bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Nexus: Exploring TAM Components Influencing Professors' Satisfaction With Smartphone Integration in Lectures: A Case Study From Oman
Authors: Shannaq Boumedyen
Published: August 2024

The study explores the factors influencing instructors' decisions to allow smartphone usage during lectures and its impact on educational quality amidst evolving technological trends. Using the technology acceptance model (TAM), the research examines key determinants affecting instructors' acceptance and satisfaction with student mobile technology usage in classrooms. The hypothesis suggests that instructors' acceptance is positively influenced by perceived usefulness (PU) and negatively by attitude toward use (ATU) and behavioral intention (BI). Quantitative surveys were conducted on a sample of 277 instructors and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS4. This analysis aimed to identify critical factors influencing acceptance and their relationship with smartphone use during lectures. The results revealed that PU significantly impacted instructor judgement (B = 0.432, t = 7.920, p < 0.001). ATU also had a significant impact (B = 0.187, t = 2.757, p = 0.006). BI significantly affected instructor opinion (B = 0.206, t = 2.379, p = 0.017) However, actual use (AU) did not significantly impact instructor judgement (B = 0.052, t = 0.618, p = 0.537). These findings enhance understanding of mobile technology integration in education and provide insights for improving instructor support and engagement.
The Impact of Academic Pressure on the Mental Health of Vietnamese Students
Authors: Nguyen Minh Trang , Phan Minh Khoi
Published: August 2024

The pursuit of knowledge is a fundamental aspect of personal and intellectual growth, which is widely respected by many people. High achievement, because of such dedication, is often recognized and celebrated. In Southeast Asian cultures, including Vietnam, academic achievement holds a significant place, often seen as a key to personal success and social mobility. This respect for education is deeply rooted in cultural, historical, and social factors, and it manifests in various aspects of life. In Southeast Asian cultures, including Vietnam, academic achievement holds a significant place, often seen as a key to personal success and social mobility. This respect for education is deeply rooted in cultural, historical, and social factors, and it manifests in various aspects of life. However, too much academic pressure may lead to mental health issues. Excessive academic pressure, while often rooted in well-intentioned aspirations for success, can have detrimental effects on students' health. The research has surveyed nearly 300 students in Vietnam to find the relationship between Academic Pressure on Mental Health and make some suggestions to improve the situation.
A dditional Insurance of Professional Liability of an Insolvency Receiver in Personal Insolvency (Bankruptcy) Cases: Problems and Solutions
Authors:   Postgraduate Student of the Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nemova Aleksandra V.
Published: August 2024

The article explores the issue of additional insurance of professional liability of an arbitration manager in cases of insolvency (bankruptcy) of citizens. The main actual problems in this issue are highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the integrity of the arbitration manager. The expediency of the conclusion by the manager of the contract of additional coinsurance of his professional liability is shown. A proposal was made to make an addition to Part 1 of Art. 145 and Part 1 of Art. 98 of the Bankruptcy Law.
A rbitrability of Digital Currency Disputes
Authors:   Teaching Assistant of the Department of Civil Procedure of the Ural State Law University, Tuktamyshev Vladislav D.
Published: August 2024

The author examines the problem of arbitrability of digital currency disputes. Analyzing the current Russian legislation, the author comes to the conclusion that digital currency should be ranked to other property and should not be identified as monetary funds. Based on the private nature of the object of the dispute, as well as transactions mediating its movement in civil circulation, the author concludes about the arbitrability of disputes regarding the ownership of digital currency and the deals with it. At the same time, it is noted that disputes related to the ICO cannot be considered arbitrable due to their public nature.
Mediation Procedures in Family Disputes
Authors:   Senior Lecturer of the Department of Civil Law and Procedure of the Law School, Romanov Andrey A.
Published: August 2024

This article deals with the problem of implementing the institution of conciliation procedures in family disputes. From the analysis of the Russian legislation on the regulation of the mediation procedure, the establishment of provisions on the possible participation of a professional mediator — mediator in the settlement of conflicts, including his assistance in family disputes, is possible, however, the mediation procedure itself in terms of ensuring the independence of the mediator and the actual execution of agreements reached in the course of mediation procedures is not regulated by an appropriate mechanism for the implementation of the institution of mediation and other conciliation procedures. The method of analysis was used in order to identify gaps in the regulation of this institution, ways were proposed to eliminate the gaps in domestic law in this aspect, taking into account the specifics of family disputes and family legal relations. It is concluded that it is necessary to include provisions in the Russian legislation on mediation that establish additional qualification criteria for a mediator in family disputes, as well as vesting the mediator with additional duties and powers in terms of protecting and ensuring the rights of persons whose interests may be affected by family disputes and conflicts.
The Impact of Digitalization of the Civil Procedure on Procedural Rights and Obligations of State Authorities
Authors:   Lecturer of the Department of Civil Law and Procedure of the Law Institute of the Chelyabinsk State University, Gavryushov Nikita E.
Published: August 2024

The problem of digitalization of the civil process associated with video conferencing and web conference, as well as the transition to a fully electronic document management associated with the participation of state bodies as an optimization of the trial is considered. The question of the relevance and admissibility of evidence obtained by electronic means is being studied. The shortcomings of the existing system and ways of implementation without making fundamental changes are noted.
ASSISTANT JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Authors:   Justice of the Peace of Judicial Subdistrict No. 250 of the Stupino Judicial District of the Moscow Region, Nesterov Vladimir M.
Published: August 2024

