bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Custos logísticos em uma agroindustria de beneficiamento de arroz
Authors: Tramontin Castanha Eduardo , Cittadin Andréia , Ferreira Guimarães Milla Lúcia
Published: May 2023

O estudo tem o objetivo de verificar os custos logísticos e a percepção dos gestores quanto às informações para sua gestão a partir do caso de uma agroindústria de beneficiamento de arroz de Santa Catarina. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa, realizada por meio de estudo de caso. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2018, mediante entrevista estruturada aplicada aos principais gestores, análise documental e observação. A empresa atua no mercado brasileiro e internacional, concentrando suas vendas do mercado interno para a Região Nordeste do país, empregando predominantemente o modal rodoviário para realizar o transporte dos produtos aos clientes. Uma verificação dos custos logísticos da empresa mostrou que apesar de alguns gestores afirmarem que conhecem o montante desses custos, não há consenso entre os pesquisados quanto ao conhecimento de tais montantes. Observou-se que nos relatórios gerenciais da empresa estão identificados os custos logísticos de transporte, tributários e de embalagens. Alguns estão dispersos em contas com rubricas gerais e outros, como custo de oportunidade do capital investido, apesar de representativo em função das operações da organização, não são formalmente apurados e de conhecimento dos gestores. Conclui-se que a administração da organização concentra seus esforços, principalmente, na gestão dos custos de transporte, por entender que são os mais expressivos e mais visíveis nas suas operações e nos relatórios, porém, outros itens de custos logísticos, se identificados, poderiam ser foco da gestão da organização, podendo contribuir para a melhoria nos resultados.
Sytuacja Khmerów w Wietnamie. Polityka władz wietnamskich wobec mniejszości a trwałość khmerskiej tradycji
Authors: Zaręba Michał
Published: May 2023

Celem artykułu jest analiza obecnej sytuacji socjoekonomicznej mniejszości Khmerów w Wietnamie oraz przedstawienie ewolucji polityki rządu wietnamskiego wobec tej grupy od okresu podziału kraju do czasów współczesnych. Aby zrealizować to założenie, postawiono następujące pytania badawcze: 1) Jaki jest status społeczności khmerskiej w Wietnamie na płaszczyźnie społecznej i ekonomicznej?; 2) Czy mniejszość Khmerów wykształciła poczucie silnej, odrębnej tożsamości?; 3) Jaka jest polityka wietnamskich władz wobec społeczności khmerskiej? Analiza ma na celu weryfikację hipotezy zakładającej, iż deklaracje wietnamskiego rządu odnośnie do prowadzenia polityki mającej na celu poszanowanie odmienności kulturowej oraz poprawienie warunków życia i sytuacji materialnej Khmerów nie znajdują pokrycia w rzeczywistości. Nadal pozostaje wiele zaniedbanych sfer, a Khmerzy doznają dyskryminacji, zachowując silne poczucie tożsamości narodowej poprzez kultywowanie khmerskiej tradycji i obyczajów.
Assessment of Physical, Nutritional, Antioxidant, Antinutritional and Cooking Characteristics of Lentil Cultivar PL 8
Authors: . Meenal , Dutta Anuradha , Kushwaha Archana , Dobhal Neetu , Durgapal Shailja , Shahi N.C. , Kumar Anil
Published: May 2023

Background: From ancient times, lentil has been a prominent part of our diet. Nowadays, there is an emerging interest in lentil, as it is a potential food of plant origin having ample amount of nutrients, which contributes to numerous health benefits. Methods: The seeds of lentil (PL 8) were screened for visual impurity and deformity and sound seeds were selected for further analysis. The seeds were subjected to milling and the flour obtained was further used to analyze the physical parameters, nutritional quality, antinutrient content and cooking characteristics of the chosen variety. The impact of soaking on cooking quality was also observed. Result: It was observed that lentil (PL 8) seeds had higher content of protein, dietary fibre and anti oxidants. However, the antinutrient content as well as physical properties were comparable with the other varieties studied by various authors. It was further observed that soaking of seeds prior to cooking reduced cooking time.
Efficacy of Paromomycin Sulphate for the Treatment of Cryptosporidiosis in Goat Kids
Authors: Kabu Mustafa , Tunç Ahmet Cihat , Eser Mustafa
Published: May 2023

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of paromomycin sulphate on serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) in Cryptosporidiosis in goat kids. Methods: In the study, stool samples were taken from the kids and Cryptosporidium was detected via the rapid test kit. Then, by examining the same stool samples microscopically, we included 9 kids in the study and 50 mg/kg of paromomycin sulphate was administered to the kids in which Cryptosporidium spp. was detected for five days as a treatment. For the SAA and Hp estimation, blood samples were drawn from the kids in the pre and post treatment stages. Result: In the kids with Cryptosporidium, the concentrations of SAA and Hp were measured as (SAA; 17.10±4.18 ng/mL Hp; 2.68±1.08 µg/mL) in pre-treatment and as (SAA; 9,71±4,13 ng/mL, Hp; 1,23±0,64 µg/mL) in the post-treatment stage (p less than 0,05). In accordance with these findings, we suggest that routine measurements of SAA and Hp concentrations of the goat kids with diarrhea due to cryptosporidiosis could be of value in follow up of treatment, determining the severity of the infection, selection of therapy and monitoring the efficacy of the preferred treatment protocol and in detection of subclinical infections.
Romaneka Dîrokî Ya Dîroknasekî: Zeynel Bega Îhsan Colemêrgî
Authors: SUVAĞCİ İlyas
Published: May 2023

