bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of accidental radioactive 'atmospheric discharges by nuclear reactors
Authors: Graça Cláudio de Oliviera
Published: May 2023

The primary consideration concerning the safety of a nuclear installation refers to the protection of operators and the surrounding public both during normal operation as well as during an accidental release of radioactive contaminants into the atmosphere. The nuclear electricity generation has proved to be a safe technology, despite the generation of an enormous quantity of radioactive isotopes, both actinides and products of activation, considering the small number of accidental atmospheric dispersion events. In modern reactor installations like that of Angra I in Brazil, the monitoring of radioactivity has not lead to radioactive levels higher than normal accepted environmental levels. This is a consequence of safety features built into the plant in order that, should there be a radioactive release, no members of the public would be subjected to unacceptable levels of risk. Since there have been a very few number of reported reactor accidents, the design of a nuclear plant must resort to theoretical calculations and simulations of hypothetical releases to study the consequences of accidental dispersion of radioactive effluents. In this paper we consider the various stages related with the release of radioactivity from the irradiated nuclear fuel to the calculation of doses, starting from the radioactive inventory calculation followed with the model of radioactive release and the standard treatment for the effluents behavior in the atmosphere suggesting the gamma doses calculation to the public based in the use of the adjoint flux calculations, used as importance function, instead of the direct calculation. This new methodology will be more effective, considering the inherent large uncertainties in each stage of the radioactive release and dispersion computations. It is also necessary to remember that the system of dose limitation is based on maximum allowed levels of accidental release and maximum pollutants concentration (MCP) on air or on water and in this case the adjoint flux takes the function of the Importance of a particular radioactive release for the dose received by each irradiated individual, or for any other integral response.
Kalman Filtering in the Air Quality Monitoring
Authors: Harter Fabrício P. , Velho Haroldo F. de Campos , Chamon Marco A.
Published: May 2023

Data assimilation is a process where an improved prediction is obtained from a weighted combination between experimental measurements and mathematical model data. In the present work this procedure is applied to pollutant atmospheric dispersion by using a Kalman filter (KF). This is interesting approach, because the KF gives an output in which the balance between the data from the diffusion model and the experimental data is done automaticaly, through the Kalman gain. In addition, the Kalman filter computes the propagation of the error.
‘To Learn from Nature, not to Exploit Her : Discerning Postcolonial Green Speculations in Vandana Singh s Indira s Web and Widdam
Authors: Semwal Sakshi , Jha Smita
Published: May 2023

As a new generation of writers and artists from the Global South deal with the effects of human-caused environmental damage and climate change, they rely heavily on science fiction and fantasy as a genre to show the most important parts of the Anthropocene. Due to the geographical peculiarity and history of the colonial past, the Global South experiences inequitable effects of the Anthropocene as compared to the Global North. Therefore, speculative climate fiction from the Global South demands a critical interpretation contextualized in the geopolitics of the Global North and the Global South. The paper discusses the manner in which science fiction anchors ecological consciousness in the narratives from the Global South and further strives to depict the specific traits of Global South SF that make it different from Global North SF. This study intends to investigate two short stories, Indira’s Web and Widdam, by an Anglophone science fiction writer, Vandana Singh. The paper demonstrates how Singh’s stories, firstly, subvert the hegemony of western sciences by legitimizing indigenous knowledge systems as scientific, rational, and eco-friendly, and, secondly, criticize the need for technological and neo-colonial advancements at the cost of our environment. With the analysis of these stories, it would be argued that postcolonial futuristic fiction not only acts as a tool to question anthropocentrism but also functions as an appropriate literary form for enunciating environmental crises and climate change affecting the Global South.
Development vis-à-vis Degrowth: Stories of Resistance, Struggle, and Survival from the Postcolonial Western Ghats
Authors: Joseph Sunu Rose , Koudur Shashikantha
Published: May 2023

One of the eight “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity according to UNESCO, the Western Ghats have much to be credited for the historical prosperity of western peninsular India. The colonial era marked the beginning of the ecological diversity of the forests of the Ghats, spawning new rules and policies in the state. The consequent land allocations posed a challenge to the community identity of the indigenous tribes of the region. Even after India’s independence, the native successors in governance and land ownership inherited the capitalist and imperialist policies claiming to reduce poverty through development. The rampant growth strategies and the unpredictable climatic variations with a cycle of drought and torrential rain further threatened the ecological stability and also pushed the native tribes into destitution and displacement. This paper attempts to analyze literary works chronicling the tribal lives of the Western Ghats alongside social narratives on the recent harsh adverse effects of unsustainable growth in southwest India. The acclaimed novel Kocharethi the Araya Woman brings to the fore powerful statements of race and land rights of the Arayar community against the backdrop of the Western Ghats. The woes of the Badaga population of the Nilgiris amidst development interventions are core to the novel When the Kurinji Blooms. The paper attempts to read how the poignant narratives from the Western Ghats are a clarion call to redefine development through a broader cultural process of decolonizing the growth paradigms.
Effectiveness of Programmed Readings for English Proficiency of First Year College Students
Authors: Galvez Lilibeth
Published: May 2023

