bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Vicious Cycle and False Consciousness in The Fast Saga
Authors:   Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Liwang Grishiella Patricia
Published: January 2024

Films addressing sports/racing themes have been extensively released, and one of the successful franchises is the Fast Saga franchise. Within the media text of The Fast Saga, there's criticism regarding how female characters are depicted as weak and having little knowledge about racing, which is more associated with males. This study aims to reveal the discourse of masculine hegemony within The Fast Saga. The theoretical focus used in this research is hegemonic masculinity, employed to examine the gender practice configuration between men and women. This research is divided into three sub-discussions: gender domination, sexual objectification, role differentiation, and gender relations. Within these focuses, the author was able to uncover imbalances in these three sub-discussions through Sara Mills' critical discourse analysis as the research method. Sara Mills' critical discourse analysis will examine how the subject-object positions are placed within the text through eight films divided into 10 scenes. The research findings involving The Fast Saga show that despite women attempting to portray toughness in racing, hegemony is still apparent in those scenes. In reality, The Fast Saga continues to display forms of masculine hegemony and reinforces them as if they are the only values worth upholding.
Malý anglicko-slovenský slovník verzologických pojmov
Authors:   Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika v Košiciach, Andričík Marián
Published: January 2024

Podkladom na vznik tejto publikácie boli jednak naše dlhoročné prekladateľské aktivity v oblasti anglofónnej poézie, jednak sústavný záujem o teoretické otázky z oblasti verzológie. Roky ukladania a zbierania materiálu napokon vyústili do tohto slovníka, ktorý predkladáme odbornej verejnosti s vedomím jeho neúplnosti a zavše aj terminologického tápania pri hľadaní ekvivalentu, keďže komplexnejšia komparatívna práca z tejto oblasti doposiaľ nevyšla. Aj preto popri ustálených terminologických ekvivalentoch sme sa rozhodli ponúknuť pri tých termínoch, ktoré zatiaľ slovenské ekvivalenty nemali, vlastné návrhy – tie sú graficky vyznačené kurzívou. Vzhľadom na úzko ohraničenú cieľovú skupinu používateľov sme upustili od slovnodruhovej charakteristiky jednotlivých heslových slov a okrem výnimiek aj od ich fonetického prepisu, teda javov bežných pri všeobecných slovníkoch. Okrem samostatných heslových slov slovník obsahuje aj ustálené kolokácie používané vo verzologickej literatúre. Keďže očakávame, že slovník bude aj študijným materiálom pre študentov anglickej a slovenskej filológie, k mnohým ekvivalentom sme do zátvorky pridali aj bližšiu charakterisiku alebo vysvetlenie daného termínu. Veríme, že tento slovník, prvý 1 Publikácia je výstupom z projektu KEGA č. 014UPJŠ- 4/2021 Preklad a recepcia viazanej poézie ako generačný problém. 6 svojho druhu v našom literárnovednom kontexte, sa stane dobrým základom pre ďalšie, rozsiahlejšie a komplexnejšie príručky. URL: https://unibook.upjs.sk/
INOVASI MENUJU LINGKUNGAN BERSIH DAN BERKELANJUTAN DI KOTA PONTIANAK
Authors: Romulda Alvany , Cahyani Elista Nanda , Safitri Maudy , Handayani Putri Rizki
Published: January 2024

Waste is defined as material that is not used, sought, admired, or produced by human activity and is not clearly understood. According to the Waste Management Law Number 18 of 2008, waste is raw material originating from daily human activities and/or natural processes. One of the aims of this research is to find out how Pontianak City can produce a clean and sustainable environment. This research uses a type of library research, where data is collected through journals, books, and literature articles. The research results show that three steps can be taken by the community and government of Pontianak City to create a clean and sustainable environment: waste management, outreach and training, and substantial.
İl Özel İdarelerinin "Özel"liği
Authors: Karakaya Oral
Published: January 2024

İl özel idareleri, Türk yönetim yapısının en eski yerel birimidir.1913 yılında bir kanunu muvakkatla tüzel kişiliğe kavuşturulan il özel idarelerinin görev, yetki ve sorumluluklarıyla organlarının yapısı 2005 yılına kadar büyük ölçüde korunmuştur. 2005’te ise belediyelerle birlikte il özel idareleri yeniden yapılandırılmıştır. 2006 ve 2008 yıllarında gerçekleştirilen mevzuat değişiklikleriyle il özel idareleri ağırlıklı olarak merkezi yönetimin yatırımlarını taşrada gerçekleştiren birimlere dönüşmüştür. Böylece il özel idareleri, yerellik ve merkezilik arasında, ya da ötesinde bir işleve sahip olmuştur. Bu makalede, il düzeyinde örgütlenmiş bu yerel yönetim tüzel kişiliğinin adında yer alan “özel” nitelemesinin çözümlenmesi, bunun sonucunda da il özel idarelerinin yerel yönetim birimi olma vasfının tartışılması hedeflenmiştir. Bu tartışma, Anayasa’nın ya da İdare Hukukunun tüzel kişilik ve yerinden-merkezden yönetim kavramsallaştırmalarının dışında, yeni bir arayışı içermektedir. Bu amaçla öncelikle il özel idarelerinin tarihsel olarak yapısal ve işlevsel açıdan uğradığı değişimler, ardından da gelir yapıları, bazı merkezi yönetim görevleri için yaptıkları harcamalar, altyapıya ve kırsal alana yönelik giderleri analiz edilmiştir.
Asistencia escolar de niños, niñas y adolescentes migrantes internos en la frontera noroeste de México
Authors: Verdugo Núñez Gladis , Vargas Valle Eunice D
Published: January 2024