The article analyzes the process of introducing the position of an assistant judge in the Russian Federation and consolidating his duties; the formation of the staff of magistrates by quantitative and official composition in various subjects of the Russian Federation; the conclusion is made about the need for assistants for all judges, both magistrates and federal, and the inadmissibility of the absence of assistants for magistrates in certain subjects of the Russian Federation in connection with the unity of the status of judges in the Russian Federation and the right of citizens to equal judicial protection throughout the territory of the Russian Federation.
A Review Evaluating Intravascular Access for High Volume Resuscitation: Can You Keep Up?
Authors: Mishra Puneet , Wanderer Jonathan P , Edwards David A , Eagle Susan S , Bruehl Stephen P , Semler Matthew W , Mishra Kelly L
Published: August 2024

Anesthetists and anesthesiologists are frequently in the unique position of administering high-volume resuscitation in the setting of hemorrhage, hypovolemia, or vasodilatory shock.  The ability to rapidly infuse intravenous (IV) fluid solutions differs vastly for different types and sizes of IV access. In patients that may require rapid large volume resuscitation, it is critical to understand the capacity of existing IV devices.  Selecting the most appropriate IV access for patients can be paramount in preventing hypotension, end organ dysfunction, and even death. This article objectively reviews and compares the flow rates of commonly used central and peripheral intravenous devices to demonstrate the influence of catheter length and radius.
Współczesna przedsiębiorczość a rozwój małych i średnich firm
Authors: Lisowska Renata , Ropęga Jarosław
Published: August 2024

W publikacji zaprezentowano ważne kwestie związane z zachowaniami współczesnych przedsiębiorców w radykalnie zmienionych warunkach rozwoju firm na skutek oddziaływania nowego paradygmatu cywilizacyjnego. W ramach podjętych badań stwierdzono fakt odchodzenia od gospodarki zarządzanej na rzecz gospodarki przedsiębiorczej, w której główną rolę odgrywają małe i średnie przedsiębiorstwa. W podsumowaniu rozważań dokonano przeglądu modeli biznesu mających zastosowanie we współczesnych małych i średnich firmach. Koncepcja modeli biznesu umożliwia analizę funkcjonowania takich przedsiębiorstw, omówienie czynników wewnętrznych i zewnętrznych kształtujących ich rozwój, a także uchwycenie związku modeli biznesu ze strategią przedsiębiorstwa.
Współczesne oblicza medialnych rozmów o sporcie
Authors: Kacperska Beata
Published: August 2024

Celem monografii jest scharakteryzowanie gatunków i subgatunków medialnych opartych na interakcji między dziennikarzem a sportowcem oraz przedstawienie ich konkretnych realizacji na przykładzie rozmów z siatkarzami. W analizie wykorzystano metodologię genologii lingwistycznej opracowaną przez Marię Wojtak. Na podstawie 71 wymian werbalnych ze sportowcami wyróżniono najważniejsze cechy współczesnej rozmowy medialnej z uwzględnieniem takich czynników, jak: tematyka, struktura, styl wypowiedzi rozmówców czy funkcjonalność. Pierwszy rozdział publikacji stanowi próbę usystematyzowania badań na temat rozmowy jako gatunku wypowiedzi. Przedstawiono w nim główne problemy związane z rozróżnieniem pokrewnych gatunków mowy opartych na wymianie: rozmowy, konwersacji, dialogu i dyskusji. Dokonano przeglądu definicji tych terminów występujących w literaturze, ukazano podstawowe klasyfikacje rozmowy, a także scharakteryzowano rozmowę medialną. Rozdział drugi to przegląd publikacji naukowych (psychologicznych, socjologicznych, medioznawczych, lingwistycznych), w których sport jest tematem wiodącym. Rozdział trzeci poświęcono z kolei językowokomunikacyjnej analizie medialnych rozmów z siatkarzami — wywiadu w postaci klasycznej (wywiad prasowy, radiowy i internetowy), rozmowy typowej dla dziennikarstwa sportowego (mikrowywiad pomeczowy) oraz najnowszych form komunikacji z zawodnikami (wywiad kwestionariuszowy w formie wideo, rozmowa w talk show, rozmowa prywatno-publiczna w wideoblogu). W ten sposób przedstawiono współczesne oblicza medialnych rozmów o sporcie.
Społeczny udział w tworzeniu miejskiej polityki klimatycznej
Authors: Fortuniak Krzysztof , Wasiak Anna , Krauze Kinga , Wójcik Szymon , Sobol Agnieszka , Tokarski Daniel , Biskupski Jacek , Burlińska Agata
Published: August 2024

