bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early neonatal mortality and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from recent demographic and health survey data
Authors: Tamir Tadesse Tarik , Mohammed Yirgalem , Kassie Alemneh Tadesse , Zegeye Alebachew Ferede
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Neonatal mortality during the first week of life is a global issue that is responsible for a large portion of deaths among children under the age of five. There are, however, very few reports about the issue in sub-Saharan Africa. For the sake of developing appropriate policies and initiatives that could aid in addressing the issue, it is important to study the prevalence of mortality during the early neonatal period and associated factors. Thus, the aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of and pinpoint the contributing factors to early neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Method

Data from recent demographic and health surveys in sub-Saharan African countries was used for this study. The study included 262,763 live births in total. The determinants of early newborn mortality were identified using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. To determine the strength and significance of the association between outcome and explanatory variables, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed. Independent variables were deemed statistically significant when the p-value was less than the significance level (0.05).

Result

Early neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa was 22.94 deaths per 1,000 live births. It was found to be significantly associated with maternal age over 35 years (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.34–2.33), low birth weight (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI: 2.16, 4.94), less than four ANC visits (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.33), delivery with caesarean section (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.30–2.5), not having any complications during pregnancy (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.61, 94), and community poverty (AOR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05–1.65).

Conclusion

This study found that about twenty-three neonates out of one thousand live births died within the first week of life in sub-Saharan Africa. The age of mothers, birth weight, antenatal care service utilization, mode of delivery, multiple pregnancy, complications during pregnancy, and community poverty should be considered while designing policies and strategies targeting early neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
Cutoff CT value can identify upper gastrointestinal bleeding on postmortem CT: Development and validation study
Authors: Okimoto Naomasa , Ishida Masanori , Gonoi Wataru , Fujimoto Kotaro , Nyunoya Keisuke , Kurokawa Mariko , Shirota Go , Abe Hiroyuki , Ushiku Tetsuo , Abe Osamu
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to establish the diagnostic criteria for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT). This case-control study enrolled 27 consecutive patients with autopsy-proven UGIB and 170 of the 566 patients without UGIB who died in a university hospital in Japan after treatment and underwent both noncontrast PMCT and conventional autopsy between 2009 and 2020. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: derivation and validation sets. Imaging findings of the upper gastrointestinal contents, including CT values, were recorded and evaluated for their power to diagnose UGIB in the derivation set and validated in the validation set. In the derivation set, the mean CT value of the upper gastrointestinal contents was 48.2 Hounsfield units (HU) and 22.8 HU in cases with and without UGIB. The optimal cutoff CT value for diagnosing UGIB was ≥27.7 HU derived from the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 81.2%; area under the curve, 0.898). In the validation set, the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing UGIB for the CT cutoff value of ≥27.7 HU were 84.6% and 77.6%, respectively. In addition to the CT value of ≥27.7 HU, PMCT findings of solid-natured gastrointestinal content and intra/peri-content bubbles ≥4 mm, extracted from the derivation set, increased the specificity for UGIB (96.5% and 98.8%, respectively) but decreased the sensitivity (61.5% and 38.5%, respectively) in the validation set. In diagnosing UGIB on noncontrast PMCT, the cutoff CT value of ≥27.7 HU and solid gastrointestinal content were valid and reproducible diagnostic criteria.
Comparison of Foraging Interactive D-prime and Angular Indication Measurement Stereo with different methods to assess stereopsis
Authors: Neupane Sonisha , Skerswetat Jan , Bex Peter J.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Stereopsis is a critical visual function, however clinical stereotests are time-consuming, coarse in resolution, suffer memorization artifacts, poor repeatability, and low agreement with other tests. Foraging Interactive D-prime (FInD) Stereo and Angular Indication Measurement (AIM) Stereo were designed to address these problems. Here, their performance was compared with 2-Alternative-Forced-Choice (2-AFC) paradigms (FInD Stereo only) and clinical tests (Titmus and Randot) in 40 normally-sighted and 5 binocularly impaired participants (FInD Stereo only).

Methods

During FInD tasks, participants indicated which cells in three 4*4 charts of bandpass-filtered targets (1,2,4,8c/° conditions) contained depth, compared with 2-AFC and clinical tests. During the AIM task, participants reported the orientation of depth-defined bars in three 4*4 charts. Stereoscopic disparity was adaptively changed after each chart. Inter-test agreement, repeatability and duration were compared.

Results

Test duration was significantly longer for 2-AFC (mean = 317s;79s per condition) than FInD (216s,18s per chart), AIM (179s, 60s per chart), Titmus (66s) or RanDot (97s). Estimates of stereoacuity differed across tests and were higher by a factor of 1.1 for AIM and 1.3 for FInD. No effect of stimulus spatial frequency was found. Agreement among tests was generally low (R2 = 0.001 to 0.24) and was highest between FInD and 2-AFC (R2 = 0.24;p<0.01). Stereoacuity deficits were detected by all tests in binocularly impaired participants.