The article examines the relationship between internal migration of children and adolescents and school enrollment in the border state of Baja California, Mexico. This research combines the analysis of the 2020 Population Census microdata and semi-structured interviews with teachers who served this sector between 2015 and 2022. Internal migrant children have disadvantages in school enrollment, and the gaps increase if the migration is recent, and if the parents work in agriculture. Being indigenous is a protective factor for school attendance among non-recent migrants, but a risk factor among recent migrants; the latter is consistent with teachers’ perceptions. Teachers point out that there are both socioeconomic and educational context barriers that limit the school integration of these migrants. The State still has to guarantee the full right to education for internal migrants.
Cognitive approaches to linguistic creativity
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas
Published: January 2024

[to appear in: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Cognitive Linguistics] Humans are an incredibly creative species – our minds have evolved to a degree that has enabled us to think original thoughts and come up with novel solutions to a great number of problems. One domain of human cognition that has recently received considerable attention in cognitive linguistics is linguistic creativity. Over the past couple of years, several publications have contributed new and interesting cognitive linguistic findings on the topic. This paper gives an overview of creativity research from the fields of linguistics and psychology and shows how these findings are relevant for cognitive approaches to linguistic creativity. A particular focus will be on Glăveanu’s (2013) 5A framework of creativity, which offers the most comprehensive model of creativity and takes into account the various aspects that interact in any creative act (actors, audience, artefacts, actions and affordances). Next, the cognitive framework in which most linguistic creativity research is currently being carried out in, Construction Grammar (Goldberg 2019; Hilpert 2019; Hoffmann 2022b) will be discussed. After summarizing the results from constructionist research on verbal creativity, a constructionist model of Glăveanu’s framework will be presented – the ‘5C model’ of constructional creativity (constructors, co-constructors, constructs, constructional blending and the constructional network). This model will detail the role of constructional networks (Diessel 2019) in creative acts and it will be argued that Conceptual Blending (Turner 2018, 2020) is the domain-general cognitive process that creates creative (as well as non-creative) constructs.
LA COOPERACIÓN LOCAL EN DESTINOS COMPARTIDOS: GALICIA Y NORTE DE PORTUGAL
Authors: Pardellas de Blas Xulio , Padín Fabeiro Carmen
Published: January 2024

La cooperación entre ciudades constituye un nuevo enfoque del desarrollo local, que aparece unido al énfasis de la Comisión Europea en la cooperación transfronteriza para el programa Interreg, dentro del marco ?nanciero 2007-2013. En esa misma línea, desde 1992, la asociación Eixo Atlántico, que integra a 34 municipios de la eurorregión Galicia-Norte de Portugal, es un ejemplo de cooperación territorial, que dedica una especial atención al desarrollo turístico.Los objetivos principales de este artículo se centran en validar la existencia de recursos comunes en la eurorregión, que la caracterizarían como destino conjunto, al mismo tiempo, descubrir e interpretar el funcionamiento de las estructuras organizativas en el ámbito turístico, así como las claves de la dinámica de cooperación de las administraciones locales en el proceso de crear un germen de gestión institucional conjunta del destino.
SOSTENIBILIDAD DE LA CUENTA CORRIENTE: CAMBIO ESTRUCTURAL Y RAÍCES UNITARIAS
Authors: Donoso Donoso Vicente , Martín Barroso Víctor
Published: January 2024

La existencia de elevados y persistentes dé?cits exteriores en un conjunto amplio de países desarrollados a lo largo de las últimas décadas, ha incentivado la aparición de diversos estudios que analizan su sostenibilidad. Una parte importante de estos estudios se instrumenta mediante la aplicación de los denominados tests de raíces unitarias. El presente trabajo tiene por objeto utilizar los citados tests, tomando como referencia el caso español,  para contrastar si los dé?cits en el largo plazo son sostenibles o no, permitiendo la  presencia de cambio estructural en la tendencia estocástica de la serie de saldo por cuenta corriente, así como en su orden de integración. Asimismo, se contempla la posibilidad de que el saldo tenga un comportamiento no lineal. Sobre la base de esta metodología, se muestra que, a lo largo del periodo considerado (1975-2010), la evidencia es contraria a la hipótesis de sostenibilidad del dé?cit exterior español, a partir de la introducción del euro. La metodología empleada en el trabajo es fácilmente extrapolable al estudio de la sostenibilidad exterior de economías, que presentan dé?cits exteriores persistentes como Grecia, Portugal o los Estados Unidos.
La política monetaria del Banco Central Europeo y la Regla de Taylor, 1999-2009
Authors: Maza Adolfo , Sanchez-Robles Blanca
Published: January 2024

