bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron-Beam-Pumped UVC Emitters Based on an (Al,Ga)N Material System
Authors: Jmerik Valentin , Kozlovsky Vladimir , Wang Xinqiang
Published: July 2023

Powerful emitters of ultraviolet C (UVC) light in the wavelength range of 230–280 nm are necessary for the development of effective and safe optical disinfection technologies, highly sensitive optical spectroscopy and non-line-of-sight optical communication. This review considers UVC emitters with electron-beam pumping of heterostructures with quantum wells in an (Al,Ga)N material system. The important advantages of these emitters are the absence of the critical problem of p-type doping and the possibility of achieving record (up to several tens of watts for peak values) output optical power values in the UVC range. The review consistently considers about a decade of world experience in the implementation of various UV emitters with various types of thermionic, field-emission, and plasma-cathode electron guns (sources) used to excite various designs of active (light-emitting) regions in heterostructures with quantum wells of AlxGa1−xN/AlyGa1−yN (x = 0–0.5, y = 0.6–1), fabricated either by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition or by plasma-activated molecular beam epitaxy. Special attention is paid to the production of heterostructures with multiple quantum wells/two-dimensional (2D) quantum disks of GaN/AlN with a monolayer’s (1 ML~0.25 nm) thickness, which ensures a high internal quantum efficiency of radiative recombination in the UVC range, low elastic stresses in heterostructures, and high-output UVC-optical powers.
From Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Liver Cancer: Microbiota and Inflammation as Key Players
Authors: Rodríguez-Lara Avilene , Rueda-Robles Ascensión , Sáez-Lara María José , Plaza-Diaz Julio , Álvarez-Mercado Ana I.
Published: July 2023

It is estimated that 25% of the world’s population has non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This disease can advance to a more severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease with a greater probability of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NASH could be characterized as a necro-inflammatory complication of chronic hepatic steatosis. The combination of factors that lead to NASH and its progression to HCC in the setting of inflammation is not clearly understood. The portal vein is the main route of communication between the intestine and the liver. This allows the transfer of products derived from the intestine to the liver and the hepatic response pathway of bile and antibody secretion to the intestine. The intestinal microbiota performs a fundamental role in the regulation of immune function, but it can undergo changes that alter its functionality. These changes can also contribute to cancer by disrupting the immune system and causing chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, both of which are implicated in cancer development. In this article, we address the link between inflammation, microbiota and HCC. We also review the different in vitro models, as well as recent clinical trials addressing liver cancer and microbiota.
Electrical Relaxation and Transport Properties of ZnGeP2 and 4H-SiC Crystals Measured with Terahertz Spectroscopy
Authors: Voevodin Vladimir I. , Brudnyi Valentin N. , Sarkisov Yury S. , Su Xinyang , Sarkisov Sergey Yu.
Published: July 2023

Terahertz photoconductivity and charge carrier recombination dynamics at two-photon (ZnGeP2) and three-photon (4H-SiC) excitation were studied. Thermally annealed, high-energy electron-irradiated and Sc-doped ZnGeP2 crystals were tested. The terahertz charge carrier mobilities were extracted from both the differential terahertz transmission at a specified photoexcitation condition and the Drude–Smith fitting of the photoconductivity spectra. The determined terahertz charge carrier mobility values are ~453 cm2/V·s for 4H-SiC and ~37 cm2/V·s for ZnGeP2 crystals. The charge carrier lifetimes and the contributions from various recombination mechanisms were determined at different injection levels using the model, which takes into account the influence of bulk and surface Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) recombination, interband radiative transitions and interband and trap-assisted Auger recombination. It was found that ZnGeP2 possesses short charge carrier lifetimes (a~0.01 ps−1, b~6 × 10−19 cm3·ps−1 and c~7 × 10−40 cm6·ps−1) compared with 4H-SiC (a~0.001 ps−1, b~3 × 10−18 cm3·ps−1 and c~2 × 10−36 cm6·ps−1), i.e., τ~100 ps and τ~1 ns at the limit of relatively low injection, when the contribution from Auger and interband radiative recombination is small. The thermal annealing of as-grown ZnGeP2 crystals and the electron irradiation reduced the charge carrier lifetime, while their doping with 0.01 mass % of Sc increased the charger carrier lifetime and reduced mobility. It was found that the dark terahertz complex conductivity of the measured crystals is not fitted by the Drude–Smith model with reasonable parameters, while their terahertz photoconductivity can be fitted with acceptable accuracy.
Seed Germination Ecology of the Medicinal Plant Peganum harmala (Zygophyllaceae)
Authors: Li Shifeng , Yan Ning , Tanveer Mohsin , Zhao Zhenyong , Jiang Li , Wang Hongling
Published: July 2023

