bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Helminth Infection in Pet Cats in Wonogiri District, Central Java
Authors: Sekarsari Dara Ayu Pramesti , Saputro Amung Logam , Agustono Bodhi , Yunita Maya Nurwartanti , Praja Ratih Novita , Solikhah Tridiganita Intan
Published: December 2023

Gastrointestinal helminth infection is the most common and the easiest infection to infect wild cats or pet cats but is often ignored by the cat owners because sometimes there are no symptoms or a lack of attention from the cat owner to their pet cat. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of gastrointestinal helminth infection in pet cats in Wonogiri District, Central Java. A total of 100 cat samples were evaluated using a questionnaire, then fecal microscopic examination using simple native method, sedimentation, and floatation methods. Data obtained from this study were presented descriptively and analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The result showed that 37 out of 100 fecal samples were found positive infected with gastrointestinal helminth including Toxocara cati and Dipylidium caninum or the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infection can be calculated at 37%. The result of the analysis of significant risk factors were breed, number of pet cat owners, grooming, deworming, and vaccination.
Edutourism Initiative in Pulau Santen Beach, Banyuwangi Through Local Community Empowerment by Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Authors: Yudhana Aditya , Firmansyah Januar , Praja Ratih Novita , Yulianti Yunika Tri , Sari Jayanti Dian Eka , Mandagi Ayik Mirayanti , Haditanojo Wiyanto , Hamonangan Jonathan Mark
Published: December 2023

The potential of Santen Island beach, which has been known as a tourist beach, is increasingly visible with the amount of infrastructure and tourism built by the local government. This is done as an effort to promote Santen Island, as one of the best natural tourism centers in Banyuwangi. The people of Santen Island must be prepared as a group that is aware of the potential of their village and the sustainability of its natural tourism. Santen Island is also a tourist location that is annually used as a nesting site for sea turtles that land on the coast of Banyuwangi. This is actually very contrary to the natural habits of sea turtles which prefer to make nests in quiet places without the disturbance of sound, light, and humans. Because this natural nesting site is a tourist attraction, the local residents should also be given insights related to the protection of sea turtles that land on the coast of Santen Island as wildlife protected by the Conservation Law in Indonesia. This community service aims to strengthen the awareness and knowledge of the Santen Island tourism awareness group related to the importance of the role of the community around the beach to participate in preserving wildlife and their ecosystems. The methods used to carry out community service are lectures, discussions, and brainstorming. The location of the implementation is on the beach of Pulau Santen with the target group of people in the Pulan Santen beach area. The locality development model is applied in community service activities. The understanding, awareness, and participation of the target group increased. Through the community service activities that have been carried out, the sustainability of the program is needed until a conservation education tourism model is formed that has the potential to improve the economy of the surrounding community and the preservation of biodiversity in the region. This activity provides an increase in knowledge, awareness, and participation of the target group in managing the conservation of wildlife and their ecosystems, especially sea turtles.
Antibacterial Activity of Bidara Leaf Extract (Ziziphus mauritiana) Against Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Mastitis Case In Vitro
Authors: Saraswati Afif Tasya , Sugihartuti Rahmi , Puspitasari Yulianna , Witaningrum Adiana Mutamsari , Rachmawati Kadek , Maslachah Lilik , Raharjo Hartanto Mulyo , Hisyam Mirza Atikah Madarina
Published: December 2023

This research aimed to know the antibacterial activities of bidara leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis cases. The isolate was identified before the antibacterial test. This study was done by five times repetitions on Mueller Hinton Agar. The concentrations used in this study were 30%, 40%, and 50% of bidara leaf extract then a blank disc was dipped into each concentration. Tetracycline disc was used as a positive control and aquadest was used as a negative control. The diameter of the clear zone was measured using calipers after incubation for 24 hours at 37℃. The results showed significant differences (p<0.05) between the positive control (K+), negative control K (-), and the concentration group. However, each concentration of bidara leaf extract showed insignificant differences in the diameter of the clear zone. It could be concluded that bidara leaf extract has antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from mastitis cases.
Analysis of "Bunga Gugur" by W. S. Rendra
Authors: Haris Rois Abdul , Sumiyadi Sumiyadi
Published: December 2023

This study examines the poem "Bunga Gugur" by W. S. Rendra which is part of a collection of poetic expressions for Dik Narti using a semiotic model. This scientific work aims to describe the results of a study of one of W.S. Rendra’s love poems during his lifetime. This study uses a semiotic model based on the sign system, how it works, how it is used, and what we do with it. The study of this semiotic model is divided into three stages including analysis of syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic aspects. A qualitative descriptive method was used in this study to describe the meaning of poetry so that readers can understand it as a unique literary work, having a sign system, message and meaning. The data source used is the primary data source in the form of the poem "Bunga Gugur". The secondary data sources are in the form of books and articles on literary studies, poetry, and semiotics. The results of the study found that the poem "Bunga Gugur" has conventional typography, which interprets the life of a loved one who has left this natural world. With the aim of expressing the author's heart to himself, so that the reader feels what the author feels.
Purim and Sukkot Rituals in Depok
Authors: Zuchra Zuchra , Riyanto Edi Dwi
Published: December 2023