El principal objetivo de este artículo es averiguar si existe un modelo que describa la política monetaria del BCE de una forma simple e intuitiva, así como si ese modelo es constante en el tiempo. Un primer resultado relevante es que existe dicho modelo y que, de hecho, la política monetaria del BCE en la última década puede ser descrita por una regla de Taylor aunque con una salvedad: el modelo se ajusta convenientemente para dos subperiodos, 1999-2002 y 2007-2009, pero el ajuste no se alcanza para el subperiodo 2003-2006. Además, los parámetros que describen la regla de Taylor son bastante estables en el tiempo, aunque el peso relativo del output es mayor en el subperiodo 2007-2009 que en 1999-2002. A continuación, se calculan los tipos de interés óptimos para algunos países representativos y, especialmente en el primero de los subperíodos y para un conjunto de países que no pertenecen al núcleo de la Eurozona, se constata la existencia de algunas diferencias significativas entre sus tipos de interés óptimos y el tipo de interés establecido por el BCE.
Factores determinantes de la emisión de inversión directa extranjera: un proceso de acumulación de capacidades
Authors: Álvarez Isabel , Torrecillas Celia
Published: January 2024

El proceso de internacionalización de la empresa vía inversión directa extranjera (IDE) obedece a una decisión individual y, como tal, ha sido generalmente analizada desde una perspectiva microeconómica que justifica la emergencia de empresas multinacionales (EMN) en la existencia de determinadas ventajas de propiedad. Los condicionantes de país, por su parte, han intervenido fundamentalmente en la explicación de los factores determinantes de la localización de la IDE. Sin embargo, aún es escasa la evidencia empírica disponible que emana del análisis de los factores determinantes de la emisión de IDE en el plano agregado, aspecto al que se dedica este trabajo. La reciente  emergencia de EMN en países en desarrollo acentúa aún más la importancia de analizar tales factores y su relación con la relevancia de las ventajas de propiedad. En este artículo se utiliza una muestra integrada por 48 países, incluyendo tanto economías desarrolladas como en desarrollo. Los resultados permiten afirmar la existencia de un conjunto de factores que desde una perspectiva macro condicionan el proceso de acumulación de capacidades que influye positivamente en las salidas de inversión, y que éstos difieren entre los dos grupos de países estudiados.
El turismo como factor del crecimiento económico: un estudio comparativo de los países del MERCOSUR
Authors: Brida Gabriel Juan , Lanzilotta Bibiana , Pereyra Juan Sebastián , Pizzolon Fiorella
Published: January 2024

Este artículo estudia la relación entre turismo y crecimiento económico para los cuatro países del bloque regional MERCOSUR. A partir de un análisis empírico, se investiga si el turismo promueve –en el largo plazo–  el crecimiento económico, si es la expansión económica la que conduce al crecimiento de la actividad turística, o si existe una relación bidireccional entre ambas variables. Los resultados indican, en primer lugar, que el turismo promueve el crecimiento económico en todas las economías consideradas. En segundo lugar, al estudiar en cada país la elasticidad del PIB respecto al turismo, se encuentra que los valores más elevados corresponden a los países más pequeños (Paraguay y Uruguay), mientras que la mayor economía del bloque (Brasil) presenta la menor elasticidad; Argentina se encuentra entre estos dos extremos. Por último, en casi todos los países, la causalidad es unidireccional (desde la actividad turística al crecimiento); la excepción es Uruguay, en donde la relación hallada es bidireccional.
Los multiplicadores fiscales: una revisión de la literatura empírica
Authors: Cerón Cruz Juan Antonio
Published: January 2024

Este trabajo efectúa un recorrido por las recientes investigaciones que han medido el impacto económico de las intervenciones fiscales de tipo discrecional, lo que académicamente es conocido como los multiplicadores. Incidimos especialmente en los temas metodológicos y utilizamos un número amplio de perspectivas para la interpretación de las estimaciones. Los resultados muestran una destacada variedad de estimaciones, dependientes de las premisas de los trabajos y de las condiciones de cada país, así como la existencia de un marco teórico razonable bajo el cual la política fiscal discrecional tiene efectos positivos sobre los componentes privados de la demanda agregada.
Impacto de la crisis mundial en el empleo y la productividad de las PYMES: El caso de las grandes economías europeas
Authors: Kokocinska Malgorzata , Rekowski Marek
Published: January 2024

La crisis económica mundial iniciada en 2008 ha producido efectos econó-micos negativos en muchas áreas de la economía europea. Una de estas áreas se refiere al sector de las PYMES,  que desempeñan un papel importante en cada economía debido a su creación de empleo y valor añadido. En este artículo, se muestran los cambios que han tenido lugar en el ámbito del empleo y la productividad laboral en  las PYMES de las grandes economías de la Unión Europea, es decir, Alemania, Francia, Italia, Reino Unido, España y Polonia. Para este análisis, las PYMES fueron divididas en tres grupos, micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas. El período de análisis ha sido 2002-2010, y los datos proceden de Eurostat. Este período ya permite observar los efectos de la crisis económica mundial y evaluar la adaptación de los empresarios  a las cambiantes condiciones económicas. La evolución del índice de crecimiento del empleo y de la productividad laboral también permite indicar las diferencias entre los seis países. Las diferencias observadas indican indirectamente no solo la importancia de las estructuras económicas sino de la política económi-ca puesta en funcionamiento por cada país.
Más allá del debate de la financiación: Aprendizajes de la cooperación no gubernamental para una visión política de la cooperación al desarrollo
Authors: Belda Miquel Sergio , Boni Aristizábal Alejandra
Published: January 2024

