bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bread Wheat Variety Adaptation for Irrigated Farming Systems of Amhara Region
Authors:   Gondar Agricultural Research Center, TilahunTagele Melle
Published: December 2023

Twenty bread wheat varieties were evaluated with the objective of selecting adaptable and best performing bread wheat varieties for vertisol areas of North Gondar with the participation of farmers under irrigation condition. The trial was conducted at Dembia District of north western Ethiopia during 2011 and 2012 off seasons. Randomized complete block design was used in the two seasons. At Dembia, the combined analysis of variance over years indicated that varieties bobicho and shina gave relatively higher yield with (6223kg/ha) and (5422kg/ha) respectively. Dinknesh and KBG-01 were found to be the early to mature (124 days) whereas Digalu and Kubsa were the later type of all the varieties in both years. The spearman rank correlation analysis at both Districts showed statistically significant correlation (P<0.01) among farmers and breeders with objectively measured quantitative trait (grain yield). This result also indicated that farmers were as competent as breeders in varietal selection. Therefore, based on objectively measured traits (grain yield, days of maturity and yellow rust resistance) and farmers’ preference Bobicho and shina are recommended with their production packages for Dembia and similar areas which were under irrigation condition.
Performance of Three Epigeic Earthworm Species, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrie and Dendrobanae veneta, in Managing Rose and Carnation Wastes in some Selected Ethiopian Flower Farms
Authors:   Debre Berhan University, DEGEFE GEZAHEGN , TAMIRE GIRUM ,   Debre Berhan University
Published: December 2023

The horticulture sector in Ethiopia is being challenged by multifaceted hitches; among which managing excess wastes produced from the farms and minimizing the cost of inorganic fertilizers are the major ones. The performance of three epigeic earthworm species, Eisenia fetida, Eisenia andrie and Dendrobanae veneta, in managing flower (rose and carnation) wastes through vermicomposting was evaluated. The study was done using wastes collected from two flower farms, Dugda Flora (Debre Zeit) and Ethiopian Magical Farm (Legedadi). The wastes were pre-composted by mixing with cow dung and arranged in piles with 80 cm height and 1.5m width under different treatments. The worms were introduced into the piles when the temperature and moisture of the piles was lowered to a level suitable for the worms. The physico-chemical variables of the vermicompost and size reduction of the wastes were evaluated at the beginning, middle and at the end of the experiment. It took 3 months for all rose wastes to be converted into vermicompost, while it took 6 months for carnation wastes. Size reduction ranged (from 49.6 to 87.5%), total nitrogen (TN) (1.43 to 2.5%), available phosphorus (P2O5) (1879 to 2600ppm), Available Potassium (AV.K) (73.3 to 105.5 cmol(+)/kg), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) (12:1 to 28:1) for rose while TN ranged (1.6 to 2.3%), P2O5 (1867 to 2112 ppm), AV.K (73.3 to 103 cmol(+)/kg), C:N (14.4:1 to 25:1) for carnation during the same study period. There was no significant variation in terms of the quality of vermicompost produced by the worms and between the waste types; however, the process of vermicompost was delayed for carnation. There could be multifaceted reason for the delay but the recalcitrant nature of the plant seems to be the main reason. The overall results showed that all the three worms can be employed to manage both types of wastes.
Extrapolated refinement of generalized gauss- seidel scheme for solving system of linear equations
Authors:   Jimma University, SEBRO AMRACH , MULETA HAILU ,   Jimma University, GEBREGIORGIS SOLOMON ,   Jimma University
Published: December 2023

