bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Feasibility of Pinus patula Biochar: The Regeneration of the Indigo Carmine-Loaded Biochar and Its Efficiency for Real Textile Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Gallego-Ramírez Carolina , Chica Edwin , Rubio-Clemente Ainhoa
Published: May 2024

The feasibility of an adsorbent material like biochar (BC) depends on its regeneration capacity and its ability to achieve high removal efficiencies on real wastewater (WW) effluents. In this study, the regeneration capacity of the Pinus patula BC previously used in the removal of Indigo Carmine from water was evaluated. The regeneration technique that resulted in the highest desorption efficiency was a thermo-chemical method that consisted of heating the spent BC in a stove at 160 °C for 45 min followed by regeneration with ethanol (C2H6O) at a concentration of 75% for 6 h. Through this regeneration method, it was found that Pinus patula BC could be used in seven consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. The feasibility of this BC was also assessed by evaluating the adsorbent’s efficiency in real textile WW. Under optimal operational conditions (solution pH = 3, BC dose = 13.5 g/L, and BC particle size = 300–450 µm), the highest removal efficiencies in terms of colour and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were 81.3 and 76.8%, respectively, for 120 min of treatment. The results obtained in the regeneration studies and the treatment of real textile WW suggested that the use of Pinus patula BC could be suitable to be scaled to an industrial level, contributing to sustainable development and the circular bioeconomy by using a waste to solve the dye pollution problem of another waste.
A Technique for SAR Significant Wave Height Retrieval Using Azimuthal Cut-Off Wavelength Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Leng Shaijie , Hao Mengyu , Shao Weizeng , Marino Armando , Jiang Xingwei
Published: May 2024

This study introduces a new machine learning-based algorithm for the retrieving significant wave height (SWH) using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. This algorithm is based on the azimuthal cut-off wavelength and was developed in quad-polarized stripmap (QPS) mode in coastal waters. The collected images are collocated with a wave simulation from the numeric model, called WAVEWATCH-III (WW3), and the current speed from the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). The sea surface wind is retrieved from the image at the vertical–vertical polarization channel, using the geophysical model function (GMF) CSARMOD-GF. The results of the algorithm were validated against the measurements obtained from the Haiyang-2B (HY-2B) scatterometer, yielding a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 1.99 m/s with a 0.82 correlation (COR) and 0.27 scatter index of wind speed. It was found that the SWH depends on the wind speed and azimuthal cut-off wavelength. However, the current speed has less of an influence on azimuthal cut-off wavelength. Following this rationale, four widely known machine learning methods were employed that take the SAR-derived azimuthal cut-off wavelength, wind speed, and radar incidence angle as inputs and then output the SWH. The validation result shows that the SAR-derived SWH by eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) against the HY-2B altimeter products has a 0.34 m RMSE with a 0.97 COR and a 0.07 bias, which is better than the results obtained using an existing algorithm (i.e., a 1.10 m RMSE with a 0.77 COR and a 0.44 bias) and the other three machine learning methods (i.e., a >0.58 m RMSE with a <0.95 COR), i.e., convolutional neural networks (CNNs), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and the ridge regression model (RR). As a result, XGBoost is a highly efficient approach for GF-3 wave retrieval at the regular sea state.
Mapping the Continuous Cover of Invasive Noxious Weed Species Using Sentinel-2 Imagery and a Novel Convolutional Neural Regression Network
Authors: Xing Fei , An Ru , Guo Xulin , Shen Xiaoji
Published: May 2024

Invasive noxious weed species (INWS) are typical poisonous plants and forbs that are considered an increasing threat to the native alpine grassland ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). Accurate knowledge of the continuous cover of INWS across complex alpine grassland ecosystems over a large scale is required for their control and management. However, the cooccurrence of INWS and native grass species results in highly heterogeneous grass communities and generates mixed pixels detected by remote sensors, which causes uncertainty in classification. The continuous coverage of INWS at the pixel level has not yet been achieved. In this study, objective 1 was to test the capability of Senginel-2 imagery at estimating continuous INWS cover across complex alpine grasslands over a large scale and objective 2 was to assess the performance of the state-of-the-art convolutional neural network-based regression (CNNR) model in estimating continuous INWS cover. Therefore, a novel CNNR model and a random forest regression (RFR) model were evaluated for estimating INWS continuous cover using Sentinel-2 imagery. INWS continuous cover was estimated directly from Sentinel-2 imagery with an R2 ranging from 0.88 to 0.93 using the CNNR model. The RFR model combined with multiple features had a comparable accuracy, which was slightly lower than that of the CNNR model, with an R2 of approximately 0.85. Twelve green band-, red-edge band-, and near-infrared band-related features had important contributions to the RFR model. Our results demonstrate that the CNNR model performs well when estimating INWS continuous cover directly from Sentinel-2 imagery, and the RFR model combined with multiple features derived from the Sentinel-2 imager can also be used for INWS continuous cover mapping. Sentinel-2 imagery is suitable for mapping continuous INWS cover across complex alpine grasslands over a large scale. Our research provides information for the advanced mapping of the continuous cover of invasive species across complex grassland ecosystems or, more widely, terrestrial ecosystems over large spatial areas using remote sensors such as Sentinel-2.
Consensus-Based Information Filtering in Distributed LiDAR Sensor Network for Tracking Mobile Robots
Authors: Luppi Isabella , Bhatt Neel Pratik , Hashemi Ehsan
Published: May 2024

