bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RPU-PVB: robust object detection based on a unified metric perspective with bilinear interpolation
Authors: Yang Hao , Wang Xuewei , Chen Yuling , Dou Hui , Zhang Yangwen
Published: December 2023

With the development of cloud computing and deep learning, an increasing number of artificial intelligence models have been applied to reality. Such as videos on cell phones can be uploaded to the cloud for storage, which is detected by cloud arithmetic. Nevertheless, achieving this goal requires frequent consideration of the security of the model, since videos or images that go to the cloud, it is very likely to receive an adversarial attack. Regarding object detection, there has however been slow advancement in robustness research in this area. This is because training a target detection model requires a lot of arithmetic and time. Moreover, the current research has only slightly reduced the gap between clean and adversarial samples. To alleviate this problem, we propose a uniform perspective object detection robustness model based on bilinear interpolation that can accurately identify clean and adversarial samples. We propose the robustness optimization based on uniform metric perspective (RPU) for feature learning of clean and adversarial samples, drawing on the fine-grained idea. Following this, we analyze the fragility of the adversarial samples and consequently use the proposed perturbation filtering verification (PVB) based on bilinear interpolation. With slightly degraded clean sample detection performance, it substantially improves the robustness of object detection. Extensive experiments on PASCAL VOC and MS COCO show that our model guarantees the detection performance of clean samples and increases the detection performance of adversarial samples. The work we did has been open-sourced on GitHub: https://github.com/KujouRiu/RPU-PVB.
“It feels like I’m coming to a friend’s house”: an interpretive descriptive study of an integrated care site offering iOAT (Dr. Peter Centre)
Authors: Dobischok Sophia , Carvajal José R. , Turner Kyle , Jaffe Kaitlyn , Lehal Eisha , Blawatt Sarinn , Redquest Casey , Baltzer Turje Rosalind , McDougall Patrick , Koch Bryce , McDermid Cheryl , Hassan Damon , Harrison Scott , Oviedo-Joekes Eugenia
Published: December 2023

Background

Injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) has proven to be a safe and effective treatment option for severe opioid use disorder (OUD). Yet, iOAT is often isolated from other health and social services. To align with a person-centered care approach, iOAT can be embedded in sites that combine systems and services that have been historically fragmented and that address multiple comorbidities (integrated care sites). The present study investigates the addition of iOAT at an integrated care in Vancouver, British Columbia. We aimed to capture what it means for service users and service providers to incorporate iOAT in an integrated care site and describe the processes by which the site keeps people engaged.

Methods

We conducted 22 interviews with 15 service users and 14 interviews with 13 service providers across two rounds of individual semi-structured interviews (Fall 2021, Summer 2022). The second interview round was precipitated by a service interruption in medication dispensation. Interview audio was recorded, transcribed, and then analysed in NVivo 1.6 following an interpretive description approach.

Results

The emergent themes from the analysis are represented in two categories: (1) a holistic approach (client autonomy, de-medicalized care, supportive staff relationships, multiple opportunities for engagement, barriers to iOAT integration) and (2) a sense of place (physical location, social connection and community belonging, food).

Conclusion

Incorporating iOAT at an integrated care site revealed how iOAT delivery can be strengthened through its direct connection to a diverse, comprehensive network of health and social services that are provided in a community atmosphere with high quality therapeutic relationships.
Antibiotic prophylaxis after 48 h postoperatively are not associated with decreased surgical site infections and other healthcare associated infections in pancreatic surgery patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ma Xiaoju , He Qiangsheng , Chen Youpeng , Lu Yan , Zhu Ping , Zhang Ji , Chen Wen-sen , Zhang Yongxiang , Zhang Wei-hong , Zhu Chuanlong , Li Qiang , Li Zhanjie
Published: December 2023

Background

It is controversial whether antibiotic should be used prophylactically 48 h after pancreatic surgery. Hence, the association of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) after 48 h postoperatively with the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients receiving pancreatic surgery was evaluated.

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on 1073 patients who underwent pancreatic surgery. These patients were categorized into the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (n = 963) and the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (n = 110) based on whether or not they obtained AP from 48 h to 30 days after surgery. Outcomes included SSIs and other HAIs.

Results

The incidence of SSIs in the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (98/963, 10.2%) was notably lower than that in the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (22/110, 20.0%) (P = 0.002). Other HAIs incidence was not significantly different between the non-AP after 48 h postoperatively group (77/963, 8.0%) and the AP after 48 h postoperatively group (11/110, 10.0%) (P = 0.468). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that AP after 48 h postoperatively was a risk factor for SSIs (OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.28–3.59) but not for other HAIs (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 0.63–2.42) after adjustment for age, gender, and diabetes. Subsequent to adjustment for all confounding factors, AP after 48 h postoperatively was not a influence factor for SSIs (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 0.76–5.99) and other HAIs (OR = 3.69, 95% CI 0.99–13.81).

