bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hinglish HateBERT: Hate Speech Classification in Hinglish language
Authors: singh Nikhil , Mundra Shikha
Published: October 2023

Hate speech has become a widespread concern in the contemporary world, surpassing geographical confines and impacting communities on a worldwide level. The role of digital platforms in disseminating hate speech, the obstacles in regulating online hate speech, and the additional complexity due to language diversity collectively demand a comprehensive method to detect and identify hate speech from free speech. In this work, we introduce Hinglish HateBERT, a pre-trained BERT model for Hate speech detection in code-mixed Hindi English language. The model was trained on a large-scale dataset having offensive and non-offensive content to avoid any bias. We finetuned Hinglish HateBERT using CNN and LSTM and performed experimentation on three publicly available dataset. Further, we presented a detailed comparative performance of our model with publicly available pretrained models for classifying hate speech in Hinglish. We observed that our proposed model Hinglish HateBERT significantly outperformed for two datasets. Also, we have released our model and code for research purpose at : Author can release it on request of reviewer or after revision.
Optimal Sizing and Power Losses Reduction of Photovoltaic Systems using PSO and LCL Filters
Authors: Péné Armel Duvalier , Boussaibo André , Tsegaing Fabrice , Tchouli Alain Foutche , Kitmo . , Barro Fabé Idrissa
Published: October 2023

The integration of renewable energy systems into electricity grids is a solution for strengthening electricity distribution networks (SEDNs). Renewable energies such as solar photovoltaics are suitable for reinforcing a low-voltage line by offering an electrical energy storage system. However, the integration of photovoltaic systems can lead to problems of harmonic distortion due to the presence of direct current or non-linear feedback in networks from other sources. Therefore, connection standards exist to ensure the quality of the energy before injection at a point of common coupling (PCC). In this work, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used to control a boost converter and to evaluate the power losses and the harmonic distortion rate. The test on the IEEE 14 bus standard makes it possible to determine the allocation or integration nodes for other sources such as biomass, wind or hydrogen generators, in order to limit the impact of harmonic disturbances (LIHs). The evaluation of the harmonic distortion rate, the power losses as well as the determination of the system size is done using an objective function defined based on the integration and optimization constraints of the system. The proposed model performs better since the grid current and voltage are stabilized in phase after the photovoltaic source is injected.
Trait Impulsivity Influences Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Threat in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Baker Christopher , Fairclough Stephen , Ogden Ruth , Barnes Rachel , Tootill Jessica
Published: October 2023

Trait impulsivity represents a tendency to take action without forethought or consideration of consequences. This trait is multifaceted and can be decomposed into attentional, motor and non-planning subtypes of impulsivity. The purpose of the current study was to investigate how subtypes of trait impulsivity responded to different degrees of threat within room-scale virtual reality (VR) with respect to behaviour and level of physiological activation. Thirty-four participants were required to negotiate a virtual environment (VE) where they walked at height with the continuous threat of a virtual ‘fall.’ Behavioural measures related to the speed of movement, interaction frequency and risk were collected. Participants also wore ambulatory sensors to collect data from electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodermal activity (EDA). Our results indicated that participants who scored highly on non-planning impulsivity exhibited riskier behaviour and higher skin conductance level (SCL). Participants with higher motor impulsivity interacted with more objects in the VE when threat was high, they also exhibited contradictory indicators of physiological activation. Attentional impulsivity was associated with a greater number of falls across the VE. The results demonstrate that subtypes of trait impulsivity respond to threats via different patterns of behaviour and levels of physiological activation, reinforcing the multifaceted nature of the trait.
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders among United Arab Emirates Schoolteachers: An Examination of Physical Activity
Authors: Zohair Hind Mahmoud , Girish Srilatha , Hazari Animesh
Published: October 2023

Objective:To estimate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their association with physical activity among schoolteachers in the United Arab Emirates.Methods: This observational cross-sectional study involved 209 schoolteachers (aged 20-60) with a minimum of two years of experience. Data, including demographics (gender, age), Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for WMSD prevalence and pain sites, and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) for physical activity levels, were collected. Six schools were visited for data collection, with consent from school heads and participants. Schedules were tailored to participant availability, allowing up to three attempts for participation. Non-respondents were identified after three unsuccessful attempts.Results:This study identified a high prevalence (71.4%) of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) in UAE schoolteachers, with neck pain being the most common (74.3%). Major risk factors included age, workload, and low physical activity. A weak positive correlation (correlation coefficient: 0.042) between WMSD and physical activity was observed, indicating that factors beyond physical activity influence WMSD prevalence in this cohort.Conclusion:Findings suggest the need to promote physical activity and reduce workload for teachers, considering their age and gender. Additionally, there is a need to raise awareness regarding ergonomics and the importance of taking short breaks for stretching or physical movement to enhance the overall well-being of schoolteachers in the UAE and similar contexts. Diverse prevalence rates across different body areas underscore the necessity for individualized treatments.
The nursing application of multifunctional protective pants after posterior urethral stricture surgery: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Chang Lu , Fang wenzhuo , Chen Bin , Cao Shilei , Fu Qiang , Zhang Kaile
Published: October 2023