Conclusions

Agreement among all tests was low. FInD and AIM inter-test agreement was comparable with other methods. FInD Stereo detected stereo deficits and may only require one condition to identify these deficits. AIM and FInD are response-adaptive, self-administrable methods that can estimate stereoacuity reliably within one minute.
Foreign executives, digital transformation, and innovation performance: Evidence from Chinese-listed firms
Authors: Shao Dong , Lv Kangyin , Fan Xueyuan , Zhang Bochen
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the effect of foreign executives on firms’ innovation performance and the mediation role of digital transformation in Chinese-listed firms from 2011 to 2021. Our findings indicate that the presence of foreign executives in top management teams promotes firms’ innovation performance by enhancing digital transformation. Further analyses show that foreign executives contribute significantly to improving firms’ radical innovation performance rather than incremental innovation performance. We also examine the moderating effect of negative performance feedback and financing constraints between foreign executives and innovation performance, finding that foreign executives can promote innovation performance particularly in firms with negative performance feedback and weak financing constraints.
Emerging hospitality practices in the sharing economy
Authors: Paloniemi Petra
Published: June 2024

Tourism and hospitality – as social practices and discourses – are increasingly digitally mediated. Many resources at destinations, such as accommodation and local knowledge, are becoming shareable via digital platforms. Technology mediates everyday encounters and offers new practices for hosting and guesting. This study explores hospitality practices developed on Airbnb in the geographical context of Finnish Lapland. The data for this study were collected from Airbnb hosts and guests. The hospitality practices emerging from the data are analysed using the social practice model. The practice theory-informed framework developed in the study illustrates how digital platforms increase the elasticity of hospitality practices. Hence, the digital hospitality practices emerging from the data show how the specialist knowledge and hospitality resources of the local people are being used for the benefit of the hosts, guests, the platform and destinations when constructing a hospitable and sustainable destination experience.
Parvimonas micra Bacteremia: A Rare Complication After Esophagogastroduodenoscopy for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Authors: Raza Hasan S. , Love James S. , Mikolajczyk Adam E.
Published: June 2024

Parvimonas micra bacteremia is rarely encountered in clinical practice. When it is, patients usually have underlying periodontal disease or colorectal carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of P. micra bacteremia in a patient without the predisposing risk factors listed above. We postulate that this occurred because of translocation across an interrupted gut-blood barrier in the setting of an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed. We present this case to highlight the importance of identifying and treating P. micra bacteremia because it can prevent commonly encountered sequelae of untreated bacteremia and improve outcomes.
Algorithm for in silico search of immunodominant epitopes for immunodiagnosis of vaccine-targeted infections
Authors: Tsygankov A , Yanchanka U
Published: June 2024

This publication presents an algorithm for selecting immunodominant epitopes that are regions of influenza virus proteins used in vaccination in 2023-2024 for use in immunodiagnostics. Using various remote access programmes, an algorithm for searching for immunodominant epitopes was implemented based on the analysis of the amino acid sequence of virus proteins included in vaccines marketed in the Republic of Belarus. This is a stage before synthesis of peptides for laboratory diagnostics of cellular response of immunity system to virus vaccine. That in the future will allow to use only suitable peptides for diagnostics of postvaccinal immune response. Thus, a different set of peptides allows to detect the response of the immunity system to the surface proteins of viruses from vaccines "Grippol", "Vaxigripp Tetra", "Influvak Tetra" or to other proteins of influenza viruses in case of disease. Which is an additional test after evaluation of the humoral response in the form of neutralising antibodies to haemagglutinin.
Surfactant proteins as protective factors in bronchial asthma
Authors: Turovskaya A , Kostina E , Orlova E , Trushina E
Published: June 2024

Bronchial asthma remains a serious global health problem affecting all age groups. This disease causes significant damage to the health care system and society. The problem of late diagnosis of bronchial asthma in children remains relevant today. The article presents data on surfactant proteins as protective factors of the respiratory tract. The main function – the reduction of surface tension in the alveoli at the air-water phase boundary – is carried out due to the lipid fraction and hydrophobic surfactant proteins B and C. Hydrophilic proteins A and D are involved in the implementation of the immune response. They act as immunomodulatory factors, actively contribute to phagocytosis, alternatively affect the activity of mast, dendritic cells, lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages. These apoproteins regulate the processes of apoptosis, play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic reactions, preventing the development of IgE-dependent inflammation. Both proteins are alternatively able to influence the type of immune response, being the so-called regulators of the immunological environment. The described pneumoproteins can probably be used as biomarkers of the severity of the course of bronchial asthma.
Estimation of the effectiveness of dexamethasone use in experimental modeling of coccidioidomycosis
Authors: Polovets N , Murugova A , Lipnitsky A , Sharov T , Plekhanova N , Khabarova I
Published: June 2024

