bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory Effect of Jingfang Mixture on Staphylococus aureus α- Hemolysin
Authors: 倪 雯婷 , Xing Zhongfu , Sun Chenghong , Yao Jingchun , Zhang Xiaoping , Zhang Guimin
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureus（S. aureus） is a kind of gram-positive bacteria, and its virulence factors can cause many kinds of infections, such as pneumonia, sepsis, enteritis and osteomyelitis. Traditional antibiotics can not only kill bacteria, but also easily lead to bacterial resistance. Jingfang Mixture (JFM) has the effects of inducing sweating and relieving the exterior, dispelling wind and eliminating dampness, and is commonly used in clinic to prevent and treat epidemic diseases and infectious diseases. The main purpose of this study is to explore the inhibitory effect of JFM on alpha-hemolysin (Hla) of S. aureus and to alleviate the damage caused by Hla. We found that JFM could inhibit the hemolytic activity, transcription level and neutralizing activity of Hla in a dose-dependent manner at the concentrations of 125, 250 and 500 μg/mL, without affecting the growth of bacteria. In addition, JFM reduced the damage of Hla to A549 cells and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). We also observed that in the S. aureus - induced pneumonia mouse model, JFM could significantly prolong the life of mice, reduce the bacterial load in the lungs, significantly improve the pathological state of the lungs and alleviate the damage caused by inflammatory factors, and the pathogenicity of gene deletion strain DU 1090 of S. aureus to pneumonia mice was also significantly reduced. In conclusion, this study proved that JFM is a potential drug against S.aureusinfection, and this study provided a preliminary study for better guidance of clinical drug use.
Bivariate spatial correlation between soil attributes and soybean productivity in an agricultural area with Dystroferric Red Latosol
Authors: Dal’ Canton Letícia Ellen , Maltauro Tamara Cantú , Guedes Luciana Pagliosa Carvalho , Uribe-Opazo Miguel Angel , Cima Elizabeth Giron
Published: July 2023

In agricultural soils with low cation exchange capacity, it is essential to analyze the bivariate spatial correlation of soybean productivity and organic matter with the soil chemical attributes. Using bivariate spatial correlation makes it possible to identify patterns and behaviors that suggest a spatial association between two soil attributes, thus enabling better soil management and more efficient use of resources. The main objective of this study was to analyze bivariate spatial correlation considering variables with different spatial dependence structures. The bivariate Lee index was also calculated for this purpose. To model and describe the spatial pattern of two spatially correlated variables, the Bivariate Gaussian Common Component Model was used. In addition to calculating the bivariate spatial correlation of soil chemical attributes with soybean productivity and organic matter, the Lee index was also calculated for pairs of simulated variables with different weight matrices and geographic distance functions. It was observed that the greater the common practical range, the higher the Lee index value, indicating a higher bivariate spatial correlation. Furthermore, shorter distances between neighboring point pairs caused higher Lee index values. The distance function to calculate the distance between the point pairs was more relevant than the weight matrix in estimating the spatial dependence radius and the Lee index value. Soybean productivity showed a direct spatial correlation with the sum of bases, as well as with the calcium and magnesium contents. Organic matter had a direct spatial correlation with the sum of bases and an inverse one with the phosphorus content
Cotton, bean, and soybean yield and nutrient redistribution in leaf sap in response to organic molecules complexed fertilizers
Authors: Nascente Adriano S. , Cobucci Tarcísio , Brasil Viviane , A. Reis Jr Roberto dos
Published: July 2023

The self-shading of plants is usually caused by the advance of their growth and development. This reduces transpiration and, consequently, nutrients uptake via xylem in lower half of plants, resulting in yield losses. Strategies should be developed to promote greater nutrient input in these regions with low-plant transpiration. The objective of this work was to study the effect of foliar application of boron (B), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) complexed with organic molecules on the translocation of these micronutrients to the plant’s lower half (region of low transpiration) and its relationship with soybean, common bean, and cotton yield. Two field trials were carried out on soybean, common bean, and cotton crops. The first trial evaluated foliar B, Cu, Mn, and Zn sap content in the plant's upper and lower halves along with its development. While the second trial evaluated foliar B, Cu, Mn, and Zn sap content in the plant's upper and lower-halves and crop yield in response to micronutrients complexed with organic molecules (Xiflon Technology). The results show that in lower-half plant’s sap the B, Cu, Mn, and Zn contents were reduced with development of soybean, common bean, and cotton crops. Organic molecular complex application (Xiflon Technology) increased the micronutrient translocation in the lower-half of soybean, common bean, and cotton crops and their yields. Application of micronutrients along with organic molecules is a strategic tool to improve the plant's lower-half nutrition and promote crop yield. It may be used by the farmers to increase the crop’s grain yield
Seed treatment with magnesium nanoparticles alters phenology and increases grain yield and mineral content in maize
Authors: Segatto Cristiane , Souza Clovis Arruda , Fiori Márcio Antônio , Lajús Cristiano Reschke , Silva Luciano Luiz , Riella Humberto Gracher
Published: July 2023

