bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Brazilian musical landscape: a study of regional preferences based on the Spotify charts
Authors: Moura Filipe A. S. , Ferreira Carlos H. G. , Lima Helen C. S. C.
Published: October 2024

In the digital age, streaming services such as Spotify have changed the way people consume music, highlighting the enormous influence these platforms have on the market. In the highly competitive music industry, it is crucial for independent artists in particular to maintain their popularity. This is especially true in countries like Brazil, where geographical and cultural differences influence music consumption patterns. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective marketing and production strategies. Despite previous research on music consumption, genre preferences and user behavior, there is a lack of detailed studies on the geographical and cultural distribution of music preferences in Brazil. Our study fills this gap by examining musical genre preferences and acoustic features of tracks across Brazilian regions over two years. We collected Spotify chart data from 2022 and 2023, modeled bipartite genre-city networks, and used backbone extraction methods to highlight significant genre preferences. Temporal analysis revealed patterns and persistence of musical preferences across cities, while clustering techniques revealed regional and cultural differences in acoustic features. Our results show that genre preferences are stable across Brazilian regions, with important genres emphasized by backbone networks. Persistence analysis suggests minimal changes over time, except during major holidays. Furthermore, Brazilian city clusters exhibit distinct acoustic patterns regardless of music genres, with notable differences in features such as liveliness, speechiness, and valence. This research provides new insights into regional musical diversity in Brazil and paves the way for future studies on cultural and geographical influences on music preferences.
Finding Fake News Websites in the Wild
Authors: Araujo Leandro , Couto João M. M. , Nery Luiz Felipe , Rodrigues Isadora , Almeida Jussara M. , Reis Julio C. S. , Benevenuto Fabricio
Published: October 2024

The battle against the spread of misinformation on the Internet is a daunting task faced by modern society. Fake news content is primarily distributed through digital platforms, with websites dedicated to producing and disseminating such content playing a pivotal role in this complex ecosystem. Therefore, these websites are of great interest to misinformation researchers. However, obtaining a comprehensive list of websites labeled as producers and/or spreaders of misinformation can be challenging, particularly in developing countries. In this study, we propose a novel methodology for identifying websites responsible for creating and disseminating misinformation content, which are closely linked to users who share confirmed instances of fake news on social media. We validate our approach on Twitter by examining various execution modes and contexts. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in identifying misinformation websites, which can aid in gaining a better understanding of this phenomenon and enabling competent entities to tackle the problem in various areas of society.
Constructing a KBQA Framework: Design and Implementation
Authors: Mello Rômulo Chrispim de , Gomes Jr. Jorão , Souza Jairo Francisco de , Ströele Victor
Published: October 2024

The exponential growth of data on the internet has made information retrieval increasingly challenging. Knowledge-based Question-Answering (KBQA) framework offers an efficient solution that quickly provides accurate and relevant information. However, these frameworks face significant challenges, especially when dealing with complex queries involving multiple entities and properties. This paper studies KBQA frameworks, focusing on improving entity recognition, property extraction, and query generation using advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. We implemented and evaluated combination tools for extracting entities and properties, with the combination of models achieving the best performance. Our evaluation metrics included entity and property retrieval, SPARQL query completeness, and accuracy. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of our approach, with high accuracy rates in identifying entities and properties.
Enhancing widget recognition for automated Android testing using Computer Vision techniques
Authors: López Yadini Pérez , Albuquerque Laís Dib , Costa Júnior Gilmar J. F. , Xavier Daniel Lopes , Balbi Leticia , Colonna Juan G. , Degaki Richand
Published: October 2024

Widget recognition is crucial for automated Android black box testing. Over the past ten years, different industrial tools and academic works have been available for identifying Graphical User Interface (GUI) components in Android screens. Traditional identification methods, like GUI hierarchy parsing, often struggle with dynamic content and complex structures. In contrast, Computer Vision (CV) techniques provide greater robustness and flexibility to adapt to different screen resolutions, design specifications, and patterns. However, the CV-based solutions available are still limited concerning the variety of widgets that can be recognized. Moreover, the current identification of GUI components mainly relies on classification, which can lead to ambiguous lists with repeated elements. In this paper, we combine different CV-based techniques to extract context-based descriptions for each widget, to enhance the identification process by going beyond class recognition for describing widgets. We also implemented two primary CV-based approaches for widget recognition: Object Detection combined with Classification, and a One-Stage Recognition method. We trained and evaluated the approaches on a custom 105 classes widget dataset. Moreover, we present a Computer Vision-based method for describing widgets using their contextual meaning on Android screen captures.
Arquitetura Multicamadas para Coleta e Análise de Dados de Saúde em Tempo Real em Ambientes Externos, Integrando Fog Computing e Cloud Computing
Authors: Oliveira Juan Felipe Souza , Vidal Paulo Cesar Salgado , Salles Ronaldo Moreira , Filgueiras Marcelo Quesado
Published: October 2024