Dîrok û roman du hêmanên sereke ne ku behsa jîyana civak û ferdan dikin. Çawa ku dîroknas xwe dispêre belgenameyan û bûyerên berê radigihîne romannivîs jî kitekit û jîyanên ku di dîrokê da nepenî mane şîrove dike. Em di vê xebata xwe da li ser romana Îhsan Colemêrgî ya bi navê Zeynel Beg bisekinîn gelo di vê romanê da nivîskarî çawa ji dîrokê sûd wergirtîye. Wekî cureyeka romanê ev berhem di edebîyata Kurdî da yek ji nimûneyên ewil yên ku li ser dîroka Hekaryan e. Lewma lêkolîna me ji ber vê sedemê girîng e. Di vê xebatê da me ev pirs bersivandin; gelo hêmanên romanê yên binyadgerî yên wek zîncîreya rûdanê , karakter , zeman û mekanî çawa hatine honandin, cureyê vegêr bandoreka çawa li ser romanê kirîye, wekhevîyên vê berhemê ligel romanên dî yên dîrokî çi ne? Me rêbaza nirxandina naverokê ya çawahînîyê bi kar anî. Me dît ku di navbera nivîskarî û berhema wî da têkilîyeka girîng heye. Bûyerên ku di romanê da tên vegotin ji riwangeha romannivîsekî zêdetir dişibe ya dîroknasekî. Lewma mirov dikare bibêje ku di berhemê da mînakên anakronîzmê jî tên dîtin. Lewma nivîskarî ji bo nivîsandina dîrokê roman wek amûrekê bi kar anîye
NUMERICAL MODELING OF AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A UAV DESIGN POWERED BY PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
Authors:   Military Technical Academy „Ferdinand I”, Bucharest, Romania, BUZDUGAN Andrei , JULA Nicolae ,   Military Technical Academy „Ferdinand I”, Bucharest, Romania, BĂLTEANU Albert ,   ”Henri Coandă” Air Force Academy, Braşov, Romania
Published: May 2023

UAVs are increasingly used for tasks such as surveillance, monitoring, and inspection, but their effectiveness is limited by their energy storage and generation capacity. Therefore, optimizing the energy system of a solar-powered UAV is crucial to extend its range and duration, and numerical modeling can help achieve this goal. In this particular study, researchers focused on a solar-powered UAV with a 151 cm wingspan. They used three different energy sources to power the UAV, and then simulated its performance using numerical modeling. The aim was to find the optimal energy source for each stage of flight and ensure a steady and efficient power supply throughout the entire mission. The findings of this study have important implications for the development of new UAVs with exceptional performance
Archetypical place and the role of the epic “Manas” in the Altai civilization
Authors:   the National History Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bakashova Jyldyz K.
Published: May 2023

The article focuses on the concept of Altai civilization, determines the place of the epic “Manas” in it, analyzes and compares individual communities, consonances, similarities in the epics of the peoples included in the Altai-Turkic world “Oguz name”, “Korkut-Ata”, “Uraal Baatyr”, “Nurgun Baatyr”. Thoughts are expressed and argued that all these similarities did not arise suddenly, but have common roots. The era of the creation of the epic “Manas”, its volume and artistic and aesthetic qualities, most importantly, the key philosophy that calls kindred peoples to unity and harmony contain a strong integration value. From this point of view, the epic “Manas” has become an archetype not only of the folklore of Altai-Ala-Too, but also of the Altai civilization as a whole.
Cumulation as the organizing principle of Lev Rubinstein’s “file cabinet” poetry
Authors:   Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University named after K.D. Ushinsky, Bokarev Aleksey S.
Published: May 2023

The article presents the tendency of contemporary poets to use lists and catalogues in their works in an attempt to “restore” figurative language of cumulation, which has an existentially mythological status rather than a conditionally poetic one. Historical poetics define this language as a sequence of externally dissimilar yet semantically identical phenomena stemming from archaic consciousness. Subject of the present research is the worldview specifics of Lev Rubinstein’s conceptual “Poems on Library Index Cards”, particularly, a complex of motives represented by cumulative structures. The research asserts that, in the “file cabinet” poetry, which embodies the concept of sequence with its very form, the only signified of the cumulative chain is the text prioritizing the autometadescriptive principle. Focusing on the preconditions and consequences of poetic initiation, “mechanics” of a creative act and text origins of reality, the author comes to a conclusion that a human’s life functions only through “regular writing” and lasts as long as the “file cabinet” grows. As the events are played out (the majority of works has some kind of discrete though rather defined storyline), the inevitability of death becomes more and more apparent, however, the “return” (perceived as “resurrection” in another’s consciousness) is predetermined by the possibility to reread the text as many times as one can. Thus, the way the non-classical poetry (including Rubinstein’s works) is rooted in mythological semantics not only does not exclude it focusing on the modern problems but also serves as a tool of their artistic objectification.
The Second international scientific conference “Russian Writers and Medicine: Two Hundred Years Together (1820–2020)”
Authors:   nstitute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences  (Pushkinskiy House), Kibalnik Sergei A.
Published: May 2023