Reports of Grades in English 1 courses from 1995 — 1999 showed an average of 52.39% passing and 47.61% failing. Considering that cause of failure is their deficiency in language and reading skills, an instructional material called programmed reading, was developed to increase the percentage of passing in English 1. This study determined the effectiveness of-programmed reading, to improve the English   proficiency of first year college students in Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST), Mati City, Davao Oriental. Using the quasi-experimental design, this was tested in two sections of English 1 (Study and Thinking skills) classes, where one was the experimental group (using the programmed reading) while the other was the control group (not exposed to programmed reading). Pre-test mean scores of the control group and the experimental group showed no difference in their English proficiency skills which implied that both groups were comparable at the start of the experiment. In contrast, post-test scores of the two groups proved significant indicating that the programmed reading significantly improved the performance of the experimental group in English 1. Wien the mean scores of the pre-test versus the post-test of the control group were tested, it too was found to be significant, which implied that even without the programmed reading, the control group had somehow improved their skills in language and reading but not as high as that of the experimental group.
Kabisaan ng Sanayang Aklat sa Paglinang ng Filipino 3 (Retorikang Filipino)
Authors: Pasion Raymund , Sandoval Mary Ann
Published: May 2023

Pangkalahatang layunin ng pag-aaral na ito na alamin ang kabisaan ng binuong sanayang aklat para sa asignaturang Filipino 3 (Retorikang Filipino) na ginamit ng mga estudyante sa DOSCST, Lungsod ng Mati, unang semester, taong panuruan 2000. Metodong eksperimental at disenyong kwantitatibong ginamitan ng match grouping ang pamamaraang ginamit sa pag-aaral. Ito ay isinagawa upang makuha ang datos sa pre-test at post-test na ibinigay sa pangkat kontrol at eksperimental. Ginamit din ang binuong kagamitang pampagtuturo "Sanayang Aklat sa Paglinang ng Filipino 3" at talatanungang ipinamahagi sa pangkat eksperimental bilang instrumento sa pagbatid ng kabisaan ng paggamit nito sa pagtuturo. Ang pangkat kontrol at pangkat eksperimental ay walang makabuluhang pagkakaiba sa kanilang natamong iskor sa pre-test. prelim, midterm, at final, na pagsusulit dahil pare-parehong mababa ang natamo nilang iskor. Subalit, may makabuluhang pagkakaiba naman ang iskor sa post-test sapagkat malaki ang natamong iskor ng pangkat na gumamit sa Sanayang Aklat kaysa sa pangkat na hindi gumamit. Samantala, may makabuluhang pagkakaiba ang dalawang pangkat sa kanilang markang natamo (gaining grade) sa prelim, midterm at final dahil malaki ang natamong marka ng pangkat eksperimental kaysa sa pangkat kontrol. Samakatuwid, malaki ang naitutulong ng Sanayang Aklat upang makatamo ng matataas na marka. Kapansinpansin ding mayroong makabuluhang pagkakaiba ang kanilang markang natamo sa asignaturang Filipino 3 dahil mataas ang natamong marka nila sa Filipino 3 kaysa sa Filipino 2. Samakatuwid, higit nalilinang ng mga respondente ang kanilang kabatiran sa Filipino 3 lalo na sa pangkat na gumamit ng Sanayang Aklat.
Identification of the kombucha consumer profile in Fortaleza-CE
Authors: Macedo Dantas Coelho Raquel , Almeida Aryelle , Jair Wurlitzer Nédio , Machado Sousa Paulo Henrique
Published: May 2023

Made from the fermentation of sweetened tea from the Camellia sinensis herb by a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts, Kombucha has been gaining ground in the Brazilian and international scene for its benefits and its possible ability to assist in human well-being. This fermented beverage has shown significant growth in the beverage market and, because of this, the present work aimed to carry out a data survey on the set of behavioral characteristics of kombucha consumers in the city of Fortaleza-CE and metropolitan region and the relationship of these individuals with the drink; as well as identifying the attributes that influence the purchase decision and prospecting the population's acceptability for fermented beverages such as kombucha. To carry out the research, the Google forms platform was used, and these forms were distributed through social networks following the snowball technique. XLSTAT software, Maxdiff test and Excel were used for data analysis. Thus, it was found that most kombucha consumers are women, young people, with an income between 1 and 4 minimum salary, single, with higher education and residents of the noblest areas of the city. The attributes that were considered decisive for the purchase decision were: health benefits, probiotic, flavor, increase immunity, contain no chemical additives and high antioxidant content. In this way, it is expected that this study will contribute with a direction to kombucha producers for the elaboration of new products directed to a specific public.
THE MEDIATING ROLE OF INFORMATION LEAKAGE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLY CHAIN INFORMATION INTEGRATION AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Authors: Gohar Nadeem
Published: May 2023

