bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochemistry and Potential Hydrocarbon Source Rocks of Rambatan Formation in Karangkobar Area, Central Java
Authors: Praptisih Praptisih , Sendjaja Yoga Andriana , Isnaniawardhani Vijaya , Mursito Anggoro Tri , Putra Purna Sulastya , Nugroho Septriono Hari
Published: December 2022

The purpose of the study in the Karangkobar area was to investigate the source rock potential of the fine-grained surface samples of clastic sediments. The use of surface samples for source rock potential study in Indonesia is still limited. We conducted geochemical laboratory analyses in this research, including Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval Pyrolysis (REP), and Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS). Seventeen samples have been analyzed for their TOC content. The result shows that TOC values varied between 0.36–1.55%, indicating that the source rock potential level based on the surface samples is poor to fair organic richness. REP was conducted on 16 samples, and the results show that the hydrocarbon-generating characteristics (HI values) ranged from 15 to 163 mg HC/g TOC. The kerogens identified included type II and III kerogen, which indicated the oil and gas-generating potential. Pyrolysis temperature is at maximum (Tmax) in the 276–458 °C, indicating that the samples were thermally immature to mature. GCMS analysis of source rock indicated that the depositional environment of the organic material derived from an open marine and plankton environment. This study is essential to complete the understanding of the petroleum system in Central Java.
Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidant Evaluation of Some Tetrazole Derivatives
Authors: Dalal Meinaa Jaber , Mekky Athraa Hameed
Published: December 2022

The present study introduces the synthesis of two series of tetrazole derivatives. Firstly, monosubstituted S1 was prepared by the reaction of ethyl 4-aminobenzoate with an amount of sodium azide and triethyl orthoformate in hot glacial acetic acid. Then, ethyl 4-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl) benzoate S1 was treated with a solution of hydrazine hydrate to prepare acetohydrazide S2. After that, tetrazole derivatives S3-S4 were prepared via the reaction of acetohydrazide S2 with various aromatic aldehydes. Secondly, compound 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole S5 was prepared from the reaction of aryl isothiocyanate with sodium azide in water presence. Then alkylation to compound S5 was made with ethyl chloroacetate to produce S6. In the next step, S6 was reacted with hydrazine hydrate to get acetohydrazide S7. Moreover, the produced S7 was reacted with some aromatic aldehydes for the synthesis of S8-S10. The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by the different available spectral methods, i.e., FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated by the use of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. The results showed that compound S10 has the highest value as radical scavenging among the synthesized compounds.
Electronic-Structures Calculations of Calcium-Intercalated Bilayer Graphene: A First-Principle Study
Authors: Hidayati Sri , Santoso Iman , Yunitasari Sefty , Sholihun Sholihun
Published: December 2022

In this study, electronic structure calculations of Ca-intercalated bilayer graphene are conducted using the density functional theory (DFT). We modeled two configurations by positioning calcium in the middle of the bilayer (M-site) and on top of the bilayer surface (T-site). Our results show that the Dirac point is shifted below the fermi level. The approximated critical temperature is 7.9 K. We then calculated the electron transfer and formation energy for each system. We found that, for the M-site, the electron transfer increased as the Ca concentration increased, while the reverse occurred for T-site. The calculated formation energies were negative, meaning that all configurations were spontaneously created. In other words, the involved reactions were exothermic.
Influence of Calcination Temperatures on Gunningite-Based Gelatin Template and Its Application as Ibuprofen Adsorption
Authors: Ulfa Maria , Ali Muhammad Ari Purnama
Published: December 2022

Gunningite has been successfully synthesized using the soft template method with the Pluronic F127-gelatin template. Gunningite was calcined at diverse temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C for 12 h and characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR. A UV-Vis Spectrophotometer measured the adsorption capacity of Gunningite against ibuprofen. The XRD results showed that the crystal sizes of Gunningite decreased from 35.41 to 28.31 nm with the increasing calcination temperature from 500 to 700 °C. Besides, the crystallinity degrees also increased from 49.94% to 56.13% as calcination temperature increased from 500 to 700 °C. The Gunningite formed aggregates in the form of tiny particles that merge and experience agglomeration. The FTIR spectra of the Gunningite samples demonstrated the functional groups –OH, Zn-OH, Zn-O-Zn, and gunningite vibrations. The maximum adsorption capacities of Gunningite to adsorb ibuprofen were 233.161 mg g−1 (500 °C), 219.543 mg g−1 (600 °C), and 227.033 mg g-1 (700 °C). The kinetic model of Gunningite on the ibuprofen adsorption followed the kinetic model of Ho and McKay.
The Effect of Marketing Culture Aspects of Healthcare Care on Marketing Creativity
Authors: Younus Saif Qudama , Othman Baban Jabbar , Rashad Muhammed Khazal , Kanabi Idrees Sadeq , Jamil Diyar Abdulmajeed , Mahmood Rozhgar Khorsheed , Ismail Zaid Saad , Jwmaa Swran Jawamir
Published: December 2022