A multilayer architecture was developed for real-time health data collection and processing, optimized for outdoor environments with high population density and significant network interferences, integrating fog and cloud computing. With the increasing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) using smartbands, continuous health monitoring generates vast amounts of data that require efficient processing and reliable transmission. Traditional cloud-based solutions, while scalable, often face high latency and data integrity challenges in unstable network conditions. By leveraging fog computing, the developed architecture performs data preprocessing at the network edge, reducing dependency on cloud connectivity and enhancing system responsiveness. Real-world tests were conducted in complex environments such as football stadiums, beaches, and metro systems, with varying network conditions (5G, 4G, 3G). The architecture consistently achieved over 96% success in packet delivery and significantly reduced latency compared to cloud-only solutions. These results highlight the architecture’s resilience and effectiveness for real-time health monitoring, ensuring data integrity and low response times in high-density, interference-prone environments.
Impacto da Pandemia na Discussão sobre Saúde Mental: O Caso do Discord no Brasil
Authors: Bento Pedro , Buzelin Arthur , Aquino Yan , Carvalho Isis , Dutenhefner Pedro , Dayrell Lucas , Santana Caio , Estanislau Victoria , Pappa Gisele L. , Miranda Debora , Almeida Virgilio , Meira Jr Wagner
Published: October 2024

The period of social isolation due to COVID-19 generated a significant impact on our routines, relationships, and mental health. We had to suddenly adapt to a new scenario where social interactions were only possible online, resulting in increased use of various platforms, including Discord. Given the popularization of this platform in the past years, this paper analyzes data from public Brazilian Discord groups before, during and after the pandemic, focusing on topics related to users’ mental health. We conduct a network characterization, observing how the distribution of the number of messages and active users changed over time. We then analyze the content of messages based on a set of keywords selected by psychiatric specialists and divided into six categories: Depression, Suicide, Anxiety, Psychosis, Disorders, and General Issues. Our analyses showed a peak of activity at the beginning of 2020, coinciding with quarantine measures in Brazil. During the pandemic, we also observed an increase in activity during atypical hours, such as from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. With the end of the pandemic, the message exchange rates returned to normal, but user retention remained high compared to the pre-pandemic period. Regarding the content of messages, we noticed that, during isolation, there was a higher frequency in the use of sensitive terms, which remained elevated even after the end of the pandemic.
Automatic Time-aware Recognition of Brazilian Sign Language Based on Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Arcanjo Lucas De S. , Coelho Lucas F. , Guimarães Silvio Jamil F. , Patrocínio Jr Zenilton K. G. do , Cardoso Leonardo Vilela
Published: October 2024

The Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) is a crucial communication medium for the deaf community in Brazil, yet it poses significant challenges for recognition and translation tasks. This paper presents a novel approach using Fast Dynamic Time Warping (FastDTW) for recognizing Libras signs in video streams. This approach aims to bridge the communication gap between deaf and hearing individuals, enhancing accessibility and reducing social marginalization. The methodology leverages MediaPipe to extract key hand and body landmarks, which are then used to compute angular features for accurate sign recognition. Experiments were conducted on the MINDS-Libras dataset, and the results demonstrated a high recognition accuracy, outperforming traditional methods. Furthermore, when the proposed model is applied to the INCLUDE-50 dataset containing signs from a different sign language, it performs competitively without relying on deep learning techniques.
Recognition of Emotions through Facial Geometry with Normalized Landmarks
Authors: Macedo Alessandra Alaniz , Persona Leandro , Meloni Fernando
Published: October 2024

Emotion recognition holds pivotal significance in human social interactions, as it entails the discernment of facial patterns intricately linked to diverse emotional states. The scientific, artistic, medical, and marketing domains have all demonstrated substantial interest in comprehending emotions, resulting in the emergence and refinement of techniques and computational methodologies to facilitate automated emotion recognition. In this study, we introduce a novel method named REGL (Recognizing Emotions through Facial Expression and Landmark normalization) aimed at recognizing facial expressions and human emotions depicted in images. REGL comprises a sequential set of steps designed to minimize sample variability, thereby facilitating a finer calibration of the informative aspects that delineate facial patterns. REGL carries out the normalization of facial fiducial points, called landmarks. Through the use of landmark positions, the reliability of the emotion recognition process is significantly improved. REGL also exploits classifiers explicitly tailored for the accurate identification of facial emotions. As related works, the outcomes of our experimentation yielded an average accuracy over 90% by employing Machine Learning algorithms. Differently, we have experimented REGL with varied architectures and datasets including racial factors. We surpass related works considering the following contributions: the REGL method represents an enhanced approach in terms of hit rate and response time, and REGL generates resilient outcomes by demonstrating reduced reliance on both the training set and classifier architecture. Moreover, REGL demonstrated excellent performance in terms of response time enabling low-cost and real-time processing, particularly suitable for devices with limited processing capabilities, such as cellphones. We intend to foster the advancement of robust assistive technologies, facilitate enhancements in computational synthesis techniques, and computational resources.
Uma Proposta de Framework para Sistemas de Software de Controle para Plataformas de Robótica Social
Authors: Rocha Marcelo , Favela Jesus , Muchaluat-Saade Débora C.
Published: October 2024