Miasta i ich mieszkańcy odgrywają dziś kluczową rolę w kontekście antropogenicznej zmiany klimatu. Z jednej strony miasta są ogniwem problemu, ponieważ przyczyniają się do znacznych emisji gazów cieplarnianych, z drugiej zaś stanowią olbrzymią szansę, by odwrócić te negatywne procesy, gdyż mogą być i wręcz powinny być obszarem wdrażania wielu innowacyjnych rozwiązań i strategii, mających na celu redukcję emisji oraz adaptację do zmieniającego się klimatu. Mieszkańcy miast mogą pełnić aktywną rolę w budowaniu neutralności klimatycznej obszarów zurbanizowanych poprzez swoje codzienne wybory, zachowania, edukację, zaangażowanie społeczne i wpływ na procesy polityczne. Partycypacja społeczna jest kluczowa dla kreowania miejskiej polityki klimatycznej, osiągania celów związanych z nieustanną walką ze zmieniającym się klimatem i tworzeniem bardziej zrównoważonych społeczności miejskich. Jest to ważny aspekt działań na rzecz ochrony środowiska, ponieważ pozwala na uwzględnienie różnorodnych perspektyw, potrzeb i doświadczeń ludzi. Ponadto integracja lokalnej społeczności, biznesu, świata nauki i decydentów jest dziś kluczem do tworzenia efektywnej polityki miast, zmierzających w kierunku neutralności klimatycznej.
Książka “Społeczny udział w tworzeniu miejskiej polityki klimatycznej. Przykład Łodzi.” będąca efektem współpracy naukowców i praktyków z różnych ośrodków naukowych i miast oraz przedstawicieli administracji samorządowej, adresowana jest do wszystkich tych, dla których miasta są wspólnym dobrem i pomimo wielu zauważalnych mankamentów są i pozostaną przez wiele jeszcze lat jedynym środowiskiem życia.
Projekty zrealizowane w ramach VII edycji programu „Zdolny uczeń - świetny student” w roku akademickim 2023/2024
Authors: Zbiorowy Autor
Published: August 2024

Zbiór tekstów uczestników VII edycji programu Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego „Zdolny uczeń – świetny student”.
Quitina e Quitosana: Biopolímeros Funcionais para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável
Authors: P. Campana-Filho Sergio , C. S. Cavalheiro Carla , L. Q. Chacon Estefany , L. Souza Fernanda , L. Souza Fernanda , B. Habitzreuter Filipe , H. Semensato Leonardo , N. Casimiro Pedro
Published: August 2024

A pesquisa por alternativas para o desenvolvimento sustentável contempla a prospecção de novas fontes de energia e também de insumos industriais de fontes renováveis, sendo que a biomassa, independentemente de sua origem, vem atraindo interesse e tem ganhado importância em função de sua abundância, caráter renovável e variabilidade, dentre outros aspectos que configuram vantagens em relação à exploração da cadeia petroquímica. A ocorrência de quitina em diferentes biomassas, os processos de extração e de conversão em quitosana e em materiais funcionais bem como suas aplicações em diferentes áreas são abordadas, contemplando um levantamento crítico e abrangente da literatura pertinente.
Analisis Perbandingan Kinerja Ruas Jalan Akibat Tata Guna Lahan Pasar Dengan Metode MKJI 1997 dan PKJI 2023 (Studi Kasus Ruas Jalan M.H. Thamrin Tabanan)
Authors: Krisna I Gusti Putu Arya , Suari Ni Putu Tatia Ardelia , Nitasari Ni Putu Ayunda , Atmajaya Aswin Badarudin
Published: August 2024

Effectiveness and efficiency of road performance refer to how well the road accommodates traffic volume. The aim of this research is to examine MKJI 1997 and PKJI 2023 in calculating urban road sections and compare the results with method surveys. The results obtained differences in capacity and free flow speed. Due to base capacity, the basic free-flow speed multiplier and the side resistance adjustment values are different. It also has an impact on speed values (Vlv/Vmp) and degree of saturation (Ds/Dj). The difference in results of the basic free flow speed multiplier and the side resistance adjustment factor values has an impact on the speed value (Fv/Vb). Validity test of Vlv and Vmp using a t-test (alpha 5%) on the results of calculating the VS speed. Results (p-value > 0.05) showed no significant difference in the determination of the average speed using a comparison graph of the degree saturation with the free flow velocity.
ABSTRAK
Efektivitas dan efisiensi kinerja ruas jalan mengacu pada baiknya suatu jalan menampung volume lalu lintas. Tujuan dilakukan penelitian untuk mengkaji lebih dalam mengenai Metode MKJI 1997 dan PKJI 2023 dalam perhitungan kinerja ruas jalan perkotaan serta membandingkan hasil dalam setiap faktor perhitungan kedua metode tersebut dengan metode survei. Hasil penelitian didapatkan perbedaan nilai kapasitas dan kecepatan arus bebas kedua metode. Dikarenakan perbedaan nilai kapasitas dasar, nilai faktor pengali kecepatan arus bebas dasar dan nilai faktor penyesuaian hambatan samping. Perbedaan nilai kapasitas dasar berdampak pada nilai kecepatan (Vlv/Vmp), derajat kejenuhan (Ds/Dj). Sedangkan perbedaan hasil nilai faktor pengali kecepatan arus bebas dasar maupun nilai faktor penyesuaian hambatan samping berdampak pada nilai kecepatan (Fv/Vb). Uji validitas hasil Vlv dan Vmp menggunakan t-test (alpha 5%) terhadap hasil perhitungan kecepatan VS. Diperoleh hasil (p-value > 0,05) sehingga penentuan kecepatan rata-rata menggunakan grafik perbandingan dari derajat kejenuhan dengan kecepatan arus bebas tidak terdapat perbedaan signifikan.
Empowering Citizens with Learning Disabilities to Build Entrepreneurship at the Community Learning Center of Rumpun Aksara
Authors: Ayuni Dias , Alkornia Sylva , Himmah Irliana Faiqotul
Published: August 2024