Seed germination is a crucial stage in the life cycle of annuals in arid, saline regions and is particularly vulnerable to abiotic stresses. Peganum harmala, a valuable medicinal plant, has limited research on its seed germination response to different environmental stresses in the arid, saline regions of Central Asia. To investigate this, we studied the effects of various temperature regimes (ranging from 20/5 to 35/20 °C), light exposure (12 hours light/12 hours dark and continuous dark), seven levels of polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) concentration (ranging from 0–30%), and four types of salinity (ranging from 0–600 mmol L−1). Our findings show that photoperiod and temperature significantly influence germination. Optimal temperature range for seed germination was observed at 30/15 °C, with simulated critical and limit values of drought tolerance being highest (17.30% and 24.98%). However, higher temperatures (35/20 °C) and lower temperatures (20/5 °C) reduced the critical and limit values of drought tolerance. Additionally, the type and concentration of salinity had a significant effect on the seed germination, shoot, and root lengths of P. harmala. Regression analysis indicated that the critical values of NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3 tolerance during germination were 178 mmol L−1, 101 mmol L−1, 106 mmol L−1, and 54 mmol L−1, respectively. Salinity inhibition on seed germination followed the order: NaCl < NaHCO3 < Na2SO4 < Na2CO3. Moreover, NaCl, Na2SO4, NaHCO3, and Na2CO3 significantly inhibited the growth of P. harmala seedlings in both shoots and roots. Our study demonstrates the sensitivity of P. harmala to environmental factors such as light, temperature, drought, and salinity. The study provides valuable information on the germination ecology of P. harmala under diverse ecological scenarios, which can be useful in developing efficient propagation and utilization of this medicinal plant.
Performance and Stability Analysis of Selected Durum Wheat Genotypes Differing in Their Kernel Characteristics
Authors: Al-Sayaydeh R. , Shtaya M. J. , Qubbaj T. , Al-Rifaee M. K. , Alabdallah M. A. , Migdadi O. , Gammoh I. A. , Al-Abdallat A. M.
Published: July 2023

Breeding of high-yielding and stable durum wheat varieties with improved kernel characteristics is needed for dry regions around the globe. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance and stability of eight durum wheat genotypes varying in their kernel characteristics across 15 contrasting environments. The tested material included three recombinant inbred lines (NUR-072, NUR-106 and NUR-238) derived from a cross between Norsi, a Jordanian landrace with special kernel characteristics and UC1113 Yr36+Gpc-B1, an elite line from USA. Field trials were carried out for three constitutive growing seasons under rainfed conditions, except for three environments where supplementary irrigation was provided. After the harvest, grain yield (GY), total yield (TW), and harvest index (HI) were recorded. Additionally, several kernel-related traits, including thousand kernel weight (TKW), kernel area (KA), kernel width (KW), kernel length (KL), kernel circularity (KC), and kernel length–width ratio (KL:KW) were evaluated. Analysis of variance for all tested traits revealed high significant variations (p ≤ 0.01) between the genotype (except for TW) and the genotype × environment (G × E) interaction. Genotype effect contributed to substantial percentage of variation (>75%) for KA, KL, KC and KL:KW, whereas KW showed a lower percentage similar to GY. Regarding the G × E effect, explained variation was highest for the TW (67.79%), and lowest for KL (6.47%). For GY, Norsi produced significantly the lowest mean value (249.99 g.m−2) while, Bolenga produced the highest mean value (377.85 g.m−2) although no significant differences were observed with the remaining genotypes. On the other hand, Norsi, NUR-072 and NUR-106 showed best performance for TKW and kernel-related traits with NUR-106 producing the highest mean value for KL (9.07 mm). The GGE biplot and AMMI analysis of GY identified Bolenga, Um Qais and NUR-106 as good performers across several environments, while Norsi exhibited the poorest performance. For TKW, Norsi was the best performer across different environments followed by NUR-106, which showed excellent performance under irrigated and saline conditions. For stability analysis, NUR-106 emerged as the most stable genotype in this study for GY and several kernel-related traits, particularly for KL and KC. In conclusion, the results of this study offer valuable insights for durum wheat breeders seeking to develop high-yielding and stable varieties with special kernel characteristics suitable for cultivation in dry areas.
Synthesis and Properties of Polyhydroxyalkanoates on Waste Fish Oil from the Production of Canned Sprats
Authors: Zhila Natalia O. , Sapozhnikova Kristina Yu. , Kiselev Evgeniy G. , Shishatskaya Ekaterina I. , Volova Tatiana G.
Published: July 2023

The waste fish oil obtained from Baltic sprat waste in the production of canned sprats was studied as a sole carbon substrate for PHA synthesis by the wild-type strain Cupriavidus necator B-10646. Sprat oil contained a set of fatty acids with a chain length from C14 to C24, saturation factor 0.63, and provided bacterial growth and PHA synthesis. Bacteria metabolized fatty acids unevenly utilizing polyenoic acids and not using monoenoic and saturated acids. The bacterial biomass yield and the intracellular polymer concentration were 6.5 ± 0.5 g/L and 65 ± 5% by fed-batch culture in flasks. The synthesized PHAs were three-component copolymers with a predominance (97–98 mol.%) of 3-hydroxybutyrate monomers and small inclusions of 3-hydroxyvalerate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate; the ratio of monomers changed slightly depending on the sprat oil concentration. The series of samples had a temperature (Tmelt) of 158–165 °C, a molecular weight (Mw) of 540–760 kDa, and a degree of crystallinity (Cx) of 66–72%. For the first time, the waste fish oil from the production of sprats studied as a carbon substrate is a promising, affordable, and renewable substrate for PHA biosynthesis.
Bulk Resistivity of Materials in the Si/FeSi Furnace
Authors: Hoover Haley , Fromreide Mads , Sævarsdottir Gudrun , Tangstad Merete
Published: July 2023