Conclusions

AP after 48 h postoperatively following pancreatic surgery was not associated with the lower morbidity rate of SSIs and other HAIs. Nonetheless, this study may facilitate further development of strategies towards standardization of the duration of AP management of pancreatic surgery.
Role of advanced glycation end products in diabetic vascular injury: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives
Authors: Liu Jing , Pan Shuo , Wang Xiqiang , Liu Zhongwei , Zhang Yong
Published: December 2023

Background

In diabetic metabolic disorders, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute significantly to the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Aims

This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying AGE-mediated vascular injury.

Conclusions

We discuss the formation and accumulation of AGEs, their interactions with cellular receptors, and the subsequent activation of signaling pathways leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle cell proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and impaired angiogenesis. Moreover, we explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting AGEs and related pathways for CVD prevention and treatment in diabetic metabolic disorders. Finally, we address current challenges and future directions in the field, emphasizing the importance of understanding the molecular links between AGEs and vascular injury to improve patient outcomes.
Top 100 cited articles in the thromboangiitis obliterans: a bibliometric analysis and visualized study
Authors: Liu Zhenxing , Ning Weiwei , Liang Jinlong , Zhang Tao , Yang Qingxu , Zhang Jie , Xie Ming
Published: December 2023

Objective

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is one of the most common types of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This study aimed to explore the characteristics of the top 100 most cited articles in the TAO.

Methods

A bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science (WOS) database was performed. Literature was retrieved and ranked by the citations. Listed below are the top 100 citations, including original articles, reviews, full-length proceeding papers, and case reports that were included for analysis. The type of literature, research areas, and languages were recorded. The trends of citations including the total citations, an analysis of publication and citation numbers were conducted each year. We analyzed citations from highly cited countries, authors, institutions, and journals. Research hotspots were gathered by a visualized analysis of author keywords.

Results

Most of the highly cited literature was original articles. A rising trend was observed in the number of citations per year. The peaks in the number of highly cited articles appeared in the year 1998 and 2006. The majority of the articles focused on the cardiovascular system and surgery. Journal of Vascular Surgery published most of the highly cited articles. The USA and Japan contributed nearly half the number of highly cited articles. Mayo Clinic and Nagoya University were highly cited institutions. Shionoya S and Olin JW were both the author with the largest number of citations and the most highly cited author in the reference. Articles that were highly cited most often addressed the following topics: “vasculitis”, “autoimmune disease”, and “critical limb ischemia”. Keywords that were mostly used in recent years were “stem cell therapy”, “progenitor therapy”, and “immunoadsorption”. The detection of bursts of author keywords showed the following: “permeability”, “differentiation”, and “critical limb ischemia” are recent keywords that have burst.

Conclusions

In this study, the highly cited contributors in the field of TAO research were identified. Most cited articles in the top 100 focused on the cardiovascular system and surgery. Treatment and pathophysiology including stem cell therapy, progenitor therapy, genetics, autoimmunity, and inflammation are the hotspots of TAO.
Electroacupuncture promotes neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and improves pattern separation in an early Alzheimer's disease mouse model
Authors: Ding Yanyi , Li Long , Wang Sinuo , Cao Yajun , Yang Minguang , Dai Yaling , Lin Huawei , Li Jianhong , Liu Yulu , Wang Zhifu , Liu Weilin , Tao Jing
Published: December 2023

Background

Impaired pattern separation occurs in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) neurogenesis participates in pattern separation. Here, we investigated whether spatial memory discrimination impairment can be improved by promoting the hippocampal DG granule cell neogenesis-mediated pattern separation in the early stage of AD by electroacupuncture (EA).

Methods

Five familial AD mutations (5 × FAD) mice received EA treatment at Baihui and Shenting points for 4 weeks. During EA, mice were intraperitoneally injected with BrdU (50 mg/kg) twice a day. rAAV containing Wnt5a shRNA was injected into the bilateral DG region, and the viral efficiency was evaluated by detecting Wnt5a mRNA levels. Cognitive behavior tests were conducted to assess the impact of EA treatment on cognitive function. The hippocampal DG area Aβ deposition level was detected by immunohistochemistry after the intervention; The number of BrdU+/CaR+ cells and the gene expression level of calretinin (CaR) and prospero homeobox 1(Prox1) in the DG area of the hippocampus was detected to assess neurogenesis by immunofluorescence and western blotting after the intervention; The gene expression levels of FZD2, Wnt5a, DVL2, p-DVL2, CaMKII, and p-CaMKII in the Wnt signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting after the intervention.

