bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Potential of Traditional Medicines and Natural Products for
COVID-19: A Review
Authors: Sharma Rahul Kumar , Kaur Ramandeep , Khushwah Ajay Singh , Sharma Shailesh , Sharma Neelam , Gaba Punam
Published: November 2023

he global threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the search for
innovative treatments, sparking interest in the potential of natural materials as sources for antiviral medications. This paper delves into the realm of natural medicine, examining the utilization
of plant extracts and microbial compounds to combat viral diseases like COVID-19. While these
sources hold promise, safety remains paramount. Just as with conventional drugs, natural medications can yield adverse effects and interactions, necessitating rigorous evaluation. To mitigate
potential risks, techniques to reduce after-effects are explored, emphasizing the importance of
standardization and quality control. Integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific
methods presents an opportunity to discover novel therapies. The development of potent and
effective natural antiviral medications and vaccines, crucial for managing future outbreaks, demands interdisciplinary collaboration, regulatory oversight, and comprehensive clinical trials. In
navigating the dynamic landscape of viral diseases, the exploration of natural sources complements conventional approaches, underlining the need for a holistic and balanced strategy.
An Adaptive Framework for Traffic Congestion Prediction using Deep Learning
Authors: Asif S. , Kartheeban Kamatchi
Published: November 2023

Aim and background:

Congestion on China's roads has worsened in recent years due
to the country's rapid economic development, rising urban population, rising private car ownership,
inequitable traffic flow distribution, and growing local congestion. As cities expand, traffic
congestion has become an unavoidable nuisance that endangers the safety and progress of its residents.
Improving the utilization rate of municipal transportation facilities and relieving traffic
congestion depend on a thorough and accurate identification of the current state of road traffic and
necessitate anticipating road congestion in the city.

Methodology:

In this research, we suggest using a deep spatial and temporal graph convolutional
network (DSGCN) to forecast the current state of traffic congestion. To begin, we grid out the
transportation system to create individual regions for analysis. In this work, we abstract the grid
region centers as nodes, and we use an adjacency matrix to signify the dynamic correlations between
the nodes.

Results and Discussion:

The spatial correlation between regions is then captured utilizing a
Graph Convolutional-Neural-Network (GCNN), while the temporal correlation is captured using a
two-layer long and short-term feature model (DSTM).

Conclusion:

Finally, testing on real PeMS datasets shows that the DSGCN has superior performance
than other baseline models and provides more accurate traffic congestion prediction.
The Revolution of Immersive Technologies in Healthcare Research
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , Tang Yuk Ming , Keung Alan Leung Wai
Published: November 2023

In the digital era, many technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI),
computer information systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, immersive
technologies, 3D printing, etc. are being adopted to facilitate operations, provide better
management, and enhance workflow and working efficiency. As such, digital health
technology and management are the key topics that are attracting wide attention, since
it is important both in enhancing efficiency and safety. In fact, most of the healthcare
and medical care tasks cannot be replaced entirely by computers. The training of
healthcare workers and medical practitioners still remains important. Immersive
technologies including virtual Reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality
(MR) are widely adopted in numerous industrial and training applications. VR provides
a fully immersive experience for the trainees, while AR and MR provide interactive
stimulation while maintaining attention in the physical world. Despite the types of
immersive technologies used for training, healthcare training, and medical simulation
are key components of digital health technology. Nevertheless, in many cases, a
trainee’s acceptance and behavioural training in participating in immersive training are
still uncertain. Understanding their acceptance and behaviour is important not only in
developing effective simulated training but also in enhancing their autonomy and
motivation in participation. To this end, we also introduce some of the research models
that are commonly used to support health and medical training and simulation.
Digital Health with Smart Internet of Things (IoT) Technologies
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , Tang Yuk Ming , Wai Keung Alan Leung
Published: November 2023

Hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities will face
considerable problems in the next decades due to the aging population's increasing
healthcare demands, the complexity of modern healthcare delivery, and the rising
expectations of healthcare consumers. Future healthcare development must continue to
face problems, which call for more digital innovation. One of the goals for the ensuing
decades will be to craft a clever plan to advance digital health. The smart Internet of
Things (IoT) technologies are crucial elements to integrate digital health for enabling
practical utilization in the field, given the large range of information technologies
available. The smart IoT supports medical practitioners in their working process and
facilitates the management of the patient’s health records. In this chapter, we explore
some of the key smart IoT technologies in digital health and management including
data acquisition, data transmission, and positioning. Each technology is briefly
introduced to provide insights that will allow readers to adopt the essential technologies
for potential future practical applications.
Human Remains Logistics
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , Tang Yuk Ming , Keung Alan Leung Wai
Published: November 2023