There is a gap in open-source robotic platforms that can be customized according to application needs and available resources. Software systems for robots are usually complex due to the need to control multiple sensors and actuators in real time, while simultaneously and asynchronously performing tasks and responding to unexpected situations. In this context, a well-designed architecture that could facilitate building and using robots is desirable. This work proposes a framework for the development of control systems for social robotics platforms. The framework is modular and easily extensible, as it uses an object-oriented approach and adopts the publish-subscribe paradigm for asynchronous message exchange between modules. The framework proposed in this work was instantiated for the design and implementation of two open-source social robots, demonstrating its adaptability and extensibility in different scenarios. We expect that this work will contribute to popularizing the use of low-cost social robots in the areas of education and healthcare.
Integração de DAW com Infraestruturas Remotas de Processamento de Áudio
Authors: Batista Carlos E. C. F. , Andrade Gabriel B. F. , Lima Geovana M. S. , Guedes Caio M. C.
Published: October 2024

This article introduces Orchestrator Pad, an open-source audio processing plug-in built using JUCE, designed to facilitate access to the capabilities of the Music.AI platform. This service offers advanced features such as stem separation, automatic mastering, and various other forms of audio manipulation through a REST API. It supports the creation of custom workflows that integrate its services, seamlessly invoked by the plug-in using a C++ wrapper library developed in parallel. After remote audio processing, the resulting files can be played within any compatible DAW through the plug-in. This paper details the plug-in's architecture and core functionalities and discusses the advantages of incorporating AI-driven workflows into music production environments. The project repository provides the necessary code and configuration for building the Orchestrator Pad plug-in as either a standalone application or a VST plug-in.
Nutrilac: Aplicativo para Elaboração de Dietas de Bovinos de Leite
Authors: Nascimento Deivid Duarte , Ferreira Marcos Paulo Priamo , Maia Brian Luís Coimbra , Vita Maria Carolina da Silva , Faria Alexandra Calda Cézar de , Franca Almira Biazon , Chaves Amália Saturnino , Maciel Luiz Maurílio da Silva , Goliatt Priscila Vanessa Zabala Capriles
Published: October 2024

Animal nutrition is responsible for a large part of the expenses in a farm and, most of the time, it is neglected by producers, which leads to increased spending on unbalanced diets. Thus, the present work seeks to bring to small and medium-sized rural producers a mobile application capable of formulating the ration of dairy cattle in an easy and simple way, ensuring compliance with nutritional requirements and seeking a diet of minimal cost, from foods chosen by the user.
Promovendo a Inclusão Feminina na Computação: Cursos de Programação em Python
Authors: Costa Rhara Ianna Barcelos , Trajano Vanessa , Aguiar Nina , Moreno Lorenza Leao Oliveira , Quintela Bárbara de Melo , Oliveira Alessandreia Marta de
Published: October 2024

Female underrepresentation in the technology sector is often due to prejudices and insecurities that discourage women’s participation in this predominantly male field. This extension project seeks to encourage and support women to enter and remain in technological careers. The aim is to promote gender equality through various initiatives. Opportunities are offered to high school girls to develop programming skills with tutoring in Python. An active presence is maintained on social media as well as at technology events to encourage representation, and social events are organized for women undertaking technology related courses. Python mini-courses are also held for undergraduate students. To date, the project has reached more than 500 followers on Instagram and 9 successful get-together events were held. The project supported 3 monitoring classes in Python. A short introductory course to programming in Python was conducted, and participants attended 6 technology events.
OlivesApp: Aplicativo de Classificação do Índice de Maturação de Azeitonas através do YOLOv8
Authors: Alvino Diogo da Silva , Belarmino Jhon Randler dos Santos , Junior Warley M. Valente , Alves Elton Rafael , Valente Aline Santana Oliveira , Nunes Cleiton Antônio , Anconi Amanda Carolina Souza Andrada
Published: October 2024

This work presents the development of an application designed to detect and classify the ripeness index of olives using YOLOv8. The main objective is to provide a practical and accessible solution for olive growers and researchers, facilitating analysis and decision-making related to olive harvesting and cultivation. The application employs image processing algorithms to identify specific characteristics of olives in digital images, classifying their ripeness quickly and efficiently. The results indicate that the application has great potential to optimize production processes and improve the quality of olives and olive oil.
Virtual Reality for People with Visual Impairments in the development of Left-Right Discrimination Skills: A Systematic Mapping Study
Authors: Moraes Júnior José Martônio Lopes de , Viana Windson , Façanha Agebson Rocha
Published: October 2024

Integrating digital technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR) games, into Orientation and Mobility (OM) training has shown significant potential for enhancing the rehabilitation process for People with Visual Impairments (PVI). These technologies provide immersive and interactive experiences that foster greater autonomy and independence. In OM training, left-right discrimination helps individuals establish spatial relationships and shapes the foundation for learning more complex orientation skills. This systematic mapping study examines how VR games can be used to train left-right discrimination abilities in PVI, offering them new experiences. We reviewed 758 articles and selected 19 studies that highlight the importance of considering all types of visual impairments, involving PVI in the development process, and accounting for their existing skills when designing game interactions.
Modelagem e análise de redes sociais através de hipergrafos
Authors: Santos Matheus H. B. dos , Vieira Vinícius da F. , Xavier Carolina R. , Almeida Jussara M. de
Published: October 2024

