bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Cost and Energy Efficiency of Prefabricated Residential Modules with Various Construction Material Combinations
Authors: Bhayani Mohit , P Adithya Kamath , B Raghavendra Holla , Jathan Lekhan B , Bansal Aniket
Published: March 2024

Prefabricated housing has been in existence for over a century, but their recent rise in popularity can be attributed to advancements in technology and sustainable practices. The main aim of this study is to develop and design low-cost housing using eco-friendly and prefabricated materials which are suitable for Indian climate. Space optimization techniques were used to design the housing unit and achieved compact carpet area compared to average space of these houses. Cost-effective materials such as Aerocon wall panels and Calcium Silicate wall panels, and Eco-friendly materials such as Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) panels were selected. By incorporating these materials, the cost analysis was carried out under economic and energy efficient considerations. the comparison of the cost shows even through initial investment is more for the energy efficient material, it proves cheaper to lifecycle cost. This provides opportunities for the government to provide mass housing schemes and efficient houses, but it contains certain disadvantages such as high initial cost and thermal bridging or cracking of sandwich panels. Finally, as per the study it encourages further research focused on Implementation of Energy-Efficient systems and advancements in sustainable materials to further enhance the environmental performance and sustainability of Prefabricated houses.
Research on Modern Architecture Culture of Harbin based on Memes
Authors: Cai Jun , Dong Jianfei , Zhou Yuan
Published: March 2024

Cultural meme, which have the same heritability and variability as particulate biological genes, provides culture units that can be shared and transmitted across different periods, allowing cultural computing to be made in a fine-grained manner. This paper extracts regional architectural cultural memes from the basic information of Harbin city's modern architectural heritage, and constructs the urban historical architectural cultural memes matrix. By using the social network calculation method, we analyse the representative architectural meme such as material meme, structural system meme, architectural style meme, etc., which represent the evolution of urban architectural culture, construct a network of urban architectural cultural memes, and explore its clustering characteristics and centrality characteristics. The research shows that Harbin urban architectural culture in the development and evolution of the process has a holistic cultural characterisation beyond architectural meme monolith and architectural memeplex, and has formed a highly coupled and complex cultural system. The clustering coefficients of the architectural meme networks in the cultural pattern of urban architecture in different periods are all between 0.575 and 0.676 (more than 0.5), suggesting that the cultural similarities within the clusters of architectural heritages in the city have the characteristics of continuous heredity. The methodology and conclusions of this study can provide a methodological reference for the design of contemporary urban architecture cultural patterns, and provide data support for the development and improvement of urban historic district conservation planning.
Livestock ownership and reproductive characteristics, but not maize production, are associated with anemia in women in malaria-endemic low-income setting
Authors: Zerfu Taddese Alemu , Ketema Wegderes , Abera Amare , Belay Abera
Published: March 2024

Background:It is unclear whether common agricultural practices, such as livestock farming and maize production, affect the burden of malaria and subsequent anemia status among reproductive-age women in a low-income setting.Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among women of reproductive age, comparing areas with high versus low maize production intensity in rural central Ethiopia. The study areas were categorized as high (> 50%) or low (≤ 10%) maize production clusters based on the percentage of cultivated land. Data were collected from 450 randomly selected households (250 from each cluster). Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to outline the participants' profiles and the association of variables. Multivariate linear regression was applied to identify determinants of mean hemoglobin concentration levels.Results: The mean (± SD) hemoglobin concentration remained statistically consistent across high 13.59 (± 1.39 g/dl) and low 13.39 (± 1.65 g/dl) maize-intensity clusters (P > 0.05). Women's ownership of livestock (β, 0.13; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.12), chicken production (β, 0.21; 95% CI: 0.34, 1.01), and women's parity (β, 0.67; 95% CI: 0.17, 0.61) significantly increased hemoglobin concentration levels (P < 0.05). Conversely, gravidity (β, -0.82; 95% CI: -0.65, -0.21) and the frequency of abortions (β, -0.23; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.06) significantly decreased hemoglobin concentration levels (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Regardless of maize production intensity, women's reproductive characteristics and livestock farming (especially chicken production) were identified as independent predictors of hemoglobin levels. Therefore, promoting women's reproductive health care and livestock-based agricultural practices could enhance the health status of agrarian women in low-income settings.
Diagnostic Yield of Bidirectional Endoscopy for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Patients
Authors: Abramowitz Binyamin R. , Saba Helena , Aytaman Ayse , DiLeo Daniel A. , Roland Bani Chander
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia worldwide. While bidirectional endoscopy is recognized as the standard approach for investigating IDA in men ≥ 45 years and postmenopausal women, evidence supporting the application of this approach in younger men and premenopausal women is scarce in the absence of symptoms. Our primary aim is to identify the diagnostic yield of bidirectional endoscopy in men ≤ 45 years and premenopausal women and describe the clinical characteristics of those with significant endoscopic and pathology-proven findings. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review including patients ≤ 45 with IDA who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and/or colonoscopy at the Brooklyn VA Hospital from 2009 to 2023. Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic patient data was all collected, stratified, analyzed, and interpreted. Results: In 143 patients < 45 years with IDA (70.6% females, mean age 36.18 years, SD = 5.63), 28.6% were found to have positive upper GI findings, of which 70.3% were pathology-proven H. pylori cases. 57.9% of patients reported upper GI symptoms, while 42.9% of patients were asymptomatic. In total, 18.2% of symptomatic patients were found to have clinically significant findings on EGD as compared with 42.9% of asymptomatic patients. Additionally, 9.1% of symptomatic patients were found to have biopsy proven H. pylori-associated gastritis or duodenitis as compared with 33.9% of asymptomatic patients. Of the patients who underwent colonoscopy, 8.3% were found to have lower GI lesions. Conclusions: We found the diagnostic yield of EGD to be significantly higher than that of colonoscopy in younger IDA patients. Our findings suggest current guidelines are clinically relevant to the young patient cohort. Our study also interestingly found asymptomatic IDA patients below age 45 to have a significantly higher diagnostic yield of EGD as compared to symptomatic IDA patients within the same age cohort. We speculate that the differences in diagnostic yields may be a result of symptomatic patients being more likely to have been prescribed proton pump inhibitors or histamine receptor antagonists prior to endoscopy.
Effects of a blood-free mosquito diet (BLOODless) on fitness and gonotrophic cycle parameters of laboratory reared Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (IFAKARA)
Authors: Mosi Faith Allan , Rutha Isaac , Velez Rita , Swai Johnson Kyeba , Mlacha Yeromin P. , Marques Joana , Silveira Henrique , Tarimo Brian B.
Published: March 2024

