bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between phthalates exposure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease under different diagnostic criteria: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2017 to 2018
Authors: Zou Jiazhen , Gu Qingdan , Gu Dayong
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease. Phthalates have been suggested to influence the development of NAFLD due to their endocrine-disrupting properties, but studies based on nationally representative populations are insufficient, and existing studies seem to have reached conflicting conclusions. Due to changes in legislation, the use of traditional phthalates has gradually decreased, and the phthalates substitutes is getting more attention. This study aims to delve deeper into how the choice of diagnostic approach influences observed correlations and concern about more alternatives of phthalates, thereby offering more precise references for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Methods

A cohort of 641 participants, sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018 database, was evaluated for NAFLD using three diagnostic methods: the Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI), the US Fatty Liver Indicator (US.FLI), and Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE). The urinary metabolite concentrations of Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), Di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), Di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), Di-ethyl phthalate (DEP) and Di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) were detected. The association between NAFLD and urinary phthalate metabolites was evaluated through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, considering different concentration gradients of urinary phthalates.

Results

Univariate logistic regression analysis found significant correlations between NAFLD and specific urinary phthalate metabolites, such as Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), Mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), Mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (MECPP), and Mono-(carboxyisoctyl) phthalate (MCiOP), across different diagnostic criteria. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting only for demographic data, MEOHP (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.19–8.94, p = 0.029), MEHHP (OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.43–11.1, p = 0.016), MECPP (OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.01–12.2, p = 0.049), and MCiOP (OR = 4.55, 95% CI = 1.93–10.7, p = 0.005) were positively related to NAFLD defined by HSI and VCTE. The correlation strength varied with the concentration of phthalates, indicating a potential dose–response relationship. Adjusting for all covariates in multivariate logistic regression, only MCiOP (OR = 4.22, 95% CI = 1.10–16.2, p = 0.044), as an oxidative metabolite of DINP, remained significantly associated with NAFLD under the VCTE criterion, suggesting its potential role as a risk factor for NAFLD.

Conclusion

This research highlights a significant association between DINP and NAFLD. These findings underscore the need for further investigation into the role of the phthalates substitutes in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and the importance of considering different diagnostic criteria in research.
Efficient incremental training using a novel NMT-SMT hybrid framework for translation of low-resource languages
Authors: Bhuvaneswari Kumar , Varalakshmi Murugesan
Published: September 2024

The data-hungry statistical machine translation (SMT) and neural machine translation (NMT) models offer state-of-the-art results for languages with abundant data resources. However, extensive research is imperative to make these models perform equally well for low-resource languages. This paper proposes a novel approach to integrate the best features of the NMT and SMT systems for improved translation performance of low-resource English–Tamil language pair. The suboptimal NMT model trained with the small parallel corpus translates the monolingual corpus and selects only the best translations, to retrain itself in the next iteration. The proposed method employs the SMT phrase-pair table to determine the best translations, based on the maximum match between the words of the phrase-pair dictionary and each of the individual translations. This repeating cycle of translation and retraining generates a large quasi-parallel corpus, thus making the NMT model more powerful. SMT-integrated incremental training demonstrates a substantial difference in translation performance as compared to the existing approaches for incremental training. The model is strengthened further by adopting a beam search decoding strategy to produce k best possible translations for each input sentence. Empirical findings prove that the proposed model with BLEU scores of 19.56 and 23.49 outperforms the baseline NMT with scores 11.06 and 17.06 for Eng-to-Tam and Tam-to-Eng translations, respectively. METEOR score evaluation further corroborates these results, proving the supremacy of the proposed model.
Dissecting dormancy and quiescence in hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Ibneeva Liliia , Grinenko Tatyana
Published: September 2024

Quiescence is a fundamental state of adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) characterized by their residence in the G0 phase of the cell cycle. Despite being quiescent, HSCs retain their capacities for self-renewal and multipotency, enabling them to produce all blood lineages. Recent discoveries have shown that HSCs can dive into an even deeper state of quiescence with a very low division rate in steady-state conditions, known as dormancy. Dormant HSCs (dHSCs) have the most superior stem cell properties among HSCs, placing them at the top of the hematopoietic hierarchy. In this review, we argue that quiescence and dormancy are not synonyms in the context of HSCs. Specifically, dHSCs constitute a unique reserve pool of HSCs, mobilized only under stress conditions to protect the HSC compartment throughout life. While HSC quiescence is well-studied, the molecular features of HSC dormancy remain less well-defined. We will discuss the available methods for dHSC isolation and summarize the latest findings on the roles of niche factors, transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and cell cycle-related proteins in maintaining HSC dormancy. Additionally, we will explore whether insights from the quiescent HSC research can be applied to dHSCs. Lastly, we will assess the therapeutic potential of utilizing or targeting dHSCs to improve stem cell transplantation outcomes and treat hematological diseases, opening new avenues for research and clinical applications in regenerative medicine and oncology.
Health care service utilization among elderly in rural setting of Gandaki province, Nepal: a mixed method study
Authors: Poudel Kamal , Malla Dinesh Kumar , Thapa Kanchan
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Globally, one in every six people will be elderly by 2030. In Nepal, there has been a notable rise in the aging and elderly. Addressing the healthcare needs of them is crucial. Despite the different efforts to advocate for healthy aging, various factors continue to limit this process. This paper aims to explore the utilization of healthcare services among the elderly population and uncover influences on the ability to access these services.