An integral part of fundamental research regarding the causative agents of coccidioidomycosis are experiments related to modeling the infectious process on a biological model. It has been shown that introducing an animal into a state of immunosuppression makes it possible to increase its susceptibility to pathogens and reproduce the generalization of the process in a shorter time. To model immunosuppression in experimental animals, the use of a synthetic glucocorticosteroid, dexamethasone, has become widespread. The purpose of our work was to study the effectiveness of the use of dexamethasone in modeling immunosuppression in animals with experimental coccidioidomycosis. Materials and methods. The infectious process was modeled by a single intraperitoneal injection of a fungal suspension into BALB/c mice and outbred mice with artificial immunosuppression caused by dexamethasone. Pathoanatomical dissection of dead and sacrificed mice was performed on the same day. Species identification of the isolated cultures was carried out using light, fluorescence and electron microscopy. Results. Infection of mice with strains of coccidioidomycosis pathogens was accompanied by the development of clinical symptoms, and in some cases, the death of animals. Characteristic pathological-anatomical changes were observed in the fallen individuals. Quadruple intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone led to significant differences in the life expectancy of animals when compared with groups of mice without immunosuppression (p<0.05). Conclusions. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of dexamethasone in modeling acute coccidioidomycosis. It has been shown that intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone at a concentration of 0.04 mg/mouse for 4 days before infection leads to increased susceptibility of the animal and, as a consequence, the development of an acute form of the disease.
Characteristics of structural changes in the intestine, microbiocenosis and amino acid pool after administration of ertapenem
Authors: Lemesh A , Nikolaeva I , Doroshenko E , Ostrovskaya O , Sheybak V , Yakubtsevich R
Published: June 2024

Аim of the study. To analyze the effect of Ertapenem on the pool of free amino acids, microbiota and intestinal structure. Materials and methods. The study was carried out on 5 animals from the control group and 6 animals from the experimental group. Animals in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with a 0.9% NaCl solution for 10 days; Animals in the experimental group were intraperitoneally administered Invanz (ertapenem) at a dose of 60 mg/kg for 10 days. Immediately after decapitation, the abdominal cavity of the rat was opened, a section of the small intestine was collected, and the samples were fixed in Carnoy's fluid. Determination of free amino acids in plasma and microbial-tissue complex of blood was carried out by reverse-phase HPLC with o-phthalaldehyde and 3-mercaptopropionic acid with isocratic elution and fluorescence detection. Results and discussions. Morphometric analysis of the intestines in the ertapenem group showed a slight decrease in mucosal thickness and crypt depth. In half of the animals, in the apical regions of some villi, a pronounced expansion of blood capillaries with stasis of erythrocytes was observed, in places accompanied by the marginal standing of lymphoid cells. The microbiocenosis was characterized by an increase in the number of aerobes and spore-forming anaerobes, and the absence of lactose-positive bacteria of the Escherichia coli group. The study of the amino acid fund and the spectrum of individual amino acids in the microbial-tissue complex of the small intestine showed a significantly significant increase in aspartate, glycine, as well as a decrease in hypotaurine. Conclusion. The effect of ertapenem led to local mild inflammatory changes in the villous stroma, a moderate decrease in the formation and extrusion of mucus by goblet cells of the villi and crypts. Amino acid changes that occur after the action of ertapenem may be due to both the intestines and changes in the microbiota.
The effect of topical drugs on the course of ARVI in children in modern conditions
Authors: Ruzhentsova T , Garbuzov A , Meshkova N , Popova R , Slyusar O , Zatevalov A
Published: June 2024

The purpose of the study. To evaluate the results of using a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride in the treatment regimens of acute respiratory viral infections in children today. Materials and methods. The study included 875 children aged 3 to 18 years with acute respiratory viral infections, which occurred in mild or moderate forms, and were treated on an outpatient basis. During the non-interventional study, a retrospective analysis of information from medical records was made. The main group included 318 children who were recommended therapy with a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride, the comparison group included 557 children who received other topical drugs. Results. Recovery was statistically significantly earlier in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride: from the moment of initiation of therapy, the disease period in the main group was 6.78±1.72 days, while in the comparison group it was 1.34 days longer – 8.12±3.32. It was found that benzidamine hydrochloride significantly reduces the period of tickling and sore throat from 5.10±1.38 in the comparison group to 4.08±1.41 in the main group, hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall – from 8.11±3.27 in the comparison group to 6.68±1.6 days in the main group, hyperemia of the tonsils – from 7.85±1.84 in the comparison group to 6.86±1.77 in the main group. Relief of dry cough was recorded in the group receiving benzidamine hydrochloride at 4.23±1.66 days, and in the group where other drugs were used – at 4.64±1.85 days. According to other indicators, no significant differences were found between the compared groups. Conclusion. The administration of a drug based on benzidamine hydrochloride as part of complex therapy statistically significantly, on average, reduces the total duration of acute respiratory viral infections in children from 3 years old by 1.34 days, reduces the period of tickling and sore throat by 1.08 days; by 1.43 days – visual manifestations of pharyngitis, by 1.0 days – tonsillitis; reduces the duration of dry cough.
Clima organizacional, satisfacción laboral y burnout en el personal administrativo en la Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión
Authors: Fuster Gómez Jannet Karim , Hermoza Caldas Augusto Fernando , Romero Echevarría Luis Miguel , Fuster Zuñiga Nelly Luz
Published: June 2024