This existing study aimed at investigating indirect effects of leakage of information on supply chain and operational performance. Nature of this study is quantitative and nature of data was cross-sectional. Primary data was collected through questionnaire. Population of this study comprised of organizations’ directors, managers. Snow ball sampling technique was used to select sample. Total 250 questionnaires were distributed and total 152 questionnaires were received which were then used in the analysis of data inSPSS. The response rate was 60.8%. Cronbach alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to test reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Mediation analysis was run in process file using resample rate of 5000 bootstrapping at 95% confidence interval. Cronbach alpha and factors loadings met the threshold. Information leakage mediated between supply chain and operational performance. It was also evident from the indirect effects that information leak could have worse effects on supply chain and operational performance. It is concluded that leak of information whether intentional or accidental both have effect on operational performance. It is therefore mandatory for professionals to take great care while dealing with supply chain partners so that it may not affect their performance. Managers have to raise awareness to secure the information confidential and to maintain secrecy. Doors for further research are open for professionals, scholars and academicians. They may add other variables in this model and extend the body of knowledge of supply chain, operational performance and leak of information.
EVALUATION OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY: A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY STUDY
Authors: Danish Zafar  , NargisNoman  , Muhammad Sharjeel  , Zeeshan Hameed
Published: May 2023

Aim: To evaluate the basic knowledge of doctors about retinopathy of prematurity, dealing mostly with ROP in pediatric and ophthalmology departments.

Study Design: Quantitative, cross sectional study

Place and Duration: Ayub Teaching Hospital Complex, Abbottabad from 1st April 2022 to 8th April 2022 (one-week duration)

Material and Methods: After explaining the whole scenario to the participants, a questionnaire was handed over to them which contained different questions regarding ROP. Data response was saved, evaluated and then analyzed in terms of percentages of response. Excel spreadsheets and SPSS v.25.0 were used wherever required.

Results: Total number of participants were 57 out of which 23 (40.35 %) were males and 34 (59.65%) were female. Majority of the doctors were house officers 27 (47.37%) followed by residents 20 (35.09%) and consultants 10 (17.54%). Mostly were from paediatrics department (67%) followed by ophthalmology department (31%). 94% had basic knowledge about ROP. About 48 % were unaware about screening protocols for ROP and 50% were unaware about treatment modalities.

Conclusion: ROP is very ignorable entity especially for doctors working in neonatal ICU. Majority of doctors don’t have proper awareness about disease and need to be trained well in order to prevent and manage the disease by proper and timely referral to ophthalmologist for further planning.
FREQUENCY AND OUTCOMES OF RHINO-ORBITAL MUCORMYCOSIS DURING COVID-19 INFECTION: EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF KPK
Authors: Asif Mehmood Orakzai  , Mohammad Idris  , Muhammad Sharjeel  , Irfan Aslam Khattak  , Hidayataullah Mahsud  , Zeeshan Hameed
Published: May 2023

Aim: To study frequency and outcomes of rhino-orbital mucormycosis during COVID-19 infection in a tertiary care setup of KPK.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study

Settings and Duration: At Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar from 1st September 2020 to 30th April 2021 (8 months).

Materials and Methods: After taking informed consent and relevant approvals, all patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria underwent history taking to identify risk factors, clinical examination to find extent of infection and laboratory and radiological investigations to diagnose and find management plan. Data readings were save on Excel sheets and analyzed using SPSS v.25.0.  

Results: Among 59 patients, 37 (62.71%) were male and 22 (37.29%) female. Most of the patients (42.37%) fell between age category of 61-75 years. Overall 42 (71.18%) patients survived. Orbital involvement was present in 40 (67.80%) patients and 20 (33.89%) had to underwent exenteration. Among comorbidities, diabetes was most prevalent in 38 (64.40%) followed by hypertension in 11 (18.64%) while 7 (11.86%) patients had no co-morbid state.

Conclusion: Rhino-orbital mucormycosis is very common superadded infection in patients suffering from COVID-19 and involves males more than the females. Most of the mucormycosis patients are either diabetics or on corticosteroids therapy for COVID-19. Orbital involvement in mucormycosis eventually happens in majority of patients and up to one third patients may need exenteration. However, strict diabetes control, judicious use of steroids and early diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis may increase overall survival rate.
IMPACT OF FEAR OF COVID-19 ON WORKPLACE STRESS OF MEDICAL STAFF: CONFOUNDING EFFECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL EMPOWERMENT
Authors: Zeeshan Ahmad
Published: May 2023

Background: there are fewer rescuers than victims and number of health workforce is limited in Pakistan especially during pandemic and health workers have to work under great pressure and stressful environment. There is immense need to provide them empowerment in these difficult times.  