Results

Cognitive behavioral tests showed that 5 × FAD mice had impaired pattern separation (P < 0.001), which could be improved by EA (P < 0.01). Immunofluorescence and Western blot showed that the expression of Wnt5a in the hippocampus was decreased (P < 0.001), and the neurogenesis in the DG was impaired (P < 0.001) in 5 × FAD mice. EA could increase the expression level of Wnt5a (P < 0.05) and promote the neurogenesis of immature granule cells (P < 0.05) and the development of neuronal dendritic spines (P < 0.05). Interference of Wnt5a expression aggravated the damage of neurogenesis (P < 0.05), weakened the memory discrimination ability (P < 0.05), and inhibited the beneficial effect of EA (P < 0.05) in AD mice. The expression level of Wnt pathway related proteins such as FZD2, DVL2, p-DVL2, CAMKII, p-CAMKII increased after EA, but the effect of EA was inhibited after Wnt5a was knocked down. In addition, EA could reduce the deposition of Aβ plaques in the DG without any impact on Wnt5a.

Conclusion

EA can promote hippocampal DG immature granule cell neogenesis-mediated pattern separation to improve spatial memory discrimination impairment by regulating Wnt5a in 5 × FAD mice.
Melatonin alleviates pyroptosis by regulating the SIRT3/FOXO3α/ROS axis and interacting with apoptosis in Atherosclerosis progression
Authors: Cong Lin , Liu Xiankun , Bai Yiming , Qin Qin , Zhao Lili , Shi Ying , Bai Yunpeng , Guo Zhigang
Published: December 2023

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS), a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), is steadily rising with the aging of the global population. Pyroptosis and apoptosis, both caspase-mediated cell death mechanisms, play an essential role in the occurrence and progression of AS. The human pineal gland primarily produces melatonin (MT), an indoleamine hormone with powerful anti-oxidative, anti-pyroptotic, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study examined MT’s anti-oxidative stress and anti-pyroptotic effects on human THP-1 macrophages treated with nicotine.

Methods

In vitro, THP-1 macrophages were induced by 1 µM nicotine to form a pyroptosis model and performed 30 mM MT for treatment. In vivo, ApoE-/- mice were administered 0.1 mg/mL nicotine solution as drinking water, and 1 mg/mL MT solution was intragastric administrated at 10 mg/kg/day. The changes in pyroptosis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were detected.

Results

MT downregulated pyroptosis, whose changes were paralleled by a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reversal of sirtuin3 (SIRT3), and Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3α) upregulation. MT also inhibited apoptosis, mainly caused by the interaction of caspase-1 and caspase-3 proteins. Vivo studies confirmed that nicotine could accelerate plaque formation. Moreover, mice treated with MT showed a reduction in AS lesion area.

Conclusions

MT alleviates pyroptosis by regulating the SIRT3/FOXO3α/ROS axis and interacting with apoptosis. Importantly, our understanding of the inhibitory pathways for macrophage pyroptosis will allow us to identify other novel therapeutic targets that will help treat, prevent, and reduce AS-associated mortality.
Embeddedness at varying depths: interactions between rural e-commerce entrepreneurs and China’s local politico-economic contexts
Authors: You Tianlong
Published: December 2023

Using data collected from face-to-face interviews, on-site observations, and other archival records, this article builds upon the mixed embeddedness framework to develop four concepts—hyper-, hypo-, governed, and dis-embeddedness—to capture the varied depths of rural e-commerce entrepreneurs’ embeddedness within multiple levels of contexts in response to four different local politico-economic conditions in China. This study finds that entrepreneurs in coastal province interiors are hyper-embedded in multiple levels of contexts that are interlinked through personal ties, while in the Pearl River Delta area, entrepreneurs’ hypo-embeddedness within multiple levels of contexts both enables and constrains their abilities to develop rural e-commerce businesses. Moreover, in the Yangtze River Delta area, in addition to entrepreneurs making their own efforts, local governments mobilize a variety of resources to affect the size, depth, and dynamics of entrepreneurs’ embeddedness, while in central and western provinces, entrepreneurs have not completely embraced the e-commerce economy because they face weak politico-economic conditions. This article further explores policy changes that would help entrepreneurs take full advantage of rural e-commerce in China.
Role of Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Influenza: A Review
Authors: You Maolin
Published: December 2023

Background

Many concerns regarding respiratory diseases, including influenza, emerged during the epidemic of COVID-19. There were relevant research findings and suggestions for influenza prevention and treatment through physical activity, but little report about the total efficiency. So, this review was to summarize the role of physical activity in influenza prevention and treatment.