The formation of silicon carbide (SiC) and the energy distribution in the furnace are two important parameters in evaluating furnace operations. The energy distribution is determined by the resistivity of the materials in the furnace. This work aims to investigate the bulk resistivity of materials in the silicon (Si) furnace using both partially transformed carbon materials and raw charge mixes. In this study, the impact of temperature, SiC and Si content, and the addition of insulating charge materials are investigated up to 1600 °C using carbon materials as a base. The materials were treated under similar conditions to the industrial furnace. The resistivity of the carbon materials was between 7 and 17 mΩm at 1600 °C, where the char and coal were generally more conductive than the charcoal. The resistivity of partially transformed materials increased with conversion to SiC, and coal with a higher SiC content than 60% had an average resistivity at 1600 °C of around 30 mΩm. The resistivity then began to decrease as elemental Si formed in the pores. Up to 36%, the amount of Si did not affect the measured resistivity, but its presence likely causes a slight decrease. Computed tomography (CT) scans show that the SiC material is not visibly changing or transforming in the crucible during measurement. Comparing the SiC materials to carbon materials and SiC crust from the literature shows that partially transformed SiC will be as conductive or less conductive than carbon at high temperatures. At 1400 °C, the resistivity of the charge mixes that included char, quartz, woodchips, and silica–iron ore showed that the resistivity is directly proportional to the amount of the main conductive material, in this case, char. Temperature, transformation to SiC, and volume of conductive materials appear to influence the resistivity most heavily in this work. At higher temperatures, the effect of SiC content and heat treatment temperature is lessened as the range becomes smaller for these materials.
Detection of Hidden Moving Targets by a Group of Mobile Agents with Deep Q-Learning
Authors: Matzliach Barouch , Ben-Gal Irad , Kagan Evgeny
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we propose a solution for the problem of searching for multiple targets by a group of mobile agents with sensing errors of the first and the second types. The agents’ goal is to plan the search and follow its trajectories that lead to target detection in minimal time. Relying on real sensors’ properties, we assume that the agents can detect the targets in various directions and distances; however, they are exposed to first- and second-type statistical errors. Furthermore, we assume that the agents in the group have errorless communication with each other. No central station or coordinating agent is assumed to control the search. Thus, the search follows a fully distributed decision-making process, in which each agent plans its path independently based on the information about the targets, which is collected independently or received from the other agents. The suggested solution includes two algorithms: the Distributed Expected Information Gain (DEIG) algorithm, which implements dynamic Voronoi partitioning of the search space and plans the paths by maximizing the expected one-step look-ahead information per region, and the Collective Q-max (CQM) algorithm, which finds the shortest paths of the agents in the group by maximizing the cumulative information about the targets’ locations using deep Q-learning techniques. The developed algorithms are compared against previously developed reactive and learning methods, such as the greedy centralized Expected Information Gain (EIG) method. It is demonstrated that these algorithms, specifically the Collective Q-max algorithm, considerably outperform existing solutions. In particular, the proposed algorithms improve the results by 20% to 100% under different scenarios of noisy environments and sensors’ sensitivity.
Adaptive Backstepping Integral Sliding Mode Control of a MIMO Separately Excited DC Motor
Authors: Afifa Roohma , Ali Sadia , Pervaiz Mahmood , Iqbal Jamshed
Published: July 2023

This research proposes a robust nonlinear hybrid control approach to the speed control of a multi-input-and-multi-output separately excited DC motor (SEDCM). The motor that was under consideration experienced parametric uncertainties and load disturbances in the weak field region. The proposed technique aims to merge the benefits of adaptive backstepping (AB) and integral sliding mode control (ISMC) to enhance the overall system’s robustness. The unknown parameters with load disturbances are estimated using an adaptation law. These estimated parameters are incorporated into the controller design, to achieve a highly robust controller. The theoretical stability of the system is proved using the Lyapunov stability criteria. The effectiveness of the proposed AB–ISMC was demonstrated by simulation, to track the reference speed under parametric uncertainties and load disturbances. The control performance of the proposed technique was compared to that of feedback linearization (FBL), conventional sliding mode control (SMC), and AB control laws without and with the adaptation law. Regression parameters, such as integral square error, integral absolute error, and integral time absolute error, were calculated to quantitatively analyze the tracking performance and robustness of the implemented nonlinear control techniques. The simulation results demonstrated that the proposed controller could accurately track the reference speed and exhibited robustness, with steady-state error accuracy. Moreover, AB–ISMC overperformed, compared to the FBL, SMC, AB controller without adaptation law and AB controller with adaptation law, in reducing the settling time by factors of 27%, 67%, 23%, and 21%, respectively, thus highlighting the superior performance of the proposed controller.
Perceptual Integration Compensates for Attention Deficit in Elderly during Repetitive Auditory-Based Sensorimotor Task
Authors: Frolov Nikita , Pitsik Elena , Grubov Vadim , Badarin Artem , Maksimenko Vladimir , Zakharov Alexander , Kurkin Semen , Hramov Alexander
Published: July 2023