In this paper, Extrapolated Refinement of Generalized Gauss-Seidel scheme for solving system of linear equations has been presented. In order to accelerate the rate of convergence of the scheme, the one-parameter family of splitting procedure has been introduced and the convergence of the method is well established. To validate the proposed method, three numerical examples were considered. Comparisons were made among Refinement of Generalized Jacobi, Generalized Gauss-Seidel, Refinement of Generalized Gauss-Seidel and Extrapolated Refinement of Generalized Gauss-Seidel schemes with respect to the number of iterations to converge, computational running time and storage capacity. The numerical results presented in tables show that the Extrapolated Refinement of Generalized Gauss-Seidel scheme is more efficient than the other three schemes considered for comparison.
Extraction and characterization of aromatic essential oils for natural perfume formulation
Authors:   Debre Berhan University, Gisila Abebe Tilahun , Ayalew Abebe Amare ,   Debre Berhan University, Gashu Tadesse Minbale ,   Debre Berhan University, Begashawu Mandefro Samuel ,   Debre Berhan University
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study was to extract essential oils from selected medicinal and aromatic plant leaves and flowers for natural perfume formulation. Fragrant essential oils were extracted from Lavandula angustifolia (leaves and flowers) (1.30%), Cymbopogon martini (leaves) (1.04%), Rosmarinus officinalis (leaves) (0.91%), Cymbopogon nardus (leaves) (0.83%), Juniperus procera (fruit) (2.3 %), and Thymus schimperi (leaves) (1.17%) by using steam distillation, whereas resin was obtained from Boswellia papyrifera (5%) using Soxhlet extractor (hexane), both extractants were analyzed by GC-MS. Camphor (21.19%), α-Thujene (16.29%), endo-borneol (14.08%), β-pinene (9.22%) and α-pinene (7.07%) in L. angustifolia; geraniol (40.89%), β-Myrcene (9.34%), 2,4,6,octatriene,2,6-dimethyl (8.20%), β–ocimene (5.93%) in C. martini; α- pinene (38%), eucalyptol (27.76%), caryophyllene (7.37%) and bornanone (7.27%) in R. officinalis; α-pinene (85.68%) and α-Sabinene (13%) in J. procera; citronellal (38.21%), citronellol (23.16%) and 3-carene (14.26%) of C. nardus and Incensole (53.%) and Pulespenone (46.95%) from resins of B. papyrifera were found as major components. Local perfumes were formulated using different proportions of fragrance essential oils and ethyl alcohol as a solvent. The main chemical compounds that are found in fragrant essential oils such as linalool, geraniol, citronellol, α-pinene, β-pinene, citronellal and eucalyptol determined the perfume scent. The panelist hedonic test showed that the first chosen perfume containing, L. angustifolia as top note; C. martini as a middle note and B. papyrifera as a base note and the second one containing C. nardus as top note; R. officinalis as a middle note and B. papyrifera as base note. Generally, the selected essential oils could be used as a substitute for the production of natural perfume for Air freshener or body splash after further toxicological tests are performed on the product.
Effects of exotic plantation expansion and management intervention on woody plant species diversity, regeneration and soil seed bank in Tarmaber district, Ethiopia
Authors:   Amhara Agriculture Research Institute, Bekele Melese , Assefa Dessie ,   Bahir Dar University, Gebremariam Yohannis ,   Gondar University
Published: December 2023

This study was carried out to determine the effect of plantation forest with management intervention on woody plant species diversity in Tarmaber district north shewa zone Ethiopia, regeneration and soil seed bank species composition in five different forest types. A total of 75 circular sample plots of 314 m2 were established along a transect lines. Soil seed bank analysis was done from soil samples collected in each of the plots (225 samples). Different diversity index and ANOVA was used in SPSS software for analysis. The result showed that a total of 51 woody plant species was recorded in adjacent natural forest (41), managed C. lusitanica (27), not managed C. lusitanica (9), managed E. globules (22) and not managed E. globules (13) species. Regeneration of seedlings were 3538, 5567, 707, 1462 and 2524 mean stems ha-1 for natural forest, managed C. lusitanica, not managed C. lusitanica, managed E. globules and not managed E. globules respectively. Unmanaged C. lusitanica plantations had significantly lower densities of mature tree stems ha-1 as compared to managed C. lusitanica, managed E. globules and adjacent natural forest (F=14.03, p<0.05). Similarly in terms of sapling density ha-1 unmanaged C. lusitanica was significantly lower from other forest types (F=7.37, p <0.05). However managed C. lusitanica had significantly higher seedling regeneration (stem density ha-1) than other plantation and adjacent natural forests (F = 16.11, p < 0.05). Generally mean stem densities including tree, sapling and seedling of woody species among different forest types managed C. lusitanica was significantly higher among different forest types (F= 13.01, p<0.05). From the soil seed bank a total of 22 plant species (20 native and 2 exotic) species were recovered. In different forest types the number of species recorded was in adjacent natural forest (19), managed C. lusitanica (11), unmanaged C. lusitanica (4), managed E. globules (7) and unmanaged E. globules (5). Generally, with appropriate management intervention, undergrowth vegetation and soil seed bank status in plantation forest had good species composition and diversity.
Evaluation of Different Drying Techniques on Bombay Red Onion (Allium Cepa L) Basic Nutritional and Volatile Components
Authors:   Bahir Dar Food Science and Post-harvest Handling Research Center, Demissew Ayalew , Meresa Ayenew ,   Bahir Dar Food Science and Post-harvest Handling Research Center, Temesgen Kiber ,   Bahir Dar Food Science and Post-harvest Handling Research Center
Published: December 2023

In this study performance of three drying methods on basic nutritional and important volatile components of red onion were evaluated. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a strong-flavoring vegetable consumed in different ways, mainly due to its distinctive flavor or, simply pungency. It also has important natural compounds effective for medical functions such as inhibition of bone resorption, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This importance is directly related to a high content of organo-sulphur compounds. The shelf life of fresh onion bulbs are short enough about two weeks at ambient storage conditions in Fogera district, Amhara region, Ethiopia. This is mainly due to the presence of high moisture in fresh onion bulbs. Postharvest loss of onion bulbs also reaches up to 50% in the production season in Fogera district. Consequently, onion bulbs had extremely variable market price during production and off-season in the district, which directly influences both growers and consumers. The effects of different drying techniques on protein, carbohydrate, total sugar, fat, pyruvic acid, ascorbic acid, total phenol, total flavonoid, rehydration ratio, colour, and sensory properties of onion slice were evaluated and found insignificant at p > 0.05 for microwave and modified direct solar dryers, taking fresh onion bulbs as the control. However, oven drying methods had a significant effect on onion physicochemical quality attributes at p <0.05 as compared to fresh onion bulbs.
Síndrome Abléfaron Macrostomía: Reporte de un caso
Authors: Chavez Pastor Miguel , Zea A. , Córdova G. , Bambarén E.
Published: December 2023