Equitable and equitable education for people with disabilities in Jember Regency is still not well implemented. Therefore, PKBM Rumpun Aksara as a non-formal educational institution also opens up access to education for people with disabilities to gain knowledge and skills. These skills are adapted to the background of students with disabilities, the majority of whom are entrepreneurs and have obstacles in their business. So the aim of this research is to describe the empowerment of students with disabilities in building entrepreneurial independence at PKBM Rumpun Aksara. The method in this research uses a descriptive method with a qualitative approach. Determining the research location used a purposive area technique, namely at PKBM Rumpun Aksara. Data collection uses observation, interview and documentation techniques. The conclusions in this research show that the empowerment carried out by PKBM Rumpun Aksara can build entrepreneurial independence for students with disabilities who are characterized by a work ethic, being able to meet their needs, not depending on other people, and initiative
ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS (ARIS) AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE, PAKISTAN
Authors: Adeel Tanzeela , Widiatmoko Dono
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections account for approximately 6% of the total global burden of disease; almost double the proportion compared with the other communicable diseases. Aims: To investigate the link between risk factors & ARIs in Pakistani pediatric population under 5 with different socio-demographic profiles. Methods: Research was conducted as a cross-sectional study, utilizing the Pakistan DHS 2017-18 data, after ethical approval for the utilization of the dataset. Study variables were defined as age and gender of the child, place of residence, maternal education, wealth index, breastfeeding, and the immunization status of the child. Sample size (n = 39,799) was determined as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Prevalence of ARIs was estimated and the association between ARIs and socio-demographic factor and child’s immunization was examined. Results: Out of 39,799 children, 51.6% were males, 21.0 % were aged 36 – 47 months, 73.7% were the rural residents, 23% belonged to lowest wealth index quintiles. The mothers of   43.7% children were illiterate and 55.7% of the children were breastfed.  ARIs proportion among the sample was 14.3%. Significant association was observed between ARIs and age (p=0.000), gender of the child (p=0.001), residence (p=0.000), economic deprivation (p=0.000), maternal education (p=0.000) and breastfeeding (p=0.000), vitamin A administration (p=0.021), BCG (p=0.008), pentavalent (p=0.008), measles (p=0.000), and pneumococcal vaccination (p=0.020). Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics, i.e., age and gender of the child, accommodation, economic deprivation, maternal education, breast-feeding and poor vaccination uptake were observed to be positively correlated with ARIs among children under 5 years of age in Pakistan.
EARLY DETECTION OF ANEMIA IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS THROUGH NUTRITIONAL STATUS EXAMINATION AND IRON PANEL ANALYSIS (TIBC, SERUM IRON, IRON SATURATION)
Authors: Handayani Ririn , Anggraeni Ernawati , Handayani Yuni , Puspita Sari Melati , Yuningsih
Published: August 2024

Introduction. The panel iron analysis is an effort made to screen for anemia in adolescent girls. Adolescents with anemia can experience disturbances in growth and development, behavioral changes, and motor disturbances. In Jember district found that on average 30-40% of female students suffer from anemia. Anemia screening is an effort made to maintain the health of adolescents so that they can grow and develop in accordance with their growth and developmental stages. Aims. The purpose of this study is the early detection of anemia in adolescent girls. Methods. This research is an analytical descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach. Data collection was by examining nutritional status and iron panel examination results. The sampling method was accidental, involving 21 female students. The research was conducted in March 2023. Data analysis used frequency distribution. Result. The results showed that some students were undernourished (42.9%) and severely malnourished (4.8%); 18 students (85.7%) were classified as KEK. Meanwhile, from the iron panel analysis, 10 students (47.6%) had abnormal serum iron levels, 6 students (28.6%) had abnormal transferrin saturation levels, and the majority of the respondents, 20 students (95.2%), had normal TIBC. Conclusion. The conclusion from this study is that there are still many adolescent girls, especially in the school environment, who are undernourished to severely malnourished. This result correlates with the iron panel analysis which found that some adolescent girls were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, characterized by a decrease in serum iron, transferrin, and iron reserves levels, accompanied by an increase in the TIBC.
Mengolahragakan Masyarakat Berbasis Kearifan Lokal
Authors: Febriani Ayu Rizky , Hidayat Rohman , Widanita Neva , Budi Didik Rilastiyo , Listiandi Arfin Deri , Festiawan Rifqi , Suhartoyo Topo
Published: August 2024