En el marco del actual debate sobre el sistema de cooperación al desarrollo, suscitado por la crisis financiera y existencial que atraviesa, el artículo aboga por un replanteamiento profundo del mismo, a fin de superar discursos y prácticas gerencialistas y hacerlo avanzar hacia una perspectiva conscientemente política. Para ello, se caracteriza esta perspectiva y se analizan dos experiencias que han vinculado organizaciones españolas con organizaciones colombianas y argentinas. Estas experiencias de cooperación, sustentadas en relaciones de confianza, en visiones transformadoras, objetivos y estrategias políticas comunes, y en métodos flexibles, contextuales y procesuales, permiten obtener reflexiones tanto para las organizaciones sociales como para los financiadores.
Una apuesta global por la Coherencia de Políticas para el Desarrollo. Sí, pero… ¿qué políticas?
Authors: Sianes Antonio , Ortega Carpio María Luz
Published: January 2024

En los últimos años, la Coherencia de Políticas para el Desarrollo (CPD) ha vuelto a emerger con fuerza en el ámbito de la cooperación internacional. Pero, más allá de existir un único enfoque de CPD, coexisten visiones muy diferenciadas de promoción del desarrollo a través de una mayor coherencia de las políticas públicas en general.En el presente artículo se realiza un análisis clúster que permite agrupar los países donantes en grupos, según estén apoyando su CPD en una política u otra en función de su experiencia e intereses particulares.El resultado obtenido llama la atención sobre el peligro de seguir otorgan-do a la CPD un tratamiento unívoco, y apela a la Educación para la Ciudadanía Global como un posible elemento promotor de enfoques más comprehensivos e inclusivos.
Tax Structure in Latin American: Its Impact on the Real Economy
Authors: Martinez-Vazquez Jorge , Vulovic Violeta
Published: January 2024

In this paper we review the structure of tax systems in Latin America and analyze their impact on the real economy - economic growth, macro-economic stability, and income redistribution. We find that in Latin America relatively higher reliance on direct taxes slows economic growth, although this effect is smaller than in the ‘Rest of the World.’ However, unlike in most other countries, higher reliance on direct taxes in Latin America does not appear to play a sig-nificant role in dampening economic volatility or in reducing income inequality in the region.
Effect of non-genetic factors on semen characteristics of Murrah bulls under tropical condition
Authors: Meena Sunil Kumar , Sharma Prakash Chand , Saini Samita , Swami Priyanka , Jeph Nirmal Kumar , Singh Navav , Meena Mahendra Kumar
Published: January 2024

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of non-genetic factors on semen characteristics of 22479ejaculates from 139 Murrah bulls during the period of 2017-2020analyzed under tropical conditions, maintained and recorded at Frozen Semen Bank (FSB), Bassi, Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India as well as in Information Network for Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) applicationmaintained at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Results were recorded as 2.94±0.03 mL for volume, 1234.72±13.51 million/mL for sperm concentration and 68.44±0.25 percentage for motility. Statistical analysis presented a significant difference for all semen parameters with studied non-genetic factors except semen collector for motility traits. Also, seasonal dynamics presented winter as the most suitable season for semen collection under tropical conditions. Season of ejaculates was observed as most influencing factors for all semen characteristics in Murrah bulls. Age of bull showed significantly increased values for all semen traits with the increasing age of bull except motility traits. Data analysis in this regard may be utilized to enhance the fertility rateby increasing the semen quality.
Y-chromosome diversity in dairy bulls of Tamil Nadu
Authors: Jeevan C , Karthickeyan SMK , Gopinathan A , Tirumurugaan KG , Vairamuthu S
Published: January 2024

The Y-chromosome specific microsatellite studies are of particular interest as they could reveal the paternal lineage and domestication pattern among the population distributed over geographical area. As few bulls are used against large number of cows using artificial insemination approach, it is necessary to study the Y-chromosome microsatellite markers to understand the Y-chromosome diversity, paternal lineage and molecular variation among population. The present study included 431 bulls comprising Bos taurus, Bos indicus and crossbreds from various frozen semen stations of Tamil Nadu. The microsatellites loci viz.UMN0103, UMN0307, BM861, UMN0504, INRA189, INRA124,DDX3Y and UMN2008 were screened. The overall mean number of different alleles, number of effective alleles, Shannon’s information index, diversity and unbiased diversity were 2.18 ±0.16, 1.37 ± 0.06, 0.35 ± 0.04, 0.20 ± 0.02 and 0.21 ± 0.02 respectively. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that the variation within populations accounted for 66 per cent of total variation.
Nanostructuring of Ferritic Steel: A Review on Enhanced Surface Properties Using Ultrasonic Shot Peening
Authors: Mishra Ankitendran , Ojha Ankita
Published: January 2024