Life and death are unique phenomena. Death is inevitable; thus, people will
eventually become consumers of end-of-life products and services. The death care
industry is currently facing radical challenges. The death-denying attitude can severely
undermine the examination of the death care industry. Personal care and tailored
informative services for the ultimate care of deceased loved ones must be given by a
professional logistics service provider. The transport of human remains, bones and
ashes requires professional knowledge of local regulations and laws, carrier rules and
restrictions, rates and market demand, and shipment safety and protection, and
communication between the carriers, customers and end-user (family members). On the
side of the logistics service providers, they must overcome their fear of facing a dead
body and address the funeral atmosphere of the workplace to improve their
psychological well-being. This chapter includes five sections on the nature of human
remains, specifications, human remains logistics operation, business ethics, and
emerging market challenges of green burials.
Easy Preparation of Zinc Molybdate Photocatalyst and Its Application for Degradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Bakri Ridla , Firmansyah Rika , Yulizar Yoki
Published: November 2023

Photocatalyst is one way that can be done to overcome the problem of dye waste in water. Hazardous chemicals are regularly used in the manufacture of photocatalysts. In this research, ZnMoO4 was prepared by an environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthesis. The functional groups, crystalline structure and morphology of ZnMoO4 were characterised using fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The band gap energy has been studied through UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The photocatalytic activity of ZnMoO4 was tested against the organic pollutant methylene blue under visible light irradiation and its degradation products were analyzed with a UV-Vis spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 664 nm. The photocatalytic process of ZnMoO4 has been able to degrade 99% of methylene blue after 80 minutes of irradiation. The excellent photodegradation performance indicates that the transition activity of electron currents from the valence band to the conduction band on ZnMoO4 is going well.
Strengths and Weaknesses of ChatGPT Models for Scientific Writing About Medical Vitamin B12: Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Abuyaman Omar
Published: November 2023

Background

ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI designed to generate human-like responses to prompts.

Objective

This study aims to evaluate the ability of GPT-4 to generate scientific content and assist in scientific writing using medical vitamin B12 as the topic. Furthermore, the study will compare the performance of GPT-4 to its predecessor, GPT-3.5.

Methods

The study examined responses from GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 to vitamin B12–related prompts, focusing on their quality and characteristics and comparing them to established scientific literature.

Results

The results indicated that GPT-4 can potentially streamline scientific writing through its ability to edit language and write abstracts, keywords, and abbreviation lists. However, significant limitations of ChatGPT were revealed, including its inability to identify and address bias, inability to include recent information, lack of transparency, and inclusion of inaccurate information. Additionally, it cannot check for plagiarism or provide proper references. The accuracy of GPT-4’s answers was found to be superior to GPT-3.5.

Conclusions

ChatGPT can be considered a helpful assistant in the writing process but not a replacement for a scientist’s expertise. Researchers must remain aware of its limitations and use it appropriately. The improvements in consecutive ChatGPT versions suggest the possibility of overcoming some present limitations in the near future.
Exploring Parental Experiences With School-Aged Children Receiving Web-Based Learning: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Al Anazi Samaa , Bajamal Eman , Hantira Neama , Esheaba Ola
Published: November 2023

Background

Web-based learning has transformed education. Its ability to overcome physical barriers and deliver knowledge at the click of a button has made web-based learning popular and ensured that it will continue to be used in the future. The involvement of parents in web-based learning is fundamental to the success of the educational process, but limited attention has been paid to the impact of web-based learning on parents.

Objective

This study examined parental experiences with school-aged children receiving web-based learning in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

We sent cross-sectional, anonymous web-based questionnaires to school-aged children’s parents. A total of 184 parents completed the survey.

Results

Parents’ negative experiences of web-based learning (mean 4.13, SD 0.62) exceeded their positive experiences (mean 3.52, SD 0.65). The most negative experience reported by parents was their child’s boredom due to prolonged sitting in front of a device (mean 4.56, SD 0.69). The most positive experience was their child’s technological skill enhancement (mean 3.98, SD 88). Their child’s lack of social interaction and friendship building promoted stress among parents (r=−0.190; P=.01). At the same time, their child’s technological skill enhancement reduced stress among parents (r=0.261; P=.001). The most reported (63/184, 34.2%) obstacle to web-based learning was having multiple learners in the same household.

Conclusion

Web-based learning is a fundamental learning method and will continue to be used in the future because of its ability to overcome many barriers to education. Parental involvement in the continuity and success of the web-based learning process is crucial. However, the findings of this study illustrated that parents’ experiences of web-based learning were more negative than positive. Parents who reported negative experiences reported an increase in stress and faced more obstacles due to web-based learning. Thus, more attention and intervention are needed to promote positive web-based learning experiences among parents.
Gluu Essentials Digital Skills Training for Middle-Aged and Older Adults That Makes Skills Stick: Results of a Pre-Post Intervention Study (Preprint)
Authors: Seaton Cherisse L , Rush Kathy L , Li Eric Ping Hung , Hasan Mohammad Khalad , Fawcus Linda
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

A number of real-world digital literacy training programs exist to support engagement with mobile devices, but these have been understudied.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and program acceptability of a digital skills training program among middle-aged and older adults (aged ≥50 years) and to gather participants’ recommendations for lifelong digital skills promotion.