Method

A mixed-method community-based study was conducted in Bihadi Rural Municipality of Parbat, Nepal. The quantitative segment involved interviews with 355 individuals aged ≥60 years, while 18 respondents were enlisted for in-depth interviews. We used descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression in quantitative analysis. Similarly, content and thematic analysis were performed in the qualitative component.

Results

This study reported that health service utilization among the respondents was 65.4%. Among the factors ethnicity (OR 3.728, 95% CI 1.062–15.887), not good health status (OR 2.943, 95% CI 1.15–8.046), bus as means of transportation (OR 8.397, 95% CI 1.587–55.091) had higher odds whereas government hospital (OR 0.046, 95% CI 0.009–0.193), not always available health staffs (OR 0.375, 95% CI 0.147–0.931), not sufficient medicine (OR 0.372, 95% CI 0.143–0.924), not available medicine (OR 0.014, 95% CI 0.002–0.068) had lower odds for health service utilization. Other factors identified from qualitative components include long waiting times, insufficient medicine, lack of trained health personnel, financial capacity, low utilization of health insurance, distance, and support from family members.

Conclusions

Nonetheless, a portion of the elderly remained excluded from mainstream of healthcare services. A combination of social, healthcare-related, and individual factors influences the utilization of healthcare services. To ensure elderly-friendly services, prioritize geriatric care training, secure medication availability, and establish a dedicated health insurance program for them. In the current federal context, localizing evidence-based, innovative strategies to address the healthcare needs of the elderly is crucial.
Labor markets during COVID-19: gaps and challenges in Latin America
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Oscar A. , Reyes-Martínez Javier , Mideros Mora Andrés Iván , Sánchez Pilco Andrea Carolina , Rodríguez Salme Camila Lucia
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Latin American labor markets continue to be quantified, to identify the social and economic impacts that this pandemic had, and to design more efficient public policies that would protect the most vulnerable groups. For this reason, the research question was as follows: what were the changes in the labor formality rates before and two years after the main contingency measures of the COVID-19 pandemic were implemented?

Methods

Using data from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay, the formality rate (τ) was analyzed, which was calculated using a weighted average between the formal employment rates of the number (i) of economic sectors (p) in a specific period (t).

Results

The results suggest that the weighted labor formality rate increased in the countries of the region. These changes in formality could be the result of greater capital accumulation, the integration of productive processes, the integration of commercialization processes, and differentiated fiscal stimuli (i.e., the intrasectoral aspect), but it was not due to the displacement of workers from highly informal economic sectors to more formalized sectors (i.e., the intersectoral component).

Discussion

The findings emphasized the precarious situation of women in the region, regardless of the country, particularly in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. These findings suggest the need to design public policies that reverse the current situation of the labor market and prevent future economic shocks, with special emphasis on the informal sector and women.
Understanding the various evolutionary stages of the low-mass star-formation process by SO and SO2
Authors: Ghosh Rana , Das Ankan , Gorai Prasanta , Mondal Suman Kumar , Furuya Kenji , Tanaka Kei E. I. , Shimonishi Takashi
Published: September 2024

SO and SO2 are two potential candidates to trace the different evolutionary phases of the low-mass star-formation process. Here, we report observations of SO and SO2 along with their isotopologues, 34SO and 34SO2, respectively, in four distinct phases of the low-mass star-formation process (prestellar core, first hydrostatic core, Class 0, and Class I) with an unbiased survey carried out using the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) 30 m telescope. Interestingly, the estimated abundances of SO and SO2 show an increasing trend from the prestellar phase to the Class 0 stage and then a decrease in the Class I phase. A similar trend is obtained for OCS and H2S. In contrast, the obtained SO/SO2 ratio decreases gradually from the prestellar core to the Class I stage. We have used the three-phase Rokko chemical code to explain our observations. The modeled abundances of SO and SO2 exhibit an increase within the inner region as the cold gas transforms into a hot gas. The modeled abundance ratio of SO to SO2 exhibits a notably high value in cold gas environments. This ratio decreases to less than 1 within the temperature range of 100–300 K and then increases to approximately 1 beyond 300 K. In the outer region, the simulated ratio consistently exceeds the value of 1. Our work is an observational testbed for modeling the chemistry of SO/SO2 during low-mass star formation. However, our findings may require more sample sources with higher resolution and a more robust model for validation.
Alternate formation of AlOH from third row diatomic hydrides and oxides
Authors: Firth Rebecca A. , Fortenberry Ryan C.
Published: September 2024