Magnesium is an essential macronutrient for maize crop and its efficiency of absorption and utilization by plants can be improved when used in the form of nanoparticles. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of different sources of magnesium oxide via seed treatment in the agronomic performance of maize. The experiments were carried out under field conditions in three locations in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In all experiments, the P4285HYR-hybrid maize seeds were used, with three sources of magnesium: MgO-NPs, MgO@C-NPs and Mg(NO3)2; and six concentrations: 0 (control); 37.5, 75, 150, 300 and 600 mg L-1. The following variables were analyzed: SPAD reading, NDVI, plant height, ear insertion height, number of grains per ear, grain moisture, thousand grain weight, yield and quantification of Mg, Ca, P and K in the grains. The results showed that the seed treatment with magnesium oxide alters the V4 and V5 phenological stages (fourth and fifth developed leaves), shortening the plant life cycle by four to five days (P<0.05). All applied concentrations increased maize grain yield, with greater improvement in the order of 38% with 150 mg L-1 of MgO-NPs and 57% with 300 of MgO@C-NPs in comparison to control, respectively. The use of 75 and 150 mg L-1 of magnesium nitrate increased grain yield by only 2.3% and 6.6%, respectively, when compared to the control. The P>K>Mg>Ca levels in the harvested grains were increased by seeds treated with Mg. The results were significantly influenced by the nanoparticles, when comparing with conventional Mg nitrate or with the control. Therefore, it was concluded that the use of magnesium nanoparticles via seed treatment is a viable strategy to increase maize grain yield.
Biomass accumulation and growth curve in sugarcane fertigated with nitrogen doses
Authors: Kölln Oriel Tiago , Gava Glauber José de Castro , Mariano Eduardo , Cantarella Heitor , Panutti Luiz Eduardo , Uribe Raul Martinez , Arlanch Adolfo Bergamo , Paludetto Alexandre , Pereira Catarinie Diniz , Trivelin Paulo Cesar Ocheuze
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the growth curve, biomass and N accumulation in aboveground sugarcane as a function of nitrogen doses applied by subsurface drip irrigation during the crop growth cycle. The experiment was developed under field conditions Jau city, São Paulo state, Brazil. The treatments were four nitrogen doses – namely 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1 N – in urea form, in addition to a control treatment (without N), with completely randomized block and four repetitions. The N doses were applied gradually by subsurface drip irrigation spread throughout the sugarcane crop cycle. Biometrics and physiologic parameters and biomass accumulation were evaluated at five sampling times. Linear and quadratic responses of these parameters were verified as a function of N application. Elevating the N dose from 100 to 200 kg ha-1 increased the biomass and the N accumulation of sugarcane above ground by 20 Mg ha-1 and 95 kg ha-1, respectively. The nitrogen fertilization applied by subsurface drip irrigation increased the biomass and N accumulation of aboveground sugarcane, as well as the production rate of all parameters. The gap between maximum biomass accumulation rate (BAR) and nitrogen accumulation rate (NAR) was smooth due drip irrigation management. The irrigation management combined with better plant nutrition show highest results to biomass production
The Combined Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Multiple Meteorological Factors on Unintentional Drowning Mortality: Large Case-Crossover Study (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Yingyin , Dong Xiaomei , Li Zhixing , Zhu Sui , Lin Ziqiang , He Guanhao , Gong Weiwei , Hu Jianxiong , Hou Zhulin , Meng Ruilin , Zhou Chunliang , Yu Min , Huang Biao , Lin Lifeng , Xiao Jianpeng , Zhong Jieming , Jin Donghui , Xu Yiqing , Lv Lingshuang , Huang Cunrui , Liu Tao , Ma Wenjun
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Drowning is a serious public health problem worldwide. Previous epidemiological studies on the association between meteorological factors and drowning mainly focused on individual weather factors, and the combined effect of mixed exposure to multiple meteorological factors on drowning is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the combined effects of multiple meteorological factors on unintentional drowning mortality in China and to identify the important meteorological factors contributing to drowning mortality.

METHODS

Unintentional drowning death data (based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, codes W65-74) from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018, were collected from the Disease Surveillance Points System for Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Jilin Provinces, China. Daily meteorological data, including daily mean temperature, relative humidity, sunlight duration, and rainfall in the same period were obtained from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science Data Center. We constructed a time-stratified case-crossover design and applied a generalized additive model to examine the effect of individual weather factors on drowning mortality, and then used quantile g-computation to estimate the joint effect of the mixed exposure to meteorological factors.