Perkembangan dan kemajuan jaman menuntut setiap manusia untuk dapat bertahan dengan segenap kemampuan dalam hal ekonomi, ilmu dan pengetahuan, self improvement, kesehatan dan kebugaran jasmani. Perkembangan dan kemajuan jaman yang tak mengenal waktu berdampak pada kemampuan seseorang untuk dapat menjaga eksistensinya dimasyarakat agar hubungan individu satu dengan yang lain terjalin baik, dengan tujuan menjaga stabilitas emosi sosial. Hal ini kita dapat jumpai di desa-desa yang sangat kental dan terjaga keguyubannya. Pamijen adalah salah satu desa yang berada di Kecamatan Baturraden, Kabupaten Banyumas yang memiliki potensi lingkungan yang baik seperti keguyuban pada masyarakatnya, lingkungan yang sejuk, dan prasarana/tanah lapang. Kegiatan pengabdian pada masyarakat ini akan mengupayakan Desa Pamijen menjadi desa yang masyarakatnya aktif berolahraga. Tujuannya adalah meningkatkan physical Fitness masyarakat desa agar mereka lebih produktif dalam hal kebugaran jasmani. Peningkatan physical fitness akan diukur dengan fitness test dengan pengambilan data sebelum pelaksanaan kegiatan berolahraga dan pengambilan data setelah pelaksanaan olahraga dengan mengunakan  instrumen Heart Rate.
Manajemen Stress Psikologis untuk Pengendalian Tekanan Darah dengan Hipnoterapi Pada Kelompok Penderita Hipertensi RW I Mersi Kabupaten Banyumas
Authors: Setyo Arif , Isworo Atyanti , Ekowati Wahyu
Published: August 2024

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic causes both physical and psychological stress, especially for people with hypertension. Stress conditions in patients with hypertension can cause uncontrolled blood pressure. The results of the interview with the Chair of the Sehati hypertension group revealed that the problem faced by sufferers during this pandemic was uncontrolled blood pressure as a result of psychological stress. The solutions offered include non-pharmacological psychological stress management training, training in measuring blood pressure and stress levels, as well as hypnotherapy training for controlling blood pressure and psychological stress in patients with hypertension. The results obtained included 100% of participants being able to mention non-pharmacological methods to control psychological stress, 93.33% of participants being able to explain the measurement of psychological stress, 86.67% able to demonstrate the use of hypnotherapy for stress control, 100% of participants who demonstrated a decrease in stress levels. psychologically from a score of 4-6 (moderate stress) to a score of 1-3 (mild stress) and showed a decrease in blood pressure. The implementation of training is effective in increasing the knowledge and skills of hypertension sufferers in managing psychological stress.
Analysis of Iran's Reasons for Normalizing Diplomatic Relations with Saudi Arabia in 2023
Authors: Aprillia Ana , Haryo Prasodjo
Published: August 2024

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which have been heating up in recent years, have finally come to light. The normalization of relations between the two countries cannot be separated from the assistance of China, which is a third party in the process of improving relations between the two. Both began to improve relations with each other by opening diplomatic relations. This study aims to find out the reasons behind Iran opening its diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The study used a qualitative approach with library research data collection techniques via Google Scholar and Publish and Perish platforms. The author finds that there are several reasons for Iran to reopen its diplomatic relations with Arab countries: (1) international pressure such as the US’s economic sanctions, (2) economic interests by opening embassies in both countries, (3) stability following the normalization of the relations, especially on Sunni-Shia issues and establishing the Middle East’s hegemony, (4) the role of China, (5) the tendency of Saudi Arabia to China instead of the USA, and (6) the failure of Saudi Arabia in the Yemen war.
Indoor dust composition of university laboratories and potential health risks in Pahang, Malaysia
Authors: Sulaiman Fazrul Razman , Tuan Roslin Tuan Nur Haziqah , Sulaiman Noorzamzarina , Ismail Ismaniza
Published: August 2024

Dust pollution poses a significant risk to human health and natural systems, and has a substantial impact on the overall quality of both outdoor and indoor air. Dust also plays a crucial role in transporting metal elements in an indoor environment. This study examines the levels of specific metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn) present in dust samples collected from two laboratories in UiTM Cawangan Pahang, Malaysia. The analysis focuses on assessing pollution levels and potential impacts on human health. The concentrations of metal were significantly higher in Lab 2. Moderate enrichment of Zn was found in the indoor dust samples. Both laboratories showed that the major route of exposure to metals posing health risks was ingestion, followed by skin contact and inhalation, for individuals of all age groups, including adults and children. Zn and Pb exhibited higher potential non-cancer risk than Fe and Cu. The hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR) were within acceptable thresholds (HI < 1 and 10–6 < LCR < 10–4) in both laboratories.
Structure and Constraints for a Knowledge Architecture
Authors: Gatti Riccardo
Published: August 2024

Knowledge is not merely the characteristic of certain pieces of information being deemed true, believed and justifiable, but rather a process. The sentences that reaches the status of knowledge forms a universe that provides an interpretation of the reality one aims to describe. Language exchanges information through communication and the justification, if concludes successfully with respect to a sentence, it elevates the information to the status of knowledge. We provide a model where we define the fundamental elements of communication and grammar. As a result, knowledge must be \open\ (everyone must be able to acquire it), \free\ (everyone must be able to justifiy) and \tidy\ (everyone must be able to retrace the justification process in all its parts recursively). Ultimately, the development of knowledge processing, referred to as \emph{knowmatic}, represents the evolution of the information technologies (\it).
A Comprehensive Review on Phage Therapy and Phage-Based Drug Development
Authors: Cui Longzhu , Watanabe Shinya , Miyanaga Kazuhiko , Kiga Kotaro , Sasahara Teppei , Aiba Yoshifumi , Tan Xin-Ee , Veeranarayanan Srivani , Thitiananpakorn Kanate , Nguyen Huong Minh , Wannigama Dhammika Leshan
Published: August 2024

