bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obsidian in the Caribbean Islands? Mysterious Ceramic Age glass artefacts in the Lesser Antilles.
Authors: Leck Arthur , Bellot-Gurlet Ludovic , Carazzo Guillaume , Gratuze Bernard , Langlade Jessica , Le Bourdonnec François-Xavier , Léandri-Bressy Céline , Shearn Isaac , Soutvenot Christian , Queffelec Alain
Published: November 2023

The Caribbean islands witnessed a population expansion of horti-ceramicists during the Early Ceramic Age (ca. 500 BC to 750 AD) from the Orinoco Valley to Puerto Rico. We examined 18 lithic artefacts from Guadeloupe and Dominica, initially thought to be obsidian, a material believed to be absent from those islands. We investigated the volcanic or meteoritic origin of this unique and yet unknown material through observation (binocular, SEM, microtomography) and geochemical analyses (PIXE, SEM-EDS, ED-XRF, EPMA, LA-ICP-MS). Elementary analyses rule out the hypothesis of an origin from a meteoritic impact (i.e. identification as tektites). Most of the artefacts have an andesitic composition (< 63% SiO2), which appears to be unique among 'massive' glasses. The only artefact with a rhyolitic composition has been traced back to the Guadeloupe's Volcan du Tuf where glassy fragments have been collected and analysed. The geological source of the other vitreous artefacts that exhibit an andesitic composition could be from a sub-local subduction-arc volcanism (maybe from Martinique), although no volcanic vitreous material of this kind has ever been reported worldwide. These results once again highlight the regional mobility of Early Ceramic populations, the production of standard lithic products using a highly original, albeit low-quality, local lithic resource, and provide valuable references for future identification of similar materials.
Interrogating the drivers of budget credibility dynamics in Ghana’s education sector through the lens of unmitigated spending credibility crisis discourses
Authors: Nunoo Jacob , Abango Mohammed A , Abreh Might Kojo
Published: November 2023

In recent times, attention has been paid to the spending credibility given its role in the determination of functioning capacity of budgets and their implementation. This global interest in spending credibility has been engaged using Ghana’s low education spending credibility, occasioned by observations of large deviations in planned and executed education budgets. Informed by the economic uncertainty principle within the context of operating a balanced budget, we provide novel insights into the extent and drivers of education spending credibility dynamics in Ghana during 2005-2022. We do so by leveraging the potential of multivariate time series based on autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, augmented by fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and descriptive trend analysis. Our analyses of the extent of spending credibility in Ghana’s education sector reveal overspending of overall education budget as well as salary and non-salary budgets by 23.06%, 26.26%, and 517.60% on average, respectively. This depicts low performance on overall and compositional education spending credibility, which is robustly driven by variances in domestic-financed budgetary allocations per our ARDL long and short run analyses. The robustness of the ARDL estimated long-term coefficients is supported by the FMOLS. The paper, therefore, underscores increased pressure on domestic education funding sources, suggesting the need to adopt policies to diversify current revenue streams.
Locating the Processes of Non-State Relief Work during the Covid-19 Lockdown in Delhi: Lessons from the Field Towards an Inclusive Approach to Care and Social Protection - A Policy Brief
Authors: Zaidi Mubashira , Datta Ayesha
Published: November 2023

This policy brief emanates from an ISST-conducted study titled 'Locating the Processes of Non-state Relief Work during the Covid-19 Lockdown in Delhi,' with a focus on informal settlements. Employing qualitative case study methodologies, this research delved into the mechanics of non-state relief work conducted during the pandemic in Delhi. Four slum communities—Yamuna Khadar, Sanjay Camp, Seelampur, and Bawana JJ colony—were purposively selected as case study sites due to their varied characteristics. Data was collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews with key actors actively engaged in relief efforts from December 2020 to June 2021. The study illuminated the complex dynamics of relief efforts within the realm of the care economy. It unveiled the intricate interplay between gaps in the state's social protection systems, the endeavours of non-state entities, and the vulnerabilities faced by families residing in informal settlements. These dynamics collectively brought forth the immediate socio-economic challenges posed during the national lockdown.
The Churro Fabricator
Authors: Gupta Shreya , Jain Sandhya
Published: November 2023

Technique to prepare an easy, cheap, relatively safe and portable fabricator for the Churro Jumper appliance has been put forth. The Churro fabricator simplifies the fabrication process, minimizes the risk of operator’s injury and reduces labor involved in the Churro Jumper construction.
The role and significance of mobile games in the process of psychological and psychophysiological development of young football players at the stage of initial training
Authors: Bairachnyi O.V. , Deineko I.V.
Published: November 2023

Organized football increasingly goes against the capabilities and needs of the child. This trend is especially critical at the stage of initial preparation. In addition to the negative effects on the physical development of young football players, forcing training and ignoring their age characteristics has an extremely destructive effect on the mental development of children. The article analyzes the possibilities and advantages of pedagogical means of regulating motivational factors and the process of forming a number of psychological qualities and abilities of young football players aged 6 to 9 years. Suggested methods of personality formation of young football players. The formation of the sports character of young football players should consist of both team actions and individual characteristics.