Sensorimotor integration (SI) brain functions that are vital for everyday life tend to decline in advanced age. At the same time, elderly people preserve a moderate level of neuroplasticity, which allows the brain’s functionality to be maintained and slows down the process of neuronal degradation. Hence, it is important to understand which aspects of SI are modifiable in healthy old age. The current study focuses on an auditory-based SI task and explores: (i) if the repetition of such a task can modify neural activity associated with SI, and (ii) if this effect is different in young and healthy old age. A group of healthy older subjects and young controls underwent an assessment of the whole-brain electroencephalography (EEG) while repetitively executing a motor task cued by the auditory signal. Using EEG spectral power and functional connectivity analyses, we observed a differential age-related modulation of theta activity throughout the repetition of the SI task. Growth of the anterior stimulus-related theta oscillations accompanied by enhanced right-lateralized frontotemporal phase-locking was found in elderly adults. Their young counterparts demonstrated a progressive increase in prestimulus occipital theta power. Our results suggest that the short-term repetition of the auditory-based SI task modulates sensory processing in the elderly. Older participants most likely progressively improve perceptual integration rather than attention-driven processing compared to their younger counterparts.
Battery-SOC Estimation for Hybrid-Power UAVs Using Fast-OCV Curve with Unscented Kalman Filters
Authors: He Zhuoyao , Martín Gómez David , de la Escalera Hueso Arturo , Flores Peña Pablo , Lu Xingcai , Armingol Moreno José María
Published: July 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have drawin increasing attention in recent years, and they are widely applied. Nevertheless, they are generally limited by poor flight endurance because of the limited energy density of their batteries. A robust power supply is indispensable for advanced UAVs; thus hybrid power might be a promising solution. State of charge (SOC) estimation is essential for the power systems of UAVs. The limitations of accurate SOC estimation can be partly ascribed to the inaccuracy of open circuit voltage (OCV), which is obtained through specific forms of identification. Considering the actual operation of a battery under hybrid conditions, this paper proposes a novel method, “fast OCV”, for obtaining the OCVs of batteries. It is proven that fast OCV offers great advantages, related to its simplicity, duration and cost, over traditional ways of obtaining OCV. Moreover, fast-OCV also shows better accuracy in SOC estimation than traditional OCV. Furthermore, this paper also proposes a new method, “batch mode”, for talking-data sampling for battery-parameter identification with the limited-memory recursive least-square algorithm. Compared with traditional the “single mode”, it presents good de-noising effect by making use of all the sampled battery’s terminal current and voltage data.
SPA-Net: A Deep Learning Approach Enhanced Using a Span-Partial Structure and Attention Mechanism for Image Copy-Move Forgery Detection
Authors: Zhao Kaiqi , Yuan Xiaochen , Xie Zhiyao , Xiang Yan , Huang Guoheng , Feng Li
Published: July 2023

With the wide application of visual sensors and development of digital image processing technology, image copy-move forgery detection (CMFD) has become more and more prevalent. Copy-move forgery is copying one or several areas of an image and pasting them into another part of the same image, and CMFD is an efficient means to expose this. There are improper uses of forged images in industry, the military, and daily life. In this paper, we present an efficient end-to-end deep learning approach for CMFD, using a span-partial structure and attention mechanism (SPA-Net). The SPA-Net extracts feature roughly using a pre-processing module and finely extracts deep feature maps using the span-partial structure and attention mechanism as a SPA-net feature extractor module. The span-partial structure is designed to reduce the redundant feature information, while the attention mechanism in the span-partial structure has the advantage of focusing on the tamper region and suppressing the original semantic information. To explore the correlation between high-dimension feature points, a deep feature matching module assists SPA-Net to locate the copy-move areas by computing the similarity of the feature map. A feature upsampling module is employed to upsample the features to their original size and produce a copy-move mask. Furthermore, the training strategy of SPA-Net without pretrained weights has a balance between copy-move and semantic features, and then the module can capture more features of copy-move forgery areas and reduce the confusion from semantic objects. In the experiment, we do not use pretrained weights or models from existing networks such as VGG16, which would bring the limitation of the network paying more attention to objects other than copy-move areas.To deal with this problem, we generated a SPANet-CMFD dataset by applying various processes to the benchmark images from SUN and COCO datasets, and we used existing copy-move forgery datasets, CMH, MICC-F220, MICC-F600, GRIP, Coverage, and parts of USCISI-CMFD, together with our generated SPANet-CMFD dataset, as the training set to train our model. In addition, the SPANet-CMFD dataset could play a big part in forgery detection, such as deepfakes. We employed the CASIA and CoMoFoD datasets as testing datasets to verify the performance of our proposed method. The Precision, Recall, and F1 are calculated to evaluate the CMFD results. Comparison results showed that our model achieved a satisfactory performance on both testing datasets and performed better than the existing methods.
Accelerated Editing Method for Vehicle Durability Fatigue Load Spectrum Based on Wigner-Ville Transform
Authors: Yang Yongle , Zhang Zhifei , Peng Liangfeng , Jin Jie , Wang Qinghua
Published: July 2023