Background
The current rise of new innovative tools for mosquito control such as the release of transgenic mosquitoes carrying a dominant lethal gene and Wolbachia-based strategies necessitates a massive production of mosquitoes in the insectary. However, currently laboratory rearing depends on vertebrate blood for egg production and maintenance. This practice raises, ethical concerns, incurs logistical and cost limitations, and entails potential risk associated with pathogens transmission and blood storage. Consequently, an artificial blood-free diet emerges as an essential alternative to address these challenges. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a previously formulated artificial blood-free diet (herein referred to as BLOODless) on Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (An. gambiae s.s; IFAKARA) gonotrophic parameters and fitness compared to bovine blood.
Methods
The study was a laboratory-based comparative evaluation of the fitness, fecundity and fertility of An. gambiae s.s (IFAKARA) reared on BLOODless versus vertebrate blood from founder generation (F0) to eighth generation (F8). A total of 1000 female mosquitoes were randomly selected from F0, of which 500 mosquitoes were fed with bovine blood (control group) and the other 500 mosquitoes were fed with BLOODless diet (experimental group). The feeding success, number of eggs per female, hatching rate and pupation rate were examined post-feeding. Longevity and wing length were determined as fitness parameters for adult male and female mosquitoes for both blood-fed and BLOODless -fed populations.
Results
While blood-fed and BLOODless-fed mosquitoes showed similar feeding success OR 1.12 (95% CI, 0.82–1.53; P = 0.488), significant difference emerged in their reproductive parameters. The mean number of eggs laid per female was significantly higher for blood-fed mosquitoes P < 0.001 whereas BLOODless-fed mosquitoes had significantly lower hatching rates OR 0.17 (95% CI, 0.14–0.22; P < 0.001). Wing length and longevity parameters were similar between both groups.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the potential of the BLOODless diet as a viable and ethical alternative to vertebrate blood feeding for rearing An. gambiae s.s facilitating large-scale mosquito mass production in captivity. This breakthrough paves the way for more efficient and ethical studies aimed at combating malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Experimental method for quantifying macroplastic fragmentation in rivers
Authors: Liro Maciej , Zielonka Anna , Mikuś Paweł
Published: March 2024

Direct field measurements of macroplastic fragmentation during its transport in rivers are unavailable, and there is no method to perform such measurements. Recent theoretical works have hypothesised that river channels may be hotspots of macroplastic fragmentation. Here, we propose a methodology for quantifying riverine macroplastic fragmentation by conducting repeated measurements of tagged macroplastic items' mass before and after their transport in the river. A 52-65-day experimental test of the proposed methodology allowed us to provide the first quantification of fragmentation of 1-liter PET bottles during their transport in a mountain river channel. We calculated the mass loss of tracked bottles (n=43), ranging from 0.025 grams/year (0.07%/year) to 1.0 gram/year (3%/year), with a median of 0.26±0.04 grams/year (0.78%/year), and the rate of bottle surface degradation, ranging from -0.29 μm/year to -11.88 μm/year (median = 3.77±0.43 μm/year). These results suggest that the total fragmentation time for a PET bottle under conditions represented by our experiment (low to medium flow) ranges from 33.63 years to 332.81 years (median = 128.92±31.07 years). Our methodology can be flexibly adapted to quantify macroplastic fragmentation in various types of rivers and other environments where macroplastic is transported
An experimental survey and Perspective View on Meta-Learning for Automated Algorithms Selection and Parametrization
Authors: Garouani Moncef , Ahmad Adeel , Bouneffa Mourad
Published: March 2024