One of the most abundant Al-containing molecules detected in the interstellar medium (ISM) is AlOH. Over the past several years, there have been various pathways proposed for the formation of AlOH in the ISM, including reactions between AlO and H2 or H2O. However, these pathways include an energetic barrier from a transition state that likely prevents the reaction from progressing efficiently in the low temperature/low pressure environment of the ISM. Recently, a barrierless pathway for formation of AlOH from AlO and AlH has been proposed for the formation of AlOH. Even so, only one of these species really needs to contain an aluminum atom. To account for this, alternative but related pathways reacting the known interstellar molecule AlO with XH and AlH with XO (X = Mg, Si, P, or S) to form AlOH are explored with high accuracy quantum chemical calculations via CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pVTZ-F12. Each third row element has at least one pair of reactants that lead to exothermic formation of AlOH. These reactions can go on to form other aluminum oxides and aluminum oxide clusters that may, in part, lead to the formation of interstellar dust grains.
Predicting host species susceptibility to influenza viruses and coronaviruses using genome data and machine learning: a scoping review
Authors: Alberts Famke , Berke Olaf , Rocha Leilani , Keay Sheila , Maboni Grazieli , Poljak Zvonimir
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Predicting which species are susceptible to viruses (i.e., host range) is important for understanding and developing effective strategies to control viral outbreaks in both humans and animals. The use of machine learning and bioinformatic approaches to predict viral hosts has been expanded with advancements in in-silico techniques. We conducted a scoping review to identify the breadth of machine learning methods applied to influenza and coronavirus genome data for the identification of susceptible host species.

Methods

The protocol for this scoping review is available at https://hdl.handle.net/10214/26112. Five online databases were searched, and 1,217 citations, published between January 2000 and May 2022, were obtained, and screened in duplicate for English language and in-silico research, covering the use of machine learning to identify susceptible species to viruses.

Results

Fifty-three relevant publications were identified for data charting. The breadth of research was extensive including 32 different machine learning algorithms used in combination with 29 different feature selection methods and 43 different genome data input formats. There were 20 different methods used by authors to assess accuracy. Authors mostly used influenza viruses (n = 31/53 publications, 58.5%), however, more recent publications focused on coronaviruses and other viruses in combination with influenza viruses (n = 22/53, 41.5%). The susceptible animal groups authors most used were humans (n = 57/77 analyses, 74.0%), avian (n = 35/77 45.4%), and swine (n = 28/77, 36.4%). In total, 53 different hosts were used and, in most publications, data from multiple hosts was used.

Discussion

The main gaps in research were a lack of standardized reporting of methodology and the use of broad host categories for classification. Overall, approaches to viral host identification using machine learning were diverse and extensive.
Intranasal vs. intramuscular administration of azaperone, midazolam and ketamine in pigs
Authors: Rabelo Isabela Peixoto , Gujanwski Cinthya de Andrade , Viana Inácio Silva , de Paula Vanessa Barroco , Rein Ariadne , Rabelo Sara Peixoto , Valadäo Carlos Augusto Araújo
Published: September 2024

Objective

To compare the efficacy of intranasal (IN) and intramuscular (IM) administrations of azaperone (3 mg kg−1), midazolam (0. 3 mg kg−1), and ketamine (7 mg kg−1) combination (AMK) in pigs. Study design: Randomized clinical trial. Animals: sixteen adult male pigs, immunocastrated, of mixed lineage.

Methods

In phase I, these animals were randomly assigned to intranasal (GIN, n = 8) and intramuscular (GIM, n = 8) groups for arterial blood sample collection at 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after AMK administrations for gas and electrolyte analysis. In phase II, performed 1 week after phase I, the 16 pigs were allocated to both groups (GIM, n = 16/GIN, n = 16) and submitted to the same chemical restraint (CR) protocol, with a 96-h interval between administrations. Behavioral parameters (degree of CR, muscle relaxation, loss of postural reflex, and sound stimulus response) and vital parameters (pulse rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and rectal temperature) were evaluated after recumbency (Trec) and at 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 min after administrations. In addition, the latency period and duration of CR were determined.

Results

Latency to recumbency and duration of CR in GIN were shorter. CR scores did not vary between groups. Muscle relaxation was more intense in GIN at Trec. An initial tachycardia was observed, followed by a reduction in heart rate from T5 to T90 in both treatments (p < 0.05). The respiratory rate was higher at T45, T60, and T90 in GIN compared to baseline. Rectal temperature reduced in GIM from T45 onwards. PaCO2t elevated at T90 in the GIM (p < 0.05) and there was an incidence of mild hypoxemia in 47% of the animals in the GIM.