METHODS

The Gluu Essentials digital skills training program includes learning resources to support tablet use. Through pre-post surveys, this study assessed mobile device proficiency, confidence in going online and in avoiding frauds and scams, the frequency of engaging in online activities, program engagement, acceptability, and suggestions for continued support.

RESULTS

A total of 270 middle-aged and older adults completed baseline surveys. Of these 270 participants, 145 (53.7%) completed follow-up surveys. Our findings indicate that mobile device proficiency increased (P<.001), whereas confidence was unchanged. Participants also reported going online more frequently to shop (P=.01) and access government services (P=.02) at follow-up. Program engagement varied considerably, but program acceptability was high. Participants’ recommendations included the need for providing ongoing programs for support and training because technology constantly changes, reducing costs for technology and internet access, and keeping learning resources simple and easy to access.

CONCLUSIONS

The Gluu Essentials digital skills training program increased mobile device proficiency and frequency of web-based activities (shopping and accessing government services) among middle-aged and older adults.
Business Models and Strategies for Managing Indigenous-based Natural Tourism in and around Danau Sentarum National Park (Ecotourism Meliau Hamlet)
Authors: Astari Wiwit , Yustiana Yooce , Prihadi Nandang
Published: November 2023

Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP), situated in West Kalimantan's Kapuas Hulu region, stands out as a unique destination. Meliau Hamlet, located within and around DSNP, servesasasettlementfortheDayak Ibantribe, preserving theirdistinctcustoms. The surrounding area boasts captivating landscapes, including lakes, swamps, rivers, and hills, drawing both domestic and international tourists. Recognizing this potential, the Melemba Village government established KPP Kaban Mayas, an ecotourism initiative. However, challenges such as limited human resources, insufficient infrastructure, and management issues hindered Meliau Hamlet's ecotourism operations. This research aimed to assess ecotourism development feasibility, economic viability, and community engagement. It also outlined the ecotourism management's business model and strategies. Data was gathered through field visits, interviews, and surveys. Analysis encompassed scoring tourist attractions, evaluating stakeholders, financial assessments, and community capital. The Business Model Canvas (BMC) described the business model, while strategies were formulated using SWOT analysis, Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM), and Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS). Results underscored natural resources as vital assets for ecotourism. Meliau Hamlet's ecotourism could thrive by focusing on value proposition, keyresources, keyactivities, and keypartnerships.
Monoclonal Gammopathy and Its Association with Progression to Kidney Failure and Mortality in Patients with CKD
Authors: Sy-Go Janina Paula T. , Moubarak Simon , Vaughan Lisa E. , Klomjit Nattawat , Viehman Jason K. , Fervenza F.C. , Zand Ladan
Published: November 2023

Background

Little is known about the prognostic significance of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined and renal significance (MGUS and MGRS) in patients with CKD. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical and kidney outcomes of patients with CKD with either MGUS or MGRS compared with those with CKD without MGUS or MGRS.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2013 to 2018. Patients who had both CKD diagnosis and monoclonal testing were identified. Patients were divided into MGRS, MGUS, and no monoclonal gammopathy groups. Cumulative incidence functions and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to model time to event data and to evaluate the association between monoclonal gammopathy status and risk of kidney failure, with death treated as a competing risk.

Results

Among 1535 patients, 59 (4%) had MGRS, 648 (42%) had MGUS, and 828 (54%) had no monoclonal gammopathy. Unadjusted analysis showed that compared with no monoclonal gammopathy patients, patients with MGRS were at higher risk of kidney failure (hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval]: 2.5 [1.5 to 4.2] but not patients with MGUS (HR [95% confidence interval]: 1.3 [0.97 to 1.6]), after taking death into account as a competing risk. However, in the multivariable analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, eGFR, proteinuria, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, the risk of progression to kidney failure (with death as competing risk) in the MGRS group was no longer statistically significant (HR: 0.9 [0.5 to 1.8]). The same was also true for the MGUS group compared with the group with no monoclonal gammopathy (HR: 1.3 [0.95 to 1.6]). When evaluating the association between MGUS/MGRS status and overall survival, MGRS was significantly associated with mortality in fully adjusted models compared with the group with no monoclonal gammopathy, while MGUS was not.

