bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apogeo de la deuda y decrecimiento económico: el colapso de la civilización
Authors: Cante Freddy , Franco-Cuervo Ana Beatriz
Published: October 2023

El propósito y la hipótesis de este artículo de reflexión es mostrar que el auge del dinero (deudas) es el acicate del crecimiento económico, pero también es causa del subdesarrollo y, además, del colapso de la civilización global. La metodología empleada se basa en una lectura crítica de la literatura económica más relevante y heterodoxa, con el fin de esclarecer los conceptos de deuda monetaria, riqueza real, crecimiento y también del colapso que han vivido pretéritas civilizaciones y que ahora es un riesgo global; esto se complementa con alguna evidencia histórica y con datos estadísticos relevantes, en particular sobre la deuda. La argumentación no se limita a un enfoque positivo (cómo son las cosas), sino que trasciende hacia una visión normativa (cómo debería ser el mundo), por lo cual se incorporan recurrentemente discusiones éticas. Hallazgos: primero: el dinero es una riqueza imaginaria, que implica la creación de deudas, que se incrementan exponencialmente con la tasa de interés compuesto, lo que va en contravía de la riqueza real, la cual se degrada y se destruye, debido a los procesos entrópicos (acelerados por el crecimiento económico, a su vez incentivado por las deudas); segundo: el subdesarrollo es una creación de países e instituciones dominantes, para mantener a los países tercermundistas como importadores de capital y exportadores de materias primas y recursos minero-energéticos (para pagar las onerosas deudas públicas e importaciones); tercero: el neoliberalismo se ha consolidado como una férrea defensa de los creadores de diversas formas de dinero, que se ha impuesto  desde el Consenso de Washington hasta el de Wall Street; y, cuarto: debido a la prolongada interacción entre deudores y prestamistas se ha generado un gigantesco descuento del futuro, que se traduce en colosal destrucción de la vida futura (calentamiento planetario y colapso global de la civilización). En cuanto a las implicaciones, a efectos de política económica heterodoxa, se ofrecen potentes argumentos para insistir en el no pago de las deudas, porque la quiebra y radical transformación del sistema financiero es una condición, sine qua non, para salvar la vida en el planeta.
Fintech and Start-ups: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sanchez Obando Jhon Wilder , Duque-Méndez Néstor Darío , Tapasco-Rueda Andrea Ximena
Published: October 2023

Fintech is the application of the technologies of the fourth industrial revolution in the financial field. In recent years, it has aroused growing interest from various financial actors and specialties, thanks to its relevant characteristics such as information security, increased performance, and decentralization. Despite the positive aspects of fintech, there are some trends in its application that require overcoming certain problems such as regulation, technological scalability, and hybridization. Therefore, a systematic overview is considered necessary in which information is collected to provide an overview of the state of the art related to the application of fintech and start-ups to serve as a reference for future research in this field. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA protocol in combination with the Tree of Science (ToS) algorithm. Articles published between 2016 and 2021 were found in the Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus and IEEE Xplore databases, where the Tree of Science (ToS) algorithm was then applied to identify the most relevant literature on the topic. As a result, 72 articles were analyzed. The analysis of the selected articles provided valuable information and answered the research questions posed in the PRISMA protocol. The results indicate as research trends on the topic: business financing, innovation and financial information, financial technology and finance and regulation. Fintech is a revolutionary innovation that creates opportunities in the market and in the financial world, which is why prototypes are being developed worldwide.
Valoración económica del agua en el Distrito de Riego del Alto Chicamocha, Boyacá, Colombia
Authors: Suárez Parra Karen Victoria , Parra Saad Alejandro , Cely Reyes Germán Eduardo
Published: October 2023

La valoración económica de recursos naturales permite establecer un valor monetario de un recurso público sin mercado definido. La metodología de valoración contingente es la metodología de mayor implementación en el mundo para estimar el valor económico del agua. En este estudio se calculó el valor económico del agua de riego y el pago por un plan de conservación del recurso hídrico del Distrito de Riego del Alto Chicamocha (Boyacá), utilizando el esquema metodológico de la valoración contingente y la aplicación de encuestas para la identificación de la percepción de aspectos sociales, productivos, ambientales y económicos de los usuarios. Los valores de disposición a pagar se calcularon con la estimación econométrica empleando modelos probit en el software Stata 16. Los resultados indican un valor económico total de 421 998 831,5 COP, una disposición a pagar (DAP) de 181 COP por metro cúbico de agua de riego y 10 782,33 COP por un plan de conservación de agua dentro del territorio. Los valores tan bajos determinados estadísticamente demuestran la baja percepción de importancia por parte de los usuarios del recurso hídrico, tanto para su conservación como de su valor productivo. Por ende, se requiere generar estrategias para considerar la importancia del recurso hídrico como parte de la cadena productiva regional, y realizar otras investigaciones en valoración de recursos naturales para crear planes de uso eficiente, gobernanza y conservación.
La tensión entre educación y economía desde la perspectiva de Adam Smith
Authors: Gallardo Eraso Luis Alvaro
Published: October 2023

