bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of bank of agriculture credit’s on agricultural productivity in South Western Nigeria
Authors: Adedamola Rasaki, Wasiu , Bababtunde Omotoso Abeeb
Published: December 2024

This study examined the impact of Bank of Agriculture (BOA) credit facilities on agricultural productivity in the South-West region of Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to select 225 beneficiaries and 630 non-beneficiaries farmers. Descriptive statistics were implemented to investigate the socio-economic attributes of the respondents. Impact of credit was analyzed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and the productivity of producers was analyzed using Total Factor Productivity (TFP). The respondents' average age was 47.6 years, and 87.0% of them were male. The average PSM score was 0.269, with four matching methods (Nearest Neighbour, Radius, Kernel, and Stratification matching) being implemented. The maximum and minimum propensity were 0.8207 and 0.0525, respectively. Both the balancing property and the region of common support (0.0503, 0.8209) were satisfied. The average treatment effect on the productivity differences of the treated (ATT) was approximately 0.347, and this difference was statistically significant at the 1% level. Productivity of ATT varied by approximately 21.0%. In summary, this investigation provided compelling evidence that the BOA credits have a positive impact on agricultural productivity in the South West. It was suggested that administrations at all levels and financial stakeholders should collaborate to ensure that producers have access to credit.
Soils of the Baikal region: Mapping, use, transformation
Authors: Belozertseva Irina Aleksandrovna , Lopatina Daria Nikolaevna , Sorokovoi Andrei Anatolievich
Published: December 2024

The article gives a brief overview of the soil cartographic work carried out in the Baikal region. The paper contains one of the authors' map of agroecological zoning of soils of the Irkutsk region. A fragment of the legend is shown. Suitable and unsuitable districts for their use in agriculture have been identified. Various types of business activities are recommended. Also provided are maps of the use of land of the most developed part of the lands of the Baikal region in 1980 and 2023. In the Irkutsk-Cheremkhov plain with neighboring steppe areas, occupying 11% of the area of the region where the bulk of the farmland is located, relatively good natural and climatic conditions are noted. With the collapse of collective farms and state farms since the 1990s. More than 50% of former agricultural land was abandoned. A positive aspect of the "resetting" of the state system is the emergence of a reserve of agricultural land for use in the form of abandoned land with soils that have restored the level of fertility. The authors proposed a scale of qualitative assessment of the possibility of using land in agriculture, developed an assessment of the state of soil fertility, taking into account their regional characteristics.
The Illumination Art of Shāhnāma-i Firdawsi’s Copy in the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
Authors: Sayın Ayşe Zehra
Published: December 2024

The art of illumination has continued to evolve across various regions over centuries, adopting different stylistic characteristics. One of the key centers where the development of illumination can be traced and where works were produced over an extended period is the city of Shiraz, located in the Persian administrative region. This city, which served as the capital for two dynasties in the 14th century, produced a large number of works up until the late 16th century. Particularly during the 16th century, when Shiraz was governed by the Zu’lqadir governors, it became a hub for commercial production, with many works created on diverse subjects. Among the most requested pieces from this artistic center were literary books, especially those containing the Persian classics. The Shāhnāma manuscripts, which recount the epic and legends of Iran, were the most in-demand. The high demand for this work, particularly in the latter half of the century, led to its preparation with illuminated decorations. This study aims to examine and evaluate the work named Shāhnāma-i Firdawsī, which has been the subject of many previous studies with its different features, in terms of illumination art through a sample manuscript. The subject of this study is the illuminations of the copy of Shāhnāma-i Firdawsī with TİEM 1983 inventory number, which is found in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
ELEVATOR DRUM-PAD BRAKE MECHANISMS: REDUNDANT CONSTRAINTS AND RELIABILITY RISE OPPORTUNITY
Authors: PROTSENKO Vladyslav , MALASHCHENKO Volodymyr , NASTASENKO Valentyn , BABIY Mykhailo , VOITOVYCH Olha
Published: December 2024

The article deals with mechanical engineering, and transport machines, namely the elevator brake mechanism structure. The article aims to study the number and location of redundant constraints in elevator brake mechanisms and to depict their impact on brake reliability and transportation safety. To study the structure of the mentioned mechanisms, we used classical methods of applied mechanics plus the circuit method of L. Reshetov. The structure of crane disc brakes with short-stroke DC electromagnet and long-stroke AC electromagnet mechanisms was analyzed and redundant constraints were identified. It was shown that the presence of redundant constraints causes friction torque oscillation and lead to load distribution unevenness between brake elements. Based on the provided analysis, construction improvement events should be implemented to remove the most dangerous redundant constraints.
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ELABORATION WITH DECISION TABLES
Authors: GRZYBOWSKI Michał , MŁYŃCZAK Jakub , SOKOŁOWSKA Lucyna , MATOWICKI Michał
Published: December 2024