Objetivo: Determinar la correlación entre el clima organizacional, la satisfacción laboral y el burnout en el personal administrativo de la Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión. Metodología: Esta investigación se diseñó como un estudio cuantitativo aplicado con un enfoque correlacional, no experimental transversal. La población de estudio correspondió a un total de 430 empleados de la Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión, razón por la cual se aplicó un muestreo aleatorio simple, con un nivel de confianza de 95 % y un margen de error del 5 %, que permitió determinar una muestra de 157 empleados. Para la recolección de datos se aplicó la técnica de la encuesta, por lo tanto, se diseñaron tres cuestionarios como instrumentos, uno por cada variable, con una escala de respuesta tipo Likert. Los datos fueron sistematizados en una hoja de cálculo Excel para realizar el análisis estadístico descriptivo, empleando medidas de tendencia central para comprobar la frecuencia y comportamiento de las variables Resultados Los resultados obtenidos revelaron una correlación positiva y significativa (Rho de Spearman = 0,299) entre las variables “Clima organizacional” y la “Satisfacción laboral”. Asimismo, se observó una correlación negativa débil (-0,153) entre las variables “Clima organizacional” y el “Burnout”. Con relación a las variables “Clima organizacional” y “Burnout”, se observó una correlación negativa débil con un coeficiente de -0,153. Mientras que para las variables “Satisfacción laboral” y “Burnout”, se observó un coeficiente de correlación de -0,024 muy cercano a cero. Conclusión: Existe una correlación positiva y significativa entre clima organizacional y satisfacción laboral, y una correlación negativa y significativa entre clima organizacional y burnout, lo que sugiere que un mejor clima organizacional se asocia con mayor satisfacción y menor burnout en los trabajadores. Esta relación resalta la importancia de promover un entorno de trabajo positivo y propicio para mejorar la satisfacción laboral del personal administrativo.
Accesibilidad en los videojuegos para población con discapacidad visual en Colombia
Authors: Gama Castro María Martha , León Reyes Freddy , Nope Aguilar Maily Lizzeth
Published: June 2024

En los últimos años se ha hecho evidente el cambio en el diseño de los videojuegos; uno de ellos es la accesibilidad para personas con distintas discapacidades; a pesar de las leyes, que son muy limitadas, no existen normas que exija, a las empresas, industrias y productoras de distintos sectores implementar en sus proyectos este recurso. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la necesidad de que los videojuegos cumplan con criterios de inclusión y proporcionen estímulos adecuados para la población discapacitada visual. Además, se busca examinar el nivel de apoyo que el país brinda a esta problemática social. A partir de la metodología de investigación mixta se indagó en diferentes fuentes con el fin de demostrar cuán necesario es que existan modelos de inclusión en los videojuegos, tanto de entretenimiento como de educación (serios); así se llegó a un modelo de identidad que evidencia la falta de leyes y recursos que promueven esta industria. El proyecto permite describir las principales estrategias y recursos que se han planteado y/o implementado en cuanto a accesibilidad para personas con discapacidad visual en Colombia, indagando y comparando la información obtenida desde el estado del arte, y de esta forma concluir con el impacto de estos métodos de desarrollo en la población con discapacidad visual. Un impacto importante ha sido la evolución tecnológica que otros países han desarrollado para este tipo de población. Como conclusión, en el desarrollo de este proyecto se encontró una disparidad: la poca accesibilidad que tienen las personas con discapacidad visual a los videojuegos en Colombia, pues más allá de la interacción que existe con algunos, se requiere de mucho más acceso. Y sobre todo más inversión y promulgación de leyes que apoyen dicho recurso.
La relevancia de la antropología en el pensamiento de Ingold
Authors: Cruz Picón Pablo Emilio
Published: June 2024

El objetivo esencial de este documento es mostrar los aspectos más significativos del libro Antropología: por qué importa de Tim Ingold. Para tal fin, se explora, describe e interpreta los cinco capítulos de manera analítica. Se concluye que el texto es un aporte novedoso, radical, holístico, original y crítico del panorama antropológico. En tal sentido, resulta de para intuir las condiciones de posibilidad de lo humano, esto es, la búsqueda de la diversidad cultural, sociopolítica, ambiental y humanista. Por otro lado, lo prolijo y sugestivo del marco proyectivo teórico del autor constituye una de la antropología y su quehacer pragmático. Por ende, este libro es de gran utilidad para estudiantes de pregrado y postgrado.
A Review on Adverse Drug Reaction Detection Techniques
Authors: Nafea Ahmed A. , AL-Mahdawi Manar , AL-Ani Mohammed M. , Omar Nazlia
Published: June 2024

The detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is an important piece of information for determining a patient’s view of a single drug. This study attempts to consider and discuss this feature of drug reviews in medical opinion-mining systems. This paper discusses the literature that summarizes the background of this work. To achieve this aim, the first discusses a survey on detecting ADRs and side effects, followed by an examination of biomedical text mining that focuses on identifying the specific relationships involving ADRs. Finally, we will provide a general overview of sentiment analysis, particularly from a medical perspective. This study presents a survey on ADRs extracted from drug review sentences on social media, utilizing and comparing different techniques.
Book review of: Affolderbach, Julia; Schulz, Christian (2024): Wirtschaftsgeographien der Nachhaltigkeit
Authors: Fuchs Martina
Published: June 2024