Conclusions

After adjusting for traditional risk factors, MGUS/MGRS status was not associated with a greater risk of kidney failure, but MGRS was associated with a higher risk of mortality compared with patients with no monoclonal gammopathy.
Research on Difficulties and Countermeasures of Power Consumption Inspection in Power Enterprises
Authors: Li Yaze
Published: November 2023

Under the background of the current rapid economic development, the awareness of electricity safety in all fields of society continues to improve, which puts forward new requirements for the power inspection work of power enterprises. In order to meet the needs of social development and effectively improve the quality of electricity inspection work, power enterprises need to base on the reality, control the work content in the new period, understand the necessity of strengthening and innovating electricity inspection work, and in-depth analysis of the difficulties of electricity inspection work in power enterprises at this stage, and then explore effective measures from multiple perspectives. In this paper, the difficulties and countermeasures of power inspection in power enterprises are studied, and the corresponding views are put forward.
A NOVEL DISCRETE RAT SWARM OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHM FOR THE QUADRATIC ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM
Authors: Mzili Toufik , Mzili Ilyass , Riffi Mohammed Essaid , Pamucar Dragan , Simic Vladimir , Kurdi Mohamed
Published: November 2023

The quadratic assignment problem (QAP) is an NP-hard problem with a wide range of applications in many real-world applications. This study introduces a discrete rat swarm optimizer (DRSO)algorithm for the first time as a solution to the QAP and demonstrates its effectiveness in terms of solution quality and computational efficiency. To address the combinatorial nature of the QAP, a mapping strategy is introduced to convert real values into discrete values, and mathematical operators are redefined to make then suitable for combinatorial problems. Additionally, a solution quality improvement strategy based on local search heuristics such as 2-opt and 3-opt is proposed. Simulations with test instances from the QAPLIB test library validate the effectiveness of the DRSO algorithm, and statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon parametric test confirms its performance. Comparative analysis with other algorithms demonstrates the superior performance of DRSO in terms of solution quality, convergence speed, and deviation from the best-known values, making it a promising approach for solving the QAP.
COMPLEX INTUITIONISTIC FUZZY DOMBI PRIORITIZED AGGREGATION OPERATORS AND THEIR APPLICATION FOR RESILIENT GREEN SUPPLIER SELECTION
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhu Baoying , Yu Yang , Ali Zeeshan , Almohsen Bandar
Published: November 2023

One of the main problems faced by resilient supply chain management is how to solve the problem of supplier selection, which is a typical multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problem. Given the complexity of the current decision-making environment, the primary influence of this paper is to propose the theory of Dombi operational laws based on complex intuitionistic fuzzy (CIF) information. Moreover, we examined the theory of CIF Dombi prioritized averaging (CIFDPA) and CIF weighted Dombi prioritized averaging (CIFWDPA), where these operators are the modified version of the prioritized aggregation operators and Dombi aggregation operators for fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy, complex fuzzy and complex intuitionistic fuzzy information. Some reliable properties for the above operators are also established. Furthermore, to state the art of the proposed operators, an application example in the presence of the invented operators is evaluated for managing resilient green supplier selection problems. Finally, through comparative analysis with mainstream technologies, we provide some mechanism explanations for the proposed method to show the supremacy and worth of the invented theory.
Antibacterial Susceptibility Pattern of S. maltophilia Isolates at A Tertiary Care Hospital, India
Authors: Namaji Mohammed Ashraf Ali , Bhat Muzafar Ahmad , Dixit Manas , Singh Sanjay Pratap , Huchchannavar Raghavendra
Published: November 2023

A sudden emergence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as a primary pathogen both in immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals has raised a serious concern, as it is associated with significant case fatality ratio. We intended to study the clinico-microbiological profile of S. maltophilia isolates from various samples and outcome of the infections in a tertiary healthcare center, Pune, India. This is an observational cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to June 2022 at Department of Microbiology of a tertiary care Centre in Pune, India. Of the 12049 samples received for culture, S. maltophilia was isolated in 57 samples. Only 42 samples with pure growth of S. maltophilia were included in the study with 15 excluded due to mixed growth. All isolates were confirmed by VITEK-MS (bioMerieux, SA, France) which uses Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) technology. Of the 42 isolates, majority were isolated from pus(28.6%) and most of patients (61.9%) were from acute health care settings. The isolates had high susceptibility to Cotrimoxazole (85.7%) and Minocycline (85.7%) and low susceptibility to Ceftazidime (45.2%). A case fatality rate of 7.1% (3/42 cases) was noted and 39 cases were discharged after complete treatment. All the three fatal cases were susceptible to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole and minocycline and all three fatal cases were resistant to ceftazidime. S. maltophilia has recently shown an increase in nosocomial infections especially in acute healthcare settings like ICU and other critical care wards. The isolates of the present study had high susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SXT) and Minocycline and low susceptible to Ceftazidime.
FOREST PROTECTION EFFORTS AGAINST CONVERTING FOREST FUNCTIONS TO PALM OIL PLANTATIONS
Authors: Susanto Ikbal , Fitriani Dita , Astika Hikmah Ayu , Fatimah Mutiara
Published: November 2023