Nanostructuring of ferritic stainless steel refers to the process of intentionally reducing the grain size of the material at the nanoscale level. By manipulating the microstructure of the steel, it is possible to enhance its mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Nanostructuring can significantly improve the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of ferritic stainless steel, while still maintaining its corrosion resistance. The increased density of grain boundaries and the complex dislocation network within the nanostructured material contribute to these improved properties. Moreover, the nanostructured ferritic stainless steel exhibits enhanced thermal stability, leading to better high-temperature performance and resistance to creep deformation. The small grain size also allows for increased precipitation of secondary phases, such as carbides, nitrides, or intermetallic compounds, which can further improve the material's properties. There are several methods to achieve nanostructuring in ferritic stainless steel, such as severe plastic deformation (SPD) techniques like high-pressure torsion, equal channel angular pressing, and accumulative roll bonding. These techniques impose extreme plastic deformation on the material. Leading to grain refinement below the micrometre range. Also, a novel method of surface nanostructuring ultrasonic shot peening (USP) is discussed in detail.

Shot peening is a process in which small, spherical media, typically made of steel or ceramic, called "shots," are propelled onto the surface of a material at high velocities. Ultrasonic shot peening enhances the traditional shot peening process by introducing high-frequency vibrations to the shots. These vibrations are generated by an ultrasonic transducer, which is immersed in a bath of shots and liquid. The vibrations are transmitted through the liquid to the shots, causing them to collide with the surface of the ferritic steel at even higher velocities and energy levels than in traditional shot peening. In summary, nanostructuring of ferritic stainless steel offers great potential for tailoring the material's properties to meet specific application requirements, including improved strength, hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature performance. USP is an effective surface treatment method for ferritic steel, offering advantages in terms of fatigue life, stress corrosion cracking resistance, surface hardness, and wear resistance.
Estimation of Dimensional Deviation of Parts Printed in Different Orientations on Multi Jet Printer
Authors: Chand Ramesh , Gupta M. K.
Published: January 2024

The study was primarily concerned with the dimensional deviation for the part produced in the various alignments A, B, C, & D and selecting the orientation or alignments through the least dimensional deviation. In this work, the part is lying on the base (A), the long edge (B), and the short edge (C), and the part is inclined at 45 degrees (D) to the surface of the base plate. Created the components in a variety of orientations using a multi-jet printer. Further, using experimental data (change in length, width, height and diameter), the model has been developed with a regression-based imperial connection to predict the behavior of MultiJet-three-dimensional (MJP-3D) printed components in various orientations. Because the goal was to anticipate the optimum orientation, the Graph Theory and Matrix Approach Method (GTMA) were utilized towards discover the best orientation. In contrast to other orientations, orientation C is determined to be the optimum manufacturing orientation with the least dimensional variation.
Combining disturbance and competition to control creeping perennial weeds in a field study on three northern European sites
Authors: Weigel Marian Malte , Berge Therese With , Salonen Jukka , Lötjönen Timo , Gerowitt Bärbel , Brandsæter Lars Olav
Published: January 2024

Controlling creeping perennial weeds is challenging throughout all farming systems. The present study distinguished and explored three different methods to control them non-chemically: disturbance with inversion, disturbance without inversion, and competition. Focusing on Cirsium arvense, Elymus repens, and Sonchus arvensis, we conducted a field study (2019–2021) at three northern European sites in Germany, Finland, and Norway. We investigated the effects of the control methods ploughing (inversion disturbance), root cutting (non-inversion disturbance), and cover crops (competition) alone. Root cutting was conducted using a prototype machine developed by “Kverneland”. Eight treatments were tested in factorial designs adapted for each site. Control methods were applied solely and combined. Response variables after treatments were aboveground weed biomass and grain yield of spring cereals. The control method of ploughing was most effective in reducing weed biomass compared to root cutting or cover crops. However, compared to the untreated control, a pronounced additive effect of root cutting and cover crops occurred, reducing weed biomass (−57.5%) similar to ploughing (−66%). Pooled over sites, the response was species-specific, with each species showing a distinct reaction to both control methods. C. arvense was most susceptible to root cutting, followed by E. repens, while S. arvensis showed no susceptibility. Crop yield losses were prevented compared to untreated plots by ploughing (+60.57%) and root cutting (+30%), but not by cover crops. We conclude that the combination of non-inversion disturbance and competition is a promising strategy to reduce the reliance on herbicides or inversion tillage in the management of perennial weeds.
Pothole detection for autonomous vehicles using deep learning: a robust and efficient solution
Authors: Khan Malhar , Raza Muhammad Amir , Abbas Ghulam , Othmen Salwa , Yousef Amr , Jumani Touqeer Ahmed
Published: January 2024