A distributed state observer is designed for state estimation and tracking of mobile robots amidst dynamic environments and occlusions within distributed LiDAR sensor networks. The proposed novel framework enhances three-dimensional bounding box detection and tracking utilizing a consensus-based information filter and a region of interest for state estimation of mobile robots. The framework enables the identification of the input to the dynamic process using remote sensing, enhancing the state prediction accuracy for low-visibility and occlusion scenarios in dynamic scenes. Experimental evaluations in indoor settings confirm the effectiveness of the framework in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency. These results highlight the benefit of integrating stationary LiDAR sensors’ state estimates into a switching consensus information filter to enhance the reliability of tracking and to reduce estimation error in the sense of mean square and covariance.
Enhancing Fetal Electrocardiogram Signal Extraction Accuracy through a CycleGAN Utilizing Combined CNN–BiLSTM Architecture
Authors: Yang Yuyao , Chen Lin , Wu Shuicai
Published: May 2024

The fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) records changes in the graph of fetal cardiac action potential during conduction, reflecting the developmental status of the fetus in utero and its physiological cardiac activity. Morphological alterations in the FECG can indicate intrauterine hypoxia, fetal distress, and neonatal asphyxia early on, enhancing maternal and fetal safety through prompt clinical intervention, thereby reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. To reconstruct FECG signals with clear morphological information, this paper proposes a novel deep learning model, CBLS-CycleGAN. The model’s generator combines spatial features extracted by the CNN with temporal features extracted by the BiLSTM network, thus ensuring that the reconstructed signals possess combined features with spatial and temporal dependencies. The model’s discriminator utilizes PatchGAN, employing small segments of the signal as discriminative inputs to concentrate the training process on capturing signal details. Evaluating the model using two real FECG signal databases, namely “Abdominal and Direct Fetal ECG Database” and “Fetal Electrocardiograms, Direct and Abdominal with Reference Heartbeat Annotations”, resulted in a mean MSE and MAE of 0.019 and 0.006, respectively. It detects the FQRS compound wave with a sensitivity, positive predictive value, and F1 of 99.51%, 99.57%, and 99.54%, respectively. This paper’s model effectively preserves the morphological information of FECG signals, capturing not only the FQRS compound wave but also the fetal P-wave, T-wave, P-R interval, and ST segment information, providing clinicians with crucial diagnostic insights and a scientific foundation for developing rational treatment protocols.
MultiFuseYOLO: Redefining Wine Grape Variety Recognition through Multisource Information Fusion
Authors: Peng Jialiang , Ouyang Cheng , Peng Hao , Hu Wenwu , Wang Yi , Jiang Ping
Published: May 2024

Based on the current research on the wine grape variety recognition task, it has been found that traditional deep learning models relying only on a single feature (e.g., fruit or leaf) for classification can face great challenges, especially when there is a high degree of similarity between varieties. In order to effectively distinguish these similar varieties, this study proposes a multisource information fusion method, which is centered on the SynthDiscrim algorithm, aiming to achieve a more comprehensive and accurate wine grape variety recognition. First, this study optimizes and improves the YOLOV7 model and proposes a novel target detection and recognition model called WineYOLO-RAFusion, which significantly improves the fruit localization precision and recognition compared with YOLOV5, YOLOX, and YOLOV7, which are traditional deep learning models. Secondly, building upon the WineYOLO-RAFusion model, this study incorporated the method of multisource information fusion into the model, ultimately forming the MultiFuseYOLO model. Experiments demonstrated that MultiFuseYOLO significantly outperformed other commonly used models in terms of precision, recall, and F1 score, reaching 0.854, 0.815, and 0.833, respectively. Moreover, the method improved the precision of the hard to distinguish Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varieties, which increased the precision from 0.512 to 0.813 for Chardonnay and from 0.533 to 0.775 for Sauvignon Blanc. In conclusion, the MultiFuseYOLO model offers a reliable and comprehensive solution to the task of wine grape variety identification, especially in terms of distinguishing visually similar varieties and realizing high-precision identifications.
Improving Adversarial Robustness of ECG Classification Based on Lipschitz Constraints and Channel Activation Suppression
Authors: Chen Xin , Si Yujuan , Zhang Zhanyuan , Yang Wenke , Feng Jianchao
Published: May 2024