Aim: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the impact of fear of Covid-19 (C-19) on the workplace stress of medical staff with confounding influence of psychological empowerment

Material & Methods: quantitative survey approach was used. Cross-sectional primary data was collected. Mean, standard deviation, cronbach alpha, correlation and hierarchical multiple regression were used in SPSS.

Findings: results revealed that psychological empowerment acts as confounding variable between fear of COVID-19 and workplace stress in medical staff.
OUT OF POCKET EXPENDITURE ON DELIVERY AND POSTNATAL CARE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS
Authors: Sohail Akhtar
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background: Pakistan is a developing country of South Asia and currently facing many challenges and public health especially maternal health is one of the emerging issues. There is limited empirical evidence on the out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) on selection of public and private healthcare facility. This area was overlooked in the research and the current study has tried to investigate the impact of OOPE on public and private hospital selection for delivery and postnatal care.

Methods: survey approach was used. Primary data was collected from the Rajanpur district of Punjab Pakistan. Descriptive statistics and backward binary logistic regression were used. Non-probability convenience sampling technique was used for selection of sample size. Total 368 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis.

Findings/Results: results revealed that Results also revealed that mothers with high in age, education were found significant and their spouse with government jobs, self employed prefer to go to public sector hospitals for delivery. Those respondents having income between 10 thousand PKR to 20 thousand PKR likely to go to public sector facility and mothers having more children such as 3-4 or above like to go public hospitals for delivery. Moreover distance from home to hospital and transportation charges and OOPE also play significant role in selection of healthcare facility. On the other hand age of mother, transportation and distance from home to hospital does not play any significant role for postnatal care while remaining factors such as education of mother, occupation of mother and household head, family income, number of children and out of pocket medical expenses plays significant role in selection of hospital for postnatal care.
Editorial Note from the Chief Editor
Authors: Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad Gandapur
Published: May 2023

On behalf of the Board of the Health Science Journal (www.home.mdripublishing.com) and our co-editors, we are pleased to announce to you Volume 1, Issue 1 of the journal. The journal established in 2022 has now published its first issue; two issues in a year. The journal is now getting to be indexed in different academic forums. We could reach this stage through the constant support of Board Members and the intellectual generosity of the readers and contributors (authors and reviewers).One of the objectives of this journal is to encourage publication from different streams of research that helps to enrich and further create and disseminate scientific knowledge to empower the nations. We take this opportunity to thank the authors for sending their work for publication.

We have enriched our editorial board for addressing the gaps and further enriching this journal. I am sure with the efforts of the Editorial Board; the journal will be able to strengthen its links with the scientific community. Also joining the editorial team is Dr. Sohaib Muhammad Khan (Associate Editor), Dr. Nauman Rahim Khan (Associate Editor), Dr. Kesavan Sreekantan Nair (Copyediting/Technical Editor), Dr. Sajid Muhammad Qazi Jamal (Production Editor), Dr. Fahad Albejaidi, Dr. Muhammad Imran Manzoor, Dr. Ghazala Ali Khan, Dr. Ayman Elbehiry, Dr. Eman Marzouk, as advisory board members. They have been actively involved in the journal since its inauguration. Interested readers can see the brief profiles of the Editor-in-Chief and associate editors in this inaugural issue (Dec 2022).We are thankful to the authors who contributed their scientific research work in Health Sciences Journal for the Volume 1, Issue 1 for December 2022.
CHOICE OF EXCAVATION METHOD OF THE ORE DEPOSITS
Authors: Majstorović Slobodan , Tošić Dražana , Torbica Duško
Published: May 2023

The paper defines choice of the optimal excavation method for ore deposits, which are characterized by general irregularity due to their origin, occurrence and different content of the usable minerals. In such complex conditions, the choice of the excavation method is defined according to: the natural characteristics of the deposit and according to the techno - economic parameters of the comparison methods and the methods of multi-criteria optimization. 
CONVERGENCE PROBLEMS WITH ANSYS'S SOLID 65 FINITE ELEMENT IN CONCRETE-FILLED TUBULAR (CFT) COLUMNS AS A CASE STUDY
Authors: Hadi Barghlame
Published: May 2023

Using limited materials for numerical modeling of structural samples and comparing the behavior of samples with each other in order to reduce the number of straw test samples in order to reduce laboratory costs is one of the best methods today. ANSYS is one of the finite element software that is used for modeling reinforced concrete elements by Solid65 element. As a case study, a concrete-filled steel column under cyclic loading is examined and the best value for the Crushed Stiffness Factor (CSTIF) parameter that is one of Solid65 element parameters is suggested to confirm the modeling. By investigating the results, it can be concluded that this parameter is one of the most important factors that plays a significant role in convergence in ANSYS software for modeling CFT columns.
Implementation of Machine Learning-Based Data Mining Techniques for IDS
Authors: Mahesh T R  , V Vivek  , Vinoth Kumar
Published: May 2023