Judaism as a nation and as a religious community are two different but interrelated things. In the Jewish Diaspora, some Jews entered Indonesia along with the entry of Dutch and Portuguese colonialism. Due to different conditions from those with established institutions in other countries, Jews in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta and Depok carry out their religious traditions differently because they adapt to the environment in which they live, where the majority are Muslims. Thus, the tradition carried out by them is local and adapts carefully to the environment. This research using descriptive qualitative method shows that negotiation is a way of surviving for the Jews in the Depok area. The celebration of Purim as a reminder of the survivors of persecution from the Persians, and Sukkot as a reminder of the temporary residence of the Jews, were also carried out under conditions that also adjusted, so a strategy was needed. In addition to the results of the research above, adjustments were also made using local materials to keep them in accordance with their religious laws but obtained in the area where they live.
ANALISA RISIKO PADA RANTAI PASOK (Fokus Penelitian: Risiko Keamanan Pangan)
Authors:   Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo, Wahyuni Hana Catur , Saidi Ida Agustini , Sumarmi Wiwik
Published: December 2023

Puji syukur kehadirat Alloh SWT yang telah melimpahkan segala hidayah NYA sehingga buku ini dapat diterbitkan sesuai dengan waktu yang direncanakan. Buku ini merupakan salah satu luaran penelitian untuk skim Penelitian Terapan Unggulan Perguruan Tinggi (PTUPT) tahun 2018-2019.Makanan mempunyai peran penting bagi kehidupan manusia. Tetapi, dalam proses penyediaannya terdapat risiko adanya kontaminasi dari unsur lain yang mengakibatkan makanan tidak layak dikonsumsi. Untuk itu, buku ini disusun untuk memperkenalkan kepada pembaca tentang risiko- risiko yang melekat dalam proses penyediaan makanan dari bahan baku sampai ditangan konsumen (rantai pasok).Penulis mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang telah membantu dalam proses penyelesaian buku ini dari tahap awal sampai tahap akhir. Diharapkan, melalui buku ini pembaca dapat lebih memahami konsep dasar tentang analisa risiko pada rantai pasok, terutama di rantai pasok makanan. Selain itu, buku ini diharapkan dapat digunakan oleh mahasiswa sebagai salah satu referensi, terutama untuk mata kuliah yang berhubungan dengan kualitas atau manajemen rantai pasok. Kami juga berharap, buku ini dapat dimanfaatkan oleh kalangan praktisi untuk melakukan identifikasi risiko pada rantai pasok makanan yang diproduksinya. Kami menyadari, buku ini belum sempurna. Untuk itu, kami menerima segala bentuk kritik dan saran yang sifatnya membangun sehingga dapat melengkapi isi buku ini.
THE DETERMINANTS OF DIGITAL BANKING ADOPTION AMONG BANKS OFFERING ISLAMIC BANKING SERVICES
Authors: Hidayat Achmad , Kassim Salina
Published: December 2023

Technology advances in the financial sector have been a topic of much discussion within the banking industry. It is believed that the adoption of digital banking by banks depends greatly on their characteristics and the market they operate. This study examines the relationship between bank and market characteristics and the adoption of digital banking among banks that offer Islamic banking services in Indonesia. Data are gathered from banks’ annual reports, their first mobile banking app, financial reports, and banking statistics from 2010 to 2022. A panel logistic regression is utilized in the analysis. The results indicate that bank and market characteristics have a meaningful impact on a bank's decision to adopt digital banking. Additionally, it is found that banks are more inclined to adopt digital banking during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CRIMINAL ACTS FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS ONLINE GAME TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS WHO RECEIVE SPONSORSHIP FROM ONLINE GAMBLING SITES BASED ON INDONESIAN CRIMINAL LAW
Authors: Ahmad Risyad Fadhillah
Published: December 2023

Gambling is rife in the world of internet media, by utilizing social media as a means of promoting content containing gambling. However, in terms of enforcing the law on gambling crimes in Indonesia, the authorities seem selective. The existence of provides evidence for this event organizers who install gambling sponsors which are then held directly at offline venues and are covered and broadcast live on the YouTube platform and posted on the media. Instagram social. Even though if examined further, gambling is a crime that is very, very detrimental to someone, because online gambling players try to find money in any way to use it as gambling capital, including by committing crimes, such as theft, fraud and so on. Taking into account the problems described above, it is felt that there is an urgency to write research with the title of crime for event organizers. Organizers of online game tournaments that receive sponsorship from online gambling sites, with the formulation of the problem of gambling crime organizing online game tournaments that receive sponsorship from online gambling sites is a crime of gambling and criminal sanctions for event organizers who organize offline tournaments that receive sponsorship from online gambling sites.
NOTARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIRD PARTY LOSSES DUE TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE DEED OF BINDING OF LAND PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Authors: Halimi Halimi
Published: December 2023