The primary objective of this research project is to investigate the influence that different characteristics of healthcare marketing culture have on marketing creativity. The investigation was carried out at the various medical facilities located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the study, the researchers used a quantitative research approach in the form of a survey. Despite this, the researchers were successful in collecting a total of 161 completed surveys. In order to evaluate the current study, the researchers utilized hierarchal multiple regression analysis as well as the Sobel test; the results of these analyses indicated According to the findings, there is a positive and significant connection, both directly and indirectly, between cultural value and cultural satisfaction as marketing culture aspects and marketing creativity. In addition, cultural experience plays a positive and significant role in mediating the connection between cultural value and marketing experience. Nonetheless, putting an emphasis on cost savings, enhanced quality, and distinct industry are three essential components that are necessary to improve healthcare systems that are supported by patients. This is something that can be accomplished through the acquisition of new technology as well as through workers who are well-trained and motivated to use their expertise for the betterment of society in a way that carves out a distinct market that competitors can either rarely replicate or copy at a high cost.
Contribution of community participation and unmet needs in terms of sexual violence, sexual reproductive health and early pregnancy among adolescents in Haut-Sassandra
Authors: Ehouma Koffi Ludovic , Blibolo August Didier , Yapo Lucas Delmas , Pohor Rubin
Published: December 2022

This article analyzes the socio-cultural determinants of community (social) participation used in the framework of the UACA-IDRC participatory action research project entitled "Adolescence, gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health and early pregnancy in Côte d'Ivoire" implemented in the Upper Sassandra region. It is therefore important to ask what is the interest of community participation as a preferred orientation for solving the unmet needs of adolescents. Social norms and translation theories were used to analyze the data collected through documentary research and group interviews. This theoretical posture makes it possible to show how community participation can solve unmet needs in terms of sexual violence, sexual reproductive health and early pregnancy among adolescents. The survey revealed that the participation of adolescents and their parents can take many forms and be characterized by different levels of initiative and control. They take part in decision-making that concerns them and are consulted through discussions and qualitative interviews. Therefore, in the context of social and behavior change, inclusive community responsibility must be articulated around the theoretical foundations of community participation that incorporates participatory mobilization of adolescents and parents.
Avaliação de indicadores de desempenho de locadoras de carro listadas na B3
Authors: Sarkissian Rosanna
Published: December 2022

Diversos são os fatores que influenciam a oferta e a demanda de carros para aluguel, de modo que, dado o nível de exposição às oscilações conjunturais da economia, esse mercado é caracterizado como parte do setor de consumo cíclico. Nesse cenário, a condução de análises de desempenho são fundamentais para a tomada de decisão a nível gerencial, pois, frente ao contexto macroeconômico, o financiamento de empresas de locação de carro – essencial para o crescimento da frota, uma vez que, usualmente, o setor é marcado por baixa liquidez – pode ser comprometido. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar qual das três locadoras de carro listadas na B3 obteve o melhor desempenho geral, considerando os exercícios financeiros de 2015 a 2017, período marcado por uma grave crise econômica no país. Para tanto, recorreu-se aos indicadores de desempenho de liquidez, de endividamento, de estrutura de capital e de rentabilidade, bem como à análise vertical de demonstrações financeiras. Os resultados mostraram que a Localiza Rent a Car S.A. apresentou o melhor desempenho, ainda que, para a sua operação, a empresa depare-se com elevados custos de capital devido à manutenção e aos reparos de sua frota, que, por sua vez, é relativamente maior do que a de suas concorrentes, o que confere destaque à locadora.
Kisan Seeva
Authors: Jain Kunal , Ansari Mohammed Ahmed , Gupta Sankalp Kumar , Shrikhande Deepali
Published: December 2022

Abstract: The total number of people has been exponentially growing, and it is predicted that by the middle of 2030, there will be 8.6 billion people on the planet. Due to the enormous growth in population, there will be an increase in both food production and consumption. Crop diseases that harm agricultural products as they grow are the main threat to food security. Due to the lack of adequate infrastructure, it is still difficult to quickly identify crop-damaging diseases in several parts of India. By utilizing the app to take crop photographs and analyze. the presence or absence of illnesses, the farmer can have a solution which is workable. Farmers now have a diverse array of crops on their land. Additionally, they aim to expand the variety of crops they grow on their farm. Because they don't foresee crop illnesses at an early stage, farmers with this kind of "Experimental farming" mentality occasionally incur significant losses. They now find it more costly to draw lessons from the past. The purpose of this article is to examine the requirement for an electronic expert system (android app) that enables farmers to make wise decisions and enhance their farming operations without incurring significant losses. The suggested system employs an innovative method of object detection to identify plant diseases, which significantly improves the speed and precision of disease detection on leaves. We have utilized CNN models to detect diseases. The CNN model is more accurate than other models in the market. In the suggested approach, we identify whether crops are infected or not, and if they are, the user will be informed and can take appropriate action if the crop is sick.
Heart Disease Prediction Using Machine Learning
Authors: Kulkarni Mukund , Patel Tanay , Patil Kunal , Manwatkar Akshita , Bohra Mustafa , Daulat Mustansir
Published: December 2022