Se describe, el caso de un neonato con cejas y párpados ausentes, opacidad de la córnea, telecanto, nistagmo, macrostomía, labios delgados, dientes neonatales, alas nasales hipoplásicas, nariz ancha, puente nasal deprimido, anomalías del hélix de la oreja izquierda, atriquia, ictiosis lamelar, piel laxa, pezones hipoplásicos, ambigüedad sexual y criptorquidia. Se catalogó el caso como Abléfaron-Macrostomía MIM 200110, el cual es un síndrome raro descrito en la literatura. Este es el primer caso reportado en el Perú. Hay otros síndromes parecidos como el Síndrome Abléfaron Ictiosis, Queratitis-Ictiosis-Sordera (KID) MIM 148210 y el Síndrome Barber Say MIM 209885.
Mahogany Sawdust Tannin as Ink Source
Authors: Villanueva Mary Jonie Oricio
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to produce ink from Mahogany sawdust tannin. Specifically, it sought to determine the physical properties of ink using different amounts of glycerol as mordant; the physical properties of ink using different amounts of glycerol in terms of color, odor, and pH; the acceptability of the ink in terms of color, odor, and absorptivity; the best proportion of raw materials in the production of ink; and whether a significant difference exists in the physical properties of the inks in terms of pH. The study used the developmental and descriptive method that involved the production of ink, observation, and testing of the aforementioned properties, as well as a survey of the acceptability of the ink.  One-way Analysis of Variance was used to determine whether significant difference exists in the pH of the inks produced using different amounts of glycerol. Findings of the study show that all three sample proportions were black, had a faint pleasant odor, and the pH values were consistent.  The ink from Mahogany sawdust tannin was acceptable in terms of color, odor, and absorptivity.  The best proportion of the raw materials in the production of ink is 10 milliliters tannin extract, 1 gram ferrous sulfate, 1 gram sodium chloride, 1 milliliter ethyl alcohol, and 3 milliliters glycerol.  It has a darker color compared to the other two proportions containing 1 mL and 2 mL of glycerol, respectively.  There is no significant difference in pH among the three ink samples containing different amounts of glycerol.  The ink produced from Mahogany sawdust has been found very highly acceptable.
Rice Hull Ceiling Board
Authors: Rufin Lalaine Garde
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this research study was to develop a Rice Hull Ceiling Board. The study focused on the design and fabrication of Rice Hull Ceiling Board; determine the appropriate proportion of raw materials; evaluate the quality of the rice hull ceiling board in terms of performance, reliability, usability, and durability; and determine the significant differences among different mixture proportions of materials. The study adapted the developmental and descriptive method. To evaluate the durability, laboratory tests were conducted on drop, flexural strength, thermal resistance and water absorption. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to gather the information on the quality and acceptability of the products among Architects, Civil Engineers and practitioners in the construction industry. One way and two-way ANOVA, t-test and the Means were used to analyze the data gathered. For the quality on performance, reliability and usability the product was rated as very satisfactory. As to the drop testing, flexural strength, and thermal resistance the product was rated as much accepted while a rating of accepted for water absorptivity.  As to the drop, flexural strength, thermal resistance and water absorptivity testing there were no significant differences on the different properties tested among the proportions of Rice Hull Ceiling Board. Based on these findings, Rice Hull Ceiling Board can be fabricated out of Plaster of Paris which is available in local hardware and rice hull which is abundant in Bacolod City and nearby cities and municipalities. Furthermore, the Rice Hull Ceiling Board possesses physical characteristics comparable to the existing ceiling boards, therefore can substitute the traditional ceiling boards.
Imperatives Evident in the EVP’s Special Message during the General Assembly and Alumni Homecoming of 2018
Authors: Asistido Randolf L. , Hermosura Wilfredo O.
Published: December 2023