Phage therapy, the use of bacteriophages (phages) to treat bacterial infections, is regaining momentum as a promising weapon against the rising threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. This comprehensive review explores the historical context, the modern resurgence of phage therapy, and phage-facilitated advancements in medical and technological fields. It details the mechanisms of action and applications of phages in treating MDR bacterial infections, particularly those associated with biofilms and intracellular pathogens. The review further highlights innovative uses of phages in vaccine development, cancer therapy, and as gene delivery vectors. Despite its targeted and efficient approach, phage therapy faces challenges related to phage stability, immune response, and regulatory approval. By examining these areas in detail, this review underscores the immense potential and remaining hurdles in integrating phage-based therapies into modern medical practices.
Optimization of the Properties of Microsilica-Based Composite Briquettes Depending on Their Granulometry
Authors: Baisanov Alibek , Vorobkalo Nina , Shabanov Yerbol , Zobnin Nikolay , Baisanova Aidana , Sharieva Symbat , Mussin Azat , Ibrakhimova Zhanna , Zhumagaliev Temirlan
Published: August 2024

This work presents the results of optimizing the physicochemical properties of composite briquettes based on microsilica for metallurgical-grade silicon production. Microsilica, a waste product of silicon production, contains a sufficiently high amount of silicon dioxide (96-97%). This fact makes microsilica a promising composite material for metallurgical processing. However, its granulometric composition limits its direct use. The method of briquetting on an industrial briquetting press was used. The influence of the granulometric composition of the composite mixture on the heat tolerance and strength of the finished briquettes was studied. The methods of obtaining and testing the briquettes, their composition, and the briquetting and drying process are described. The obtained briquettes were tested for the smelting of metallurgical silicon. The silicon recovery rate in the metal with the standard charge was 71%, while the recovery rate with the briquetted monocharge was 85%. The results of silicon smelting from the briquettes demonstrated the high quality of the obtained metal, corresponding to the standards of metallurgical-grade silicon. The implementation of these technologies not only improves the quality of the final product but also addresses environmental issues related to the disposal of microsilica, reducing its accumulation and minimizing its impact on the environment.
Correlation between hyperlipidemia-related diseases and thorax/thigh circumference ratio along with Body Condition Score in dogs
Authors: Choi Kyuhyung
Published: August 2024

There are some limitations in using the Body Condition Score (BCS) for client education to prevent obesity, hyperlipidemia-related diseases, and orthopedic diseases in dogs because it is hard to quantify in detail. In small dogs, patellar luxation is a common orthopedic disease that is related to obesity and hind leg muscle. In this study, we evaluated the thorax/thigh circumference ratio as a prognostic evaluation index, along with the BCS, for assessing patellar dislocation and other hyperlipidemia-related diseases. I analyzed eleven client-owned dogs that visited Bundang New York Animal Hospital, South Korea. According to the results, triglycerides (TGs) showed a negative correlation with thorax/thigh value (R = -0.585, p-value = 0.059) and a strong positive correlation with thigh circumference (R = 0.749, p-value = 0.008). Total cholesterol (TC) showed a strong positive correlation with thigh circumference (R = 0.776, p-value = 0.005), whereas the thorax/thigh value showed a negative correlation with the medial patella luxation (MPL) grade with low significance (R = -0.343, p-value = 0.302). These data indicate that thigh circumference can be an excellent negative indicator for hyperlipidemia and thorax/thigh value shows a low correlation with medial patella luxation, which encompasses other factors including varus and trochlear groove, despite the limitations of this study due to the small sample size.
Assessment of Chemical and Biological Fungicides for the Control of Diplodia mutila Causing Wood Necrosis in Hazelnut
Authors: Retamal Verónica , San Martín Juan , Ruíz Braulio , Bastías Richard M. , Sanfuentes Eugenio , Lisperguer María José , De Gregorio Tommaso , Maspero Matteo , Moya-Elizondo Ernesto A.
Published: August 2024

Fungal trunk disease (FTD) poses a significant threat to hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) production worldwide. In Chile, the fungus Diplodia mutila, from the Botryosphaeriaceae family, has been frequently identified causing this disease in the Maule and Ñuble Regions. However, control measures for D. mutila remain limited. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical and biological fungicides against D. mutila under in vitro, controlled pot experiment, and field conditions. An in vitro screening of 30 fungicides was conducted. The effectiveness was assessed by measuring the length of vascular lesions in hazelnut branches inoculated with D. mutila mycelium disks under controlled and field conditions. Field trials were conducted in a hazelnut orchard in Ñiquén, Ñuble Region, Chile. Results showed that three biological and five chemical fungicides were selected in vitro with > 31% inhibition after 14 days. In pot experiments, all fungicides reduced necrotic lesions on branches by 32 to 61%. In field experiments, the most effective systemic fungicides were fluopyram/tebuconazole, fluxapyroxad/pyraclostrobin, and tebuconazole, while the effectiveness of antagonists Pseudomonas protegens ChC7 and Bacillus subtilis QST713 varied with seasonal temperatures. Effective conventional and biological fungicides against D. mutila could be integrated into disease management programs to protect hazelnut wounds from infections.
Is Canada Moving towards a More Agile Regulatory Approval and a Reimbursement Process with a Shifting Role for Real-World Evidence (RWE) for Oncology Drugs?
Authors: Lau Catherine Y , Rawson Nigel SB
Published: August 2024