Objective Posterior urethral stricture is a severe disease in urology, and end-to-end urethral anastomosis remains the gold standard treatment. The surgical outcome not only depends on meticulous intraoperative management but also on postoperative care. Key aspects of postoperative care include stable compression bandaging, prevention of skin tension and allergic blistering, and preventing penile from erection. We have produced a multifunctional protective pant that is expected to prove its effectiveness through a randomized controlled study.Methods This study included 50 patients who were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The patients in the experimental group wore the protective pants immediately after surgery. On the basis of routine care in the control group, health education and guidance for patients and family members on wearing protective pants were added. During the postoperative period until discharge, we observed the occurrence of wound bleeding, abnormal body temperature, and evaluated patient infection status based on results such as blood routine and procalcitonin. A numerical scoring table was used for pain assessment during the three days and nine shifts handover of patients. Patient feedback during pants usage was obtained through a self-assessment questionnaire two months after surgery.Results On the second day after surgery, the incidence of penile hematoma in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Within five days after surgery, the experimental group had a significantly lower incidence of wound bleeding, Scrotum edema, Skin allergic blisters and erectile pain compared to the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).Conclusion The use of the protective pants effectively reduced postoperative complications during the perioperative period, and significantly improving surgical success rates and patient satisfaction.
Vehicle video stabilization algorithm based on grid motion statistics and adaptive kalman filtering
Authors: Li Chengcheng , Tian Yuan , Ma Lisen , Jia yunhong , bi yuqi
Published: October 2023

Owing to the impact of vibration on the carrier of a car-mounted camera, video images are shaking, resulting in decreased or failed recognition accuracy based on visual-target detection. To solve this problem, a video stabilization algorithm based on grid motion statistics and an adaptive Kalman filter is proposed. To satisfy the real-time and precision requirements of the vehicle video stabilization algorithm, the Oriented Fast and Rotated Brief (ORB) feature point detection algorithm was selected to detect and describe the obtained video frames. In addition, the accuracy of the motion estimate is increased by deleting the erroneous match points using an erroneous match-removal algorithm based on grid motion statistics (GMS). The matching accuracy of the GMS-based feature matching algorithm increased by 2.3% and 4.1% compared to conventional feature-matching algorithms based on scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and ORB, respectively. However, the matching time between adjacent video frames was reduced by 76% and 16%, respectively. Considering the possible jitter of the vehicle-mounted camera, an adaptive Kalman filtering algorithm was used to smooth the acquired motion trajectory and solve the problem of classical Kalman filtering being sensitive to the initial value. The mean Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) after stabilization rose by 10.27 dB in comparison to the video stability before stabilization. Therefore, this algorithm exhibits good stability.
Effect of non-glycosylated proteins from Melipona beecheii honey on the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 biofilm
Authors: Pool-Yam Luis , Ramón-Sierra Jesús , Oliva A. I. , Zamora-Bustillos Roberto , Ortiz-Vazquez Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium that can form a biofilm with the ability to colonize different surfaces, in addition to increasing resistance to antibiotics. An alternative to solve this problem may be the use of proteins from Melipona beecheii honey, which are capable of inhibiting the growth of this pathogen. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of the non-glycosylated protein fraction (F1) from M. beecheii. The crude protein extract (CPE) and F1 fraction inhibited P. aeruginosa biofilm growth above 80% at 4 and 1.3 µg/mL, respectively. These proteins affected the structure of the biofilm, as well as fleQ and fleR gene expressions involved in the formation and regulation of the P. aeruginosa biofilm. The results demonstrated that the F1 fraction proteins of M. beecheii honey inhibit and affect the formation of the P. aeruginosa biofilm.
Synergetic Effect of Essential oils and Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles for Enhancement the Corrosion Resistance of Titanium Dental Implant
Authors: Zaher Heba Tark , Hefnawy Mahmoud A. , Medany Shymaa S. , Kamel S. M. , Fadlallah Sahar A.
Published: October 2023