Abstract: One of the top causes of mortality globally is heart disease. A doctor cannot readily foresee it since it is a complex process that needs experience and superior forecasting knowledge. The health-care institution remains "rich in information" yet "deficient in information." There is a wealth of information available in online health care systems. However, there is a scarcity of appropriate data analysis tools for detecting underlying linkages and patterns. An automated medical diagnostic system can boost medical efficiency while lowering expenses. The objective is to identify hidden patterns in cardiovascular illness using data mining techniques and forecast the existence of heart disease in individuals when presence is assessed on a scale. Predicting cardiac disease necessitates a vast quantity of data that is too complicated and voluminous for normal tools to collect and interpret. The purpose of this research is to develop the most effective and accurate machine learning approach for predicting heart disease.
Emergency Application for Emergency Services in Critical Condition
Authors: Suryawanshi Rajesh , Sutar Shubham , Jadhav Dr. Sunita
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Emergency calling is fundamental and critical for devices because they must work for Android users while satisfying various carrier and regulatory requirements all over the world. Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time. The very nature of an emergency is unpredictable and can change in scope and impact. Being prepared and planning ahead is critical to protecting lives, the environment, and property. To overcome problems while facing emergency situations we need a simple and easy application. For this, we create an application that has automatic call and location-sharing services in an emergency situation. This will help us to share the location with our family and nearby hospitals or OPDs and also be useful to the automatic message sending & SOS. For this, we select some famous emergency applications and study them. But some applications are region-based applications And every application has different features. Due to this, it is difficult to use an emergency application in emergency situations. To overcome this problem we develop an application that is not region- based, consists of all features, and is easy to use in any condition.
Policía Ambiental y Ecológica como garante de protección ante la contaminación del recurso suelo
Authors: González Forero Rosalina , Méndez Torres Yeferson Stiven , Contento Rubio Oscar Fernando
Published: December 2022

La Policía Nacional de Colombia cuenta con el Área de Protección Ambiental y Ecológica, la cual aúna esfuerzos con las autoridades ambientales, para proteger los recursos naturales. Dentro de sus funciones específicas, se encuentra el detectar fuentes contaminantes antrópicas y determinar los efectos que estas ocasionan. En este contexto, un tema novedoso es el vertimiento al suelo. En Colombia, el Decreto 50/2018 y la Resolución 699/2021 permiten dicho vertimiento y establecen los parámetros límite del agua vertida. Al ser un tema nuevo, la Corporación Autónoma Regional de Cundinamarca [CAR], la Universidad de La Salle [Unisalle] y la Policía Nacional de Colombia se unieron para establecer una metodología en el control del cumplimiento normativo, realizando un análisis de disposición, vocación y uso del suelo; contaminantes asociados a los vertidos y al suelo; y efectos de los vertimientos en la biota edáfica. El método propuesto fue puesto a prueba en la jurisdicción CAR, observándose su pertinencia general; sin embargo, se detectó una falta de información científica referente a la biota, que podría comprometer el dictamen de las autoridades ambientales/policivas y violar la Ley 2111/2021 que indica: el que realice directamente vertimientos al suelo poniendo en peligro la salud humana y recursos naturales incurrirá en prisión; por lo que se sugiere fortalecer la investigación en este tema.
“Caucasian Highlander’s Songs. The Nart heros” by Alexander Kubalov: The first experience of the Russian language poetic processing of the Ossetian folk epic
Authors: Khugaev Irlan S.
Published: December 2022

This article considers the first experience of the Russian language poetic processing of the Ossetian Nart sagas, carried out by Alexander Zakharovich Kubalov and published in 1906. It notes particular relevance to the appropriate sort and genre of works, belonging to the Ossetes, as a product, in a strict sense, of the Ossetian literary mind. The article describes the author’s theoretical views on genesis and poetics of the Nart epic; according to the level of his (that is the author’s) contemporary Narts studies, certain disadvantages and perspective elements are being outlined. The Nart heroes architectonics, which, as it turns out, consists of thirteen, non-distinguished by the author parts, the image that includes renowned Nart heroes, both principal and supporting characters, and also the Pantheon and underworld representatives, is subject to a specific analysis. An examination of plotmotivic composition reveals that there is no deep processing or any conceptually well founded selection of plots in A.Z. Kubalov’s work, which would have avoided tautologies; eventful lines are drawn the way as if the author was sure that the reader was familiar with main characters and motifs of the Ossetian Nartiade; the material of the source is explicitly compacted, however, it lacks proper faceting. When considering technical, pictorialand linguistic characteristics it appears that A.Z. Kubalov departs from the original metric features, using for his versification of Elias Lönnrot’s “Kalevala” and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The song of Hiawatha” tetrametric choree. It seems that the author’s stylistics is quite heavily influenced by formal parameters of the verse, which enforces him to use low-emphatic structures, and at last, his text tends to have lexical-stylistic eclectism. The comparative (in relation to the original version) qualitative novelty of Kubalov’s epic lies only in its poetical form. However, despite the fact that A.Z. Kubalov failed to convey the identity of Ossetian oral tradition he managed to set an essential far-reaching precedent , the significance of which is of particular importance in the context of the period at the turn of the 19th century.
Bilinguism and Translinguism in Contemporary Literature
Authors: Ananyeva Svetlana V.
Published: December 2022