Conclusions and clinical relevance

IN administration was as effective as IM administration in promoting safe chemical restraint, with minimal changes in homeostasis, with a shorter duration and latency period.
Performance of post-mortem diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in wild ungulates at low and high prevalence assessed using Bayesian latent class models
Authors: Cardoso Beatriz , Jiménez-Ruiz Saúl , Perelló Jiménez Alberto , Nóvoa Miguel , Santos João P. V. , Correia-Neves Margarida , Gortázar Christian , Santos Nuno
Published: September 2024

Animal tuberculosis (TB) is often maintained by multi-host communities, including livestock and wildlife. Quantitative studies of such communities require estimating the true prevalence of TB, correcting the apparent prevalence by the diagnostic sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the test. The goal of this study was to lay the foundations for estimating the true prevalence of TB in wild ungulate populations (wild boar and two cervids: red deer and fallow deer). We used Bayesian latent class models to assess the Se and Sp of gross pathology, IS6110 real-time PCR in tissues, bacteriological culture, and P22 indirect ELISA. We analyzed 308 harvested wild ungulates (211 wild boar and 97 cervids: 92 red deer and 5 fallow deer). The Se of bacteriological culture (80.4%, CI95 61.0–96.3%) and gross pathology (87.9%, CI95 69.5–99.9%) was reasonably good in wild boar. These tests showed lower Se in cervids: 60.2% (CI95 38.3–82.3%) for bacteriological culture and 81.5% (CI95 63.6–96.2%) for gross pathology. The Se of the real-time PCR was low (50.7% in wild boar and 53.0% in cervids). These tests showed Sp between 95.2 and 99.1% in both taxa. The P22 ELISA performed reasonably well in wild boar (Se = 71.9%, CI95 59.2–83.4%; Sp = 98.8%, CI95 96.9–99.9%) but lacked Sp in cervids (Se = 77.1%, CI95 62.9–89.7%; Sp = 74.5%, CI95 65.7–83.3%). The real-time PCR in wild boar and cervids and bacteriological culture in cervids tended to show higher Se in low-prevalence populations, possibly due to a higher proportion of early-stage TB lesions. In cervids, the parallel interpretation of gross pathology and bacteriological culture significantly improved the diagnostic performance (Se = 93.1%, CI95 84.7–98.9%; Sp = 92.9%, CI95 86.0–98.3%). Our results allow the estimation of true prevalence from the results of a single diagnostic test applied to harvested wild boar, red deer, and fallow deer, paving the way for more precise quantitative ecological studies of the multi-host TB maintenance community.
Prevalence and association with environmental factors and establishment of prediction model of atopic dermatitis in pet dogs in China
Authors: Dong Yingbo , Wang Long , Zhang Kai , Zhang Haibin , Guo Dawei
Published: September 2024

Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common skin disease in dogs. Various pathogenic factors contribute to CAD, with dust mites, environmental pathogens, and other substances being predominant. This research involved comprehensive statistical analysis and prediction of CAD in China, using data from 14 cities. A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was developed to evaluate the impact of environmental factors on CAD incidence. Additionally, a seasonal auto-regressive moving average (ARIMA) model was used to forecast the monthly number of CAD cases. The findings indicated that CAD mainly occurs during June, July, August, and September in China. There was a positive correlation found between CAD incidence and temperature and humidity, while a negative correlation was observed with CO, PM2.5, and other pollutants.
Risk stratification scheme based on the TNM staging system for dogs with oral malignant melanoma centered on clinicopathologic presentation
Authors: Song Eric , Lawrence Jessica , Greene Erica , Christie Anneka , Goldschmidt Stephanie
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Oral malignant melanoma (OMM) is the most common malignant oral neoplasm in dogs. Tumor recurrence, progression, and regional and distant metastasis remain major obstacles despite advanced therapy. Tumor size has been a consistent, key independent prognostic factor; however, other clinical and histopathologic features impact prognosis and likely influence optimal treatment strategies. Adoption of a risk stratification scheme for canine OMM that stratifies groups of dogs on defined clinicopathologic features may improve reproducible and comparable studies by improving homogeneity within groups of dogs. Moreover, it would aid in the generation of multidisciplinary prospective studies that seek to define optimal treatment paradigms based on defined clinicopathologic features.

Methods

To build a platform upon which to develop a risk stratification scheme, we performed a systematic review of clinicopathologic features of OMM, with particular attention to levels of evidence of published research and the quantitative prognostic effect of clinicopathologic features.

Results

Tumor size and presence of bone lysis were repeatable features with the highest level of evidence for prognostic effects on survival. Overall, with strict inclusion criteria for paper review, the levels of evidence in support of other, previously proposed risk factors were low. Factors contributing to the challenge of defining clear prognostic features including inconsistencies in staging and reporting of prognostic variables, incomplete clinical outcome data, inhomogeneous treatment, and absence of randomized controlled studies.