Canada is known to have a complex pathway for new drug approval and reimbursement resulting in delayed access to patients with serious and life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Several recent publications from key stakeholders including patients, physicians and policymakers highlight patient helplessness, physician frustrations and policymakers entangled in a massive network of bureaucracy unable to make headway. Several quantitative assessments using time from regulatory approvals to successful reimbursements confirm long review times and high rejection rates for oncology drugs especially those receiving conditional approvals. A consensus forum of 18 Canadian oncology clinicians recently voiced frustration with the process and inability to deliver guideline-supported efficacious therapies to their patients. This manuscript compares data extracted from publicly available data sources from 2019 to June 2024 to previous publications.
Methods: Public databases from Health Canada, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), which is in the process of changing to Canada’s Drug Agency, and the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) were reviewed and data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics.
Results: From the data, three trends emerge, i) an increasing number of oncology drugs are receiving conditional approvals from Health Canada, ii) the percentage of conditionally approved oncology drugs receiving positive reimbursement recommendations from CADTH is still low but appears to be improving, but delays in access are now contingent upon pCPA deciding whether to negotiate price and then the duration of any negotiation, and iii) real-world evidence is no longer part of decision-making for conditional approvals. A slight increase in positive endorsement of RWE used to support CADTH recommendations was observed.
Conclusion: Lack of timely access to oncology drugs hurts Canadian patients. While a small trend of improvement appears to be emerging, longer-term data collection is required to ensure sustained patient benefits.
Projective Vector Fields on Semi-Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: Alshehri Norah , Guediri Mohammed
Published: August 2024

This paper explores the properties of projective vector fields on semi-Riemannian manifolds. The main result establishes that if a projective vector field η on such a manifold is also a conformal vector field with potential function ψ, then η must either be homothetic, or the vector field ζ, which is dual to dψ, is a light-like vector field. Additionally, it is shown that a complete Riemannian manifold admits a projective vector field that is also conformal and non-Killing if and only if it is locally Euclidean. The paper also presents other results related to the characterization of Killing and parallel vector fields using the Ricci curvature and the Hessian of the function given by the inner product of the vector field.
Hadamard’ Variational Formula for Simple Eigenvalues
Authors: Suzuki Takashi , Tsuchiya Takuya
Published: August 2024

We study Hadamard's variational formula for simple eigenvalues under dynamical and conformal deformations. Particularly, harmonic convexity of the first eigenvalue of the Laplacian under the mixed boundary condition is established for two-dimensional domain, which implies several new inequalities.
Bio-AD: A Transfer Learning Approach for Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Diseases in MRI Scans
Authors: Fareed Mian Muhammad Sadiq , Ahmed Gulnaz , Zikria Shahid , Jamal Saad Ahmed
Published: August 2024

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain condition brought on by intricate brain changes after cell injury. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is highest in those over 65. Presently, AD is detected by manual examination of a patient’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan and neuropsychological assessments. Due to its subpar accuracy and performance, solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) have not been made more widely available. This paper proposes a deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with the pre-trained MobileNet-V2 architecture as the model’s base for feature extraction and reducing the parameter size and training time. The proposed model accurately classifies various early stages of AD. The proposed approach visualizes the class activation maps in the form of a heat map on brain MRI scans via the Grad-CAM algorithm that lifts the black-box nature of the deep model. To handle the imbalance problem of the AD data set acquired from Kaggle, the oversampling algorithm SMOTE interpolates new images to even the class samples. The proposed multi-class classification deep model is named Bio-AD and evaluated using different quality metrics. The Bio-AD model has the following values for evaluation metrics: 97.92%, 99.87%, 97.87%, 98%, 98%, and 0.0646 for accuracy, Area Under the Curve (AUC), F1-score, Precision, Recall, and loss respectively. The proposed Bio-AD model is compared with DenseNet-169, VGG-19, and InceptionResNet-V2 using different quality metrics and outperformed in comparison with all other models using the AD data set.
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in Biomass Smoke-associated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Silva-Gallardo Juan , Sansores Raúl H. , Ramírez-Venegas Alejandra , Robles-Hernández Robinson , Centeno-Saenz Gustavo I. , Hernández-Zenteno Rafael J.
Published: August 2024