Autonomous vehicles can transform the transportation sector by offering a safer and more effective means of travel. However, the success of self-driving cars depends on their ability to navigate complex road conditions, including the detection of potholes. Potholes pose a substantial risk to vehicles and passengers, leading to potential damage and safety hazards, making their detection a critical task for autonomous driving. In this work, we propose a robust and efficient solution for pothole detection using the “you look only once (YOLO) algorithm of version 8, the newest deep learning object detection algorithm.” Our proposed system employs a deep learning methodology to identify real-time potholes, enabling autonomous vehicles to avoid potential hazards and minimise accident risk. We assess the effectiveness of our system using publicly available datasets and show that it outperforms existing state-of-the-art approaches in terms of accuracy and efficiency. Additionally, we investigate different data augmentation methods to enhance the detection capabilities of our proposed system. Our results demonstrate that YOLO V8-based pothole detection is a promising solution for autonomous driving and can significantly improve the safety and reliability of self-driving vehicles on the road. The results of our study are also compared with the results of YOLO V5.
Role of microglia in brain development after viral infection
Authors: Xu Pei , Yu Yongjia , Wu Ping
Published: January 2024

Microglia are immune cells in the brain that originate from the yolk sac and enter the developing brain before birth. They play critical roles in brain development by supporting neural precursor proliferation, synaptic pruning, and circuit formation. However, microglia are also vulnerable to environmental factors, such as infection and stress that may alter their phenotype and function. Viral infection activates microglia to produce inflammatory cytokines and anti-viral responses that protect the brain from damage. However, excessive or prolonged microglial activation impairs brain development and leads to long-term consequences such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Moreover, certain viruses may attack microglia and deploy them as “Trojan horses” to infiltrate the brain. In this brief review, we describe the function of microglia during brain development and examine their roles after infection through microglia-neural crosstalk. We also identify limitations for current studies and highlight future investigated questions.
A past–present–future lens of environmental change: blending applied paleoecology and participatory system dynamics modeling at a conservation site in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa
Authors: Forbes Cherié Janine , Clifford-Holmes Jai , Gillson Lindsey
Published: January 2024

Landscapes are social–ecological systems (SESs) that produce ecosystem services, which change over time in response to environmental, biotic, and social drivers. Failure to consider this variability, and the feedbacks that can stabilize or destabilize systems, can have consequences for sustainable ecosystem services provision. This study applies a conceptual meta-framework, past–present–future lens, to interpret changes in land cover and ecosystem services within the Cape Floristic Region (CFR) of South Africa. Paleoecology (fossil pollen, spores, and charcoal) and participatory system dynamics modeling were used to explore long-term variability in provisioning ecosystem services (plant biodiversity) and the drivers of this variability (fire and herbivory) at Elandsberg Private Nature Reserve (Elandsberg PNR). From ca. 1800s, the paleoecological record suggests that environmental changes, particularly a transition to unpalatable Elytropappus-dominated vegetation, were driven by grazing and that an ecological threshold was crossed in ca. 1950s due to agricultural intensification. Participatory system dynamics was used to identify feedbacks in the dynamic SES structure. The ecological model replicates the paleoecological results and, furthermore, suggests that in the future, returning the system to within historical ranges variability may require sustained reductions in both grazing and fire over decades. This innovative approach blends paleoecology and participatory system dynamics to provide an evidence-based understanding of temporal variability and feedbacks for policymakers and land-use managers to inform sustainable land management.
Long-term results of ablation index guided atrial fibrillation ablation: insights after 5+ years of follow-up from the MPH AF Ablation Registry
Authors: Fitzpatrick N. , Herczeg S. , Hong K. , Seaver F. , Rosalejos L. , Boles U. , Jauvert G. , Keelan E. , O’Brien J. , Tahin T. , Galvin J. , Széplaki G.
Published: January 2024

Background

Catheter ablation (CA) for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) offers the best outcomes for patients. Despite the benefits of CA, a significant proportion of patients suffer a recurrence; hence, there is scope to potentially improve outcomes through technical innovations such as ablation index (AI) guidance during AF ablation. We present real-world 5-year follow-up data of AI-guided pulmonary vein isolation.

Methods

We retrospectively followed 123 consecutive patients who underwent AI-guided CA shortly after its introduction to routine practice. Data were collected from the MPH AF Ablation Registry with the approval of the institutional research board.

Results

Our patient cohort was older, with higher BMI, greater CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and larger left atrial sizes compared to similar previously published cohorts, while gender balance and other characteristics were similar. The probability of freedom from atrial arrhythmia with repeat procedures is as follows: year 1: 0.95, year 2: 0.92, year 3: 0.85, year 4: 0.79, and year 5: 0.72. Age >75 years (p = 0.02, HR: 2.7, CI: 1.14–6.7), BMI >35 kg/m2 (p = 0.0009, HR: 4.6, CI: 1.8–11.4), and left atrial width as measured on CT in the upper quartile (p = 0.04, HR: 2.5, CI: 1–5.7) were statistically significant independent predictors of recurrent AF.