This paper analyzed the imperatives found on the special message of the Executive Vice President (EVP) to the Alumni and Employees of STI West Negros University during the General Assembly and Alumni Homecoming at the University Gymnasium on February 17, 2018. After getting the informed consent, needed linguistic data in MP3 format were obtained from the University Alumni Foundation, transcribed into its written form, forwarded for review and validation to the EVP, and thereafter analyzed using Freeman and Murcia’s (2016) textbook entitled The Grammar Book: Form, Meaning and Use for English Language Teachers. Initial data analyses were subjected to research rigors involving three (3) language majors in reputable schools in Bacolod City. They reviewed accuracy of translation from L1 to L2, as well as the accuracy of the analyses and interpretation of data in response to those five (5) specific objectives. Final data analyses found declarative sentences, and not bare imperative sentences, as the most prevalent imperatives recording an enormous frequency of 62%. The same data provide evidence of offer/invitation and advice/suggestion as the dominant linguistic function, the prevalence of diffuse imperative illustrating requests/commands frequently addressed to everyone or anyone in attendance, the negligible occurrence of negative imperatives, and the use of “Please…” and the emphatic auxiliary do as a proven strategy of increasing politeness. These findings call attention on the need to review and possibly enrich the University’s existing ESL curricula by giving a balanced emphasis on the use of imperatives both in pure talk or institutional talk.
The Effects of Inquiry-based Approach on Pupils’ Performance and Motivation in Science
Authors: Tirol Bryan Fidel C. , Bastida Marjorie B.
Published: December 2023

This experimental study investigated the effects of Inquiry-based Approach on the performance and motivation in Science involving Grade 6 Pupils of Calatrava I Central School using the quasi-experimental research design. The 30 subjects of the control group were taught with Direct Instruction, and the 30 subjects of the experimental group were subjected to Inquiry-based Approach.  The research instruments utilized were: Test on Science Content Standards, Test on Science Performance Standards; and the questionnaire on Pupils' Level of Motivation before and after the experimentation.  The experiment was completed for five (5) weeks.  The pre-test scores of both control and experimental groups were similar, but there appears a marked difference between their post-test scores as the control group obtained a rating of “high” compared to “very high” on the part of the experimental group. These results highlight the existence of that significant difference between the levels of performance of the control and experimental groups in the post-tests on Science Content and Performance Standards; and between their levels of motivation after the experimentation.  In plain language, these results prove that the Inquiry-based Approach is more effective in improving the pupils' performance in Science Content and Performance Standards, and their motivation in Science compared to Direct Instruction. These results call for broadening the scope of this experimental research on other teaching strategies suitable in science courses or possibly extending its scope beyond the walls of Calatrava I Central School in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
Egalitarianism and sustainability at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Journal of Co-operative Studies,
Authors: Jacobs Stephen
Published: December 2023

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is situated in an old slate quarry just outside Machynlleth in mid-Wales, UK. It was founded in 1973 as an experiment in sustainable living. However, CAT was never just an experimental community, but is primarily an educational centre endeavouring to inspire people to respond to environmental issues. In 1974 CAT opened its doors to the public and began to offer short courses in topics such as renewable energy and organic gardening. In the first decades of CAT’s existence, collective decision-making and egalitarianism were considered core principles. In this short article I will address why consensus decision making was regarded as integral to CAT’s vision of an environmentally sustainable way of life and the challenges it faced in implementing an egalitarian organisation. This article is part of a larger project about the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), funded by the Leverhulme Trust. This research has now been published by Routledge: Sustainable Living at the Centre for Alternative Technology: Radical Ideas and Practical Solutions (Jacobs, 2023).
Drawing Order Diagrams Through Two-Dimension Extension
Authors: Dürrschnabel Dominik , Hanika Tom , Stumme Gerd
Published: December 2023

Ordinal real-world data such as concept hierarchies, ontologies, genealogies,
or task dependencies in scheduling often has the property to not only contain
pairwise comparable, but also incomparable elements.
Order diagrams
provide an important tool for understanding and thus discovering knowledge in
such data. Easily readable drawings of such order diagrams are
hard to come by, even for small ordered sets. Many attempts were made to
transfer classical graph drawing approaches to order diagrams. Although these
methods produce satisfying results for some ordered sets, they unfortunately
perform poorly in general. In this work, we present the novel algorithm
DimDraw to decompose an ordered set (e.g., a concept hierarchy) in
linear orders and to produce a corresponding order diagram. This algorithm is based on a
relation between the dimension of an ordered set and the bipartiteness of its transitive incompatibility graph. To evaluate the quality of the algorithm, a user study
was conducted where generated drawings were compared with ones from state-of-the-art drawing algorithms.
E-Learning: on the Issue of the Effectiveness of the Organization of the Educational Process at the University
Authors: Sleptsova Marina Viktorovna , Sleptsova Nadezhda Aleksandrovna
Published: December 2023