Este documento examina la teoría de Smith en comparación con los análisis presentes en las teorías de economía de la educación y de la filosofía de la educación. Adam Smith plantea que la educación desempeña un papel esencial en la evolución y el desarrollo de las sociedades de mercado. Para Smith, la educación no es un agregado de las relaciones económicas, sino que interviene para dar cuenta de las patologías que la sociedad mercantil genera en su evolución, relacionadas con la ignorancia, la estupidez y la pérdida de sociabilidad. Este sentido de pertinencia se confronta con el propuesto por las políticas educativas contemporáneas en educación superior, desde los análisis de la economía de la educación, que terminan por desarrollar propuestas funcionales a las lógicas socioeconómicas. La perspectiva de la educación como espacio para la solución de patologías se vuelve afín a las posturas de la filosofía de la educación abordadas por Dewey y Mill que buscan, al decir de Kitcher (2009), el aumento del conocimiento público para la sociedad. El planteamiento de Smith es adecuado para entender el lugar de la educación en sociedades donde predominan lógicas mercantiles; sin embargo, sus soluciones prácticas son inadecuadas porque terminan reproduciendo lo que quiere evitar: las patologías del mercado. En este sentido, el propósito entra en tensión con su aplicabilidad, y esta tensión no es más que la muestra de los problemas que surgen en la sociedad de mercado cuando se pretende posicionar a la educación en el espacio de vida de la sociedad.
Impact of Varying User Characteristics on The Accuracy of Fall Prediction Algorithms Using Custom Wrist-Worn End Device
Authors: Nandi Purab , Anupama K R , Agarwal Himanish , Paliwal Siddharth , Patel Kishan , Bang Vedant , Bharat Manan , Guru Madhen Vyas
Published: October 2023

Falls are extremely damaging to the elderly. The number of elderly who have experienced falls has increased over the years, several of the elderly stay alone or in in badly maintained elderly homes. This makes a low-cost fall detection system a necessity. There has been huge improvements in terms of IoT systems, ML algorithms. Varied data sets have been collected across the world for fall detection. These data sets have a very little in common among them, in terms of user demographics, sensors used, the ADL and Fall activities Hence in this paper we present a data set that has wide user demographics, we used various sensors – such as accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer and hear rate. We used wrist worn sensors to collect data. In this paper we present a detailed analysis of the data set we collected using common ML algorithms such as – Naïve Bayes (NB), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machines (SVM). We analyzed the performance of these algorithms for variations in accuracy with respect to age, gender, height, weight and health issues and we have identified outliers by analyzing each incorrect prediction. This paper provides the complete details of the data collection methodology, The methods used for analysis and presents the results of analysis in complete detail.
Exploring the Neurobiological Roots of Emotional Behavior in Tryptophan Metabolism: Insights from Novel Kynurenine Aminotransferase Knockout Mice
Authors: Szabó Ágnes , Spekker Eleonóra , Szűcs Mónika , Takeda Keiko , Ozaki Kinuyo , Inoue Hiromi , Yamamoto Sayo , Toldi József , Ono Etsuro , Vécsei László , Tanaka Masaru
Published: October 2023