The paper describes decision table notation as a requirements definition technique. Modern critical systems, e.g., railway signaling systems, are implemented with electronic technologies. The use of computers in these systems has greatly expanded their functionality. Increase in functionality unfortunately leads to increase in complexity, which forces the designer to follow a more rigorous development process. The paper discusses the subject of describing expected software behavior, i.e., software requirements specification. It presents desired requirements features and describes how these features can be obtained by use of decision tables. The paper also discusses decision table transformations, which can reduce the effort to establish decision tables and facilitate their analysis. The authors’ experiments support the use of decision tables as a mean to increase requirements quality by providing tools for automatic decision table processing.
THE ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON TRANSPORTATION SUSTAINABILITY
Authors: KALEDINOVA Elena , BOELDAK Dianthy
Published: December 2024

Assessing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on transportation sustainability is important for companies’ internal and external benchmarking and improving technology and sustainability policies. This article focuses on developing and using the Transportation Technology Sustainability Index (TTSI) to assess the impact of AI on transportation sustainability. The authors did literature research to formulate dimensions and define sustainability indicators (SIs) and conducted interviews with experts from Dutch road freight transportation companies to validate the dimensions and SIs that can be used for calculating TTSI. The same TTSI-based assessment with some necessary adjustments can be applied to other modern technologies and transportation modes such as air, rail, sea, and multi-modal. Literature and qualitative research confirmed that AI applications foster sustainable performance, so more emphasis should be placed on increasing the use of AI in transportation. The TTSI-based assessment developed by the authors would allow transportation companies to measure the impact of AI or other advanced technologies on sustainability.
Determining the Influence of the Quality of Financial Statements of MSMEs in Sleman
Authors: Budiantara Martinus , Paramitalaksmi Ratri , Maharani Desak Putu
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to find: (1) t the effect of Accounting Comprehension on the quality of MSMEs financial statements moderated by self efficacy. (2) he effect of MSMEs digitalization on the quality of MSMEs financial statements moderated by self efficacy. (3) the effect of MSMEs financial Inclusion on the quality of MSMEs financial statements moderated by self efficacy. The methodology used in this research is quantitative. The sample of the study were 103 MSMEs entrepreneurs in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta.Accounting Comprehension, MSMEs Digitalization and MSMEs Financial Inclusion have a significant effect on the Quality of MSMEs Financial Statements in Sleman even though the Self-Efficacy is not able to moderate these three variables on the Quality of MSMEs Financial Statements.
Pemanfaatan Mobile JKN Untuk Meningkatkan Efektifitas Pelayanan
Authors: Sari Erika Novita , Muslikhah RR. Siti , Maisaroh
Published: December 2024

The Mobile JKN application is a government innovation in the health sector managed by BPJS Kesehatan in providing public services to participants.  This Mobile JKN application is expected to reduce queues at each BPJS Kesehatan branch office by helping to serve all participant administrative activities. However, many people do not have the Mobile JKN application and still, many participants come to the office for services. This study aims to determine the use of the Mobile Health Insurance (JKN) application to increase the effectiveness of services at BPJS Kesehatan Wonogiri Regency. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach and data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. This study took informants as many as one staff and nine BPJS Kesehatan Wonogiri Regency participants. The study results show that participants' understanding and awareness of the Mobile JKN application is still low. The use of the National Health Insurance Mobile (JKN) application at BPJS Kesehatan Wonogiri Regency has been running. Still, it has not been effective and efficient in terms of measures of effectiveness, namely, program understanding, target accuracy, timeliness, achievement of goals, and real changes. The obstacles participants face in using the application are system disruptions,  full storage of participants' mobile phones, and networks, participants who do not understand the application, and incomplete login requirements.
Keywords: Utilization, Mobile JKN Application, Service Effectiveness
Electrochemical and Transport Characteristics of Anion Exchange Membranes in Succinic Acid Solutions
Authors: Eremin Artem , Romanyuk Nazar , Achoh Aslan , Melnikov Stanislav , Sharafan Mikhail
Published: December 2024