Main Body

The databases Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO, PubMed, CNKI, and Science Direct were used to search the related literatures. The first search ran from July to October, 2021, and the second search was conducted in September, 2023. Those publications that reported the effects of physical activity, exercise, and sport on influenza, flu, and cold were included. It found that long-term adherence to moderate physical activity is beneficial in enhancing the body’s ability to resist influenza viruses. However, high-intensity endurance physical activity can cause an open window in the human immune system, which increases the risk of infection by influenza viruses. The patients with influenza infections can participate in moderate physical activity during the pre-onset period, but some of the researchers do not recommend physical activity for patients with influenza, avoiding the transmission of influenza viruses to others through human contact of physical activity. Moreover, animal studies have shown that physical activity may worsen influenza disease. While studies found that moderate physical activity is beneficial for preventing influenza, as most experimental studies were conducted on animals, the mechanisms in human with physical activity are still unclear. No study has yet suggested exercise prescriptions to prevent and control influenza, and there is currently no way to prevent or control influenza just through physical activity. The follow-up research is needed to increase human clinical experiments, elucidate the effect of physical activity on influenza, develop exercise prescriptions and gradually promote physical activity as a practical means for preventing and treating influenza.

Short Conclusions

Overall, participating in moderate physical activity regularly should be beneficial in influenza prevention, alleviating the patients’ symptoms and increasing the recovery efficiency, but this needs more testing in clinical human trials.
Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms: a single-center experience of endovascular occlusion
Authors: Fish Adam , Sailer Anne , Pollak Jeffrey , Schlachter Todd
Published: December 2023

The technique and outcomes of pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP) embolization was retrospectively evaluated in 13 patients undergoing 14 PAP embolizations between January 2014 and September 2023. The etiology of the PAP was iatrogenic (4/13), tumor (3/13), chronic lung (2/13), idiopathic (2/13) and mycotic (2/13). Clinical presentation was massive hemorrhage (6/13), incidental (4/13), and non-massive hemoptysis (3/13). The average PAP size was 13.5 mm. Coil embolization of the PAP sac was performed in all but two extenuating cases (11/13). Follow-up of 12 patients over an average 5.3-months showed persistent occlusion in all cases. There were no major adverse events attributed to the embolization. Five out of ten patients with procedures performed at least one year before this study were noted to be deceased after an average seven-month time. PAPs of various etiologies may be safely and effectively treated by occluding the aneurysm inflow, outflow, and sac.
Machine learning based fileless malware traffic classification using image visualization
Authors: Demmese Fikirte Ayalke , Neupane Ajaya , Khorsandroo Sajad , Wang May , Roy Kaushik , Fu Yu
Published: December 2023

In today’s interconnected world, network traffic is replete with adversarial attacks. As technology evolves, these attacks are also becoming increasingly sophisticated, making them even harder to detect. Fortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) and, specifically machine learning (ML), have shown great success in fast and accurate detection, classification, and even analysis of such threats. Accordingly, there is a growing body of literature addressing how subfields of AI/ML (e.g., natural language processing (NLP)) are getting leveraged to accurately detect evasive malicious patterns in network traffic. In this paper, we delve into the current advancements in ML-based network traffic classification using image visualization. Through a rigorous experimental methodology, we first explore the process of network traffic to image conversion. Subsequently, we investigate how machine learning techniques can effectively leverage image visualization to accurately classify evasive malicious traces within network traffic. Through the utilization of production-level tools and utilities in realistic experiments, our proposed solution achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 99.48% in detecting fileless malware, which is widely regarded as one of the most elusive classes of malicious software.
Factors affecting gender equality in public organizations in Egypt
Authors: Halim Yasser Tawfik , Zaazou Zeinab Abbas , El-Deeb Mohamed Samy
Published: December 2023

Research purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of institutional design, glass ceiling syndromes, traditional stereotypes on gender equality in public organizations in Egypt, and finally the effect of age as a moderating factor of the relation between the dependent and independent variables.

Research methodology

Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were utilized, employing self-administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews to test the research hypotheses.

Research findings

The findings indicate that institutional design factors significantly affect gender equality, while traditional stereotypes also have a significant impact. However, the "Glass Ceiling Syndrome" was found to have no significant effect. Moreover, the study reveals that women's age plays a positive moderating role in the relationship between institutional design, glass ceiling syndromes, traditional stereotypes, and gender equality.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this study lie in its examination of age as a moderator in the relationship between dependent and independent variables, specifically institutional design, glass ceiling syndromes, traditional stereotypes, and gender equality. The inclusion of age as a moderating factor led to interesting findings, demonstrating its positive influence in shaping gender equality outcomes in public organizations.
Service quality dimensions as predictors of customer loyalty in mobile payment services: moderating effect of gender
Authors: Liana Pamela , Jaensson Jan-Erik , Mmari Goodluck
Published: December 2023

