bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caregivers’ burden experience: a comparison between Parkinson's Disease, Multiple System Atrophy and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Carpinelli Luna , Savarese Giulia , Russo Claudio , Stornaiuolo Giovanna , Luisi Ettore , Pellegrino Francesca , Mollo Monica , Toriello Antonella , Barone Paolo , Pellecchia Maria Teresa
Published: February 2024

Background:Caregiving for individuals with neurological disease involves providing physical, emotional, and social support, which can be a challenging and stressful experience. This study aims to compare the caregivers' burden, including the impact on mental and physical health, social support, and quality of life, in different neurodegenerative disorders. Methods:Fifty-five primary caregivers (F=41;mean age=53.07±12.29) of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD=26), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA=16), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS=13), took part in the study. Standardized screening scales for the quality of life (EQ-5D/EQ-VAS and PQoL), levels of the caregiving burden (CBI and FSQ), and the assessment of the anxiety-depressive axis (HADS) were administered. Results: The mean CBI score was higher for caregivers of MSA patients (28.81±21.90) and ALS (25.15±16.23) than for caregivers of PD patients (16.08±10.34; p=0.036). Critical burden (cut-off>36) was present in the caregivers of MSA (31.3%), ALS (23.1%), and PD (19.2%) patients. Caregivers of patients with ALS had a worse perception of quality of life (EQ-5D total score) than caregivers of patients with MSA and PD (p
Resistance Feedback for miniaturization of Shape Memory Alloys actuators
Authors: Durante Francesco , Raparelli Terenziano , Beomonte Zobel Pierluigi
Published: February 2024

This paper illustrates an experimental activity for the closed-loop position control of an actuator made using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. A solution with the self-sensing effect was implemented to miniaturize the systems, i.e., without external sensors. A proportional control algorithm was initially used, demonstrating the idea's feasibility: the wire can behave simultaneously as an actuator and sensor. An experimental investigation was subsequently conducted for the optimization of the developed actuator. As for the material, a Flexinol wire, Ni-Ti alloy, with a diameter of 0.150 mm and a length of 200 mm, was used. Preliminarily, a characterization of the SMA wire at constant and variable loads was carried out: the characteristics detected are elongation vs. electric current and elongation vs. electrical resistance. The control system is PC-based with a data acquisition card (DAQ). A drive board has been designed and built to read the wire's electrical resistance and power it by pulse width modulation (PWM). A notable result is that the actuator works with good precision and in dynamic conditions, even when it is called to support a load up to 65% different from that for which the electrical resistance-length correlation has previously been experimentally obtained, on which the control is based. This opens up the possibility of using the actuator in a counteracting configuration with a spring, which makes hardware implementation and control management simple.
Resistance Feedback for miniaturization of Shape Memory Alloys actuators
Authors: Durante Francesco , Raparelli Terenziano , Beomonte Zobel Pierluigi
Published: February 2024

This paper illustrates an experimental activity for the closed-loop position control of an actuator made using shape memory alloy (SMA) wire. A solution with the self-sensing effect was implemented to miniaturize the systems, i.e., without external sensors. A proportional control algorithm was initially used, demonstrating the idea's feasibility: the wire can behave simultaneously as an actuator and sensor. An experimental investigation was subsequently conducted for the optimization of the developed actuator. As for the material, a Flexinol wire, Ni-Ti alloy, with a diameter of 0.150 mm and a length of 200 mm, was used. Preliminarily, a characterization of the SMA wire at constant and variable loads was carried out: the characteristics detected are elongation vs. electric current and elongation vs. electrical resistance. The control system is PC-based with a data acquisition card (DAQ). A drive board has been designed and built to read the wire's electrical resistance and power it by pulse width modulation (PWM). A notable result is that the actuator works with good precision and in dynamic conditions, even when it is called to support a load up to 65% different from that for which the electrical resistance-length correlation has previously been experimentally obtained, on which the control is based. This opens up the possibility of using the actuator in a counteracting configuration with a spring, which makes hardware implementation and control management simple.
Using SPS Sintering System in Fabrication of Advanced Semiconductor Materials
Authors: Kaszyca Kamil , Chmielewski Marcin , Bucholc Bartosz , Błyskun Piotr , Nisar Fatima , Rojek Jerzy , Zybała Rafał
Published: February 2024

The interest in the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique has continuously increased over the last few years. This article shows the possibility of the development of a SPS device used for material processing and synthesis both in both scientific and industrial applications. This work presents an example of processing Arc-Meleted (half-Heusler, cobalt triantimonide) and SHS-synthesized semiconductors (bismuth telluride) materials with SPS device. The system functionalities expansion is presented, showing the possible way of increasing the information amount obtained about SPS processes and using the SPS apparatus for conducting synthesis of materials and increasing reproducibility and accuracy of process parameters control.
Cyclic Gray Codes in Modeling Inherited Cyclic Biostructures and Analysis of Statistical Rules of Genomic DNAs
Authors: Petoukhov Sergey
Published: February 2024