In the post-Covid and post-literacy contexts, a new research field is being formed that combines multilingualism, multimodality and multiculturalism. The change in the world determines the transformation of the principles of dialogicity under the influence of a single global communication space, the exclusion of options for the development of relations from tolerance to conflict. B. Kenzheev, A. Kim, G. Belger write about the search for answers to the most important questions of our time, the challenges of globalization and how it contributes to the disclosure of the ethnocultural world, the universal and global concerns. Bilingualism is seen as a means of intercultural transfer; translingualism - as the use of a language (native or acquired), which makes it possible to encrypt a different cultural reality in a text.
Supervisor and Co-Worker Feedback Environment and Blue-Collar Employee Engagement
Authors:   University of Latvia, Bikse Iveta , Pāvuls Uldis
Published: December 2022

The aim of the research is to study the relationships between feedback and employee engagement among manufacturing workers. There has been little research on the topic involving low-skilled or blue-collared employees. The aim of the study is to identify what are relationships between the feedback provided by one’s supervisor and their co-workers and the employee engagement in manufacturing companies. Three hypotheses were tested. First, there is positive correlation between high scores of supervisor feedback environment and co-worker feedback environment and employee engagement. Second – there is negative relationship between the age of workers and their engagement; the third hypothesis – there is positive relationship between the blue-collar employees’ tenure and their work engagement. The study involved 495 respondents, blue-collar workers in manufacturing companies. The average age of the respondents was 42 years (range 18 to 75 years), and their work experience ranges from 0 to 10+ years. Questionnaire in Latvian and Russian were prepared for the study. Instruments used– Feedback Environment Scale (Steelman & Levy, 2004) was adapted and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9, Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003). The results confirm findings of previous studies – high indicators in feedback environment predict high level of employee engagement. Supervisor feedback has higher level of influence than the one provided by co-workers. The most important factors of feedback provided by one’s supervisor that affect the engagement are Feedback quality and Favorable feedback. The important factors of co-worker feedback are the Feedback delivery and Favorable feedback. The effect of age and tenure on engagement was not confirmed.
Should Influencers be Trusted? Analysis of Influencers’ Interaction with Children and Adolescents on Instagram and Youtube
Authors:   University of Latvia, Zitmane Marita , Vorkule Marija
Published: December 2022

Children and adolescents (in study it refers to age group 11 till 17) nowadays spend many hours online on social media following their favorite influencers. Children and adolescents are avid consumers of social media and constitute attractive target audiences for influencer marketing. Studies show that sponsored content from favorite social media influencers appears to be highly influential and may affect brand preferences of given audiences. Furthermore, influencer endorsements are observed to carry greater credibility and authenticity than traditional forms of advertising. This therefore raises questions about young consumers’ discernment of, and critical evaluation of the overall appropriateness when influencers act as conduits of commercial messages. The influencer interaction with young audiences in Latvian social media landscape still needs to be mapped. This paper reports on a quantitative study of the influencer communication on two social media – YouTube and Instagram. A total of 459 YouTube videos and 654 Instagram posts in time period from 01.01.2021 to 01.01.2022 were selected for analysis. The aim is to acquire knowledge on how influencers communicate with their young audiences, and do they use appropriate advertising disclosures when communicating commercial information, which is a requirement of Latvian legislation. This information is crucial for further discussion on advertising literacy of young audiences as well as legal regulation of influencer marketing. The research finds that influencers in most part do not properly mark the sponsored content. Thus, influencers both do not comply with the regulatory framework, and deny their young audience the tools to employ advertising skills.
Unspoken Truths in Narratives of Contemporary Mothers Towards Their Mothers in Latvia
Authors:   University of Latvia, Lāma Elza
Published: December 2022

Soviet propaganda promised liberation of women from household shackles, glorifying them as ‘heroines’, who embody love for family, work and communist ideals. Behind ideology, the ‘second shift’ burdened mothers with tedious housework, childrearing, and professional workload. Nowadays their daughters, who were born in the turmoil of collapse of USSR, experience motherhood differently, with the aid of information and technologies, that seemingly ease childcare and everyday life in democratic Latvia. Although mothering is a subjective experience and each next generation questions decisions of the previous one, contemporary motherhood favours different childrearing methods, rooted in evidence-based sources, Western medicine practitioners, and democratized family models in contrast to Dr. Spock’s advice, home remedies or physical punishment. ‘Intensive mothering’ ideology adds to the pressures of modern motherhood, deeming the mother entirely responsible for social, psychological and cognitive well-being of her children. By employing the theoretical framework of Arlie Hochschild, this article explores the unspoken truths, doubts, and grievances of 21st century mothers towards their ‘mothers-heroines’ of USSR. The ‘deep story’ has been constructed, intertwining narratives, gained from eight phenomenological semi-structured interviews with new mothers. The ‘deep story’ has been supplemented by a case study of a viral post (Facebook, March 2021) by a contemporary mother, reflecting on advantages of modern motherhood in comparison to mothering in 1985, sparking a heated debate. The ‘deep story’ of contemporary mothers unfolds the layers of unarticulated feelings – from resentment to gratefulness, from anger to love. Inner conflict between respecting parents, and following an individual path is also present.
Teaching Interior Design in Augmented Reality
Authors:   University of Latvia, Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art, Dreimane Lana Frančeska , Zālīte-Supe Zinta
Published: December 2022