A Wigner-Ville transform-based (WVT-based) load spectrum fast editing method for vehicle parts is proposed to improve the efficiency of durability tests. In this method, the instantaneous energy spectrum (IES) of the original time-domain signal is obtained via the Wigner-Ville transform, which is used as a criterion to identify time-domain points of ineffective damage contribution. A genetic algorithm (GA) based threshold optimization model is also proposed to automatically set the threshold of the IES under consideration of the relative damage requirements and statistical parameters of the signal. The effectiveness of the above proposed editing method is demonstrated by compiling an SUV’s suspension coil spring signal obtained from physical sensor-based measurements. Meanwhile, the same spectrum is also processed using time-domain editing, Short-time Fourier-transform, and S-transform methods for comparison. The results show that the WVT-based edited spectrum has a time-duration retention ratio of about 76.30%, which is significantly superior to other methods, with the same pseudo-damage retention and statistical parameter error constraints. Moreover, in combination with the fatigue simulation analysis, it verifies that the load effect of the edited spectrum matches well with that of the original. Thus, the proposed method is considered more effective for compiling component load signals in vehicle acceleration durability tests.
Passive Impedance-Matched Neural Recording Systems for Improved Signal Sensitivity
Authors: Sayeed Sk Yeahia Been , Al Duhni Ghaleb , Navaz Hooman Vatan , Volakis John L. , Pulugurtha Markondeya Raj
Published: July 2023

Wireless passive neural recording systems integrate sensory electrophysiological interfaces with a backscattering-based telemetry system. Despite the circuit simplicity and miniaturization with this topology, the high electrode–tissue impedance creates a major barrier to achieving high signal sensitivity and low telemetry power. In this paper, buffered impedance is utilized to address this limitation. The resulting passive telemetry-based wireless neural recording is implemented with thin flexible packages. Thus, the paper reports neural recording implants and integrator systems with three improved features: (1) passive high impedance matching with a simple buffer circuit, (2) a bypass capacitor to route the high frequency and improve mixer performance, and (3) system packaging with an integrated, flexible, biocompatible patch to capture the neural signal. The patch consists of a U-slot dual-band patch antenna that receives the transmitted power from the interrogator and backscatters the modulated carrier power at a different frequency. When the incoming power was 5–10 dBm, the neurosensor could communicate with the interrogator at a maximum distance of 5 cm. A biosignal as low as 80 µV peak was detected at the receiver.
Sollerman Hand Function Sub-Test “Write with a Pen”: A Computer-Vision-Based Approach in Rehabilitation Assessment
Authors: Zestas Orestis N. , Tselikas Nikolaos D.
Published: July 2023

Impaired hand function is one of the most frequently persistent consequences of stroke. Throughout the rehabilitation process, physicians consistently monitor patients and perform kinematic evaluations in order to assess their overall progress in motor recovery. The Sollerman Hand Function Test (SHT) is a valuable assessment tool used to evaluate a patient’s capacity to engage in daily activities. It holds great importance in the field of medicine as it aids in the assessment of treatment effectiveness. Nevertheless, the requirement for a therapist’s physical presence and the use of specialized materials make the test time-consuming and reliant on clinic availability. In this paper, we propose a computer-vision-based approach to the “Write with a pen” sub-test, originally included in the SHT. Our implementation does not require extra hardware equipment and is able to run on lower-end hardware specifications, using a single RGB camera. We have incorporated all the original test’s guidelines and scoring methods into our application, additionally providing an accurate hand spasticity evaluator. After briefly presenting the current research approaches, we analyze and demonstrate our application, as well as discuss some issues and limitations. Lastly, we share some preliminary findings from real-world application usage conducted at the University campus and outline our future plans.
Quantum Effects in General Relativity: Investigating Repulsive Gravity of Black Holes at Large Distances
Authors: Chiarelli Piero
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a theoretical study that investigates quantum effects on the gravity of black holes. This study utilizes a gravitational model that incorporates quantum mechanics derived from the classical-like quantum hydrodynamic representation. This research calculates the mass density distribution of quantum black holes, specifically in the case of central symmetry. The gravity of a quantum black hole shows contributions coming from quantum potential energy, which is also sensitive to the presence of a background of gravitational noise. The additional energy, stored in quantum potential fluctuations and constituting a form of dark energy, leads to a repulsive gravity in the weak gravity limit. This repulsive gravity overcomes the attractive classical Newtonian force at large distances of order of the intergalactic length.
Gender Differences in the Severity of Cadmium Nephropathy
Authors: Yimthiang Supabhorn , Vesey David A. , Gobe Glenda C. , Pouyfung Phisit , Khamphaya Tanaporn , Satarug Soisungwan
Published: July 2023