RESULTS

A total of 46,179 drowning deaths were reported in the 5 provinces in China from 2013 to 2018. In an effect analysis of individual exposure, we observed a positive effect for sunlight duration, a negative effect for relative humidity, and U-shaped associations for temperature and rainfall with drowning mortality. In a joint effect analysis of the above 4 meteorological factors, a 2.99% (95% CI 0.26%-5.80%) increase in drowning mortality was observed per quartile rise in exposure mixture. For the total population, sunlight duration was the most important weather factor for drowning mortality, with a 93.1% positive contribution to the overall effects, while rainfall was mainly a negative factor for drowning deaths (90.5%) and temperature and relative humidity contributed 6.9% and –9.5% to the overall effects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that mixed exposure to temperature, relative humidity, sunlight duration, and rainfall was positively associated with drowning mortality and that sunlight duration, rather than temperature, may be the most important meteorological factor for drowning mortality. These findings imply that it is necessary to incorporate sunshine hours and temperature into early warning systems for drowning prevention in the future.
Developing a digital micro intervention supporting evidence-based parenting skills: Agile scrum methodology (Preprint)
Authors: Hodson Nathan , Woods Peter , Sobolev Michael , GIacco Domenico
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Conduct disorder (CD) increases risks of educational dropout, future mental illness, and incarceration if untreated. First-line treatment of CD involves evidence-based parenting skills programs. Time out, a frequent tool in these programs, can be effective at improving behaviour and recent apps have been developed to aid this process. However, these apps promote the use of time out in inconsistent or developmentally-inappropriate ways, potentially worsening behaviour problems. Digital micro interventions like these apps could guide parents through high-quality time out in the moment but current time out applications lack features promoting adherence to the evidence-based best practice. There is currently no standardised approach to developing mobile health apps in a research context but Agile Scrum is a respected approach in the software development industry.

OBJECTIVE

To explore using the Agile Scrum approach to build a digital micro intervention to help parents deliver an evidence-based time out.

METHODS

Agile Scrum was used. 4 sprints were conducted. Figma software was used for app design and wireframing. 42 stakeholders were included in 3 sprint reviews. Stakeholders were recruited from councils around the Midlands region of the UK and charities through personal contacts and a snowballing approach.

RESULTS

Over four development sprints from August 2022 to March 2023, the app was iteratively designed, tested, and refined based on feedback from a diverse group of 42 stakeholders. Modifications made throughout the process resulted in significant app enhancements, including tailored timer algorithms, enhanced readability, and an onboarding zone, mindfulness module, and pictorial information to increase inclusivity. By the end of the fourth sprint, the app was deemed ready for home use by stakeholders, demonstrating the effectiveness of our Agile Scrum development approach.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed an app to support parents to use the evidence-based time out technique. We recommend that researchers aiming to create mobile health applications adopt the Agile Scrum approach. Our findings highlight the valuable role that frontline health and social care professionals, particularly those working with vulnerable families, can play as stakeholders in Scrum. Further research should evaluate the impact of digital micro interventions on child behavioural change and also create digital micro interventions that cater to non-English speakers and individuals who participate in parenting programs in settings outside the UK.

CLINICALTRIAL

n/a
The Feasibility of a 4-Week Home-Based Exercise Training Using Active Video Games on Balance, Motor Proficiency, Foot and Ankle Ability, and Intrinsic Motivation in Children with Chronic Ankle Instability: A Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Chuadthong Janya , Ajjimaporn Amornpan , Hiller Claire , Lekskulchai Raweewan
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Children with chronic ankle instability (CAI) frequently experience ankle unsteadiness, causing trips, falls, and ankle sprain injuries resulting in poor quality of life. A specific exercise program focused on physical and psychological purposes in children with CAI is needed.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a 4-week home-based exercise training using active video games (AVGs) on balance, motor proficiency, foot and ankle ability, and intrinsic motivation in children with CAI.

METHODS

Sixty children with CAI (10 ± 2 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (AVGs; n = 30) or a control group (CG; n = 30). The AVGs group played 2-selected video games, i.e., catching fish and Russian Block, while the CG group received the exercise program for CAI. Both programs were scheduled for 30 minutes per day, 3 times per week for four weeks at home. The single-leg stance test was used to assess static balance. The walking forward on a line and standing long jump tests were used to assess motor proficiency. The foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) and the intrinsic motivation inventory (IMI) questionnaire were used to assess foot and ankle ability and intrinsic motivation, respectively. Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 4 weeks.

RESULTS

In the AVGs group, the single leg stand test (eyes open on floor and foam conditions), the FAAM (ADL subscale), and intrinsic motivation (interest/enjoyment, pressure/tension, and value/usefulness dimensions) were improved compared with the CG group (all p<.05). The motor proficiency did not differ between the two groups at the end of the 4-week program (p>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

A 4-week home-based exercise training using AVGs can be beneficial and may be an effective approach for improving balance, foot and ankle ability, and enhancing positive motivation by increasing interest/enjoyment and value/usefulness and lower pressure/tension dimensions in children with CAI that require long-term rehabilitation sessions.