On September 19–21, 2022 the Second International Conference “Russian Writers and Medicine: Two Hundred Years Together (1820–2020)” was held at the Institute of Russian Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Historians of literature and medicine took part in its work. Researchers from Belarus, Hungary, Great Britain, Germany and France, as well as from various regions of Russia — from St. Petersburg to Blagoveshchensk — read 50 reports.
Lotman’s Universe: Text as Fate
Authors:   Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN), Ovcharenko Alexei Yu. , Romanova Ksenia S. ,   Lomonosov Moscow State University
Published: May 2023

The article reviews Yu. Lotman’s Universe. It develops such notions as the life as a text, the text as a destiny, the biography as an art and creative life, decodes signs in the scholar’s semiosphere. The authors quote the examples where painters and writers have literally created their artistic destinies: from the construction of life by the Symbolists, the life strategies of Proletkult (Proletarian) artists and the Futurists to Dmitry A. Prigov’s cultural project that is named after him. The authors contend that Yu. Lotman’s life path has been predestined by the birthplace, i. e., the house on Nevsky Prospect that belonged to Admiral Cornelius Cruys, a companion of Peter the Great, as well as by the studies at Petrischule. The main components of his scholarly destiny relate to Karamzin and Pushkin texts and, subsequently, Petersburg text reflecting his interest in the ideology of Peter the Great epoch and urban semiotics. The development of scholarly personality during his student years experienced the influence of the interwoven threads of the epoch’s communicative fabric — the political and social pathos of that time and St. Petersburg’s philology with the perceptions of the Russian Formalists about literature as a system. After World War II YurMikh has created his own behavioral text and biography, thereby, becoming a YurMyth. The interconnectivity, mutual determinedness and propensity for dialogue — a dialogue in general time with the contemporaries M.M. Bakhtin and A.F. Losev — are typical of his scholarly and private biography, personal life and creative activities, ideas and texts.
Kant e o problema de Newton
Authors: Barra Eduardo Salles de Oliveira
Published: May 2023

O mecanicismo cartesiano oferecera à chamada “revolução científica” do séc. XVII a base metafísica para as suas surpreendentes conquistas científicas. Os Princípios Matemáticos da Filosofia Natural (1687) de Issac Newton, ao mesmo tempo que ampliam essas conquistas, introduzem um novo conceito cujas dificuldades de fundamentação reduziram ao estágio inicial a tarefa à qual Descartes havia se dedicado. A metafísica mecanicista cartesiana não poderia de forma alguma acomodar o conceito de forças que parecem agir a distância e produzir autênticas atrações. Dessa incompatibilidade insuperável surge o que chamarei “problema de Newton”, que incide na incompatibilidade entre a inatividade essencial da matéria e a evidente atividade na natureza. Os Princípios Metafísicos da Ciência da Natureza (1787) de Immanuel Kant, testemunham o quão persistente se tornou o imbróglio newtoniano. Neste tratado, Kant dedica-se à construção de uma metafísica formal da natureza estruturada na distinção entre determinações matemáticas (essenciais) da matéria e as suas determinações dinâmicas (relacionais). No entrecruzamento entre estas duas ordens de determinações, Kant posicionará sua análise das condições de possibilidade (construtibilidade na intuição pura) das forças essenciais da matéria, conferindo-lhe, assim, um lugar central no programa levado a termo nos Princípios Metafísicos da Ciência da Natureza. Esse fato, por si só, confere a esta obra o status do empreendimento filosófico mais ambicioso do séc. XVIII destinado a oferecer uma solução ao “problema de Newton”.
Percepção de Profissionais de Hospital Público sobre Cultura de Segurança do Paciente
Authors: Façanha Telma Rejane dos Santos , Araujo Tereza Cristina Cavalcanti Ferreira de
Published: May 2023

A segurança do paciente não constitui preocupação recente, pois está essencialmente interligada aos cuidados de saúde. No cenário atual, é crucial reunir conhecimentos teóricos e práticos sobre o tema, devidamente baseados em evidências científicas. Sendo assim, empreendeu-se um estudo descritivo, correlacional e analítico, com o objetivo de analisar e compreender a percepção de profissionais sobre cultura de segurança do paciente. A amostra totalizou 378 participantes de um hospital público de complexidade funcional terciária, que responderam ao instrumento Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC). Os resultados revelaram diferenças entre as categorias profissionais. Notadamente, psicólogos manifestaram maior divergência no que concerne à existência de punições em situações de erro ou negligência profissional. Discutem-se ações de treinamento e capacitação para superar medidas institucionais restritas. Recomendam-se protocolos de avaliação sistemática de segurança do paciente fundamentados no trabalho da equipe multiprofissional, incluindo-se gestores e líderes organizacionais. Sugerem-se estudos multicêntricos longitudinais.
Phase change materials microcapsules reinforced with graphene oxide for energy storage technology
Authors: Du Bowei , Wang Mingyue , Zhao Qing , Hu Xiaofei , Ding Shujiang
Published: May 2023