Complex networks are a powerful tool for understanding phenomena in the most diverse contexts. However, modeling networks as graphs, as it is centered on pairwise relationships, offers limitations in modeling many-to-many interactions, as is the case with collaboration in scientific articles. This work provides an overview of central concepts for the use of hypernetworks as models for representing social relations, discussing advantages and disadvantages, challenges and opportunities. The comparison of network and hypernetwork models built on CSBCSet, a database of scientific articles published in CSBC, allows exploring the impact of using hypernetworks to study the phenomenon of coauthorship of scientific articles.
Depression Symptoms Identification through Social Media Data: Applying Design Science Research to Develop a Classification Model
Authors: Lima Filho Silas , Silva Monica Ferreira da , Oliveira Jonice
Published: October 2024

The thesis addresses the prevalence of depression as a debilitating condition and underscores the importance of early identification of symptoms for timely interventions. Exploring user-generated content on social networks, the study proposes the use of machine learning models in detecting depressive symptoms. Following the DSR methodology, the research validates the effectiveness of these models compared to existing approaches, involving healthcare professionals and domain experts. The thesis introduces an innovative stacking model using LIWC metrics from social media posts, contributing to the understanding of machine learning-based solutions in identifying symptoms of depressive disorder.
A social curiosity-driven approach to analyzing the information dissemination in Telegram political groups
Authors: Vasconcelos Francisco F. , Sousa Alexandre M. de , Almeida Jussara M.
Published: October 2024

Social curiosity plays a key role in the process of information dissemination on online social media platforms such as Telegram. Understanding the mechanisms that influence this process, especially in times of political unrest such as the Brazilian elections of 2022, is crucial. Recent studies have shown that curiosity is an important factor influencing user behavior when sharing information on online social media platforms. However, there are few studies that measure curiosity on these platforms, and none of them look at Telegram groups. The present study aims to fill this gap by investigating social curiosity in Telegram groups. The aim is to analyze how social curiosity affects user behavior, information sharing and understand the role of groups in stimulating social curiosity.
Machtmissbrauch im Spirituellen Coaching
Authors: Steinmeyer Georg
Published: October 2024

Im April 2024 begann in München der Prozess gegen einen Coach und „Hellseher“, der eine Frau psychisch von sich abhängig gemacht haben soll, indem er ihr suggerierte, dass ihr schweres Unglück drohe und allein er in seiner Eigenschaft als „Medium“ dies abwenden könne. Seine „spirituellen Dienstleistungen“ ließ er sich mit sage und schreibe 1,6 Millionen Euro vergüten – aus Sicht der Staatsanwaltschaft ein Fall von emotionalem und spirituellem Missbrauch. Ein sicher extremes Beispiel, das aber zeigt, welche manipulative Macht vermeintlich spirituellen Angeboten am Coachingmarkt innewohnen kann; am Ende steht mitunter nicht nur der seelische, sondern auch der finanzielle Ruin.
Collective bargaining as a tool for real wage increases
Authors: Kostov Lyuboslav
Published: October 2024

Over the past three years, the cumulative Consumer Price Index in Bulgaria has reached nearly 35%, while inflation in the small consumer basket rose even more. Low and middle-income earners spend an ever-increasing proportion of their income on essential goods, which have risen significantly in price. Against this background, the trade unions in Bulgaria, through collective bargaining and negotiations at national level, have taken a number of actions. These have led to accelerated income growth that has largely offset the increase in the cost of living and prevented a loss of real purchasing power in the medium term. In Bulgaria, the presence of a collective agreement guarantees that the wage is at least 14% higher than in a situation in which there is none. The past inflationary crisis provides solid empirical information about the role of trade unions in the conditions of the imperfect commodity and labour markets in which the national economy is situated. Taking manufacturing as a focus, the author concludes that the number of challenges the industry has cannot be faced without an enhanced role for human capital.
Managing green growth in selected non-EU Balkan countries
Authors: Matlievska Margarita , Stamenkova Liljana Pushova , Matlievska Elena
Published: October 2024

It has become clear that economic growth is not the only way of expressing a country’s development and progress. Recently, development has also come to incorporate the components of environmental protection and social equity within a broader perspective of sustainable development. One of the instruments that can be used to quantify this is the Green Growth Index (GGI). This facilitates policymaking in achieving sustainable development since it is based on four dimensions: efficient and sustainable resource use; natural capital protection; green economic opportunities; and social inclusion. The goal of this article is to present the GGI scores achieved by five non-EU Balkan countries in 2019 and 2020. The research points to the conclusion that each country has started on its path to achieving green growth and sustainable development, but there are possibilities for further improvement in separate/particular dimensions. Hence, a recommendation for these countries is that they increase their efforts in those dimensions in which they have lower values to raise their overall GGI ranking.
Vom Bundesinstitut für öffentliche Gesundheit zum BIPAM
Authors: Kuhn Joseph
Published: October 2024