CLINICALTRIAL

Thai Clinical Trials Registry (IRCT) (TCTR20220727002)
Concept Analysis of Profesional Socialization in the Military Organizations Concept Analysis of Profesional Socialization in the Military Organizations
Authors: Cîmpean Florin , Baboș Alexandru
Published: July 2023

Socialization is an ongoing and ever-changing process. Whenever someone assumes or departs from a position, socialization processes come into play. This holds true when individuals take on organizational roles, and socialization persists through changes in personnel, products, services, norms, and values. By perceiving organizational socialization as a continuous process, we gain an analytical tool that allows us to examine organizational issues and challenges based on the extent of socialization that has occurred. This article thoroughly explores the intricate facets of professional socialization, analyzing its importance, essential elements, and its influence on both military personnel and organizational culture. With the goal of enhancing the understanding of this concept, it seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge on military professionalism and the dynamics within organizations.
The evolution of global missile transactions between the 1950s and 2010s
Authors: Farias Hélio Caetano , Garcia Marques Guilherme Ramon , Marinho Rafael Costa
Published: July 2023

Since they emerged as modern weapons, missiles have been consolidated as an important defense product, with high technological potential and increasingly widespread use. Aiming to better understand its dynamics of consolidation and diffusion, this article proposes to carry out a comprehensive exploratory data analysis of the evolution of global missile transactions in the period from the 1950s to the 2010s. The results attest 1) to the expressive growth of the international transfers of missiles about the other categories of defense products, jumping from the seventh position in the 1950s to consolidate as the third most prominent transferred weapon category in the 2010s, 2) to the high market concentration at the level of missile suppliers, with only three countries – United States, Soviet Union/Russia, and France – concentrating average exports of 84.6% of the total flows over the decades, and 3) to the relatively less stable pattern at the level of acquisition, with substantial changes in the classification among the largest missile importers from the decisive influence motivated by geopolitical events.
Dynamic Analysis In Functionally Graded Material Plate Using A Meshless Method
Authors: Dinh Manh Dung , Nguyen Thi My Hien , Nguyen Thanh Nha
Published: July 2023

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are complicated composites created using the concept of continuous variation of material property in one or more predetermined directions. FGMs have been used in the manufacturing of structural parts that are subjected to non-uniform functioning requirements in recent years. In a thermal protection system, for example, FGMs combine the benefits of traditional ceramics, such as corrosion and heat resistance, with those of metal, such as mechanical strength and rigidity. They are common in engineering practice, so static analysis and dynamic analysis for FGM plate structures are necessary. The radial point interpolation method (RPIM) meshless method has been used based on the point interpolation method (PIM) by including the radial basis function (RPF) in the interpolation formulation and has shown good performance in computational engineering. One of the advantages of this method is that it satisfies the Kronecker’s delta function, which overcomes the limitations of critical boundary conditions for the traditional meshless method. Furthermore, RPIM shape function satisfies the high-order continuity constraint, which the low-order finite element methods (FEM) method does not. This paper presents a meshless approach for the static and dynamic analysis of FGM plates whose material properties vary through the thickness. Numerical examples are solved and the results are compared with reference solutions or the results of FEM given by SOMSOL program to confirm the accuracy of the proposed method.
Study of The Inhomogeneity Between Work Cycles in An Internal Combustion Engine
Authors: Tran Quoc Toan , Huynh Ngoc Thanh
Published: July 2023

Analysis of the main factors causing instability in an internal combustion engine is a fundamental problem in operation research and engine design. The inhomogeneity between work cycles is the cause of the fluctuated power as well as other working parameters of the engine. It is expressed through the amount of fuel supplied to the cycle and the quality of the combustion process. The problem is to find a way to reduce the instability. The creation of devices for instability control based on nonlinear dynamic method is a new direction in studying the essence of inhomogeneity between work cycles. This paper presents experimental results on the instability of the combustion process in an internal combustion engine through the control method of fuel supply time. Studying the orderly structure of the resulting time-series pressure graph will further explain the essence of the inhomogeneity. Based on the results of the investigation of the pressure turbulence in the engine cylinders as well as the inhomogeneity between work cycles determined entirely by random processes, it will be possible to generate a different form of pressure graph using a suitable fuel injection timing device. The selection of signal interval control for injectors is studied and presented in this paper that is the basis for further studies to improve the efficiency of internal combustion engine in each operation mode.
Application of blue light led in inactivation of pathogenic fungi on tomato fruit during natural storage
Authors: Nguyen Quoc Dat , Huynh Hoang Nhut , Pham Tan Thi , Tran Trung Nghia
Published: July 2023