Buchrezension
The technical affinity questionnaire
Authors: Krewer C. , Höhler C. , Rossini M. , Palumbo G. , Jahn K. , Specchia A.
Published: June 2024

Technical devices have become an indispensable part of our everyday life and they have also been used in rehabilitation for decades with increasing potential through technological advancement. In rehabilitation, however, many disabilities like stroke or dementia are more likely with increasing age, and especially the older generation is often described as being sceptic and afraid of technology. When developing and implementing new technology, this needs to be considered and discriminated against disease related difficulties when testing applications. A questionnaire available to capture a person’s individual general enthusiasm for and positive attitude towards technical devices, their interest in technology and to what extent technological devices are accepted is the TA-EG, the technical affinity questionnaire for electronic devices. This questionnaire was translated into Italian and evaluated in an Italian cohort, which ultimately led to the Italian TA-EG version here described. Keywords: technology assessment, assistive technology, self-help devices, daily living activities, elderly
Evaluation of online teaching quality in colleges and universities based on digital monitoring technology
Authors: Ma Wanzhi , Chu Na
Published: June 2024

The intelligent university teaching detection system can effectively improve the teaching efficiency of university classrooms and improve the teaching environment. In order to improve the quality of online teaching supervision, this study combines digital monitoring technology to monitor the online teaching process in colleges and universities, and analyzes the method and process of using the equivalence line and the rotation theorem to estimate the projection angle. This work applies a projection method to digital teaching detection, improves the algorithm based on requirements, uses factor improvement methods to improve the problems in model application, uses requirement analysis methods to construct a system model, and uses experimental analysis methods to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and model. With the support of simulation platforms and mathematical statistical methods, the effectiveness of the system model is verified in this work. From the evaluation results, it can be seen that the evaluation results of the system model in this work are distributed between [84,92], indicating that the use of the system in this study is very excellent. The experimental research shows that the digital online monitoring technology proposed in this study can monitor students in real time in online teaching in colleges and universities, effectively improve the participation of students in the online teaching process, and play an important role in improving the quality of teaching.
Speaker positioning in academic instruction: insights from corpus analysis
Authors: Kashiha Hadi
Published: June 2024

While previous research has extensively explored the ways writers project themselves into discourse and engage with readers across various written genres, limited attention has been given to understanding how university lecturers express their stance, i.e., expression of positioning and commitment towards propositions and students. To address this gap, this study proposes a functional framework for analyzing stance features in academic lectures using 160 lecture transcripts from four broad disciplinary divisions: arts and humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and medical sciences. The analysis focuses on the extent and manner in which lecturers position themselves in discourse to steer students towards their intended interpretations. The findings indicate that lecturers, regardless of their disciplinary background, express their stance through seven distinct functions, including evaluating their level of commitment, posing questions, interacting with the audience, indicating obligations, emphasizing topics, initiating discourse, and previewing exam-related content. The findings have significant pedagogical implications, especially for educators and EAP practitioners seeking to improve lecture comprehension and engagement among students. Understanding how lecturers use language to interact with students and structure academic discourse can empower teachers to adopt similar stances for guiding students in engaging with course materials.
Cyber-aware threats and management strategies in cloud environments
Authors: Liubchenko Vira V. , Volkov Denys V.
Published: June 2024

Thepaper provides an overview of cyber threats within cloud computing and proposes effective management strategies. The transition to cloud services has introduced significant security concerns, particularly regarding data protection and privacy. The study aims to catalogue an exhaustive inventory of threats, analyse their prevalence, and thoroughly study applicable security mechanisms.The authors conducted an in-depth literature review, focusing on articles published after 2018, to identify vulnerabilities, attack vectors, and mitigation strategies. The paper categorises various cyber threats,such as malware, phishing, man-in-the-middle attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and SQL injections, and discusses their potential to infiltrate, deceive, disrupt, and steal data. It also highlights the importance of securing internet-connected devices and recommends strategies like robust password policies and regular software updates.The paper concludes by emphasisingthe need for adaptive security strategies to combat the evolving nature of cyber threats. It advocates for a dynamic approach to security, integrating robust defencemechanisms, continuous monitoring, and rapid response protocols. By prioritisingcybersecurity, organisationscan navigate the complexities of cloud computing, ensuring their data assets' integrity, confidentiality, and availability in a digital landscape. The findings area foundation for crafting a security framework tailored to applications operating within cloud environments.
Specification for Precast, Prestressed Concrete Piles
Authors:   Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
Published: June 2024

This standard provides for the design and construction of precast, prestressed concrete piles. Such piles can be used to support most types of structural systems including buildings, bridges, piers, and wharfs. This standard contains modifications to the Recommended Practice for Design, Manufacture, and Installation of Prestressed Concrete Piling, published in 2019. PCI 142 prescribes best practices; significant information relevant to seismic design, such as detailing requirements based on the results of recent research; and prescribes procedures for performance-based design. This standard was developed through PCI’s ANSI-accredited consensus process.
The Centralized Management of Folk Art Trade in Hungary
Authors: Cseh Fruzsina
Published: June 2024