The internet is essential for ongoing contact in the modern world, yet its effectiveness might lessen the effect known as intrusions. Any action that negatively affects the targeted system is considered an intrusion. Network security has grown to be a major issue as a result of the Internet's rapid expansion. The Network Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which is widely used, is the primary security defensive mechanism against such hostile assaults. Data mining and machine learning technologies have been extensively employed in network intrusion detection and prevention systems to extract user behaviour patterns from network traffic data. Association rules and sequence rules are the main foundations of data mining used for intrusion detection. Given the Auto encoder algorithm's traditional method's bottleneck of frequent itemsets mining, we provide a Length-Decreasing Support to Identify Intrusion based on Data Mining, which is an upgraded Data Mining Techniques based on Machine Learning for IDS. Based on test results, it appears that the suggested strategy is successful
Pemikiran Hukum dan Demokrasi Prawoto Mangkusasmito
Authors: Kaunain Muflih Fahmi
Published: May 2023

Tulisan ini mengakaji pemikiran hukum dan demokrasi dari sosok Prawoto Mangkusasmito, yang merupakan salah satu tokoh bangsa di Era Orde Lama. Dalam sejarah kepahlawanan bangsa Indonesia, memang tidak banyak yang mengenal sosok Prawoto Mangkusasmito. Secara popularitas memang tidak sepopuler nama besar Bung Karno dan Bung Hatta. Padahal statusnya sebagai ketua umum Partai Masyumi harusnya bisa setenar Wahid Hasyim atau Agus Salim di kalangan pahlawan Muslim Indonesia. Memang kontroversi yang dialami menjadikan Prawoto Mangkusasmito tidak disukai oleh rezim penguasa waktu itu. Bahkan di tengah karirnya sempat merasakan tinggal di balik jeruji besi karena kasus pemberontakan yang diputuskan sebagai tindakan makar oleh Presiden Sukarno. Namun, di balik rekam jejaknya yang kontroversial, ia memiliki kontribusi besar dari  pemikiran hukum dan demokrasinya bagi bangsa yang bisa dijadikan pelajaran untuk proses politik negara saat ini.
Biomarker-Driven Oncology Clinical Trials: Novel Designs in the Era of Precision Medicine
Authors: C. Moore, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA, FCCP Donald , S. Guinigundo, MSN, RN, CNP, ANP-BC Andrew
Published: May 2023

Oncology drug development historically has followed a path of sequential phase I, II, and III clinical trials using traditional trial designs, with the goal of achieving regulatory approval. These studies are often conducted with inclusion criteria that limit enrollment to a single tumor type or tumor site of origin, excluding other patients who might also respond. Increased use of precision medicine targeting biomarkers or specific oncogenic mutations has led to novel clinical trial designs that can evaluate these therapies in a less limited fashion. Master protocols such as basket trials, umbrella trials, and platform trials can, for example, evaluate histology-specific therapies targeting a common oncogenic mutation across multiple tumor types or screen for the presence of multiple different biomarkers rather than a single one. In other cases, they can lead to more rapid evaluation of a drug and evaluate targeted therapies in tumor types for which they are not yet currently indicated. As the use of complex biomarker-based master protocols increases, advanced practitioners must understand these novel trial designs, their advantages and disadvantages, and how their use may advance drug development and maximize the clinical benefits of molecular precision therapy.
What Does Dobbs v. Jackson Mean for Oncology Patients and Providers? Current Considerations for Pregnancy and Fertility in the Oncology Setting
Authors: Hoffner, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, FAPO Brianna , C. Appiah, MD Leslie , C. Geppner, MLS, CTTS, MPAS, PA-C Alexis , A. Kondapalli, MD, MSCE Laxmi , Persad, JD, PhD Govind
Published: May 2023

The incidence of cancers such as colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, and melanoma has increased in younger patients. The number of cancer survivors is also increasing in the US. Pairing these facts together, there are many people with cancer for whom pregnancy and fertility concerns are crucial aspects of their oncologic and survivorship care. For these patients, understanding and having access to fertility preservation options is an essential part of their care. At JADPRO Live 2022, a panel of experts from diverse professions provided perspectives on the consequences for the treatment landscape after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision.
2021–2022 Drug Updates in Solid Tumors
Authors: Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP Kirollos
Published: May 2023

During JADPRO Live 2022, Kirollos Hanna, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, briefed advanced practitioners on key FDA approvals from late 2021 to late 2022. He described mechanisms of action that are unique across some malignancies, as well as mechanisms of action that clinicians can utilize through an expanded indication or across other solid malignancies. Finally, he discussed safety profiles and what advanced practitioners can and should do in monitoring across solid tumors.
Fostering a circular economy and carbon sequestration for construction materials workshop report:
Authors: Schumacher Kelsea , Chu Pamela , Platt Shawn , Newman Aron , Garboczi Edward , Beers Kathryn L
Published: May 2023