Phase change materials (PCMs) are considered one of the most promising energy storage methods owing to their beneficial effects on a larger latent heat, smaller volume change, and easier controlling than other materials. PCMs are widely used in solar energy heating, industrial waste heat utilization, energy conservation in the construction industry, and other fields. To avoid leakage, phase separation, and volatile problems of PCMs, the encapsulation technique typically uses organic polymer materials as shell structures of microcapsules. Furthermore, using inorganic materials to enhance the thermal property of phase change microcapsules is a popular approach in recent research. Especially, graphene oxide (GO) with high thermal conductivity was used as a common thermal conducting additive to improve the thermal performance of phase change microcapsules. Due to its amphiphilic property, GO combined with PCM microcapsules can achieve a variety of nanostructures for thermal energy storage. In this paper, four aspects have been summarized: configuration of PCMs, methods of combining GO with phase change microcapsules, position and content of GO, and applications of PCM/GO microcapsules. This work attempts to discuss preparation methods and heat-conducting properties of the PCM/GO microcapsules, which helps to better promote the application-targeted design and greatly improve the thermal properties of PCM microcapsules for various applications.
Hong Kong: Uma Pérola Oriental ou Ocidental?
Authors: Altemani de Oliveira Henrique
Published: May 2023

A promulgação da Lei de Segurança Nacional de Hong Kong, julho de 2020, provocou acusações de rompimento de compromissos assumidos em 1997 e retaliações estadunidenses. O artigo reavalia o processo de devolução de Hong Kong à China sob o princípio de “um país, dois sistemas” e enfatiza o papel dos movimentos sociais reivindicando melhorias políticas, socioeconômicas e culturais. Conclui-se apontando a necessidade de uma reformulação da Lei Básica, de reformas, de recuperação da legitimidade governamental e que o conflito sino-americano contribuiu para ampliar as tensões.
Riding the Dragon in the Scramble for Independence : Chinese-Greenlandic Cooperation on Large-Scale Projects
Authors: Soendergaard Niels , Thives Victor
Published: May 2023

The article examines the Chinese engagement in the Arctic, with specific focus on large-scale mineral and infrastructure projects in Greenland. Providing an important financial basis for potential Greenlandic independence, these projects also have significant environmental, geostrategic, and political reverberations. This leaves a complex geopolitical context in which Greenland will have to navigate interactions with China cautiously on its path to self-determination.
Revisiting the Political Biases of ChatGPT
Authors: Fujimoto Sasuke , Takemoto Kazuhiro
Published: May 2023

Although ChatGPT promises wide-ranging applications, there is a concern that it is politically biased; in particular, it has a left-libertarian orientation. Nevertheless, in light of recent trends in attempts to reduce such biases, this study re-evaluated the political biases of ChatGPT using political orientation tests and the application programming interface. Moreover, the effects of the languages used in the system as well as gender and race settings were evaluated. The results indicated that ChatGPT had less political bias than previously thought; however, they did not entirely discount the political bias. The languages used in the system and the gender and race settings may induce political biases. These findings enhance our understanding of the political biases of ChatGPT and may be useful for bias evaluation and designing ChatGPT’s operational strategy.
Omic Studies on the Effect of Fucus vesiculosus on Differentiated Caco-2 Cells: A Potential Functional Food
Authors: André Rebeca , Pacheco Rita , Santos Hugo M. , Serralheiro Maria-Luísa
Published: May 2023

High blood cholesterol levels are one of the main risks for atherosclerotic disease. A purified aqueous extract of Fucus vesiculosus, characterized as rich in phlorotannins and peptides, was described as having the capacity to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and intestinal absorption. In this work, the effect of this extract on intestinal cells metabolites and proteins was analysed, aiming to expand the knowledge about its mode of action targeting cholesterol metabolism, in particular exogenous cholesterol absorption and transport. Caco-2 cells differentiated into enterocytes were exposed to the purified aqueous extract of F. vesiculosus and analysed by undirected metabolomics and proteomics. The results of the metabolomic analysis showed only statistically significant differences in glutathione content of the cells exposed to the extract relatively to the control cells, with a decreased glutathione expression in exposed cells. The proteomic analysis showed an increased expression for cells exposed to the extract of NPC1, an important protein known to be involved in cholesterol transport. To extent of our knowledge this is the first study using untargeted metabolomics and proteomic analysis to study the effect of F. vesiculosus on differentiated Caco-2 cells, which aims to provide some insight about the molecular mechanism of extract compounds on intestinal cells.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Assessment, Including Learning Curve: Developing a Dynamic Simulation Model
Authors: Usaquén-Perilla Sandra Patricia , Bocanegra-Villegas Laura Valentina , García-Melo José Isidro
Published: May 2023