The physicomechanical and transport characteristics of heterogeneous anion exchange membranes Ralex AMH-Pes and MA-41, and homogeneous anion exchange membranes AHT and MA-1 in solutions of sodium chloride and succinic acid are studied. It was found that in succinic acid solutions, the concentration dependence of the specific electrical conductivity of anion-exchange membranes has an atypical course compared with the dependence measured in solutions of strong electrolytes. This is due to a change in the pH and ionic composition inside the membrane compared to the external working solution. The concentration dependence of the integral coefficient of diffusion permeability of anion-exchange membranes in succinic acid solution has a decreasing character. This dependence can be explained by the pH shift inside the membrane to a more alkaline region when diluting the external solution, while the equilibrium of the succinic acid dissociation reaction inside the membrane shifts towards the formation of a two-charge succinate anion. With an increase in the proportion of double-charged ions in the membrane phase, an increase in electrostatic forces capable of attracting ions of the opposite charge sign occurs. At the same time, the concentration of co-ions in the membrane phase increases. This effect leads to an increase in the rate of diffusion transfer of the succinic acid molecule with a decrease in its concentration in the working solution.The study of the mass transfer of succinic acid through anion-exchange membranes and the volt-ampere characteristics (CVC) of the anion-exchange membranes AHT and MA-1 showed that succinic acid is capable of being intensively transferred through anion-exchange membranes in the super-limit current mode, as a result of the development of electroconvection at the ion-exchange membrane/diffusion layer interface.
Whole Exome Sequencing in Acquired Angioedema by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors: A Pilot Study in Five Patients
Authors: Mendoza Alvarez Alejandro , Martinez Tadeo Juan Antonio , Pérez Rodríguez Eva , Barrios Recio Javier , Garcia Robaina Jose Carlos , Corrales Almudena , Marcelino Rodriguez Itahisa , Lorenzo Salazar Jose Miguel , Gonzalez Montelongo Rafaela , Flores Carlos , Callero Viera Ariel
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives
One of the most common causes of bradykinergic angioedema (Bk-AE) is related to reduced Bk breakdown after the use of certain medications. This is the case of forms of Acquired Angioedema (AAE) due to the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), which are used for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions. The AE causes is not clear in these patients. Given the limited number of AAE-ACEi genetic loci identified by genome-wide association studies, here we opted for assessing the utility of NGS of a panel of relevant genes to aim to identify candidate genetic risk factors in severely affected patients.
Methods
Five Hypertensive patients from unrelated families with clinical AAE-ACEi were included in the study. Whole-exome sequencing, variant calling, and annotation techniques were used. ANNOVAR was used to annotate the variant calls . These variant were processed for each patient by Hereditary Angioedema Database Annotation tool and Franklin genomic platform for variant prioritization and clinical impact interpretation.
Results
The genetic variant rs6025 in F5 gene was identified in all recruited samples, which has been associated with an increase in blood clotting in AAE-ACEi patients. In two patients, a common synonymous genetic variant of ACE gene was found (rs4343). Finally, we identified the ACE genetic variant rs142947404 in only one patient. This variant has not been assessed in AAE-ACEi.
Conclusions
More studies will be needed to clarify the genetics involved in acquired forms of Bk-AE. In this way, we will be able to try to predict future episodes of angioedema due to use of ACEi.
Family Support Paradox: Exploring Family Support and Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Rural Eastern Nepal
Authors: Karmacharya Isha , Ghimire Saruna , Tuladhar Lirisha , Mistry Sabuj Kanti , Yadav Om Prakash , Prasai Sagar , Mehta Suresh , Yadav Uday Narayan
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the relationship between family support (for daily activities and living) and life satisfaction among Nepali older adults, with an additional focus on gender differences. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in rural eastern Nepal through interviewing older adults aged 60 years and above. The total analytical sample for this study was 819. Life satisfaction was measured using Diener’s Satisfaction with Life Scale. Binary logistic regression was employed to explore the associations. About 57% of older adults were satisfied with their life. Respondents who relied on family support for daily activities had significantly lower odds of experiencing life satisfaction (OR:0.49, p<0.001). Gender did not moderate the relationship between family support for daily activities and life satisfaction, but interestingly moderated the relationship between family support for living and life satisfaction. Older men who relied on family support for living were less likely to be satisfied with their lives than older women in similar situations (OR:0.66, p<0.05). This study emphasizes the need for further research to comprehensively understand the impact of family support on life satisfaction among older adults in societies driven by filial piety, focusing on underlying mechanisms to confirm this paradoxical relationship.
Evaluating Hydrogen Storage Potential and Sorption Characteristics of Li-Mg Alloy
Authors: Contreras-Vásquez Luis Felipe , Moya-Jiménez Roberto , Leiva-Mora Michel , Salazar Garcés Fabian , Tenicota-Garcia Alex , Book David
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to examine the hydrogen sorption characteristics of a Li-Mg ribbon under 100 bar H2 using reactive milling, ex/in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Direct hydrogenation was achieved after 1 hour of milling, forming a powder containing LiH, MgH2 and Li-Mg phases. Hydrogenation of the as-received ribbon occurred within ~5 hours under 3 bar H2 at 200 ˚C. In-situ XRD confirmed MgH2 decomposition to Mg and H2 at ~150 ˚C. DSC analysis revealed diverse thermal events for as received and milled samples, with the milled sample showing a single endothermic peak at ~193 ˚C associated with hydride desorption. TGA demonstrated a hydrogen release of 0.19 wt. %, improving upon previous reports by achieving higher efficiency at lower temperatures (250 ˚C vs 450 ˚C). No ternary Li-Mg-H phases were identified. Rietveld refinement showed thermal expansion trends and potential Li substitution in the Mg phase. This study highlights the potential of Li-Mg alloys for lower temperature hydrogen storage, revealing promising hydrogenation pathways. However, further optimization is necessary to enhance hydrogen storage capacity for practical applications.
Assessment of the Potential of Small Beads Reservoirs to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts in Urban Areas
Authors: Jarosz Wanda , Mandrysz Witold , Kalinowska-Wójcik Barbara , Grudniewski Jakub , Janczewska Natalia , Sierka Edyta , Absalon Damian , Pieron Łukasz , Lipowczan Marcin , Piekarska-Stachowiak Anna , Matysik Magdalena , Depta Dawid , Walkowiak Weronika , Woźnica Andrzej
Published: December 2024