Focusing on raising children begins in the environment that shapes them. The most important component of the formation of a young personality is the psychological aspect. Due to various movements with and without the ball, children can gain game experience. Adapting exercises to the child's needs is a basic condition for preventing traumatic effects and promoting its harmonious development, creating prerequisites for stimulating independent thinking, using the "try to find a solution" principle. The work summarizes data from special literary sources and domestic practical experience, as well as analyzes the key factors that determine the dynamics of training and physical and psychological development of young football players. The mechanisms of the influence of the use of pedagogical tools of a game nature on the process of formation of the motivational, cognitive and psycho- emotional sphere of a child of primary school age playing football are shown.
Content-functional model of formation of military-applied shooting skills from automatic small arms of future officers of the National Guard of Ukraine
Authors: Samsonov Yurii , Khatsaiuk Oleksandr , Litvinov Oleksii , Viaskov Volodymyr , Smahin Oleh , Shabatura Serhii
Published: November 2023

The analysis of the combat experience of the units of the National Guard of Ukraine requires changes to the professional training programs of representatives of various categories of institutions of the security and defense sector of Ukraine, in particular - the programs of the "combat training" block, which will in the future ensure their high-quality performance of assigned tasks in extreme service-combat conditions activity.

The article is devoted to the topical issues of the formation of military-applied shooting skills from automatic small arms of future officers in the system of professional education with an emphasis on the use of modern technical training tools. According to the results of the analysis of scientific-methodical, special and reference literature by the members of the research group, it was established that the actual issue of forming military applied skills (professional competences) in shooting with automatic small arms of future officers of the National Guard of Ukraine with an emphasis on the use of modern technical means of training in the system of professional education - an insufficient number of scientific and methodical works are devoted, which, taking into account the realities of today, emphasizes the timeliness and relevance, as well as the practical component of the chosen direction of scientific research.

In the process of research and analytical work, the following research methods were used (at the empirical level):

abstraction, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, modeling, mathematical and statistical (correlation analysis, factor analysis, scaling), etc. In the process of research and analytical work, the experience of combat operations was also used, as well as the experience of organizing the system of fire and special physical training of future officers of institutions of the security and defense sector of Ukraine.

In the process of research and analytical work, a content-functional model of the formation of military-applied skills of shooting with automatic small arms of future officers of the National Guard of Ukraine was developed and tested using the "Katsumoto" video computer system of biomechanical analysis (VCSBA «Katsumoto»). For the first time, using VCSBA "Katsumoto", model characteristics of the general center of mass and individual biolinks of representatives of the studied category were obtained during shooting exercises with automatic small arms.
Book Reviews
Authors: Abele Célia , Prantil Sophie
Published: November 2023

Alex Csiszar, The Scientific Journal: Authorship and the Politics of Knowledge in the Nineteenth Century, Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press, 2018.

Emmanuelle Reungoat, Enquête sur les opposants à l'Europe. À droite et à gauche, leur impact d'hier à aujourd'hui, Lormont, France: Le Bord de l'eau, 2019.
Communication Confidence and Employability Skills Between Students of English Works and BS English Program: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Parveen Sabahat , Iqbal Asif , Farid Muhammad Faisal
Published: November 2023

Effective communication and employability skills are pivotal attributes for success in today's dynamic and competitive job market. This study investigates the intrinsic relationship between communication confidence and the development of employability skills. The research employs a descriptive approach with an online survey. The 158 participants encompass a diverse demographic of recent graduates and employers from various industries. The quantitative data analysis involves correlational assessments to establish potential links between self-perceived communication confidence levels and the acquisition of employability skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Preliminary results indicate a strong link between communication confidence and employability skills. Confident individuals excel in teamwork,articulating ideas, active listening, and conflict resolution. Enhanced confidence fosters better problem-solving, enabling innovative solutions and clarifications. This study enriches knowledge by highlighting communication confidence's pivotal role in shaping employability skills. The outcomes underscore the importance of integrating communication-focused training modules into educational curricula and professional development programs.
Grupos políticos de direita e a participação nas eleições de 2018
Authors: Spina Paulo Roberto
Published: November 2023

Este artigo analisa os grupos políticos ligados a pautas e setores da direita brasileira contemporânea, na sua distribuição territorial, identificando estratégias de enraizamento socioespacial e as conexões entre as manifestações e as eleições de 2018. A partir de uma pesquisa que identificou grupos políticos com pautas de direita que realizaram protestos a partir do ano de 2013 no Brasil foi possível aprofundar, entre estes, suas conexões com as eleições. O resultado é um mapeamento detalhado sobre quem são os grupos políticos da direita brasileira contemporânea, divididos em grupos nacionais com atuação em diversas localidades, grupos com pautas nacionais, grupos estaduais e grupos locais.
A centralidade dos intelectuais na disputa política brasileira
Authors: Mattos e Silva Ivan Henrique de
Published: November 2023

