bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Verification of the presence of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) in fresh concrete: results of an interlaboratory study
Authors: Wyrzykowski Mateusz , Schroefl Christof , Toropovs Nikolajs , Lura Pietro , Snoeck Didier , Ribeiro António Bettencourt , De Maeijer Patricia Kara , Moon Juhyuk , Assmann Alexander , Igarashi Shin-Ichi , Klemm Agnieszka , Almeida Fernando C.R. , Boshoff Billy , Erk Kendra A. , Falikman Vyatcheslav , Agostinho Livia Borba , Mechtcherine Viktor
Published: November 2023

New methods are proposed for the verification of the presence of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in freshly mixed concrete and estimation of SAP quantity. The methods are in general based on flushing concrete with excess water. They allow separating the light, water-sorbed hydrogel particles from the mineral components in the fresh concrete and making these particles available for further tests. Two types of tests are proposed: Test 1 serves for a visual verification of the presence of SAP (qualitative test), while Test 2 enables to quantify the mass of the collected SAP as a proxy of their concentration in concrete (quantitative test). Different procedures are proposed for these two test methods and their performance is evaluated. The testing procedures were scrutinized in an interlaboratory study carried out by 14 participants from 12 countries. All participating groups detected the presence of SAP in the mix using the qualitative procedures (Test 1). Based on this outcome, we suggest that this method should be applied in the field. In contrast, while most participants obtained reasonably reliable results with the quantification procedure of Test 2, some participants reported large errors. Therefore, the quantification method needs to be further refined, starting from the experience gained in this interlaboratory study.
Addressing Bioreactor hiPSC Aggregate Stability, Maintenance and Scaleup Challenges Using a Design of Experiment Approach
Authors: Yehya Haneen , Raudins Sofija , Jensen Jan , Bukys Michael A.
Published: November 2023

Background
Stem cell-derived therapies hold the potential for treatment of regenerative clinical indications. Static culture has a limited ability to scale up thus restricting its use. Suspension culturing can be used to produce target cells in large quantities, but also presents challenges related to stress and aggregation stability.
Methods
Utilizing a design of experiments (DoE) approach in vertical wheel bioreactors, we evaluated media additives that have versatile properties. The additives evaluated are Heparin sodium salt (HS), polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), Pluronic F68 and dextran sulfate (DS). Multiple response parameters were chosen to assess cell growth, pluripotency maintenance and aggregate stability in response to the additive inputs, and mathematical models were generated and tuned for maximal predictive power.
Results
Expansion of iPSCs using 100 ml vertical wheel bioreactor assay for 4 days on 19 different media combinations resulted in models that can optimize pluripotency, stability, and expansion. The expansion optimization resulted in the combination of PA, PVA and PEG with E8. This mixture resulted in an expansion doubling time that was 40% shorter than that of E8 alone. Pluripotency optimizer highlighted the importance of adding 1% PEG to the E8 medium. Aggregate stability optimization that minimizes aggregate fusion in 3D culture indicated that the interaction of both Heparin and PEG can limit aggregation as well as increase the maintenance capacity and expansion of hiPSCs, suggesting that controlling fusion is a critical parameter for expansion and maintenance. Validation of optimized solution on two cell lines in bioreactors with decreased speed of 40 RPM, showed consistency and prolonged control over aggregates that have high frequency of pluripotency markers of OCT4 and SOX2 (> 90%). A doubling time of around 1 to 1.4 days was maintained after passaging as clumps in the optimized medium. Controlling aggregate fusion allowed for a decrease in bioreactor speed and therefore shear stress exerted on the cells in a large-scale expansion.
Conclusion
This study resulted in a control of aggregate size within suspension cultures, while informing about concomitant state control of the iPSC state. Wider application of this approach can address media optimization complexity and bioreactor scale-up challenges.
Mean flow and eddy summer moisture transport downwind of the Tibetan Plateau in reanalysis data and a regional climate simulation
Authors: Kukulies Julia , Li Wenhong , Chen Deliang
Published: November 2023