This article is devoted to the problem of genetically coding of inherited cyclic structures in biological bodies, whose life activity is based on a great inherited set of mutually coordinated cyclic processes. The author puts forward and arguments the idea that the genetic coding system is capable of encoding inherited cyclic processes because it itself is a system of cyclic codes connected with Boolean algebra of logic. In other words, the physiological processes in question are cyclical because they are genetically encoded by cyclic codes. In support of this idea, the author presents a set of his results on the connection of the genetic coding system with cyclic Gray codes, which are one of many known types of cyclic codes. This opens up the possibility of using for modeling inherited cyclic biostructures those algebraic and logical theories and constructions that are associated with Gray codes and have long been used in engineering technologies: Karnaugh maps, Hilbert curve, Hadamard matrices, Walsh functions, dyadic analysis, etc. Additionally, the connections of these constructions with statistical rules of genomic DNAs and binary-genomic numbers are considered.
Characteristics of Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Case Analysis and Literature Review
Authors: Kulesa-Mrowiecka Małgorzata , Lipowicz Anna , Marszałek-Kruk Bożena Anna , Kania Damian , Wolański Wojciech , Myśliwiec Andrzej , Dowgierd Krzysztof
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is the most common congenital face anomaly in the world of multifactorial etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of cleft palate. To identify associated risk factors to guide prevention and/or prenatal detection for early intervention and better health outcomes. To assess the rehabilitation protocols after operations in cleft palate. Design: Retrospective descriptive and clinical study. Patients: One hundred and three children with cleft palate treated in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery Clinic for Children and Young Adults, Department of Clinical Pediatrics, University of Warmia and Mazury, were included in the study. Methods: Records evaluation was conducted regarding sex, cleft type, mother occupation, parents education, histories of cleft in any of parents. The data were analyzed using R (R core team 2021) and the ordinal logistic regression analyses. Results: Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had 9.4 times higher odds of having bilateral cleft. While there was no evidence that children sex, order of birth, and body mass as well as risk of maternal toxicity at work or reporting infections or drugs toxicity had a significant effect on the dependent variable. Conclusions: Children of parents with cleft history and having low educated mothers had higher probability of bilateral cleft palate. Children of stressed mothers during pregnancy had higher odds of having bilateral cleft. In literature, there is a lack of reports about rehabilitation in different operations methods in children with cleft palates.
Oviposition Deterrent Effect of a High Quality Natural Zeolite for the Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera oleae, under Different Conditions of Temperature and Relative Humidity
Authors: Kovaiou Soultana Kyriaki , Kokkari Anastasia , Floros George , Kantiranis Nikolaos , Kouloussis Nikos A. , Filippidis Anestis A. , Koveos Dimitrios
Published: February 2024

In recent years the number of available chemical pesticides has been significantly reduced and there have been an urgent need for discovery of alternative to chemical pesticides products, as among others the natural zeolites (zeolitic rocks). We determined the mineralogical and chemical composition of a specific and continuous layers of zeolitic rock sample (ZeotP) from Petrota, Ev-ros, Greece and evaluated its oviposition deterrent effect for the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Terphritidae). The tested natural zeolite contained 70 wt. % Clinoptilolite, 18 wt. % Amorphous material, 7 wt. % Feldspars, 4 wt. % Cristobalite and 1 wt. % Quartz. We tested the oviposition deterrent effect of ZeotP mixed or not with an emulsifier adjuvant NU-FILM-P® in water and applied on the surface of olive fruits. The ZeotP oviposition deterrent effect for the ol-ive fly was very high under a series of tested temperatures (17°C, 20°C, 25°C and 30°C) and RHs (23%, 33%, 55%, 75%, 94%). In addition, the ZeotP residual deterrent effect after equable water spraying was high and similar to the respective effect of a pyrethroid insecticide (Decis®). Our results may contribute to an effective control of the olive fruit fly using an alternative to chemical pesticides natural zeolite (zeolitic rocks) product.
Glycemic Control and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetic Foot Patients
Authors: Aragón-Carreño María Patricia , Aldama-Figueroa Alfredo , Martínez de Jesús Fermín Rafael , Cvetkovic-Vega Aleksandar , Maguiña Jorge L.
Published: February 2024

This analytical cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the association between glycemic control and peripheral arterial disease in patients with diabetic foot with more than ten years of evolution of diabetes mellitus who attended the diabetic foot outpatient clinic of the Guillermo Almenara National Hospital between June 2015 and February 2017. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were used to diagnose glycemic control and peripheral arterial disease, respectively. A generalized Poisson log-linear regression model was used to calculate the crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios, with 95% confidence intervals, and a significance level of p < 0.05. 226 patients were included in the study, finding 23% (n=52) with good glycemic control, and 44.7% (n=101) with peripheral arterial disease. The adjusted model found statistically significant associations for glycemic control, age, and sedentary lifestyle with peripheral arterial disease. Compared with patients with good glycemic control, those with poor glycemic control had a 34% higher probability of presenting peripheral arterial disease (aPR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.01-1.79, p=0.045). The prevalence of good glycemic control in the population with diabetic foot is low. Poor glycemic control was found to be independently associated with the presence of peripheral arterial disease.
A New Smartphone-Based Method for Remote Health Monitoring: Assessment of Respiratory Kinematics
Authors: Vignali Emanuele , Gasparotti Emanuele , Miglior Luca , Gervasi Vincenzo , Simone Lorenzo , Haxhiademi Dorela , Frediani Lara , Borelli Gabriele , Berti Sergio , Celi Simona
Published: February 2024