Significant losses of fresh horticultural crops occur during postharvest storage due to accelerated senescence and disease. Cooling and chemical preservation procedures are the typical postharvest techniques after harvest. Many researchers have lately used light-emitting diode (LED) therapy for postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes are known as a superfood because they contain many compounds beneficial to human health. Tomato fruit contains a high proportion of lycopene, which increases as the fruit ripens to the breaker stage. LED systems have evolved as a clean and effective artificial lighting solution for use in horticulture. This research aimed to evaluate the influence of LEDs on postharvest and quality metrics. The impact on quality criteria varied greatly depending on the tomato fruit variety. Studies were conducted on timelines of LED light exposure per day throughout the postharvest fruit stage, which boosted commercial and organoleptic indices and lycopene concentrations. Overall, the results of this study indicated that postharvest exposure of tomato fruits to LED light causes lycopene synthesis, with a concentration of lycopene 41% greater than when subjected to light, dark, and 24% higher than when exposed to other LED lighting settings.
Fresh isolate adult telomerase positive stem cells: An addition to Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs), Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), and/or Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for regenerative medicine
Authors: Henry E. Young
Published: July 2023

Currently, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the holy grail for regenerative medicine. Unfortunately, in clinical trials their efficacies have been less than ideal. While telomerase positive ESCs or iPSCs will form every cell type in the body, if implanted in their naïve state, they form teratomas. MSCs are a tripotent telomerase negative progenitor cell that will form fat, cartilage, and bone. MSCs’ efficacy for treating conditions other than fat, cartilage, and bone average 1-5%. We offer healing adult telomerase positive stem cells (aTPSCs) as an addition stem cell to regenerative medicine. The aTPSCs are few in number and reside in connective tissues throughout the body in a quiescent state. Upon stimulation, the aTPSCs divide symmetrically to large numbers due to the presence of the telomerase enzyme. Coupled with their ability to differentiate into any progenitor or differentiated cell in the body from their naïve state under the direction of locally released exosome cues, make them an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine. When tested in clinical studies, both autologous and allogeneic aTPSCs demonstrated a 100% safety record and a cumulative efficacy of 86.4% for reversing signs and symptoms in 20 chronic diseases or traumatic injuries. The results suggested that aTPSCs retain all the positive aspects of ESCs, iPSCs, and MSCs, while exhibiting none of their negative aspects. Therefore, I propose that aTPSCs be an added category of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine to increase efficacy of proposed treatments.
Meta-analyses reveal the occipital face area is altered in visual expertise
Authors: Burns Edwin James , Bukach Cindy
Published: July 2023

While some studies have shown that the right occipital face area (OFA) processes objects for which we have extensive visual expertise, these findings are scarce when viewed in the context of the broader literature which typically does not report any OFA analyses. We therefore wondered if the several positive findings were simply reported when they had occurred spuriously, or actually reflected a true effect. The p-curve is a relatively new form of meta-analysis that enables researchers to assess the evidential value for any given effect. We therefore tested the presence of neuroimaging expertise effects in the right OFA through a p-curve analysis. In support of the expertise hypothesis, our results show that the right occipital face area does indeed appear altered in visual expertise. These data complement recent neuropsychological work hinting that the OFA is utilised in non-face recognition. However, further well powered replications will be required in order to confirm the robustness of the OFA’s haemodynamic responsiveness in object expertise perception.
Reflection of the challenges facing cyber deterrence on cyber attacks
Authors: Nishan Elaf Hashim
Published: July 2023

As a result of the cyber-attacks to which many countries are exposed, and the increase in their numbers in the recent period, reliance on cyber deterrence has made an important issue. It Is related to the challenges of cyber deterrence, as the latter faces many attacks, which are a great pressure factor on this deterrence, as the challenges may be a contributing factor in reducing cyber-attacks and at the same time it may be a catalyst in increasing it, and this is what we will address in this research.
Production of High Surface Area Activated Carbon from Grass (Imperata)
Authors: Abdulmajeed Yossor  R. , Mahmood Noor AL-Huda Jabber
Published: July 2023

In this work the production of activated carbon (AC) from Imperata is done by microwave assisted Potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation and using this activated carbon for the purpose of the uptake of amoxicillin (AMX) by adsorption process from aqueous solution. The effects for irradiation power (450-800W), irradiation time (6-12min) as well as impregnation ratio (0.5-1 g/g) on the AMX uptake and yield AMX uptake at an initial concentration of AMX (150 mg/g). The optimum conditions were 700 W irradiation power, 10 min time of irradiation, as well as 0.8 g/g impregnation ratio with 14.821% yield and 12.456 mg/g AMX uptake. Total volume of hole and the area of the surface (BET) are 0.3027 m³/g, and 552.7638 m²/g respectively. The properties for the activated carbon were examined via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
The Development of Earning Management in Indonesia: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Restuningdiah Nurika , Sidharta Eka Ananta
Published: July 2023