Calcium phosphate (CaPO4) coating is one of various methods that is used to modify the topography and the chemistry of Ti dental implant surface to solve sever oral problems that result from diseases, accidents, or even caries due to its biocompatibility and ability to remineralization. In this work, anodized (Ti-bare) was coated by CaPO4 prepared from amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (ACP-NPs) and confirmed the structure by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. Ti-bare was coated by prepared CaPO4 through the casting process, and the morphology of Ti/CaPO4 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) where the nano-flakes shape of CaPO4 and measured to be 60 ~ 80 nm was confirmed. The stability of Ti-bare and coated Ti/CaPO4 was studied in a simulated saliva solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization techniques to deduce their corrosion resistance. Furthermore, three essential oils (EO), Cumin, Thyme, and Coriander, were used to stimulate their synergistic effect with the CaPO4 coat to enhance the corrosion resistance of Ti implant in an oral environment. The fitting EIS parameters based on Rs[RctC]W circuit proved that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of Ti/CaPO4 increased by 264.4, 88.2, and 437.5% for Cumin, Thyme, and Coriander, respectively, at 2% concentration. Our new results confirmed that it is necessary to maintain the positive effect of the components of the oral environment and their ability to synergize with the material of the modified Ti surface to ensure the success of Ti implantation. Thus, the use of EO with coat Ti/CaPO4 proved great corrosion resistance value, which will enhance the remineralization process of the teeth.
Molecular characterization and expression of Cadherin-2 and Cadherin- 4 in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in response to Streptococcus agalactiae stimulus
Authors: Liang Xueying , Zheng Yusi , Zhang Zemiao , Peng Yinhui , Chen Honglin , Xu Peng , Wu Xinzhong , Cai Xiaohui
Published: October 2023

Cadherins are a molecular family that is essential for the Ca2+ dependent process of cell-cell adhesion. Moreover, Cadherins can also act as a receptor to mediate bacteria entrying into non-phagocytic cells. In the present study, members of the Cadherins family of cytokines, Cadherin 2 (OnCdh2) and Cadherin 4 (OnCdh4), were successfully cloned and characterized from the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Their tissue distribution and expression patterns following bacterial were also investigated. The full-length cDNA sequences of OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 contained an open reading frame of 2721 and 2802 bp, encoding 906 and 933 amino acids with a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.74 and 4.73, respectively. Prediction of protein domains showed that OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 both consisted of one Cadherin prodomain super family, one Cadherin repeat-like domain, three Cadherin tandem repeat domain, one Cadherin domain, one Cadherin cytoplasmic region and a transmembrane domain. Homology comparisons indicated that OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 showed 94.10% and 99.25% identity to the Astatotilapia calliptera and a relative low identity of 75.63–75.97% and 70.35%-74.09% with its mammalian counterparts. Moreover, the residue 16 of cadherin repeat-like domain of OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 is Proline, which indicated that it may play a role in mediating bacterial invasion into intestinal epithelial cells. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 cluster together with other fish OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 molecules. The results of tissue distribution showed that OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 were both ubiquitous in all tissues examined of healthy tilapia with the highest level of expression in heart and brain, respectively. The expression level of OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 were rapidly activated at 1 h in brain, intestine and spleen after chanllenged by S. agalactiae. Taken together, the results indicated that OnCdh2 and OnCdh4 might be involved in the process of S. agalactiae invading into Nile tilapia and the immune reponse of Nile tilapia against bacterial infection.
Median nerve neuropathy resulting from blind removal attempts of etonogestrel contraceptive implant: A case report
Authors: Fungtammasan Siraphat , Sinthuchai Natchanika , Pataradool Kawee , Jaisamrarn Unnop , Santibenchakul Somsook
Published: October 2023

Nexplanon is an etonogestrel contraceptive implant that comes with an applicator, making it easier to insert and remove. Complications related to insertion and removal procedures, such as neural-vascular injuries, are rare. We describe a case of median nerve neuropathy resulting from blind removal attempts of an iatrogenically migrated implant. The patient presented with an unusual pain and an abnormal sensation in her left arm that worsened after blind attempts to remove the implant. Radiographs revealed that the rod was 3 cm from her insertion scar and deeply embedded in her left arm. The patient then underwent left arm exploration and implant removal under fluoroscopic guidance by an orthopedic surgeon. The rod was placed adjacent to the median nerve under the basilic vein. The symptoms gradually resolved after surgery. This indicates that patients with impalpable contraceptive implants should be referred for implant removal by specialists familiar with the procedure to prevent further deterioration of adjacent structures from iatrogenic implant migration.
Causality between Sarcopenia and Coronary Artery Disease: An updated Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Cao Li , Sheng Yang , He Yiting , Cai Chao , Wang Pei , Geng Zhirong , Liu Fuming
Published: October 2023