The remote monitoring of clinical parameters plays a fundamental role in different situations, like pandemic health emergencies and post-surgery conditions. In these situations, the patients might be impeded in their movements and it could be difficult to have a specific health monitoring. In recent years, technological advancements in smartphones have opened up new possibilities in this landscape. The present work aims to propose a new method for respiratory kinematics monitoring via smartphone sensors. In particular, a specific application was developed to register Inertial Movement Unit (IMU) sensors data from the smartphone for respiratory kinematics measurement and to guide the user through a specific acquisition session. The session was defined to allow for the monitoring of the respiratory movement in five prescribed positions. The application and the sequence were successfully tested on a given population of 77 healthy volunteers. The resulting accelerometers and gyroscope signals were processed to evaluate the significance of differences according to participants sex, vector components and smartphone positioning and, finally, to estimate the respiratory rate. The emerged statistical differences revealed the significance of information in the different acquisition positions.
Could SP-A and SP-D Serum Levels Predict COVID-19 Severity?
Authors: Maddaloni Luca , Zullino Veronica , Bugani Ginevra , Lazzaro Alessandro , Brisciani Matteo , Mastroianni Claudio , Santinelli Letizia , Ruberto Franco
Published: February 2024

Given the various clinical manifestations that characterize COVID-19, the scientific community is constantly searching for biomarkers with prognostic value. SP-A and SP-D collectins play a crucial role in ensuring proper alveolar function and an alteration of their serum levels have been reported in several pulmonary diseases characterized by ARDS and pulmonary fibrosis. Considering that such clinical manifestations can also occur during SARS-CoV-2 infection, we wondered if these collectins could act as prognostic markers. In this regard, serum levels of SP-A and SP-D were measured by enzyme immunoassay in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=51) at admission (T0) and after 7 days (T1) and compared with healthy donors (n=11). SP-D increased in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls during the early phases of infection, while a significant reduction was observed at T1. Stratifying SARS-CoV-2 patients according to disease severity, increased serum SP-D levels were observed in severe compared to mild patients. In the light of these results SP-D, but not SP-A, seems to be an eligible marker of COVID-19 pneumonia and the early detection of SP-D serum levels could be crucial for a preventive clinical management
Sleep Restriction Modulates B‐1 Cell Response Following Fungal Infection
Authors: Vidal Andrey Sladkevicius , Alvares-Saraiva Anuska Marcelino , Segura Wilson Dias , Xander Patricia , Novaes e Brito Ronni Rômulo
Published: February 2024

B-1 cells, a subtype of B lymphocytes, are found in lymphoid tissues and peritoneal and pleural cavities. They play diverse roles, releasing cytokines, generating antibodies, regulating the immune response, engaging in phagocytosis, and moving to inflammatory sites. However, their physiology remains partially understood, especially in stressful conditions like sleep restriction. This study aimed to investigate murine B-1 cell activation and differentiation under sleep restriction. Male C57BL/6J mice underwent an 18-hour sleep restriction for 21 days, followed by Candida albicans or Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. Purified peritoneal B-1 cells were evaluated for activation markers, microbicidal molecules, cytokine gene expression, Toll-like receptors, and commitment factors. Results showed that sleep restriction minimally influenced activation marker expression in B-1 cells across infection models. However, under sleep restriction, microbicidal molecule production increased in P. brasiliensis (NO) and C. albicans (ROS) infections. Gene expression revealed elevated TLR-2 and cytokines (IL-12, IL-6, TNF-α) in sleep-restricted animals. Lineage commitment analysis indicated myeloid polarization in sleep-restricted B-1 cells for all infection models. These findings underscore the impact of sleep restriction on B-1 cell activation and differentiation, with outcomes varying based on infection type. This study highlights the importance of investigating immunological changes resulting from sleep restriction.
“One Health” Goal: Novel Preliminary Study on Putative Pig Immuno-Genetic Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii and Serologi-Cal Survey in Central Italy Regions
Authors: Torricelli Martina , Fratto Anna , Costarelli Silva , Lancioni Hovirag , Torina Alessandra , Panzieri Carmen , Sebastiani Carla , Ciullo Marcella , Cruciani Deborah , Crotti Silvia , Mazzone Piera , Biagetti Massimo
Published: February 2024