The excretion of β2-microglobulin (β2M) above 300 µg/g creatinine, termed tubulopathy, was regarded as the critical effect of chronic exposure to the metal pollutant cadmium (Cd). However, current evidence suggests that Cd may induce nephron atrophy, resulting in a reduction in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Herein, these pathologies were investigated in relation to Cd exposure, smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. The data were collected from 448 residents of Cd-polluted and non-polluted regions of Thailand. The body burden of Cd, indicated by the mean Cd excretion (ECd), normalized to creatinine clearance (Ccr) as (ECd/Ccr) × 100 in women and men did not differ (3.21 vs. 3.12 µg/L filtrate). After adjustment of the confounding factors, the prevalence odds ratio (POR) for tubulopathy and a reduced eGFR were increased by 1.9-fold and 3.2-fold for every 10-fold rise in the Cd body burden. In women only, a dose–effect relationship was seen between β2M excretion (Eβ2M/Ccr) and ECd/Ccr (F = 3.431, η2 0.021). In men, Eβ2M/Ccr was associated with diabetes (β = 0.279). In both genders, the eGFR was inversely associated with Eβ2M/Ccr. The respective covariate-adjusted mean eGFR values were 16.5 and 12.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower in women and men who had severe tubulopathy ((Eβ2M/Ccr) × 100 ≥ 1000 µg/L filtrate). These findings indicate that women were particularly susceptible to the nephrotoxicity of Cd, and that the increment of Eβ2M/Ccr could be attributable mostly to Cd-induced impairment in the tubular reabsorption of the protein together with Cd-induced nephron loss, which is evident from an inverse relationship between Eβ2M/Ccr and the eGFR.
A Glow before Darkness: Toxicity of Glitter Particles to Marine Invertebrates
Authors: Abessa Denis Moledo de Souza , Albanit Letícia França , Moura Pedro Henrique Paixão de , Nogueira Vitória Soares , Santana Felipe Teixeira , Fagundes Kainã , Ueda Maysa , Muller Otto Patrão de Oliveira , Cesar-Ribeiro Caio
Published: July 2023

Glitter particles are considered a model of microplastics, which are used in a wide range of products. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of two types of glitter (green and white, with distinct chemical compositions) dispersions on the embryonic development of the sea urchins Echinometra lucunte, Arbacia lixula, and the mussel Perna perna. The Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) approach was used to identify possible chemicals related to toxicity. Glitter dispersions were prepared using 0.05% ethanol. The tested dispersions ranged from 50 to 500 mg/L. The white glitter was composed of a vinyl chloride–methyl acrylate copolymer. The effective concentrations of green glitter to 50% embryos (EC50) were 246.1 (235.8–256.4) mg/L to A. lixula, 23.0 (20.2–25.8) mg/L to P. perna and 105.9 (61.2–150.2) mg/L, whereas the EC50 of white glitter to E. lucunter was 272.2 (261.5–282.9) mg/L. The EC50 for P. perna could not be calculated; however, the lowest effect concentration was 10 mg/L—that was the lowest concentration tested. The filtered suspension of green glitter had Ag levels exceeding the legal standards for marine waters. TIE showed that metals, volatiles, and oxidant compounds contribute to toxicity. The results showed that glitter may adversely affect marine organisms; however, further studies are necessary to determine its environmental risks.
COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Dose: Knowledge, Practices, and Intention among Pregnant/Planning to Get Pregnant and Lactating Women
Authors: Al-Qerem Walid , Jarab Anan , Shawabkeh Yara , Ling Jonathan , Hammad Alaa , Alazab Badi’ah , Alasmari Fawaz
Published: July 2023

Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, booster dose against COVID-19 was recommended for this special population in Jordan. However, vaccine hesitancy/refusal remains the main obstacle to providing immunity against the spread of COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the intention of pregnant/planning to get pregnant and lactating women towards receiving a booster dose against COVID-19 and its associated factors. A questionnaire was given to Jordanian pregnant/planning to get pregnant and lactating females. A total of 695 females were enrolled in the study. Older age, having a chronic disease, high education, high income, and high perceived risk of COVID-19 were significantly associated with higher knowledge about COVID-19. High perceived risk of COVID-19 was significantly associated with better practice. Participants who anticipated they might contract COVID-19 in the next six months, had high perceived risk of COVID-19, had high knowledge, had received the COVID-19 vaccine based on conviction, and smokers had higher intention to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. In order to increase pregnant and lactating women’s intention to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, public health organizations should consider developing comprehensive health education campaigns.
Gestión del cambio organizacional en los proyectos sociales
Authors: Campo-Vidal Jessica Marcela , Valencia-Arango Nathalia Andrea , Hernandez Hector Andres , Calderón-Sotero Jaime Hernán
Published: July 2023

La gestión del cambio o change management se ha constituido como un recurso que apoya a las organizaciones en sus procesos de mejora, innovación, progreso, y en la superación de periodos críticos. Sin embargo, no solo las organizaciones se benefician de la gestión del cambio, sino también las instituciones públicas; esto debido a que los factores organizacionales que impulsan dichos proyectos también se encuentran en otro tipo de objetivos de cambio e innovación, como las ONG que buscan la educación igualitaria, la protección del medio ambiente, o los gobiernos que desean un mejor sistema de salud. Para el desarrollo del presente artículo se consultaron treinta (30) publicaciones, de la cuales seis (6) de revistas en español y veinticuatro (24) en inglés, integrando las descripciones conceptuales del change management y su campo de aplicación. Se encontró que la gestión del cambio en la administración pública o social busca objetivos similares a los de una organización o empresa, y el desarrollo de proyectos sociales mejora cuando su estructura de procesos y resultados se basa en el liderazgo, la comunicación, el aprendizaje, y el uso de la tecnología, ayudando a mejorar calidad de vida de las comunidades en tiempos de cambio y crisis que han tenido que pasar durante todo los acontecimientos que se han presentado como por ejemplo la reciente pandemia del COVID-19.