The subject of the study is a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of the educational process in the form of E-learning in relation to classical and distance forms of its organization on the example of the elective course "Physical Culture and Sports". The object of the study is a new form of organization of the educational process at the university - e-learning. The authors consider the features of the organization of the educational process in the form of E-learning: the setting of an individual educational goal by the student himself, its formalization by means of the virtual educational space of the university, the calculation of an individual educational trajectory and its practical implementation by "playing" the student given pedagogical situations. Special attention is paid to proving the practical feasibility in the educational process of the main provisions of the well-known pedagogical concepts of the organization of e-learning and obtaining quantitative data on the real effectiveness of the organization of the educational process in the form of E-learning. The novelty of the pedagogical experiment conducted by the authors lies in the fact that for the first time the elective course "Physical Culture and Sports" was fully implemented in the form of e-learning, which made it possible to obtain quantitative values of the parameters of the educational process (the time the student reaches an individual educational goal, the percentage of participants guaranteed to achieve the educational goal in relation to the total number of students, etc.), proving a higher efficiency of e-learning compared to the "classical" and "distance" forms. A number of negative factors have been identified that are not sufficiently covered in theoretical studies on E-learning, but have a serious impact on the effectiveness of the educational process in this form. The directions of improving the educational process in the form of E-learning for its implementation in educational institutions of various levels are determined.
SÜPREMATİZM ETKİLERİNİN ÜÇ BOYUTLU SERAMİK FORMLAR İLE MORFOLOJİK BİRLİKTELİĞİ
Authors: SERTKAYA Ferit Cihat , CANDURAN Kaan
Published: December 2023

20. yüzyılın başlarında, yeni düşüncelerin görüldüğü dönemde Rus Avangard sanatçı Kazimir Malevich’in öncülüğünde Süprematizm akımı ortaya çıkmıştır. Köklerini Kübizm ve Fütürizmden alan Süprematizm geometrik soyutlamalardan beslenmiştir. Temel geometrik şekillerin, yalın bir biçimde aktarılmasıyla ortaya konulduğu; ana felsefesinin doğadaki biçimlerin değil, geometrik temel şekillerin belli düzende bir araya getirilerek ifade edildiği anlayıştır. Morfoloji ise; şekil, yapı, renk, desen, boyut ve biçim konularını ele alan iç ve dış görünüşü farklı açılardan değerlendiren bilim dalıdır. Araştırma kapsamında Süprematizm’in dayandığı temel ilkeler, felsefi açıdan incelenerek Morfoloji bilim dalının sanatla ve Süprematizm’le olan birlikteliği kolektif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, üç boyutlu artistik seramik formlara yansımaları yorumlanarak, Süprematizm akımındaki geometrik biçimlerin, çağdaş dille seramik sanatına nasıl yansıdığı, Morfolojiyle etkileşiminin ne şekilde olduğu hakkında araştırma yapılmıştır. Uygulama sürecinde her iki başlık altında toplanan ifade dilinin ortaya çıkardığı disiplinler arası birliktelik; seramik sanatı özelinde estetik ve sanatsal kaygı ile şekillendirilen çağdaş yorumlar açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Süprematizm’in kaderini değiştiren ve akımın başlamasında Siyah Kare önemli olmuş ve bu akımın önde gelen tasarımlarından biri olarak görülmüştür. Bu nitel araştırma kapsamında, Süprematizm’in geometrik keskin çizgilerden oluşan yapısı ile Morfolojinin şekil, biçim ve boyut özellikleri birlikte ele alınarak; seramik malzemenin plastikliğinin bu kıstaslar doğrultusunda tasarlanıp şekillendirilmesi üzerine bir önerme sunulmuştur. Yöntem olarak iki boyutlu siyah karenin biçimsel yapısından yola çıkarak Süprematizm ve Morfoloji konularının seramik sanatıyla bağ kurulması, ayrıca plastik bir malzeme olan çamurun keskin ve yumuşak hatlarla üç boyutlu şekillendirilmesi ile sanatsal ifadeye ulaşılması hedeflenmiştir.
Death by a thousand cuts through kinase inhibitor combinations that maximize selectivity and enable rational multitargeting
Authors: Outhwaite Ian R , Singh Sukrit , Berger Benedict-Tilman , Knapp Stefan , Chodera John D , Seeliger Markus A
Published: December 2023

Kinase inhibitors are successful therapeutics in the treatment of cancers and autoimmune diseases and are useful tools in biomedical research. However, the high sequence and structural conservation of the catalytic kinase domain complicate the development of selective kinase inhibitors. Inhibition of off-target kinases makes it difficult to study the mechanism of inhibitors in biological systems. Current efforts focus on the development of inhibitors with improved selectivity. Here, we present an alternative solution to this problem by combining inhibitors with divergent off-target effects. We develop a multicompound–multitarget scoring (MMS) method that combines inhibitors to maximize target inhibition and to minimize off-target inhibition. Additionally, this framework enables optimization of inhibitor combinations for multiple on-targets. Using MMS with published kinase inhibitor datasets we determine potent inhibitor combinations for target kinases with better selectivity than the most selective single inhibitor and validate the predicted effect and selectivity of inhibitor combinations using in vitro and in cellulo techniques. MMS greatly enhances selectivity in rational multitargeting applications. The MMS framework is generalizable to other non-kinase biological targets where compound selectivity is a challenge and diverse compound libraries are available.
Universal length fluctuations of actin structures found in cells
Authors: Rosario Aldric , McInally Shane G. , Jelenkovic Predrag R. , Goode Bruce L. , Kondev Jane
Published: December 2023