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are increasingly important in the medical diagnosis of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. However, research has shown that DNNs are highly vulnerable to adversarial examples, which can be created by carefully crafted perturbations. This vulnerability can lead to potential medical accidents. This poses new challenges for the application of DNNs in the medical diagnosis of ECG signals. This paper proposes a novel network Channel Activation Suppression with Lipschitz Constraints Net (CASLCNet), which employs the Channel-wise Activation Suppressing (CAS) strategy to dynamically adjust the contribution of different channels to the class prediction and uses the 1-Lipschitz’s ℓ∞ distance network as a robust classifier to reduce the impact of adversarial perturbations on the model itself in order to increase the adversarial robustness of the model. The experimental results demonstrate that CASLCNet achieves ACCrobust scores of 91.03% and 83.01% when subjected to PGD attacks on the MIT-BIH and CPSC2018 datasets, respectively, which proves that the proposed method in this paper enhances the model’s adversarial robustness while maintaining a high accuracy rate.
Use of Recycled Plastic Fibers to Control Shrinkage and Desiccation Cracking in Clayey Soils
Authors: Hernández Carolina , Beltrán Gloria , Botero Eduardo
Published: May 2024

Two main issues are addressed in this work. The first issue is environmental concerns about managing plastic waste on a large scale by promoting reuse with low energy requirements in the recycling processes. The second issue is the desiccation cracks in fine soils, induced by prolonged droughts, which have motivated the interest in mitigating the adverse effects on the stability of geotechnical works using recycled materials. Therefore, this work addresses a strategy based on the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) fibers for the reinforcement of soils prone to cracking. To evaluate the effectiveness of plastic fibers in controlling soil volumetric changes and cracking during drying, several experiments were conducted in an environmental chamber to properly simulate and monitor the desiccation process. Image analysis and suction measurements provided several metrics and parameters, and their usefulness is discussed in detail, both for the unconventional determination of the optimum fiber content by weight with 100% effectiveness in preventing cracking and for correlating fiber content with reductions in shrinkage and cracking patterns, thus contributing to the understanding of the behavior of fiber-reinforced soils. Finally, examples of large-scale applications of recycled plastic fibers in geotechnical works are proposed, and the positive environmental impact is estimated.
More than 30 Years of PVC Recycling in Europe—A Critical Inventory
Authors: Lahl Uwe , Zeschmar-Lahl Barbara
Published: May 2024

PVC has a special status, as chlorine is a component of the polymer molecule. The properties of chlorine are the reason why the polymer molecule needs additivation. PVC is the mass plastic to which the most diverse and quantitatively largest number of additives are added. This makes PVC difficult to recycle. More than three decades ago, the PVC industry announced its commitment to improve the sustainability of the material through material recycling. We analysed the latest figures from the European PVC industry, ensuring that the statistics included the quantities that enter the market as recyclate. We also analysed the significance of replacing virgin PVC with recyclates. We conclude from this that, after a good three decades, the recycling result is rather meagre. The lion’s share of PVC waste in Europe is still going to waste-to-energy plants, where it tends to be a nuisance. The many announcements to close the chlorine cycle via waste incineration have not got very far either. And the announcements to expand chemical recycling in parallel have not been successful. On the basis of this stocktaking, we have analysed, in a second separately published part, which conclusions can be drawn for regulatory measures, building on a current ECHA investigation report.
Charting the Sustainable Course: Navigating the Saudi Arabia Medical and Wellness Tourism Roadmap with Business Model Canvas (BMC)
Authors: Alharethi Thaib , Kabil Moaaz
Published: May 2024

Medical and wellness tourism has emerged as a pivotal sector with significant economic implications globally, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study delves into the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s medical and wellness tourism, recognizing its importance as a key player in the tourism industry. The study aims to elevate this sector to new heights on the global stage by employing the Business Model Canvas (BMC) as a strategic tool. BMC allows for a comprehensive analysis of the medical tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, breaking down key elements across its nine blocks: key partners, key activities, key resources, value propositions, customer segments, channels, customer relationships, cost structure, and revenue streams. The results of this study shed light on the unique selling proposition (USP) as a crucial strategic step for Saudi Arabia to distinguish itself and enhance its position in the international medical tourism arena. By identifying and maximizing the unique aspects within each BMC block, the study presents a roadmap for Saudi Arabia, navigating the challenges and capitalizing on the potential of the medical and wellness tourism sector. This research serves as a guide, emphasizing the strategic importance of a well-defined business model to shape the future of medical and wellness tourism in Saudi Arabia and establish a prominent global presence.
Can Creating an Agro-Product Regional Public Brand Improve the Ability of Farmers to Sustainably Increase Their Revenue?
Authors: Ma Zhiyan , Qiao Guanghua
Published: May 2024