Considerable progress has been made in the recent literature studies to tackle the Algorithms Selection and Parametrization (ASP) problem, which is diversified in multiple meta-learning setups. Yet there is a lack of surveys and comparative evaluations that critically analyze, summarize and assess the performance of existing methods. In this paper, we provide an overview of the state of the art in this continuously evolving field. The survey sheds light on the motivational reasons for pursuing classifiers selection through meta-learning. In this regard, Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) is usually treated as an ASP problem under the umbrella of the democratization of machine learning. Accordingly, AutoML makes machine learning techniques accessible to domain scientists who are interested in applying advanced analytics but lack the required expertise. It can ease the task of manually selecting ML algorithms and tuning related hyperparame-ters. We comprehensively discuss the different phases of classifiers selection based on a generic framework that is formed as an outcome of reviewing prior works. Subsequently, we propose a benchmark knowledge base of 4 millions previously learned models and present extensive comparative evaluations of the prominent methods for classifiers selection based on 08 classification algorithms and 400 benchmark datasets. The comparative study quantitatively assesses the performance of algorithms selection methods along while emphasizing the strengths and limitations of existing studies.
Optimally Configured Generative Adversarial Networks to Distinguish Real and AI- Generated Human Faces
Authors: G Kalaimani , G Kavitha , Chinnaiyan Selvan , Mylapalli Srikanth
Published: March 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way in the last several years, especially in terms of producing human-like faces with deep-fake technology. However, the challenge lies in accurately distinguishing between real and AI-generated human faces. As the applications of such technology continue to expand, the need for robust classification methods becomes crucial to ensure ethical and responsible use. Existing Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) produce increasingly realistic synthetic faces, making it difficult for traditional methods to differentiate between real and generated faces. This poses potential risks in various domains, including security, identity verification, and misinformation. The primary objective of this research is to design an optimally configured GAN capable of distinguishing between real and generated faces and to develop a robust classifier that accurately classifies human faces as either real or generative. The results showcase the effectiveness of the optimally configured GAN model in achieving high accuracy, reaching 95%, in distinguishing between real and AI-generated faces across state-of-the-art techniques. The research contributes to the ethical deployment of AI technologies, safeguards security applications, strengthens identity verification systems, combats misinformation, and fosters public trust in the era of advanced AI.
Network activity analysis for arbitrary production structures and technologies: Generic approach with application to network DEA
Authors: Dyckhoff Harald , Souren Rainer
Published: March 2024

Today, production usually takes place in complex networks. An important question is how the efficiency of the whole network is related to that of its units. Respective research on this topic has been strongly growing over the past decades, as a rule using methods of data envelopment analysis that are known as “network DEA”. However, there is a lack of theoretical foundation that allows clear statements to be made for arbitrary network structures and general, possibly non-convex or even discrete production technologies. This paper develops an activity analytic approach for modelling such general production networks and measuring their efficiency. Based on work of Koopmans and embedding it into a broader framework the approach is generic as it requires rather weak premises with regard to production technology and allows the network to be simply composed from its units as subsystems. It is shown that the relationship between the efficiency of a network activity and that of the subsystems and units depends strongly on the extent of which the individual production units are free to choose their input and output quantities, i.e. whether the network is loose or tied. Especially in cases where flows of intermediate products are constrained (instead of freely disposable), the explicit modelling of their overproduction helps to analyse their influence on efficiency scores. It is furthermore shown that calculating an overall efficiency score for a decision-making unit as average of individual scores of network units is inappropriate in any case.
Optimizing Insurance Fraud Claim Detection through Machine Learning: A Comprehensive Approach for Improved Fraud Detection
Authors: . Aayush
Published: March 2024

Insurance fraud is a growing concern, prompting proactive measures through advanced machine learning techniques. This research focuses on constructing a predictive model for distinguishing genuine and fraudulent auto insurance claims. The dataset, comprising 1,000 instances and 40 attributes, covers customer demographics, policy details, incidents, and financial data. Early fraud detection is crucial for financial loss mitigation and maintaining insurance system integrity. The study employs data preprocessing to handle missing values and features XGBoost importance, variance thresholding, and correlation analysis for enhanced model interpretability. The machine learning model integrates nine algorithms, with a hard-voting ensemble of Logistic Regression and XGBoost demonstrating competitive accuracy, reaching 83.0%. Results highlight Linear Discriminant Analysis as the leading classifier, achieving 84% accuracy. The ensemble approach achieves 83.0% accuracy with a notable precision of 91%, showcasing the strength of combining diverse models. The study emphasizes the significance of preprocessing, feature selection, and ensemble learning for fraud detection optimization. The refined model achieves a minimal Brier loss of 0.00054, indicating minimal discrepancies in predicted probabilities and actual outcomes in binary classification. Exploration of principal component analysis (PCA) with multiple linear regression reveals a trade-off between model simplicity and performance. Retaining 32 components preserves 95% of variance, achieving a balance at 0.7967, while keeping 35 components reaches the highest value of 0.9991, showcasing dimensionality reduction's potential to capture nearly all the data variance.
Improving colorectal cancer in Alberta, Canada: A qualitative study of patients and close contacts’ perceptions on diagnosis following an emergency department presentation
Authors: Botey Anna Pujadas , Watson Ashley J. , Robson Paula J.
Published: March 2024