This study examines historical water management practices as a means of addressing climate change, focusing on the Tyski Stream catchment in Upper Silesia, Poland a region marked by ex-tensive urbanization and industrial evolution. It investigates the effectiveness of historical hydro-technical systems, such as bead-like ponds from the 15th to 18th centuries, in enhancing water retention, reducing flood risks, and supporting ecosystem services. in a critical period, over 54 years (1827-1881), the number of reservoirs decreased from 142 to 31 (the area of ponds decreased from 161 to 32 ha). This was related to progressive industrialization, urban sprawl, and changes in legal frameworks, such as land ownership laws, leading to ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity, and altered hydrological processes. The research emphasizes the potential of reviving historical water management systems on natural processes to mitigate the impacts of climate change. By analyzing historical cartographic resources, the study assesses the feasibility of reconstructing lake systems in areas with similar topographic and hydrological features. It also stresses the necessity of community engagement and securing widespread social and political support to ensure public acceptance and the success of renaturation initiatives. The findings indicate that restoring these systems can offer diverse benefits, including improved water management, enhanced biodiversity, and greater urban resilience, while addressing the socio-political complexities of implementing large-scale environmental restoration projects.
Language Identification in Low-Resource Multilingual Document Images using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Eyachew Lomi , Tadesse Shumet , Belay Birhanu Hailu
Published: December 2024

With the increasing digitization of printed materials, it has become common to encounter documents in multiple languages in our daily lives. This has led to significant interest from researchers in the field of document image analysis, which includes applications like OCR, document image retrieval, and machine translation. However, these applications typically assume that documents are written in a single language, which is not always the case. Analyzing multilingual documents can be challenging, especially when the languages are switched within the document and the scripts are the same. In particular, this issue for low-resource languages has not yet been addressed. Hence, this paper focuses on exploring the use of deep learning techniques to develop a language identification model for multilingual documents written in Ethiopic script. To train and test our model, we extracted a total of 24,444 and 32,000 text-line pictures from a set of 814 and 1066 documents written in Ethiopian script and obtained from a variety of sources, respectively. We also carried out extensive experiments using both pre-trained CNN models and models trained from scratch with different parameter tuning on printed and synthetic document image datasets. The results revealed that CNN outperformed pre-trained deep learning models, achieving a promising accuracy of 97.27% on a test set of 9,600 images. These findings show the potential for developing effective language identification solutions for document images written in Ethiopic script.
Using Surface Topography to Visualize Spinal Motion During Gait. Motion Analytical Considerations and All Tools for Open Science
Authors: Konradi Jürgen , Betz Ulrich , Huthwelker Janine , Wolf Claudia , Schmidtmann Irene , Westphal Ruben , Cerpa Meghan , Lenke Lawrence G. , Drees Philipp
Published: December 2024

Background: Precise segmental spinal analysis during gait has various implications for clinical use and basic research. Here, we report the use of Surface Topography (ST), utilizing DIERS for-metric III 4D™, DICAM v3.7Beta, to analyze three-dimensional spinal segment movements, in combination with foot pressure measuring, to describe individual vertebral bodies’ motion rel-ative to specific phases of gait. All tools and visualizations used in this study have been made freely available in repositories to enable the replication and validation of our findings.
Methods: Using a Statistical Analysis System (SAS) script, single files exported by DICAM can be merged to create a complete raw data table. Further SAS script then generates a Standardized Gait Cycle (SGC) for each measurement, including all measured gait cycles for each individual patient, with a spline function to obtain smooth curve progressions. Graph templates from Sta-tistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS v23) then provides us to create detailed visualizations of the SGCs. We tested the further developed system and our data processing tools on measurements obtained from 201 healthy asymptomatic participants (132 females, 69 males).
Results: An impressive inter-individual variability as well as intra-individual consistency of spinal motion is shown. Rotation patterns are usually characterized by sinusoidal curve pro-gressions with individually characterizing features. The direction of movement of the pelvis is usually opposite to that of the thoracic spine exhibiting all kinds of phase shifts in their rotation courses. The transformation into a SGC facilitates intra- and inter-individual comparisons.
Conclusions: Our concept enables a precise and continuous description of spinal motion in direct relation to gait for qualitative and quantitative analyses. Before standardized data can be used to distinguish between physiologic and pathologic spinal motion, single cases must be scrutinized to identify movement parameters and resulting characteristic patterns. Artificial Intelligence based analysis can facilitate this process.
Women as Self Leader – Relationship Between Leadership, Self-Efficacy and Organizational Behavior
Authors: Gudei Corina , Tonis Bucea - Manea Rocsana , Mihoreanu Larisa
Published: December 2024