Augmented Reality (AR) has been effectively utilised across a diverse range of industries, including entertainment, medicine, the military, engineering and design. In parallel, AR has irreversibly changed the potential for interaction with the learning object across all education levels and a broad variety of disciplines ranging from the introduction of new concepts in Primary Education to more complex learning in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), social sciences and humanities in Secondary and Tertiary Education. Current 21st Century research presents evidence that effective application of AR in education can facilitate effective competence acquisition while strengthening learner motivation and ensuring successful knowledge transfer to new contexts. Because of the swiftly shifting demands of the labour market and the immense potential of technology, the learning environment and context has become fundamental for learning in the 21st Century. Interior design as a field is a balance between creative innovation and the unbreakable bond with the physical reality demanding respect for precision and functionality. Major international companies, such as Amazon, Ikea, Wayfair and Target have been successfully utilising AR since the 2010s. Thus, nowadays, interior design education is unimaginable without incorporating AR technology, as this enables educators to deliver new forms of engaging and addressing interior design. AR permits experimentation without losing the attributes of the physical environment, thus allowing learners to gain more practical and diverse experience. This study addresses the lack of a systematised knowledge base, which is necessary to inform pedagogic and instructional decisions for interior design education at the secondary school level by examining scientific literature and analysing case study experience in order to formulate findings and recommendations for interior design educators and course developers.
What Determines Success in World University Rankings? Analysis of Internal Governance and State Characteristics of Top 800 Universities in Europe
Authors:   RTU Riga Business School, Rivera Claudio A. , Muižniece Marta
Published: December 2022

Higher education governance reforms are the subject of discussion in many countries, including Latvia, due to globalization, implementation of new public management (NPM) practices, and increasing demand for quality from a broad spectrum of stakeholders. One of the critical changes in university internal governance is introducing executive boards, which support decision-making effectiveness and transparency. Competition between institutions has also driven a rise in the importance of World University Rankings (WUR), which, although criticized, provide a basis for comparison. This research aims to explore top European universities’ internal governance and residence countries’ characteristics to determine factors that contribute to success in WUR. This paper reveals the importance of introducing executive boards in the governance model through an in-depth analysis of internal governance and country-specific indicators of 97 universities from 17 European countries. The paper also argues that universities from countries with smaller GDP may engage more external stakeholders. The analysis shows that internal governance, residence country-specific indicators, and university characteristics as a whole have a long-term impact on universities’ success.
Attitudes of English Students Whose Skills are Peer-Assessed
Authors:   Vytautas Magnus University, Daukšaitė-Kolpakovienė Aurelija
Published: December 2022

Peer-assessment (PA) has been used in all study cycles for over three decades. In foreign language classes, for example, it has mostly been applied to assess writing rather than other skills. However, this study focused on PA of oral skills and aimed to learn about university students’ attitudes towards their experience of being peer-assessed in their English classes online during the pandemic when PA was used as a way of formative assessment (the grades suggested by peers were not a part of final course grades). The study involved 49 Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) students (Lithuanians) studying general English at upper-intermediate level online in 2021. They were first and second year (first cycle) students aged 19 to 20. The research was both qualitative and quantitative. It used online PA forms, which the students who were assessors filled in anonymously to evaluate their peers’ oral production, and an online questionnaire with open and closed questions that the assessees filled in after they had received anonymous feedback from their peers. The study showed that over 70% of the students liked it when their oral production was assessed by their peers. It seemed to be an interesting activity for them. Yet, they raised many concerns about PA. Some of them believed PA was not accurate and their peers did not put much effort into it. They also thought their peers lacked experience in PA. They emphasised that their teacher was more experienced and objective and thus should assess their skills rather than peers.
K-medoids clustering of hospital admission characteristics to classify severity of influenza virus infection
Authors: Leis Aleda , McSpadden Erin , Segaloff Hannah , Lauring Adam , Cheng Caroline , Petrie Joshua , Lamerato Lois , Patel Manish , Flannery Brendan , Ferdinands Jill , Karvonen-Gutierrez Carrie , Monto Arnold , Martin Emily
Published: December 2022