The accelerated pace with which new diagnostic possibilities are produced and the budget re-strictions of the healthcare sector require that the decision-making process of acquiring new technologies becomes systematic in nature. There are some methodologies such as the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) that encompasses technological domains, clinical effectiveness, patient safety, organizational and financial aspects, among others. However, these methods do not contemplate the learning curve (LC) which is a differential factor in operator-dependent technologies. An assessment model was conceived based on the assessment domains of the AdHopHTA project with the addition of LC. The model was validated and calibrated through System Dynamics (SD) and using as case study the assessment of Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS) equipment in dengue screening. The model helped identify the influence of the LC and patient demand on the income and costs for the healthcare system regarding dengue screening as well as the cost-benefit indicator. The control charts LC-CUSUM and CUSUM are graphic tools to intuitively assess the learning curve which can be used for real-time monitoring once students reach a certain skill level.
Understanding the Role of the Glial Scar through the Depletion of Glial Cells after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Perez-Gianmarco Lucila , Kukley Maria
Published: May 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that affects between 8.8 and 246 people in a million and, unlike many other neurological disorders, it affects mostly young people, causing deficits in sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Promoting regrowth of axons is one of the most important goals for the neurological recovery of patients after SCI, but it is also one of the most challenging goals. A key event after SCI is the formation of a glial scar around the lesion core, which is mainly comprised of astrocytes, NG2+-glia, and microglia. Traditionally, the glial scar has been regarded as detrimental for recovery because it may act as a physical barrier for axon regrowth and release various inhibitory factors. However, more and more evidence now suggest that the glial scar is beneficial for the surrounding spared tissue after SCI. Here, we review experimental studies that used genetic and pharmacological approaches to ablate specific populations of glial cells in rodent models of SCI, in order to understand their functional role. The studies showed that ablation of either astrocytes, NG2+-glia or microglia may result in disorganization of glial scar, increased inflammation, extended tissue degeneration and impaired recovery after SCI. Hence, glial cells and glial scar appear as important beneficial players after SCI.
A General Rule-Based Framework for Generating Alternatives for Forest Ecosystem Management Decision Support Systems
Authors: Nobre Silvana Ribeiro , McDill Marc Eric , Rodriguez Luiz Carlos , Diaz-Balteiro Luis
Published: May 2023

Linear programming formulations of forest ecosystem management (FEM) problems proposed in the 60s have been adapted and improved upon over the years. Generating management alternatives for forest management planning is a key step in building these models. Global forests are diverse, and a variety of models have been developed to simulate management alternatives. Climate change has made forest management calculations even more complex, requiring flexibility, diverse parameters, models, and methods. Despite this complexity, consistent concepts can be applied in developing management alternatives for forest management planning. This work describes iGen, a flexible forest prescription generator that applies the AI technique Rule-Based System (AI-RBS). iGen projects the state and associated inputs and outputs for a set of management units using rules from its knowledge base. An Inference Engine uses the rules to simulate a set of prescriptions in a tree-like graph structure. Without needing IT specialists, forest managers can describe the potential development of their forest through variables, rules, formulas, functions, and procedures. A key feature of iGen is that it is not limited to, adapted to, or focused on any specific region, landscape, forest condition, projection method, or yield function. Instead, it aims to maximize generality, enabling it to address a broad range of FEM problems. This article introduces iGen, explaining its concepts, structure, and algorithms through two FEM problems: natural regeneration with shelterwood harvests and plantation/coppice. For data and iGen source programs, visit github.com/…/iGen.
First Assessment of the Observed Meteorological Data in the Lousã/Seia Region in the Framework of the FireStorm Project
Authors: Rio João , Lopes Manuel , Silva Pedro , Novo Ilda
Published: May 2023

In the framework of the FireStorm project, four portable weather stations were installed in the Lousã/Estrela mountain range. Given that the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere’s sur-face network has two weather stations installed in this region, the new data allows an improved monitoring of the vertical variability of near-surface variables in this mountainous region. As most of the wildfires in mainland Portugal affect areas with complex terrain with elevations below 1200 m and major fires continue to burn overnight, it is also relevant to monitor the vertical changes of meteorological variables in the nighttime period, as these may exhibit large variability. This study provides the first assessment of the available data, with focus on the summer seasons of 2021 and 2022. The results highlight the large variability that was observed in the region and suggest that the risk of extreme fire behaviour in the nighttime period may be underestimated.
A Review of CAD systems for Breast Mass Detection in Mammography Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Mohammadi Shahriar , Ahmadi Livani Mohammad
Published: May 2023

Early detection of breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, raises survival rates and lowers the cost of treatment. Although breast cancer detection and classification (CAD) tools have improved, some issues and restrictions still require further research. The creation of breast cancer CAD systems, particularly with deep learning models, was significantly impacted by recent advancements in machine learning and image processing techniques. The current deep learning-based CAD system to identify and categorize masses in mammography is presented in a structured manner in this survey. The survey provides the most popular breast cancer CAD system evaluation metrics, publicly available mammographic datasets, and current image modalities. The survey examines the available literature, emphasizing its strengths and limitations. The survey also emphasizes the difficulties and drawbacks of the current methods for classifying and detecting breast cancer. We point out research gaps and make suggestions for further study. This systematic review may be beneficial for clinicians using CAD systems to diagnose breast cancer early on and for researchers looking for knowledge gaps and making more contributions to the field.
An Estimation of Daily PM2.5 Concentration in Thailand Using Satellite Data at 1-kilometer Resolution
Authors: Buya Suhaimee , Usanavasin Sasiporn , Hideomi Gokon , Karnjana Jessada
Published: May 2023