Actin is a key cytoskeletal protein that forms filaments that bundle into linear structures
in vivo
, which are involved in motility, signaling, and cell division. Despite the rapid turnover of individual actin monomers, these structures are often maintained at a specific length, which is important for their function. Length control is commonly attributed to length-dependent assembly or disassembly of the structure, whereby a stable length is achieved when the two opposing processes are balanced. Here we show that regardless of the nature of the length-dependent feedback, such “balance point” models predict a Gaussian distribution of lengths with a variance that is proportional to the steady state length. Contrary to this prediction, a reexamination of experimental measurements on the lengths of stereocilia, microvilli, actin cables, and filopodia reveals that the variance scales with the square of the steady state length. We propose a model in which the individual filaments in bundles undergo independent assembly dynamics, and the length of the bundle is set by the length of the longest filament. This model predicts a non-Gaussian distribution of bundle lengths with a variance that scales with the square of the steady state length. Our theory underscores the importance of crosslinking filaments into networks for size control of cytoskeleton structures.
An algorithmic multiple attribute decision-making method for heart problem analysis under neutrosophic hypersoft expert set with fuzzy parameterized degree-based setting
Authors: Ihsan Muhammad , Saeed Muhammad , Alanzi Agaeb Mahal , Khalifa Hamiden El-Wahed
Published: December 2023

A fuzzy parameterized neutrosophic hypersoft expert set (FpNHse-set) is one of the family members of fuzzy parameterized structures and a valuable extension of the neutrosophic soft expert set as well as the neutrosophic hypersoft set. This structure involves a multi-argument approximate function that has the ability to change the sub-characteristic pairs in the form of power set of universe. The main function of this structure is the classification of each character into sub-characteristic valued sets. Due to this prominent property, this mathematical structure is useful for uncertainties and also helps make the decision-making process more adaptable and dependable. By using the algebraic and basic ideas of the FpNHse-sets, a useful strategy, especially for medical diagnosis, known as Sanchez’s method has been used in this study. To see a reformed process for the medical diagnosis of heart disease, a useful combination of FpNHse-set and a modified Sanchez’s method has been made in this context. By using the real data from the Cleveland data set for heart disease, the implementation of the reform process has been made to see its veracity. Finally, a clear comparison of the used study with its existing studies has been made for the purpose of benefits.
Detecting anomalous electricity consumption with transformer and synthesized anomalies
Authors: Mu Tianshi , Yu Yun , Feng Guocong , Luo Huan , Yang Hang
Published: December 2023

Non-technical losses are consistently a troubling issue for power suppliers. With the application and popularization of smart grid and advanced measurement systems, it has become possible to use data-driven methods to detect anomalous electricity consumption to reduce non-technical losses. A range of machine learning models have been utilized for detecting anomalous electricity consumption and have achieved promising results. However, with the evolution of techniques like electricity theft, coupled with the exponential increase in electricity consumption data, new challenges are constantly being posed for anomalous electricity consumption detection. We propose a Transformer-based method for detecting anomalous electricity consumption. The Transformer is composed of multi-head attention, layer normalization, point-wise feed-forward network, etc., which can effectively handle electricity consumption time-series data. Meanwhile, to alleviate the problem of imbalanced training data between anomalous and normal electricity consumption, we propose a method for synthesizing anomalies. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed Transformer-based method outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in detecting anomalous electricity consumption, achieving a precision of 93.9%, a recall of 96.3%, an F1-score of 0.951, and an accuracy of 95.6% on a dataset released by the State Grid Corporation of China.
Margelopsid species search taxonomic home within Corymorphidae and Boreohydridae
Authors: Kupaeva Daria , Lebedeva Tatiana , Kobrinsky Zachariah , Vanwalleghem Daniel , Prudkovsky Andrey , Kremnyov Stanislav
Published: December 2023