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is globally the third most prevalent cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In Alberta, Canada, a significant portion of CRC diagnoses occur following emergency department (ED) presentations. Gaps remain in understanding patient’s perspectives on CRC diagnosis after an ED visit. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences and perspectives of a group of patients diagnosed with CRC subsequent to an ED visit in Alberta and their close contacts.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with patients diagnosed with CRC after an ED visit at the Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary, and their close contacts, from November 2022 to June 2023. Interviews focused on symptom recognition, healthcare interactions, and the decision-making process leading to an ED visit. They were conducted in-person or over the phone, and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results: Eighteen participants (12 patients and 6 close contacts) were interviewed, revealing four main themes: 1) variability in symptom recognition and interpretation; 2) inconsistencies in primary care consultations; 3) factors influencing decision-making leading to an ED visit; and 4) recommendations for expedited diagnosis outside of EDs.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the complexity of the diagnostic journey for CRC patients in Alberta, pointing to significant gaps in symptom recognition, primary care responsiveness, and public awareness. Implementing targeted educational initiatives for both the public and healthcare providers may help to optimize early detection. Future research should focus on exploring novel interventions to address the identified barriers to timely CRC diagnosis.
REACT: Recognize Every Action Everywhere All At Once
Authors: Chappa Naga VS Raviteja , Nguyen Pha , Dobbs Page Daniel , Luu Khoa
Published: March 2024

Group Activity Recognition (GAR) is a fundamental problem in computer vision, with diverse applications in sports video analysis, video surveillance, and social scene understanding. Unlike conventional action recognition, GAR aims to classify the actions of a group of individuals as a whole, requiring a deep understanding of their interactions and spatiotemporal relationships. To address the challenges in GAR, we present REACT (Recognize Every Action Everywhere All At Once), a novel architecture inspired by the transformer encoder-decoder model explicitly designed to model complex contextual relationships within videos, including multi-modality and spatio-temporal features.Our architecture features a cutting-edge Vision-Language Encoder block for integrated temporal, spatial, and multi-modal interaction modeling. This component efficiently encodes spatiotemporal interactions, even with sparsely sampled frames, and recovers essential local information. Our Action Decoder Block refines the joint understanding of text and video data, allowing us to precisely retrieve bounding boxes, enhancing the link between semantics and visual reality. At the core, our Actor Fusion Block orchestrates a fusion of actor-specific data and textual features, striking a balance between specificity and context.Our method outperforms state-of-the-art GAR approaches in extensive experiments, demonstrating superior accuracy in recognizing and understanding group activities. Our architecture's potential extends to diverse real-world applications, offering empirical evidence of its performance gains. This work significantly advances the field of group activity recognition, providing a robust framework for nuanced scene comprehension.
No-Reference Image Quality Assessment Based on Human Visual System and Dual-Branch Multi-Level Residual Network
Authors: QIU Xianwei
Published: March 2024

The objective of No-Reference Image Quality Assessment (NR-IQA) is to simulate the human visual system in evaluating image quality. The integration of the advantages of deep neural networks with the characteristics of the human visual system has been proven to be highly effective and accurate in numerous studies. This paper proposes a no-reference image quality assessment method based on the human visual system and a dual-branch multi-level residual network. Initially, the image is processed into HSV images that better align with human perception and Contrast-sensitivity weighted gradient images. These are then fed into two multi-level residual networks. The first network extracts multi-level content features from the HSV image, while the second network extracts multi-level structural and textural features from the Contrast-sensitivity weighted gradient image. Subsequently, the two multi-level features are fused to enhance the feature representation, with a weight module assigning different weights to the two features. Finally, these features are mapped to a quality score. Experimental results demonstrate that, on the five public datasets of LIVE, CSIQ, TID2013, LIVEC, and KonIQ-10k, the proposed method outperforms other advanced methods in terms of PLCC and SROCC metrics.
Adapting to Pandemic Challenges: Thai Dentists’ Response to COVID-19 Infection Control
Authors: Prasansuttiporn Jutatip , Subbalekha KKeskanya , Wiriyakijja Paswach , Pisarnturakit Pagaporn Pantuwadee
Published: March 2024