Conclusion

AI-guided CA is an effective treatment for AF, with 95.8% of patients remaining free from atrial arrhythmia at 1 year and 72.3% at 5 years, allowing for repeat procedures. It is safe with a low major complication rate of 1.25%. Age >75 years, BMI >35 kg/m2, and markedly enlarged atria were associated with higher recurrence rates.
Catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Siow Yoon-Kee , Lin Chin-Yu , Chung Fa-Po , Lin Yenn-Jiang , Chang Shih-Lin , Lo Li-Wei , Hu Yu-Feng , Liao Jo-Nan , Chang Ting-Yung , Tuan Ta-Chuan , Kuo Ling , Wu Cheng-I , Liu Chih-Min , Liu Shin-Huei , Li Guan-Yi , Kuo Ming-Jen , Wu Shang-Ju , Bautista Jose Antonio , Huang Yu-Shan , Nguyen Dinh Son Ngoc , Chen Shih-Ann
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Catheter ablation is an effective and safe strategy for treating atrial fibrillation patients. Nevertheless, studies on the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are limited. This study aimed to assess the electrophysiological characteristics of atrial fibrillation patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and compare the long-term clinical outcomes between patients undergoing catheter ablation and medical therapy.

Method

Patient baseline characteristics and electrophysiological parameters were examined to identify the predictors of atrial fibrillation recurrence following catheter ablation. The clinical outcomes of catheter ablation and medical therapy were compared using the propensity score matched method.

Results

A total of 343 patients were enrolled, with 46 in the catheter ablation group and 297 in the medical therapy group. Among the catheter ablation group, 58.7% (n = 27) had persistent atrial fibrillation. The recurrence rate of atrial arrhythmia was 30.4% (n = 14) after an average follow-up duration of 7.7 years following catheter ablation. The only predictive factor for atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation was the left atrial diameter. When compared to medical therapy, catheter ablation demonstrated significantly better outcomes in terms of overall survival, freedom from heart failure hospitalization, improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, and a greater reduction in left ventricular diameter and left atrial diameter after propensity score matching.

Conclusions

Therefore, catheter ablation proves to be effective in providing long-term control of atrial fibrillation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. In addition to standard heart failure care, catheter ablation significantly enhanced both morbidity and mortality outcomes and reversed structural remodeling when compared to heart failure medication alone.
Impact of precipitation on Beishan landslide deformation from 1986 to 2023
Authors: Liu Meng , Yang Wentao , Xu Chong , Yang Yuting , Taylor Liam , Shi Peijun
Published: January 2024

Investigating the response of landslide activity to climate change is crucial for understanding the disastrous effects of climate change on high mountains. However, the lack of long-term, spatial–temporal consistent measurement of landslide activity prohibits the study of this relationship. In this work, we used two methods to derive the time series of a landslide’s deformation and study its relationship with precipitation in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The small baseline subset-interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR) method with Sentinel-1A images is first applied to derive time series of the landslide’s deformation from 2020 to 2021. A recently developed method to derive cumulative deformations of optical images was used with Landsat 5 and Sentinel-2 images to derive the long-term deformation time series from 1986 to 2023. Centimeter-scale deformations detected by using the InSAR method are mainly located in the upper and eastern parts of the landslide, whereas meter-scale deformations detected by using the optical method are in the middle of the landslide. Time-series results from both methods show that intra-annual initiations of the landslide’s deformation occurred in rainy months (from July to October). Although there seems to be no direct relations between inter-annual deformations and precipitation, significant displacements since 2020 occurred after exceptionally wet years from 2018 (with a record-breaking precipitation year in 2020). With optical images, we found that the maximum cumulative deformation of the landslide has been >35 m since 1986 with major deformations (>20 m) found after 2020, which may indicate an imminent risk to the Lijie town near the toe of the landslide. With climate change, increased precipitation is expected in future, which may trigger more similar landslides in the vicinity of this region. This work demonstrates an executable framework to assess landslide hazard risk under climate change.
Science and scientists from children’s point of view: comparison and gender outlooks among 2011 and 2021 primary school student drawings
Authors: D’Addezio Giuliana , Besker Neva
Published: January 2024

This article explores the evolving perceptions of science and scientists from the unique perspective of Italian primary school children by comparing students’ drawings from two distinct periods, 2011 and 2021. A notable research gap exists in understanding how the perceptions of science and scientists among primary school children have evolved over time and if it is different for gender and grade level. The methodology involves a qualitative analysis of drawings examining the presence, the number and gender of depicted scientists, stereotypes, scientific topics, inventions, tools, location, and accompanying speech bubbles. The statistical analysis emphasizes the differences between how girls and boys represent science and scientists. From the data, a generally positive picture of the work of scientists emerges, as well as a great level of confidence in the potential of science. Notably, while the prevailing image of a scientist is still predominantly male, the 2021 dataset demonstrates a significant increase in depictions of female scientists, primarily drawn by girls, signaling an increased sense of belonging and potential for girls to pursue careers in science. Environmental and health-related scientific themes have gained prominence, accompanied by an increase in inventive ideas. The data highlights the children’s awareness of pressing global issues, such as climate change and healthcare, caused by Covid emergency. Furthermore, the results contribute to evaluate how science showed itself over ten years, if it has led to an effective shared science and a less stereotyped image, also encouraging gender equality.
The role of finger kinematics in the acquisition of number meaning in kindergarten: a pilot study
Authors: Bidet-Ildei Christel , Vilain Capucine , Fevin Sabine , Francisco Victor , Vibert Nicolas
Published: January 2024