Considerando uma das características do processo de formação da modernidade no Brasil, ou seja, a natureza controlada desse processo, bem como a sua não espontaneidade enquanto produto do próprio fluxo histórico para a constituição do que Fernandes (2006) denominou como ordem social competitiva, é notável a presença dos(as) intelectuais na produção e circulação de ideias, dos grandes debates teóricos e mesmo na atuação direta no próprio Estado. Segundo Pécaut (1990), duas gerações de intelectuais em especial assumiram para si uma tarefa de vocação histórica como demiurgos da nação brasileira: a geração dos anos 1920-1940 e a geração dos anos 1954-1964. Dois breves raciocínios se fazem necessários aqui: em primeiro lugar, uma definição a respeito do conceito de intelectual, e, em segundo lugar, uma breve reflexão em torno de algumas razões para essa centralidade dos(as) intelectuais na trajetória política brasileira.
Relação entre políticas públicas, crescimento e desenvolvimento no centro paranaense
Authors: Petranski Jeferson , Ternoski Simão
Published: November 2023

O estudo relaciona os efeitos das políticas de repasses do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), do Programa Bolsa Família (PBF) e do Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC) sobre o Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) e o Índice Firjan de Desenvolvimento (IFDM) da Associação de Municípios do Centro do Paraná (AMOCENTRO), nesta perspectiva questiona: as políticas públicas geram efeito positivo sobre os indicadores de crescimento e desenvolvimento? Afirma-se para a existência de relação probabilística positiva entre as políticas públicas, o PIB e o IFDM. Metodologicamente o estudo é exploratório, descritivo e quantitativo, faz uso de modelo econométrico de regressão para dados em painel do período de 2006 a 2015. Os resultados afirmam para o maior efeito das políticas sobre o PIB, além de uma maior resposta positiva do PBF, tanto em termos do PIB e do IFDM geral, como nas dimensões da indústria, serviços, agropecuária, saúde, longevidade, e emprego e renda, reafirmando a necessária atuação do Estado via políticas públicas nos pequenos municípios.
Entrevista com Marco Aurélio Nogueira
Authors: Silva Marcelo Fontenelle e
Published: November 2023

A entrevista que segue foi realizada com o professor Marco Aurélio Nogueira, no dia 19 de fevereiro de 2021. Nogueira é doutor em Ciência Política pela Universidade de São Paulo (1983) e docente na Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP – campus Araraquara) desde 1976. Sua trajetória intelectual foi fortemente marcada pela militância no Partido Comunista Brasileiro e pelo vínculo à universidade, em um contexto em que os espaços político e intelectual passavam por um processo de intensa transformação – as décadas de 1970 e 1980. A entrevista teve como foco a sua história de vida e o modo como pensou e articulou atuação política e intelectual, resultando em um importante documento para todos aqueles que possuem interesse em compreender as transformações nas condições de exercício do ofício intelectual e as possibilidades de exercer tal ofício.
Entrevista com Milton Lahuerta
Authors: Silva Marcelo Fontenelle
Published: November 2023

A entrevista a seguir foi realizada com o professor Dr. Milton Lahuerta, em 25 de novembro de 2020 e tem como foco a sua trajetória e o modo como pensou e articulou a relação entre a atuação política e intelectual. Lahuerta é professor da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP – campus Araraquara) desde 1984, é mestre em Ciência Política pela Universidade Estadual de Campinas (1981-1991) e doutor em Ciência Política pela Universidade de São Paulo (1994-1999). Intelectual com reconhecida atuação no espaço público, teve sua trajetória marcada pela militância no Partido Comunista Brasileiro (PCB) e, também, pela atuação no ambiente universitário. Colaborou com diversos jornais, publicou livros, capítulos e artigos sobre a relação entre a política e os intelectuais, entre outros temas. Foi uma importante peça dos embates intelectuais que ocorreram entre fins da década de 1970 e início de 1990 e, também, um arguto analista das transformações que ocorreram nas condições de exercer o ofício intelectual no Brasil.
O idealismo da Constituição no Brasil entre os anos 1920/1930
Authors: Duarte Costaguta Gabriel , Machado Bruno Daniel
Published: November 2023

Nas décadas de 1920 e 1930, houve a emergência de crises políticas e sociais dos modelos identificados com a democracia liberal em vários países das Américas e da Europa Ocidental. No caso brasileiro, muitos intelectuais produziram críticas ao liberalismo, tomando-o como responsável pelos problemas de ordem política, social e econômica daquele contexto, entre eles Francisco José de Oliveira Vianna, intelectual atuante nos debates políticos do período. Neste artigo, amparando-nos em perspectiva aportada pela história intelectual, propomos compreender seu texto O idealismo da Constituição (1927) considerando, de um lado, sua crítica ao liberalismo nacional e, de outro, a dimensão de transformação retórica e semântica operada pelo autor na segunda edição do livro (de 1939), à luz de uma nova interação com um contexto político diferente daquele dos anos 1920. Assim, defende-se que a compreensão deste texto requer acompanhar suas duas versões e, em particular, indagar a mobilização contextual de valências introduzidas ao conceito de democracia.
Política Subnacional
Authors: Maia Jayane dos Santos , Martins Thaís Cavalcante
Published: November 2023