Background
There is evidence of a potential association between sarcopenia and coronary artery disease (CAD), but the causal relationship remains to be further determined.
Methods
We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate the causal effect of sarcopenia, described as appendicular lean mass (ALM), walking pace (WP), and hand grip strength (HGS: right and left), on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI). The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main model, with auxiliary methods including weighted median (WM) and MR-Egger. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the robustness. Risk factor analysis was performed to explore the potential pathway.
Results
IVW revealed that sarcopenia-related traits were causally associated with both CHD and MI. WM and MR-Egger further substantiated the causal associations. Sensitivity analysis showed no heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected. Risk factor analysis showed that sarcopenia-related traits exerted effects on several traditional risk factors of CAD.
Conclusion
Sarcopenia might increase the risk of CHD and MI, which might imply that indexes for sarcopenia, like ALM, HGS, and WP, could be developed to screen specific populations with higher risk of CAD.
RETRACTED: Grain-sized moxibustion enhances anti-tumor immunity of tumor cell lysate vaccine
Authors: Shen Weiming , Hu Dan , Gong Chenyuan , Fang Cheng , Luo Jiaojiao , Wang Lixin , Yao Chao , Wu Huangan , Zhao Chen , Zhu Shiguo
Published: October 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
How to enhance the effects of Platelet Rich Plasma on tissue regeneration: AMPLEX PLUS technology, a new strategy.
Authors: Brundo Maria Violetta , Ferruggia Greta , Contino Martina , Zimbone Massimo
Published: October 2023

The employment of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) has generated promising results in several fields of aesthetic and regenerative medicine. However, PRP research represents a continuing expanding field, due in part to the lack of standardized protocols and consistent clinical trials. A significant progress has been achieved with the analysis and the elucidation of mechanisms of exosomes. They are extracellular vesicles surrounded by membrane with a crucial role of carriers of different substances involved in tissue repair. These bioactive molecules are growth factors and cytokines capable of stimulating cell proliferation, ensuring tissue regeneration in response to injury. Therefore, scientific research has focused on identifying other matrices rich in growth factors, cytokines, and exosomes to improve the efficacy of PRP. In the present study, we evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) the concentration trends of 20 growth factors and cytokines in plasma, PRP and PRP with a new technology, a compound derived from colostrum enriched with exosomes. The results showed that the concentration of all analyzed compounds increased significantly in PRP samples with the new technology compared with samples containing only plasma or PRP, suggesting how this new strategy can improve PRP performance and make potential progress in regenerative medicine.
A Deep Neural Network – Mechanistic HybridModel to Predict Pharmacokinetics in Rat
Authors: Führer Florian , Gruber Andrea , Diedam Holger , Göller Andreas H. , Menz Stephan , Schneckener Sebatsian
Published: October 2023

An important aspect in the development of small molecules as drugs or agro-chemicals is their systemic availability after intravenous and oral administration.The prediction of the systemic availability from the chemical structure of a potential candidate is highly desirable, as it allows to focus the drug or agrochemical development on compounds with a favorable kinetic profile. However, such pre-dictions are challenging as the availability is the result of the complex interplay between molecular properties, biology and physiology and training data is rare.In this work we improve the hybrid model developed earlier [34]. We reducethe median fold change error for the total oral exposure from 2.85 to 2.35 and for intravenous administration from 1.95 to 1.62. This is achieved by training on a larger data set, improving the neural network architecture as well as the parametrization of mechanistic model. Further, we extend our approach to predictadditional endpoints and to handle different covariates, like sex and dosage form. In contrast to a pure machine learning model, our model is able to predict new end points on which it has not been trained. We demonstrate this feature by predicting the exposure over the first 24h, while the model has only been trained on the total exposure.
Analysis of the Chain Mediation Effect between Intergenerational Support and Mental Health of Older Adults in Urban China: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Xu Jiahong , Wang Youwei , Cheung Justin Chun-Ting , Yin Yanlong
Published: October 2023

Background: This study aimed investigate the impact of intergenerational support on the mental health of older adults in urban China. It also sought to evaluate the chain mediation effect of attitudes toward younger people and willingness to interact with younger people within a non-familial context between intergenerational support and mental health. Methods: Data were derived from a community survey that adopted quota sampling in mainland China in 2022 (N = 780).Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data, and the bootstrap technique was used to test the mediation effect. Results: A significant positive association was found between intergenerational support and the mental health of older adults in urban China (B = 0.852, 95% confidence interval CI [0.157,1.617]). Intergenerational support had a specific indirect effect on mental health through older adults’ attitudes toward younger people within a non-familial context (B = 0.665, 95% CI [0.443,1.046]). There was a chain mediation effect (B = 0.126, 95% CI [0.069,0.224]) in relation to attitudes toward younger people and the willingness to interact with younger people between intergenerational support and mental health. Mediation accounted for 44.44% of the total effects in the model.
Conclusion: These findings help identify modifiable factors that can improve the mental health of older adults. In line with the proposed serial multiple mediation model, this study provides theoretical and practical insights concerning the synergistic effect of intergenerational support at the family level and intergenerational interaction at the community level. Policy and social service implications are also discussed.
The Risk of Pathogens Associated with Seed Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) Imported to Sri Lanka : A Metagenomic Approach
Authors: Rajapaksha R.W.P.M. , Attanayaka D.P.S.T.G. , Vivehananthan Kalaivani , Linacre Adrian , McNevin Dennis
Published: October 2023