This study addresses the limited coverage of regulatory monitoring for particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5) in Thailand due to the lack of ground station data by developing a model to estimate daily PM2.5 concentrations in small regions of Thailand using satellite data at a 1-kilometer resolution. The study employs multiple linear regression and three machine learning models and finds that the random forest model performs the best for PM2.5 estimation over the period of 2011-2020. The model incorporates several factors such as Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Elevation (EV), Week of the year (WOY), and year and applies them to the entire region of Thailand without relying on monitoring station data. Model performance is evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE), and the results indicate high accuracy for training (R2: 0.95, RMSE: 5.58 μg/m3), validation (R2: 0.78, RMSE: 11.18 μg/m3), and testing (R2: 0.71, RMSE: 8.79 μg/m3) data. These PM2.5 data can be used to analyze the short- and long-term effects of PM2.5 on population health and inform government policy decisions and effective mitigation strategies.
The Combination of Binding-Avidity of Ovomucoid-Specific IgE Antibody and Specific IgG4 Antibody Can Predict Positive Outcome of Oral Food Challenge Test during Stepwise Slow Oral Immunotherapy in Children with Hen’s Egg Allergy
Authors: Taniuchi Shoichiro , Sakai Rika , Nishida Takashi , Goma Meguru , Mitomori Masatoshi , Imaide Aya , Enomoto Masahiro , Nishino Masamitsu , Okizuka Yo , Kido Hiroshi
Published: May 2023

To increase the prediction accuracy of positive oral food challenge (OFC) outcome during stepwise slow oral immunotherapy (SS-OIT) in children with hen’s egg (HE) allergy, we evaluated the predictive value of the combination of antigen-specific IgE (sIgE) with antigen binding-avidity and sIgG4 values. Sixty-three children with HE allergy undergoing SS-OIT were subjected to repeated OFC with HE. We measured the ovomucoid (OVM)-sIgE by ImmunoCAP or densely carboxylated protein (DCP) microarray, sIgG4 by DCP microarray, and the binding-avidity of OVM-sIgE defined as the level of 1/ IC50 (nM) measured by competitive binding inhibition assays. The OFC was positive in 37 (59%) patients undergoing SS-OIT. Significant differences in DCP-OVM-sIgE, CAP-OVM-sIgE, I/ IC50, DCP-OVM-sIgG4, the multiplication products of DCP-OVM-sIgE and binding-avidity of DCP-OVM-sIgE (DCP-OVM-sIgE/IC50) and DCP-OVM-sIgE/sIgG4 were compared between the negative and positive groups (p<0.01). Among them, the variable with greatest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was DCP-OVM-sIgE/IC50 (0.84), followed by DCP-OVM-sIgE/sIgG4 (0.81). DCP-OVM-sIgE/IC50 and DCP-OVM-sIgE/sIgG4 are potentially useful markers for the prediction of positive OFC during HE-SS-OIT and may allow proper evaluation of the current allergic status in the healing process during HE-SS-OIT
Detection of ADCC-Supporting Antibodies by NK-92-CD16A Cell Externalization of CD107a: Recognition of Antibody Afucosylation and Assay Optimization
Authors: Cruz Amaya Judith , Walcheck Bruce , Smith-Gagen Julie , Lombardi Vincent C. , Hudig Dorothy
Published: May 2023

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer (NK) lymphocytes eliminates cells infected with viruses. Antiviral ADCC requires three components: 1) antibody; 2) effector lymphocytes with the Fc-IgG receptor CD16A; and 3) viral proteins in infected cell membranes. Fc-afucosylated antibodies bind with greater affinity to CD16A than fucosylated antibodies; individuals’ variation in afucosylation contributes to differences in ADCC. Current assays for afucosylated antibodies involve expensive methods. We report an improved bioassay for antibodies that support ADCC which encompasses afucosylation. This assay utilizes externalization of CD107a by NK-92-CD16A cells after antibody recognition. We used anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, GA101 WT or glycoengineered (GE), 10% or ~50% afucosylated, and CD20-positive Raji target cells. CD107a increased detection 7-fold compared to flow cytometry to detect Raji-bound antibodies. WT and GE antibody effective concentrations (EC50s) for CD107a externalization differed by 20-fold, with afucosylated GA101-GE more detectable. The EC50s for CD107a-externalization vs. 51Cr cell death were similar for NK-92 CD16A and blood NK cells. Notably, the %CD107a-positive cells negatively correlated with dead Raji cells and was nearly undetectable at high NK:Raji ratios required for cytotoxicity. This bioassay is very sensitive and adaptable to assess anti-viral antibodies but unsuitable as a surrogate assay to monitor cell death after ADCC.
Predictors of Speed and Agility in Youth Male Basketball Players
Authors: Causevic Denis , Covic Nedim , Abazovic Ensar , Rani Babina , Manolache Gabriel Marian , Ciocan Cătălin Vasile , Zaharia Gabriel , Alexe Dan Iulian
Published: May 2023