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed emotional challenges for dentists. This study aimed to evaluate the concerns, risk perceptions, and compliance with infection control practices among Thai dentists during and shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Insights from this assessment are intended to offer practical strategies to enhance dentists’ readiness for future outbreaks.
Methods
A questionnaire evaluating dentists’ perceptions of COVID-19 infection and precautionary measures was generated via Google Forms™ and distributed to Thai dentists during the late pandemic period (June-September 2022).
Results
Of the 467 respondents, 44.3% reported the highest concern level for infection risk when treating emergency patients potentially exposed to COVID-19. Regarding the infection risk in dental practice, 30.6% perceived the highest contracting risk, while 24.6% perceived the highest transmission risk. Notably, 49.7% expressed high confidence in the ability of the vaccine to reduce COVID-19 severity. Eighty-eight percent of the patients supported the continuation of pandemic-era precautionary measures even in the absence of disease. N95 mask usage in dental settings markedly increased during the outbreak. Many dental procedures were not adequately adapted to COVID-19 infection control measures, and personal protective equipment was insufficient. Factors influencing COVID-19 risk perception in dental treatment included gender, involvement in aerosol-generating procedures, and availability of protective equipment.
Conclusion
Thai dentists expressed significant concerns about the risk of contracting COVID-19 in their practice. The participants had strong confidence in the effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing symptom severity. The majority of the participants supported the continued implementation of pandemic-initiated precautionary measures. Sex, aerosol-generating procedures, and protective equipment availability were key factors influencing dentists’ risk perception. These insights underscore the need for improved infection control measures and resources in dental settings, both to address current concerns and to enhance preparedness for future health crises.
Mechanism of Ubiquitin Ligase Activation of Parkin by a Small Molecule Molecular Glue
Authors: Gehring Kalle , Sauvé Véronique , Stefan Eric , Croteau Nathalie , Goiran Thomas , Fakih Rayan , Bansal Nupur , Hadzipasic Adelajda , Fang Jing , Fon Edward A , Hirst Warren , Silvian Laura , Trempe Jean-François
Published: March 2024

Mutations in parkin and PINK1 cause early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD). The ubiquitin ligase parkin is recruited to damaged mitochondria and activated by PINK1, a kinase that phosphorylates ubiquitin and the ubiquitin-like (Ubl) domain of parkin. Activated phospho-parkin then ubiquitinates mitochondrial proteins to target the damaged organelle for degradation. Here, we present the mechanism of activation of a new class of small molecule allosteric modulators that enhance parkin activity. The compounds act as molecular glues to enhance the ability of phospho-ubiquitin (pUb) to activate parkin. Ubiquitination assays and isothermal titration calorimetry were performed with the most active compound (BIO-2007817) to identify the binding site and mechanism of action. We determined the crystal structure of a closely related compound (BIO-1975900) bound to a complex of parkin and two pUb molecules. The compound binds next to pUb on RING0 and contacts both proteins, enhancing the affinity of pUb for RING0 and promoting the displacement of the catalytic Rcat domain. In organello and mitophagy assays demonstrate that BIO-2007817 rescues the activity of EOPD mutants, R42P and V56E, with defective Ubl domains. This study provides the basis for the design of improved parkin activators as potential therapeutics for EOPD.
What are the risk factors associated with Hepatitis B Virus infection in Somalia?
Authors: Mohamud Abdirahman Khalif , Inchon Pamornsri , Suwannaporn Sirinan , Prasert Kriengkrai , Dirie Najib Isse
Published: March 2024

Background
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through contaminated blood or bodily fluids. Globally, over 81 million blood units are donated annually, a crucial therapeutic procedure without alternatives. However, blood-borne infections, including HBV, pose a significant hurdle to safe transfusions, especially in HBV-endemic regions like Somalia with limited screening. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and identify risk factors associated with it among blood donors in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Method
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2023. Research tools included a 5-ml blood sample and a structured questionnaire. The presence or absence of HB markers was determined using a multi-HB rapid test and CDC’s HB marker interpretation guideline. Logistic regression was used in univariate and multivariate models to identify risk factors associated with HBV infection, with significance set at a p-value < 0.05 in the final model.
Result
A total of 494 blood donors were recruited for this study; 93.9% were male, with a mean age of 31.5 (SD = 8.11). The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among blood donors was 9.7%, with a 95% CI of 7.1–12.3. In multivariable logistic regression, those with a monthly income of less than 200 USD (AOR = 5.20, 95% CI = 1.61–16.79), those with an income between 200 and 400 (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.38–9.34), Jobless blood donors (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.17–12.20), those in business occupations (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.24–9.08), those with a history of STDs (AOR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.03–11.50), those without a history of HB vaccine (AOR = 13.81, 95% CI = 2.46–77.41), those with a history of tooth extraction (AOR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.66–17.88), and those who shared sharp equipment (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.07–7.82) were more likely to become infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) compared to their counterparts.
Conclusion
This study highlights a high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Implementation efforts against HBV infection should specifically focus on low-income individuals, the jobless, and donors with a history of STD to mitigate the burden of HBV infection and promote safer blood donation. In addition, discouraging the sharing of sharp equipment, improving infection control practices during tooth extraction procedures, and enhancing HB vaccination uptake, particularly among individuals lacking a history of HB vaccine, is highly recommended.
Női triatlonisták versenyhez kapcsolódó táplálkozásának elemzése
Authors: Laczkó Szabina Blanka , Mák Erzsébet
Published: March 2024