Through the analysis of various typical cases, this study examines whether the establishment of an agro-product regional public brand (ARPB) can effectively boost the revenue of farmers and increase their share in the supply chain. The findings suggest that an early-stage ARPB can command a price premium for products, yet its overall contribution to farmers’ revenue remains limited due to scale constraints. The premium ability of an ARPB is influenced by product characteristics and sales strategies, underscoring the need to enhance control over terminal sales. Although the revenue of all operators in an ARPB supply chain shows an increase compared to that of a non-ARPB supply chain, the ratios of revenue allocated to farmers diminish. The Shapley value method was utilized to optimize the revenue-sharing in the supply chain, indicating a need to increase the share of revenue for farmers. This optimization necessitates the formation of a community of interests between farmers, processing enterprises, and sellers to facilitate the upstream movement of brand premiums. Furthermore, enhancing the government’s mediation and regulatory functions can provide farmers with more opportunities to partake in brand benefits.
Metal–Perovskite Interfacial Engineering to Boost Activity in Heterogeneous Catalysis
Authors: Malleier Christoph , Penner Simon
Published: May 2024

In this review, we have assessed the possibility of metal–perovskite interfacial engineering to enhance the catalytic activity and selectivity in a range of heterogeneous catalytic reactions. We embarked on a literature screening of different perovskite material classes and reactions to show the versatility of the perovskite structures to induce the formation of such hetero-interfaces and the widespread nature of the phenomenon in catalytic research. There is almost no limitation on the chemical composition of the used perovskites and the nature of the catalyzed reaction, be it under reduction or oxidation conditions. We attempted to classify the perovskite materials, discuss the different strategies leading to the hetero-interfaces, and detail the synergistic action of the components of the respective interfaces. We also provide a critical assessment of the large body of data that is available in terms of a knowledge-based approach to the comparison of differently prepared interfaces with varying interfacial extent to gain a deeper understanding of the bi-functional operation of the interfaces and the urgent necessity to study and characterize such interfaces under realistic operation conditions.
Adaptive Fuzzy Fixed-Time Control for Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Mismatched Disturbances
Authors: Luo Rongzheng , Zhang Lu , Li You
Published: May 2024

This paper focuses on addressing the adaptive fuzzy fixed-time issue for a class of nonlinear systems with uncertainty functions and mismatched disturbances. Fuzzy logical systems are utilized for identifying unknown functions. Additionally, to tackle challenges posed by mismatched disturbances, disturbance observers are constructed based on the backstepping method. Utilizing the adding one power integrator approach and the fixed-time control method, this paper introduces a fixed-time adaptive fuzzy control algorithm. Notably, this algorithm accommodates the presence of unknown mismatched disturbances and nonlinear functions. The paper establishes, through the application of the Lyapunov stability theory, that the designed adaptive fixed-time fuzzy control algorithm ensures practical fixed-time stability for the resulting closed-loop systems. Finally, the effectiveness of the derived strategy is demonstrated through an illustrative example involving two cases.
Hunting Search Algorithm-Based Adaptive Fuzzy Tracking Controller for an Aero-Pendulum
Authors: Rojas-Galván Ricardo , García-Martínez José R. , Cruz-Miguel Edson E. , Barra-Vázquez Omar A. , Olmedo-García Luis F. , Rodríguez-Reséndiz Juvenal
Published: May 2024

The aero-pendulum is a non-linear system used broadly to develop and test new controller strategies. This paper presents a new methodology for an adaptive PID fuzzy-based tracking controller using a Hunting Search (HuS) algorithm. The HuS algorithm computes the parameters of the membership functions of the fuzzification stage. As a novelty, the algorithm guarantees the overlap of the membership functions to ensure that all the functions are interconnected, generating new hunters to search for better solutions in the overlapping area. For the defuzzification stage, the HuS algorithm sets the singletons in optimal positions to evaluate the controller response using the centroid method. To probe the robustness of the methodology, the PID fuzzy controller algorithm is implemented in an embedded system to track the angular position of an aero-pendulum test bench. The results show that the adaptive PID fuzzy controller proposed presents root mean square error values of 0.42, 0.40, and 0.49 for 80, 90, and 100 degrees, respectively.
Restricted-Access Media Column Switching Online Solid-Phase Extraction UHPLC–MS/MS for the Determination of Seven Type B Trichothecenes in Whole-Grain Preprocessed Foods and Human Exposure Risk Assessment
Authors: Ning Xiao , Ye Yongli , Ji Jian , Hui Yanchun , Li Jingyun , Chen Po , Jin Shaoming , Liu Tongtong , Zhang Yinzhi , Cao Jin , Sun Xiulan
Published: May 2024