Earnings management is a method used by management to influence the numbers in financial statements. Earnings management is detrimental to investors because the financial statements are very low. Financial reports can no longer be trusted. Research on earnings management has been widely carried out with mixed results. Few systematic reviews have been carried out on earning management in Indonesia. The present article set out to analyze the existing literature on earning management practices in Indonesia. Guided by the ROSES or RepOrting standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses review method, a systematic review of the Sinta 1 and 2 databases was identified with 23 related studies. Further review of these articles uses four main themes – Monitoring, Management opportunities, accounting policies, and investor decision-making. Several recommendations are highlighted related to conducting more qualitative studies about earning management in different paradigms and approaches with different searching techniques such as reference searching and contacting experts.
From the manuscript of the priest Volodymyr (Valerian) Mykhailovych Georgievskyi (autobiography)
Authors: Smirnova Svitlana
Published: July 2023

A part of the handwritten insert to Sitsynskyi’s book “Historical information about parishes and churches of the Podilia eparchy. Kamianets county. ‒ Kamianets-Podilskyi 1895”, which is stored in the library of the Kamianets-Podilskyi State Historical Museum-Reserve, is published. This part of the manuscript concerns the life and activities of the priest, local historian, archaeologist, museum worker, rector of the Kamianets-Podilskyi Institute Volodymyr (Valerian) Mykhailovych Georgievskyi. Along with the description of his biography, it is found that the manuscript contains information about repressed representatives of the Podilian clergy. It also contains a number of interesting information about Podilian priests and parishioners. It is found that the author of the manuscript is V. M. Georgievskii, who was brought up in a priest’s family (his grandfather and father were priests). He was first convicted and served his sentence during the arrests of the Podilian clergy in the 1930s. In 1942, he returned to the town of Kamianets-Podilskyi and took an active part in the cultural life of the city. For cooperation with the Germans during the occupation of Kamianets-Podilskyi (1941‒1944), V. Georgievsky was repressed by the Soviet authorities for the second time. It is stated that the manuscript is an important source for researching the history of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, genealogy of priestly families, repressions against the clergy, religious beliefs of Ukrainian society a hundred years ago.
Keywords: museum worker, priest, archaeologist, repression, village of Kadyivtsi, village of Chornokozintsi, village of Zaluchchia, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Volodymyr (Valerian) Georgievskyi
Polyphonic Poetics: Reading Yang Shaoping’s Pidgin Bamboo Branch Lyrics
Authors: LIU Yuqing
Published: July 2023

Pidgin English appeared in China along the Pearl River Delta as a contact language composed of a mixture of English, Cantonese, Portuguese, Hindi, and Malay as early as the eighteenth century. It spread to the Yangzi River delta in the mid-nineteenth century when an increasing number of Cantonese merchants and workers traveled to other treaty ports after the First Opium War. Focusing on a series of poems called Pidgin Bamboo Branch Lyrics (Bieqin zhuzhici) published in the newspaper Shen Bao in 1873, this paper explores how pidgin was appropriated in Chinese poetry and altered the literary soundscape in late Qing China. I argue that these pidgin English terms created a heteroglot poetic space wherein Sinographs and European words, literary language and local tongues, and classical images and contemporary anecdotes intertwine to generate diverse and contradictory meanings. Through an innovative collocation of the graphic, literal, and phonetic features of Chinese characters, the pidgin words and expressions in these poems produce a multilayered structure of meanings with various possibilities for interpretation. Moreover, unlike traditional bamboo branch lyrics in which non-Chinese words are incorporated to domesticate strangeness and consolidate the imperial order of center and periphery, these poems have an inverse effect: their use of pidgin English instead alienates the native, the conventional, and the familiar landscape/soundscape. This poetry made of language crossings depicts modernity as an uncanny sonic experience and makes foreignness appear not in a faraway land but in one’s own poetic language and everyday life.
The Sensual Surplus of History: Cao Hanmei’s Pictorial Adaptations of Jin Ping Mei in Wartime China
Authors: HUANG Dingru
Published: July 2023

This paper explores the life and works of Cao Hanmei as a “misfit” in Chinese cartoon history, who, against the dominant understanding of wartime cartoons as a form of resistance and enlightenment, chose to visualize Jin Ping Mei in occupied Shanghai. I examine the stylistic transformations throughout Cao’s two-decade-long endeavors visualizing the novel and unravel the intricate dynamics between his works and his times. I argue that Cao’s pictorial adaptations of Jin Ping Mei engage with history not only by projecting contemporary struggles, chaos, and trauma onto a well-known ancient story, as other critics have suggested, but more importantly by constructing a “sensual surplus” that defies appropriation by the grand narratives of history. This sensual surplus manifests in his affective combination of the genre hybridity and stylistic anachronism of manhua, the critical re-envisioning of female characters, and the mobilization of feminine details and condensed surfaces. Through Cao’s case, this paper aims to enrich the understanding of the complexity of Shanghai’s visual culture in the 1930s and 1940s, especially the continuities and discontinuities after the Japanese occupation, and to demonstrate the porous boundary between cartoons and other forms of visual arts that approach history through images.
Fully convolutional neural networks applied to large-scale marine morphology mapping
Authors: Arosio Riccardo , Hobley Brandon , Wheeler Andrew J. , Sacchetti Fabio , Conti Luis A. , Furey Thomas , Lim Aaron
Published: July 2023