Bevezetés: Napjainkban egyre népszerűbb a triatlon sportág. Versenyzőinek táplálkozása nagy figyelmet igényel, főleg a női versenyzők esetében. Ezért a kutatás hangsúlya a női triatlonisták makro-tápanyag bevitelére és megoszlására került. Célkitűzés: A kutatás célja felmérni a magyar női triatlonisták versenyidőszakot jellemző táplálkozását, melyet dietetikusi segítség nélkül valósítanak meg. Módszer: A kutatás háromnapos táplálkozási naplóval, és azt kiegészítő kérdések megválaszolásával valósult meg. A feljegyzendő napok a verseny előtti, utáni és verseny napja voltak. Az alanyokat a közösségi médián kerestük fel. A kiértékelés Nutricomp és Microsoft Office Excel 2007 programmal történt összesítés, korcsoportok, minősítések és versenytapasztalat szerint. Eredmény: Függetlenül attól, hogy melyik kiértékelési szempontot vizsgáljuk meg, egyöntetűen megállapítható az a tény, miszerint a versenyzők makrotápanyag eloszlása és bevitele nem optimális, energiabevitele pedig elégtelen. Következtetések: A magyar női triatlonisták versenyidőszakra jellemző táplálkozása minden vizsgált szempontból kedvezőtlen, ezáltal indokolt a sporttáplálkozással kapcsolatos edukációjukat mi-előbb elkezdeni szakemberek bevonásával.
A hangverseny-élmény összetevői
Authors: Mayer Krisztina
Published: March 2024

Ez a tanulmány a rendszeresen komolyzenei koncerteket látogatók hangversenyélményébe és annak pszichológiai hátterébe enged betekintést különös tekintettel a motivációra és örömforrásra. A vizsgálati mintát 36 fő (12 férfi és 24 nő) alkotta, átlagos életkoruk 41,58 ±15,47 év. Célkitűzés: A kutatás kvalitatív módszer alkalmazásával tárja fel a hangverseny-látogatás mögött húzódó motívumokat. Ez a megközelítés sokkal több információval szolgál, mint a kvantitatív megközelítés. Eredmények: Az eredmények arra engednek következtetni, hogy a hangversenyre járók legfőbb motiváció az öröm és a boldogság átélése a zenehallgatás során, valamint a nyugalom megtapasztalása, mely velük marad a hangversenyt követő hetekben, hónapokban is.
A rekreációs turizmus gyöngyszeme: Szarvas
Authors: Törköly Zoltán , Tokodi Margaréta , Bóka Ferenc
Published: March 2024

Bevezetés: A növekvő hétköznapi stressz és a mozgáshiány következtében a lakosság egyre gyakrabban vesz részt turisztikai célú utazásokon. A legjobb döntés egy természeti környezet, ahol a táj szépsége, a friss levegő, segítenek elvonni a figyelmet a mindennapi gondoktól. Ennek egyik Magyarországon található gyöngyszeme, Szarvas. Célkitűzések: A tanulmányunk során arra voltunk kíváncsiak, hogy mik Szarvas város legfontosabb turisztikai ágazatai, a városban milyen vízhez kapcsolódó rekreációs sportokat élvezhetünk, mik a legnépszerűbb kikapcsolódási lehetőségek. Eredmények: Szarvasra legtöbben az aktív felüdüléséért jönnek, és az egyik legnagyobb vonzerő a vízisportok. Ezen kívül az Arborétum, illetve a Szarvasi Vízi Színház igen kedvelt turisztikai célpontok. A kulturális programok közül a Szarvasi Szilvanapok, a Halas-napok, és a Körös-körül a Körös körül futófesztivál. Következtetés: Megállapítható, hogy növekvő kereslet van a hazai rekreációs turizmusra, ahol az aktív és passzív kikapcsolódásra egyaránt igény van. Szarvas város ilyen szempontból szinte minden kívánalmat ki tud elégíteni.
How consumers assess retailer brand substitution strategy: Impact of perceived similarity and consumer attachment
Authors: Ahmed Kannou , Rached Saied Kaouther Ben
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study is to examine how consumers assess brand substitution strategies implemented by retailers, focusing specifically on the transition from Promogro to MG (Magasin Général) retailer brand. A quantitative study involving 351 Tunisian customers who regularly patronize supermarkets (Promogro and MG) was conducted to test hypotheses and analyze the impact of various factors in April 2022. The research model was evaluated through structural equation modeling (SEM) using the AMOS 22 software. The results indicate a negative correlation between consumers’ attachment to the old retail brand and their attitude toward the brand substitution process (β = –0.09*, p < 0.01). Furthermore, perceptions of the retailer brand emerged as a significant mediating factor influencing the relationship between attitudes and consumers’ intention to revisit the new retailer brand (β = 0.29**, confidence interval [0.17; 0.51]). Additionally, the study found that the association between consumer attachment and perceptions of the new retailer brand is positively moderated by perceived similarity (β = 0.226, p = 0.00). Specifically, when there is a high degree of resemblance between the two retailer brands, customers with a stronger attachment to the former brand tend to have a more favorable perception of the new retailer brand. This study provides valuable insights for managers, helping them identify critical success criteria that facilitate customer acceptance of brand changes and offering guidance on effectively substituting retailer brand names.
AI-Forecast: an innovative and practical tool for short-term water demand forecasting
Authors: Zanfei Ariele , Lombardi Andrea , De Luca Alberto , Menapace Andrea
Published: March 2024