Memory and emotion, fundamental components of our mental existence, are highly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition has been linked to serotonin (5-HT) metabolism disruptions. Over 95% of the 5-HT precursor tryptophan (Trp) is metabolized through the Trp-kynurenine (KYN) metabolic pathway, but little is known about its role in behavior. Kynurenine aminotransferases are responsible for the production of the Trp-KYN metabolite kynurenic acid. The gene aadat codes for mitochondrial kynurenine aminotransferase isotype 2. We generated CRISPR/Cas9-induced aadat knockout (kat2−/−) mice to examine the consequence of the gene deletion on negative valence in emotion, memory, and motor function in males 8 weeks of age and compared them to their wild-type counterparts. The forced swim test showed increased depression-like behaviors in transgenic mice. Anxiety and memory tests showed no significant differences. The transgenic mice had fewer center field and corner entries, shorter ambulation distances, and fewer jumping counts in the open field test. Overall, the transgenic mice exhibit depression-like behavior in a learned helplessness model, emotional indifference, and motor deficits. Here we present the first evidence that the deletion of the aadat gene triggers depression-like behaviors, uniquely associated with despair experience rather than adverse-conditioned memory. These findings have profound implications, opening avenues for further exploration into the main causes of experience-based depression linked to despair. This investigation has the potential to advance our understanding of these complex conditions and pave the way for improved therapeutic strategies by elucidating the relationship between Trp metabolism and the pathogenesis of PTSD.
A Recombinant Protein XBB.1.5 RBD/Alum/CpG Vaccine Elicits High Neutralizing Antibody Titers against Omicron Subvariants of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Thimmiraju Syamala Rani , Adhikari Rakesh , Villar Maria J , Lee Jungsoon , Liu Zhuyun , Kundu Rakhi , Chen Yi-Lin , Sharma Suman , Ghei Karm , Keegan Brian , Versteeg Leroy , Gillespie Portia M , Ciciriello Allan , Yesmin Nelufa , Poveda Cristina , Uzcategui Nestor , Chen Wen-Hsiang , Kimata Jason T , Zhan Bin , Strych Ulrich , Bottazzi Maria Elena , Hotez Peter , Pollet Jeroen
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: We previously reported the development of a recombinant protein SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, consisting of the Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, adjuvanted with aluminum hydroxide (alum) and CpG oligonucleotides. In mice and non-human primates, our wild-type (WT) RBD vaccine induced high neutralizing antibody titers against the WT isolate of the virus, and, with partners in India and Indonesia it was later developed into two closely resembling human vaccines, Corbevax and Indovac. Here, we describe the development and characterization of a next-generation vaccine adapted to the recently emerging XBB variants of SARS-CoV-2. (2) Methods: We conducted preclinical studies in mice using a novel yeast-produced SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 RBD subunit vaccine candidate formulated with alum and CpG. We examined the neutralization profile of sera obtained from mice vaccinated twice intramuscularly at a 21-day interval with the XBB.1.5-based RBD vaccine, against WT, Beta, Delta, BA.4, BQ.1.1, BA.2.75.2, XBB.1.16, XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1 SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses. (3) Results: The XBB.1.5 RBD/CpG/alum vaccine elicited a robust antibody response in mice. Furthermore, serum from vaccinated mice demonstrated potent neutralization against the XBB.1.5 pseudovirus as well as several other Omicron pseudoviruses. However, regardless of high antibody cross-reactivity by ELISA, the anti-XBB.1.5 RBD antigen serum showed low neutralizing titers against the WT and Delta virus variants. (4) Conclusions: Whereas we observed modest cross-neutralization against Omicron subvariants by sera from mice vaccinated with the WT RBD/CpG/Alum vaccine or with the BA.4/5-based vaccine, sera raised against the XBB.1.5 RBD showed robust cross-neutralization. These findings underscore the imminent opportunity for an updated vaccine formulation utilizing the XBB.1.5 RBD antigen.
Local Storytelling for a Climate-Friendly Future: An Evidence-Based Approach and First Prototyping Results from the Region of Lake Constance, Germany
Authors: Sippel Maike
Published: October 2023

For achieving climate targets, public engagement is key. Climate communication can play an important role here. Telling regional stories of successful climate action seems a promising form of climate communication: It may convey a feeling of ‘So this is what climate action looks like – and it is people like you and me who are starting to take action.’ This transformative research project (1) formulates hypotheses on what could make such local climate stories effective, (2) then identifies, produces and disseminates stories in the region of Konstanz, Germany, following a rapid prototyping approach, and (3) analyzes the effect of the stories by using focus groups. So far, two prototyping series of filmic story production have been completed in 2022/2023 and some initial insights were derived: Potential protagonists seem willing to tell their stories, and the stories have a potential to inspire people. Technical film quality is relevant. The stories must be selected and told carefully (who is portrayed, which actions are interpreted as success, through which channels are the stories shared), in order to create resonance with different target groups. Next steps are continuation of film production prototyping, a broader sharing of stories, and thorough impact research by focus groups.
Demand-Oriented Review of Dynamic Energy Loss Monitoring System for Primary School Buildings through Micro-Environmental Data Monitoring and Occupant Behavior Analysis
Authors: Peng Zhen , Yu Yanan , Guan Rui
Published: October 2023

The utilization of primary school buildings is multifaceted, primarily due to the high occupancy density, varying thermal preferences among occupants, diverse indoor activities (such as walking, sports, and conversation), and a constant flow of individuals entering and exiting the building. This results in frequent opening and closing of external windows and doors and fluctuations in internal heat gain. Consequently, frequent interactions between the indoor and outdoor microenvironments lead to energy losses. This study conducts a comprehensive literature review on building energy loss stemming from occupant behavior and the interactions between indoor and outdoor microenvironments. Furthermore, it proposes a dynamic real-time monitoring system based on a computer data capture and visualization platform foundation for building energy loss. The research methods include data crawling, data association rule mining, and data association analysis. The research findings yield a universally applicable and informative building energy-saving design theory based on extensive data analysis. Additionally, the system presents information on occupants' behavior and the microclimate data of indoor and outdoor environments on a computer screen, facilitating human-machine communication and enabling timely adjustments to design strategies for new buildings and operation and maintenance strategies for existing buildings.
Fillers and Methods to Improve the Effective (Out-Plane) Thermal Conductivity of Polymeric Thermal Interface Materials—A Review
Authors: Mumtaz Nighat , Mumtaz Amina , Farooq Zunaira , Guo Qian , Un Nisa Fakhr , Li Yanchun , Artiaga Ramón
Published: October 2023

