were performed to investigate the effect of AML exosomes on angiogenesis.

Results

We demonstrated that 2,080 miRNAs were expressed in exosomes derived from our cultured cell samples, of which 215 and 208 miRNAs were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in p62-knockdown U937 cells (fold change ≥ 2, P < 0.05). GO analysis indicated that miRNAs were most enriched in the intercellular pathways. Biological process analysis revealed that 1460 biological processes were associated with downregulated transcripts, including 19 pathways related to vesicles, and 1,515 pathways were upregulated, including 8 pathways related to vesicles. Molecular function analysis indicated that protein binding, transcription regulator activity, and DNA-binding transcription factor activity were enriched (P < 0.05). Pathway analysis indicated that 84 pathways corresponded to upregulated transcripts, and 55 pathways corresponded to downregulated transcripts (P < 0.05). We also found that exosomes derived from U937 cells promoted angiogenesis in HUVECs.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that exosomal miRNAs may play important roles in the pathogenesis of AML, which may be treated by p62 knockdown with exosomal miRNAs to inhibit angiogenesis.
Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery with Bilateral Internal Mammary Arteries in Left Main Coronary Artery Disease. Is There Any Benefit in 10-Year Mortality?
Authors: Espinoza Juan , Piccinini Fernando , Vrancic Mariano , Camporrotondo Mariano , Navia Daniel
Published: July 2022

Background: The randomized controlled trials comparing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery versus percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) included all types of surgical techniques (on-pump and off-pump) and different conduits (arterial and venous). Is it reasonable to assume that all surgical techniques are equal in terms of late mortality? Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether off-pump CABG surgery using both mammary arteries provides additional benefit over conventional revascularization using single mammary artery in terms of long-term survival for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational and comparative study (n=723) adjusted for risk. A stratified analysis was performed according to the use of single internal thoracic artery (SITA, n=144) or bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA, n=579) analyzing survival at 10 years after the intervention. Results: Survival at 10 years was significantly higher in BITA group (79.0%±3.4% vs 67.0%±4.9%, log-rank test, p <0.01). This advantage was also observed in the risk-adjusted analysis (93.0%±4.6 vs 69.0%±5.7 respectively, p=0.03). The use of BITA was an independent predictor of 10-year survival (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37-0.87, p=0.01). Conclusion: The use of bilateral internal mammary arteries in patients with left main coronary artery disease undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with higher survival at 10 years.
Attitudes and Clinical Practice in Heart Failure Among Physicians in Argentina
Authors: Burgos Lucrecia María , Coronel María Lorena , Thierer Jorge
Published: July 2022

Background: It is necessary to identify areas of improvement in the care of heart failure (HF) patients and thus implement educational interventions to optimize quality of care and their clinical outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes, knowledge, confidence and care pathways of patients with HF among physicians in Argentina. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered survey to evaluate clinical practice patterns, and attitudes/perceptions regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of HF patients in the outpatient and inpatient setting. The survey respondents were physicians from 22 centers in Argentina who participated in a comprehensive educational program for the care of HF patients carried out between March and July 2021. Results: A total of 50 physicians were surveyed; mean age was 41 ± 8 years and 86% were cardiologists. In patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, 24% of the respondents reporting starting with quadruple therapy; 88% chose beta-blockers, 72% dual angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, 48% mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and 34% sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. Fifty percent of the survey respondents answered that they do not reach quadruple therapy. Forty-four percent of physicians reported they felt very uncertain about the diagnosis of HF with preserved ejection fraction, and 46% considered relevant to evaluate the presence of anemia or iron deficiency Conclusion: There are knowledge gaps in the diagnosis and treatment of HF, especially in the diagnosis of HF with preserved ejection fraction, and in the indication of quadruple therapy. This highlights the need for implementing educational strategies that focus on knowledge, confidence, and care pathways.
Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTE-ACS) Patient Characteristics Admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of Hospital Provincial Neuquén
Authors: Villalba Leonardo M. , Parrello Victoria A. , Baez Lilian
Published: July 2022