In Deutschland gibt es bisher keine Public Health-Strategie. Viele Akteure wirken mit unterschiedlichen Zielen, Befugnissen und Handlungslogiken nebeneinander her, es fehlt an Vernetzung und Koordination. Diese Situation wird seit vielen Jahren in der Fachöffentlichkeit immer wieder beklagt. Das im Koalitionsvertrag der Ampel vorgesehene Bundesinstitut für öffentliche Gesundheit sollte diesem Mangel abhelfen.
Patientenbefragungen als neue Datenquelle in der datengestützten Qualitätssicherung des G-BA
Authors: Büchtemann Dorothea , Arens Birgit , Kreuzhof Julia
Published: October 2024

Nach ersten Anfängen in den 1990er Jahren wurde die datengestützte Qualitätssicherung (QS) nach § 136 SGB V im Jahr 2001 bundesweit verpflichtend für die Krankenhäuser eingeführt. Über lange Zeit wurden als Datenquelle ausschließlich die QS- Dokumentationsbögen, die die Krankenhäuser ausfüllen, genutzt. Im Jahr 2016 wurde für einige Behandlungen eine sektorenübergreifende QS mit Einschluss ambulanter Arztpraxen eingeführt. 2017 kamen die Krankenkassendaten als Datenquelle v. a. für Follow-up-Indikatoren hinzu und seit 2022 nutzt die datengestützte Qualitätssicherung eine weitere Datenquelle: die Patientenbefragungen. Im Folgenden wird zunächst kurz auf die Historie und die Besonderheiten der Patientenbefragungen im Rahmen der Qualitätssicherung eingegangen und dann darauf aufbauend der Stellenwert im nationalen und internationalen Kontext dargestellt.
Organisational Factors as Building Blocks in Project Management Maturity Model (PMMM) Concept Development: The Case of the South African Power Sector
Authors: Gareeb Natisha , Mutajwaa Daniel Rwelamila Pantaleo
Published: October 2024

This study focused on South Africa and focusing on improving the project management maturity model (PMMM). The purpose of this research is to determine whether to include organisational factors as building blocks in the conceptual development of a project management maturity model (PMMM) for the South African’s power sector. A detailed literature review was conducted with an adequate research design and a case study approach. This chapter establishes organisational factors for SA’s power sector through a literature review. A case study approach was used to confirm the proposed parameters with questionnaires. This chapter contributes to the discussion on constructing a conceptual PMMM in the South African’s power sector. This research focused on the power sector. The analysis provides insight to practitioners and professionals on the current literature that exists on the organisational factors for the SA’s power sector. It also provides a foundation in understanding building block to a conceptual PMMM development. The contribution identifies the organisational factors for the SA power sector, and the case study provides analysis to determine whether the organisational factors should be incorporated into the PMMM measurement for the SA power sector.
The Role of Disruptive Digital Technologies in Global Project Management
Authors: Abuamria Faeyz , Alzeer Imad , Ajouz Mousa
Published: October 2024

The rapid integration of disruptive digital technologies, including AI, blockchain, and IoT, has significantly transformed global project management, particularly in the realms of planning, execution, and communication. Despite the potential of these innovations to streamline processes and enhance decision-making, there exists a research gap in understanding the challenges these technologies introduce, particularly in cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills development. This chapter addresses this gap by analyzing case studies across the construction, energy, healthcare, and IT sectors to assess the impact of these technologies. The findings reveal that while disruptive technologies offer substantial opportunities for efficiency and complexity management, they also necessitate new strategies for managing cultural diversity and enhancing team collaboration. The study emphasizes the need for project managers to develop new competencies and organizations to invest in continuous training to leverage disruptive technologies. Policymakers should create regulatory frameworks that support technological adoption while addressing risks like data security. Additionally, the study highlights both the societal benefits of improved efficiency and the ethical concerns, such as job displacement, that must be addressed.
Vegetation Dynamics along the Altitudinal Gradient
Authors: Haq Aminul , Ullah Hafiz , Ullah Irshad , Badshah Lal , Ahmad Sayyar
Published: October 2024

In mountainous or hilly terrain, the term “altitudinal gradient” describes a change in environmental parameters such as temperature, precipitation, and soil properties with increasing altitude. This gradient has a significant impact on vegetation dynamics and its association. In the mountainous regions, the vegetation composition and community structure are directly linked with the altitudinal gradients. Higher altitudes with more substantial cloud cover might experience more frequent and intense snowfall or rain, which may affect plant availability and growth by altering plant distribution. The various environmental variables such as altitude, precipitation, topography, temperature and biotic stresses influence the species composition and the establishment of communities in a specific ecosystem. The plant species restrict themselves to certain ecological zones where the ecological niche is best available for them. These ecological zones contribute to overall biodiversity and provide important habitats for various species.
Postoperative Changes of Fusional Vergence in Children Intermittent Exotropia
Authors: Zhao Guohong , Hong Jie , Zhao Bowen , Liu Peipei , Qi Meng , Yu Jing , Fu Jing , Wei Wenbin
Published: October 2024