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of warm-blooded animals, affecting also humans, caused by Toxo-plasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite with a complex biological cycle. Toxoplasmosis is considered a re-emerging zoonosis and an important public health threat, also for the absence, up to now, of efficient vaccines and preventive measures. Sources of transmission to humans are environmental or food-borne, mainly through the consumption of raw and undercooked meat, predominantly of Sus scrofa, considered highly susceptible to T. gondii. Mainly in the last dec-ades, an effective strategy to counter animal infectious diseases was based on the discovery of resistance immuno-genetic markers, possibly to be used for association studies between geno-typic and phenotypic traits and consequently in Marker Assisted Selection. Until now, this gen-otyping approach has never been adopted for T. gondii infection, so this study aimed, for the first time, to fill this gap. In particular, pigs, reared in different farms of Central Italy, were serologically characterized by an ELISA assay performed on diaphragm meat juice. Out of 179 tested animals, 98 resulted seropositive (54.74%), 57 seronegative (31.84%) and 24 doubtful (10.6%), underlining a possible re-emerging diffusion of this protozoan in the investigated areas. Atten-tion was firstly focused on IL-18 gene, encoding for a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role starting from the upstream steps of the immunity pathway towards T. gondii. A RT-PCR assay followed by Sanger sequencing of IL-18 cDNA was de novo developed. For this interleukin, at this stage, genetic analysis has not highlighted significant polymorphic variations compared to the reference sequence, except for a seropositive animal. However, the outcomes of this pre-liminary innovative study will be investigated in depth analyzing other relevant genetic re-gions and other target genes.
Work Environment and Health Care Workforce Well-Being: Mental Health and Burnout in Medically Underserved Communities Prone to Disaster
Authors: Hansel Tonya Cross , Saltzman Leia Y. , Melton Pamela A.
Published: February 2024

Health care workers (n = 71) completed an online survey or participated in one of five focus groups. Clinical cutoff scores revealed concerning levels of depression (16%), anxiety, and burnout (49%). Qualitative responses (n = 172) yielded two themes: work environment and well-being. Addressing burnout requires an ecological systems mindset, which accounts for complex stressors present in individual providers’ lives (large-scale disasters and personal stressors), agency-level factors (scheduling and workload), and larger social and contextual administrative factors (allocating time for self-care through scheduling and billing codes). ( Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S2):S156–S161. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307478 )
Population dynamics of the freshwater mussel Parreysia cylindrica Annandale and Prashad, 1919 from the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Shettigar Malathi , Thippeswamy Seetharamiah
Published: February 2024

Morphometric and length-weight relationships, condition index, age and growth, mortality, exploitation and lifespan of freshwater mussel Parreysia cylindrica Annandale and Prashad, 1919 inhabiting the Malthi River, a tributary of the river Tunga, in Thirthahalli Taluk were studied. The calculated linear equations of length-breadth and length-width of mussels wereL = 1.6869 + 0.4688 B and L = - 2.9198 + 0.4687 W and respectively. The estimated b valuesof length-breadth relationship ranged between 0.4285 and 0.4991 whereas for length-width relationship the values fluctuated between 0.4006 and 0.4776. The estimated equations of length-total weight, length-wet weight, length-shell weight and length-dry weight wereW = 0.000046L3.279, W = 0.000046L3.194, W = 0.00005L3.461 and W = 0.000021L3.332, respectively. Monthly average values of condition index varied from 5.07 to 11.97. High values of condition were noticed during March to May and low values from October to February. The estimated asymptotic length was 56.97 mm and maximum length recorded in the field was 50.2 mm.The growth coefficient and theoretical time at zero length were 0.53 y-1 and -0.0376 y,respectively. The growth performance index was 3.236. The total, natural and fishingmortality rates were 2.00, 0.99 and 1.01 y-1 respectively and exploitation rate was 0.505. The lifespan was estimated to be 5 years and 8 months.
Keywords: Age and growth, Allometry, Bivalve mollusc, Condition index, Karnataka, Life-history variables
Molecular phylogenetics of albino phenotypes of northern snakehead (Channa argus) from Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Chen Shixi , Ao Li , Hossain Prodhan Zakaria , Zhao Tingjuan , Li Jie , Li Sha , Zou Yuanchao
Published: February 2024

The northern snakehead Channa argus is widely distributed and extremely resistant tohypoxia; which is cultivated in China as an aquaculture species and has heritable albinobody colour populations. Here, two phenotypes of albino C. argus of “gray fin rays” and“gold fin rays.” were studied. The genetic diversity and molecular phylogenetics of C. arguswith different body colours and geographical distributions were investigated based ontheir nuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences of the C. arguswere conservative, with 1/1000 of mutation sites and 0.000-0.014 genetic distance, whichshowed that the studied phenotypes of C. argus belong to the same species. The intraspecificvariation sites of the studied sequences showed that it was mainly nuclear transformation;with the sequences from albino C. argus with “gold fin rays” individuals having more variationsites than “gray fin rays” individuals. The difference in the geographical distributions ofC. argus were distinguished in phylogenetic relationship studies, which supported thatnuclear ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences can be used to study molecular phylogeography
Keywords:Albino Channa argus, ITS, Mutation sites, Molecular phylogeography
Mapping of potential sea-cage farming sites throughspatial modelling: Preliminary operative suggestionsto aid sustainable mariculture expansion in India
Authors: Divu D. , Mojjada Suresh Kumar , Muktha M. , Abdul Azeez P. , Mayur S. Tade  , Aarsha Subramanian  , Jai Shree  , C. Anulekshmi  , P. P. Suresh Babu  , A. Anuraj  , Prathibha Rohit  , Shubhadeep Ghosh  , Sekar Megarajan  , Ranjan Ritesh , N. Rajesh  , Ambarish P. Gop  , P. S. Swathi Lekshmi  , A. K. Abdul Nazar  , B. Johnson  , G. Tamilmani  , K. K. Anikuttan  , C. Kalidas  , Gyanaranjan Dash  , Rajesh Kumar Pradhan  , K. Mohammed Koya  , Boby Ignatius  , V. V. R. Suresh  , A. Gopalakrishnan
Published: February 2024