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by local and systemic inflammation independently of the risk factor; during the exacerbations, such inflammation is accentuated and amplified. A practical inflammatory marker and one with an applicable predictive value in the follow-up has been sought. FeNO has shown an excellent performance in that respect within the context of asthma and has also been studied in tobacco-smoke COPD (COPD-TS). In Biomass-smoke COPD (COPD-BS), this, to our knowledge, has not been evaluated. Objective: To measure FeNO levels in patients with COPD-BS and to compare these with those of patients with stable COPD-TS and in healthy controls. Methods: Transversal, observational, descriptive, comparative, and analytical study. A total of 57 patients, including 23 with COPD-BS, 17 with COPD-TS, and 17 healthy control subjects. The measurement of FeNO was carried out on all of these by means of the on-line chemiluminescence technique; the values were expressed in parts per billion (ppb) for their analysis. Results: It was observed that the FeNO values were similar between COPD-BS and COPD-TS and were significantly different between the healthy and stable COPD (both groups). No correlation was found between pulmonary function and symptoms with FeNO in any of the groups. Conclusions: The level of FeNO in stable COPD is found to be increased in a similar manner in COPD-BS and COPD-TS, with a significant difference on comparing it with that of the healthy subjects.
Equilibrium Strategies for Overtaking-Free Queueing Networks under Partial Information
Authors: Barbato David , Cesaro Alberto , D’Auria Bernardo
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we investigate the equilibrium strategies for customers arriving at overtaking-free queueing networks and receiving partial information about the system’s state. In an overtaking-free network, customers cannot be overtaken by others arriving after them. We assume that customer arrivals follow a Poisson process and that service times at any queue are independent and exponentially distributed. Upon arrival, the received partial information consists in the total number of customers already in the network, however the distribution of these among the queues is left unknown. We prove the existence of equilibrium threshold strategies for such systems and provide methods to compute them.
Structural Evolution of Olivine during Mechanochemically-Assisted Mineral Carbonation under CO2 Flow
Authors: Cau Costantino , Taras Alessandro , Caggiu Laura , Masia Gabriele , Enzo Stefano , Garroni Sebastiano , Murgia Fabrizio , Mulas Gabriele
Published: August 2024

The mechanism of the mechanically assisted mineral carbonation of commercial olivine under flow of CO2/N2 mixture has been elucidated by ex situ powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The overall CO2 conversion depends to the rotation frequency of the mill’s engine, and reached 85% within 90 minutes of mechanical treatment, at a flow rate of 2.5 l min-1. By tuning the frequency rotation, the kinetics of CO2 conversion changed from a sigmoid behaviour into a more complex reaction pathway, involving subsequent steps. The structural analyses suggest the clinochlore, a Mg- and Fe- containing aluminosilicate gathered among the components of olivine, is formed and consumed in different stages, thus promoting the CO2 sequestration that eventually results into the formation of hydrated and anhydrous Mg-based carbonates.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Total, Phosphorylated and Oligomeric A-synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease. A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression Study
Authors: Kapsali Ioanna , Brinia Maria-Evgenia , Constantinides Vasilios C.
Published: August 2024

Background: Diagnostic accuracy of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a synucleinopathy, based on diagnostic criteria is suboptimal. A biomarker for synucleinopathies is pivotal both from a clinical and from a research aspect. CSF a-synuclein has been extensively studied over the past two decades as a candidate biomarker of synucleinopathies. Herein we present data on studies focusing on total, phosphorylated and oligomeric CSF a-synuclein in PD. Methods: Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for studies with >10 PD patients and control subjects, with data (mean, SD) on total, phosphorylated or oligomeric a-synuclein. Cohen’s d, as a measure of effect size, was calculated for all a-synuclein forms. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed in an effort to explain between-study heterogeneity. Results: Thirty studies on total, six studies on oligomeric and one study on phosphorylated a-synuclein were included. Total a-synuclein was decreased and oligomeric a-synuclein increased in PD patients vs. controls. Effect size was medium for total and high for oligomeric a-synuclein. A-syn forms provided suboptimal combined sensitivity/specificity for the differentiation of PD from controls. There was significant between-study heterogeneity. PD cohort characteristics (sex, age, disease duration, UPDRS, H&Y) and study characteristics (study design, healthy vs. neurological controls, control for CSF blood contamination, method of a-syn measurement) could not account for between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was limited. Conclusions: CSF a-synuclein levels lack sufficient accuracy to be used as biomarkers for PD. Standardization of (pre)analytical variables may improve the discriminatory power of a-synuclein forms in the future.
Epidemic Control: Social Distancing or Antiviral Medications?
Authors: Smirnova Alexandra , Baroonian Mona , Ye Xiaojing
Published: August 2024

In this study, we investigate different control scenarios through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. To account for two important types of control for an early ascending stage of an outbreak, social distancing and treatment with antiviral medications, a compartmental model is considered with one control, $u_1(t)$, aimed to lower the disease transmission rate and the other control, $u_2(t)$, aimed to lower the period of infectiousness. In all experiments, the implementation of control strategies reduces the daily cumulative number of cases and successfully "flattens the curve". The reduction in the cumulative cases is achieved by eliminating or delaying new cases. This delay is incredibly valuable as it provides public health organizations with more time to advance antiviral treatments and devise alternative preventive measures. The main theoretical result of the paper, Theorem 3.1, concludes that the optimal control functions, $u_i(t)$, $i=1,2,$ may be increasing until some moment $\tau \in [0, T)$. However, for all $t \in [\tau, T]$, both controls, $u_i(t)$, decline as $t$ approaches $T$ (possibly causing the number of newly infected people to grow). Numerical simulations presented in Section 4 confirm theoretical findings, which indicates that, ideally, around the time $t=\tau$, the control strategy has to be upgraded and a vaccination campaign needs to start to ensure the epidemic wave does not rebound.