The internet of things and growing demand for smaller and advanced devices has created the problem of high heat production in the electronic equipment which greatly reduces the work performance and life of the electronic instruments. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are placed in between heat generating micro-chip and the heat dissipater to conduct all the produced heat to the heat sink. Development of suitable TIMs with excellent thermal conductivity (TC) in both in-plane and through-plane directions is a very important need at present. For efficient thermal management, polymer composites are potential candidates. But in general their thermal conductivity is low compared to that of metals. The filler integration into the polymer matrix is one of the two approaches used to increase the thermal conductivity of polymer composites and is also easy to scale up for industrial production. Another way to achieve this is to change the structure of polymer chains, which fall out of the scope of this work. In this review, considering the first approach, the authors have summarized recent development in many types of fillers with different scenarios by providing multiple cases with successful strategies to improve through-plane thermal conductivity (TPTC) (K⊥). For better understanding of TC the comprehensive background is also presented. In the end, it is given a detailed conclusion which provides drawbacks of some filler, multiple significant routes recommended by other researchers to build Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites, future aspects along with direction so that the researchers can get a guideline to design an effective polymer based Thermal interface materials. A number of methods to improve the effective (out-plane) thermal conductivity of polymer composites are also discussed.
A Process Concept of Waste-fired Zero Emission Integrated Gasification Magnetohydrodynamic Cycle Power Plant
Authors: Rashid Aiman , Caredda Marco
Published: October 2023

A layout of urban waste fired zero emission power plant is described in this paper. The principle of layout, which comes from similar coal-fired plants retrieved from the literature, integrates gasification with a power generation section, and implements two parallel conversion processes, one supplied by the heat of the gasifier consisting of a thermoacousticmagnetohydrodynamic (TAMHD) generator, while in the second one the syngas is treated in order to obtain almost pure hydrogen, which is fed to fuel cells. The CO2 deriving from the oxidation of Carbon base is stocked in liquid form. The novelty of the proposed layout lies in the fact that the entire conversion is performed without solid moving parts. The resulting plant avoids any type of emissions in the atmosphere, increases mechanical efficiency as compared to traditional plants, thanks to the absence of moving parts, nonetheless, resolving at its root the ever-increasing waste-related pollution problems.
A New Algorithm Using Support Vector Machines to Detect and Monitor Bloom-Forming Pseudo-nitzschia from OLCI Data
Authors: Gonzalez Vilas Luis , Spyrakos Evangelos , Pazos Yolanda , Torres Palenzuela Jesus M
Published: October 2023

Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms are a recurrent problem in many coastal areas globally imposing some significant threats to the health of human, ecosystems and economy. Monitoring programmes have been established, where feasible, to mitigate the impacts caused by Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and other harmful algae blooms. The detection of such blooms from satellite data could really provide timely information on emerging risks but the development of taxa-specific algorithms from available multispectral data is still challenged by coupled optical properties with other taxa and water constituents, availability of ground data and generalisation capabilities of algorithms. Here, we developed a new set of algorithms (PNOI) for the detection and monitoring of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. blooms over the Galician coast (NW Iberian Peninsula) from Sentinel-3 OLCI reflectances using support vector machine (SVM). Our algorithm was trained and tested with reflectance data from 260 OLCI images and 4607 Pseudo-nitzschia spp. match up data points, of which 2171 were of high quality. The performance of no bloom/bloom model in the independent test set was robust, showing values of 0.80, 0.72 and 0.79 for area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Similar results were obtained by our below detection limit/presence model. We also present different model thresholds based on optimisation of true skill statistic (TSS) and F1-score. PNOI outperforms linear models, while its relationship with in-situ chlorophyll-a concentrations is weak demonstrating poor correlation with the phytoplankton abundance. We showcase the importance of PNOI algorithm and OLCI sensor for monitoring the bloom evolution between the weekly ground sampling and during periods of ground data absence, such as due to Covid-19.
Wet-deposited TADF based OLED Active Layers: New Approaches Towards Further Optimization
Authors: Teixeira Francisco , Germino José Carlos , Pereira Luiz
Published: October 2023

The effects of the solvent used for the active layer materials of an OLED based on TADF emitters plays a fundamental role in solution-deposited devices. This work focuses the effects on the performance of different solvents employed to fabricate a very simple two organic layer OLED based on a green TADF emitter, under the concept of host:guest matrix. From the different results of the main figures of merit, it was possible to conclude that the OLED that used toluene as solvent for the active layer reached a maximum EQE of 14%, almost the maximum already obtained for this emitter in more complex device structures. With the analysis of the charge transport processes, it was possible to establish an explanatory model for the obtained results. Through impedance spectroscopy, additional characterization about the nature of charge transport processes was carried out. With these results, it was possible to corelate the relaxation times, with the electrical properties of the active layer, and infer about the interaction between the electrical charges and the defect levels opening new possibilities to further development in the printed OLEDs.
Recent Optimization Methods and Techniques for Medical Image Analysis
Authors: wang jing
Published: October 2023

Medical image analysis is an important branch in the field of medicine, which mainly uses image processing and analysis techniques to interpret and diagnose medical image data. Medical image data helps doctors to effectively observe and diagnose patients' body structures, tissues and lesions. Medical image analysis has been an important research area in the medical field, and it is important for disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and condition monitoring. In recent years, the rapid development of deep learning and computer vision technologies has contributed greatly to the automation, multimodal data fusion, real-time application, and accuracy improvement of medical image analysis. In addition, the development of deep learning has given rise to some new research areas in medical image analysis, such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for synthetic medical images, self-supervised learning for unsupervised feature learning, and neural network interpretability. In this paper, we will introduce some optimisation methods for medical images which are effective in improving the accuracy, efficiency and reliability of medical image analysis.
Pregnancy-Associated Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma: A Case Report
Authors: Alcaraz Baturoni Francisco Javier , Zepeda Nuño José Sergio , Nolasco González Brenda Fernanda , Ramos Solano Moises , Martínez Nieto Melissa , Lomeli Martínez Sarah Monserrat
Published: October 2023

The Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) is an asymptomatic, non-neoplastic and proliferative lesion of unknown etiology. Some possible pre-disposing factors such as hormonal changes dur-ing pregnancy, have been suggested. However, the association between PGCG and pregnancy is controversial. There are few reported clinical cases of pregnancy-associated PGCG in the litera-ture, and they occurred only in the lower jaw. The present report is on a 35-year-old female pa-tient at 36 weeks of gestation who presented with a PGCG in the central and lateral incisors of the upper jaw. The management consisted of surgical excision, along with curettage of the affected bony walls. The diagnosis was based on clinical results and imaging examinations, and it was histopathologically confirmed. The patient underwent postoperative follow-up evaluations at 3, 6 and 12 months, and there were no signs of recurrence.
Trajectories and Forces in Four-Electrode Chambers Operated in Object-Shift, Dielectrophoresis and Field-Cage Modes – Considerations from the System’s Point of View
Authors: Gimsa Jan , Radai Michal M.
Published: October 2023

In two previous papers, we calculated the dielectrophoresis (DEP) force and corresponding trajectories of high- and low-conductance 200-µm 2D spheres in a square 1x1mm chamber with plane-versus-pointed, plane-versus-plane and pointed-versus-pointed electrode configurations by applying the law of maximum entropy production (LMEP) to the system. Here, we complete these considerations for configurations with four-pointed electrodes centered on the chamber edges. The four electrodes were operated in either object-shift mode (two adjacent electrodes opposite the other two adjacent electrodes), DEP mode (one electrode versus the other three electrodes), or field-cage mode (two electrodes on opposite edges versus the two electrodes on the other two opposite edges). As in previous work, we have assumed DC properties for the object and the external media for simplicity. Nevertheless, every possible polarization ratio of the two media can be modeled this way. The trajectories of the spherical centers and the corresponding DEP forces were calculated from the gradients of the system’s total energy dissipation, described by numerically-derived conductance fields. In each of the three drive modes, very high attractive and repulsive forces were found in front of pointed electrodes for the high and low-conductance spheres, respectively. The conductance fields predict bifurcation points, watersheds, and trajectories with multiple endpoints. The high and low-conductance spheres usually follow similar trajectories, albeit with reversed orientations. In DEP drive mode, the four-point electrode chamber provides a similar area for DEP measurements as the classical plane-versus-pointed electrode chamber.
Identification of Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for the MMP-9-1562C/T Dependent Differential Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Expression in Human Neurons
Authors: Pabian-Jewuła Sylwia , Ambrożek-Latecka Magdalena , Brągiel-Pieczonka Aneta , Nowicka Klaudia , Rylski Marcin
Published: October 2023

The MMP-9-1562C/T polymorphism influence incidence and course of many diseases of the central nervous system. We found, using luciferase assays and Q-RT-PCR technique, allele-specific in-fluence of MMP-9-1562C/T polymorphism on the MMP-9 promoter activity and on the expression of MMP-9 mRNA in human neurons derived from SH-SY5Y cells. Then, we have elucidated the mechanism responsible for the allele-specific action of the MMP-9-1562C/T polymorphism on transcriptional regulation of the MMP-9 gene using pull-down assay combined with mass spec-trometry analysis, EMSA and EMSA supershift techniques, as well as DsiRNA-dependent gene silencing. We have found that MMP-9 promoter activity and MMP-9 mRNA expression are reg-ulated in human neurons in the MMP-9-1562C/T allele-specific manner with stronger upregulation conferred by the C allele. Moreover, we have revealed that the allele-specific action of the MMP-9-1562C/T polymorphism on the neuronal MMP-9 expression is related to HDAC1 and ZNF384 transcriptional regulators. We show that HDAC1 and ZNF384 bind differentially to the C and the T alleles forming in vitro different regulatory complexes. Moreover, our data demonstrate that HDAC1 and ZNF384 downregulate differentially the MMP-9 gene promoter activity and MMP-9 mRNA expression in vivo in human neurons acting mostly via the T allele.
Proper Diet Without Probiotic Administration May Reduce Depressive Symptoms In Patients After Bariatric Surgery: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Komorniak Natalia , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Łoniewski Igor , Kley Alexandra Martynova-Van , Nalian Armen , Wronski Michał , Kaseja Krzysztof , Kowalewski Bartosz , Folwarski Maricn , Stachowska Ewa
Published: October 2023

Keywords: bariatric surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-y gastric bypass, obesity, microbiota, gut-brain axis, beck scale, depression, diet, probiotics
Flow Measurement Methods in Small Tributaries of the Teles Pires River, Southern of the Amazon Hydrological Region
Authors: Borella Daniela Roberta , Paulista Rhavel Salviano Dias , Alves Marco Aurélio Barbosa , Martim Charles Campoe , Silva Célio Jacinto da , Almeida Frederico Terra de , Souza Adilson Pacheco de
Published: October 2023