With increasing health awareness and the accelerating pace of life, whole-grain prepared foods have gained popularity due to their health benefits and convenience. However, the potential risk of type B trichothecene toxins has also increased, and these mycotoxins in such foods are rarely regulated. In this study, a quantitative method combining a single-valve dual-column automatic online solid-phase extraction system with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was developed for the first time using restricted-access media columns. This method can simultaneously determine trace residues of seven type B trichothecenes within 15 min. The method is convenient, sensitive (limit of detection and quantification of 0.05–0.6 μg/kg and 0.15–2 μg/kg, respectively), accurate (recovery rates of 90.3%–106.6%, relative standard deviation < 4.3%), and robust (>1000 times). The established method was applied to 160 prepared food samples of eight categories sold in China. At least one toxin was detected in 70% of the samples. Whole-wheat dumpling wrappers had the highest contamination rate (95%) and the highest total content of type B trichothecenes in a single sample (2077.3 μg/kg). Exposure risk assessment indicated that the contamination of whole-grain prepared foods has been underestimated. The total health risk index of whole-wheat dumpling wrappers, which are susceptible to deoxynivalenol, reached 136.41%, posing a significant threat to human health. Effective measures urgently need to be taken to control this risk.
Development and Efficacy of the Antivenom Specific to Severe Envenomations in Morocco and North Africa: Advancements in Scorpion Envenomation Management
Authors: Darkaoui Bouchra , Hilal Ines , Khourcha Soukaina , Lafnoune Ayoub , Chakir Salma , Aarab Ayoub , Moustaghfir Abdellah , Filali Ouafaa Aniq , Oukkache Naoual
Published: May 2024

Scorpion envenomation poses a global public health issue, with an estimated 1,500,000 cases worldwide annually resulting in 2600 deaths. North Africa, particularly Morocco, experiences severe envenomations, mainly attributed to Androctonus mauretanicus and Buthus occitanus in Morocco, and Buthus occitanus and Androctonus australis hector in Algeria and Tunisia, with case numbers often underestimated. Current treatment relies mainly on symptomatic approaches, except in Morocco, where management is limited to symptomatic treatment due to controversies regarding specific treatment. In Morocco, between 30,000 and 50,000 scorpion envenomation cases are reported annually, leading to hundreds of deaths, mainly among children. Controversies among clinicians persist regarding the appropriate course of action, often limiting treatments to symptomatic measures. The absence of a specific antivenom for the venoms of the most lethal scorpions further exacerbates the situation. This study aims to address this gap by developing a monovalent antivenom against the endemic and most dangerous scorpion, Androctonus mauretanicus. The antivenom was produced by immunizing albino rabbits with a mixture of Androctonus mauretanicus venom collected from high-risk areas in Morocco. Immunizations were performed by subcutaneous injections at multiple sites near the lymphatic system, following an immunization schedule. Production control of neutralizing antibody titers was conducted through immunodiffusion. Once a sufficient antibody titer was achieved, blood collection was performed, and the recovered plasma underwent affinity chromatography. The efficacy of purified IgG was evaluated by determining the ED50 in mice, complemented by histological and immunohistochemical studies on its ability to neutralize venom-induced tissue alterations and the neutralization of toxins bound to receptors in the studied organs. The monovalent antivenom demonstrated specificity against Androctonus mauretanicus venom and effective cross-protection against the venom of the scorpions Buthus occitanus and Androctonus australis hector, highly implicated in lethal envenomations in the Maghreb. This study shows that the developed monovalent antivenom exhibits notable efficacy against local scorpions and a surprising ability to neutralize the most lethal envenomations in North Africa. These results pave the way for a new, more specific, and promising therapeutic approach to countering severe scorpion envenomations, especially in Morocco, where specific treatment is lacking.
The Disassociation of A3G-Related HIV-1 cDNA G-to-A Hypermutation to Viral Infectivity
Authors: Martin Joanie , Chen Xin , Jia Xiangxu , Shao Qiujia , Liu Bindong
Published: May 2024