The conversion of forest functions to oil palm plantations has often been carried out in Indonesia. Many factors motivate communities, individuals, and companies to do this. One of them is the economic factor. Investment in oil palm plantations is considered a promising investment and generates many profits. However, individuals or companies often need to pay more attention to ecological aspects and the impacts of the forest function's conversion. The consequences resulting from the transformation of forest functions will affect the environment in the short and long term. Forests that have many benefits and uses not only for humans but also for the habitat of animals and plants in them must be protected and preserved. The increasingly widespread conversion of forest functions results from fulfilling human desires and harming other living things, so the government is obliged to make an effort through prevention and mitigation so that the existence of forests and their sustainability are maintained and can continue to bring many benefits to living things.
Religious Education as a Basic Component in the Formation of Quality Human Beings
Authors: Muid Abdul , Mustofa Ady Muh. Zainul
Published: November 2023

The totality of humanity, idealism and religion must be produced through education if we want to become a nation and state. Teaching religion in schools is an important component in nation-building. If students are sufficiently equipped with religious teachings, they will develop into adults who are tough, disciplined, responsible, and hardworking. The research approach is qualitative with library research methods. The data analysis technique uses the Miles and Huberman data analysis model. The result of the research is that religious education also has an important position. If religious education is good, it can be guaranteed to produce quality human beings who are devoted to religion and their homeland with good principles, values ​​and norms.
The development of a public library data collection and analysis platform and its uses: a case study of the National Library Big Data Platform in Korea
Authors: Lee Jungyeoun , (Corresponding Author) Nahyun Kwon
Published: November 2023

Public libraries reflect the contemporary way of life. In the era of the digital data age, actions carried out through libraries can be traced and analyzed to monitor the demand for library services. This study presents the development and utilization of Korea's National Library Big Data Platform (NLBDP), which was constructed to collect operational data from public libraries in the country and to build national open data platform for the participating libraries and for public use. This study analyzed 17 application cases that utilized NLBDP in order to understand the way the platform has been used. The findings showed that the types of data analyzed so far have been somewhat limited. It suggests needs for further enhancing the data quality and for diversifying data sources, such as individual local library operational data, surveys, demographics, news, and social media. The results also revealed that NLBDP has been utilized for seven distinct purposes: library operations and strategic planning; social trend analysis; collection management; redesigning library space; recruiting new patrons; library marketing; and non-library applications. Building an infrastructure for networked data analysis not only enables evidence-based decision-making in public libraries, but also extracts timely topics that can be developed as useful services for their community. The findings of this study highlighted the necessity to formulate national library data policies and gather data capable of measuring the social impact of libraries.
Education attainment and economic growth: Gender disparities perspective
Authors: Mulaj Luljeta Aliu , Dedaj But
Published: November 2023

The latest trend in educational attainment has gripped almost the entire world, even the most developed countries. Their concentration is now not only on the highest possible achievements but also contribution to the economic development of society. The study aims to analyze the gender-based trends in education attainment, specifically below upper secondary education, post-secondary non-tertiary education, and tertiary education, for the period of 2007–2021 in ten economically developed countries with the highest gross domestic product (GDP), as well as examine the relationship between education attainment and GDP growth. The result shows that men have a higher percentage of attainment than women in below upper secondary education and upper secondary non-tertiary education. Conversely, women have a higher percentage of education attainment at the highest level: tertiary education. Moreover, the analysis indicates a direct relationship between below-secondary and upper-secondary non-tertiary education and GDP growth, while a direct relationship exists between GDP growth and tertiary education. Consequently, policies for reducing gender disparities should be in place to stimulate the enrolment of young adults in those professions that contribute more to the economic output. The research has its limitations in that other countries are not included in the study and the quality of studies is not taken into consideration.
Reinventing The Interpretation of Taqiyya Verse for Strengthening Religious Tolerance
Authors: Lilik Ummi Kaltsum  , Ahmad Syaifuddin Amin
Published: November 2023

Even though the teaching of taqiyya is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an, this concept is often negatively connoted as a heretical doctrine of a particular group, especially the Shia. This study aims to explore the interpretation of the Qur’an commentators towards the taqiyya verse (Q.S. Āli Imrān [3]: 28) in order to formulate the concept of taqiyya which can be actualized for the benefit of religious life. By examining the interpretations of some Qur’an commentators from various Islamic sects and implementing the descriptive-analytical method, the study concluded that the interpretation of taqiyya verse is not only limited to life-threatening emergency situations among kāfir ḥarbi, but also considered to be practiced in Muslim relations with non-Muslims or fellow Muslims in ordinary situations. Thus, taqiyya can manifest two main components of tolerance; patience and endurance by hiding beliefs or understandings that have the potential to disrupt the unity and integrity of multicultural society.
Investigating the reproductive behaviour of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) using parentage analysis
Authors: Dolfo Violaine , Gaspar Cécile , Tatarata Miri , Boissin Emilie , Planes Serge
Published: November 2023