Sea cage farming in marine open waters is considered as the most viable technique in Indianmariculture to enhance production. Owing to the support of the government in researchand development, and policy initiatives, marine cage farming is progressing steadily in thecountry. Technological guidance from research institutions and financing under the ambitious“Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” and blue growth mission objectives haveinspired stakeholders and fisheries administrators in maritime states to explore open seacage culture. Site selection is a key parameter affecting the success of cage culture systemsand, technically analysed geo-referenced demarcation of spatial information is necessaryfor minimising the risks. Thus, in the light of rising demand for spatial allocation of coastalareas, the present study identifies and aggregates locations within 3 km of the coastline,that have the potential for sea cage farming operations in the country. The site suitabilitywas examined based on optimal standards required for the prospective candidate speciesselected for mariculture in India. The locations were vectorised in a GIS platform, and thepotential areas available for sea cage installations were demarcated. An optimised sitesuitability schema was developed for the spatial demarcation of potential site selection.The preliminary results identified 134 sites covering a total area of 46,823.2 ha suitablefor marine cage culture along Indian territorial waters. Among the coastal states, the topthree states holding the maximum area suitable for sea cage farming are Andhra Pradesh(11,792 ha), Gujarat (11,572.2 ha) and Tamil Nadu (7,673 ha). It is envisaged that spatialsuitability demarcation even on this pilot scale will accelerate the expansion of sea cagefarming in the country.
Keywords:GIS Mapping,  Mariculture, PMMSY, Sea cage farming, Site suitability, Spatial planning
Assessing land suitability for sustainable aquaculture development in Muzaffarpur, Bihar using integrated approach of multi-criteria decision analysis and GIS
Authors: Kumar Tarun , Veeranna Jatoth , Gupta Santosh Kumar , Kundu Madhu Sudan , Kumari Nidhi , Gautam Amar Kant , Rawat Shobha , Kumari Anupama , Prasad Jithendra
Published: February 2024

The study aimed to assess land suitability for sustainable aquaculture development inMuzaffarpur, Bihar, India, utilising a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and GIS-based approach. In India, issues such as water and soil degradation, insufficient infrastructure and inadequate maintenance pose significant challenges to aquaculture growth. The research employed 15 base layers, including water quality, soil characteristics, engineeringparameters and high-resolution satellite imagery, analysed through the Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation. Results revealed 9.85% highly suitable and 35.09% unsuitable areas for fish farming, achieving an 80% overall accuracy through validation with satellite images and field visits. The study provides valuable insights for policy makers, farmers, and resource managers in selecting suitable sites for sustainable aquaculture, enhancing resource management in the region.
Keywords: Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), Fish farming, Geographical Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Thematic maps
The ecological footprint study of marine fisheries in Liaoning Province of China based on system dynamics
Authors: Yang J. S. , Pan X. W. , Yin Z. Q. , Cui J. R. , Sun P. Q. , Gu H. F. , Li J. X. , Wang Y. , Xu M.
Published: February 2024

Since the end of the 20th century, with the rapid development of the marine economy, the marine environment of Liaoning Province in China was under tremendous pressure andthe fishery resources have been in serious decline. The marine fishing output of Liaoning Province was reduced from 1.502×107 t in 2000 to 5.244×106 t in 2018. Using STELLA software as the modeling platform, we followed the basic steps of system dynamics modeling (SD model), combined with the principle of ecological footprint of fisheries to establish theSD model of ecological footprint of fisheries in Liaoning Province of China, and applied thefuzzy evaluation method to comprehensively evaluate the ecological carrying capacity ofLiaoning marine area. The results show that marine fishery resources in Liaoning Provincehave been in ecological deficit and unsustainable development. The ecological footprint of fisheries in Liaoning Province has increased from 1.08×107 km2 to 1.88×107 km2 with an average value of 1.60×107 km2 between 2000 and 2018, which is already higher than the ecological carrying capacity of 3.20×106 km2 and about 5 times of the carrying capacity, which means that fishing pressure needs to be reduced to at least 20% of its current level for the ecological footprint of fisheries to rebound and for the ecological deficit to decrease steadily, thus preventing an ecosystem collapse.
Keywords: Ecological footprint of fisheries; Liaoning fishery resources; System dynamics; STELLA software
The Effect of short-term hyper-ammonia exposure in Indiancatfish, Clarias magur (Hamilton, 1822) on haematological parameters, tissues structure and gene expression profiles
Authors: Kumar Aditya , Mog Chowdhury Labrechai , Rimal Radhika , Kumar Rajesh , Paul Alisha , Faridi Neha , Singh Mridula , Singh Achal , Mohindra Vindhya
Published: February 2024