Toda política é local. Esse é o nome do livro que conta a trajetória política do democrata Tip O’Neill, único político estadunidense a servir consecutivamente durante cinco legislaturas (1977-1987) como presidente da Câmara dos EUA. Na sua biografia política, O’Neill conta que ouviu do pai: “Toda política é local. Não se esqueça disso”, quando ele perdeu a primeira eleição a que concorreu. Seu pai não poderia estar mais certo. A participação e influência política, bem como a chegada ao poder, o exercício e a manutenção dele dependem de articulações e relações humanas estabelecidas no nível local, seja o local representado por uma casa, um gabinete, uma família, seja por uma vizinhança, um bairro, uma cidade.
Dinastías políticas y democracia
Authors: Behrend Jacqueline
Published: November 2023

La transferencia de poder entre miembros de una misma familia es un hecho común en las monarquías o en los sistemas políticos tradicionales y la existencia de dinastías políticas suele asociarse con formas de gobierno patrimonialistas. En contraste con esto, se supone que las dinastías políticas no deberían ser muy frecuentes en una democracia, donde debería prevalecer la competencia partidaria y la alternancia electoral. Sin embargo, en las democracias contemporáneas, las dinastías políticas son más comunes de lo que imaginamos. Aun cuando no las vemos tanto al frente de gobiernos nacionales, existen a nivel subnacional. Este trabajo ofrece una perspectiva novedosa al plantear un marco conceptual para estudiar las dinastías políticas en los ejecutivos subnacionales. La contribución conceptual implica el desarrollo y la precisión del concepto de dinastía política y su diferenciación de dos conceptos relacionados: el de familia política y el de nepotismo. Al mismo tiempo, el artículo plantea una discusión sobre las principales teorías que han sido desarrolladas para explicar la existencia de dinastías políticas en las democracias contemporáneas.
Derechas radicales en Hungría y Polonia
Authors: Goldstein Ariel
Published: November 2023

Este artículo busca identificar los aspectos ideológicos y culturales disponibles sobre los que se ha estructurado la hegemonía de la derecha radical en Hungría y Polonia. Esto supone indagar en la historia que ha llevado a la configuración de ciertos aspectos como parte de la identidad nacional y considerar elementos de mediana y larga duración que han contribuido para su desarrollo. La indagación en el pasado autoritario nos llevará luego a examinar el presente, donde evaluamos la interacción dentro del “ecosistema político de derecha radical” que se presenta en ambos países.
Entrevista com Gabriela Spanghero Lotta
Authors: Lino Lillian Lages , Duarte Cristiano Parra
Published: November 2023

Gabriela Spanghero Lotta é uma das 100 acadêmicas mais influentes do mundo na área de Governo pela Apolitical e uma das maiores referências no Brasil nos campos de estudo de burocracia e implementação de políticas públicas. Doutora em Ciência Política pela Universidade de São Paulo (2010), Mestra em Administração Pública e Governo pela Fundação Getúlio Vargas (2006) e Bacharela em Administração Pública, também pela Fundação Getúlio Vargas (2003), Lotta tem uma extensa carreira acadêmica, tendo publicado livros e artigos em periódicos nacionais e estrangeiros e se tornado bibliografia obrigatória para pesquisadores que atuam na interface entre a administração pública e a ciência política, sobretudo no campo das políticas públicas.
controle burocrático na gestão pública
Authors: Francisco Bastos Monteiro Daniel , Tomaz de Almeida Gustavo
Published: November 2023

A temática acerca do controle burocrático no âmbito do setor público brasileiro tem sido abordada pela literatura em diversos trabalhos e com perspectivas díspares. Para colaborar com esse tema, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar como os procedimentos de controle burocrático de uma Prefeitura do interior de Minas Gerais são desenvolvidos, em termos de contribuições, limitações e oportunidades de melhoria. Metodologicamente, a parte empírica consistiu em uma abordagem qualitativa, com a realização de entrevistas individuais com servidores e análise de documentos primários e secundários. Para a análise dos dados, utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo. Adiante, os resultados da pesquisa indicam que os procedimentos de controle burocrático do Município têm gerado contribuições para a sua gestão, não obstante às barreiras e dificuldades existentes ao longo do seu processo de implementação, especialmente os problemas relacionados aos aspectos tecnológicos, à gestão de riscos, à cultura organizacional e à capacitação técnica dos servidores.
Behaviour of large eigenvalues for the asymmetric quantum Rabi model
Authors: Charif Mirna , Fino Ahmad , Zielinski Lech
Published: November 2023

We prove that the spectrum of the asymmetric quantum Rabi model consists of two eigenvalue sequences [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], satisfying a two-term asymptotic formula with error estimate of the form [Formula: see text], when m tends to infinity.
Molecular Basis of Tumorigenesis of Bladder Cancer and Emerging Concepts in Developing Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Abdeltwab Rana M. , Yacoub Elaria , Rashad Ahmed H. , Shohdy Kyrillus S.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND:

Advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) is an aggressive disease whose mutagenic processes are yet to be elucidated. Targeted therapies are urgently needed, but the road from bench to bedside is slowly progressing. In this review, we discuss urothelial carcinoma etiology, along with the most recent advances in UC candidate targeted therapies.