Background: Patients are admitted to the hospital for respiratory
illness at different stages of their disease course. It is important to
appropriately analyse this heterogeneity in surveillance data to
accurately measure disease severity among those hospitalized. The
purpose of this study was to determine if unique baseline clusters of
influenza patients exist, and to examine the association between cluster
membership and in-hospital outcomes. Methods: Patients hospitalized with
influenza at two hospitals in Southeast Michigan during the 2017/2018
(n=242) and 2018/2019 (n=115) influenza seasons were included.
Physiologic and laboratory variables were collected for the first 24
hours of the hospital stay. K-medoids clustering was used to determine
groups of individuals based on these values. Multivariable linear
regression or Firth’s logistic regression were used to examine the
association between cluster membership and clinical outcomes. Results:
Three clusters were selected for 2017/2018, mainly differentiated by
blood glucose level. After adjustment, those in C171 had 5.6 times the
odds of mechanical ventilator use than those in C172 (95%CI: 1.49,21.1)
and a significantly longer mean hospital length of stay than those in
both C172 (mean 1.5 days longer, 95%CI: 0.2,2.7) and C173 (mean 1.4
days longer, 95%CI: 0.3,2.5). Similar results were seen between the two
clusters selected for 2018/2019. Conclusion: In this study of
hospitalized influenza patients, we show that distinct clusters with
higher disease acuity can be identified and could be targeted for
evaluations of vaccine and influenza antiviral effectiveness against
disease attenuation. The association of higher disease acuity with
glucose level merits evaluation.
Narrow-Focus-Width Circular Airy Beam with Emission Angle for Microwave Near-Field Applications
Authors: Bao Rong , Cao Meng , Zhang Yiqi , Li Yongdong
Published: December 2022

Focusing properties―especially the focus width―of circular airy beams
(CABs) with emission angles are investigated for microwave near-field
applications. The CABs are described as the solutions of the para-axial
wave equation which are numerically solved. The suggested CAB can
produce a narrow focal point with a 3-dB-width of 0.23λ and requires a
relatively small phase shift in the aperture. The results are verified
by a theoretical model for antenna arrays composed of half-wavelength
unit cells.
Decentralised Fully Probabilistic Design for Stochastic Networks with Multiplicative Noise
Authors: Zhou Yuyang , Herzallah Randa , Zhang Qichun
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a novel decentralised control framework based on
decentralised fully probabilistic design (DFPD) is proposed for a class
of stochastic dynamic complex systems with multiple multiplicative
noises. Compared with the existing conventional DFPD, the new procedure
is improved by modifying the Riccati equation in order to deal with
multiple multiplicative noises. Considering the stochastic nature of
complex systems, the systems’ dynamical behaviours are fully
charaterised by probabilistic state-space models. In this way, a
complete description of the components of the subsystems is provided. In
addition, probabilistic message passing architecture is introduced to
provide communication between neighbouring subsystems and to harmonise
the actions between the local nodes. To illuminate the effectiveness of
the proposed framework, a three inverted pendulum system numerical
example is presented and the results are compared with the conventional
DFPD.
NEW EXPRESS DELIVERY TESTING METHOD
Authors: Liu Xiao , Wei Pengju
Published: December 2022

Compared with scripted test, exploratory testing has the advantages of
finding more defects and higher quality defects. However, in decades
there are few researches on the proprietary testing methods for
exploratory testing. In this paper, a new express delivery testing
method is proposed based on the inspiration of the FedEx tour method and
the express industry mode. The test types of the express delivery
testing method are expanded from data to data, interaction objects and
activities, states of internal and external and sequence of activities.
Through practice verification, compared with the FedEx tour method, this
method can excavate hidden test points that are easy to be missed,
design more test cases, find more faults, and has higher test
effectiveness.
Effects of Hops Ethyl Acetate Extract on Lipopolysaccharide-induced Depression-like Behavior and the Underlying Mechanism
Authors: Ma Ziwei , Yu Yuming , Gao Ming , Chen Peng , Hong Huixia , Yu Dingle , Liang Zhenjiang , Ye Qinlian , Wang Yachao , Huang Guodong , Tan Hui
Published: December 2022

Background and Purpose There has been increasing interest in the causes
and pathogenesis of depression, which is a common psychiatric disorder.
We aimed to investigate the protective effect of hops ethyl acetate
extract (HEA) on neuroinflammation-mediated lipopolysaccharide
(LPS)-induced depression-like symptoms. Experimental Approach A battery
of behavior tests, including the open field test (OFT), elevated plus
maze (EPM), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST),
was used to evaluate the effects of HEA on LPS-induced depression.
Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α
[TNF-α], interleukin-1β) and norepinephrine were evaluated through
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The density of hippocampal dendritic
spines was assessed through Golgi staining. Finally, the toxicological
effects of hops extract on depression in mice were further analyzed
through hematoxylin and eosin staining and blood biochemistry. Key
Results Based on the OFT, EPM, TST, and FST results, oral gavage HEA
prevented LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in the mice. Further,
HEA reduced neuroinflammation, increased norepinephrine levels, and
increased the density of hippocampal dendritic spines. Finally, blood
biochemistry and HE staining did not reveal any side effects or toxicity
of HEA. Conclusion and Implications Our findings indicated that HEA is a
potential compound for treating depression.
Sequestration drives diet choice in a toxic plant generalist
Authors: Carlson Nathaniel , Agrawal Anurag
Published: December 2022