In the present study, pattern of changes in blood physiological parameters, structuralchanges in gills, liver and kidnney as well as gene expression patterns for ornithine-ureacycle (OUC) were studied, under hyper-ammonia stress (25 mM NH4Cl) for 1, 3, 6 and 9 hand 24 h in normal water condition after 9 h exposure (9h+N), in Clarias magur (Hamilton,1822). Analysis showed increase in blood ammonia upto 3 h, with decreasing trend (upto2 folds reduction) subsequently. It was accompanied by simultaneous increase in urealevels upto 6 folds at 9 h exposure. However, there were no significant changes in bloodparameters, except for serum protein, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) andlactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels after 1 h exposure. Histological analysis of gills revealedhighest (88%) percentage of damaged gills with congested blood capillaries, treated for 9 h,but declined by 65% at 9h+N. Histological alterations in liver and kidney were prominentonly at 9 h exposure, with nuclear hypertrophy and necrosis of hepatic cells in liver tissuesand distension as well as degeneration of Bowman’s capsule in kidneys. Significantup-regulation of cpsIII and otc genes at 9 h and 9h+N, points to activation of OUC in liver at6 h exposure and unique physiological characteristics of turning towards ureotelism fromammoniotelism, after short term exposure to high ammonia level.
Keywords:Ammonium chloride; Clarias magur, Congested capillaries, Gills, Hyperplasia, Ornithine urea cycle, Urea
Forecasting Peak Hours for Energy Consumption in Regional Power Systems
Authors: Saitov S. R. , Chichirova N. D. , Filimonova A. A. , Karnitsky N. B.
Published: February 2024

. Electrical power is the second most important commodity in electrical energy markets. For consumers, the charged amount of “generator” power is determined as the average value of hourly consumption amounts on working days during peak hours in the region. The cost of power in some regions can reach 40 % of the final tariff, so reducing the load during peak hours by 10 % can lead to a decrease in monthly consumer payments by 3 %. However, such a way of saving money is not available to the consumer since the commercial operator of the wholesale market of electricity and capacity publishes the peak hours of the regions after the 10th day of the next month, when this information is no longer relevant. Timely forecasting of peak hours will make it possible, on the one hand, to reduce consumer costs for payments for electric power, and on the other hand, to smooth out the daily schedule of electric load of the power system, thereby optimizing the operation of generating equipment of stations and networks of the system operator. The article presents a study of the effectiveness of machine learning methods in the context of forecasting the peak hour of a regional power system. The study concerns the period from November 2011 to October 2023, covers 76 regions of the Russian Federation, including subjects of price (1st and 2nd) and non-price zones and includes 10 machine-learning methods. The results of the study showed that statistically, the K-nearest neighbors clustering method turns out to be the most accurate, although not universal. Support Vector Classifier and Decision Tree Classifier have demonstrated high efficiency (in terms of accuracy and speed). The study also refuted the assumption that the closest data in terms of time series has the greatest value in predicting peak hours.
Modeling of Control System for Tracked Mobile Robot Taking Into Account Kinematic and Dynamic Parameters
Authors: Pauliukavets S. A. , Velchenko A. A. , Radkevich A. A. , Tschaplygin D. Yu.
Published: February 2024

The paper examines the problem of constructing a motion control system for autonomous mobile tracked robots in an informal external environment. Based on the proposed mathematical model of the control system for a tracked mobile robot, which takes into account kinematic and dynamic parameters, simulation modeling of a tracked mobile robot was carried out in the dynamic modeling environments of technical systems MATLAB Simulink and SimInTech, which made it possible to control the coordinates of a tracked mobile robot along a predetermined trajectory with a certain accuracy. To increase the stability of the mobile robot motion control system, a PID controller of the armature current and electromagnetic torque was introduced into it. During the simulation study, graphical dependences on time were obtained: supply voltage; rotation angle of the robot body; track speeds; motor armature current; electromagnetic torque of engines; armature current of motors with PID controller; the path traveled by the caterpillars; electromagnetic torque of motors with a PID controller, and also the center of mass of the robot was set when setting a trajectory with a radius of 10 m for 6.2 s. Models were built in the MATLAB Simulink software package: general simulation, kinematic simulation and dynamic simulation of a tracked mobile robot, simulation subsystem of the electric drive control unit. In the SimInTech software environment, a simulation model of the dynamic part of the right electric drive of a tracked mobile robot was obtained. A comparative analysis of the graphical dependencies of the angular velocity of the roller and armature current of the motor of a tracked mobile robot, obtained in the MATLAB Simulink and SimInTech packages, was carried out, which revealed a number of advantages and disadvantages when testing the operation of the control system of a tracked mobile robot in an unformalized external environment.
Classification of earth surface image segmentation methods
Authors: Kypriyanava D. V. , Pertsau D. Y. , Tatur M. M.
Published: February 2024

The classification of methods for land surface image segmentation is presented in the paper. Such approaches as template matching, machine learning and deep neural networks, as well as application of knowledge about analyzed objects are considered. Peculiarities of vegetation indices application for satellite images data segmentation are considered. Advantages and disadvantages are noted. The results obtained by the authors of the methods that have appeared over the last 10 years are systematized, which will allow those interested to get oriented faster and form ideas for further research.
IT diagnostics of Parkinson's disease based on voice markers and decreased motor activity
Authors: Vishniakou U. V. , Yiwei X.
Published: February 2024