In this study we applied for the first time Fully Convolutional Neural Networks (FCNNs) to a marine bathymetric dataset to derive morphological classes over the entire Irish continental shelf. FCNNs are a set of algorithms within Deep Learning that produce pixel-wise classifications in order to create semantically segmented maps. While they have been extensively utilised on imagery for ecological mapping, their application on elevation data is still limited, especially in the marine geomorphology realm. We employed a high-resolution bathymetric dataset to create a set of normalised derivatives commonly utilised in seabed morphology and habitat mapping that include three bathymetric position indexes (BPIs), the vector ruggedness measurement (VRM), the aspect functions and three types of hillshades. The class domains cover ten or twelve semantically distinct surface textures and submarine landforms present on the shelf, with our definitions aiming for simplicity, prevalence and distinctiveness. Sets of 50 or 100 labelled samples for each class were used to train several U-Net architectures with ResNet-50 and VGG-13 encoders. Our results show a maximum model precision of 0.84 and recall of 0.85, with some classes reaching as high as 0.99 in both. A simple majority (modal) voting combining the ten best models produced an excellent map with overall F1 score of 0.96 and class precisions and recalls superior to 0.87. For target classes exhibiting high recall (proportion of positives identified), models also show high precision (proportion of correct identifications) in predictions which confirms that the underlying class boundary has been learnt. Derivative choice plays an important part in the performance of the networks, with hillshades combined with bathymetry providing the best results and aspect functions and VRM leading to an overall deterioration of prediction accuracies. The results show that FCNNs can be successfully applied to the seabed for a morphological exploration of the dataset and as a baseline for more in-depth habitat mapping studies. For example, prediction of semantically distinct classes as “submarine dune” and “bedrock outcrop” can be precise and reliable. Nonetheless, at present state FCNNs are not suitable for tasks that require more refined geomorphological classifications, as for the recognition of detailed morphogenetic processes.
Case report: the effects of cerebellar tDCS in bilingual post-stroke aphasia
Authors: Coemans Silke , Struys Esli , Tsapkini Kyrana , Paquier Philippe , Vandenborre Dorien , Keulen Stefanie
Published: July 2023

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation may be a useful neuromodulation tool for enhancing the effects of speech and language therapy in people with aphasia, but research so far has focused on monolinguals. We present the effects of 9 sessions of anodal cerebellar tDCS (ctDCS) coupled with language therapy in a bilingual patient with chronic post-stroke aphasia caused by left frontal ischemia, in a double-blind, sham-controlled within-subject design. Language therapy was provided in his second language (L2). Both sham and anodal treatment improved trained picture naming in the treated language (L2), while anodal ctDCS in addition improved picture naming of untrained items in L2 and his first language, L1. Picture description improved in L2 and L1 after anodal ctDCS, but not after sham.
Neurophysiological signatures of sensory-processing sensitivity
Authors: Meinersen-Schmidt Nicole , Walter Nike , Kulla Patricia , Loew Thomas , Hinterberger Thilo , Kruse Joachim
Published: July 2023

Background

Sensory processing sensitivity is mainly captured based on questionnaires and it’s neurophysiological basis is largely unknown. As hitherto no electroencephalography (EEG) study has been carried out, the aim of this work was to determine whether the self-reported level of SPS correlates with the EEG activity in different frequency bands.

Methods

One hundred fifteen participants were measured with 64-channel EEG during a task-free resting state. After artifact correction, a power spectrum time series was calculated using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for the following frequency bands: Delta: 1–3.5 Hz, theta: 4–7.5 Hz, alpha1: 8–10 Hz, alpha2: 10.5–12 Hz, beta1: 12.5–15 Hz, beta2: 15.5–25 Hz, gamma: 25.5–45 Hz, global: 1–45 Hz. Correlations with the ‘Highly Sensitive Person Scale’ (HSPS-G) scores were determined. Then, the lowest and the highest 30% of the cohort were contrasted as polar opposites. EEG features were compared between the two groups applying a paired two-tailed t-test.

Results

The HSPS-G scores correlated statistically significantly positive with beta 1 and 2, and global EEG power during resting with eyes open, but not during resting with eyes closed. The highly sensitive group revealed higher beta power (4.38 ± 0.32 vs. 4.21 ± 0.17, p = 0.014), higher gamma power (4.21 ± 0.37 vs. 4.00 ± 0.25, p = 0.010), and increased global EEG power (4.38 ± 0.29 vs. 4.25 ± 0.17, p = 0.041). The higher EEG activity in the HSP group was most pronounced in the central, parietal, and temporal region, whereas lower EEG activity was most present in occipital areas.