APOBEC3G (A3G) restricts HIV-1 replication primarily by reducing viral cDNA and inducing G-to-A hypermutations in viral cDNA. HIV-1 encodes virion infectivity factor (Vif) to counteract A3G primarily by excluding A3G viral encapsidation. Even though the Vif-induced exclusion is robust, studies suggest that A3G is still detectable in the virion. The impact of encapsidated A3G in the HIV-1 replication is unclear. Using a highly sensitive next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based G-to-A hypermutation detecting assay, we found that wild-type HIV-1 produced from A3G-expressing T-cells induced higher G-to-A hypermutation frequency in viral cDNA than HIV-1 from non-A3G-expressing T-cells. Interestingly, although the virus produced from A3G-expressing T-cells induced higher hypermutation frequency, there was no significant difference in viral infectivity, revealing a disassociation of cDNA G-to-A hypermutation to viral infectivity. We also measured G-to-A hypermutation in the viral RNA genome. Surprisingly, our data showed that hypermutation frequency in the viral RNA genome was significantly lower than in the integrated DNA, suggesting a mechanism exists to preferentially select intact genomic RNA for viral packing. This study revealed a new insight into the mechanism of HIV-1 counteracting A3G antiviral function and might lay a foundation for new antiviral strategies.
The Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Weight Gain in People Living with HIV Receiving a Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Therapy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Pilot Single-Arm Historical Cohort Study
Authors: Shimels Tariku , Bilal Arebu Issa , Samuel Desta , Gedamu Desalew , Solomon Eden , Shewamene Zewdneh
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has immensely improved the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite such a change, concerns continue to persist regarding the safety of the latest drugs added to the regimens. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and weight gain in individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy containing dolutegravir at a general hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at RDDMH from 1 February to 30 March 2022. The study included PLHIV who had dolutegravir substituted into their combined regimen in November 2019. Collected data underwent cleaning, entry, and analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v. 26.0 and R programing. Descriptive statistics were employed for univariate and bivariate analysis. The Kaplan–Meier model in R was used to illustrate the hazard function. A significance level of p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were employed for statistical reporting. Results: The study followed 185 PLHIV who were on ART who either substituted their previous regimens or initiated a new dolutegravir-based regimen for 12 months. Most were females (59.5%), aged over 38 years (57.5%), married (50.8%), and had lived with HIV for 7 or more years (51.9%). The incidence proportion of T2DM in this sample was 7.0% (95% CI: 3.8–10.3). The age category (X2(1, N = 185) = 12.29, p < 0.001) exhibited a statistically significant relationship with the incidence of T2DM. The cumulative rate of T2DM in the age group over 38 years was approximately 15.4%. The pairwise Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed statistically significant differences in BMI scores between time points. Conclusion: This study observed a noteworthy incidence of T2DM among PLHIV receiving a dolutegravir-based first-line ART. Healthcare providers should prioritize early follow-up and management options for PLHIV who are on dolutegravir-based ART regimens.
Perfil do professor do Rio Grande do Norte
Authors: Silva Rosângela Maria
Published: May 2024

Este estudo buscou traçar o perfil dos docentes do Rio Grande do Norte, analisando os dados de formação de professores, no período de 2010 a 2020. Para tanto, foram utilizadas informações coletadas pelo Censo Escolar e publicadas pelo INEP em sinopses estatísticas e indicadores de percentual de docente por grupo de adequação da formação à disciplina que leciona (2013 a 2020) e de docentes com curso superior (2011 a 2020). Os dados foram cotejados com as políticas nacionais e estaduais e com a literatura para construção de hipóteses. Após análise dos dados, conclui-se que ainda há um caminho a ser percorrido, pois existe um número significativo de professores no Estado, tanto do ensino fundamental quanto médio, fora do grupo de docentes com formação superior de licenciatura na mesma área da disciplina que leciona.
Prognostic Assessment of Histopathologic Lesions in Patients with Community-Acquired AKI with Biopsy-Proven Acute Tubular Necrosis
Authors: Cui Fangzheng , Zhang Jieting , Ruan Mengna , Lu Yunhui , Wu Jun , Chen Zewei , Xue Cheng , Xu Jing , Mao Zhiguo
Published: May 2024

Key Points

The severity of acute tubular necrosis was closely associated with renal survival.

Crescent and arterial lesions are significantly associated with progression to ESKD and exerted superimposing effects together with acute tubular necrosis.

Tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis and intracapillary lesions increase the risk of CKD stage 3–5.

Background

Community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) was more likely to be comorbid with underlying kidney histopathological lesions in addition to acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Thus, we tried to clarify the histological determinants that could influence the prognosis and recovery of patients with CA-AKI with biopsy-proven ATN.

Methods

Adult patients with CA-AKI with biopsy-proven ATN who underwent renal biopsy at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2018, were included and followed up for 5 years. The impacts of histopathological lesions on short-term and long-term renal dysfunction were also analyzed.

Results

Multivariate analysis revealed that ATNs, crescents, and decrease of arteriole lumens increased short-term dialysis requirements. The severity of ATN was closely associated with renal survival. According to the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the severity of ATN was significantly associated with short-term dialysis needs and long-term development of ESKD during follow-up. Crescent and decrease of arteriole lumens are significantly associated with progression to ESKD and exert synergistic effects with ATN. For patients who did not progress to dialysis, tubular atrophic/interstitial fibrosis and endocapillary lesions were more relevant to partial recovery of renal function after CA-AKI at the 3-month follow-up and increased the risk of CKD stage 3–5 at the 5-year follow-up. According to our correlation analysis, endocapillary lesions and crescents were positively correlated with ATN.

Conclusions

Histopathologic lesions, apart from tubular necrosis, contributed to the detrimental short-term and long-term renal prognosis of patients with CA-AKI with ATN; concomitant histopathologic lesions exerted a combined impact on renal survival together with ATN in patients with CA-AKI.
Experience in implementing the ecological concept of CSR (On the example of ukrainian fashion brands)
Authors: Baliun Оksana , Solomka Polina , Fisenko Tetiana , Holovko Olha , Kasianchuk Valeriia
Published: May 2024

The relevance of the chosen topic is due to the lack of scientific research on the ecological responsibility of Ukrainian fashion brands. The study aims to uncover the significance of the ecological component of corporate social responsibility in the practice of Ukrainian fashion brands and to determine its impact on consumer trust levels. The methodological basis of the research consists of a combination of general scientific and sociological methods.