The objectives of the article to propose the method for complex recognition of Parkinson's disease using machine learning, based on markers of voice analysis and changes in patient movements on known data sets. The time-frequency function, (the wavelet function) and the Meyer kepstral coefficient function are used. The KNN algorithm and the algorithm of a two-layer neural network were used for training and testing on publicly available datasets on speech changes and motion retardation in Parkinson's disease. A Bayesian optimizer was also used to improve the hyperparameters of the KNN algorithm. The constructed models achieved an accuracy of 94.7 % and 96.2  % on a data set on speech changes in patients with Parkinson's disease and a data set on slowing down the movement of patients, respectively. The recognition results are close to the world level. The proposed technique is intended for use in the subsystem of IT diagnostics of nervous diseases.
Optimization of the structure of the learning process under the given constraints
Authors: Lobaty A. A. , Konopacki D. A.
Published: February 2024

The article is devoted to the study of ways to optimize the mathematical model of the structure of the educational process. Formalization of the structure of the educational process was carried out in the form of setting an objective function, including the sum of the number of hours provided by the curriculum for various types of training sessions. At the same time, for each type of occupation, a weighting coefficient is provided, which characterizes the relative effectiveness of each type of occupation. The numerical values of the weight coefficients are proposed to be determined by applying the method of analyzing hierarchies based on expert assessments, which are set by appointed specialists. The task is to maximize the objective function that characterizes the overall effectiveness of the educational process. As restrictions imposed on the structure of the educational process, a system of inequalities is considered, presented in a linear form and taking into account restrictions on the budget of study time allocated for the study of the academic discipline, financial restrictions on the remuneration of teaching and teaching staff, financial restrictions associated with the content educational and material base, purchase of software and other expenses. Thus, the task of optimizing the educational process is reduced to a linear programming problem, which in this case is solved using the simplex method using a standard program implemented in various computer environments. At the same time, a dual task is formulated to determine the required time and financial resources for a given distribution of teaching hours by type of occupation. The example given in the article, implemented in the Mathcad computer environment, clearly showed the efficiency of the developed methodology.
Intervención de áreas urbanas vacantes como potencializador de la habitabilidad en espacios públicos: el caso de Plaza de Flores, Barranco, 2019
Authors:   , Altamirano Vásquez Raúl Andrés
Published: February 2024

Las áreas urbanas vacantes representan una problemática para las ciudades y al mismo tiempo una oportunidad para el establecimiento de infraestructura verde y equipamiento público. La investigación busca identificar cómo la intervención de un área urbana vacante favorece a la habitabilidad de un espacio público en el distrito de Barranco, Lima, Perú. Se aplicó una encuesta para identificar la comodidad de las personas en el área de estudio y los tipos de espacios que desearían encontrar en ella. Se desarrolló una ficha de observación y registro fotográfico para determinar la calidad y suficiencia de mobiliario urbano, el grado de relación con el entorno y la atractividad del área. Para determinar el grado de seguridad se aplicó una lista de cotejo de la señalética vial y se contrastó con información estadística de la PNP. Se halló que más del 60% de la población muestreada se siente muy incómoda al transitar por el área ya que esta no posee mobiliario, señalética ni accesibilidad adecuada. Por otro lado, la mayor parte demanda áreas de recreación infantil y espacios para el coworking, así como mobiliario con fines lúdicos. Se observa un 25% de cobertura vegetal frente a un 75% de suelo de tierra y desmontes. Se propone la creación de una estación ecológica de transporte integrada a una plaza pública en reemplazo a la actual estación Plaza de Flores y enmarcado en la mega obra de ampliación de la Vía Expresa Sur. Concluyendo, que es esta la intervención que se necesita para potencializar la habitabilidad de este espacio público.
Inteligencia emocional y estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés en personal de salud del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza, Perú 2021
Authors:   , Aguirre Mollehuanca July Patricia , Traverso Zumaeta Roxana Betzabe
Published: February 2024

Introducción: El estrés laboral en trabajadores en países en vías de desarrollo representa entre el 5% - 10%. Objetivo: Identificar la relación entre inteligencia emocional y las estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés en trabajadores asistenciales de un Hospital de Tercer Nivel de Atención durante el año 2021. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico. Se utilizo dos encuestas el test de Inventario Multidimensional de Estimación del Afrontamiento (COPE) el cual mide las estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés y el Inventario de Coeficiente emocional de Bar-On que mide el nivel de Inteligencia emocional. La variable principal fue el afrontamiento al estrés y las estrategias de afrontamiento como dependientes secundarias. La variable independiente fue la inteligencia emocional. Resultados: Se trabajó un total de 290 trabajadores de salud asistenciales. La inteligencia emocional se correlaciono significativamente de manera positiva (Pearson = 0.6003) con el afrontamiento al estrés. Con respecto a las estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés, las que tuvieron mayor correlación fueron supresión de actividades (Pearson = 0.55669, la planificación (Pearson = 0.5271) y afrontamiento activo (Pearson = 0.5362) las tres con un p=<0.001. Conclusiones: Existe una relación entre la inteligencia emocional y el afrontamiento al estrés. También se encontró relación con las estrategias de afrontamiento al estrés.
Factores asociados a los problemas de salud mental en los trabajadores del Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Perú 2021
Authors:   , Collantes Schmidt José Raúl , Virrueta De La Sota Belen
Published: February 2024