Planktonic lifestyle of polyps in representatives of Margelopsidae are very different from all other species in the hydrozoan clade Aplanulata. Their evolutionary origin and phylogenetic position have been the subject of significant speculation. A recent molecular study based only on COI data placed Margelopsidae as a sister group to all Aplanulata, an unexpected result because margelopsid morphology suggests affiliation with Tubulariidae or Corymorphidae. Here we used multigene analyses, including nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) and mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI) markers of the hydroid stage of the margelopsid species Margelopsis haeckelii and the medusa stage of Margelopsis hartlaubii to resolve their phylogenetic position with respect to other hydrozoans. Our data provide strong evidence that M. haeckelii, the type species of Margelopsis, is a member of the family Corymorphidae. In contrast, M. hartlaubii is sister to Plotocnide borealis, a member of Boreohydridae. These results call into question the validity of the genus Margelopsis and the family Margelopsidae. The systematic position of M. haeckelii is discussed in light of the phylogeny of Corymorphidae.
Effect of Augmented Reality Smart Glasses-based Nursing Skills Training for Nursing Students’ Medication Administration Safety Competency: A Quasi-experimental Study
Authors: Kim Jiyoung , Heo Narae
Published: December 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of augmented reality (AR) smart glasses-based nursing skills training for nursing students’ medication administration safety competency. Methods: A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. The participants were 63 sophomore nursing students taking fundamental nursing practice, with 33 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. The nursing intervention in this study was AR smart glasses-based training on peripheral intravenous infusion nursing skills. In the pretest, information about participants’ general characteristics and confidence in medication safety were collected, and the post-test measured flow degree, learning satisfaction, skill competency, and confidence in medication safety. The collected data were analyzed using the x2 test, the Fisher exact test, and the independent t-test. Results: There were significant differences in the flow degree score, learning satisfaction score, and skill competency score between the two groups. Conclusion: This study confirmed that providing AR smart glasses-based nursing skills training for medication administration contributed to increasing flow degree, learning satisfaction, and skill competency among nursing students.
Factors Related to the Practice of Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 among Students with Healthcare-related Majors: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Song Hye-Young , Kim Ji-Hye , Kang Purum , Lee Hyun-Ju
Published: December 2023

Purpose: The study aimed to identify the factors related to preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among students with healthcare-related majors in South Korea. Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Convenience sampling was conducted, involving students enrolled in two universities in South Korea in July 2020. In total, 229 students (women: 80.3%, average age: 20.08±1.81 years) were instructed to complete an online survey, measuring risk perception, efficacy of preventive behaviors, awareness of governmental response, and practice level of preventive behaviors. Results: The average score for practice of preventive behaviors for COVID-19 was 4.24±0.57. Factors related to preventive behaviors for COVID-19 were the information acquisition route, efficacy of preventive behaviors, and awareness of governmental responses to COVID-19. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors such as efficacy of preventive behaviors and awareness of governmental responses should be considered when developing strategies to encourage students with healthcare-related majors to practice preventive behaviors for infectious diseases.
Effects of Auricular Acupressure Therapy on Psychological Factors, Sleep Quality, and Salivary Cortisol Levels in South Korean Older Adults in the Community: A Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yoon Hyeongyeong
Published: December 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of auricular acupressure (AA) therapy on psychological factors, sleep quality, and salivary cortisol levels in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This was a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled comparative pretest-posttest study that applied AA for three weeks. The experimental group received AA on the shenmen, sympathetic, subcortical, and adrenal areas, while the control group received acupuncture in four areas along the helix. Nineteen participants were assigned to the experimental group and 21 to the control group. All participants were community-dwelling seniors aged 65 years or older who had an Insomnia Severity Index score of 8 or higher and experienced psychological stress. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Korean version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale for psychological factors, and the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and morning salivary cortisol levels were measured to evaluate sleep quality. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups for depression (t=5.56, p<.001), anxiety (t=3.53, p=.001), and stress (t=3.55, p=.001). The PSQI (t=4.72, p<.001) and salivary cortisol levels (z=-4.21, p<.001) showed statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: AA demonstrated its effectiveness as an intervention for addressing complex symptoms in community-dwelling older adults. It was found to alleviate depression, anxiety, and stress, enhance sleep quality, and reduce salivary cortisol levels.
Chemokine Receptor Gene (CCR5) Polymorphism in Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Prashanth MR , Badiger Sharan , Kadakol Gurushantappa
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome is a multifactorial disease with a complex pathogenesis, mainly resulting from the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors. Chemokines and their receptors play crucial roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Chemokine Receptor 5 (CCR5) is an important mediator of leukocyte recruitment and leukopedesis. Most studies conducted on the relationship between CCR5 gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease in different regions and populations worldwide show conflicting results. Aim: To investigate the genetic polymorphism of CCR5 genes associated with patients with acute coronary syndrome in the Vijayapura population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at BLDE (Deemed to be University) Shri B.M. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, involving patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome. A total of 100 patients were admitted with acute coronary syndrome. Nineteen patients with diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study based on the exclusion criteria. Clinical history, examination, electrocardiographic assessments, laboratory profiles, and blood samples were taken for the analysis of CCR5 gene polymorphism as part of the work-up. Patients were classified into two groups: one with the presence of CCR5 polymorphism as Group A (n=6), and the other without polymorphism as Group B (n=75). Parameters such as age, sex, occupation, lipid profile, renal function tests, and CCR5 polymorphism were studied between the groups. The data were statistically analysed. Categorical variables between the two groups were compared using the Chi-square test. Normally distributed continuous variables were compared using independent t-test, and non normally distributed variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: In the present study, the most common age group was 50-70 years with a male predominance of 60.7%. Most of the patients in the study group were farmers (34.7%), followed by housewives (32%) and businessmen (14.7%). The most common risk factors observed in both study groups were smoking and tobacco chewing. Gene sequencing revealed CCR5 gene polymorphism in six out of 81 patients who were labelled as Group A, indicating an incidence of 7.5% (p<0.001). Out of the six positive patients in Group A, three were males and three were females. One patient was 45 years old, while the remaining five were above 60 years old. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a positive association between CCR5 polymorphism and acute coronary syndrome, indicating that the study population is genetically susceptible to the disease. By screening for high-risk individuals, better and more effective early interventions can be planned, thereby reducing the social burden, morbidity, and mortality associated with the disease.
Comprehensive Synthesis and Integrative Review of Agricultural Dynamics in Southwest Nigeria: Assessing Economic Viability, Technological Advances, and Rural Development Approaches
Authors: Oladoyinbo Oluseun Babatunde
Published: December 2023