The intensification of conflicts associated with the use of water in the transition region of the Cerrado and Amazon biomes caused by population and economic growth, combined with the interest in generating energy from hydroelectric plants, raise the need to quantify the surface water availability of rivers contributing with different drainage areas. The present study estimated and compared loco measurements of liquid flow (QL) and depth of rivers in the Teles Pires river basin by reference methods (MLN-7 hydrometric windlass and metal rod/winch) and by Acoustic Current Profiler by Doppler Effect (ADCP RiverRay), in addition, evaluated the total measurement time underestimation uncertainty by ADCP. Field measurements were carried out at monthly intervals between March 2020 and October 2021, seeking to represent the water seasonality and depth and QL variations in the cross-sections of the Caiabi 1 and 2, Celeste, Preto and Renato rivers. The evaluated rivers had a net flow between 3.48 and 60.78 m3 s-1 by the windlass and between 2.66 and 54.30 m3 s-1 by the ADCP, while the depths obtained were from 0.17 to 6.34 m by the rod/winch and from 0.65 to 6.20 m by the ADCP. The methods resulted in similar measurements of net flow and depth in each of the cross-sections, and the statistical performance of the linear regression model was satisfactory with a Willmott concordance index of 0.9977 and 0.9819 for estimates of QL and of the depth of the cross-sections, respectively. The ADCP accurately measured net discharge and depth in shallow (up to 6.5 m) cross-sections of Teles Pires River in relative to the reference method. Determining the total measurement time and pairs of transects to obtain accurate QL by ADCP depends on the hydraulic characteristics of the watercourses.
Ultrasonic Spray Coating to optimize performance of Bio-Electrochemical Systems
Authors: Spisni Giacomo , Massaglia Giulia , Pirri Candido Fabrizio , Bianco Stefano , Quaglio Marzia
Published: October 2023

In this work, we describe the optimization of carbon-based electrodes employed in Bio-Electrochemical Systems (BES) by the deposition on commercial carbon paper electrodes of nanostructured layers of poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxy-thiophene) poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) via Ultrasonic Spray Coating (USC). This innovative application of USC allowed us to demon-strate that uniform and controlled depositions of PEDOT:PSS can be successfully obtained on car-bon-based electrodes. We characterized the morphology and verified the spatial uniformity of depositions via scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical charac-terizations on fabricated electrodes demonstrated a more than two-fold increase in electrochemi-cal active surface area with respect to bare carbon paper. A lab-scale experiments on BES was performed selecting Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) as the reference devices. Devices featuring USC-deposited PEDOT:PSS electrodes showed a three-fold higher Energy recovery with respect to con-trol cells, reaching a maximum value of (13 ± 2) J·m−3. Furthermore, the optimal PEDOT:PSS con-centration for the MFCs improvement is in line with the values reported in the literature for other deposition methods. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that USC is a promising technique for application in BES.
An Iterative Scheme for Evaluating Simultaneous Roots of Nonlinear Problems with Applications
Authors: Panwar Monika , Bhalla Sonia , Behl Ramandeep , Cordero Alicia , Torregrosa Juan R. , Triguero-Navarro Paula
Published: October 2023

In this article, an iterative method of two step is proposed for finding all roots simultaneously of polynomial equations. The order of convergence of the proposed algorithm is 2m, by using any iterative scheme of order m. Numerical tests are performed to confirm the theoretical results and to compare the proposed scheme with existing methods for finding all roots simultaneously.
An Enhanced Python Based Open-SourcePIV Software
Authors: Shirinzad Ali , Jaber Khodr , Xu Kecheng , Sullivan Pierre Edward
Published: October 2023

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is a widely used experimental technique for measuring flow. In recent years, open-source PIV software has become more popular as it offers researchers and practitioners enhanced computational capabilities. Software development for graphical processing unit (GPU) architectures requires careful algorithm design and data structure selection for optimal performance. PIV software, optimized for central processing units (CPUs), offer an alternative to specialized GPU software. In the present work, an improved algorithm for the OpenPIV-Python software is presented and implemented under a traditional CPU framework. The Python language was selected due to its versatility and widespread adoption. The algorithm was also tested on a supercomputing cluster, a workstation, and Google Colaboratory during the development phase. Using a known velocity field, the algorithm precisely captured the time-average flow, monetary velocity fields, and vortices.
Development of a New Method for Measuring the Diameter of Iron Ore Pellets Using Digital Image Processing and Convolutional Neural Networks in Compliance with ISO 4698
Authors: Campos Rafael M. , De Almeida Gustavo Maia
Published: October 2023