The changes in market dynamics, customer-to-customer interactions, and the use of artificial intelligence have created a great concern among marketers in understanding customer behaviours such as customer loyalty. Policymakers account for the provision of quality service in terms of subscription numbers. However, little explains the impacts of these dynamics. Drawing up the service quality model, theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and customer loyalty model, the study examined the influence of service quality, technical quality (TQ), functional quality (FQ), and reputational quality (RQ) on customer loyalty (CL). Specifically, the study focuses on moderating gender differences to enhance robustness. Data were collected from 379 respondents and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) with smart PLS (partial least square). The results suggested that customer assessment of reputational quality was vital in m-payment services for both males and females. Female customers depicted a more significant positive relationship than male customers, meaning the former are more loyal than the latter. Technical quality negatively influences attitudinal customer loyalty, while functional quality affects behavioural loyalty. The study contributes towards understanding the role of the dimensions of service quality (dSQ), customer loyalty and gender differences. Theoretically, the foundation of this research adds up to the consideration of the moderation effect of gender and their differential assessment of technical and functional quality as predictors of customer loyalty. Implication to managers is improving marketing strategies, and policymakers provide a more enabling environment for m-payment service.
Biosensor based on multiple metal layer-hole array
Authors: Duan Jindan , Song Gang , Duan Gaoyan , Lang Peilin
Published: December 2023

We propose a biosensor which is sensitive to the refraction index (RI) of the tested liquid. The sensor is composed of a metal-insulator-metal structure based on periodic nanopore arrays, whose absorption spectrum exhibits a narrow peak at the resonant wavelength. The finite difference time domain method is used to simulate the proposed structure. The results show that there is a narrow resonant peak at the wavelength of 800 nm with RI of 1.33. By adding grooves on the lower metal layer, the maximum absorption rate increases to 99.7%. When RI varies in the range from 1.33 to 1.35, it can have a high sensitivity of 550 nm /RIU, a narrow half peak full width of 5.87 nm, and a figure of merit of 93.7. In addition, the absorption peak value also changes significantly with a sensitivity of 1845%/RIU, which can be used to measure the concentration of bovine serum albumin and other solutions to achieve biosensors.
Harriet Martineau's Empiricism
Authors: Rich Robert
Published: December 2023

In 1832 Harriet Martineau began writing a series of fictional tales intended to illustrate the principles of political economy. By 1834 monthly sales numbers for the series were prolific and Martineau was gaining an international reputation. The Illustrations of Political Economy has long been read as advancing a simplistic popular Ricardianism that spoke powerfully to its immediate audience but became obsolete within just a few decades. This article complicates these assumptions by showing how the tales take a Malthusian stance on questions regarding the proper scope and method of economic science and hence anticipate the inductivist and historicist critiques of Ricardian economics that Malthus inspired. The process by which she conducted research for the tales and the process by which her characters learn economic lessons resemble the inductive process that the Cambridge inductivists and later the English historical economists posited as an alternative to the abstract and deductive method they associated with Ricardo. These tales also reveal how cultural, religious, and historical forces influence economic life and economic decision-making, suggesting that, as the inductive and historical economists often argued, understanding these forces was essential to arriving at a true understanding of political economy.
Chen Huanzhang'sThe Economic Principles of Confucius and His School: A Reappraisal
Authors: Peach Terry
Published: December 2023

This article offers a reappraisal of Chen Huanzhang's The Economic Principles of Confucius and His School (1911): the published version of his doctoral thesis, completed at Columbia University. The book came with introductory testimonials from Columbia professors Friedrich Hirth and Henry R. Seager that have been read as “accolades,” while reviews from J. M. Keynes and E. A. Ross have been singled out as significant badges of merit. It is demonstrated that Chen's version of “Confucianism” had been taken, without express acknowledgment, from Chen's teacher, Kang Youwei, and that the main purpose of Chen's work was to embellish Kang's “Confucianism” in the service of Kang's political cause. It is argued further that Chen's work suffered from manifest deficiencies, some of which were noticed by other contemporary reviewers. As for the “positive” reviews, it is contended that these were directed more at general and incidental features of Chen's work, in ignorance of Kang's influence, while the “accolades” from Hirth and Seager were, respectively, a terse, unelaborated acknowledgment of Chen's “discipleship” of Kang and an unconvincing effort to claim scholarly merit for Chen's work in deference to his participation in Kang's political cause.
Two new species of smut fungi from the Neotropics: Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-truncatae and Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-coniferae
Authors:   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Denchev Teodor T. , Denchev Cvetomir M. ,   Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2023

Two new species of Ustanciosporium, U. bulbostylidis-truncatae and U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, are described and illustrated. These are the first records of species of this genus on hosts in Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae). Both species are known only from their type localities, in the savannas of Suriname (Sipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve, for U. bulbostylidis-truncatae) and Guyana (near Manari, for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae). Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-truncatae is distinguished from U. bulbostylidis-coniferae by having smaller spores, (9.5–)10–12.5(–13.5) μm long vs. (12–)12.5–15.5(–16.5) μm long for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, and thinner spore wall, 0.5–0.9(–1.2) μm thick vs. 0.6–1.7(–2.0) μm thick for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae.
Does Being More Sustainable Make Firms Less Manipulative? Understanding the Role of Corporate Sustainability and the COVID-19 Crisis in Financial Manipulation
Authors: Bilgiç Emre , Aydın Esra , Aydoğan Tahsin
Published: December 2023