Potato is a major global crop and transmission of tuber borne diseases is a major cause of yield reduction in potato cultivation. The potato tuber harbors an array of undescribed microorganisms which may include pathogens of quarantine importance. Therefore, many countries follow stringent quarantine regulations to prevent the entry of pests with the imported potato seed stocks. In this study, 16S rDNA-based meta-genomic analyses was carried out to detect the microbial pathogens and to characterize the bacterial diversity associated with the potato seed tuber consignments imported to Sri Lanka for cultivation purposes. DNA extracted from the potato tubers were sequenced by using Ion Torrent Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and meta-genomic studies were performed by amplifying a ~ 400 bp V1-V2 hypervariable region of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA gene. The computational steps required to analyze the NGS data of 16S rDNA were carried out by using the MG-RAST online pipeline which implements workflows for sequence alignment with the SILVA SSU ribosomal RNA database. The sequence analysis profiled all available bacteria within each sample. Bacteria representing Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetaceae and Sphirochaetales phyla were detected in varying abundances. PCR with the species specific primers and sequencing confirmed the presence of Ralstonia solanacearum, Pectobacterium caratovorum, Streptomyces scabies and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae which are pathogens of quarantine importance.
Students’ perceptions of value of transnational higher education for career, educational, and personal advancement in the Peruvian and Indonesian contexts
Authors: Haupt John P , Amarilla Jessica , Chelabi Elham , Sutrisno Agustian
Published: October 2023

The present study investigates how students perceive international dual-degrees provide value for career, educational, and personal advancement. It also compares how student perceptions of value differ based on their country context and plans to be mobile or immobile during their programs of study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a total of 23 students, 15 from Peru and 8 from Indonesia, who were enrolled in dual-degree programs offered by one US university and Peruvian and Indonesian partner universities. The findings show that students at both locations perceived that earning dual-degrees provided value for career, educational, and personal advancement though for varying reasons. Country comparisons showed that perceptions of value generally converged, while comparisons by mobility plans showed greater value associated with being mobile for career and personal advancement than being non-mobile.
Velocity and Blood Perfusion’s Impact on Transient Bioheat Transfer in Human Skin, a Numerical Investigation
Authors: Hasnain Shahid , AlRajhi Azizah H. , Saqib Muhammad , Abbas Imran
Published: October 2023

We used fundamental-solution-based numerical methods, notably the finite volume method, to solve the two-dimensional transient bioheat transfer problem in this study. The modified Chen and Holmes (CH) bioheat transfer equation governs this problem, providing a solid physical and physiological foundation. The equation is derived from the fundamental principle of energy conservation and takes into consideration the thermal energy produced by metabolic processes occurring within the tissue. Both the Pennes model and the Chen-Holmes model are utilized for the analysis of Bioheat transfer. Instead of Pennes’ equation, the CH model includes a convective heat transfer term that accounts for thermal interactions between blood vessels and tissues and a conductive term that accounts for enhanced tissue conductive heat transfer as a function of blood perfusion rate. We used a uniform velocity term to analyze temperature profiles to explore the effects of altering parameters across time. Convective results match the literature, proving accuracy and boosting our trust in the proposed approach.
Epidemiology of Faecal Incontinence for People with Dementia Living in the Community in New Zealand: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using interRAI Home Care Assessment Data
Authors: Burholt Vanessa , Pillai Avinesh , Cheung Gary , Awatare Sharon , Daltrey Julie
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND
Globally there are few studies but wide variation in epidemiology of faecal incontinence (FI) for people living with dementia in the community. Our objectives are to identify 1-year period prevalence, 5-year incidence, and risks for faecal incontinence (FI) for people living with dementia.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study comprising International Residential Assessment Instrument Home Care version (interRAI-HC) assessments in a 5-year period in New Zealand (N = 109964). For prevalence analysis, we selected a dementia cohort for a 1-year period from 1 Aug 2020 to 31 July 2021 (n = 7775). For the incidence analysis, participants in the dementia cohort were followed up from the day of the first dementia diagnosis during the period 1 Aug 2016 and 31 July 2021. Dementia was identified by combining diagnosis of “Alzheimer's disease” and “Dementia other than Alzheimer's disease”. Participants were coded with faecal incontinence if they were continent with a stoma, seldom incontinent, occasionally incontinent, often incontinent and incontinent.
RESULTS
1 year period (1 Aug 2020-31 July 2021) prevalence of FI was 26.7% (2082/7775) of PLWD. 5-year incident FI rate was 19.0 per 100 person years for PLWD and 12.3 per 100 person years for people without dementia. Controlling for risk factors for FI in both groups the hazard ratio for FI was 1.7 for PLWD.
CONCLUSIONS
FI affects a significant proportion of people with dementia in NZ. interRAI-HC data could facilitate global epidemiological studies to estimate service or intervention need for people with dementia to redress or manage FI.
AUDITORÍAS A LA CONTRATACIÓN PÚBLICA DE COMBUSTIBLES Y LUBRICANTES EN LAS UNIVERSIDADES DEL ECUADOR
Authors: Calle García Aldrin Jefferson , Quiñónez Cercado Mónica del Pilar , Espinoza Tuárez Yixcely Maribel
Published: October 2023