Third parties in the formation of the Deed of Sale and Purchase Agreement (APPJB) Land have rights to the object regulated in the PPJB even though they are not involved in its formation as long as they have legal ties to the object being agreed upon. So that when a material loss occurs to a third party originating from the issuance of the PPJB, does the notary have the responsibility to compensate for the loss or vice versa. This type of legal research is a type of normative legal research. The results of this study indicate that legal remedies that can be taken by a third party if the deed of binding sale and purchase agreement issued by a notary causes harm to him is to send a subpoena, carry out an unlawful act lawsuit, report an alleged criminal act and make a complaint to the Regional Supervisory Council. The form of liability that can be borne by a Notary for the issuance of the Deed of Sale and Purchase Binding Agreement which is detrimental to third parties is civil liability by compensating for losses suffered by third parties in accordance with the provisions of Article 1365 of the Civil Code (KUHPerd) and criminal liability, namely serving a criminal sentence in accordance with the criminal provisions in Article 263 paragraph (1) and (2) or 264 or 266 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) and ethically responsible according to Article 85 by receiving administrative sanctions.
Development and Validation of Perception of Seating Ergonomics Questionnaire: A Study on Klang Valley Drivers in Malaysia
Authors: Yap Choy Min , Mohd Rasdi Hanif Farhan , Harun Dzalani , Lim Wen Xin
Published: December 2023

Driving is an instrumental activity of daily living that has become an essential mode of transportation. Good ergonomic practices are vital to ensure successful driving. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire that could be used to determine how personal, environmental, and occupational factors influenced drivers' perceptions of seating ergonomics. This cross-sectional study was conducted in June-July 2022 among 250 drivers in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, recruited via an online survey. The participants completed the questionnaire by assessing different constructs in the Person-Environment-Occupation model and perceptions of seating ergonomics. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted, followed by a path analysis. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 30 participants. The final EFA generated a four-factor structure that accounted for 61.69% of the variance. The final version of the questionnaire contained 19 items. The Cronbach's alpha values for all the constructs were above 0.7, and all the intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.8. Based on the path analysis results, personal and occupational factors emerged as significant predictors for drivers' perceptions of seating ergonomics. The developed questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable.
The Effect of Fluid Overload Control Program on Knowledge and Behavior Among Caregivers of End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: Ummee Kanyanat , Rerkkasem Kittipan , Wungrath Jukkrit
Published: December 2023

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a pressing health issue, and patients on hemodialysis frequently grapple with fluid overload. In Chiang Mai, Thailand, from September to November 2022, this study was conducted to assess the impact of an educational program on the knowledge and behavior of caregivers managing fluid overload in ESRD patients. Using a quasi-intervention design, participants were categorized into two groups: the intervention group, which underwent the educational intervention, and the control group, which continued with standard care. The educational content was grounded in existing studies and insights from healthcare professionals, caregivers, and patients. Post-intervention results revealed a significant enhancement in the knowledge and behavior of caregivers in the intervention group regarding fluid overload control compared to the control group (p-value<0.05). This study emphasizes the potential benefits of structured and evidence-based educational initiatives in equipping caregivers with the tools they need to better manage fluid balance, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.
Social Media Use Behavior and Social Media Disorder Among Faculty of Public Health Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Amelia Tiara , Zainita Ulfi Hida , Martha Evi
Published: December 2023

Excessive use of social media may lead to vulnerability to social media disorder, which is significantly related to the trend of mental health problems among college students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of social media disorder among college students and to determine the relationship between the number of social media accounts, the total duration of social media use, and social media disorder. This cross-sectional study collected data through an online survey of 201 college students from the class of 2021 at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia. This study used the Social Media Disorder scale and univariate and bivariate analysis to analyze the data. The prevalence of social media disorder was 23.9%; 93% of students were classified as high-duration social media users, and 58.2% had more than 10 accounts. Statistically, there was a significant relationship between the number of accounts (p-value = 0.045) and social media disorder. However, there was no significant relationship between the duration of social media use and social media disorder (p-value = 0.560). As a suggestion, the self-regulation factor must be considered an independent variable in predicting social media disorder among college students.
Role of Partner and Health Workers on Modern Contraceptive Use Among Married/In-union Women in Uzbekistan
Authors: Supriatin Supriatin , Rifky Mohamed , Khan Muhammad Uzair , Amaliah Lili , Nurmalita Sari Marlynda Happy , Santoso Eko Budi , Ruswandi Indra , Maretalinia Maretalinia , Suwarni Linda
Published: December 2023