Discussion

To overcome this in the future, we propose a risk stratification scheme that expands the TNM system to incorporate specific designations that highlight possible prognostic variables. The ability to capture key data simply from an expanded TNM description will aid in future efforts to form strong conclusions regarding prognostic variables and their influence (or lack thereof) on therapeutic decision-making and outcomes.
Análisis de la relación entre el merchandising visual y la compra impulsiva en el sector textil en la ciudad de Machala - Ecuador
Authors: Jama-Sánchez Nahomi Paulette , Zhunio-Macas Dayana , Aguilar-Galvez William
Published: September 2024

El merchandising se revela como una técnica destinada a cautivar a los clientes desde el momento en el que ingresa al establecimiento, a través del diseño cuidadoso de la atmósfera. Esta estrategia busca estimular visualmente al consumidor, inclinándolo a hacer compras no planificadas. La presente investigación examinó la compleja relación entre el merchandising visual y la compra impulsiva. El estudio utilizó una metodología cuantitativa de alcance descriptivo correlacional basada en la técnica de análisis multivariante PLS-SEM (modelo de ecuaciones estructurales). La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo mediante encuesta online, diseñada con base a la escala de Likert. Los hallazgos de este estudio revelaron una correlación significativa y positiva entre el merchandising visual y la compra impulsiva, proporcionando una visión detallada para comprender el comportamiento en el sector textil de Machala.
Analítica de recursos humanos: una revisión sistemática de literatura
Authors: Fernández-Solís Carla , González-Ramírez María Reyes , Gascó-Gascó José
Published: September 2024

La gestión de recursos humanos representa un aspecto clave para el desarrollo de los países emergentes en general, y en particular, para el desempeño organizacional. Dentro de estas funciones, la analítica de recursos humanos, un conjunto de actividades desarrolladas para apoyar la toma de decisiones basada en datos se convierte en un punto de agenda básico para empresarios y académicos. En este contexto, el objetivo de esta investigación es identificar los principales referentes en Analítica de Recursos Humanos, que sirvan de soporte para el diseño de un modelo que caracterice este constructo, y para fundamento de investigaciones futuras. Para este fin, se realiza una Revisión Sistemática de Literatura, donde se logran identificar los artículos más citados, los métodos de investigación aplicados, y en general, las tendencias de investigación en el periodo temporal 2010–2023. Se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos científicas Web Of Science, SciELO, ProQuest, Elsevier y Researchgate. Se seleccionaron 69 documentos de acceso abierto. Se evaluó la calidad de los artículos. Se destaca que, la mayoría de las investigaciones se enfocan en el paradigma cualitativo; sin embargo, dentro de los pocos trabajos cuantitativos, el uso de encuestas y su análisis basado en Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales, representa una corriente de investigación prometedora para el futuro.
Hábitos de estudios y motivación para el aprendizaje en universitarios en condición de vulnerabilidad socioeconómica
Authors: Salamea-Nieto Rosa , Cedillo-Chalaco Luis Fernando , Sánchez-Bracho Amelia , Belduma-Cabrera Karla
Published: September 2024

La educación universitaria enfrenta múltiples desafíos, especialmente para aquellos estudiantes en situación de vulnerabilidad socioeconómica, donde los hábitos de estudio y la motivación para el aprendizaje juegan un papel crucial en su éxito académico. Esta investigación, realizada con una muestra de 162 estudiantes universitarios de la provincia de El Oro, Ecuador, analiza cómo se manifiestan estas dimensiones a través de sus puntuaciones medias utilizando el análisis de varianza no paramétrica de Kruskal-Wallis. Además, se examina la diferencia entre hombres y mujeres en relación con estos hábitos y motivación mediante la prueba U de Mann-Whitney. El enfoque metodológico es cuantitativo, con un alcance descriptivo y exploratorio. Los resultados indican diferencias significativas en los hábitos de estudio y la motivación para el aprendizaje (Chi2= 143,72 || p-valor= 0,000), y revelan que en ciertos hábitos, las mujeres obtienen puntuaciones más altas (Hábito 1: U= 2139 || p-valor= 0,005; Hábito 3: U= 2353 || p-valor= 0,043; Hábito 6: U= 2368 || p-valor= 0,048).
Uso de la calculadora y desarrollo de las habilidades de operaciones básicas de matemática
Authors: Acosta-Aldaz Katherine Fernanda , Valencia-Nuñez Edison Roberto
Published: September 2024