Este estudio examina cuatro informes de auditorías realizados por la Contraloría General del Estado (CGE) en relación con la contratación pública de combustibles y lubricantes aplicados a las instituciones educativas tal como lo son: la Universidad Técnica de Machala (UTMACH), Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE), Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) y la Universidad Estatal Península de Santa Elena (UPSE), principalmente la temática de esta investigación es identificar el posible incumplimiento de varias normativas que regulan la contratación pública del Ecuador. A través de un enfoque riguroso basado en el análisis exhaustivo de los informes de auditoría y la revisión de los marcos legales pertinentes, se revela la inobservancia de varias normativas lo que genera un impacto negativo en las decisiones administrativas, la gestión económica y la rendición de cuentas en las universidades. En última instancia, la metodología de esta investigación se sustentó bajo enfoques tanto deductivos como inductivos, junto con el método analítico, permitiendo obtener una comprensión precisa de la implementación de leyes y regulaciones relevantes. Esto facilitó la identificación de incumplimientos y la formulación de las conclusiones correspondientes.
GESTIÓN ADMINISTRATIVA Y CUMPLIMIENTO DE OBLIGACIONES TRIBUTARIAS EN LA COOPERATIVA DE TAXIS SULTANA DEL CAFÉ
Authors: Calle García Aldrin Jefferson , Pérez Rodríguez Jamileth Briggette
Published: October 2023

En el ámbito administrativo de la Cooperativa de Taxis Sultana del Café, los socios desempeñan un papel crucial para el cumplimiento de las obligaciones tributarias, sin embargo, en esta cooperativa se observa un elevado desconocimiento y falta de interés en aspectos administrativos y tributarios, esto se atribuye a la ausencia de asesoramiento, lo que resulta la falta de control en declaraciones al SRI y los pagos de impuestos. El propósito de este estudio es determinar cómo la gestión administrativa influye en el cumplimiento de las obligaciones tributarias en la cooperativa. Se aplicó una metodología no probabilística con el fin de recopilar información a partir de los 99 socios, adicionalmente se empleó un enfoque mixto, es decir, cualitativo y cuantitativo con el fin de analizar la gestión tributaria y el nivel en el cumplimiento de las obligaciones tributarias, también es importante mencionar que se utilizó la investigación de campo y la revisión bibliográfica utilizando información de diferentes fuentes documentales, además de la técnica de la encuesta dirigida a la totalidad de los socios. Los resultados indicaron que el 68% de los socios consideran que la gestión administrativa es eficiente. No obstante, el 74% tiene un conocimiento tributario limitado. Esto subraya la importancia de una gestión administrativa adecuada para asegurar el cumplimiento tributario y prevenir sanciones. Sin embargo, es fundamental continuar evaluando y mejorando estos procesos para mantener una gestión administrativa óptima y fomentar una cultura tributaria sólida en la cooperativa.
Smart farming in the dairy raw material supply chain
Authors: Manitskaya L. , Dunchenko N. , Anikienko T.
Published: October 2023

The interaction of traceability systems is analyzed. The reasons and difficulties of implementation of some systems are revealed. Proposals are given for the further development and interaction of systems from «smart farming» to the counter.
Compensation of additive interference in the technological processes of the dairy industry
Authors: Pryanichnikova N. , Khurshudyan S.
Published: October 2023

The possibility of appropriation in the food industry, in particular dairy, of technical approaches and solutions used in the high-tech industry sector using corrective and compensation schemes is shown. The direct application of known solutions is impossible due to the complex matrix of the composition and properties of the raw material and / or intermediate product. A variant of interpreting dairy raw materials as an input signal of the corresponding circuits is proposed, and deviations of the values of the components of the composition and property indicators (flowability, acidity, density, humidity, etc.) from the nominal values are considered as perturbations, on the basis of which the introduction of the required volume of the component is determined as a compensation signal to obtain the specified characteristics of the finished product. Adapted generalized solutions and algorithms for their implementation are presented. The additive category of interference is considered as the most common in the production of dairy products, the impact of which is described by two types.
Ultrasonic processing in yogurt production technology
Authors: Borisenko A. , Kostenko E. , Kostenko K. , Borisenko A. , Malsugenov A. , Misyura V.
Published: October 2023