The construction sector is increasingly focused on improving energy and material efficiency to reduce its environmental impact. One promising approach gaining traction is the shift from a traditional linear economic model (extract, make, use, discard) to a circular model. In a circular economy (CE), materials are designed to have lower environmental impacts and are retained in the economy for as long as possible, thereby reducing resource depletion, environmental impact, and waste generation, while creating new business opportunities and jobs. Concrete, a widely used construction material, is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions due to cement production. Efforts are underway to transition the cement and concrete industries to a CE. Strategies include infrastructure design to optimize concrete use and enable repair and reuse, as well as advanced material design such as the use of alternative cementitious materials, improved energy efficiency in
production, and carbon capture from production and sequestration in concrete. However, challenges hinder the transition to a CE, including the industry's established technologies and supply chains, the need for demonstrated reliability of new materials, and lack of a trained workforce capable of designing and constructing with lowcarbon materials. To overcome these challenges requires a collaborative, systems-level approach, with clear goals, harmonized metrics, robust assessment tools, standards development, workforce training, and coordinated regulatory efforts. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can support the transition to a CE by advancing measurement science, developing data resources and modeling tools, participating in standards development, and convening necessary stakeholders to facilitate collaborative engagement.
Entrepreneurship Learning in Higher Education: Practice-based and Action Learning Approaches
Authors:   , Yacine Mohamed
Published: May 2023

In higher education institutions, entrepreneurship learning grounded in practice-based and action-learning approaches may help to develop entrepreneurial competencies of students enrolled in entrepreneurship programmes. Several theoretical perspectives, such as social learning theory, positioning theory and action learning theory, are used to evaluate the degree of entrepreneurial competencies acquisition. In entrepreneurship education programmes, using practice-based and action-learning methods could be a significant factor in developing student competencies, including the ability to start a business, and in improving student attitudes towards entrepreneurship. This thesis aims to answer the following questions: (1) Which skills and competencies must be targeted in entrepreneurship education? (2) How could action learning and practice-based learning be combined to elaborate a more efficient learning model? and (3) What are the profiles and roles of role-sets (teams) in charge of the entrepreneurship education programme delivery? For this purpose, the researcher conducted an action research case study with 49 students enrolled in an entrepreneurship course. Subjects of the study were divided, respectively, into three groups over a period of three academic years, using a research methodology that combined several qualitative techniques. Participatory observation, semi-directive questionnaires, and analysis of pedagogic manual documentation were utilised to examine differences in student entrepreneurial intentions and level of mastery of entrepreneurship competencies at and after graduation. The thesis has six chapters. The first is dedicated to the research context and objectives. The second chapter is about literature review and how the concept of entrepreneurship is articulated among various fields of research. The third emphasises methodology, while the fourth presents findings. The discussion and conclusion are in Chapter Five, and Chapter 6 concludes the thesis with the author’s personal reflections. The study provides evidence that entrepreneurship education based on action-learning and practice-based learning methods may positively influence the entrepreneurial intentions of students and could lead to higher levels of student mastery of entrepreneurial competencies. However, the evidence presented is an action research case study, and the actual results could be reinforced by additional studies to avoid the impact of interpretation bias. Further large-scale research is needed to verify or refute the effectiveness of the proposed model. The thesis’s conclusion provides a model of entrepreneurship education that focuses on entrepreneurial competencies acquisition as a complement of business and management courses used in higher education for teaching entrepreneurship
L’application du mandat d’arrêt européen par Eurojust et le Parquet européen
Authors: En-nefkhaoui Aziz
Published: May 2023

Cette contribution a pour objet de démontrer l’importance d’analyser le rôle d’Eurojust et du Parquet européen dans la facilitation et la coordination de l’exécution des mandats d’arrêt européens afin de comprendre le degré d’évolution de l’espace de justice et du droit. L’intérêt de placer ces acteurs au coeur de notre étude réside dans la possibilité d’interroger l’effectivité du mandat d’arrêt européen en analysant les acteurs qui y contribuent concrètement. Ainsi, après avoir retracé, dans ses différentes étapes, le processus décisionnel ayant abouti à la création d’Eurojust et le procureur européen, notre étude se focalise spécifiquement sur l’application du mandat d’arrêt européen par ces acteurs. Cette analyse nous offre la possibilité de démontrer leur participation limitée à l’effectivité de l’instrument normatif.
Preservation of the Alanian cultural heritage in the context of globalization
Authors: Kochieva Alana Akhsarovna , Biryukov Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: May 2023