This study examines the relationship between a leader's self-efficacy, innovative work behavior, striving/commitment/goal generation, and resilience traits in organizational behavior. The results suggest that self-efficacy has a positive impact on organizational behavior, including employees' vocal behavior, and that leader-member exchange (LMX) is essential in promoting a positive relationship between leaders and team members. The study's hypotheses highlight the importance of self-efficacy, LMX, and organizational behavior in achieving positive organizational outcomes. The results may have positive implications at the organizational level in understanding the role of self-efficacy in leadership and its impact on organizational performance.
Reproductive Dynamics and Hermaphroditism in the Black-Footed Limpet (Patella depressa Pennant, 1777) on an Intertidal Rocky Shore in the Algarve Coast (Southern Portugal)
Authors: Moura Paula , Vasconcelos Paulo , Pereira Fábio , Carvalho André N. , Gaspar Miguel B.
Published: December 2024

The present study aimed to describe the reproductive cycle of the black-footed limpet (Patella depressa Pennant, 1777) from an intertidal rocky shore in the Algarve coast (southern Portugal). Samples were collected monthly between January 2017 and December 2018, being the species gametogenic cycle described based on gonad histology and the mean gonadal index. The presence of both transitional and mosaic hermaphrodites, indicate that some individuals are able to change sex (sequential hermaphroditism). Despite the occurrence of hermaphroditism, sex proportions were approximately equal, suggesting the absence of protandric sex change in this species. The population exhibited an extensive occurrence of ripe and spawning gonads, throughout almost all study period, probably related to consecutive processes of gonadal re-ripening and partial spawning events. The reproductive dynamics of P. depressa displayed clear inter-annual differences, with a short resting period recorded in 2017 (June – August) and the absence of resting gonads in 2018. Continued monitoring of this population and collection of environmental data is required to further improve the knowledge on the reproductive dynamics of this species. Such information is crucial for proposing additional management measures for the sustainable recreational harvesting of limpets in southern Portugal.
Is Lumbar Total Joint Arthroplasty Sensitive to Misalignment?
Authors: Kurtz Steven M. , Rundell Steven A. , Spece Hannah , Yarbrough Ronald V.
Published: December 2024

A novel total joint replacement (TJR) that treats lumbar spine degeneration was previously as-sessed under Mode I and Mode IV conditions. In this study, we relied on these previous wear tests to establish a relationship between finite element model (FEM)-based bearing stresses and in vitro wear metrics. Our modeling effort addressed the following question of interest: Is the L-TJR sufficiently resistant to wear under reasonably worst-case misaligned conditions? The FEM was first formally verified and validated using the risk informed credibility assessment framework established by ASME V&V 40 and FDA Guidance. Then, based on criteria for unreasonable mis-use outlined in the surgical technique guide, a parametric analysis of reasonably worst-case mis-alignment using the validated L-TJR FEM was performed. Reasonable misalignment was created by altering device positioning from the baseline condition in three scenarios: Axial Plane Conver-gence (20°-40°), Axial Plane A-P Offset (0-4 mm), and Coronal Plane Tilt (±20°). We found that, for the scenarios considered, the bearing mechanics of the L-TJR design remained reasonably consistent with Mode I conditions. The L-TJR was judged to be insensitive to axial and coronal misalignment under the in vitro boundary conditions imposed by the study.
The Hypothesis of 'Long String Enwind Forming Particles': Exploring Forces, Black Holes, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, the Accelerating Universe, and Inertia
Authors: Zhang ZhaoYang
Published: December 2024

In the paper titled 'A Hypothesis: Electromagnetic Waves Can Be Represented as Continuous Long String Vibrations,' we explore the relationship between string vibration waves and electromagnetic waves. We find that when the constituent element mass and energy of both wave types are equal over one wave period, the velocity of the string vibration wave is the constant speed of light. This leads to the proposition that "electromagnetic waves are formed by the vibration of a homogeneous long string material." Building on this theory, the paper further examines the process of particle formation, introducing a new model that posits that particles are created through the winding and compression of electromagnetic wave-forming vibrating strings. Energy is transmitted between particles, objects, and celestial bodies through strings that extend and intertwine. This model elucidates the relationship between mass and energy conversion, provides insights into the formation of matter waves, and explains why "electrons have radius but no volume." In this model, electromagnetic wave propagation adheres to the principle of constant light speed. After discussion, it is proposed that the tension of the string increases in a high-curvature state after winding, which can generate strong forces.Gravity arises from the low-frequency collisions of strings and their low-frequency tension effects. Electromagnetic forces result from high-frequency collisions of strings, as well as the effects of high-frequency tension.The intersections of strings serve as energy transmission channels, allowing us to construct a gravitational formula based on these low-frequency collision points.We propose that black holes form from the dense winding of strings. Dark matter, like ordinary matter, is composed of strings, while ordinary matter consists of strings wound together. When these strings unwind, they transform into dark matter. We further deduce the differences between dark energy—resulting from the longitudinal compression and bending of strings—and ordinary energy, which stems from the transverse vibration of strings. The paper also discusses the causes of the accelerated expansion of the universe and offers an explanation of inertia based on our model. We assert that matter is space, space is matter, and that strings represent the fundamental components constituting three-dimensional space. Future studies will continue to explore the potential for quantifying gravity and developing a unified field theory of physical forces.
Fungal Biocatalysis in Stereoselective Oxidation of 2-Phenylethanol
Authors: Raczyńska Agnieszka , Szmigiel-Merena Beata , Brzezińska-Rodak Małgorzata , Klimek-Ochab Magdalena , Żymańczyk-Duda Ewa
Published: December 2024