Many factors contribute to the declining total fertility rate, including family planning programs. The successful implementation of the family planning method might be influenced by how the decision to choose a contraceptive method was made. This study aimed to examine the correlation between family planning decision makers and modern contraceptive use among married/in-union women of reproductive age in Uzbekistan. The 2021-2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey was used by selecting only married/in-union women of reproductive age of 15 to 49 years, totaling 2,794 eligible samples. The modern family planning use variables were divided into not using, using Long-Acting Contraceptives (LAC), and Short-Acting Contraceptives (SAC). The univariate, bivariate(Chi-square and ANOVA), and multinomial logistic regression were performed. Family planning decision-makers from both women and husbands/partners, health workers, or others were significantly associated with modern contraceptive use for SAC and LAC, respectively. The type of family planning methods was significantly influenced by decision-makers. Spouses, family members, and health workers need to implicate women to decide the most applicable contraceptive method.
Development of an Evidence-Based Tool to Assess the Relative Vulnerability of Different Communities to Tuberculosis
Authors: Isworo Slamet , Handayani Sri , Hinchcliff Reece , Hasibuan Zainal Arifin
Published: December 2023

Identifying specific tuberculosis (TB) vulnerabilities in populations based on their geographical, demographic, and epidemiological characteristics is an essential yet challenging requirement to help reduce and eliminate TB. Assessment tools that can accurately quantify the risks associated with key factors could be used to measure TB vulnerability efficiently and indicate the most appropriate range of interventions. This study aimed to develop TB vulnerability assessment tools based on a TB vulnerability assessment conceptual framework developed with Leximancer. Three steps to produce the tools were facet analysis, interpreting the facet to create a list of questions, and expert judgment to confirm the suitability of the questionnaire. The “everything is data” principle was used to identify the data sources and build the tools. The data came from multiple primary data sources, with a questionnaire survey and observational form, and secondary data from various governmental statistical departments in Indonesia to collect data related to demography, health indicators, climate, temperature, and air quality. These tools will be optimized at scale next year to evaluate their utility for prioritizing and prescribing health system responses to TB in different communities in Central Java Province.
System Safety Assessment of the Warehouse Operation Using Functional Resonance Analysis Method and Resilience Analysis Grid
Authors: Sudiarno Adithya , Dzaky Ma’arij Ahmad Murtaja
Published: December 2023

This study applied the perspective of Safety-II using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) and the Resilience Analysis Grid (RAG) to analyze safety in warehouse operations from a system perspective. FRAM was used to emphasize what caused things to go right, with the findings highlighting higher performance and safety variability occurring in activities that require multiple individual or group efforts. RAG was used to assess the organization’s potential to handle unexpected occurrences, identify the potential resilience of the warehouse in its daily activities, and evaluate the ability to maintain flow and worker safety based on four pillars of resilience. The assessment resulted in a value of 3.50 in the ability to respond, 2.84 in the ability to monitor, 3.88 in the ability to learn, and 3.21 in the ability to anticipate. Combining FRAM and RAG enhances the depth of a new perspective of safety analysis and addresses resilience factors in daily operations.
Por que estou aprendendo isso? Debate competitivo como prática pedagógica
Authors: Lopes Guilherme Augusto Hilário , Deschamps Luiz Roberto , Mattedi Marcos Antônio , Spiess Maiko Rafael
Published: December 2023

O presente artigo propõe reflexões acerca de práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas no âmbito escolar com estudantes do ensino médio do Colégio Unifebe. Busca apresentar os benefícios do debate competitivo como uma poderosa ferramenta de transformações sociais e uma grande aliada no processo de ensino aprendizagem por meio do emprego do debate no contexto escolar. Além disso, discorre sobre concepções de ensino aprendizagem cujo eixo consiste no protagonismo dos estudantes, destacando teorias que refletem o processo de ensino com vistas à valorização da autonomia dos adolescentes. Por fim, atualiza uma série de evidências empíricas referentes à implementação e democratização da prática do debate competitivo em território nacional, fortalecendo a adoção deste como um expediente de construção da cidadania.
Abandoned Wells Can Provide Use for Pulverized Wind-Turbine Blades
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: December 2023

_

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 213000, “Improving Economics for Abandoning Orphaned and Idle Oil and Gas Wells by Providing Storage for Pulverized Blades From Wind Turbines,” by Elena Ikeocha, SPE, and Iraj Ershaghi, SPE, University of Southern California. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

_

The complete paper outlines a potential solution for handling leftovers from wind-turbine blades. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in such blades. The risk of BPA leaching into groundwater resources and the soil from wind-turbine-blade landfills can damage the food chain and can harm future generations through exposure to contaminated resources. The solution discussed by the authors is the potential use of the casing of idle wells considered for plugging and abandonment (P&A) for housing pulverized blades mixed with Portland cement. ​​​

Introduction

The first large wind farms in the US were installed in the 1980s. Since then, the US has experienced two generations of wind-turbine installations, meaning that many of the early-generation turbines have already reached their end of life (EOL).