The article deals with the problems of preserving the Ossetian cultural heritage in the context of globalization. The purpose of this article is to analyze the main challenges to the Ossetian culture and practical recommendations aimed at preserving it. Special attention is given to the objects of cultural and natural heritage located in the territories of both North Ossetia-Alania and the Republic of South Ossetia. The methodology is based on a generalization of empirical data and comparative analysis related to cultural heritage in a state that does not have a generally recognized status. Particular importance is attached to a number of important documentary sources, in particular, UNESCO conventions and declarations, along with expert assessments. The novelty of the study is due to considering, indeed, for the first time, the problem of cooperation between the international organization that deals with the preservation of cultural heritage on the global scale, viz. UNESCO, and the state only partially recognized. The author comes to the conclusion that the Ossetian culture, on the whole, successfully resists the challenges of globalization: the national way of life, language and traditions are preserved despite the division of the ethnos by the Caucasus mountain range. However, there is a problem of preserving tangible cultural heritage on the territory of South Ossetia due to existing geopolitical situation that has resulted in the republic remaining underrepresented on the international platforms.
A comparison study of vessel twisting by different microsurgical suture techniques in a chicken wing artery side to side bypass training model
Authors: Jung Junho , Jeong Donghwan
Published: May 2023

Objective: Microvascular anastomosis, particularly side-to-side (STS) bypass, is a complex surgical procedure. While several suture techniques exist, none of them is superior to the others. We assessed the association between various STS bypass techniques and vessel twisting using chicken wing training models.Methods: Three suture techniques were compared over an anterior wall suture procedure. The unidirectional continuous suture (UCS) group used a downward “right-to-left” continuous suture. The reverse continuous suture (RCS) group used a downward “left-to-right” continuous suture. The interrupted suture (IS) group used the standard interrupted suture. The number of samples in each of the three groups was 30 (n=90). We compared the incidence of vessel twisting and rotation angles across groups.Results: Vessel twisting occurred in 96.7%, 56.7%, and 0% of the cases in the UCS, IS, and RCS groups, respectively. The incidence of vessel twisting differed significantly in all 3 groups (p<0.001), with an apparent trend (p=0.002). The mean rotation angles were 201˚±90.6˚, 102˚±107.6˚, and 0˚ in the UCS, IS, and RCS groups, respectively, which were significantly different (p<0.001). On excluding cases without twisting, the rotation angles of twisted vessels in the UCS and IS groups were 207.9˚±83.7˚ and 180˚±77.9˚, respectively, which yielded a significant difference between these groups (p<0.001).Conclusions: We found that the incidence and trend of vessel twisting differed significantly across suture techniques. The RCS technique may aid in preventing vessel twisting in the STS bypass procedure.
Gain, not concomitant changes in spatial receptive field properties, improves task performance in a neural network attention model
Authors: Fox Kai J , Birman Daniel , Gardner Justin L
Published: May 2023

Attention allows us to focus sensory processing on behaviorally relevant aspects of the visual world. One potential mechanism of attention is a change in the gain of sensory responses. However, changing gain at early stages could have multiple downstream consequences for visual processing. Which, if any, of these effects can account for the benefits of attention for detection and discrimination? Using a model of primate visual cortex we document how a Gaussian-shaped gain modulation results in changes to spatial tuning properties. Forcing the model to use only these changes failed to produce any benefit in task performance. Instead, we found that gain alone was both necessary and sufficient to explain category detection and discrimination during attention. Our results show how gain can give rise to changes in receptive fields which are not necessary for enhancing task performance.
Toward a more informative representation of the fetal–neonatal brain connectome using variational autoencoder
Authors: Kim Jung-Hoon , De Asis-Cruz Josepheen , Krishnamurthy Dhineshvikram , Limperopoulos Catherine
Published: May 2023

Recent advances in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have helped elucidate previously inaccessible trajectories of early-life prenatal and neonatal brain development. To date, the interpretation of fetal–neonatal fMRI data has relied on linear analytic models, akin to adult neuroimaging data. However, unlike the adult brain, the fetal and newborn brain develops extraordinarily rapidly, far outpacing any other brain development period across the life span. Consequently, conventional linear computational models may not adequately capture these accelerated and complex neurodevelopmental trajectories during this critical period of brain development along the prenatal-neonatal continuum. To obtain a nuanced understanding of fetal–neonatal brain development, including nonlinear growth, for the first time, we developed quantitative, systems-wide representations of brain activity in a large sample (>500) of fetuses, preterm, and full-term neonates using an unsupervised deep generative model called variational autoencoder (VAE), a model previously shown to be superior to linear models in representing complex resting-state data in healthy adults. Here, we demonstrated that nonlinear brain features, that is, latent variables, derived with the VAE pretrained on rsfMRI of human adults, carried important individual neural signatures, leading to improved representation of prenatal-neonatal brain maturational patterns and more accurate and stable age prediction in the neonate cohort compared to linear models. Using the VAE decoder, we also revealed distinct functional brain networks spanning the sensory and default mode networks. Using the VAE, we are able to reliably capture and quantify complex, nonlinear fetal–neonatal functional neural connectivity. This will lay the critical foundation for detailed mapping of healthy and aberrant functional brain signatures that have their origins in fetal life.
Rapid protein stability prediction using deep learning representations
Authors: Blaabjerg Lasse M , Kassem Maher M , Good Lydia L , Jonsson Nicolas , Cagiada Matteo , Johansson Kristoffer E , Boomsma Wouter , Stein Amelie , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten
Published: May 2023