METHODOLOGY:

A comprehensive database search was performed. We aimed to review the most recent updates on UC genomics and targeted therapies. Pre-clinical as well as clinical studies were included.

RESULTS:

Our review highlights the advances in understanding the molecular basis of urothelial tumorigenesis, including smoking, chemical parasitic carcinogens, inheritance, and APOBEC3 editing enzymes. We discussed how these factors contributed to the current mutational landscape of UC. Therapeutic options for UC are still very limited. However, several promising therapeutic approaches are in development to leverage our knowledge of molecular targets, such as targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR), DNA damage repair pathways, and HER2.

CONCLUSIONS:

Blindly testing targeted therapies based on other cancer data is not sufficient. UC-specific biomarkers are needed to precisely use the appropriate drug for the appropriate population. More efforts to understand UC biology and evolution are urgently needed.
What is a Bladder Cancer Molecular Subtype? – Counterpoint
Authors: Radvanyi François , Real Francisco X. , McConkey David
Published: November 2023

In an accompanying paper, Mattias Höglund discusses on what is a bladder cancer molecular subtype. He emphasizes the need to consider the aim of tumor classification, which is obviously critical to the approach. He also focuses on considering primarily the identity features of the neoplastic cells. Here, we provide a counterpoint. While largely agreeing with his views, we underline that other parameters that may vary in a spatial or temporal scale, and the tumor microenvironment, can also provide relevant information to render tumor classifications clinically useful. Furthermore, tumor heterogeneity and evolution during the disease course - natural or under therapeutic pressure - should be considered.
Maintaining a Dynamic Brain: A Review of Empirical Findings Describing the Roles of Exercise, Learning, and Environmental Enrichment in Neuroplasticity from 2017-2023
Authors: Milbocker Katrina A. , Smith Ian F. , Klintsova Anna Y.
Published: November 2023

Brain plasticity, also termed neuroplasticity, refers to the brain’s life-long ability to reorganize itself in response to various changes in the environment, experiences, and learning. The brain is a dynamic organ capable of responding to stimulating or depriving environments, activities, and circumstances from changes in gene expression, release of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, to cellular reorganization and reprogrammed functional connectivity. The rate of neuroplastic alteration varies across the lifespan, creating further challenges for understanding and manipulating these processes to benefit motor control, learning, memory, and neural remodeling after injury. Neuroplasticity-related research spans several decades, and hundreds of reviews have been written and published since its inception. Here we present an overview of the empirical papers published between 2017 and 2023 that address the unique effects of exercise, plasticity-stimulating activities, and the depriving effect of social isolation on brain plasticity and behavior.
The immune response to systemically administered endotoxin in the murine intestinal microcirculation under pentobarbital versus isoflurane anesthesia
Authors: Neira Agonh Daniel , Scott Cassidy , Trivedi Purvi , Dickson Kayle , White Hannah , Zhou Juan , Lehmann Christian
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND:

Pentobarbital and isoflurane are commonly used veterinary anesthetics. Due to the dangers of overdose by repeat-bolus regimen of pentobarbital, isoflurane has been recommended. However, literature suggests isoflurane-induced inhibition of cytokine and adhesion molecule release, impacting leukocyte adhesion.

OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to characterize the impacts of pentobarbital versus isoflurane on leukocyte interactions within the intestinal microcirculation with and without endotoxin challenge.

METHODS:

Female BALB/c mice were subjected to pentobarbital or isoflurane (N = 20) and challenged with endotoxin or saline by intraperitoneal injection. The mice were kept under anesthesia for 2 hours. Fluorochromes, rhodamine-6 G and fluorescein isothiocyanate, were injected intravenously. To visualize leukocyte adhesion within the intestinal microcirculation, laparotomy and intravital microscopy was performed. Leukocyte rolling and adhesion was quantified offline in a blinded fashion.

RESULTS:

Within collecting venules, leukocyte rolling and adhesion showed no significant differences between pentobarbital and isoflurane anesthesia under basal conditions. Endotoxin challenge caused a similar response in both anesthetic groups. Within postcapillary venules, no statistical differences between the two anesthetics were found for adhering leukocytes under basal conditions or following endotoxin challenge either. However, leukocyte rolling after LPS-challenge was significantly decreased in postcapillary venules during isoflurane anesthesia compared to pentobarbital anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS:

Isoflurane anesthesia showed only minor differences in the immune response to endotoxin within the intestinal microcirculation compared to pentobarbital anesthesia. Due to the superior safety profile of volatile anesthetics, immunological studies may choose isoflurane over pentobarbital as the veterinary anesthetic of choice.
Collaborating to implement SeamlessAccess: A library’s perspective
Authors: Felts John W.
Published: November 2023