The tendency of firms to distort financial statements has increased. Cases like the Enron Scandal and the 2008 financial crisis as well as their results have made understanding the propensity firms have to manipulate their financial statements important. Moreover, sustainable companies have been suggested as complying better with ethical rules. This study questions whether any difference exists between sustainable and less sustainable firms in terms of the likelihood of financial manipulation. The study also examines how the COVID-19 crisis was reflected in financial manipulation. This study measures the likelihood of financial manipulation being committed using Beneish’s M-score. This research uses the Mann-Whitney U and One-Way ANOVA tests to examine whether or not any difference exists between the pre- and post-COVID-19 periods and between sustainable and less sustainable companies in terms of financial manipulation. The results illustrate sustainable firms to have less of a tendency to commit financial manipulation compared to less sustainable companies, with this likelihood increasing for both groups in times of crisis. The results suggest being sustainable to reduce the likelihood of financial manipulation by supporting the formation of an ethical environment in firms and financial manipulation to be considered as a crisis response for both types of firms during a crisis.
Design and manufacture of a UAV using additive technologies and composite materials
Authors: MIHAILESCU Razvan Alexandru , SIMION Ionel
Published: December 2023

The aim of the study is the development of a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) bicopter, utilizing Autodesk Inventor and Ultimaker Cura software. Design models were inspired by the V22-Osprey and Samson SA-2 from the Avatar movie. Composite materials (carbon fiber and PLA for 3D printing) were chosen due to their high-performance capabilities, as aerospace technology is in an ongoing development and evolution. The construction of the bicopter employed the FAAT method, and for control, the MATEK F411-WSE was utilized to process data from sensors, with specific firmware and the BetaFLIGHT interface for optimizing drone performance.
L1 adaptive control design for the rigid body launch vehicle
Authors: NAJI Naji Anees Muqdad , STOICA Adrian
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the use of an L1-adaptive controller to improve the performance of the Vega launch vehicle because the classical controller does not guarantee stability and tracking of the system in the transient. The L1-AC ensures uniformly bounded transient and steady-state tracking for both systems’ signals, input, and output. In this paper, we used the equations of the adaptation and the L1-norm with two filters, the first one is first-order order and the second filter is third-order, we used the large adaptive gain with the first filter, also used the low adaptive gain with the second filter, and after the analysis the result numerically we found the lambda with the first filter less than 1 and the lambda with second filter larger than lambda with the first filter. The L1 adaptive controller can generate a stable system response to track the control input and the system output, both in transient and steady-state because we selected the adaptive gain large with minimize lambda. It is noted that the system response for the L1 adaptive control configuration with the first filter, as compared with the system response with the second filter, has much better performances, both from the point of view of the overshoot and rise time.
Applications of design and reverse engineering for the development of digital and smart tools for composite additive manufacturing
Authors: ANDREI Irina-Carmen , STROE Gabriela-Liliana , BERBENTE Sorin , STOICA Gina Florica , CRISAN Nicoleta , PRISECARU Delia , GRECULESCU Anca , COSTEA Emil , POPESCU Ionel , STOICA Cristian STOICA , FILIPESCU Octavian Ioan
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a study dedicated to the development of Digital and Smart Tools, based on solved applications of design engineering and reverse engineering. This approach is justified by the fact as well as the need for preparations prior to Composite Additive Manufacturing. Future integration of Digital Smart Tools with Composite Additive Manufacturing will significantly contribute to the efficient and effective support of the green economy, the active, responsible, safe and resilient protection of environment, life and climate. The research involved in this paper contributes to develop Digital and Smart Tools Applications, intended for integrated digital design, development, manufacturing and further predictive maintenance and services, based on robotic systems, extended automatic control, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, including Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Simulations for Performance Prediction at Design Regime and Off-Design Regimes for jet engines, with the best capabilities to generate and integrate improvements, optimizations and potential innovative solutions. This paper presents significant applications of design, concept engineering development and reverse engineering design, as: 1/ the design of a transonic axial compressor rotor blade, 2/ the design of a swept axial compressor rotor, 3/ concept design engineering developments in case of a swept fan rotor blade, 4/ concept design developments and reverse engineering in case of a HP axial compressor rotor blade, part of Spey 512-14 DW turbofan engine, 5/ reverse engineering design of a Cessna 182 Skylane N223IF light aircraft wheel cover. In line with Europe´s vision for sustainable aviation, this research study and INCAS´ TGA Project "Technological Development Platform for "Green" Technologies in Aviation and Ecological Manufacturing with Superior Added Value; TGA - Technologies for Green Aviation" will significantly contribute to the Green Deal, as a production center using "Green" Technologies in aviation and ecological manufacturing, as well as collaborative developer of Digital and Smart Tools for Composite Additive Manufacturing.
The Curie effect incorporation in the monodomain equation describing the action potential dynamics in cardiac tissue
Authors: BALINT Agneta M. , BALINT Stefan , NECULAE Adrian
Published: December 2023