Predicting the thermodynamic stability of proteins is a common and widely used step in protein engineering, and when elucidating the molecular mechanisms behind evolution and disease. Here, we present RaSP, a method for making rapid and accurate predictions of changes in protein stability by leveraging deep learning representations. RaSP performs on-par with biophysics-based methods and enables saturation mutagenesis stability predictions in less than a second per residue. We use RaSP to calculate ∼ 230 million stability changes for nearly all single amino acid changes in the human proteome, and examine variants observed in the human population. We find that variants that are common in the population are substantially depleted for severe destabilization, and that there are substantial differences between benign and pathogenic variants, highlighting the role of protein stability in genetic diseases. RaSP is freely available—including via a Web interface—and enables large-scale analyses of stability in experimental and predicted protein structures.
Spatiotemporal neural dynamics of object recognition under uncertainty in humans
Authors: Wu Yuan-hao , Podvalny Ella , He Biyu J
Published: May 2023

While there is a wealth of knowledge about core object recognition—our ability to recognize clear, high-contrast object images—how the brain accomplishes object recognition tasks under increased uncertainty remains poorly understood. We investigated the spatiotemporal neural dynamics underlying object recognition under increased uncertainty by combining MEG and 7 Tesla (7T) fMRI in humans during a threshold-level object recognition task. We observed an early, parallel rise of recognition-related signals across ventral visual and frontoparietal regions that preceded the emergence of category-related information. Recognition-related signals in ventral visual regions were best explained by a two-state representational format whereby brain activity bifurcated for recognized and unrecognized images. By contrast, recognition-related signals in frontoparietal regions exhibited a reduced representational space for recognized images, yet with sharper category information. These results provide a spatiotemporally resolved view of neural activity supporting object recognition under uncertainty, revealing a pattern distinct from that underlying core object recognition.
Substrate evaporation drives collective construction in termites
Authors: Facchini G. , Rathery A. , Douady S. , Sillam-Dussès D. , Perna A.
Published: May 2023

Termites build complex nests which are an impressive example of self-organization. We know that the coordinated actions involved in the construction of these nests by multiple individuals are primarily mediated by signals and cues embedded in the structure of the nest itself. However, to date there is still no scientific consensus about the nature of the stimuli that guide termite construction, and how they are sensed by termites. In order to address these questions, we studied the early building behavior of
Coptotermes formosanus
termites in artificial arenas, decorated with topographic cues to stimulate construction. Pellet collections were evenly distributed across the experimental setup, compatible with a collection mechanism that is not affected by local topography, but only by the distribution of termite occupancy (termites pick pellets at the positions where they are). Conversely, pellet depositions were concentrated at locations of high surface curvature and at the boundaries between different types of substrate. The single feature shared by all pellet deposition regions was that they correspond to local maxima in the evaporation flux. We can show analytically and we confirm experimentally that evaporation flux is directly proportional to the local curvature of nest surfaces. Taken together, our results indicate that surface curvature is sufficient to organize termite building activity, and that termites likely sense curvature indirectly through substrate evaporation. Our findings reconcile the apparently discordant results of previous studies.
Epistasis supports viability under extensive gene-dose insufficiency following chromosome loss
Authors: Tutaj Hanna , Tomala Katarzyna , Korona Ryszard
Published: May 2023

Chromosome loss results in halving the dose of multiple genes. We reasoned that yeast monosomic strains would constitute a relatively simple model suited to address the complex question of how extant diploid organisms can stay relatively fit despite harboring numerous function-canceling (mostly heterozygous) mutations. We started by re-examining diploid yeast strains with a single heterozygous gene deletion and ascertained that many of them produced small but measurable growth defects. Mapped to individual chromosomes, they often combined into burdens sufficient to turn the growth rate negative, that is, inflict lethality. However, the subsequently derived monosomics did experience such loads yet continued to proliferate as if much (often most) of the harm introduced by single mutations disappeared. This constitutes an outstanding example of positive epistasis for fitness. We then sought its functional explanation by analyzing transcriptomes. There was no evidence for widespread gene-dose compensation or cellular stress response. Alterations were abundant but not parallel. A notable exception was the general upregulation of genes coding for ribosomal proteins and the concomitant downregulation of those coding for the proteasome. It indicates that the (irreparably) distorted stoichiometry of ribosomal proteins was the most common and critical impediment to growth and eclipsed the impact of other metabolic insufficiencies. In general terms, the modular structure of the cell leads to effective fragmentation of the total burden of mutations. Those located outside the module(s) currently defining fitness lose at least some of their relevance which produces the epiphenomenon of positive epistasis between individually negative effects.