Many herbivores sequester plant toxins, and this occurs along a gradient
of specialization including “toxic plant generalists” that also
consume non-toxic hosts. We hypothesized that availability of toxins for
sequestration may trade off with nutritional quality to shape dietary
choices in a Lygaeid bug. In the absence of toxins (cardenolides) from a
preferred food (milkweed seeds), bugs increased feeding on nutritionally
poor, but cardenolide-rich milkweed plant tissue, corresponding to lower
growth but greater sequestration. While bugs feeding on only milkweed
plant tissue sequestered lower cardenolides than those feeding on seeds,
they sequestered more diverse and less polar compounds. Cardenolide
production was also induced by feeding on plant tissues, which may have
downstream effects on future herbivory and sequestration. Accordingly,
sequestration is a driver of diet choice in this toxic plant generalist,
even at the cost of feeding on nutritionally poor plant tissue;
reciprocally, plants defensively respond to such feeding choices.
Saline-alkali land amelioration by cultivating Melia azedarach and characterization of underlying mechanisms via metabolome analysis
Authors: Long Xiaohua , Li Na , Shao Tianyun , Wang Xinglan , Tao Chenyunzhu , Yan Xiao , Gao Xiumei , Rengel Zed
Published: December 2022

Soil salinization leading to ecological degradation and Melia
azedarach can be effective in improving soil characteristics, such as
reducing soil salinity. However, the mechanisms underlying the
adaptation of Melia azedarach to saline-alkali land are unknown.
In this study, we analyzed the soil properties and metabolome of
Melia azedarach roots grown in high-salt (11.5 g/kg), medium-salt
(7.5 g/kg), and low-salt soils (0.37 g/kg) to explore the mechanisms of
adaptation of Melia azedarach to salt stress. Soil Na
was decreased, while soil organic matter, alkaline
phosphatase and urease activities were increased when Melia
azedarach was planted in low-, medium- and high- saline alkali soil.
The metabolome analysis showed that the number of differential
metabolites (DEMs), especially the up-regulated DEMs rose with the soil
salinity increased. The sugar, amino acid and flavonoid DEMs produced by
Melia azedarach were mostly up-regulated with the increase of
soil salinity. The results demonstrated Melia azedarach was able
to alleviate saline stress and reduce soil salinity. We propose that in
situ bioremediation with Melia azedarach could be considered to
ameliorate the coastal saline-alkali soil.
Giant-cell Arteritis with adventitial pattern in a 51-year-old man : a case report
Authors: Kapuczinski Abeline , Demeulenaere Nathalie , Ferreira Nadine Tavares , Ciamala Aurélia , Rossi Camelia , Rusu Stefan , Myriam Remmelink , Vandergheynst Frédéric , Léon Marc
Published: December 2022

Clinical presentation can sometimes make the diagnosis of giant-cell
arteritis difficult. Histopathological features of temporal artery
biopsy are challenging because of the various described appearances. We
describe the case of a 51-year-old man with temporal artery biopsy
corresponding to the adventitial pattern of giant-cell arteritis
according to Hernandez-Rodriguez et al.
A new identified COL4A2 mutation contributes to astrocyte activation by activating JAK/STAT signaling in epilepsy
Authors: Hu Chun-Hui , Wang Bo , Wang Yi
Published: December 2022

COL4A2 is the encoding gene of the α2 chains of type IV collagen, and
missense mutations of COL4A2 is correlated with multiple diseases.
However, the association of COL4A2 mutations with epilepsy remains
elusive. Here, we aimed to explore the function of COL4A2 mutations in
the development of epilepsy. We performed a full spectrum of
family-enhanced whole-exome sequencing on a family lineage and examined
the genetic change on COL4A2 gene. The kainic acid (KA)-induced in vivo
model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced in vitro model were
established. The production and secretion of inflammation cytokines were
measured by qPCR, western blotting, and ELISA assay. Neuron damages and
astrocyte activation were checked by Nissle and GFAP immunofluorescence
staining. One heterozygous variant was detected in the COL4A2 gene:
c.1148C>T(p.Pro383Leu). COL4A2 mutation significant induced
the exacerbation of seizures and impaired the learning and memory
phenotype of the KA rats. COL4A2 mutation promoted the hippocampal
astrocyte activation, enhanced hippocampal neuronal injury in the rats.
The levels of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α elevated in KA-treated
rats and LPS-treated astrocytes were further induced by COL4A2 mutation.
Mechanically, COL4A2 mutation stimulated JAK/STAT signaling. JAK2 and
STAT3 phosphorylation was promoted by COL4A2 mutation and JAK/STAT
signaling inhibitor WP1066 could blocked the effect in primary
astrocytes and CTX-TNA cells. These data indicated that a new identified
COL4A2 mutation contributed to astrocyte activation by activating
JAK/STAT signaling in epilepsy. Our findings provided a novel mechanism
and treatment target of COL4A2 related epilepsy.
Métodos de estudo no ensino superior
Authors: Caliatto Susana G. , Mendes Carmelinda T. A. , Almeida Leandro S.
Published: December 2022