In the past two years an ever-increasing number of publishers have implemented SeamlessAccess resulting in a better user experience and increased usage. However, to ensure more users benefit from federated authentication and seamless access more collaborations among publishers, libraries, and SeamlessAccess are needed. This brief paper will include a library perspective on the challenges to implementing federated access, the benefits that federated access brings to libraries and to their end-users in their research experience, and a brief walk-through of the SeamlessAccess experience that demonstrates how it enhances federated access.
Visualizing institutional activity using persistent identifier metadata
Authors: Aghassibake Negeen , Castello Olivia Given , Gujilde Paolo , Rabun Sheila
Published: November 2023

This article investigates the opportunities and current challenges involved in using persistent identifier (PID) metadata to understand institutional research activity, based on a 2022 data visualization project led by the ORCID US Community (administered by Lyrasis) in partnership with two fellows from the Drexel University LEADING program. The fellows created an R [See: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/R_(programming_language) , accessed September 12, 2023] script that can be used to retrieve information about publishing collaborations between researchers at a home organization and other organizations across the globe, based on metadata from researchers’ ORCID profiles and Crossref DOIs. The dataset produced by the script can be imported into a Tableau Public dashboard template, resulting in a data visualization that can be shared with multiple stakeholders to show trends in collaboration activity and emphasize how PIDs are useful for visualizing researcher activity and impact. However, multiple gaps in the ORCID and DOI metadata, such as authors with no ORCID iD, ORCID profiles with no institution or works data, and missing collaborator information in DOI records, indicate that we still have a long way to go before PIDs can be used to demonstrate a complete picture of research activity.
NLRP3 Inflammasome: An Emerging Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Tao Shuqi , Fan Wenyuan , Liu Jinmeng , Wang Tong , Zheng Haoning , Qi Gaoxiu , Chen Yanchun , Zhang Haoyun , Guo Zhangyu , Zhou Fenghua
Published: November 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is currently the most prevalent neurological disease, and no effective and practical treatments and therapies exist. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat-, and pyrin domain- containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is vital in the human innate immune response. However, when the NLRP3 inflammasome is overactivated by persistent stimulation, several immune-related diseases, including AD, atherosclerosis, and obesity, result. This review will focus on the composition and activation mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome, the relevant mechanisms of involvement in the inflammatory response to AD, and AD treatment targeting NLRP3 inflammasome. This review aims to reveal the pathophysiological mechanism of AD from a new perspective and provide the possibility of more effective and novel strategies for preventing and treating AD.
StegEraser: Defending cybersecurity against malicious covert communications
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Zhang Wensheng , Xu Jingdong
Published: November 2023

Traditionally, the mission of intercepting malicious traffic between the Internet and the internal network of entities like organizations and corporations, is largely fulfilled by techniques such as deep packet inspection (DPI). However, steganography, the methodology of hiding secret data in seemingly benign public mediums (e.g., images), has been leveraged by advanced persistent threat (APT) groups in recent years, and is almost impossible to be detected and intercepted by traditional techniques, posing a pervasive and realistic threat to cybersecurity. Additionally, internal networks’ vulnerability to steganography is further exacerbated by the connectivity and large attack surface of the Internet of Things (IoT), whose adoption and deployment are quickly expanding. To protect computer systems against malicious communications that apply steganographic methods potentially unknown to cybersecurity stakeholders, we propose StegEraser, an approach to removing the secret information embedded in public mediums by adversaries, that is fundamentally distinct from existing research which is primarily designed for known steganographic methods. Implemented for images, StegEraser injects an excessively huge amount of random binary data with a novel steganographic method into the images, by utilizing the information-merging capabilities of invertible neural networks (INNs), in order to “overload” adversaries’ steganographic hiding capacity of images transmitted through the firewall performing DPI. In the meantime, StegEraser preserves the perceptual quality of the images. In other words, StegEraser “defeats unknown steganography with steganography”. Extensive evaluation verifies that StegEraser significantly outperforms state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods in terms of removing secret information embedded with both traditional and neural network-based steganographic methods, while visually maintaining the image quality.
Analysis of neural network detectors for network attacks
Authors: Zou Qingtian , Zhang Lan , Singhal Anoop , Sun Xiaoyan , Liu Peng
Published: November 2023

While network attacks play a critical role in many advanced persistent threat (APT) campaigns, an arms race exists between the network defenders and the adversary: to make APT campaigns stealthy, the adversary is strongly motivated to evade the detection system. However, new studies have shown that neural network is likely a game-changer in the arms race: neural network could be applied to achieve accurate, signature-free, and low-false-alarm-rate detection. In this work, we investigate whether the adversary could fight back during the next phase of the arms race. In particular, noticing that none of the existing adversarial example generation methods could generate malicious packets (and sessions) that can simultaneously compromise the target machine and evade the neural network detection model, we propose a novel attack method to achieve this goal. We have designed and implemented the new attack. We have also used Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Poisoning and Domain Name System (DNS) Cache Poisoning as the case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed attack.
U*: GA-based path planning algorithm for surface floating garbage cleaning robot
Authors: Hong Jiajun , Tsai Rong-Guei , Chen Xiaolan , Lin Di , Yu Yicong , Lin Ying , Li Ronghao
Published: November 2023