The study of Ukrainian fashion brand experiences has shown that ecological activities are mostly used situationally, particularly by local-level designer brands. Based on the analysis of Ukrainian experiences, technologies, and tools of ecological practices applied in brand social responsibility programs have been systematized into the following categories: eco-production, eco-products, eco-events, eco-processes, eco-cooperation, eco-strategies, and eco-communications.

The current state of consumer behavior and societal attitudes towards the eco-activities of fashion brands has been investigated. Within the research framework, a sociological online survey was conducted, which confirmed the hypothesis that Ukrainian society recognizes the necessity of transitioning to conscious ecological clothing consumption. However, responsible consumer behavior is not observed simultaneously, leading to the development of a phenomenon where fashion production follows Western trends in implementing eco-initiatives, thereby shaping a culture of conscious ecological consumption.
Environmental awareness for teachers: A sustainable future
Authors: Atorina Viсtoria , Imber Viktoriia , Viktorenko Iryna , Balakirieva Viktoriia , Loboda Olha
Published: May 2024

The article shows the significance of the formation of environmental awareness of each individual on a global scale. The approach of scientists to the disclosure of the content of ecological consciousness, its structure, and its varieties has been studied. The position of consideration of ecological consciousness is proposed, which is presented from two positions (the first position – based on the acquired experience of ecological being, the awareness of a person's mental sense of personal responsibility; the second position – the phenomenon of ecological consciousness in the "society – nature" system). The main approaches in preparing future primary school teachers for the formation of environmental consciousness are highlighted; principles that ensure the development of environmental awareness of primary school teachers; and components of environmental awareness (technological, managerial, communicative). To verify the formation of the components of environmental awareness among students of higher education in higher educational institutions, an experimental study of the formation of environmental awareness among primary school teachers was conducted and the need for the formation of environmental culture among schoolchildren was proven in primary school when a person develops his personality as a future citizen, which proves the relevance of the selected research topic.
Security aspects of digital transformation and intellectualization of business
Authors: Melnyk Stepan , Ravlinko Zoryana , Shuprudko Nataliia , Pushak Halyna , Havrylyshyn Olena
Published: May 2024

The main purpose of the article is to determine the key aspects of security during digital transformation and intellectualization of business in the conditions of a changing external environment. As a result of the literature review, the team of authors of the article sets themselves a new scientific task, to form an innovative approach to assessing security aspects during digital transformation and intellectualization of business in modern development conditions. The research methodology involves the use of the expert analysis method, the Delphi method, the even comparison method, and the modeling method. Thanks to this, the result was a list of the most significant security aspects affecting the process of digitalization and intellectualization of business in the region. An approach to assessing these aspects has been formed. The innovativeness of the results obtained is considered through the prism of the proposed model for achieving the most important aspects of security for effective digitalization and intellectualization of business in Ukraine. The study is limited by taking into account the specifics of the business environment only in Ukraine. Prospects for further research suggest expanding the range of modeling; if only the IDEF0 method was used in the article, then in the future the possibilities of using IDEF3 should be considered.
Legal impacts of digitization on intellectual property
Authors: Tumalavičius Vladas , Prykhodkina Nataliia , Vovk Mariia , Mytych Serhiy , Kustovska Oksana
Published: May 2024

The digital age has revolutionized the way intellectual property is created, shared, and protected. This article explores the legal aspects of IP protection in the digital age, focusing on the challenges and opportunities posed by digital technologies. The objective of this study is to analyze the evolving landscape of IP protection in the digital age, examining the impact of digitalization on traditional IP laws and regulations.

This study employs a qualitative research methodology, conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature, laws, and regulations related to IP protection in the digital age. Content analysis and synthesis are used to illustrate key concepts and trends. The results of the study highlight the need for updated and harmonized IP laws to address the challenges posed by digital technologies. The study also identifies the importance of technological solutions, such as blockchain and digital rights management, in enhancing IP protection in the digital age. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of adapting IP laws and regulations to the digital age to ensure effective protection of IP rights. It also underscores the need for collaboration between governments, industries, and technology companies to develop innovative solutions for IP protection in the digital era.
Flipped learning in higher school: theory and practice
Authors: Wang Qi , Melnyk Halyna , Lishchynska-Kravets Halyna , Shpaliarenko Yuliia , Tomashevska Myroslava
Published: May 2024

The article clarifies the essence of the technology of "flipped learning" and reveals the main stages of the educational process during the application of this technology, models of "flipped learning" for the educational process are taken into account, and the advantages of the technology of "flipped learning" are highlighted, which are taken into account when training specialists in institutes. Having disclosed the content of the main elements of the "flipped learning" technology and proposing an algorithm for conducting classes using this technology, we experimentally proved that the use of "flipped learning" technology is an actual technique in the formation of independent educational work and is necessary for the educational process. The purpose of the study was to determine the criteria for comparing the results of traditional training and training using the "flipped learning" technology. EG respondents noted that using the "flipped learning" method, it is easy for them to learn the material; they are more active in class; can process more educational material, they are attracted by the independence in processing new information, the availability of electronic educational materials, the opportunity to study educational materials at their own pace, anywhere, at a convenient time.
Formation of an effective management system in the educational space of higher education institutions
Authors: Plakhotnik Oleh , Syladii Ivan , Kubitskyi Serhii , Koycheva Tetyana , Krulko Larysa
Published: May 2024