In their in-depth study on cardiac tissue modeling, Clayton and Panfilov [1] present several monodomain or bidomain approaches for the mathematical description of the cardiac tissue action potential dynamics. For simulation of wave propagation in the cardiac tissue, the monodomain descriptions which use integer order derivatives reproduce many of the phenomena that are observed experimentally and are thus an appropriate analysis tool. The main objection concerning the monodomain approaches is that the electrical circuit capacitor, appearing in these descriptions, is considered ideal (the space between the capacitor plates is vacuum) and the Curie effect is ignored. The Curie effect consists of the fact that in case of a dielectric material, if at a moment of time a constant external voltage is applied, due to the capacitance of the capacitor and the properties of the dielectric, a supplementary electrical current is produced, besides the ohmic current. This supplementary contribution cannot be neglected in some cases.
In this paper, the Curie effect, describing the action potential dynamics in cardiac tissue, assumed isotropic, is incorporated in the monodomain equation. The novelty is that this approach does not use fractional order derivatives and the obtained mathematical description with these equations is objective.
How legislators define research evidence
Authors: Day Elizabeth , Bogenschneider Karen
Published: December 2023

Background:

Understanding how policymakers define research and differentiate it from other sources of data is critical for scientists to improve how they conduct and communicate research to policy audiences. Yet, few studies have explicitly asked policymakers – particularly state legislators in the USA – how they define research evidence.

Methods:

We sought to fill this gap via in-depth interviews with 168 policymakers from two Midwestern states; 32 of whom were nominated by their colleagues as exemplar research users. Findings were triangulated via interviews with experienced key informants from both states. In-depth interviews were the preferred methodology for our research question, as they offered legislators the chance to describe research in their own words and elaborate on examples when needed.

Findings:

For many legislators, definitions of research largely aligned with how the scientific community might define research; both Republicans and Democrats defined research as peer-reviewed studies with specific qualities that distinguish research evidence from other types of information. However, some legislators defined research with a broader lens, including different types of information (for example, anecdotes) and qualities of information (for example, accessibility, relevance, credibility, and unbiased) as part of their definition.

Discussion and conclusions:

Researchers may better engage policy audiences by referring to the types and qualities legislators mentioned because policymakers prefer evidence from rigorous studies to those that are poorly executed or politically motivated. Legislators called this ‘bogus’ research, ‘party’ research or ‘pseudoscience’. Researchers can signal their credibility by being transparent regarding funding sources and reasons or motivation for conducting studies.
Studying social change in human lives: a conversation
Authors: Settersten Richard A. , Dannefer Dale , Elder Glen H. , Mortimer Jeylan T. , Kelley Jessica A.
Published: December 2023

This commentary reinforces a central commitment of life course research: to make visible how social change matters in human lives. This paper captures a moderated conversation with four senior scholars about how they came to study the intersection between social change and life experience, why this intersection is so important to life course studies, and theoretical and methodological imperatives and challenges that come with it.
The logic of choice and the logic of care: conceptualising ethics within everyday food consumption practices
Authors: Koskinen Outi , Jauho Mikko
Published: December 2023

The choosing consumer has been a prominent figure within consumption research, alternatively celebrated as enabling the expression of lifestyles and tastes or criticised for overlooking consumers as embedded in interconnected mundane practices. While sociologically oriented consumption research has explored the multiplicity of consumer roles beyond ‘chooser’, the figure of the choosing consumer persists in many research streams and in our shared cultural imagination. This article joins previous research on the ethics of consumption that has explored tensions between choosing and relational consumers. It does so by introducing the logic of choice and the logic of care to consumption research. Developed by Annemarie Mol (2008), these logics can be seen as ideal types representing contrasting styles of navigating decision-making, ethics, and questions of the good life. The logic of care emphasises attentive doings that aim to improve conditions in specific situations, seeking moderation rather than control, whereas the logic of choice starts out from sovereign individuals making clear-cut decisions. Using examples from a research project on everyday meat consumption practices, we develop a conceptualisation of the central dimensions of these logics within food consumption. The logics of choice and care enact particular worlds and ways of being in them, bringing forth the ontological politics of consumption. Consequently, we advocate for cultivating care in the world of consumption currently dominated by choice, since it enacts a more merciful framing of ethical consumption, emphasising our shared responsibility for ‘as well as possible’ relations without tipping over into guilt.
Synthesis, Adsorption and Catalytic Properties of Eggshell-Coconut Pith for Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil
Authors: Kumar Harendra , Renita Annam
Published: December 2023