 

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar las posibles similitudes entre la gestión del cambio gerencial y la gestión del cambio en los proyectos sociales, identificando conceptos administrativos que funcionan para ambos casos y que hacen de la gestión de proyectos públicos una importante herramienta en la de los gobiernos y las organizaciones que trabajan por el bienestar de las comunidades en proyectos de diferentes ámbitos, como la salud.
Komunikasi Demokratis Dalam Membentuk Keluarga Harmonis (Perspektif Al Quran Surah Al-Imran Ayat 159)
Authors: Nasrudin Nasrudin
Published: July 2023

A harmonious family is the dream of every family, especially in the current era, the number of divorce cases that are increasing in the family makes it difficult to realize a harmonious family. Divorce in marriage usually occurs due to lack of communication or misunderstanding in communication.  One way to prevent misunderstandings in communication is to implement democratic communication in the family. This study aims to explain that the importance of democratic communication is carried out in the family which will be discussed in the perspective of the Al-Quran Soorah Al-Imran Verse: 159. The data used by the authors in this study are data obtained from literature studies. The approach used is the thematic interpretation of the Qur'an, namely the Soorah Al-Imran Verse 159. The results of this study indicate that there are four concepts of democratic communication contained in the Soorah Al-Imran Verse 159, namely being gentle, forgiving each other, respecting opinions and putting your trust in Allah SWT.  These four concepts if implemented in the family will create a harmonious family.
Keefektifan Konseling Kelompok Teknik Behavior Contract Untuk Meningkatkan Kedisiplinan Belajar Siswa
Authors: Ath Thaariq Ahmad Ghulam , Rosada Ulfa Danni
Published: July 2023

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh rendahnya kedisiplinan belajar siswa, salah satunya seperti kurangnya fokus saat pelajaran yang disebabakan oleh lemahnya minat pada pelajaran dan guru. Tujuan penelitian guna mengetahui keefektifan konseling kelompok teknik behavior contract untuk meningkatkan kedisiplinan belajar siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 1 Temayang. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan menggunakan one group pretest-posttest design. Subjek penelitian sebanyak 6 siswa. metode pengumpulan data menggunakan skala kedisiplinan belajar. Teknik analisis data menggunakan paired sample uji t-test. Berdasarkan hasil pengolahan data rata-rata skor pretest sebesar 52,83 sedangkan rata-rata skor posttest sebesar 74,67. Hal tersebut membuktikan bahwa terdapat kenaikan skor kedisiplinan belajar sehingga dapat disimpulkan konseling kelompok teknik behavior contract efektif untuk meningkatkan kedisiplinan belajar siswa kelas VIII SMP Negeri 1 Temayang
Hubungan Kecerdasan Emosi dengan Perilaku Verbal Abuse Pada Guru
Authors: Saragih Nurul Azmi , Fitriani Enny
Published: July 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui analisis hubungan kecerdasan emosi dengan perilaku verbal abuse pada guru. Instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan untuk mengukur kecerdasan emosi dan verbal abuse adalah skala Likert. Kecerdasan emosi diukur berdasarkan aspek-aspek kecerdasan emosi yaitu mengenali emosi, mengelola emosi, memotivasi diri, mengenali emosi orang lain (berempati), membina hubungan baik dengan orang lain, pada verbal abuse diukur berdasarkan bentuk-bentuk dari verbal abuse yaitu mengucapkan kata-kata kasar, memfitnah, mengancam, menakut-nakuti, menghina, membesar-besarkan kesalahan orang lain. Populasi penelitian dan sampel penelitian ini ada 33 responden dengan kriteria sesuai tujuan penelitian. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah Analisis Regresi Linier Sederhana. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan negatif antara kecerdasan emosi dengan perilaku verbal abuse pada koefisien Rxy = -0.434 dan p = 0.006 berarti (p < 0.05), hal ini berarti semakin rendah kecerdasan emosi maka semakin tinggi perilaku verbal abuse pada guru, sehingga terlihat ada hubungan negatif antara kedua variabel tersebut.
Pengaruh Bimbingan Kelompok dengan Teknik Role Playing dalam Meningkatkan Pemahaman Pelecehan Seksual
Authors: Damayanti Ervira , Rochani Rochani , Prabowo Arga Satrio
Published: July 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui adalah pengaruh bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik role playing dalam meningkatkan pemahaman pelecehan seksual siswa kelas VII di SMPN 1 Cikeusik. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode quasi experimental design. Populasi penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas VII di SMPN 1 Cikeusik sebanyak 68, dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 10 siswa dengan 6 siswa sebagai kelompok kontrol dan 4 siswa sebagai kelompok eksperimen yang diambil melalui teknik purposive sampling. Berdasarkan uji Mann-Whitney U menunjukkan nilai Asymp.Sig.(2-tailed) sebeser 0,010 < 0,05, maka dapat disimpulkan bahwa “Hipotesis Diterima (Ha)”. Dengan demikian dapat dikatakan bahwa ada perbedaan hasil antara kelompok eksperimen yang diberi treatment dengan kelompok kontrol yang tidak diberi treatment. Karena ada perbedaan yang signifikan maka dapat dikatakan bahwa ada pengaruh bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik role playing dalam meningkatkan pemahaman pelecehan seksual siswa kelas VII.
Gambaran Perilaku Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) Pada Siswa SMAN 1 Bogor
Authors: Hasna Afra , Febrianti Thrisia Febrianti , Zuraida Dita Juwita
Published: July 2023