The decorated artifacts of rural craft industries were the forerunners of the products which, from the late 19th century, were made for the organized trade that entered the global market and met the needs of the Hungarian market. The production was managed by the increasingly numerous cottage industry associations, later cottage industry cooperatives and independent companies. Until World War II, craft and folk art products were marketed by centrally managed organizations, as well as by individual entrepreneurs, commercial travelers, trading companies, and cottage industry cooperatives. From 1948 onwards, the marketing of the products of cottage industry cooperatives was exclusively in the hands of state-controlled domestic trading and export companies. After the political regime change in Hungary in 1989, the applied folk arts cooperatives continued to operate for some time, but the centrally managed trading companies ceased to exist. The cooperatives carried out commercial activities by building on their previous relationships. By the 1990s, however, the global market for folk art products and the economic conditions for their production in Hungary had changed, and the folk art products of the cottage industry cooperatives have been phased out. This paper focuses on the history of centrally managed institutions of commerce from the 1870s to 1989 and their aftermath up to the 1990s.
Antihyperlipidemic activity of myricetin
Authors: Yang Z.Z. , Zhang J.Q. , Shi B.B. , Qian J.Q. , Guo H.
Published: June 2024

Myricetin has been reported to have a wide variety of beneficial physiological functions. The present study investigated the antihyperlipidaemic activity of myricetin against hyperlipidaemia of high-fat diet-fed obese rats. The four-week antihyperlipidaemic activity was assayed by giving different doses of myricetin to hyperlipidaemic rats. Results showed that myricetin could reduce the harm caused by oxidative stress, decrease thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value, and decrease total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels of hyperlipidaemic rats. Quantitative analysis of gene expression showed that myricetin's lipid-lowering activity can be activated by downregulating gene expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) with upregulation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA level. Thus, myricetin had significant health benefits and could be explored as a potentially promising dietary supplement for treating hyperlipidaemia.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Obesity Activities of Ethanolic Extract from Microalgae Strain MRB-2
Authors: Ni’maturrohmah Dwi , Darsih Cici , Susanti Hani , Hidhayati Noor , Indrianingsih Anastasia Wheni , Handayani Sri , Hasby Rizal Maulana , Laksitorini Marlyn Dian
Published: June 2024

Obesity has a 15-fold higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus. Microalga isone of the natural resources that potentially treat obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the total phenolic contents (TPC), antioxidant, and anti-obesity properties of ethanolic extract of microalgae strain MRB-2. The TPC was determined using the Follin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, and the anti-obesity was analyzed using an anti-lipase pancreatic assay. The morphology of microalga cells was also determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the TPC of ethanolic extract from the ultrasound extraction method was higher than the maceration method with the value of 2.75±0.26 mg GAE/g. While the scavenging activity toward DPPH radicals of ethanolic extract from the maceration method was higher than ultrasound, with a value of 38.92±1.94% at 0.8 mg/mL. The lipase inhibitory activity of extract from the maceration method was higher than ultrasound with a value of 20.81±2.24% at 0.38 mg/mL. Our results indicate that ethanolic extract of MRB-2 was potentially developed for anti-obesity foods and health-functional foods derived from new peatland microalgae.
Relation of Soil Physical Parameters and Dominant Vegetation with Infiltration Capacity in Latuppa Sub-Watershed Palopo Indonesia
Authors: Witno Witno , Yumna Yumna , Rahim Abdul
Published: June 2024

The inflitration capacity is the soil’s ability to accommodate water that seeps into the soil, reducing surface runoff that will cause flooding, such as in the downstream area of Palopo city. This study aimed to determine the influence of dominant vegetation and soil physical characteristics on infiltration in the upstream area of the Latuppa Sub-Das, Mungkajang District, Palopo city. Data collection was carried out by direct observation in the 2yumnaunanda588@gmail.com field in a purposive manner in 10 plots, which represent the condition of vegetation in the upstream area of the Latuppa watershed, and each plot consisted of 3 replications to observe infiltration and soil samples. The data were analyzed via the rational method, the Horton method, and vegetation index analysis. Additionally, the data were analyzed via simple linear regression and multiple regression analysis to determine the influence of the dominant vegetation and physical characteristics of the soil on the infiltration capacity. The highest infiltration capacity was found in plot 10, with an infiltration capacity of 107.5 mm/minute (6,450 mm/hour) and an average infiltration rate of 0.4 mm/minute (24 mm/hour). The dominant vegetation cover is Cananga odorata, with a vegetation index value of 78.41%. Plot 10 has a height of 362.79 masl, a gentle slope, a crumbly soil structure, a clay sand texture, a very high soil density and 2.10% organic matter. Based on observations and data analysis, the factors that influence the infiltration capacity in the upstream area of the Latuppa subwatershed are vegetation conditions, altitude, slope and physical properties of the soil.
Propagation of Cardamom (Amomum compactum) Using Vitamin B1, Indole Butyric Acid and Their Combinations Ex Vitro
Authors: Salsabila Azka Mutiara , Devy Lukita , Dasumiati Dasumiati
Published: June 2024