This study aims to develop a sustainable heterogeneous biocatalyst prepared from calcined eggshell waste impregnated with waste coconut piths for producing biodiesel from used cooking oil. Waste eggshells were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis for calcinations at suitable temperature under inert atmosphere. It was subjected to impregnation of coconut pith by physical and  chemical adsorption. The prepared eggshell-coconut pith catalyst was optimized at different parameters like temperature, mass ratio  of coconut pith, eggshell and variant concentration of the solvent used for socking of coconut pith and eggshell. The adsorption of  coconut pith on the eggshell surface were characterized by BET analysis and SEM analysis, the size of atom of eggshell was increased  after impregnation of coconut pith by 100 μm. The adsorption of coconut pith on eggshell was validated by Langmuir and Freundlich  adsorption models and order of impregnation reaction was verified by pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. The effect of  process parameters like amount of catalyst loading, oil: alcohol ratio, time, speed of iteration, pH of the solvent and temperature,  which enhanced the yield of biodiesel to ~ 87%.
Synthesis, Characterization, Dielectric and Antibacterial Studies of TiO2-Phosphomolybdic Acid Nanocomposite
Authors: Daniel M. Praveen , Anantha Selvan P. Rajesh , Swami Doss D. Paramanantha
Published: December 2023

In this work, the synthesis of TiO2-phosphomolybdic acid nanocomposites was achieved by annealing method and characterized by UV-visible, FT-IR, XRD, EDAX and SEM. The UV-visible spectroscopy revealed a strong interaction between the TiO2 and phosphomolybdic acid, while the FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of phosphomolybdic acid in the nanocomposite. Moreover, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed a decrease in the crystallite size of the nanocomposite materials. This finding was further supported by the SEM images, which exhibited a reduction in particle size and a uniform distribution of the dopant. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite, the methylene blue dye degradation was used and the results proved a good catalytic activity (99.41%). The favourable results have been obtained by measuring the dielectric constants and analyzing the temperature dependence of AC and DC electrical conductivities of the composite materials. The antibacterial properties of the nanocomposites were also evaluated using the agar well diffusion method on Streptococcus pyogenes, exhibiting the significant results. Overall, the synthesized TiO2-phosphomolybdic acid nanocomposites have proven as promising composites in various studies, suggesting their potential applications in many different fields.
Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity and Dual Target Docking Studies of Novel 1-(5-Chloro-1-benzofuran-2-yl)-3-substituted Phenyl Prop-2-en-1-ones
Authors: Posinasetty Bhargavi , Yejjella Rajendra Prasad , Birudala Geetha , Bandarapalle Kishore , Rajasekhar Komarla Kumarachari , Naresh Babu Chilamakuru
Published: December 2023

This study involved synthesizing five novel derivatives of 1-(5-chloro-1-benzofuran-2-yl)-3-substituted phenyl prop-2-en-1-ones throughthe Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction, using 5-chloro-2-acetyl benzofuran and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of base catalyst. The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed by using IR spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Schrödinger docking simulations were employed to ascertain the binding affinity of the synthesized compounds to Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl-ACP reductase and Escherichia coli Topoisomerase IV. Subsequently, the anti-tubercular and in vitro antibacterial activities of the synthesized compounds were also investigated. Anti-tubercular efficacy was determined using the MABA method, while the antibacterial effectiveness was assessed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains through the agar cup plate. The findings from these assays provide insights into the potential of these compounds as agents possessing anti-tubercular and antibacterial characteristics, thereby offering promising prospects for further investigation in the field of drug  development.
A Spectroscopic Approach on Permanganate Oxidation of 1-[(4-Chlorophenyl)methyl]piperidin-4-amine in Presence of Ruthenium(III) Catalyst with DFT Analysis on Reaction Mechanism Pathway
Authors: Shashidhar S. , Shastry Vidyavati A. , Chinnam Sampath , Elkady Hazem , Husein Dalal Z. , Devi Anusuya , Gurushantha K. , Asha P.K.
Published: December 2023

The kinetic oxidation of 1-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]piperidin-4-amine (CMP) using alkaline potassium permanganate in presence of Ru(III) as catalyst was conducted spectrophotometrically at 303 K. The Pseudo first-order reaction was maintained with regard to oxidant and substrate during the reaction at an ionic strength of 0.01 mol dm-3. The first-order kinetics has been depicted with respect to catalyst Ru(III) chloride and less than unit order with substrate and medium. For the slow step, different activation parameters including ΔH# (kJ mol-1), Ea (kJ mol-1), ΔG# (kJ mol-1) and ΔS# (J K-1 mol-1) were calculated. The effect of temperature, variation of substrate concentration, oxidant, ionic strength were studied. The stoichiometry ratio of the reaction to the substrate and oxidizing agent was found to be 1:4. The products of reaction were isolated and identified as chlorobenzene and L-alanine, N-(2-aminomethylethyl)-carboxylic acid by LC-MS spectra, a suitable mechanism has been proposed and the rate laws are derived. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) and frontier electron density (FED) of piperidiamine and the oxidative products were studied using density functional theory (DFT). The results of the theoretical calculations supported the suggested reaction pathways.