The article shows the importance of reforming the education system at the current stage of society's development to create an effective management system in the educational space. The role of an innovative university in creating an effective management system in the educational space is revealed; the principle provisions of the new management paradigm are highlighted; the formation of an effective management system in the educational space of higher education institutions is proposed. The main mechanisms and functions of control for carrying out reforms to form an effective management system in the educational space of a higher education institution are revealed; the main types of management activities are described. The main functions for controlling the management system are highlighted; the principles of the development of the management system in the educational space of higher education institutions and the task of an innovative research university by the peculiarities of the organization of the management system in the educational space is proposed. An experimental study was conducted during which we investigated the importance of an innovative management system in the educational space, the professional development of heads of higher education institutions, and the level of quality of higher education in higher education institutions.
Traces of theosophical approach in Jalal'ud-Din Muhammad Rumi
Authors: Golkarian Ghadir
Published: May 2024

Rumi's concept of "Love," which He has proposed for years, has been tried to be explained from various perspectives. However, some scholars claim that it consists of phrases reflecting the content of "Divine Love," some of them "The peak of human romanticism," and some of them "Theosophy."

The critical works written by Rumi are Masnawi and Divan-e Shams. He points out two crucial issues there and even starts the poem at the beginning of the Masnawi not with the name of Allah, but with "Listen from the reed-flute!" In this beginning, Rumi deals with the expressions "separation" and "unity" and emphasizes that the creature will prefer to return to the place it is attached to.

This research examines theosophical approaches based on Rumi's work. It tries to determine the difference between romantic thinking, theosophic approaches, and the love expressed by Rumi. There are similarities between Rumi's view and theosophism. However, the necessary research has not been done in this regard. In today's era, getting results about Rumi's thoughts and mystical view of theosophism is essential. This research is based on comparative studies and the qualitative methodology. Corpus selection was at the forefront, and Divan-e Kabir and Masnawi were determined as the main works and analysis sources.
ПРОБЛЕМИ НАВЧАННЯ ДІТЕЙ МІГРАНТІВ У КРАЇНАХ ЗАХІДНОЇ ЄВРОПИ
Authors: Якименко В. М.
Published: May 2024

У статті визначено та схарактеризовано проблеми, що мають місце в процесі навчання дітей мігрантів першого й другого покоління у країнах Західної Європи. Розглянуто різні покоління дітей мігрантів. З’ясовано негативні впливи, які характерні для дітей мігрантів, – обмежений доступ до соціально-економічних ресурсів, наявність міграційного статусу, низький соціально-економічний статус, обмеженість знань місцевої мови, наявність психологічних бар’єрів, недостатня підтримка сім’ї та громади.

Визначено причини низької шкільної успішності учнів мігрантів, а саме: недосконалість навчальних програм; суб’єктивне ставлення до оцінювання тестів; обмеженість фінансових можливостей щодо надання підтримки; перебування учнів мігрантів у школах, які мають низькі показники успішності; направлення даної категорії учнів до оволодіння професійно-технічною освітою; відсутність належної уваги до дітей мігрантів з боку держави та інших регіональних і місцевих структур; наявність мовних бар’єрів.

Проведене дослідження дозволило окреслити шляхи реалізації питань успішного навчання дітей мігрантів, як-от: створення привітного дитячого середовища, що вільне від расизму; задоволення різноманітних психосоціальних потреб дітей; розв’язання їхніх лінгвістичних потреб.

Установлено, що школам належить провідна роль у процесі соціалізації дітей мігрантів. Успішна інтеграція цієї категорії дітей у освітнє середовище школи залежить від розумного керівництва закладом освіти та всебічної підтримки органами управління освітою й урядом.

З’ясовано основні проблеми щодо організації навчання дітей мігрантів у країнах Західної Європи. Це: існування мовних бар’єрів як у школі, так і в оточуючому середовищі; непідготовленість вчителів до організації навчання дітей із сімей мігрантів; зосередженість учнів мігрантів у школах із низькими показниками успішності; неналежна фінансова підтримки зазначеної категорії дітей та їхніх сімей; слабка взаємодія батьків зі школою; існування психологічних перешкод, таких як: почуття ізоляції, відчуження, упередження; недостатнє розуміння урядом потреб дітей мігрантів; слабке задоволення їхніх психосоціальних та емоційних потреб; відсутність варіативних програм щодо вивчення англійської мови; слабке володіння мовою при вивченні різних шкільних предметів та деякі інші