Marine debris is a serious global problem that is not limited to areas where humans live but also drifts around the world with wind and currents. More than 10 million tons of plastic waste flow into the ocean every year, posing a major threat to humanity. This study designs a path planning algorithm for surface garbage-cleaning robots called U*, which aims to improve the efficiency of salvaging marine debris and reduce labor and time costs. The U* algorithm consists of two procedures: exploration and path-planning. The exploration procedure searches for marine debris, while the path-planning procedure predicts the possible location of marine debris using the velocity and direction of ocean currents and finds the shortest path by using a genetic algorithm (GA) to collect the found marine debris. According to the experimental results, the U* method is more efficient in terms of reducing path length and time costs.
Application of a real-time flame smoke detection algorithm based on improved YOLOv7
Authors: Gao Yuchen , Yang Qing , Meng Huijuan , Gao Dexin
Published: November 2023

Flame and smoke detection is a critical issue that has been widely used in various unmanned security monitoring scenarios. However, existing flame smoke detection methods suffer from low accuracy and slow speed, and these problems reduce the efficiency of real-time detection. To solve the above problems, we propose an improved YOLOv7(You Only Look Once) algorithm for flame smoke mobile detection. The algorithm uses the Kmeans algorithm to cluster the prior frames in the dataset and uses a lightweight CNeB(ConvNext Block) module to replace part of the traditional ELAN module to accelerate the detection speed while ensuring high accuracy. In addition, we propose an improved CIoU loss function to further enhance the detection effect. The experimental results show that, compared with the original algorithm, our algorithm improves the accuracy by 4.5% and the speed by 39.87%. This indicates that our algorithm meets the real-time monitoring requirements and can be practically applied to field detection on mobile edge computing devices.
Cross-entropy method for interval-valued neutrosophic number multiple attribute decision making for education quality management evaluation in higher education institutions
Authors: Jia Xiaoying
Published: November 2023

Under the premise of today’s socialist modernization construction, the development and progress of the country require more outstanding talents such as aspiring youth and intellectuals to participate, which puts forward higher requirements for education quality indicators and various aspects of operation. As the main institution and environment for implementing educational activities, the effectiveness of school management organization has a direct impact and even a decisive role on the quality of education. Therefore, how to improve the quality management of school education has become a hot topic in the education industry. The education quality management evaluation in higher education institutions is viewed as the multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) issue. In this paper, the interval-valued neutrosophic number cross-entropy (IVNN-CE) technique is built under interval-valued neutrosophic sets (IVNSs) based on the traditional cross-entropy technique. Then, combine traditional cross-entropy technique with IVNSs, the IVNN-CE technique is constructed for MADM under IVNSs. Finally, the numerical example for education quality management evaluation in higher education institutions was constructed and some comparisons is employed to verify advantages of IVNN-CE technique. The main contribution of this paper is constructed: (1) the cross-entropy model is extended to IVNSs; (1) the CRITIC technique is employed to construct the attribute weights under IVNSs; (3) the IVNN-CE technique is constructed to manage the MADM under IVNSs; (4) a case study about education quality management evaluation in higher education institutions is constructed to show the built technique; (5) some comparative algorithms are constructed to verify the rationality of IVNN-CE technique.
Can the CHOP-INTEND be used as An Outcome Measure in the First Months of Age? Implications for Clinical Trials and Real World Data
Authors: Cutrona Costanza , de Sanctis Roberto , Coratti Giorgia , Capasso Anna , Ricci Martina , Stanca Giulia , Carnicella Sara , Utlulig Meric , Bersani Giulia , lazzareschi Ilaria , Leoni Chiara , Buonsenso Danilo , Luciano Rita , Vento Giovanni , Finkel Richard S. , Pane Marika , Mercuri Eugenio
Published: November 2023

Background:

The CHOP-INTEND is an established outcome measure used to assess motor function in young and weak SMA patients previously validated in type I infants older than 3 months.

Objective:

The aim of our study was to assess the maturation of the CHOP-INTEND scores in a group of healthy infants, establishing which items of the scale can be reliably used in individuals younger than 3 months.

Methods:

This is a prospective observational study. The whole cohort was divided into 5 age groups. Each of the 16 CHOP-INTEND items was analyzed looking at the frequency distribution of the scores in each age subgroup. An item was considered developmentally appropriate when > 85% of the infants achieved a full score.