Water management is a major contemporary and future challenge. In an increasing water demand scenario related to climate change, a water distribution system must ensure equal access to water for all users. In this context, a reliable short-term water demand forecasting system is crucial for reliable water management. However, despite the abundance of studies in the scientific literature, few examples highlight complete tools for providing such models to real water utilities and water managers. This study presents AI-Forecast, an innovative tool developed to predict water demand with state-of-the-art models. Such tool is based on the data-driven logic, and it is designed to provide a complete data-driven chain that starts from the data and arrives to the short-term water demand prediction. AI-Forecast can import data, properly manage them, and assess tasks like outlier detection and missing data imputation. Eventually, it can implement state-of-the-art forecasting models and provide the forecasts. The prediction is shown through an intuitive web interface, which is designed to highlight the major information related to the prediction accuracy. Although this tool does not provide a new prediction algorithm, it proposes a complete data-driven chain that is practically designed to take such models in practice to real water utilities.
A comparative study of satellite altimetry-based and DEM-based methods for estimating lake water volume changes
Authors: Li Haotian , Chen Jun , Cao Liguo , Liu Wei , Duan Zheng
Published: March 2024

This study compared two different methods, the satellite altimetry-based and DEM (digital elevation model)-based, for estimating lake water volume changes. We focused on 34 lakes in China as the testing sites to compare the two methods for lake water volume changes from 2005 to 2020. The satellite altimetry-based method used water levels provided by the DAHITI (Database for Hydrological Time Series of Inland Waters) data and surface areas derived from Landsat imagery. The DEM-based method used the SRTM DEM data in combination with Landsat-derived lake extents. Our results showed a high degree of consistency in lake water volume changes estimated between the two methods (R2 > 0.90), but each method has its limitations. In terms of temporal coverage, the satellite altimetry-based method with the DAHITI data is limited by missing water level data in certain periods. The performance of the DEM-based method in extracting lake shore boundaries in regions with flat terrains (slope <1.5°) is not satisfactory. The DEM-based method has complete regional applicability (100%) in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) Lake Region, yet its effectiveness drops significantly in the Xinjiang and Eastern China Plain Lake Regions, with applicability rates of 50 and 40%, respectively.
Formação de professores de ciências para as relações étnico-raciais
Authors: Jesus Gilmara Barbosa de , Rebouças Veronise Francisca dos Santos Lima , Silva Yara Fonseca de Oliveira e
Published: March 2024

Este artigo tem como temática a formação de professores de ciências para as relações étnico-raciais. O objetivo é conhecer o panorama dos estudos sobre a temática das relações étnico-raciais na formação de professores. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, realizada a partir de uma Revisão Sistemática de Literatura, que buscou trabalhos no Portal de Periódicos da CAPES e na revista Química Nova na Escola. Utilizamos os descritores “Formação de Professores”, “Ensino de Ciências” e “Relações Étnico-Raciais”, localizando um somatório de 391 artigos científicos. Após a seleção, consideramos cinco textos como amostra final da revisão. Podemos inferir que os estudos apresentaram uma lacuna sobre a temática da formação de professores de ciências paras as relações étnico-raciais e que é necessário um incentivo da academia para que este hiato seja efetivamente preenchido.
Investigating Bacopa monnieri L. Therapeutic Potential for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases
Authors: Srivastava Pratima , Yadav Dhananjay , Singh Santosh Kumar , Kim Sung Hae , Singh Shivendra , Katiyar Shweta , Song Minseok
Published: March 2024