La importancia de esta investigación radica en comprender cómo el uso excesivo de la calculadora puede afectar negativamente en la capacidad y las habilidades para resolver operaciones básicas de matemáticas. La principal problemática se evidencia en las bajas calificaciones con respecto a él examen de admisión que los bachilleres rinden para acceder a las diferentes universidades e institutos de instrucción superior en el Ecuador. El principal objetivo es evaluar el impacto del uso de la calculadora en el desarrollo de las habilidades para resolver operaciones básicas de matemáticas por parte de estudiantes bachilleres inscritos en el Preuniversitario Politécnica. La metodología aplicada en la investigación tiene un enfoque cuantitativo. Se realizó una intervención por el lapso de tres semanas en donde se aplicó la metodología del aula invertida, abarcando los temas de operaciones básicas de matemáticas. Se aplicó un pretest y un postest en la materia de razonamiento numérico como herramienta para la recolección de datos, los principales resultados fueron en el pretest una media por parte del género masculino de 8,88 y en el postest una media de 18,47, por otra parte, el género femenino con una media en el pretest de 10,04 y en el postest de 17,56 sobre 20 puntos. Para comprobar las hipótesis se aplicó pruebas no paramétricas para muestras relacionadas de Wilcoxon en donde de obtuvo un p valor de 0,000 lo que indica que la intervención fue un éxito, se evidenció una mejoría debido a las diferencias de puntuación en el pretest y el postest
Estrategias que fomentan la motivación del estudiante universitario en el aula, a través de herramientas emergentes de aprendizaje en línea
Authors: Loáiciga-Gutiérrez Jorge Luis , Chanto-Espinoza Carlos Luis
Published: September 2024

La motivación es el motor previo para lograr un objetivo y mejorar el entendimiento y aprendizaje dentro de la vida universitaria. El objetivo de la investigación consiste en determinar estrategias que fomentan la motivación de las personas estudiantes universitarias en el aula, a través de herramientas emergentes de aprendizaje en línea, tomando como referencia a la población estudiantil matriculada durante el primer ciclo del 2024 en la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA), Campus Liberia. Han participado 294 estudiantes regulares activos, basándose en una metodología mixta. Se aplicó un cuestionario diseñado ad hoc y se utilizó la revisión literaria. Los resultados reflejan que las herramientas emergentes de aprendizaje en línea son pertinentes para la motivación del estudiantado, donde la automotivación, autodeterminación, y la creatividad son aspectos que incentivan experiencias positivas en los estados de ánimo durante las actividades realizadas en los espacios áulicos, Finalmente, las estrategias didácticas, cuya combinación provienen del planteamiento entre las metodologías y las tecnologías emergentes enriquecen el aprendizaje en línea y propician la motivación estudiantil.
MicroGravity Explorer Kit (MGX): An Open-Source Platform for Accessible Space Science Experiments
Authors: Moura Waldenê de Melo , dos Santos Carlos Renato , Freitas Moisés José dos Santos , Pinto Adriano Costa , Simões Luciana Pereira , Moraes Alison
Published: September 2024

The study of microgravity, a condition in which an object experiences near-zero weight, is a critical area of research with far-reaching implications for various scientific disciplines. Microgravity allows scientists to investigate fundamental physical phenomena influenced by Earth’s gravitational forces, opening up new possibilities in fields such as materials science, fluid dynamics, and biology. However, the complexity and cost of developing and conducting microgravity missions have historically limited the field to well-funded space agencies, universities with dedicated government funding, and large research institutions, creating a significant barrier to entry. This paper presents the MicroGravity Explorer Kit’s (MGX) design, a multifunctional platform for conducting microgravity experiments aboard suborbital rocket flights. The MGX aims to democratize access to microgravity research, making it accessible to high school students, undergraduates, and researchers. To ensure that the tool is versatile across different scenarios, the authors conducted a comprehensive literature review on microgravity experiments, and specific requirements for the MGX were established. The MGX is designed as an open-source platform that supports various experiments, reducing costs and accelerating development. The multipurpose experiment consists of a Jetson Nano computer with multiple sensors, such as inertial sensors, temperature and pressure, and two cameras with up to 4k resolution. The project also presents examples of codes for data acquisition and compression and the ability to process images and run machine learning algorithms to interpret results. The MGX seeks to promote greater participation and innovation in space sciences by simplifying the process and reducing barriers to entry. The design of a platform that can democratize access to space and research related to space sciences has the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in materials science, fluid dynamics, and biology, with significant practical applications such as more efficient propulsion systems and novel materials with unique properties.
Tangible to Non-Tangible Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Life Satisfaction of Farmers in Kerala, India
Authors: Devassy Saju Madavanakadu , Yohannan Shilpa V. , Scaria Lorane , Pathrose Sunirose Ishnassery
Published: September 2024