Understanding the impact of atmospheric variability on climatological mean moisture transport is crucial because moisture transport determines continental water availability as well as convective organization and resulting precipitation. Here, we analyze the mean flow and eddy components of summer moisture transport in the downwind of the Tibetan Plateau (TP), a region that is characterized by interactions between monsoon systems, extratropical circulation, and mountainous weather systems. Using 40 years of ERA5 reanalysis data and a regional WRF simulation, we determine the absolute and relative contributions of mean flow and eddy moisture transport from multi-daily to subdaily scales. We also link these components to large-scale circulation indices, precipitation, evaporation, and mesoscale convective systems (MCSs). The results show that the largest contributions of eddies to the climatological mean moisture transport are found in the immediate downwind region of the TP. Multi-daily eddy transport contributes with 50% to the total eddy transport downwind of the TP, whereas daily to sub-daily eddy transport makes up the other half. Regional precipitation anomalies are dominated by the mean flow component of southerly moisture influxes which in turn are positively correlated with different South Asian summer monsoon indices and negatively correlated with the West Northern Pacific monsoon index. The eddy transport from the south is positively correlated with a lower jet latitude but does not show any significant correlations with precipitation or MCS activity, likely due to the dominant role of the mean flow moisture transport. While the relative contributions of eddies to the climatological mean moisture transport are similar in ERA5 and WRF, the correlations between moisture transport components and large-scale circulation indices are generally weaker in WRF. This suggests that the dynamical downscaling does not significantly change the role of eddy moisture transport averaged for the region, but it resolves processes that decouple the moisture transport from its large-scale forcing.
Acute kidney disease in patients with Covid 19. A prospective, multicenter, multinational study in Latin America
Authors: Lombardi Raúl , Ferreiro Alejandro , Venegas Yanissa , Pereira Mariana , Carlino Cristina , Granado Rolando Claure-Del , Ponce Daniela , Molina Daniel , Zinoveev Agustina
Published: November 2023

Introduction
Acute kidney disease (AKD) is an innovative perspective that enables a more comprehensive description of acute and subacute kidney disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients based on their AKD stage.
Methods
Observational, prospective, longitudinal, multinational cohort study conducted across five Latin American countries. Adult patients with diagnosis of Covid 19 were included. Upon hospital admission, a urinalysis or urine strip tests was performed. If protein was not detected, a follow-up search was conducted five days later. Patients were classified in four AKD categories: non-kidney disease, only proteinuria, only acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria and AKI.
Results
Three hundred and sixty patients were included. AKD was present in 273 patients (75.8%), of whom 142 (52.0%) had only proteinuria, 11 (4.1%) had AKI without proteinuria, and 120 (43.9%) had both proteinuria and AKI. Overall, proteinuria with or without AKI was present in 262 patients (72.8%), with 37 of them developing this condition during their hospital stay which shown a more severe condition. AKI with or without proteinuria occurred in 131 patients (36.4%). AKI was mainly severe, non-oliguric and hospital-acquired. In-hospital mortality increased with the severity of AKD stage: non-kidney disease 9.5%, only proteinuria 22.8%, only AKI 56.7%, and proteinuria plus AKI 53.0% (p = 0.001).
Conclusions
Our data endorse a novel and comprehensive approach based on the concept of AKD. This integrative approach, encompassing the structural and functional continuum of AKI, AKD, and CKD, enables timely interventions and the implementation of preventive and therapeutic strategies.
The Oxford and Reading Cognitive Comorbidity, Frailty and Ageing Research Database exploiting hospital Electronic Patient Records (ORCHARD-EPR): protocol
Authors: Boucher Emily , Jell Aimee , Singh Sudhir , Davies Jim , Smith Tanya , Pill Adam , Varnai Kinga , Woods Kerrie , Walliker David , McColl Aubretia , Shepperd Sasha , Pendlebury Sarah T
Published: November 2023