Approximately 85% of turbine components are recyclable. Because of the complexity of the recycling process, however, these parts typically end up in landfills. Using landfills is, unfortunately, the most-common method for blade disposal in the US because of its convenience and cost efficiency.

Wind turbines are manufactured using composite materials formed by the combination of polymer resins and high-tensile-strength fibers to develop glass-fiber-reinforced (GFRP) or carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers. These composite materials provide strength, weight, and durability. The strength and durability of the turbines, in conjunction with their size, create a disposal problem during their EOL. A singular wind turbine blade can be up to 100 yards long. The average weight of a wind turbine blade 128 ft long is 5,200 lbm. Blades that measure 155 ft can weigh up to 27,000 lbm.

The annual rate of blade decommissions is projected to reach 2.2 million tons per year by 2050. Breaking down the statistical outlook further, 400,000 tons of blades will be decommissioned annually by 2030. This number is projected to reach 800,000 tons annually by 2050.

EOL Options for Wind Turbines

Between 80 and 90% of a wind-turbine blade’s mass consists of composite materials. Of that percentage, 60–70% is made up of reinforced fibers, while the remainder is resin. BPA is a chemical produced mainly for use in polycarbonate plastics. The epoxy used to form the blade consists of approximately 30–40% BPA. BPA can leak out because of blade erosion after landfill placement.

Wind-turbine-blade landfills have the potential not only to leach hazardous chemicals into the environment but also to affect subsurface aquifers. Because of their durable nature, they will remain in landfills forever and leach volatile organic compounds and other toxins for decades.
Produced-Water Desalination Approach Uses Renewable Thermal Energy
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: December 2023

_

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 211175, “An Innovative Method of Water Management by Desalinating Produced Water Using Thermal Renewable Energy,” by Sharifa M. Al-Ruheili, Felix Tiefenbacher, and Khansaa H. Almahrami, ARA Petroleum Exploration and Production, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

_

The operator is adopting a method to manage high-salinity produced water in an environmentally sustainable way by extracting potable water from produced water and reducing discharge water volume by at least 50%. For desalination of the produced water, a combination of forward and direct osmosis technology is used. This process is driven mostly by thermal energy, which is provided to thermal collectors that are 100% solar. This technology uses renewable energy and will have no carbon footprint.

Technology Description

The technology involves concentrated solar thermal (CST) power plants that provide 100% renewable water desalination. Forward osmosis (FO) and direct osmosis (DO) can desalinate highly saline and polluted water, such as produced water, mainly with solar thermal energy. A pneumatic solar thermal plant consisting of two HELIOtube collectors, each 121 m long, provides the thermal energy for the desalination process. The plant includes a mirror technology based on CST, a cost-effective heat-transfer system using pressurized water as heat transfer fluid (HTF), and a low-maintenance thermal energy storage (TES) system allowing nighttime operations of 35 m3 volume with an operating temperature of 180°C using a pressurized water tank at 10-bar operating pressure. The desalination system will contain a pretreatment unit for the produced water and a desalination (FO) and brine-concentration (DO) unit. The unit will be integrated with thermal power to operate the desalination plant. In addition, a fully automated control system with a live backup will be installed. The system is classified as having low maintenance and cleaning costs because of its encapsulation features, rotatability of 300°, and convex shape.

Fig. 1 of the complete paper shows the planned plant layout. The desalination plant will feature two outputs: fresh water of potable quality and brine. The fresh water will be used to serve the company’s freshwater demand, with excess water used for agricultural purposes or mixed with water in an injector well to improve injectivity. The other output, the highly concentrated brine (20% salt), will be collected in the existing evaporation pond where two main research and development studies are ongoing, one related to mineral extractions and the second related to salt monetization (using salt as a drilling additive).
Comparative Study of the Outcomes of Endoscopic Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression (ULBD) With Destandau Technique and Microscopic ULBD: A Randomized Double-Blinded Study of 685 Patients
Authors: Dey Paresh Chandra , Palo Nishit , Shukla Abhishek
Published: December 2023