Cardamom (Amomum compactum) is an aromatic spice plant with numerous benefits, widely used in cooking, medicine, and beverages. The high demand for cardamom remains unmet due to the lengthy germination period required for cardamom seeds and the inability of cardamom shoots to thrive when planted independently from the mother plant. The presence of the mother plant significantly impacts cardamom nurseries utilizing shoots, making it challenging to obtain large quantities of nursery transplants. Growth stimulants, such as vitamin B1 and Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), are required to en­hance vegetative growth in plants. Vitamin B1 (IPI brand) is applied due to its ease of accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Meanwhile, IBA is utilized for its accessibility, stable chemical content, and prolonged efficacy. This research aims to determine the optimal concentration of vitamin B1, IBA, and their combination to enhance the growth of mother and tiller shoots of cardamom ex vitro. The research employed a two-factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, with vitamin B1 concentrations of 21.5% and 43% and IBA concentrations of 0.75 ppm and 150 ppm. The treatment V1I1 (vitamin B1 21.5% and IBA 75 ppm) on mother plant shoots maintained a survival rate of 67% up to 12 Weeks After Planting (WAP). The interaction between vitamins B1 and IBA exhibited no significant effect on all parameters of mother shoots and tillers; however, vitamin B1 significantly influenced the vegetative growth of cardamom mother shoots. Vitamin B1 at 43% produced a significantly higher number of leaves compared to 21.5%. Thus, vitamin B1 at 43% is recommended for cardamom propagation, while vitamin B1 at 21.5% has the potential to enhance the average growth of tiller shoots across all parameters.
Fish Community Structure in The Coastal Mangrove Ecosystem of Cemara Kulon Village Indramayu Regency, Indonesia
Authors: Herawati Titin , Pauwwaz Muhamad , Zahidah Zahidah , Apriliani Izza Mahdiana , Yustiati Ayi
Published: June 2024

The mangrove ecosystem of Cemara Kulon Village has the potential for fishery resources which has decreased in line with various anthropogenic activities. This study aims to determine the composition of fish and analyze the status of the fish community structure and its relation to the physical-chemical aspects of the waters in the mangrove ecosystem of Cemara Kulon Village. This research was conducted over a period of three months  in the mangrove ecosystem of Cemara Kulon Village. The method used in this research was  descriptive quantitative purposive and composite sampling at 3 research stations. Parameters observed in this study were relative abundance, diversity, uniformity, dominance, and the relationship between community structure and aquatic physico-chemical parameters. During the study, 508 fish were caught, consisting of 20 species from 16 families. The value of diversity was in the moderate category with a ranged of 1.87-2.50; the uniformity value was in the moderate category with a ranged of 0.41-0.46 and the dominance value was in the low category with a ranged of 0.11-0.22.   Based on the results of the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that fish diversity was affected by light transparency and DO, the uniformity of fish was  affected by temperature, and the dominance of fish was affected by ammonia. The fish community structure was categorized as unstable which was influenced by water quality.
Beyond the Pulpit in the Catholic Church of South Korea:Responding to Dr. Sabrina Müller
Authors: Kang Dong
Published: June 2024

Dr. Sabrina Müller advocates nurturing diversity in preaching by integrating feminist and cultural insights into the field of homiletics. In response, this paper compares her research to another study on feminism, emphasizing that gender and culture encompass more than just sex and race.  Further, this paper attributes the stagnancy of the preaching ministry within the Catholic Church in South Korea to a lack of motivation to adapt to changing times and a tendency to rest on the laurels of past triumphs, particularly in the realm of modern democratic history. To address the issue, embracing the Synodality of the Catholic Church, which aligns with Dr. Müller’s focus on diversity in the preaching ministry, is imperative. This approach offers a remedy for the church to overcome the monotonous tendencies of clericalism and the gender-discriminatory practices influenced by Confucianism.
The Role of Imagination in the Preaching of Henry Ward Beecher
Authors: Page Andrew
Published: June 2024

This article argues that Henry Ward Beecher’s use of imagination in preaching serves as a significant contribution to the field of homiletics. A renowned pastor and three-time lecturer at Yale’s distinguished preaching series, Beecher relied on his extensive creativity to not only shape the contours of his sermons, but also to impact a nation in the throes of Civil War. Though not always appreciated, Beecher models the need for, and practice of, imagination in Christian pulpits.
After the Sermon and Beyond the Pulpit: Transformative, Power-Sensitive Homiletics of Polyphony and Hope
Authors: Müller Sabrina
Published: June 2024