The reproductive systems of natural populations can greatly impact their
genetic diversity by preventing or encouraging inbreeding. It is
therefore crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the mating
system to evaluate a population’s ability to maintain genetic diversity
over time. In this study, we examine the mating system of an endangered
population of green sea turtles in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. We
determine if different mating behaviours serve as strategies to avoid
inbreeding. We genotyped 107 nesting females and 1483 hatchlings from
549 nests and used 23 microsatellite markers to reconstruct the
genotypes of the fathers. We assessed the level of inbreeding and
relatedness of the parent pairs and explored the correlation between
relatedness and fitness parameters in the offspring. We determined the
mating behaviours of both males and females and investigated if specific
behaviours were linked to different levels of relatedness. Our results
showed that 27 fathers and 31 mothers were responsible for the genotypes
of 445 hatchlings from 105 nests. Global Fis was significant, and levels
of relatedness were higher than expected through random mating,
indicating inbreeding and non-random partner selection. However, we did
not find any mating behaviours that were associated with lower
relatedness levels than the general population, suggesting that they are
not part of an inbreeding avoidance strategy. Ultimately, this study
illuminates the reproductive system of green turtles and shows that this
population is susceptible to inbreeding. Additionally, our research
demonstrates the effectiveness of parentage analysis in understanding
the reproductive behaviour of elusive species.
First-in-human Realtime AI-assisted Instrument Deocclusion during Augmented Reality Robotic Surgery
Authors: Hofman Jasper , Backer Pieter De , Manghi Ilaria , Simoens Jente , Groote Ruben De , Bossche Hannes Van Den , D'Hondt Mathieu , Oosterlinck Tim , Lippens Julie , Praet Charles Van , Ferraguti Federica , Debbaut Charlotte , Li Zhijin , Kutter Oliver , Mottrie Alex , Decaestecker Karel
Published: November 2023

The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) into daily surgical practice
is withheld by the correct registration of pre-operative data. This
includes intelligent 3D model superposition whilst simultaneously
handling real and virtual occlusions caused by the AR overlay.
Occlusions can negatively impact surgical safety and as such deteriorate
rather than improve surgical care. Robotic surgery is particularly
suited to tackle these integration challenges in a stepwise approach as
the robotic console allows for different inputs to be displayed in
parallel to the surgeon. Nevertheless, real-time de-occlusion requires
extensive computational resources which further complicates clinical
integration. This work tackles the problem of instrument occlusion and
presents, to our best knowledge, the first-in-human on edge deployment
of a real-time binary segmentation pipeline during three robot-assisted
surgeries: partial nephrectomy, migrated endovascular stent removal and
liver metastasectomy. To this end, a state-of-the-art real-time
segmentation and 3D model pipeline was implemented and presented to the
surgeon during live surgery. The pipeline allows real-time binary
segmentation of 37 non-organic surgical items, which are never occluded
during AR. The application features real-time manual 3D model
manipulation for correct soft tissue alignment. The proposed pipeline
can contribute towards surgical safety, ergonomics and acceptance of AR
in minimally invasive surgery.
VPS8D, a CORVET subunit, is required to maintain the contractile vacuole complex in Tetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Cheng Chao-Yin , Hernández Josefina , Turkewitz Aaron P.
Published: November 2023

Contractile vacuole complexes (CVCs) are complex osmoregulatory
organelles, with vesicular (bladder) and tubular (spongiome)
subcompartments. The mechanisms that underlie their formation and
maintenance within the eukaryotic endomembrane network are poorly
understood. In the Ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, six
differentiated CORVETs (class C core vacuole/endosome tethering
complexes), with Vps8 subunits designated A-F, are likely to direct
endosomal trafficking. Vps8Dp localizes to both bladder and spongiome.
We show by inducible knockdown that VPS8D is essential to CVC
organization and function. VPS8D knockdown increased
susceptibility to osmotic shock, tolerated in the wildtype but
triggering irreversible lethal swelling in the mutant. The knockdown
rapidly triggered contraction of the spongiome and lengthened the period
of the bladder contractile cycle. More prolonged knockdown resulted in
disassembly of both the spongiome and bladder, and dispersal of proteins
associated with those compartments. In stressed cells where the normally
singular bladder is replaced by numerous vesicles bearing bladder
markers, Vps8Dp concentrated conspicuously at long-lived inter-vesicle
contact sites, consistent with tethering activity. Similarly, Vps8Dp in
cell-free preparations accumulated at junctions formed after vacuoles
came into close contact. Also consistent with roles for Vps8Dp in
tethering and/or fusion were the emergence in knockdown cells of
multiple vacuole-related structures, replacing the single bladder.
Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Medical Education, Opportunities and Challenges: A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Koch Mikaela , Vemuri Nishanth , Sridhar Aparna
Published: November 2023