Objective: Lumbar canal stenosis is a common finding amongst elderly patients visiting spine surgeons for back pain. Uniportal unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) is an emerging minimally invasive procedure for lumbar canal stenosis. This study compared the clinical outcomes of endoscopic ULBD with Destandau technique and microscopic lumbar canal decompression.Methods: A prospective multicenter study on 685 patients undergoing single-level spinal canal decompression. Patients with axial back pain, lumbar radiculopathy, lumbar canal stenosis & claudication distance <1,000 m were included. Parameters assessed were Dura expansion, thecal sac’s cross-sectional area, horizontal displacement, blood loss, operation time, hospital stay, modified MacNab score, visual analogue score (VAS), side changing (self) status, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Short-Form 36 for quality of life (QoL).Results: Group 1 (endoscopic ULBD with Destandau technique) had 343 patients and group 2 (microscopic ULBD) had 342 patients. Group 1 had lower horizontal displacement (0.34%±0.21%, p<0.001) and significant improvement of VAS (42.28%±3.20%, p<0.001) at 1-week postsurgery with shorter hospital stay (1±0.2 days vs. 1.8±0.8 days, p<0.01) and significant improvements of ODI and MacNab scores (42.28±3.20 and 85.30%, p<0.001). The 30-second chair test (3.4±0.13 vs. 5.6±2.41, p<0.001), 10-meter walk test (1.0±2.15 vs. 0.55±3.23, p<0.001), and SF-36 physical health component score (48.20±8.46 vs. 74.48±0.54, p<0.001) improved significantly as well. Furthermore, 92% of patients were able to change sides while in bed at 1-week postsurgery. Claudication distance improved significantly in both groups.Conclusion: Group 1 patients had better clinical and functional outcomes within 3 months of surgery than group 2 patients, with improved QoL, shorter hospital stays, claudication distance, and self-side changing ability.
Easy and accurate protein structure prediction using ColabFold
Authors: Kim Gyuri , Lee Sewon , Karin Eli Levy , Kim Hyunbin , Moriwaki Yoshitaka , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Steinegger Martin , Mirdita Milot
Published: December 2023

Since its public release in 2021, AlphaFold2 (AF2) has made investigating biological questions, using predicted protein structures of single monomers or full complexes, a common practice. ColabFold-AF2 is an open-source Jupyter Notebook inside Google Colaboratory and a command-line tool, which makes it easy to use AF2, while exposing its advanced options. ColabFold-AF2 shortens turn-around times of experiments due to its optimized usage of AF2’s models. In this protocol, we guide the reader through ColabFold best-practices using three scenarios: (1) monomer prediction, (2) complex prediction, and (3) conformation sampling. The first two scenarios cover classic static structure prediction and are demonstrated on the human glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase (GPIT) protein. The third scenario demonstrates an alternative use-case of the AF2 models by predicting two conformations of the human Alanine Serine Transporter 2 (ASCT2). Users can run the protocol without command-line knowledge via Google Colaboratory or in a command-line environment. The protocol is available at https://protocol.colabfold.com.
Revisiting the Seasonal Cycle of Rainfall over Central Africa
Authors: Longandjo Georges-Noel T. , Rouault Mathieu
Published: December 2023

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), with its twice-annual passage over central Africa, is considered as the main driver of the rainfall seasonality. In this ITCZ paradigm, high rainfall occurs over regions of large low-level convergence. But recently, this paradigm was challenged over central Africa. Here, we show that a shallow meridional overturning circulation– driven by surface conditions– plays a thermodynamical control on the rainfall seasonality over central Africa. Indeed, due to the local evaporative cooling effect, the foot of the ascending branch of Hadley cells occurs where the temperature is the warmest, indicating a thermal low. This distorts the southern Hadley cell by developing its bottom-heavy structure. As result, both shallow and deep Hadley cells coexist over central Africa year–round. The deep mode is associated with the poleward transport of atmospheric energy at upper levels. The shallow mode is characterized by a shallow meridional circulation, with its moisture transport vanishing and converging in the mid-troposphere rather than at lower troposphere. This mid-tropospheric moisture convergence is also the dominant component that shapes the vertically integrated moisture flux convergence, with little contribution of African easterly jets. This convergence zone thus controls the precipitating convection. Its meridional migration highlights the interhemispheric rainfall contrast over central Africa and outlines the unimodal seasonality. On the other hand, forced by the Congo basin cell, the precipitable water regulates the deep convection from the vegetated surface of Congo basin, acting as a continental sea. This nonlinear mechanism separates the rainfall into three distinct regimes: the moisture-convergence-controlled regime, with convective rainfall exclusively occurs in rainy season; the local evaporation-controlled regime with drizzle and the precipitable-water-controlled regime, with exponential rainfall increase occur both in dry season.
Reconciling Efficiency and Security of the Internet of Things: A Recursive InterNetwork Architecture (RINA) Approach
Authors: Teymoori Peyman , Ramezanifarkhani Toktam
Published: December 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized our lives by connecting devices to the internet, enabling automation and simplifying daily routines. However, as IoT is built upon the foundation of older network architectures and protocols, such as the Internet, its integration has brought forth significant challenges, particularly in achieving both transport layer efficiency and security at the same time. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the current network stacks used in IoT and highlights the issues they face in this regard. We propose a novel architectural approach leveraging the Recursive InterNetwork Architecture (RINA) to address these challenges. We thoroughly evaluate how RINA's unique combination of recursion and networking can effectively reconcile the efficiency-security trade-off inherent in IoT networks; this has the potential to overcome the limitations of existing architectures and resolving the long-standing issue with Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) that cannot operate on encrypted connections. We demonstrate the practical application of RINA through two use cases: a smart home environment, where RINA provides a unified networking framework, reducing the complexities of integrating diverse systems, and a healthcare patient monitoring scenario, where RINA ensures seamless integration of legacy devices while maintaining the advantages of the RINA architecture, including security and efficient data transmission. The paper concludes with a comprehensive discussion on potential future research topics, paving the way for an efficient and secure IoT ecosystem.
Harmonizing Data Streams for Edge AI Protocols to Quantify Shannon's Bounds
Authors: Rubbani Syeda Shafia
Published: December 2023