Player’s performance in an intense sport such as basketball is known to be related to attributes like speed, agility, and power. This study presents a comparative analysis of associations between anthropometric assessment and physical performance in different age-group elite youth basketball players, while simultaneously identifying the predictors for speed and agility in these players. U14 (n=44), U15 (n=45) and U16 (n=51) players were tested for anthropometry, lower body power, speed, and agility. U16 players were found to be taller, heavier, more muscular than U14 and U15 players. Also, the U16 group showed better performance in all performance tests. Age had a significant positive correlation with countermovement (CMJ) and drop jump (DJ) performance in U14 players, and a significant negative correlation with 10m and 20m sprint times in U15 group. CMJ and DJ emerged as the most significant predictors for sprint and agility variables, respectively. Body fat percentage was found to be a significant predictor for the speed and agility tests in all age groups, but a negative lower-body power predictor. Therefore, besides all sport-specific and fitness tests, it is essential to place emphasis on the percentage of body fat when designing players’ individualized training programs, and during team selection.
Recent Advances in Copper-Based Materials for Environmental Remediation
Authors: Bonthula Sumalatha , Bonthula Srinivasas Rao , Pothu Ramyakrishna , Srivastava Rajesh K. , Boddula Rajender , Radwan Ahmed Bahgat , Al-Qahtani Noora
Published: May 2023

Copper-based nanomaterials in the last decade attracted many researchers due to their extensive practical applications, unique, inexpensiveness, and wide availability. In addition to this, copper-based nanomaterials possess good thermal stability, and selectivity and also possess high activity. This review emphasis on the recent advances in the synthesis of copper nanomaterials and their wide applications in the field of environmental catalysis. This review aims to fill a significant knowledge gap in the different areas of environmental pollution management. Also, the paper concentrates on the recent applications of copper-based nanomaterials for environmental remediation, including the removal of heavy metals, and degradation of organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, and other environmental contaminants. Also, it will be helpful to young researchers in improving the suitability of implementing the Copper nanomaterials in the right way establishing and achieving sustainable goals for environmental remediation.
Novel 3D Printed Biocarriers from Aluminosilicate Materials
Authors: Economou Eleni Anna , Koltsakidis Savvas , Dalla Ioanna , Middelkoop Vesna , Romanos George Em. , Falaras Polycarpos , Theodorakopoulos George , Tzetzis Dimitrios , Tsongas Konstantinos , Sfetsas Themistoklis
Published: May 2023

The addition of biocarriers can improve the biological processes appearing in a bioreactor since their surface allows the immobilization, attachment, protection, and growth of microorganisms. In addition, the development of a biofilm layer allows the colonization of microorganisms in the biocarriers. The structure, composition, and roughness of the biocarriers' surface are crucial factors that affect the development of the biofilm. In the current work, the aluminosilicate zeolites 13X and ZSM-5 were examined as the main building components of the biocarrier scaffolds, using bentonite, montmorillonite, and halloysite nanotubes as inorganic binders in various combinations. 3D printing was utilized to form pastes into monoliths that underwent heat treatment. The 3d-printed biocarriers were subjected to a mechanical analysis, including density, compression, and nanoindentation tests. Furthermore, the 3d-printed biocarriers were morphologically and structurally characterized using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K (LN2), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The stress-strain response of the materials being studied was obtained through nanoindentation tests combined with finite element analysis (FEA). These tests were also utilized to simulate the lattice geometries under compression loading conditions to investigate their deformation and stress distribution in relation to experimental compression testing. The results indicated that the 3d-printed biocarrier 13X/halloysite nanotubes was endowed with high specific surface area and extended mesoporous structure. Due to these assets, its bulk density was one of the lowest observed amongst the biocarriers derived from the various combinations of materials. The biocarriers based on the 13X zeolite exhibited the highest mechanical stability and appropriate morphological features. The 13X/halloysite nanotubes scaffold exhibits a moderate hardness value compared to the rest, while it presents the highest value of modulus of elasticity. In conclusion, Aluminosilicate zeolites and their combination with clays and inorganic nanotubes afford 3d-printed biocarriers of various textural and structural properties, which can be utilized to improve biological processes.
Thermodynamic and Thermal Analyze of N,N-Dimethylformamide + 1-Butanol Mixture Properties Based on Density, Sound Velocity and Heat Capacity Data
Authors: Tyczyńska Magdalena , Dentkiewicz Aleksandra , Jóźwiak Małgorzata
Published: May 2023

The present paper contains data on the density (ρ), sound velocity (u), specific heat capacity (c_p ) of the mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide + 1-butanol (DMF + BuOH) determined in the entire concentration range of solution and in the temperature range: (293.15–318.15) K. The analysis of thermodynamic functions such as isobaric molar expansion, isentropic and isothermal molar compression, isobaric and isochoric molar heat capacity, as well as their excess functions (〖 E〗_(p,m)^E,〖 K〗_(S,m)^E,〖 K〗_(T,m)^E,〖 C〗_"p,m" ^E,〖 C〗_"V,m" ^E) and also V_m^E was undertaken. The analysis of changes in the physicochemical quantities was based on consideration of the system in an aspect of intermolecular interactions with resulting changes in the mixture structure. The results available in the literature are confusing during the analysis and became the reason for our decision to thoroughly examine the system. What is more, for a system whose components are widely used, there is no information in the literature regarding the heat capacity of the tested mixture, which was also achieved and presented in this publication. The conclusions drawn from so many data allow us to approximate and understand the changes that occur in the structure of the system due to repeatability and consistency of the obtained results
A Novel Approach for Reducing Feature Space Dimensionality and Develop a Universal Machine-Learning Model for Coated Tubes in Cross Flow Heat Exchangers
Authors: Jahaninasab Mahyar , Taheran Ehsan , Zarabadi S. Alireza , Aghaei Mohammadreza , Rajabpour Ali
Published: May 2023