Iron ore processing involves critical steps that affect the quality of the final product. Determining the diameter of the pellets is the necessary initial step for volume measurement and, ultimately, for porosity and bulk density measurement, crucial characteristics for optimizing the burning process in the blast furnace. Traditional measurement methods using mercury present issues related to operator safety and environmental preservation, while the practices described in ISO 4698 standard require lengthy preparation and execution time. In light of environmental needs, operator safety, and the time consumed in tests, implementing a new method based on digital image processing and convolutional neural networks for measuring the diameter of burnt iron ore pellets is proposed. The methodology involves capturing images of the pellets using a high-resolution camera and utilizing digital image processing and neural networks capable of performing pixel-by-pixel object segmentation in the images, providing precise information about the pellets to calculate their volume automatically. The results were compared with those obtained using traditional methods, evaluating their conformity with the ISO 4698 standard. In conclusion, this study offers a new approach to measuring the volume of burnt iron ore pellets, providing accurate and reliable results in compliance with safety and environmental preservation standards.
Hydrazine Oxidation in Aqueous Solutions I. N4H6 Decomposition
Authors: Breza Martin , Manova Alena
Published: October 2023

A mixture of nonlabeled (14N2H4) and 15N labeled hydrazine (15N2H4) in an aqueous solution is oxidized to 15N2, 14N2, and 14N15N molecules, indicating the intermediate existence of the 14NH2-14NH-15NH-15NH2 with subsequent hydrogen transfers and splitting of side N-N bonds. Structures, thermodynamics, and electron characteristics of various N4H6 molecules in aqueous solutions are investigated using theoretical treatment at the CCSD/cc-pVTZ level of theory to explain the crucial part of the hydrazine oxidation reaction. Most N4H6 structures in aqueous solutions are decomposed during geometry optimization. Splitting the bond between central nitrogen atoms is the most frequent, but the breakaway of the side nitrogen is energetically the most preferred. The N-N fissions are enabled by suitable hydrogen rearrangements. Gibbs free energy data indicate the dominant abundance of NH3... N2... NH3 species. The side N atoms have very high negative charges, which should support hydrogen transfers in aqueous solutions. The only stable cyclo-(NH)4…H2 structure has a too high Gibbs energy and breaks the H2 molecule. The remaining initial cyclic structures are split into hydrazine and HN≡NH or H2N≡N species, and their relative abundance in aqueous solutions is vanishing.
Therapeutic Approaches in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension with Beneficial Effects on Right Ventricular Function – Preclinical Studies
Authors: Balsa André , Adão Rui , Brás-Silva Carmen
Published: October 2023

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive condition that affects pulmonary vessels, but its main prognostic factor is right ventricle (RV) function. Many mice/rat models are used for research in PAH, but results fail to translate in clinical trials. This study reviews studies that test interventions on pulmonary artery banding (PAB), a model of isolated RV disfunction, and PH models. Multiple tested drugs both improved pulmonary vascular hemodynamics in PH models and RV structure and function in PAB animals. PH models and PAB frequently exhibited similar results (73.1% concordance) with drugs other than endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. RV systolic pressure accounted for most differences between PH models and PAB. On the other side, all results on RV fibrosis agreed (12 drugs). Macitentan, sildenafil and tadalafil improved most tested pathophysiological parameters in PH models, but almost none in PAB animals. Dapagliflozin was the only drug that improved no parameters. This review shows that many drugs currently under research for PAH have a cardioprotective effect on animals that may translate to humans. To improve the translational potential of drugs in this field, researchers should test them in multiple models, including PAB, while optimizing induction methods for human disease translation.
An Exploratory Analysis of the Association Between Hospital Quality Measures and Financial Performance
Authors: Beauvais Brad M , Dolezel Diane , Ramamonjiarivelo Zo , Lieneck Cristian , Nowicki Michael
Published: October 2023

Hospitals are perpetually challenged by the dual requirements of concurrently improving the quality of healthcare and maintaining financial solvency. Both issues are among the top concerns for hospital executives across the United States, yet some have questioned if the efforts to enhance quality are financially sustainable. led us to examine if improving quality in the hospital setting impacts revenue. Using multivariate regression, we assessed if numerous quality measures were associated with our targeted measure of hospital profitability: the net patient revenue per adjusted discharge. The independent variables included the HCAHPS Summary Star Rating, Hospital Compare Overall Rating, All-Cause hospital-wide Readmission Rate, Total Performance Score, Clinical Outcomes Domain Score, Safety Domain Score, Person and Community Engagement Domain Score, and the Efficiency and Cost Reduction Score. Our results indicated that improving quality was significantly associated with improved net patient revenue per adjusted discharge for seven of the eight of these quality measures at the hospital level. It is clear that failing to address quality and patient safety issues is costly for US hospitals, thus we believe our findings support the premise that increased attention to the quality of care delivered as well as patients’ perceptions of care may allow hospitals to accentuate profitability and advance a hospital’s financial position.
Determinants of Perceived Well-Being in Friendship Relationships during Emerging Adulthood: Testing a Structural Model Based on Self-Determination Theory
Authors: Tanhaye Reshvanloo Farhad , Kareshki Hossein , Amin Yazdi Seyed Amir
Published: October 2023