The study focuses on agricultural economic viability, technological advancements, and rural development strategies. The review draws upon a spectrum of scholarly research to provide an integrative analysis, aiming to better understand and address the challenges and opportunities within this vital sector. The economic viability of agriculture in Southwest Nigeria is critically examined, highlighting the significance of credit acquisition and repayment among watermelon farmers, underscoring the financial challenges and opportunities within the sector. This aspect is crucial for understanding the broader economic context that shapes agricultural practices and outcomes. Additionally, the profitability of broiler production is explored, further illustrating the economic dimensions of agricultural practices in the region. Technological advances represent another pivotal aspect of agricultural dynamics. The influence of portable water supply on rural households is explored, reflecting how technological improvements in basic infrastructure can significantly affect agricultural productivity and rural lifestyles. The relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and job performance in agro facilities is also examined, highlighting the intersection of human factors and technology in agriculture. The importance of modern communication tools, such as video, in agricultural extension services, is emphasized, demonstrating how digital media can bridge knowledge gaps and facilitate better farming practices. It reveals how traditional practices are interwoven with modern innovations and how factors like credit acquisition, technological infrastructure, and rural development strategies impact agricultural productivity and sustainability. Recommendations are made based on these findings. The paper suggests the need for enhanced support systems for credit acquisition among farmers, investment in technological infrastructure to boost productivity, and adoption of sustainable and diversified farming practices to ensure long-term viability. It also highlights the importance of integrating socio-economic and environmental considerations into agricultural policies to address broader challenges.
Challenges in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cyst in a Baby Less than 2 Months Old: A Clinical Case Report
Authors: Vieira Savio Luquetti Silva , Mamprim Mariana Barreto , Tinoco Paulo , Freire Louise Mancen , Bernardo Alfredo Vieira , Tinoco Marina Bandoli de Oliveira , Silva Fábio França Vieira e , Fabri Cecy de Fátima Amiti , Filho Renato Mataveli Ferreira , Ramos Fabiana Pereira Costa , Norberg Antonio Neres
Published: December 2023

Laryngeal cysts are rare benign lesions, mostly asymptomatic and with a predominant etiology in adults. In children, the failure to diagnose laryngeal cysts is associated with a mortality rate of up to 40% due to the potential for airway obstruction. This article reports the case of an infant who presented with upper airway obstruction and acute respiratory failure. Immediate direct laryngoscopy was performed by the otolaryngology team in the operating room, revealing the presence of a cystic tumor in the vallecula that pushed the epiglottis, leading to almost complete obstruction of the glottic lumen. Microsurgery of the larynx was performed with total excision of the tumor, resolving the laryngeal obstructive condition. Although laryngeal cysts are rare, early diagnosis allows for definitive treatment. This can improve respiratory insufficiency, avoiding prolonged orotracheal intubation, the progression of which can lead to cardiac and respiratory arrest and death.
Occurrence of Insect-Pest of Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Linn.) Taubert] Associated with Meteorological Parameters in Gird Region of Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Sharma Mona , Singh Pradyumn , Mahore Prince , Mahor Dheerendra , Choudhary Suman
Published: December 2023

Insects are a big threat in agriculture. To study about insect pests complex of the cluster bean, a field experiment conducted at Research Farm, Rajmata Vijyaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh during Kharif season 2022-23. The incidence of insect pests observed on kharif cluster bean, namely thrips, Megleurothrips distalis (karny), Jassid, Empoasca kerri (Pruthi) aphid, Aphis craccivora (Koch) and whiteflies, Acaudaleyrodes rachipora (Singh). Peak population of aphid, Jassid and whitefly were observed during 37th SMW (2nd week of September) (4.39, 5.74 and 5.67 individuals/leaf, respectively); while peak population of thrips were observed during 38th SMW (3rd week of September) (4.75 individuals/leaf), thrips peak population was observed 38th SMW (3rd week of August) (3.70 thrips/leaf). Population of aphid and Jassid showed positive significant correlation with rainfall (r= 0.505*) and (r= 0.498*), respectively. Population of aphid, jassid and whitefly showed highly significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (r= 0.684**), (r= 0.745**) and (r= 0.591*), respectively. Population of aphid, jassid, thrips and whitefly showed significant positive correlation with evening relative humidity (r= 0.606*), (r= 0.621*), (r= 0.511*) and (r= 0.498*).