The human tendency to measure is deeply rooted in our cognitive processes, survival instincts and the evolution of complex systems. Harmonizing data streams during information measurement ensures accuracy, comparability, and reliability. This facilitates meaningful analysis and informed decision-making, yielding valuable insights. Our hypothesis asserts that a novel MIMO channel design can explore achievable Shannon's capacity for edge AI protocols like CoAP, MQTT, AMQP, and HTTP. MIMO's attributes align with edge AI protocols needs such as higher data rates, reliability, adaptability that are critical for successful processing. However, quantifying edge AI protocols through MIMO for Shannon's capacity remains unexplored. We present a validated mathematical MIMO framework for edge AI protocols using Shannon's capacity, yielding findings up to 20 kbps. Our results verify a customized framework for edge AI protocols, aligned with Shannon's principles. Our mathematical MIMO framework for Shannon's capacity measurement in edge-based smart machines provides a precise, relevant, and informed assessment of edge AI protocol performance. This pioneering effort sets the stage for optimized protocols that conquer edge challenges, ensuring seamless connectivity for smart machines.
Multi-population multi-strategy differential evolution algorithm with dynamic population size adjustment
Authors: Xue Caiwen , Liu Tong , Deng Libao , Gu Wei , Zhang Baowu
Published: December 2023

Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is a type of global optimization algorithm based on population searching for the optimal solution. It has characteristics such as fast convergence speed, simple and understandable algorithm, few parameters, and high stability. To further enhance its exhibition, we propose a differential evolution algorithm based on subpopulation adaptive scale and multi-adjustment strategy (ASMSDE). The algorithm divides population into three sub-populations based on the fitness values, the different operation strategies are adopted according to their characteristics. The superior population and inferior population adopt respectively Gaussian disturbance and Levy flights. The task of the intermediate population is to maintain the overall diversity of the population. The sizes of the three sub-populations are adaptively adjusted based on the evolutionary results to accommodate changes in individual differences during the evolution process. With the number of iterations increases and the differences between individuals decrease, adopt single population model instead of multi-population model in the later stage of evolution. To evaluate the performance of the ASMSDE algorithm, it is compared with other advanced algorithms using benchmark function optimizations. Experimental results demonstrate that the ASMSDE algorithm outperforms the comparison algorithms in most cases, validating its effectiveness and ability to handle local optima situations.
Hydrogen generation from NaBH4 methanolysis with Ru/AC catalyst synthesized by microwave reduction method
Authors: YILDIZ Derya
Published: December 2023

Spent coffee grounds (SCG), a large waste stock worldwide, was converted into activated carbon (AC) with ZnCl2 chemical activation. The activated carbon was used as supported material to production of Ru catalyst. Ru/AC catalysts synthesized by different methods and at different ratios and they were investigated as a catalyst for hydrogen generation from NaBH4 methanolysis. Ru doping on activated carbon was performed by NaBH4, UV and microwave reduction methods and the hydrogen generation capacities were determined. The highest catalytic activity was found in the catalyst that produced by microwave reduction method. Among the Ru/AC catalysts synthesized at different ratios by microwave reduction method, 5% Ru/SCGZ4-600 catalyst provided the highest hydrogen generation rate. To determine the microwave reduction conditions, the effect of microwave time and temperature on the hydrogen generation rate (HGR) was also investigated. The highest HGR value was found at 15 min and 150°C synthesis conditions. 52202.4 mL/min.gcat was obtained in the presence of 0.05 g catalyst, 1.25% NaBH4, 10 mL methanol and 60°C. The activation energy with 5%Ru/SCGZ4-600 catalyst was found to be 15.33 kj/mol.
Masked in pixels: Digital self-presentation and adolescent mental health. Cross-sectional and longitudinal insights from the “LifeOnSoMe”-study.
Authors: Hjetland Gunnhild Johnsen , Finserås Turi Reiten , Børge Sivertsen , Colman Ian , Hella Randi Træland , Andersen Amanda Iselin Olesen , Skogen Jens Christoffer
Published: December 2023