Face às exigências do processo de ensino-aprendizagem na universidade, a literatura mostra a importância de se identificar dimensões que melhor descrevam os métodos de estudo para explicar o rendimento acadêmico dos estudantes. Este artigo descreve a construção e os estudos preliminares de validação de um questionário de avaliação dos métodos de estudo e de aprendizagem de estudantes do Ensino Superior. Os estudantes foram abordados sobre suas condutas habituais de estudo, dentro e fora de sala de aula, nomeadamente aqueles que melhor explicam ou predizem seus níveis de rendimento acadêmico. Após a uma primeira sistematização do conteúdo das respostas dos estudantes um questionário com 45 itens foi aplicado em 132 estudantes de Portugal, abrangendo diferentes cursos em Ciências e Humanidades, maioritariamente do sexo feminino (81%), do 1º ano, com a idade mais frequente de 18 anos (37,9%). Os resultados da análise fatorial exploratória permitem identificar quatro dimensões: organização e planejamento do estudo (alfa=.76); persistência nas tarefas de estudo (alfa=.78); autoeficácia no estudo (alfa=.65) e participação ativa na sala de aula (alfa=.64). Estas dimensões refletem métodos de estudo que combinam aspectos cognitivos, motivacionais e atitudinais que algumas vezes, aparecem diferenciadas na investigação, podendo o estudante combinar ainda abordagens superficiais e profundas quando necessárias ao seu estudo.
Equivalência de estímulos e ensino de leitura
Authors: Silva Graciane Barboza da , Gagliotto Giseli Monteiro , Thais Cristina Gutstein Thais Cristina Gutstein
Published: December 2022

O presente artigo tem por objetivo descrever as características dos participantes de estudos empíricos que tratam da equivalência de estímulos e ensino de leitura, entre os anos de 2008 a 2017. Foram analisados artigos completos localizados nas bases de dados Periódicos CAPES e PEPSIC, por meio de busca combinada de descritores de equivalência de estímulos e leitura, selecionados a partir de estudos anteriores. Localizaram-se nas bases de dados dezenove artigos que compuseram o estudo. Observou-se que a escola é o local em que mais ocorreram estudos, realizados em sua maioria com crianças de desenvolvimento típico, não leitoras, com faixa etária predominante de seis a sete anos. Sobre o nível de escolaridade dos participantes pode-se identificar que a maioria se encontrava no ensino fundamental, com destaque aos 2° e 3° anos; além disso, foi identificado um estudo com alunos do Ensino Médio. Chama-se atenção à multiplicidade de característica dos participantes (deficiência auditiva, física, intelectual), característica esta vista como positiva e necessária de acordo com os pesquisadores. Sugere-se para estudos futuros ampliação da busca em outros bancos de dados nacionais e internacionais, além da descrição dos procedimentos adotados e resultados obtidos nos diferentes públicos.
Intervenções educativas para aprendizagem acerca de sexualidade e gênero no Brasil
Authors: Blankenheim Thaís , Ramos Natacha Führ , Pizzinato Adolfo , Costa Angelo Brandelli
Published: December 2022

O objetivo deste artigo é mapear a produção acadêmica sobre intervenções realizadas no âmbito escolar brasileiro nos campos de sexualidade e gênero. Foi realizada uma revisão de escopo (Scoping Review) nas bases de dados Scielo, Lilacs, Pepsic e Google Acadêmico. Verificamos que após o ano de 2012 a produção do campo se intensifica; a maioria das intervenções atua diretamente com alunos, principalmente de anos finais do ensino fundamental e do ensino médio; os delineamentos metodológicos mais utilizados são os qualitativos e o discurso crítico é o que fundamenta a maior parte das publicações, seguido pelo liberal e pós-moderno. Pontua-se, entretanto, a necessidade de investigações desde a faixa etária infantil e que tenham como público-alvo professores/as e educadores/as. Os estudos do tema nas áreas da psicologia e educação devem ser reforçados para que possam trabalhar como propulsores de garantia de direitos e de qualidade de vida para todas as pessoas.
Ailo – Pienen poron suuri seikkailu -elokuvan ääniraita katsojan luontosuhteen luojana
Authors: Qvick Sanna
Published: December 2022

Tämä tutkimusartikkeli tarkastelee ranskalaisen ohjaajan Guillaume Maidatchevskyn Ailo – Pienen poron suuri seikkailu (Aïlo: Une odyssée en Laponie, Ranska 2018) luontodokumenttia ekomusikologisesta ja audiovisuaalisesta näkökulmasta.
Teoksellaan Maidatchevsky kertoo Ailon tarinan, poronvasan ensimmäisen vuoden Lapin maisemissa. Tarinallisena ja perheille suunnattuna luontoelokuvana Ailo tutustuttaa katsojat niin Lapin luontoon kuin sen eläimiin. Artikkelissa hyödynnän tarinallistamisen ja luontosuhteen käsitteitä sekä ekomusikologista näkökulmaa. Metodina sovellan kriittiseen lähiluentaan pohjautuvaa audiovisuaalista analyysia itse elokuvan analyysissa. Etsin vastauksia muun muassa siihen, millaisen luontosuhteen Ailo-elokuvan äänimaailma saa aikaan.
Ailo:n äänimaailma on hyvin selkeä. Sen eri osa-alueet (äänitehosteet, taustakerronta ja musiikki) ovat eriytyneitä, ja niillä on elokuvassa tietty rooli. Nämä roolit saavat aikaan tietynlaisen keinotekoisuuden, joka on ristiriidassa kuvaraidan autenttisuuspyrkimyksiin.
 
Artikkelin kansikuva: Kuvakaappaus Ailo-elokuvan trailerista.