Cross flow heat exchangers are commonly used in the thermal industry to transfer heat from hot tubes to cooling fluid. To protect the heat exchanger tubes from corrosion and dust accumulation, microscale coatings are often applied. In this study, we present machine-learning models for predicting heat transfer from hot tubes with different micro-sized coatings to cooling fluid in a turbulent flow using computational fluid dynamics simulations. A dataset of approximately 1000 cases was generated by varying the coating coverage thickness of each tube, the inlet Reynolds number, fluid flow inlet temperature, and wall temperature of tubes. The machine-learning models were generated to predict the overall heat flow rate in the heat exchanger, and it was found that combining the features based on their importance preserved the accuracy of the models while maintaining all the relevant information. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method increases the coefficient of determination (R2) for the models. The R2 values for unseen data for Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbors, and Support Vector Regression were 0.9810, 0.9037, and 0.9754, respectively, indicating the usefulness of the proposed model for predicting heat transfer in various types of heat exchangers.
Bovine Lactoferrin Loaded Magnetic-Responsive Plasmonic Lipo-Somes for Therapeutic Applications
Authors: Pereira Mélanie , Rodrigues Ana Rita O. , Amaral Leslie , Côrte-Real Manuela , Santos-Pereira Cátia , Castanheira Elisabete M. S.
Published: May 2023

Bovine lactoferrin (bLf) is a milk-derived protein that exhibits multiple biological activities and has been explored towards different therapeutic applications. Since this molecule is susceptible to degradation and some of its properties depend on its tertiary structure, the encapsulation of bLf in stimuli-responsive therapeutic formulations provides an added value to potentiate its biological activities when administered. Plasmonic magnetoliposomes emerge as promising nanosystems for dual hyperthermia (magneto-photothermia) and local therapy, since the combination of magnetic and gold nanoparticles (NPs) in a single nanosystem (multifunctional liposomes) enables the targeting and controlled release of encapsulated drugs. In this work, plasmonic magnetoliposomes (PMLs) containing manganese ferrite nanoparticles (28 nm size) and gold nanoparticles (~ 5 nm size) functionalized with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid or octadecanethiol, were synthesized and loaded with bLf. The structural, magnetic and optical properties of the nanoparticles were measured by TEM, SQUID and UV/vis/NIR absorption spectroscopy. Specific Absorption Rate was determined to assess the capabilities for magnetic and photothermal hyperthermia. Finally, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as an eukaryotic cellular model to assess the biological activity and the mechanism of entry of bLf-loaded PMLs, through counting of colony forming units and fluorescence microscopy, respectively. The results demonstrate that PMLs are mainly internalized through an energy- and temperature-dependent endocytic process, though the contribution of a diffusion component cannot be discarded. Most notably, only bLf-loaded PMLs exhibit cytotoxicity with an efficiency similar to free bLf, attesting their promising potential for bLf delivery in the context of therapeutic interventions.
Reproducibility in Radiomics: A Comparison of Feature Extraction Methods and Two Independent Datasets
Authors: Thomas Hannah Mary , Wang Helen YC , Varghese Amal Joseph , Donovan Ellen M , South Chris P , Saxby Helen , Nisbet Andrew , Prakash Vineet , Krishna Sasidharan Balu , Pavamani Simon Pradeep , D Devakumar , Mathew Manu , Isiah Rajesh , Evans Philip M
Published: May 2023

Radiomics involves the extraction of information from medical images not visible to the human eye. There is evidence these features can be used for treatment stratification and outcome prediction. However, there is much discussion about the reproducibility of results between different studies. This paper studies the reproducibility of CT texture features used in radiomics, comparing two feature extraction implementations namely Matlab toolkit and Pyradiomics when applied on independent datasets of CT scans of patients i) the open access RIDER dataset containing a set of repeat CT scans taken 15 minutes apart for 31 patients (RIDER Scan 1 and Scan 2 respectively) treated for lung cancer and ii) the open access HN1 dataset containing 137 patients treated for head and neck cancer. Gross tumor volume (GTV) manually outlined by an experienced observer available on both datasets was used. 43 common radiomics features available on Matlab and Pyradiomics were calculated using 2 intensity-level quantization methods with and without an intensity threshold. Cases were ranked for each feature for all combinations of quantization parameters and the Spearman’s rank coefficient, rs, calculated. Reproducibility was defined when a highly correlated feature in the RIDER dataset also correlated highly in the HN1 dataset and vice versa. 29 out of 43 reported stable features were found to be highly reproducible between Matlab and Pyradiomics implementations, having consistently high correlation in rank ordering for RIDER Scan 1 and RIDER Scan 2 (rs > 0.8). 18/43 reported features were common in RIDER and HN1 datasets, suggesting they may be agnostic to disease site. Useful radiomics features should be selected based on reproducibility. This study identified a set of features that meet this requirement and validated the methodology for evaluating reproducibility between datasets.