Background The intensive use of social media among adolescents has caused concern about its impact on their mental health, but studies show that social media use is linked to both better and worse mental health. These seemingly contradictory findings may result from the diverse motivations, interactions, and experiences related to social media use, and studies investigating specific facets of social media use in relation to mental health and well-being, beyond general usage metrics, have been called for. Aspects of self-presentation on social media, such as feedback-seeking and upwards social comparison have been linked to worse mental health, however, there is a need for more studies following adolescents over time. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between aspects of self-presentation and depression, anxiety, and well-being among adolescents. Methods This study utilised both cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets from the LifeOnSoMe-study, comprising 3,424 and 439 participants, respectively (OSF preregistration doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/BVPS8). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify similar response patterns within the Self-Presentation and Upwards Social Comparison Inclination Scale (SPAUSCIS) and regression models and first differencing methods were applied to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between focus on self-presentation and mental health and well-being among adolescents. Results A strong emphasis on self-presentation was linked to increased levels of depression and anxiety in both males and females, and reduced well-being in females when compared to those with lower or moderate self-presentation focus. The effect sizes ranged from small to medium. Furthermore, an escalation in self-presentation focus over time was associated with a slight increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, the association with well-being did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that a heightened focus on self-presentation, which includes behaviours such as seeking feedback, employing strategic self-presentation tactics, and engaging in upward social comparisons, is associated with an elevated risk of reduced mental health.
Targeted Therapy Breakthrough: Apatinib Enhances Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple- Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: YIN Yulai , ZHANG Xiaoyu
Published: December 2023

Objective
To investigate the clinical efficacy, prognosis, and safety of apatinib combined with doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by paclitaxel (T) neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 patients with TNBC treated at Cangzhou Central Hospital from July 2016 to January 2020. The patients were divided into a control group (n = 34) and an observation group (n = 36) based on the treatment regimen received. The control group received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the AC-T sequential regimen, whereas the observation group received apatinib in addition to the control group's regimen. The occurrence of adverse reactions during chemotherapy was recorded. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from both groups of patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy completion to measure the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and the objective response rate (ORR) was recorded. At 4 weeks after completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, patients underwent breast-conserving surgery or modified radical mastectomy as decided by a treatment group physician in the Thyroid Breast and Thoracic Surgery Department of Cangzhou Central Hospital, with axillary lymph node dissection determined according to sentinel lymph node biopsy results. Surgical procedures and pathological complete response (pCR) were documented. Then, a 3-year follow-up was conducted from the start of treatment to record and analyze the 3-year disease-free survival rate and 3-year overall survival rate.
Results
After completing neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the observation group showed significantly higher pCR rate, breast-conserving rate, 3-year disease-free survival rate, and 3-year overall survival rate compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The observation group also demonstrated a significant decrease in VEGF and CEA levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). No grade III or above adverse reactions were observed in both groups during chemotherapy, and adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, leukopenia, and proteinuria were mainly recorded. In the observation group, there were 3 cases of nausea and vomiting, 5 cases of diarrhea, 7 cases of leukopenia, and 9 cases of proteinuria. In the control group, there were 4 cases of nausea and vomiting, 4 cases of diarrhea, 5 cases of leukopenia, and 6 cases of proteinuria. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Apatinib combined with the AC-T sequential neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen shows good clinical efficacy, significant prognosis, and manageable safety in patients with TNBC.
Petrographic Thin Section Image Classification Based on Deep Convolutional Network with Hybrid Attention Mechanism
Authors: Pan Shaowei , Han Jinyun , Guo Zhi , Zhang Jiaqing , Ju Zebin
Published: December 2023

The classification of petrographic thin section image holds significant importance in the fields of geology and petroleum exploration. In light of the issue that the feature information of current petrographic thin section image recognition algorithms is prone to loss, this paper utilizes deep learning technologies and proposes the adoption of the Inception-ResNet-V2 network as the backbone network. When compared to various classical classification algorithms, the model proposed in this paper demonstrates a considerable advantage in classification accuracy on the petrographic thin section image dataset, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 95.89%. The classification of each image category was analyzed by confusion matrix, and the model was visualized using Grad-CAM to observe the distribution of classification weights and the changes of classification weights. The results indicate that the model can extract crucial feature information from the petrographic thin section image, effectively enhancing the accuracy of petrographic thin section image recognition.