: This study aimed to evaluate changes in fusional vergence after strabismus surgery and to explore predictive parameters and the impact of fusional vergence on surgical outcomes. All patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia (IXT) between March 2015 and October 2017 were included. Orthoptic assessments, including visual acuity, cover test, and mean fusional vergence (breakage/recovery, both negative and positive), were measured using a synoptophore. Subjects with symptomatic exotropia who underwent strabismus surgery were included. The primary outcome measure was the surgical success (SS) rate at a 6-month follow-up, with adverse effects such as over-correction and under-correction also evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Surgical success was achieved in 62 patients (75.61%) at the 6-month follow-up. The postoperative fusional divergence breakpoints for the SS group and the surgical failure (SF) group were -7.52 ± 4.14 degrees and -10.00 ± 5.96 degrees (P = 0.040), respectively. The postoperative fusional convergence breakpoints for the SS group and the SF group were 10.03 ± 4.36 degrees and 4.65 ± 7.27 degrees (P < 0.001), respectively. The postoperative amplitude of fusional divergence was higher in the SS group compared to the SF group (P = 0.008). There was a significant difference in the duration of deviation (2.08 ± 0.84 vs. 4.23 ± 1.36, P < 0.001) between the groups, suggesting that the success rate of surgery is affected by the cumulative disease duration. Subjective deviation (-8.00 vs. -11.00, P = 0.049) and the amplitude of fusional divergence (6.52 ± 4.10 vs. 4.80 ± 2.59, P = 0.032) were also significantly different between the SS and SF groups. Postoperative breakpoints of fusional divergence and convergence, as well as the amplitude, were distinct between the SS and SF groups. Duration of deviation, angle of deviation, and subjective deviation were independent factors for (SS). Subjective deviation exhibited a predictive index for (SS) and may also reflect the severity of strabismus.
Efficacy of Clindamycin in Preventing Abortion and Vertical Transmission of Toxoplasma gondii (PRU Strain) Infection in Pregnant BALB/c Mice
Authors: Sadeghi Mitra , Hosseini Seyed Abdollah , Sarvi Shahabeddin , Ebrahimnejad Pedram , Asgarian Omran Hossein , Zare Zohreh , Gholami Shirzad , Khalilian Alireza , Tork Mostafa , Daryani Ahmad , Aghayan Sargis A
Published: October 2024

Background: Toxoplasma gondii transmission can occur during pregnancy if the mother contracts the infection for the first time. Treatment strategies include the use of antimicrobial medications and providing supportive care. Spiramycin is commonly used to treat toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and to hinder the disease's transmission. However, its ability to treat the fetus is questionable due to its limited capacity to cross the placental barrier. Additionally, economic constraints and sanctions may impede access to this medication. Objectives: Consequently, in search of an effective treatment, for the first time in Iran, the effectiveness of clindamycin in preventing abortion and vertical transmission of the PRU strain of T. gondii infection in pregnant mice was evaluated. Methods: On the twelfth day of gestation, pregnant mice were exposed to T. gondii and subsequently received treatment with either clindamycin or spiramycin. This resulted in the establishment of four distinct groups: A normal control group, an infected group without treatment, an infected group treated with clindamycin, and another infected group treated with spiramycin. Following these interventions, a series of parasitological evaluations (including microscopic examination and real-time PCR), histopathological evaluations, and immunological assessments were conducted. Results: The findings showed a significant reduction in the number of cysts in the eye and brain (ranging from 77.32% to 90.72%) among the groups treated with clindamycin and spiramycin compared to the control group. Furthermore, treatment with clindamycin, like treatment with spiramycin, was able to suppress inflammatory changes, prevent cell death, and reduce vascular cuffs in the brain, as well as decrease bleeding, placental thrombosis, and the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the placenta. Clindamycin was also effective in diminishing retinal folds, tiny retinal bleeds, and cell vacuolation in eye tissues. Immunologically, treatment in both the spiramycin and clindamycin groups resulted in a decrease in the level of the cytokine TNF-α, indicating an increase in the cellular immune response. In addition, increased levels of IL-10 in the treated infected groups could contribute to the reduction of TNF-α production. Conclusions: Typically, spiramycin is the first choice for treating congenital toxoplasmosis, but clindamycin can be a useful substitute or additional treatment when resistance to primary medications occurs, when there is intolerance, or when access to the main drugs is restricted.
Silencis eloqüents
Authors: Martí Arís Carlos
Published: October 2024

A mesura que turbulències de tota mena caracteritzen predominantment el nostre clima contemporani, van guanyant centralitat una sèrie d’actituds i obres que, al llarg del segle xx, han conreat la poètica del silenci i han estat capaces d’interpretar, a través d’ella, la realitat caòtica i fugissera de la nostra època. El propòsit d’aquestes pàgines és intentar desentranyar algunes de les claus d’aquest tarannà alternatiu. El text s’estructura a partir de deu estudis breus sobre temes centrals en l’art i en l’arquitectura contemporània, i sobre protagonistes destacats que han fet de la mesura un ingredient substancial de la seva obra: Jorge Luis Borges, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Yasujirō Ozu, Mark Rothko i Jorge Oteiza. Més enllà de les importants diferències geogràfiques i culturals que separen les temàtiques que tracten, hi ha un tret comú en totes elles: el rebuig de l’art entès com una agressió histèrica als sentits, tal com és promogut per la pseudocultura mediàtica, i —en contra seva— l’afirmació d’una interpretació artística de la realitat com a reflexió profunda i eloqüent, destinada a intentar revelar els misteris del món.
La dimensión impossible
Authors: Navarro Jover Luis
Published: October 2024