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot released in 2022 marketed
as a powerful tool for education. The latest version, ChatGPT 4, has
performed well on standardized exams, passing all three United States
Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step exams .
Compared to its predecessor (Version 3.5), the subscription-walled
Version 4 has been trained with roughly 500 times more parameters and
has been advertised as a much more efficient model. Given the increasing
utility of chatbots in our society, further investigation is required to
confidently assess ChatGPT’s efficiency as a learning resource in
medical education. In this study, we explored opportunities and
challenges presented by chatbots by assessing ChatGPTs accuracy in
answering National Board of Medical Examiner (NBME) style questions in
OBGYN.
A new species of circinaria (Pertusariales, Megasporaceae) from Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Fayyaz Iram , Afshan Najam-Ul-Sehar , Iftikhar Fatima , Khalid Abdul
Published: November 2023

Circinaria pakistanica sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist
temperate forests in Pakistan. The morphology, chemistry and ITS sequence
support its distinction from other species of this genus. The taxon is
characterised by a whitish to blackish grey thallus, greyish white epruinose
apothecia, flat to slightly concave areoles, a hymenium 110-200 ?m high,
large ascospores (22-38 ? 18-32 ?m) and the absence of pycnidia; it also
differs from related species in the ITS region.
The distribution of alien species Geranium sibiricum in Slovakia
Authors: Dudás Matej , Májeková Jana , Slezák Michal
Published: November 2023

The paper presents data on the distribution and spread of the alien vascular plant species Geranium sibiricum in Slovakia. Greater attention should be given to the existing data on its chorology and habitat preferences in the country. Some pertinent records are dispersed in various local literature sources and herbaria. In Slovakia, this alien species was recorded for the first time in 1924, but the significant increase in localities started after 1980. G. sibiricum has been found in 67 localities scattered irregularly throughout the Pannonian and Carpathian phytogeographical regions. It has been noted in a wide range of anthropogenic habitats at low to middle elevations. Recently, it has spread mainly in urban areas in eastern Slovakia and along railway tracks in northern and western Slovakia.
New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 15
Authors: Sabovljevic Marko , Tomovic Gordana , Taşkın Hatıra , Assyov Boris , Skondric Sinisa , Peric Ranko , Sabovljevic Aneta , Dragicevic Snezana , Markovic Aleksandra , Knezevic Jelena , Lobnik Cimerman , Strgulc-Krajsek Simona , Djordjevic Vladan , Krdzic Svetlana , Ilchev Ivilin , Stoykov Dimitar , Alvarado Pablo , Djurovic Sanja , Buzurovic Uros , Stankovic Mihajlo , Kasom Gordana , Papp Beata , Pantovic Jovana , Ştefănuţ Sorin , Ştefănuţ Miruna-Maria , Trbojevic Ivana , Romanov0 Roman , Schmidt David , Korda Marton
Published: November 2023

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in
SE Europe and adjacent regions: saprotrophic fungus Geastrum morganii,
Guignardia istriaca and Hypoxylon howeanum, mycorrhizal fungus Amanita
friabilis and Suillus americanus, xanthophyte Vaucheria frigida, stonewort
Chara hispida, liverwort Calypogeia integristipula and Ricciocarpus natans,
moss Campylopus introflexus, Dicranum transsylvanicum, Tortella
pseudofragilis and Trematodon ambiguus, fern Ophioglossum vulgatum subsp.
vulgatum, monocots Epipactis exilis, Epipactis purpurata and Epipogium
aphyllum and dicots Callitriche cophocarpa, Cornus sanguinea subsp.
hungarica and Viscum album subsp. austriacum are given within SE Europe and
adjacent regions.
Visual folklore in 1960s Greek popular cinema: Athens at the threshold of tradition and modernity
Authors: Kassaveti Ursula-Helen
Published: November 2023

Despite its slow and ambivalent transformation, particularly after WWII,
Greek society strived to present a novel and relatively modern face during
the 1960s. While tradition in all its facets had been a long-lasting staple,
even affecting critical aspects of everyday life, modernity began to take
steps and seek changes: peasants left the countryside to explore new
opportunities in the urban centers, immigration rose, education emerged as a
means to escape poverty, while technology penetrated the Greek household
slowly. Such urban shifts have been particularly documented in the popular
Greek films of the 1960s, providing a rich framework to explore the notions
of tradition and modernity in visual folklore. By employing a qualitative
approach, this article focuses on how Greek popular film reflects the
critical tensions surrounding everyday urban life by examining customs,
rituals, identities, and material culture as represented in particular film
case studies. It will argue that the popular Greek film of the 1960s
documents glimpses of tradition still surviving in the city and presents to
the Greek audience ways of handling, preserving, or even rejecting
tradition, while flirting with modernity.
“Urban landscape transformation”. Religious places that also function as secular squares: An ethnographic example from Greek urban space
Authors: Kouzas Georgios
Published: November 2023