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados a los problemas de salud mental en los trabajadores del Hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo, Perú 2021. Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico que incluyó trabajadores asistenciales y administrativos del hospital Nacional Dos de Mayo. Laborando presencialmente en octubre del 2021 y evaluados por el Plan de Vigilancia de Salud Mental para el tamizaje de problemas de salud mental mediante la aplicación del cuestionario SRQ abreviado. Se calculó la prevalencia y las características asociadas por regresión logística. Resultados: Incluyó a 2109 trabajadores, de los cuales un 62% fue del sexo femenino, 42% era menor de 40 años y 4.6% era separado/divorciado. Se halló una prevalencia de casos probables de problemas de salud mental del 2.70%. Fue más frecuente en mujeres que en varones 3.4% vs 1.5% (ORa: 2.30; IC 95% 1.22 a 4.76; p=0.005). La mayor prevalencia fue de los 18 a 29 años y de 50 a 59 años, observándose una distribución bimodal (p=0,022). Respecto al estado civil, los divorciados/separados llegaron al 7%, comparados con los solteros o casados que fueron el 2% (ORa: 3.00; IC 95% 1.12 a 7.25; p=0.019). Conclusión: Uno de cada 40 trabajadores que trabajaron de forma presencial en el Hospital Dos de Mayo en el 2021 presentaron problemas de salud mental. Los factores asociados fueron el sexo femenino, los grupos etarios extremos y el estado civil divorciado/separado.
Oportunidades de mejora en la planeación del mantenimiento mayor en plantas de refinación de crudo
Authors: Almanza Correa Jairo Javier
Published: February 2024

Este artículo es el resultado de un proceso de investigación que se adelantó en relación con las oportunidades de mejora que han sido documentadas en conjunto con los procesos de planeación de mantenimientos mayores que periódicamente se realizan en las refinerías de crudo. Después de la introducción que aparece a continuación, se desarrolla un marco teórico de referencia y se describe el método que se utilizó para la selección y análisis de las publicaciones. El capítulo de resultados se divide en tres apartados, el primero de los cuales incluye una tabla en la que se listan y describen brevemente las publicaciones consideradas, lo que da paso a un primer apartado sobre la selección de estrategias de mantenimiento; a continuación, se explica la metodología FMEA y finalmente se confrontan las propuestas de otras publicaciones que enriquecen el debate sobre las tendencias que a nivel mundial se han ido convirtiendo en buenas prácticas, de acuerdo con los resultados de estudios tanto teóricos como empíricos. Las conclusiones muestran tres características del perfil que deben tener los profesionales que gerenciarán estos programas de mantenimiento; ese perfil debe incluir la habilidad para gestionar indicadores basados en complejos modelos matemáticos, así como la familiaridad con equipos tecnológicos, programas cada vez más avanzados y la sensibilidad por temas tanto ambientales como de seguridad.
A Supercharged Molecular Motor Operating by Constitutional Alteration and Hydrogen Bonding
Authors: Dube Henry , Biswas Pronay , Ozcelik Ani , Hartinger Martina , Hampel Frank
Published: February 2024

Molecular rotary motors undergo directional motions upon input of external energy and represent archetypical molecular machines. Light driven variants stand out as particularly easy to fuel continuously and potentially carrying a very high energy content during their action. So far, such motors function via light induced bond rotations where the directionality is dictated by a fixed source of asymmetry within the structure. During the operation cycle there is no further structural change happening except for the rotation itself. In this work we disclose a hitherto unknown and highly effective mechanism for light driven motor rotation, which makes use of constitutional alteration of the structure. This in turn allows the directionality to be controlled actively by an intramolecular hydrogen bond instead of sterics. Associated with this unusual mechanism is a particularly high energy content that the motor retains from the incident light, which is of great importance for application of molecular motors working under external load. With these findings unique possibilities emerge for the design and use of molecular motors with unprecedented modes of action and power.
Design and Optimization of Thermoelectric Air-cooling Systems for Vehicles
Authors: Seo Saerom , Son Kwonsang , Han Seungwoo
Published: February 2024

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are highly efficient and reliable but can negatively impact the environment. Environmentally friendly systems that could replace existing HVAC systems, such as thermoelectric cooling and heating systems, have been studied recently. Herein, an air-cooling system using thermoelectric modules (TEMs) was designed, manufactured, and evaluated in terms of its cooling performance. The optimal TEM was identified by analyzing QC–△T and V–I performance plots. The designed thermoelectric air-cooling (TEAC) system was composed of TEMs, heat sinks, and fans. Two versions were designed and the aim was to reduce the height of the system without compromising the cooling performance. The systems were tested in an insulated chamber having an inner volume of 250 × 250 × 250 mm3. After setting the temperature inside the chamber to 45°C, the time required for the system to reduce the temperature to 26°C was measured. Then, the developed system was mounted in a real car and the temperature decrease was recorded.