Three fungal strains were employed for stereoselective oxidation of the cheap and commercially available substrate 2-phenylethanol, what resulted in chiral building blocks receiving. Whole-cells biocatalysts were as follows: Beauveria bassiana DSM 1344, Beauveria brongniartii DSM 6651 and Rhizopus arrhizus DSM 1185. The main product of Beauveria bassiana bioconversion, was 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol obtained, depending on the form of the biocatalyst, as a R-enantiomer (e.g. 99.9%), with fresh biomass application or as racemic mixture in case of immobilization in agar- agar. The very best and pioneer results for the synthesis of R-enantiomer of diol were received under precisely defined conditions, and as a results of scaling study conducted in automatic bath reactor (Table 2.). This is pioneer result, since in the previous studies, fresh mycelium of Aspergillus niger allowed receiving this product as (S) enantiomer. Also the use of Rhizopus arrhizus DSM 1185 (immobilized in polyurethane foams), gave important results, since the bioconversion of phenyl ethanol led, indeed to the racemic mixture of 1-phenylethane-1,2-diol, but it was accompanied by the noticeable tyrosol synthesis, what is reported for the first time.
Equation for Calculation of Critical Current Density Using the Bean's Model with Self-Consistent Magnetic Units to Prevent Unit Conversion Errors
Authors: Polichetti Massimiliano , Galluzzi Armando , Kumar Rohit , Goyal Amit
Published: December 2024

This study analyzes the calculation of the critical current density Jc,mag by means of the Bean's critical state model, using the equation formulated by Gyorgy et al. and other similar equations derived from Gyorgy et al. reported in literature. While estimations of Jc,mag using the Bean's model are widely done, improper use of different equations with different magnetic units and pre-factors, leads to confusion and to significant errors in the reported values of Jc,mag. We propose a SINGLE general equation for calculation of Jc,mag for a rectangular parallelepiped sample in perpendicular field using the Bean's critical state model, underlying how the simple conversion of magnetic units can lead to a Jc,mag in the desired units, without the need to introduce any other correction or use other specific equations depending on the units of Jc,mag. This resolves all ambiguities and aligns with the correct dimensional analysis, eliminates discrepancies in the calculated Jc,mag and will avoid further propagation of errors in the literature. In this equation, the numerical pre-factor is dimensionless, independent of the unit system used.
Long-term Effects of Covid-19 İnfection and Pandemic Period in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ertürk Aysenur , Erarslan Sertas , Onbasi Kevser
Published: December 2024

Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Covid-19 infection and the pandemic period on diabetes regulation and other metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Two groups of patients who were selected from patients who were admitted to internal medicine or endocrinology and metabolism outpatient clinics between 01/02/2021 - 01/05/2021, received inpatient treatment due to COVID-19 and did not have COVID-19 infection during the pandemic period were established. A total of 127 patients, 79 of whom were women and 64 of whom had Covid-19, were included in the study. The changes in control diabetes and other metabolic parameters of the patients after six months were compared as inter- and intra-group, and the differences between the groups were examined. Results: A statistically significant decrease was detected between the HbA1c measured before the pandemic and at control in all patients (p<0.05). A significant increase was detected in LDL, HDL, and Total cholesterol values (p<0.05). In the patient group with COVID-19, HbA1c was detected to be significantly lower between before and after the disease, and there was a statistically significant increase in Total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL values (p<0.05). In the patient group who did not have COVID-19, HbA1c was significantly lower between the pre-pandemic and control, and no significant difference was detected in other parameters. Conclusions: In our study, we determined that COVID-19 infection did not disrupt diabetes regulation in diabetic patients but caused dyslipidemia by increasing cholesterol levels. Dyslipidemia is predicted to increase atherosclerotic complications.
Studying PADI4 Polymorphism and Th17 cytokines profile in Rheumatoid Arthritis of Saudi Population
Authors: Mattar Ehab H. , Alasmari Doaa , Assiri Amjad , El-Baky Nawal Abd , Redwan Elrashdy M.
Published: December 2024

Peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (PADI4) is involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by citrullination of proteins. PADI4 polymorphisms have been an issue of interest as they are related to RA, especially in Asian populations. Th17 cytokines have a pro-inflammatory role in RA. The vital Th17 cytokines involved are IL-17 A-F, IL-21, IL-22, and to a lesser extent IL-6 and TNF-α. This study was conducted to investigate the association of PAD4 polymorphisms with RA in the Saudi population. It also identifies Th17 cytokines profile (IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, TGF-β, TNF-α, and TNF-RN) in Saudi RA for the first time. A total of 45 blood samples from Saudi participants (37 with RA and 8 healthy) were included 67% female while 33% were males. The extracted DNA from these samples was tested for rs11203366 and rs11203367 SNPs using the TaqMan SNPs Genotyping Assay by RT-PCR. Th17 cytokines levels were compared between healthy and RA patients. The two SNPs were significantly associated with RA in the Saudi population. Around 46% of RA subjects were homo allelic, 64% were hetero allelic while all healthy subjects were found to be hetero allelic. The study found that IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, and TNF-α were at higher levels in Saudi RA patients, TGF-β at lower levels, while IL-23 and TNF-RN did not significantly change compared to healthy subjects.
Nanobodies: A New Frontier in Antiviral Therapies
Authors: Mohammed Ahmed , Mustafa Mujahed I
Published: December 2024

Nanobodies, derived from the immune systems of camelids such as alpacas and llamas, represent a novel class of therapeutics with significant potential in fighting respiratory viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and dengue virus. Nanobodies are small biomolecules that are highly stable and have unique binding features that allow for the effective neutralization of viral particles and inhibition of viral replication. This review highlights the advantages of nanobodies over traditional antibodies, including cost-effective production and enhanced specificity for target antigens. We discuss the mechanisms through which nanobodies block viral entry, their applications in diagnostics, and the methodologies for their development, such as phage display technology. Furthermore, we explore the efficacy of nanobodies in preclinical studies and their potential in clinical settings. As research progresses, structural optimization and the exploration of combination therapies may enhance their therapeutic efficacy, providing a promising approach for addressing global health challenges caused by emerging viral pathogens.
Evaluating the Diagnostic Performance of ChatGPT-4o Mini in the Classification of Chest X-Ray Pathologies
Authors: Vaja Swapna , Patel Shivam , Chetla Amogha , Chen Diana , Sukhija Kunal
Published: December 2024

Radiographic assessment of chest X-rays (CXR) is the current standard for diagnostic imaging, but advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened new possibilities for automated pathology detection. This study evaluates the performance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o mini in correctly identifying 14 distinct chest X-ray pathologies or confirming the absence of pathology using the VinDr-CXR dataset - specifically through the Kaggle data subset. After the GPT model was queried with a standardized prompt, key performance metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores were calculated, and a multi-classification confusion matrix were analyzed to assess performance.Results revealed significant limitations in ChatGPT-4o mini's diagnostic capabilities, with an overall accuracy of 0.05 and macro-averaged precision, recall, and F1 scores of 0.28, 0.17, and 0.14, respectively. Moreover, several pathologies, including aortic enlargement, interstitial lung disease, and pneumothorax, were entirely misclassified. Performance variability across classes appeared associated with dataset imbalances, as classes with higher support values generally showed more favorable outcomes.These findings highlight the significant challenges faced by the current ChatGPT-4o mini model in multi-class diagnostic classification, underscoring a need for improved model training before successful integration into practical clinical scenarios can be undertaken.
Monensin Inhibits Triple Negative Breast Cancer in Mice by a Na+-Dependent Cytotoxic Action Unrelated to Cytostatic Effects
Authors: Fiorilla Simone , Tasso Francesco , Clemente Nausicaa , Trisciuoglio Tommaso , Boldorini Renzo , Carini Rita
Published: December 2024

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype and maintains a low rate of overall survival despite the recent advances in treatments. This study investigates Na+ homeostasis of TNBC cells as a novel therapeutic target to induce TNBC inhibition. To this purpose BALB/c mice were injected with breast cancer 4T1 cells and treated with the Na+ ionophore Monensin (8 mg/kg) or vehicle. Tumor development and Na+ increase were monitored by In Vivo Imaging techniques. Intracellular Na+ variations and cytotoxicity were followed by Live Cell Analysis. Monensin increased Na+ content of transformed tissue and significantly reduced TNBC growth. Monensin induced extended TNBC tumor necrosis without affecting the integrity of healthy organs and proliferating activity of both tumor and normal tissue. Monensin did not influence PCNA expression of 4T1 cells but exerted a cytotoxic effect preceded by an increase of intracellular Na+. Absent Na+ in the extracellular medium prevented Na+ load and 4T1 cell death. Monensin inhibits TNBC by a Na+-dependent and cancer specific cytotoxic action without exerting cytostatic effects in both normal and transformed tissues. These observations support the potential of Na+ ionophores as innovative agents for TNBC therapy.
Operators in the Hilbert Space: the Ramsey Approach
Authors: Bormashenko Edward , Shvalb Nir
Published: December 2024