La dimensión imposible reivindica el papel activo del arquitecto como un sintetizador capaz de transformar, cambiar o anular las reglas impuestas por el propio contexto para alterar perceptivamente elementos propios de la arquitectura, tratando de jugar con la realidad del usuario-espectador. Una arquitectura en la que no nos importa tanto qué forma tiene, qué volumen posee o qué pesa, sino cómo pasa a entenderse en su relación con el medio o cómo es capaz de generar ambientes de alta intensidad que posibiliten una rica y densa vinculación entre el sujeto y el espacio.
La dimensión imposible también defiende la existencia de una arquitectura compleja, ambigua, equívoca. Una arquitectura donde proyectar se convierte en un proceso abierto en el que todas las partes conviven en un conjunto dotado y potenciado por las experiencias, los entornos y los significados que la rodean. Una arquitectura capaz de establecer nuevas leyes perceptivas que despierten nuestros sentidos y nos permitan aproximarnos al objeto y al espacio arquitectónico desde visiones que tienen que ver con lo sensorial, lo perceptivo o lo atmosférico.
Esto es, lo imposible superpuesto a lo visible.
The association between smoking/vaping habits and self-reported ­respiratory symptoms
Authors: Darabseh Mohammad Z. , Aburub Aseel , Morse Christopher I. , Degens Hans
Published: October 2024

Background: Smoking is well known for its harmful effect on the respiratory system, but whether vaping is less harmful is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association of smoking/vaping habits with self-reported respiratory symptoms in vapers and cigarette smokers. Methods: An online survey was developed and shared on different vaping and smoking social media platforms and communities. Results: Out of the 891 respondents, 788 were vapers (77 pure vapers and 711 ex-smokers) and 103 were cigarette smokers. Smokers reported more frequently respiratory symptoms such as chest pain, wheezing and whistling, sputum production, cough, dry mouth, and smokers suffered from more shortness of breath, sore throat and disturbed sleep compared to vapers. The self-reported respiratory symptoms in vapers were mainly related to the nicotine strength of the product and number of puffs per use. There were no significant differences between pure vapers and vapers who were ex-smokers. Conclusion: Self-reported severe respiratory symptoms were less frequent in vapers than smokers, irrespective of their smoking history. This suggests that vaping is less harmful than cigarette smoking
DIGITIZATION AS A DRIVER FOR TRANSFORMATION OF THE BANKING SYSTEM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Акылбекова Нелли Ильинична , Насырова Батима Боколовна , Дуйшеналиева Зарина Токтоналиевна , Джумабаева Марина Зарипбековна , Калдыбаева Айжамал Акылбековна
Published: October 2024

В статье изучается цифровизация как драйвер трансформации банковской системы и развития экономики. Авторами проведен анализ количества и сумм произведенных платежей, произведённых посредством банковских карт в Кыргызской Республике, динамики объемов трансграничных денежных переводов физических лиц в Кыргызской Республике за 2019-2023 годы, рассматриваются перспективные направления развития цифровизации в банковской системе Кыргызской Республики.

The article studies digitalization as a driver of transformation of the banking system and economic development. The authors analyzed the number and amounts of payments made through bank cards in the Kyrgyz Republic, the dynamics of the volume of cross-border money transfers from individuals in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2019-2023, and considered promising directions for the development of digitalization in the banking system of the Kyrgyz Republic.
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF MINERAL POWDER ON THE BIOSTABILITY OF ASPHALT CONCRETE ON POLYMER BITUMEN BINDERS
Authors: Самаров Александр Сергеевич , Ликомаскина Майя Алексеевна
Published: October 2024

Биологическое разрушение асфальтобетонных покрытий, особенно в контексте использования полимербитумных вяжущих, которые, несмотря на свои преимущества, подвержены деградации под воздействием микроорганизмов. Повышение биостойкости асфальтобетона является ключевым фактором для создания долговечных и экологически устойчивых дорожных покрытий. Оптимальные параметры применения минерального порошка зависит от типа полимербитумного вяжущего и от региональных условий эксплуатации.

Biological destruction of asphalt concrete coatings, especially in the context of the use of polymer bitumen binders, which, despite their advantages, are susceptible to degradation under the influence of microorganisms. Increasing the biostability of asphalt concrete is a key factor for creating durable and environmentally sustainable road surfaces. The optimal parameters for the use of mineral powder depend on the type of polymer bitumen binder and on regional operating conditions.
PECULIARITIES OF STRENGTH CALCULATION OF TRUCK SUBFRAME DEPENDING ON OPERATIONAL LOADING
Authors: Волков Валерий Валерьевич , Волкова Ольга Юрьевна
Published: October 2024

В статье проведен анализ эксплуатационной нагруженности надрамника грузового автомобиля на примере карьерного самосвала КАМАЗ 4554. Представлены расчетные случаи углевоза в программном комплексе Ansys, который эксплуатировался в нормальных условиях и в условиях повышенной проходимости.