While Kerala’s transition from an agrarian to a service-oriented economy is widely acknowledged, discussions are most often confined to material domains, overlooking overall life satisfaction, which is critical to pursue any profession. This state-wide community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted to gather data from farmers residing in three geographical zones of Kerala, India, North, South and Central, to understand their life satisfaction and how it correlates to their access to resources and social support. From each zone, we randomly chose two districts, and from each district, two panchayats. From each panchayat, we chose one ward to identify a total of 580 eligible farmers. Structured interviews were conducted using door-knock surveys to elicit information from the respondents using a set of standardized questionnaires. The results suggest that the respondents had a mean age of 54.5, with 19.8% being over 65, indicating demographic ageing in the farming sector. Only 46% chose farming as their full-time occupation. Farmers with higher levels of education who owned large plots of land experienced life satisfaction. Interpersonal relationships and social support were significant determinants of life satisfaction, as these factors were pivotal in their access to formal and informal services. With social support being pivotal in life satisfaction, it is imperative to change the social mindset towards farming. Additionally, the government should promote advanced technologies and high-yielding agricultural practises to transform the economic landscape of Kerala in favour of agriculture, which is imperative for the food security of the state.
Barley History and Breeding in Spain
Authors: Martínez-Moreno Fernando , Solís Ignacio , Igartua Ernesto
Published: September 2024

Barley has been and continues to be a crucial field crop in Spain, with approximately 2.4 million hectares planted annually and a production ranging 7–10 million tons. It is a crop well adapted to shallow soils and the harsh winters of the high central plains of the country. Traditionally, animal feed has been the main use for this crop, while an important brewing industry developed throughout the 20th century. This article reviews the most important milestones of this crop in Spain, including its uses, historical yield, barley price, and barley–wheat price relationship. With respect to the collection of Spanish landraces currently preserved in the CRF (Plant Genetic Resources Center) seed bank, two main genetic groups distributed in northern and southern Spain were distinguished. The landraces of both groups are mostly six-row and winter types, but they differ in vernalization requirements, which are lower in southern landraces. The trends in barley production, the most planted cultivars in Spain over the last 70 years, and the past and present-day breeding programs in the country are also reviewed.
Regulation of Fumonisin B1 Production and Pathogenicity in Fusarium verticillioides by Histone Deacetylases
Authors: Yu Wenying , Wang Jiajia , Wang Meiduo , Wen Gaolong , Liang Jiayan , Chen Xiaoting , Lu Guodong , Wang Zonghua , Huang Jun
Published: September 2024

Transcriptional regulation mediated by the balance of histone acetylation and deacetylation is fundamental in responding to environmental cues by impacting chromatin remodeling. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone and non-histone proteins, thus restoring a tight chromatin structure. In pathogenic fungi, HDACs have been implicated in growth, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and virulence. However, the role of HDACs in the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 (FB1)-producing fungus Fusarium verticillioides is poorly understood. In this study, we systematically characterized six F. verticillioides HDACs. An increased level of H4K16ac was observed in the deletion mutant of FvHOS2, which was associated with vegetative growth, conidiation, and virulence when infecting sugarcane and maize. FvRpd3 appeared to be essential for vegetative growth, while FvHda1 promoted growth, and both contributed to conidiation and pathogenicity. In contrast, FvSirt4 displayed a negative correlation with these processes. Additionally, the FB1 production was positively affected by FvHos2 and FvRpd3, but negatively impacted by Fvhda1, FvSir2, FvHst2, and FvSirt4 through the regulation of different key fumonisin biosynthetic (FUM) genes. Further findings indicate an association between FvSirt4 and FvSkb1, which is a histone methylase that positively regulates FB1 and pathogenicity. Moreover, as a global transcriptional regulator, over 2365 genes (~15% of the genome) enriched in multiple metabolic pathways were significantly downregulated in the ΔFvhos2 mutants relative to the wild type. Overall, our results suggest distinct roles of HDACs in regulating the growth, virulence, mycotoxin FB1 production, and gene expression in F. verticillioides.
Layered Double Hydroxides as Next-Generation Adsorbents for the Removal of Selenium from Water
Authors: Nemček Lucia , Hagarová Ingrid , Matúš Peter
Published: September 2024

This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of the use of layered double hydroxides (LDH) in the removal of selenium species from contaminated water sources. Key studies on sorption mechanisms and the impact of competing ions on selenium removal are presented, and the effectiveness of LDH is compared across different structures and compositions. Scholarly sources extensively document the application of conventional LDH for effective selenium removal, with notable advancements achieved through innovative synthesis approaches. Comparative studies between LDH synthesized through various methods reveal the potential of tailored LDH for enhanced selenium adsorption. The paper further explores the influence of competing anions on LDH efficacy, emphasizing the impact of sulfate on selenium removal. Additionally, investigations into calcined LDH and commercially available variants underscore the potential for industrial applications. Beyond conventional LDH, the paper delves into iron-based LDH, LDH with intercalated thiomolybdate anions, and layered rare earth hydroxides, exploring their effectiveness in separating different selenium species. The role of pH in the removal of selenium species and the impact of three-metal cation LDH are also discussed. The study extends to nanocomposites, combining LDH with zero-valent iron, carbon-based materials, and organic compounds, illustrating their potential for selenium species immobilization. The presented findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners in environmental science, addressing the growing demand for efficient selenium remediation strategies.
Making Aquaponics More Sustainable Using Worms and Water Replenishment Combined with a Sensing- and IoT-Based Monitoring System
Authors: Chandramenon Praveen , Gascoyne Andrew , Naughton Liam , Tchuenbou-Magaia Fideline
Published: September 2024