The aim of the study was to study the effect of ultrasonic treatment on the rheological and total qualitative characteristics of finished products in the production of yoghurts. The raw materials used were normalized pasteurized milk with a fat content of 2,5 %, protein and skimmed milk residue — at least 3,2 and 9,5 %, respectively, Lactoferm ECO dry yogurt starter culture (Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgarius). The results of the analysis of the dispersed composition of the milk mixture after 2,5 hours of fermentation, as well as the dependence of the shear stress and the effective viscosity coefficient on the deformation rate gradient are presented. Ultrasonic treatment helps to increase the dispersion of the milk mixture, the formation of a homogeneous mesh protein matrix with a high level of interconnections and a smaller pore size. A comprehensive study of rheological parameters, microscopy and organoleptic analysis allowed us to conclude that samples of fermented milk product produced using ultrasonic processing have

higher consumer properties compared to yogurt obtained using traditional technology.
Anti-pathogenic properties of the starter microflora in presence of pectin olygosacharides
Authors: Kaledina M. , Fedosova A , Litovkina D. , Vitkovskaya V. , Baidina I.
Published: October 2023

Anti-pathogenic activity is an integral part of the main characteristics of fermented functional products based on bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Pectin oligosaccharides are promising prebiotic components for the microflora of fermented milk drinks, since they have a potential synergistic effect. The antibacterial effect of starter cultures traditionally used in the dairy industry against pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli EPEC, Escherichia coli VTEC and Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of pectin oligosaccharides was studied in vitro. It has been experimentally proven that pectin oligosaccharides are suitable for use as a probiotic for bifid-containing products, they positively affect the metabolism of probiotic cultures, enhance anti-pathogenic activity and do not inhibit the growth of other starter cultures.
Socio-Structural Aspects of Globalization: Methodological Research Foundations
Authors: Mel'nikov Evgeniy , Mileckiy Vladimir , Savin Sergey
Published: October 2023

The article examines the category of the global social structure and its position in the conceptual and categorical apparatus of modern sociological science. This category is characterized by a certain novelty and needs further theoretical development. The authors note and describe the concepts that form the basis of the society’s global social structure research from the perspective of the modern system approach, and consider its significance in the typology of social structures of society. A special place in the article is devoted to the levels of social structures, the study of theoretical concepts that constitute the foundation of methodological representations of the global social structure study. As methodological sources, the article uses works directly related to the concepts of global social structure and metastructure. The authors conduct a sociological analysis of the social system and social structure categories; identify the social structure levels according to the dialectics of individual, special and general cognition. The article discusses the possibilities of applying the main provisions of A. A. Bogdanov’s tectology as a method for sociological research of various modern social systems and structures types. The applicability of the globalization sociological apparatus within the framework of the sustainable development concept is considered. The study suggests that the global social structure should be considered in conjunction with new social formations, namely global social strata and institutions. However, but this requires further development of the conceptual and categorical apparatus.
Water committees in the implementation of decentralization measures in the water sector in Gaza Province, Mozambique: ownership and resistance
Authors: Nhaurire Alves Francisco , Wells-Brown Tanya , Capurchande Rehana
Published: October 2023

As part of the water supply services decentralization in Mozambique, water user committees play a key role to manage water supply systems. However, they struggle with sustainability issues, which affect the water access to the communities. This paper intends to understand the sustainability of water systems in Mozambique based on the sociocultural dynamics, normative and institutional framework, and the interaction of social actors involved in the community management of water systems. This is a qualitative study based on phenomenology principles whose experiences were based on field work carried out in Gaza province, Mozambique. The study revealed that community management of water supply systems in Mozambique was a policy option for decentralization of water supply management, in response to the weak capacity (resources and technicians) for this purpose. The study shows that, in practice, there has yet to be much success in achieving the objectives of the Water User Committee, as they have proven to be less effective in meeting water access needs. There are challenges affecting the sustainability of the Water User Committee, such as weak understanding of their roles, conflicts, transparency, accountability and, in turn, the sustainability of water sources.
Assessing the performances and transferability of graph neural network metamodels for water distribution systems
Authors: Kerimov Bulat , Bentivoglio Roberto , Garzón Alexander , Isufi Elvin , Tscheikner-Gratl Franz , Steffelbauer David Bernhard , Taormina Riccardo
Published: October 2023

Metamodels accurately reproduce the output of physics-based hydraulic models with a significant reduction in simulation times. They are widely employed in water distribution system (WDS) analysis since they enable computationally expensive applications in the design, control, and optimisation of water networks. Recent machine-learning-based metamodels grant improved fidelity and speed; however, they are only applicable to the water network they were trained on. To address this issue, we investigate graph neural networks (GNNs) as metamodels for WDSs. GNNs leverage the networked structure of WDS by learning shared coefficients and thus offering the potential of transferability. This work evaluates the suitability of GNNs as metamodels for estimating nodal pressures in steady-state EPANET simulations. We first compare the effectiveness of GNN metamodels against multi-layer perceptrons (MLPs) on several benchmark WDSs. Then, we explore the transferability of GNNs by training them concurrently on multiple WDSs. For each configuration, we calculate model accuracy and speedups with respect to the original numerical model. GNNs perform similarly to MLPs in terms of accuracy and take longer to execute but may still provide substantial speedup. Our preliminary results indicate that GNNs can learn shared representations across networks, although assessing the feasibility of truly general metamodels requires further work.
Study on the physico-chemical properties of water in the Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Authors: Babu S. Surya , Thomas K. Raju
Published: October 2023

The Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam District, Kerala, are incredibly nutrient-rich, biodiverse habitats that offer a wide range of benefits. There are important bird areas that lie under the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) and the Vembanad Ramsar site. An intensive study was carried out on the physico-chemical properties of water samples collected from the Pokkali wetlands of Ernakulam, Kerala, from 1 June 2016 to 31 May 2019. The water parameters, such as temperature (°C), pH, depth (cm), dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/L), salinity (mg/L), turbidity (NTU), and electrical conductivity (μS cm−1) were analysed and recorded. The correlation between various parameters was analysed using the PAST software. The physico-chemical parameters of water have an influence on the biodiversity and ecology of the study area. Data collection about these aquatic parameters is essential to assess the status and biodiversity of the wetland ecosystem.
Water quality for agricultural irrigation produced by two municipal sewage treatment plants in Santiago Island-Cape Verde: Assessment of chemical parameters and pharmaceutical residues
Authors: Lopes Maria dos Anjos de Jesus Barros Monteiro , Guedes-Alonso Rayco , Mendoza-Grimón Vanessa , Montesdeoca-Esponda Sarah , Fernández-Vera Juan Ramon , Sosa-Ferrera Zoraida , Santana-Rodríguez José Juan , Palacios-Díaz Maria del Pino
Published: October 2023

Cape Verde, a West Africa Island country, is exposed to climate change effect. An effective way of reducing its poverty and achieving food security is to provide its agricultural sector with water. The purpose of this study is to monitor treated water quality to ensure that any pollutants are below the limits set to ensure the safety and sustainability of reuse because only 10% of its treated wastewater is reused. For the first time on Cape Verde islands, besides chemical quality, the occurrence of 11 pharmaceutical compounds (PhC) in the influent and effluent of two natural wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was monitored to assess the effectiveness of the treatment technologies and removal efficiencies of these pollutants. Of the 11 target PhC, nine were detected in influent samples within the ng·L−1 to μg·L−1 range. Lower concentrations were detected in one WWTP vs. the other. Nevertheless, the removal efficiencies for most compounds were similar in both WWTPs: within the ranges of 82–92% for beta-blockers, 48–99% for stimulants and 44–95% for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, while carbamazepine (anticonvulsant) concentrations increased in effluents. WWTPs produce water that meets water quality standards for irrigation if a properly designed and managed reusing system is adopted.
INFORME FINAL DEL FORO DE REGULACIÓN DE LA PRÁCTICA DE LA ENFERMERÍA EN LA REGIÓN DE LAS AMÉRICAS 15 Y 16 DE MARZO DE 2023
Authors: Cassiani Silvia Helena De Bortoli , Dias Bruna Moreno , Durães Mônica Diniz , Almeida Bruno Guimarães de , Palha Pedro Fredemir , Ventura Carla Aparecida Arena , Gir Elucir , Gazotti Juliana , Santos Betânia Maria Pereira dos , Gomes Antônio Marcos Freire , Cunha Isabel Cristina Kowal Olm , Lourenção Luciano Garcia , Freire Neyson Pinheiro
Published: October 2023

En la Región de las Américas hay aproximadamente 7 millones de profesionales de enfermería, lo que representa más del 56% de los recursos humanos para la salud. La regulación de la práctica profesional promueve y protege la integridad profesional, garantizando profesionales competentes y bien cualificados. El Foro sobre la Regulación de la Práctica de la Enfermería en la Región de las Américas tuvo como objetivo presentar los marcos regulatorios para la práctica profesional en salud, particularmente en enfermería; discutir acciones estratégicas para fortalecer los sistemas regulatorios profesionales, apoyar el desarrollo de capacidades de los organismos regulatorios; analizar los requisitos para el otorgamiento y renovación de licencias; y compartir experiencias exitosas en la regulación de la enfermería. El Foro contó con la participación presencial de 83 personas, con representantes de 17 países de América Latina y el Caribe. La plataforma COFENplay registró la participación de 6.906 espectadores. A partir de los debates del
evento, se propusieron las siguientes recomendaciones: promover el debate nacional con los actores clave, incluidos los Ministerios
de la Salud, Educación y Trabajo y Empleo, para profundizar la regulación en los países; recomendar la coordinación intersectorial
con el tema de la regulación de los Recursos Humanos en Salud; generar una base de datos común para identificar la información
sobre la regulación; y ampliar la investigación sobre el tema y la capacidad de generar y analizar datos.