This article considers the connection between preaching and power in search of a more inclusive understanding of preaching and more expansive modes of sermonic expression. As feminist and postcolonial theologians repeatedly emphasize, the pulpit, in both a concrete and symbolic sense, remains oriented toward white male preachers. German-language education also continues to be dominated by this perspective. Drawing on interdisciplinary theories of power and postcolonial theology, the concluding section of this paper introduces five dimensions of homiletical practice aimed at making preaching more sensitive to power dynamics: sharing interpretive power, starting from religious experience and lived theology; taking the body seriously (embodiment); daring polyphony; and imagining and acting together on the kingdom of God.
Productive performance of sweet orange trees on different rootstocks, in the Extreme South of the State of Bahia
Authors: Oliveira Vinicius de Souza , Zucoloto Moises , Ferreira Lusiane de Sousa , Barbosa Dimmy Herllen Silveira Gomes , Soares Filho Walter dos Santos , Passos Orlando Sampaio
Published: June 2024

Abstract: In the Extreme South of Bahia, in the Municipality of Ibirapuã, under irrigation, the productive performance of 20 varieties of sweet orange trees, with different maturation times, was evaluated, with the main focus on the orange trees ‘Pera’ (18 clones), ‘Valencia’ (18 clones) and ‘Natal’ (five clones), totaling 58 tops varieties. The rootstocks used were the mandarin tree ‘Sunki Tropical’ and the citrandarins ‘Indio’, ‘Riverside’ and ‘San Diego’. Each top/rootstock combination, totaling 232, was represented by five plants, observing a planting spacing of 6 m x 3 m. The experiment was implemented on April 21, 2015. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF A15; ‘Pera C-21’; Pera Selection CNPMF D3; ‘Pera D25’; ‘Pera CNPMF E-6’; Pera Selection CNPMF CE-03; Pera Selection Olímpia; ‘Pera Bianchi’; Pera Selection Vacinada; Pera Selection Ipeal-E3; Pera Selection Ibotirama; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’; ‘Natal CNPMF-112’; Selection Berna, Selection F-Menuda; ‘BRS Sincorá’; ‘Aquiri’; Selection Early Oblong; Selection Russas P.S.; ‘Seleta Itaboraí’; ‘Pineapple’ and ‘Westin’ were more productive on the ‘Sunki Tropical’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection Ibotirama; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF 03; ‘Valencia CNPMF-27’; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection L. White; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection Berna; ‘Aquiri’; Selection Early Oblong; ‘Salustiana’; ‘Diva’ and ‘Hamlin 20’ were more productive on the ‘San Diego’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF 02; Pera Selection CNPMF C-32; ‘Pera CNPMF D-6’; ‘Pera D25’; Pera Selection Olímpia; Valencia Selection CNPMF 01; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF; ‘Valencia CNPMF 27’; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection CNPMF-F11; Valencia Selection Chapman; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’; ‘Valencia CNPMF Tuxpan’; Natal Selection CNPMF 02; Natal Selection Ipeal; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection F-Menuda, ‘Seleta Itaboraí’; ‘Salustiana’; ‘Pineapple’; ‘Hamlin 20’ and ‘MelRosa’ were more productive on the ‘Riverside’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF A15; ‘Pera D25’; Pera Selection Ipeal E3; Valencia Selection CNPMF 01; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection CNPMF-F11;Valencia Selection Delta; Valencia Selection Chapman; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’;Valencia Selection Registro; ‘Valencia CNPMF Tuxpan’; Valencia Selection CNPMF21; Natal Selection CNPMF 01; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection Berna; ‘Aquiri’; ‘Diva’ and‘Hamlin 20’were more productive on the ‘Indio’ rootstock.
Eficacia de un programa en el aumento de las estrategias de coping en bomberos: ensayo clínico aleatorizado
Authors: Coimbra Marli Aparecida Reis , Ikegami Érica Midori , Souza Lara Andrade , Haas Vanderlei José , Barbosa Maria Helena , Ferreira Lúcia Aparecida
Published: June 2024

Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia de un programa en el aumento de las estrategias de coping enfocadas en el problema y en la emoción en bomberos militares. Método: ensayo clínico aleatorizado, paralelo, con enmascaramiento simple. La muestra se constituyó de 51 participantes en el grupo intervención y 49 en el control. El grupo intervención recibió el programa interventivo incluyendo las estrategias de coping basadas en la Clasificación de las Intervenciones de Enfermería, con una duración de seis semanas consecutivas, un día por semana. El grupo control siguió la rutina de la Unidad de Servicio. Para los análisis se utilizó estadística descriptiva, test T de Student con corrección de Welch y el test de Mann-Whitney. La magnitud del efecto de la intervención se calculó con el índice d de Cohen. Se consideró valor p≤0,05%. Resultados: en el análisis del promedio de la diferencia entre los puntajes en los grupos, los promedios del grupo intervención aumentaron significativamente para las estrategias de coping : soporte social ( p = 0,009), aceptación de la responsabilidad ( p = 0,03), resolución de problemas ( p = 0,05) y reevaluación positiva ( p = 0,05). El impacto de la intervención presentó magnitud moderada para el soporte social ( d = 0,54). Conclusión: el programa interventivo posibilitó el aumento de estrategias de coping enfocadas en el problema y en la emoción en bomberos militares. ReBEC: RBR-8dmbzc.