Aquaponics offers a simple conclusive solution to the food and environmental crisis around the world. This paper presents a comparative analysis of standard aquaponics with vermiponics (aquaponics with earthworms) before and after applying an optimal freshwater replenishment. Fish and plants were grown on a standard aquaponics testbed and a vermiponics testbed for 3 months each, initially without water replenishment, and then with 19% replenishment based on the fishtank volume. Water quality and environmental data were monitored, collected and processed using sensors and internet of things (IoT) devices. Daily growth analysis, the mean productivity of both testbeds before and after replenishment, the percentage of productivity difference and the general productivity comparison between standard and vermiponics testbeds were determined. Results showed an enhanced productivity of 2.83% and 5.54% for the standard testbed and the vermiponics testbed, respectively, when replenishment was applied. The yield improvement after replenishment was proven to be statistically significant, with p < 0.05 reassuring the impact of water replenishment. This research contributes to the understanding of the impact of water replenishment in aquaponics and vermiponics systems. Moreover, it provides insights into the effect of earthworms on both systems’ yield productivity.
Development of an Inertial Linear Ultrasonic Motor with a Double-Stator Structure Based on Bending Mode
Authors: Yang Lin , Xiong Yue , Hong Xinwei , Wen Jiaquan , Zhang Jie , Zhao Rongcheng
Published: September 2024

An inertial linear ultrasonic motor with a novel double-stator structure is proposed for achieving higher performance and resolution in this paper. Utilizing a symmetrical structure and single sawtooth wave signal, the prototype is capable of outputting effective linear motion based on inertial movement. The validity and rationality of the prototype are investigated by conducting finite element analyses. The experimental setups are built up to acquire the output characteristics of the motor. The experimental results indicate that the motor can achieve a maximum output velocity of 8.746 mm/s and thrust force of 1.645 N, which is almost twice the output performance of a motor with a single stator. The displacement solution of the motor can be adjusted by changing the amplitude of the voltage, with a resolution of 27 nm. Simultaneously, the relationships between the output characteristics and the input parameters are measured and analyzed during the experiments. Compared to the actuators with complex structures and multi-signal drives, the proposed motor exhibits the merits of higher output performance with the double-stator structure, providing an alternative direction for the further development of the inertial linear ultrasonic motor.
A Heuristic Algorithm for Deploying Electric Taxi Charging Stations to Enhance Service Quality
Authors: Li Lingjie , Zhang Yu , Cheng Cheng , Du Hao , Liu Shifu
Published: September 2024

With the growing maturity of electric vehicles technology and the increase in environmental awareness, electric vehicles have emerged as a feasible way to reduce carbon emissions due to transportation. In response, numerous cities have adopted electric vehicles into taxi and bus fleets to increase their use. As the use of electric taxis increases, the strategic deployment of charging stations becomes crucial to ensuring taxi operations. This study aims to optimize the deployment of electric taxi charging stations, with a focus on improving service quality. A heuristic algorithm, Improved K-means iterated with Queuing Theory (IKQT), is proposed. To validate the algorithm, over 11,000 GPS tracking trajectory data from Shanghai Qiangsheng taxis in April 2018 were analyzed. The results of the study demonstrate that the IKQT algorithm can significantly increase the utilization rate of charging stations, enabling them to serve more electric taxis during peak hours and thereby improving overall service quality. Specifically, the total waiting time for all charging services was reduced by approximately 6%, while the total number of unserved taxis across all charging stations decreased by roughly 19%. These improvements underscore the novelty and practical value of the IKQT in the deployment of electric taxi charging stations.
Optimization of CART Models Using Metaheuristics for Predicting Peach Firmness
Authors: Ivanovski Tomislav , Gulić Marko , Matetić Maja
Published: September 2024

The current advancements in the field of machine learning can have an important application in agriculture and global food security. Machine learning has considerable potential in establishing knowledge-based farming systems. One of the main challenges of data-driven agriculture is to minimize food waste and establish more sustainable farming systems. The prediction of the right harvest time is one of the ways to obtain the mentioned goals. This paper describes multiple machine learning algorithms that are used to predict peach firmness. By accurately predicting peach firmness based on various peach measurement data, a more precise harvest time can be obtained. The evaluation of nature-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithms in enhancing machine learning model accuracy is the primary objective of this paper. The possibility of improving the peach firmness prediction accuracy of regression tree models using various metaheuristic optimization techniques implemented in GA and metaheuristicOpt R packages is studied. The RMSE on test data of the default regression tree model is 1.722285, while the regression tree model optimized using the gray wolf optimization algorithm scored the lowest RMSE of 1.570924. The obtained results show that it is possible to improve the peach firmness prediction accuracy of the regression tree model by 8.8% using the described method.