Ramsey theory is applied to the analysis of operators acting on the functions belonging to the L^2 Hilbert space. The operators form the vertices of the bi-colored graph. If the operators commute, they are connected by a red link; if the operators do not commute they are connected with a green link. Thus, the complete, bi-colored graph emerges and the Ramsey theory becomes applicable. If the graph contains six vertices/operators, at least one monochromatic triangle will necessarily appear in the graph. Thus, the triad of operators forming the read triangle possesses the common set of eigenfunctions. The extension of introduced approach to infinite sets of operators is addressed. Applications of the introduced approach to problems of classical and quantum mechanics are suggested.
NIC6-TT Vaccine Attenuates Nicotine-Seeking and Expression of Nicotine-Induced Locomotor Sensitization in Rats
Authors: Barbosa-Mendez Susana , Salazar-Juarez Alberto
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Various models of nicotine vaccines have been evaluated. In humans, antibody levels are low and variable. In this sense, it is necessary to improve or optimize the nicotine vaccines already evaluated. We reported the efficacy of the M6-TT vaccine. Recently, we reported the efficacy of the COC-TT vaccine, which was developed from the M6-TT vaccine. Both vaccines generate high titers of antibodies and attenuate heroin- or cocaine-induced behavioral effects in rodents.
Aims and Methods: The objective of this study was to determine whether the antibodies generated by a tetanus toxoid-conjugated nicotine vaccine (NIC6-TT) can produce anti-nicotine antibodies and decrease the nicotine-induced reinforcing and psychomotor effects. Male Wistar rats were immunized with the NIC6-TT. A solid-phase antibody-capture ELISA was used to monitor antibody titer responses after each booster dose in vaccinated animals. The study used nicotine self-administration and nicotine locomotor sensitization testing to evaluate the nicotine-reinforcing and psychomotor effects.
Results: The NIC6-TT vaccine could generate high and sustained levels of anti-nicotine antibodies. The antibodies reduced the nicotine self-administration and expression of nicotine locomotor sensitization.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the NIC6-TT vaccine generates a robust immunogenic response capable of reducing the reinforcing and psychomotor effects of nicotine, which supports its possible future use in clinical trials for the treatment of smokers.
Implications: Smoking is the second most used psychoactive substance in the world, which is associated with millions of preventable deaths. An effective treatment is required. Nicotine vaccines must generate high levels of anti-nicotine antibodies, but above all, the decay curve of the antibodies must be very slow, so that they can long-term protect and long-term smoking abstinence is achieved. The NIC6-TT vaccine meets these properties.
Emperical Study of Capital Asset Pricing Model: A Case Study of Oil and Gas Sector of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Shahbano , Khan Aurangzeb
Published: December 2024

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) have been commonly used technique in the global investing community for calculating the required return of a risky asset. This paper investigates whether CAPM is valid model for determining price/return of oil & gas sector companies listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). The purpose of the research is also to identify plausible reasons for deviations from the theories. The conclusions arrived at through data analysis reveal weak correlation between realized excess returns (i.e. actual returns over and above the risk free rate) and the expected return based on CAPM. With respect to model, the study reflects that changes in exchange rate and market return do not serve as valid determinants of returns on oil and gas producing companies stocks.
Public Security Patrol Path Planning Recommendation Method based on Wolf-Pack Optimization Algorithm using DAF and BRS
Authors: Dongxing WANG , ZHANG Gaomin , WU Fangbo , HUANG Zhiyang , CHEN Yiping
Published: December 2024

The public security patrol path planning plays an important role in public security work, however, existing public security patrol path planning has varying degrees of shortcomings. To address these shortcomings, this paper proposes a public security patrol path planning recommendation method based on an improved wolf-pack optimization algorithm (S3PRM-DAF-BRS-CWOA). Firstly, an optimization objective function regarding the public security patrol path planning(S3P-Function) was abstracted based on the actual situation; Secondly, this paper proposed an improved wolf-pack optimization algorithm named DAF-BRS-CWOA using Dynamic-Adjustment-Factor(DAF) and Balanced-Raid-Strategy(BRS), and DAF devoted to adjust the overall wolf-pack running strategy by dynamically adjusting the number of airdropped wolves during the stage of Summon-Raid while BRS with symmetric property was to improve both the algorithm's global exploration as well as the local development capabilities by increasing the number of checking locations, that means not only checking the reverse position of the current wolf, but also the positions generated according to certain rules between the reverse position of the current wolf and the current optimal wolf during the stage of Summon-Raid; Finally, DAF-BRS-CWOA was adopted to optimize S3P-Function, forming a public security patrol path planning recommendation method based on DAF-BRS-CWOA (S3PRM-DAF-BRS-CWOA). Comparative and numerical experiments with four similar swarm intelligence optimization algorithms (PSO, GA, WDX-WPOA and DAF-BRS-CWOA) were conducted on 20 public datasets as well as the proposed S3P-Function, and the experimental results demonstrated that S3PRM-DAF-BRS-CWOA has superior performance as same as DAF-BRS-CWOA.