Conclusion

For the first time, neurophysiological signatures associated with SPS during a task free resting state were demonstrated. Evidence is provided that neural processes differ between HSP and non-HSP. During resting with eyes open HSP exhibit higher EEG activity suggesting increased information processing. The findings could be of importance for the development of biomarkers for clinical diagnostics and intervention efficacy evaluation.
Effectiveness of acupuncture as auxiliary combined with Western medicine for epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xue Hua , Zeng Li , He Hongxian , Xu Dongxun , Ren Kaixin
Published: July 2023

Background

Although more and more clinical studies have shown that acupuncture as an auxiliary combined with Western medicine is effective in the treatment of patients with epilepsy, no systematic reviews of acupuncture as a treatment for epilepsy have been published. Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of acupuncture treatment on patients with epilepsy.

Methods

This study retrieved randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment for epilepsy from various electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, and Wangfang database. These studies evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture as an auxiliary treatment combined with Western medicine for patients with epilepsy. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Results

A total of 17 RCTs involving a total of 1,389 participants were included. The results showed that acupuncture combined with Western medicine improved the effective rates of treatment (OR: 4.28; 95% CI: 3.04–6.02; p < 0.001), and reduced the seizure frequency of patients (SMD: −3.29; 95% CI: −3.51 to −3.07; p < 0.001) and the EEG discharge frequency (SMD: −5.58; 95% CI: −7.02 to −4.14; p < 0.001). Regarding the quality of life and adverse events, the acupuncture group was superior to the control group in improving the overall quality of life of patients with epilepsy (SMD: 14.41; 95% CI: 12.51–16.32; p < 0.001) and decreased adverse events (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.23–0.63, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of the analysis suggested that acupuncture combined with Western medicine is probably helpful in patients with epilepsy, but strong supportive data are not yet available. Given that this study is based on a low to moderate evidence-based analysis, the conclusions should be viewed with caution.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier no. CRD42023409923.
Prognostic significance of the novel nutrition-inflammation marker of lymphocyte–C-reactive protein ratio in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Hua Xin , Long Zhi-Qing , Wang Si-Fen , Xu Fei , Wang Meng-Di , Chen Jia-Yi , Zhang Yu-Ling , Ni Wei-Qiong , Gao Yun-Sheng
Published: July 2023

Background

Recent studies indicate that the novel lymphocyte–C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) is strongly associated with the survival of various tumors, but its prognostic value in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is understudied. This study aimed to explore the relationship between LCR and overall survival (OS) in NPC and develop a predictive model.

Methods

A total of 841 NPC patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) between January 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 589) and a validation cohort (n = 252), and 122 patients between January 2015 and March 2015 were included as an additional validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify variables associated with OS and construct a predictive nomogram. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was evaluated and independently validated.

Results

The LCR score differentiated NPC patients into two groups with distinct prognoses (HR = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.32–0.89, P = 0.014). Multivariate analysis showed that age, T stage, N stage, EBV-DNA status, and LCR score were independently associated with OS, and a predictive nomogram was developed. The nomogram had a good performance for the prediction of OS [C-index = 0.770 (95% CI: 0.675–0.864)]. and outperformed the traditional staging system [C-index = 0.589 (95% CI: 0.385–0.792)]. The results were internally and additionally validated using independent cohorts.

Conclusion

The pretreatment LCR could independently predict the overall survival in NPC patients. A novel LCR-based prognostic model of an easy-to-use nomogram was established, and it outperformed the conventional staging system in terms of predictive power. Further external verification remains necessary.
Prospects of artificial intelligence in the development of sustainable separation processes
Authors: Liu Dupeng , Sun Ning
Published: July 2023

Addressing the urgent need for more energy-efficient separation technologies is paramount in reducing energy consumption and lessening environmental impact as we march toward a carbon-neutral society. The rapid progression of AI and its promising applications in separation science presents new, fascinating possibilities. For instance, AI algorithms can forecast the properties of prospective new materials, speeding up the process of sorbent material innovation. With the ability to analyze vast datasets related to processes, machine learning driven by data can enhance operations to reduce energy wastage and improve error detection. The recent rise of Generative Pretrained Transformer models (GPT) has motivated researchers to construct specialized large-scale language models (LLM) based on a comprehensive scientific corpus of papers, reference materials, and knowledge bases. These models are useful tools for facilitating the rapid selection of suitable separation techniques. In this article, we present an exploration of AI's role in promoting sustainable separation processes, covering a concise history of its implementation, potential advantages, inherent limitations, and a vision for its future growth.