Several studies have shown that the acquisition of number meaning is related to finger motor representations. However, no study has tried to distinguish the respective roles of fingers representation and finger kinematics in this effect. Forty-three children (23 boys and 20 girls) enrolled in the middle class of kindergarten took part in the study. They were divided into two equivalent groups and compared on the acquisition of number meaning after a 2-week program designed to teach them a song about the numbers 1–9, scaffolded by visual supports. Each visual support included the symbolic representation of the number, the picture of an object mentioned in the song that rhymed with the number in French, and either a static image (static group) or an animated point-light display (animated group) of the finger representation. Results showed no difference between the two groups on the acquisition of numbers regarded as low (i.e., less than 5) but the animated group performed significantly better for numbers regarded as high (i.e., more than 5). Therefore, the present study shows the interest of using the observation of animated counting movement to teach number meaning in young children and suggests that finger kinematics may be more instrumental than static finger representation in the learning of number meaning. Future research is needed to confirm and specify this effect.
Maternal obesity induced metabolic disorders in offspring and myeloid reprogramming by epigenetic regulation
Authors: Kweon Joo Young , Mun Hyeonji , Choi Myeong Ryeol , Kim Hong Seok , Ahn Yong Joo
Published: January 2024

Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes are associated with childhood obesity and increased cardiovascular risk. In this review, we will discuss and summarize extensive clinical and experimental studies that metabolically imbalanced environment exposure in early life plays a critical role in influencing later susceptibility to chronic inflammatory diseases and metabolic syndrome. The effect of maternal obesity and metabolic disorders, including gestational diabetes cause Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) children to link future development of adverse health issues such as obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by immune reprogramming to adverse micro-environment. This review also addresses intrauterine environment-driven myeloid reprogramming by epigenetic regulations and the epigenetic markers as an underlying mechanism. This will facilitate future investigations regarding maternal-to-fetal immune regulation and the epigenetic mechanisms of obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Strengthening woman-centred care for pregnant women with female genital mutilation in Australia: a qualitative muti-method study
Authors: Turkmani Sabera , Dawson Angela
Published: January 2024

Woman-centred care is a collaborative approach to care management, where the woman and her health provider recognise one another's expertise and interact based on mutual respect to provide adequate information and individualised care. However, woman-centred care has not been fully achieved, particularly for women who have experienced female genital mutilation in high-income countries. A lack of clear guidelines defining how to implement woman-centred care may negatively impact care provision. This study sought to explore the quality of point-of-care experiences and needs of pregnant women with female genital mutilation in Australia to identify elements of woman-centred care important to women and how woman-centred care can be strengthened during consultations with health professionals. This multi-method qualitative study comprised two phases. In phase one, we conducted interviews with women with female genital mutilation to explore their positive experiences during their last pregnancy, and in phase two, a workshop was held where the findings were presented and discussed to develop recommendations for guidelines to support woman-centred care. The findings of the first phase were presented under three distinct categories of principles, enablers, and activities following a framework from the literature. In phase two, narrative storytelling allowed women to share their stories of care, their preferences, and how they believe health providers could better support them. Their stories were recorded visually. This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to woman-centred care involving experts, clinicians, community members, and women in designing education, tools, and guidelines.
Tumor cell metabolic reprogramming and hypoxic immunosuppression: driving carcinogenesis to metastatic colonization
Authors: Katopodi Theodora , Petanidis Savvas , Anestakis Doxakis , Charalampidis Charalampos , Chatziprodromidou Ioanna , Floros George , Eskitzis Panagiotis , Zarogoulidis Paul , Koulouris Charilaos , Sevva Christina , Papadopoulos Konstantinos , Dagher Marios , Karakousis Vasileios Alexandros , Varsamis Nikolaos , Theodorou Vasiliki , Mystakidou Chrysi Maria , Vlassopoulos Konstantinos , Kosmidis Stylianos , Katsios Nikolaos Iason , Farmakis Konstantinos , Kosmidis Christoforos
Published: January 2024

A significant factor in the antitumor immune response is the increased metabolic reprogramming of immunological and malignant cells. Increasing data points to the fact that cancer metabolism affects not just cancer signaling, which is essential for maintaining carcinogenesis and survival, but also the expression of immune cells and immune-related factors such as lactate, PGE2, arginine, IDO, which regulate the antitumor immune signaling mechanism. In reality, this energetic interaction between the immune system and the tumor results in metabolic competition in the tumor ecosystem, limiting the amount of nutrients available and causing microenvironmental acidosis, which impairs the ability of immune cells to operate. More intriguingly, different types of immune cells use metabolic reprogramming to keep the body and self in a state of homeostasis. The process of immune cell proliferation, differentiation, and performance of effector functions, which is crucial to the immune response, are currently being linked to metabolic reprogramming. Here, we cover the regulation of the antitumor immune response by metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells and immune cells as well as potential strategies for metabolic pathway targeting in the context of anticancer immunotherapy. We also discuss prospective immunotherapy-metabolic intervention combinations that might be utilized to maximize the effectiveness of current immunotherapy regimes.