Masa remaja akhir menuju dewasa awal disebut masa yang penuh problematika. Self-injury merupakanupaya untuk menghindari pikiran, perasaan, atau pengalaman internal yang menyusahkan dengan cara melukai diri sendiri secara sengaja tanpa tujuan bunuh diri. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui gambaran perilaku NSSI pada siswa SMAN 1 Bogor. Metode penelitian yang digunakan yaitu penelitian kualitatif dengan model in-depth-interview dan observasi. Subjek penelitian 2 orang dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan yaitu The Self-Harm Behavior Questionnaire (SHBQ) dan hasil analisis IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis). Hasil penelitian perilaku NSSI dipicu adanya perlakuan negatif yang diterima seperti bullying, kurangnya penerimaan dan dukungan dari orangtua, sehingga ada perasaan tertekan dan tidak diterima. NSSI dilakukan untuk mengurang ketegangan dan mengalihkan perasaan negatif, hingga adanya upaya untuk mengakhiri hidup dengan upaya bunuh diri. Kelemahan penelitian ini adalah hanya untuk memberikan gambaran terkait perilaku NSSI dan diberikannya intervensi untuk penyelesaian dan pencegahan terjadinya perilaku NSSI.
Analysis of Bank Health Before and After the Implementation of Pernyataan Standar Akuntansi Keuangan (PSAK) 71
Authors: Antari Wulan Dwi , Anggraini Triana , Rosita* Reni
Published: July 2023

The change in the implementation of PSAK 55 to PSAK 71 at the beginning of 2020 is an important event that has occurred in the banking industry, with this research aims to see whether there are differences in the soundness of banks before and after the application of  PSAK 71 to Conventional Banks listed in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2019-2020. Taking the sample of 31 banks was selected through purposive sampling. Using a non-parametric test namely, the Wilcoxon rank sign range test, assessed by the SPSS v.22. Bank soundness level is measured using Risk Profile, Good Corporate Governance, Earnings, and Capital (RGEC). Research gives the result that the level of bank soundness has an overall difference before and after the application of PSAK 71.

Keywords: Bank soundness; PSAK 71; Conventional Banks; Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX); RGEC

 

Pergantian pemberlakuan PSAK 55 menjadi PSAK 71 pada awal tahun 2020 menjadi peristiwa penting yang terjadi pada industri perbankan, dengan ini penelitian bertujuan untuk melihat adakah perbedaan tingkat kesehatan bank sebelum dan sesudah penerapan PSAK 71 pada Bank Konvensional yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) tahun  2019 – 2020. Sampel sebanyak 31 Bank dengan teknik pengambilan sampel purposive sampling. Menggunakan uji non-parametrik yaitu uji wilcoxon sign rank test. Pengukuran tingkat kesehatan bank menggunakan Risk Profile, Good Corporate Governance, Earnings, dan Capital (RGEC). Penelitian memberikan hasil bahwa tingkat kesehatan bank memiliki perbedaan secara menyeluruh ketika sebelum dan sesudah penerapan PSAK 71.

Kata Kunci: Kesehatan Bank; PSAK 71; Bank Konvensional; Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI); RGEC
Market Reaction and Share Performance Towards the Merger and Acquisition Announcement of 2015-2019
Authors: Puspita* Gadis Arimbi , Yunita Irni
Published: July 2023

This study aims to analyze differences in market reactions and performance before and before announcing Mergers and Acquisitions in companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2015-2019 by measuring differences in Abnormal Return (AR), Trading Volume Activity (TVA), Security Return Variability (SRV), and Actual Return (R) 10 days before and 10 days after the event. The method used is quantitative. The data used are secondary data on daily closing stock prices and the number of shares held during the observation period. The test results show that there is no significant difference in Abnormal Return (AR), Trading Volume Activity (TVA), and Actual Return (R) before and before the event. However, there is a significant difference in the Security Return Variability (SRV) before and before the event. 

Keywords: Abnormal Return; Trading Volume Activity; Security Return Variability; Actual Return; Merger and Acquisition

 

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perbedaan reaksi pasar dan kinerja saham Before dan After pengumuman merger dan akuisisi pada perusahaan terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) tahun 2015-2019 dengan mengukur perbedaan Abnormal Return (AR), Trading Volume Activity (TVA), Security Return Variability (SRV), dan Actual Return (R) 10 hari Before dan 10 hari setelah peristiwa. Metode yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder harga saham penutupan harian dan jumlah saham yang diperdagangkan selama periode pengamatan. Hasil uji menunjukkan tidak ada perbedaan signifikan pada Abnormal Return (AR), Trading Volume Activity (TVA) dan Actual Return (R) Before dan After peristiwa. Namun terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada Security Return Variability (SRV) Before dan After peristiwa.

Kata Kunci: Return Tidak Normal; Aktivitas Volume Perdagangan; Variabilitas Pengembalian Keamanan; Return Aktual; Penggabungan dan Akuisisi