Background and Objective: Intimate relationships hold significant importance during emerging adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the critical determinants of perceived well-being in friendship relationships during emerging adulthood.Method: Using a quantitative approach, a sample of 726 undergraduate students from the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad were selected through convenience sampling. They completed the Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire (IBQ), the Compassionate and self-image goals scale (CSIGS), the Basic Need Satisfaction in Relationships Scale (BNS-RS), the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-10), Friendship Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-F), Interpersonal Behaviors Questionnaire-Self (IBQ-self), State Level Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS-SL), the Perceived Relationship Quality Component (PRQC), and the Basic Empathy Scale (BES). Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).Results: The results indicated that the critical determinants in predicting perceived well-being in friendship relationships were, in order, goals in friendship relationships, friendship self-regulation, perceived support of basic psychological needs by friends, satisfied basic psychological needs, frustrated psychological needs, and supporting the basic psychological needs of friends.Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that self-determination theory (SDT) provides a coherent framework for explaining perceived well-being in friendships.
When Mast Cells Run Amok: A Comprehensive Review and Case Study on Severe Neonatal Diffuse Cutaneous Mastocytosis
Authors: Olteanu Gheorghe Emilian , Bataneant Mihaela , Puiu Maria , Chirita-Emandi Adela
Published: October 2023

Neonatal diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis (NDCM) is defined as the infiltration of the epidermis by a clonal proliferation of mast cells, observed at birth, without initial signs of systemic involvement. The typical driver mutation is located in the KIT gene. We report a rare case of a boy, born at term, presenting already at birth with generalized subcutaneous nodules, on the face, scalp, trunk, back, hands, and feet. The spleen, liver and inflammatory markers were normal at birth. Tryptase was significantly elevated. Bone marrow biopsy showed no mast cell involvement at age 2 months. A punch biopsy at age 2 months revealed CD117-positive cells diffusely infiltrating the skin, with subsequent DNA NGS sequencing for the formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) identifying the pathogenic NM_000222.3:c.1504_1509dup; p.(Ala502_Tyr503dup) variant in the KIT gene previously associated with cutaneous mastocytosis. At 2 years follow-up, he had splenomegaly and multiple cervical, and inguinal adenopathy while the skin nodules persisted especially on the scalp with accompanying pruritus. He received oral and local sodium cromoglycate, oral antihistamines, antibiotic cream for skin infection, and iron supplementation, however compliance to treatment was relatively low. The prognosis is difficult to predict, as he developed systemic involvement, failure to thrive and mild psychomotor delay. A case aggregation of NDCM reported in the literature was performed to provide a comprehensive overview of this rare pathology, to better understand the prognosis. NDCM is a life-threatening disease with severe complications. Almost half had severe complications, such as mast hepatosplenomegaly, adenopathy, bacterial infections, mast cell leukaemia, and systemic involvement.
Is Hydraulic Fracturing the Next Big Breakthrough in Battery Tech?
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: October 2023

Drill a well. Induce a fracture. Pump water. Start flowback.

This sounds like the steps used to bring to life tens of thousands of tight-oil and gas wells over the past quarter century.

But what it really describes is the emerging approach that a pair of Houston-based companies are using to turn rock formations into giant batteries.

Differences aside, the respective processes developed by Quidnet Energy and Sage Geosystems involve hydraulically fracturing vertical wells, injecting water into fractures, and flowing that water back to surface under high pressure to drive a small industrial turbine.

Founded in 2013, Quidnet was the first to try to commercialize this concept which represents a new twist on a very old technology known as pumped storage hydropower.

Introduced in the 1890s, the technique works chiefly by sending water uphill—e.g., a mountain or a fjord—to create a gravity-assisted energy system. And despite its geographical limitations, this pumped storage represents more than 90% of the world’s energy storage today, an estimated 9,000 GWh.

Of course, what both Quidnet and Sage want to do instead is to have subsurface rock formations do the heavy lifting and force the water uphole like it was shooting out of a geyser.

To highlight this distinction, Quidnet refers to its version as “geomechanical” pumped storage while Sage so far prefers to call it “mechanical” pumped storage.

Each firm claimed this year to have shown through respective field tests that all this is not merely theoretical. Most of this work has involved existing wells but both companies have plans for dedicated new-drill wells.

Quidnet and Sage say the electric outputs they’ve achieved so far are promising enough to start considering pumped storage in rocks as a way to solve grid shortages and the intermittency issues that hamper wind farms and solar arrays.

During periods of low grid demand, the proposal is to run water pumps on surplus electricity. Hours or days later when demand rises, that water is released to the surface and most of the electricity required to pump it down can now flow back into the grid.

Sage shared figures at a geothermal conference in September boasting its nascent approach as already cost competitive with traditional pumped storage and commercial-scale lithium-ion batteries. That optimism is built upon the company’s first and only test well in Starr County, Texas, which bested expectations.

“The output just blew us away,” Cindy Taff, CEO of Sage, said at the PIVOT conference last month. “We literally had to repipe the surface equipment three times because we were getting more force and pressure than what we had anticipated.”

Taff, who previously spent 35 years working in the oil and gas business for Shell, said the well produced a flow stream that was converted into 200 kW for 18 hours. This adds up to 3,600 kWh, which is roughly four times the electricity consumed each month in the average US household.