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are part of the clinical presentation spectrum of coronary heart disease, and patients presenting with these syndromes constitute a heterogeneous population in which prognosis differs according to clinical and laboratory variables. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who were admitted to Hospital Provincial Neuquén (HPN) coronary care unit (CCU) from 2017 to 2019. Methods: This was an observational, retrospective, longitudinal and single-center study of patients hospitalized in HPN CCU between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2019. Data collected from the epicrisis and medical records were used. Six months after hospital discharge, a new contact was made to corroborate data on mortality after the event. Results: A total of 107 patients diagnosed with NSTE-ACS, with mean age of 62.2 ±-10.51 years (65.4% male gender) were included in the study. Among them, 45.8% were smokers and 46.7% had comorbidities, the most prevalent being hypertension (69.2%) and diabetes mellitus (36.4%). In 35.5% of cases, patients had a previous heart attack, 7.5% heart failure, 85% received anti-ischemic therapy, 35.5% vasodilator treatment, 70.1% required coronary angiography, 91.6% presented positive high-sensitivity troponin levels and 22.4% required coronary stent placement. The most frequent lesion corresponded to the anterior descending artery in 12.1% of patients. Conclusions: The most prevalent characteristics of patients with NSTE-ACS, as well as the clinical presentation and risk of in-hospital mortality, were similar to those reported by other centers
Proximate and Physicochemical Quality of Jelly Produced from Blends of Beetroot and Pineapple Juice
Authors: Adaora N. Nwosu, , Chinenye E. Azuka, , Chinedu E. Kalu,
Published: July 2022

Fruit Jelly was produced from beetroot and pineapple fruits as a value-added product for addressing their gluts during its peak season. The fruits were cleaned and their juices were blended using the following beetroot: pineapple ratio; 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, and 90:10. The fruit juice blends were then labeled I, R, O, H, and A, respectively, while the commercial jelly sample K, and beetroot jelly were used only as control. Proximate composition showed that the fruit jellies had a higher nutritional profile than the commercial jelly. The result revealed variation in moisture content (35.11 to 36.17%), Ash content (0.12 to 0.26 %), Carbohydrate content (61.22% to 63.74%), Energy value (257.26 KJ to 262.72 KJ) and protein content (0.88 to 1.77 %). The energy value (262.72 KJ) and carbohydrate content (63.74 %) of the commercial jelly were however significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in the beetroot - pineapple fruits jelly. The protein content of the jelly ranged from 1.52 to 1.76 %. Overall, increasing the blending ratio increased the fat, ash, protein, and moisture contents of the jellies. Besides, the jellies with the least amount of beetroot I (50 % beetroot and 50 % pineapple juice) had the highest carbohydrate content (62.69 %) thus providing the highest amount of energy 261.30 KJ. Physicochemical properties showed the following ranges total soluble solid content 63.84 to 64.89 °Brix, total sugar 43.23 to 43.94 %, reducing sugar 28.30 to 28.77 %, and non-reducing sugar 14.94 to 15.18 %. Titratable acidity and pH showed that an inverse relationship existed between them. The beetroot and pineapple jelly blends produced compared favourably with proximate composition and physicochemical properties of commercial jelly.
Islamic Financial Literacy, Concepts, and Indicators
Authors: Alsayigh Nameer Ameer Jasim , Al-Hayali Zainab Musaab Abdulsalam
Published: July 2022

The study aimed to diagnose the levels of Islamic Financial Literacy in the targeted sample by tackling the research problem which is formulated through the following question: "Does the members of the researched sample have financial literacy?" On this basis, the study hypothesized that "there are some (ignorance or deficiency) in the levels of Islamic financial literacy among individuals in the sample researched, and this limitation varies by age, gender, and educational level". A broad segment of the post-graduate students (Ph.D., Master's, and Higher Diploma) of the Faculty of Management and Economics at the University of Mosul represented the research sample. The study utilized a checklist test prepared and designed by the researchers electronically and the study used the method of content analysis and comparative analytical method to reach the results. The results indicated that the age and male gender are critical factors in excelling in the test of Islamic financial literacy. Based on the conclusions, the research recommended adding activities of the Islamic financial system and the methods it uses to allocate and direct funds to the college curriculum in an attempt to reduce the gaps identified by the study.