Results:

our study includes 61 assessments collected < 2 weeks, 25 at 2–4 weeks, 20 at 5–8 weeks, 25 at 9–12 weeks and 20 at 13–17 weeks. Eight of the 16 items were developmentally appropriate already in the first week and another by the end of the first month. The remaining 7 items had more variable responses in the first three months and full scores were consistently achieved only after the third month.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that the CHOP-INTEND can be used before the age of 3 months, but the results should be interpreted with caution, considering which items are developmentally appropriate at the time of testing. This will also help to establish whether the changes observed following early treatments are a sign of efficacy or at least partly reflect maturational aspects.
Findings from the Longitudinal CINRG Becker Natural History Study
Authors: Clemens Paula R. , Gordish-Dressman Heather , Niizawa Gabriela , Gorni Ksenija , Guglieri Michela , Connolly Anne M. , Wicklund Matthew , Bertorini Tulio , Mah Jean , Thangarajh Mathula , Smith Edward C. , Kuntz Nancy L. , McDonald Craig M. , Henricson Erik , Upadhyayula S , Byrne Barry , Manousakis Georgios , Harper Amy , Iannaccone Susan , Dang Utkarsh J.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Becker muscular dystrophy is an X-linked, genetic disorder causing progressive degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle, with a widely variable phenotype.

Objective:

A 3-year, longitudinal, prospective dataset contributed by patients with confirmed Becker muscular dystrophy was analyzed to characterize the natural history of this disorder. A better understanding of the natural history is crucial to rigorous therapeutic trials.

Methods:

A cohort of 83 patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (5–75 years at baseline) were followed for up to 3 years with annual assessments. Muscle and pulmonary function outcomes were analyzed herein. Age-stratified statistical analysis and modeling were conducted to analyze cross-sectional data, time-to-event data, and longitudinal data to characterize these clinical outcomes.

Results:

Deletion mutations of dystrophin exons 45–47 or 45–48 were most common. Subgroup analysis showed greater pairwise association between motor outcomes at baseline than association between these outcomes and age. Stronger correlations between outcomes for adults than for those under 18 years were also observed. Using cross-sectional binning analysis, a ceiling effect was seen for North Star Ambulatory Assessment but not for other functional outcomes. Longitudinal analysis showed a decline in percentage predicted forced vital capacity over the life span. There was relative stability or improved median function for motor functional outcomes through childhood and adolescence and decreasing function with age thereafter.

Conclusions:

There is variable progression of outcomes resulting in significant heterogeneity of the clinical phenotype of Becker muscular dystrophy. Disease progression is largely manifest in adulthood. There are implications for clinical trial design revealed by this longitudinal analysis of a Becker natural history dataset.
Targeted neurorehabilitation strategies in post-stroke aphasia
Authors: Shah-Basak Priyanka , Boukrina Olga , Li Xin Ran , Jebahi Fatima , Kielar Aneta
Published: November 2023

Background:

Aphasia is a debilitating language impairment, affecting millions of people worldwide. About 40% of stroke survivors develop chronic aphasia, resulting in life-long disability.

Objective:

This review examines extrinsic and intrinsic neuromodulation techniques, aimed at enhancing the effects of speech and language therapies in stroke survivors with aphasia.

Methods:

We discuss the available evidence supporting the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and functional MRI (fMRI) real-time neurofeedback in aphasia rehabilitation.

Results:

This review systematically evaluates studies focusing on efficacy and implementation of specialized methods for post-treatment outcome optimization and transfer to functional skills. It considers stimulation target determination and various targeting approaches. The translation of neuromodulation interventions to clinical practice is explored, emphasizing generalization and functional communication. The review also covers real-time fMRI neurofeedback, discussing current evidence for efficacy and essential implementation parameters. Finally, we address future directions for neuromodulation research in aphasia.

Conclusions:

This comprehensive review aims to serve as a resource for a broad audience of researchers and clinicians interested in incorporating neuromodulation for advancing aphasia care.
Development of a multifunctional installation of fine dispersed irrigation
Authors: Nalyvaiko V. , Konovaliuk V.
Published: November 2023

The intensification of the processes of mining and processing of mineral raw materials, characteristic of the modern development of mining production, is associated with significant dust pollution of the atmospheric air. As an economical and mobile means of dust suppression, it is recommended to use the developed impulse fine-dispersed irrigation system "Ustimor". The principle of operation of the installation is based on the pulsed displacement of water from the water-air tank by the combustion products of the fuel-air mixture under high pressure (>5 MPa). Experimental and industrial tests of the installation were carried out at the tailings storage facility of PJSC "Ingulets Mining and Processing Plant". The range of the installation is on average 120-130 m. The area of the irrigated surface in one cycle of operation is from 500 m2 to 750 m2. Fine spraying was observed along the entire length of the jet flight. In one hour of operation, the installation can release from 5 to 30 tons of water into the atmosphere in the form of drizzle. The intensity of watering for one work cycle is on average 0.85 l/m2. The possibility of autonomous operation of the installation and its remote control through the SCADA system has been confirmed. The installation of pulse fine-dispersed irrigation is recommended for use as a means of spraying liquid by the method of fine-dispersed irrigation on open areas of surfaces where dust is intensively swept and suspended. It can be used for dust suppression and humidification at tailings storage facilities, warehouses of bulk materials, landfills, technological highways. The "Ustimor" installation can also be used for fine-dispersed irrigation of plantations, vineyards, gardens, etc. Irrigation of leaf cover and soil surface will lower their temperature by 7 - 10 °C in the sun and by 6 - 6.6 °C in the shade.