The article analyzes the operational loading of a truck subframe on the example of a KAMAZ 4554 dump truck. Calculated cases of the dump truck in Ansys program complex, which was operated in normal conditions and in conditions of increased cross-country ability, are presented.
ОЦЕНКА ПО КАЧЕСТВУ МЯСА МОЛОДНЯКА, ПОЛУЧЕННОГО ПРИ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОМ СКРЕЩИВАНИИ
Authors: Адушинов Дмитрий Семенович , Михашенко Альберт Андреевич , Безруков Сергей Андреевич , Исмоилов Шухрат Орифжонович , Циклер Максим Викторович
Published: October 2024

Одним из признаков скороспелости мясного скота является отложение ими жира в сравнительно раннем возрасте. Эта способность у них гораздо лучше выражена, чем у скота молочных пород и имеют емкий пищеварительный тракт, облегчающий активное извлечение питательных веществ из корма. Проблема увеличения производства мяса и улучшения его качества является одной из важных в скотоводстве. По медицинским нормам питания потребность человека в мясных продуктах составляет 73 кг в год. При этом говядина в рационе человека должна составлять 27,4 % от общего потребления мяса. Это значительно меньше, чем птица, употребляемые человеком. Эта задача должна решаться путем укрепления кормовой базы, роста поголовья скота, повышения продуктивности, интенсивного выращивания молодняка, а также широким применением промышленного скрещивания молочных и молочно-мясных коров и сверхремонтных телок с быками мясных пород. В большинстве работ по промышленному скрещиванию доказана эффективность данного метода в увеличении мясной продуктивности животных молочных и молочно-мясных пород. Однако результативность скрещивания определенных пород в разных зонах страны не одинакова. Вопросы промышленного скрещивания необходимо изучать в зональном аспекте с учетом породы животных, условий кормления помесного молодняка. Возникает необходимость изучения использования мясных пород крупного рогатого скота (в частности абердин-ангусской) как резерв получения высококачественной говядины в скрещивании с молочным скотом, не представляющим племенной ценности, с учетом региональных особенностей.
ОСОБЕННОСТИ ТЕКТОНИЧЕСКОГО СТРОЕНИЯ ВОЛГОГРАДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ
Authors: Имамов Р.Р.
Published: October 2024

В комплексе ТЭК России Волгоградская область является важной его частью в Южном Федеральном округе. Нефтегазовый комплекс региона характеризуется значительной выявленной углеводородной добычной базой. Вовлечению сырьевой ресурсной базы в процесс добычи УВ будет способствовать, помимо технологического развития, научно-обоснованная стратегия геологоразведочных работ, основанная на современных представлениях о тектоническом строении региона. В статье приводятся результаты обобщения и анализа данных геологоразведочных работ, проведенных в пределах области, позволившие уточнить представления об особенностях геологического строения региона.
ФИЛОСОФСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ И ЭКЗИСТЕНЦИАЛЬНЫХ ПОСЛЕДСТВИЙ ЦИФРОВЫХ КОПИЙ
Authors: Сметана В.В.
Published: October 2024

Создание цифровых копий сознания, помимо технических и философских вызовов, также влечет за собой глубокие психологические и экзистенциальные последствия как для индивидов, решивших создать свои цифровые копии, так и для общества в целом. В данной статье мы исследуем эти последствия, анализируя мотивацию, ожидания, страхи и этические дилеммы, связанные с существованием цифровых двойников. Статья рассматривает психологическое воздействие на создателей копий, включая их мотивацию, ожидания, потенциальные разочарования и риски, связанные с чрезмерной идентификацией с цифровой копией. Анализируются замешательство, беспокойство и экзистенциальный стресс, возникающие из-за вопросов идентичности, аутентичности и смысла жизни в условиях цифрового бессмертия. Особое внимание уделяется последствиям для отношений и социальных взаимодействий, включая сложность взаимодействия с цифровыми копиями умерших людей, проблему горя и прощания, а также этические вопросы использования таких копий. Исследуется влияние цифровых копий на социальные нормы и институты, такие как семья, брак и право, а также их потенциальное воздействие на экономику и политику. Статья подчеркивает важность философского и психологического анализа для понимания и подготовки к потенциальным последствиям создания цифровых копий сознания. Она призывает к дальнейшему исследованию этих вопросов и разработке этических и социальных рамок для ответственного использования этой технологии, обеспечивая баланс между технологическим прогрессом и сохранением человеческого достоинства и благополучия.
Аэрозольная токсичность снарядов с обедненным ураном
Authors: Андрианов С.В. , Селезнева Е.В. , Соловьев А.А. , Филимонова О.А.
Published: October 2024

Рассмотрены пирофорные свойства обедненного урана его использование в различных снарядах и аэрозольная токсичность. Показаны негативные последствия для здоровья населения в регионах боевых действий.