In this study, we deal with all aspects of the topic of church courtyards of
Orthodox churches in urban Greece. As an ethnographic example of this
phenomenon, we examine the courtyard of the church of St. Antonios, in the
municipality of Peristeri, in Athens. We will focus in the multilevel
functions that these spaces have. In addition to their ecclesiastical use,
these also function as parks and squares, particularly in towns, where there
is little open space and areas of greenery are very limited. As a
consequence, church courtyards are frequently used both as parks and as
multifunctional spaces that host a multitude of social, cultural and
recreational activities. In addition to examining how the space is used, we
also look at the feelings experienced by those visiting the area, that is,
what they experience when they visit the courtyard and what they feel about
the metamorphosis, as it were, that the area undergoes, as manifested by the
various activities taking place there during the late afternoon and evening.
Metformin-Cimetidine Drug Interaction and Risk of Lactic Acidosis in Renal Failure: A Pharmacovigilance-Pharmacokinetic Appraisal
Authors: Xie Wenhuo , Li Jianbin , Kong Chenghua , Luo Wei , Zheng Jiaping , Zhou Yu
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate lactic acidosis (LA) risk when using metformin combined with histamine H2 receptor inhibitors (H2RI) in patients with renal failure (RF).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study analyzed FDA Adverse Event Reporting System data (2012Q4 to 2022Q4) to characterize reports of LA associated with metformin alone or combined with H2RI. Using a disproportionality approach, LA risk signal in the overall population and in patients with RF was assessed. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to predict metformin and cimetidine pharmacokinetic changes following conventional doses of the combinations in patients with various degrees of RF. To explore its correlation with LA risk, a peak plasma metformin concentration of 3 mg/L was considered the threshold.

RESULTS

Following the 2016 U.S. Food and Drug Administration metformin approval for mild-to-moderate RF, the percentage of patients with RF reporting LA associated with metformin combined with H2RI increased. Disproportionality analysis showed reported LA risk signal associated with metformin and cimetidine in the overall population within the study timeframe only. Furthermore, with PBPK simulations, for metformin (1,000 mg b.i.d.) with cimetidine (300 mg q.i.d. or 400 mg b.i.d.) in stage 1 of chronic kidney disease, metformin (1,000 mg b.i.d.) with cimetidine (300 mg q.i.d. or 400 mg b.i.d. or 800 mg q.d.) in stage 2, and most combinations in stage 3, the peak plasma metformin concentrations exceeded the 3 mg/L threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Metformin combined with cimetidine at conventional doses may cause LA in patients with mild-to-moderate RF.
DETERMINING THE OPTIMUM PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATION ANGLE FOR PROVINCES IN TURKEY
Authors: Kazemzadehmarand Sevda , Sözen Adnan
Published: November 2023

Solar trackers maximize solar radiation collection but are less commonly used due to their high cost, maintenance requirements, and the additional expenses associated with monthly angle adjustments. This paper proposes optimizing solar energy absorption by determining the optimal tilt for fixed-site solar panels in Turkey. It introduces an equation developed with artificial neural networks to forecast the ideal angle based on five location-specific features. Input variables, training procedures, and network design significantly impact the accuracy of Neural Network models' predictions. MATLAB software created three distinct ANN models for this investigation, each employing unique training setups and procedures. Matlab graphs guided the selection of algorithms and models based on minimizing MAE and RMSE while maximizing the linear correlation coefficient (R). The RMSE value obtained according to the calculations was 3.5881e^(-6), and the R value was 0.99998. The network's estimated data was compared to the training and testing cosθ data, yielding an RMSE error of 0.43% and an R2 value of 0.99978, indicating high accuracy. The average annual optimum inclination angles for the studied cities are as follows: Ankara (35.18°), Antalya (34.29°), Ağrı (34.91°), İstanbul (34.50°), Sivas (34.96°), İzmir (35.19°), Sinop (35.06°), and Gaziantep (34.97°).
Rubber Comprehensive Constitutive Equation and the Prediction of Tire Temperature and Rolling Resistance
Authors: Assaad Mahmoud , Ebbott Tom , Jiang Bing , Rebel Gert
Published: November 2023

Cooler running tires with a reduced rolling resistance is a consideration for both tire makers and automotive original equipment manufacturers. To investigate the mechanics of energy loss and temperature rise, a nonlinear viscoelastic model suitable for numerical analysis of rolling tires is developed and demonstrated. The rubber compounds are represented as nonlinear viscoelastic materials with temperature and frequency, strain, and strain history–dependent response. Several applications to different tire designs are provided to demonstrate the impact of this new material constitutive law in improving the quality of the numerical predictions over other methods. One application is a rolling tire model that was used to delineate the tire temperature distribution and the resultant rolling resistance for different three-dimensional tread patterns.