The popular perennial creeping plant known as Bacopa monnieri(also known as Brahmi) is being
utilized in the Indian Ayurvedic medicine practice. It has a variety of bioactive phytoconstituents that have
been used therapeutically to treat a number of serious illnesses. Ancient Vedic scholars used this herb because
of its pharmacological effects, particularly as a nerve booster and nootropic supporter. However, it is vital to
comprehend the active phytochemical components of Bacopa monnieri extract (BME) and their molecular
mechanisms in order to better grasp the effect of BME on neurological illnesses and diseases. Understanding
its active phytochemical constituents and their molecular processes is essential. Numerous clinical investigations indicated that BME may have neuroprotective benefits, so it is worthwhile to re-evaluate this well known plant. Here, we focused on neurological problems as we examined the pharmacological and phytochemical characteristics of BME. For their effective usage in neuroprotection and cognition, many clinical
concerns and the synergistic potential of Bacopa extract have been investigated. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological condition caused by the production of reactive oxygen species, which also causes amyloid-beta (Aβ)
and tau protein aggregation and increases neuro-inflammation and neurotoxicity. Our review offers a more indepth molecular understanding of the neuroprotective functions of BME, which can also be connected to its
therapeutic management of neurological illnesses and cognitive-improving effects.
The Chemistry of Aldehydes and Ketones in the Synthesis of Heterocycles - Historical
Reactions with a New and Green Perspective
Authors: da Silva Flavia Martins , Junior Joel Jones , Hernández Muñoz July A.
Published: March 2024

The reactivity of aldehydes and ketones carries great potential for multicomponent
heterocyclizations. These reactions are convergent and highly versatile in the development
of synthetic methodologies for compound families, displaying variations in substituents
in their structures. Therefore, they have been regarded as an important tool in the
field of Green Chemistry. Furthermore, they prove to be very useful in studies of biological
activity, where small structural modifications can result in significant differences. Many
heterocyclizations date back to the mid-19th and early 20th centuries. In this review, we aim
to demonstrate, through some of these reactions, their continuously growing potential and
improvements concerning synthetic development. Additionally, we present the original
studies as reported, enabling us to appreciate the evolution of chemical representations over
the years until reaching the standardization we have today.
Antiobesity Drug Discovery Research: In vitro Models for Shortening the
Drug Discovery Pipeline
Authors: Radheshyam  , Gauniya Priyanka , Semalty Mona , Semalty Ajay
Published: March 2024

Obesity is a growing global health problem, leading to various chronic diseases. Despite
standard treatment options, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise, emphasizing the need
for new drugs. in vitro methods of drug discovery research provide a time and cost-saving platform
to identify new antiobesity drugs. The review covers various aspects of obesity and drug discovery
research using in vitro models. Besides discussing causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment,
the review focuses on the advantages and limitations of in vitro studies and exhaustively
covers models based on enzymes and cell lines from different animal species and humans. In contrast
to conventional in vivo animal investigations, in vitro preclinical tests using enzyme- and cell
line-based assays provide several advantages in development of antiobesity drugs. These methods
are quick, affordable, and provide high-throughput screening. They can also yield insightful information
about drug-target interactions, modes of action, and toxicity profiles. By shedding light on
the factors that lead to obesity, in vitro tests can also present a chance for personalized therapy.
Technology will continue to evolve, leading to the creation of more precise and trustworthy in
vitro assays, which will become more and more crucial in the search for novel antiobesity medications.
Herbal Nanoformulations for Diabetes: Mechanisms, Formulations, and Clinical Impact
Authors: Sunita  , Kaushik Rahul , Verma Krishan Kumar , Parveen Rehana
Published: March 2024

Background:

Diabetes mellitus remains a global health challenge, demanding innovative
therapeutic strategies. Herbal remedies have garnered attention for their potential in diabetes
management, and recent advancements in nanotechnology have enabled the development
of herbal nanoformulations with enhanced efficacy and bioavailability.

Objective:

This review aimed to comprehensively analyze the mechanisms, formulations, and
clinical impact of herbal nanoformulations in managing diabetes mellitus.

Method:

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies exploring the
mechanisms of action, various formulations, and clinical outcomes of herbal nanoformulations
in diabetes management.

Result:

Herbal nanoformulations exert their anti-diabetic effects through multiple mechanisms,
including enhanced bioavailability, improved tissue targeting, and potentiation of insulin signaling
pathways. Various herbal ingredients, such as bitter melon, fenugreek, and Gymnema sylvestre,
have been encapsulated into nanocarriers, like liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and
solid lipid nanoparticles, to enhance their therapeutic potential. Clinical studies have demonstrated
promising results, showing improvements in glycemic control, lipid profile, and antioxidant
status with minimal adverse effects.

Conclusion:

Herbal nanoformulations represent a promising avenue for the management of diabetes
mellitus, offering improved therapeutic outcomes compared to conventional herbal preparations.
Further research is warranted to optimize formulation strategies, elucidate long-term
safety profiles, and explore the potential synergistic effects of herbal nanoformulations in combination
therapies for diabetes management.