Background
With population ageing, a wide range of hospital specialties now manage older people with complex conditions and cognitive or physically frailty with associated poor outcomes as highlighted in current guidelines aimed at improving care. However, to implement guidelines, secure resources and undertake clinically-meaningful audit/research, hospital data systems must be able identify and quantify patients with complexity and cognitive and physical frailty. The advent of hospital electronic patient records (EPRs) offers the opportunity to exploit large scale routinely acquired data at scale without additional burden to patients or staff at relatively low cost and without selection. EPRs provide considerably richer data, and in real-time, compared to retrospective administrative datasets based on ICD-10 coded diagnoses in which clinical complexity is often poorly captured. We therefore set-up the Oxford and Reading Comorbidity Frailty and Ageing Research Database exploiting hospital Electronic Patient Records (ORCHARD-EPR).
Methods
ORCHARD-EPR uses routinely-acquired individual patient data on all patients aged >65 years with unplanned admission or Same Day Emergency Care unit attendance at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust-OUHFT (comprising four acute general hospitals serving a population of >800,000) with the plan to extend to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (>1,000,000). Datafields include diagnosis, comorbidities, nursing risk assessments, frailty, observations, illness acuity, laboratory tests and raw brain scan images. Importantly, ORCHARD-EPR contains the results from mandatory hospital-wide cognitive screening (>70 years) comprising the 10-point Abbreviated Mental Test and dementia and delirium diagnosis (Confusion Assessment Method-CAM). Outcomes include length of stay, delayed transfers of care, discharge destination, readmissions, and death. The rich multimodal data are further enhanced by linkage to secondary care electronic mental health records. Selection of appropriate subgroups or linkage to existing cohorts allows disease specific studies.Over 200,000 patient episodes are included (2015-2021) of which 129,248 are admissions with a LOS >1 day in 64,641 unique patients.
Discussion
ORCHARD-EPR contains rich, multimodal real-world electronic hospital data which will enable accurate phenotyping of cognitive and physical frailty including in disease-specific studies, and risk prediction for outcomes including dementia, thereby filling existing knowledge gaps and informing the design, delivery and resourcing of clinical services.
Administration of Porphyromonas Gingivalis in Pregnant Mice Enhances Glycolysis and Histone Lactylation/ADAM17 Leading to Cleft Palate in Offspring
Authors: Du Juan , Zhao Xige , Zheng Xiaoyu , Wang Yijia , Chen Jing , Wang Xiaotong , Peng Xia , Yuan Dong , Liu Ying , Wang Zhiwei
Published: November 2023

Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Cleft palate (CP), the most common congenital craniofacial defect, has a multifaceted etiology influenced by complex genetic and environmental risk factors such as maternal bacterial or virus infection. A prior case-control study revealed a surprisingly strong association between maternal periodontal disease and CP in offspring. However, the precise relationship remains unclear. In this study, the relationship between maternal oral pathogen and CP in offspring was studied by sonicated P. gingivalis injected intravenously and orally into pregnant mice. We investigated an obvious increasing CP (12.5%) in sonicated P. gingivalis group which had inhibited osteogenesis in mesenchyme and blocked efferocytosis in epithelium. Then glycolysis and H4K12 lactylation (H4K12la) were detected to elevate in both mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme (MEPM) cells and macrophages under P. gingivalis exposure which further promoted the transcription of metallopeptidase domain17 (ADAM17), subsequently mediated the shedding of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) in MEPM cells and mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) in macrophages and resulted in the suppression of efferocytosis and osteogenesis in palate, eventually caused abnormalities in palate fusion and ossification. The abnormal efferocytosis also led to a predominance of M1 macrophages, which indirectly inhibited palatal osteogenesis via extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, pharmacological ADAM17 inhibition could ameliorate the abnormality of P. gingivalis-induced abnormal palate development. Therefore, our study extends the knowledge of how maternal oral pathogen affects foetal palate development and provides a novel perspective to understand the pathogenesis of CP.
Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) root extracts evoke S phase arrest while inhibiting the migration and invasion of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells
Authors: Sun Yifan , Qin Haiyan , Zhang Chunchun , Xu Jian , Zhang Ting
Published: November 2023

Background: Ethyl acetate extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) (EFT), a member of the Vitaceae plant family, have been shown to exhibit efficacy against a variety of cancers. In this light, our current study seeks to examine the mechanism of efficacy between EFT extracts and human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells.
Methods: The chemical components of EFT were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of EFT on PANC-1 cells was measured using an MTT assay. In order to investigate EFT induction of cell cycle arrest, changes in cell-cycle distribution were monitored by flow cytometry. Wound healing and transwell assays were employed to investigate whether migration and invasion of PANC-1 cells were inhibited by EFT. Relative protein expression was detected using Western blot.
Results: GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition of EFT revealed that the majority of constituents were organic acids and their corresponding esters. EFT exhibits measurable cytotoxicity and inhibition of PANC-1 invasion. Growth inhibition was primarily attributed to downregulation of CDK2 which induces cell cycle arrest in the S-phase. Inhibition of metastasis is achieved through downregulation of mesenchymal-associated genes/activators, including ZEB1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Fibronectin. Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased by EFT treatment. Furthermore, downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed.
Conclusion: Treatment of PANC-1 with EFT demonstrated measurable cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, EFT evoked S phase arrest while inhibiting the migration and invasion of PANC-1 cells. Additionally, EFT inhibited the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and MMPs expression in PANC-1 cells. This study serves to confirm the strong therapeutic potential of EFT while identifying the mechanisms of action.
Mechanical Calculation and Analysis of Structure "Combined Short Cantilever Beam-articulated Rock Beam" of the Overlying Rock Strata in the Large Mining Height Fully Mechanized Caving Stope
Authors: Luo Jianqiao , Yan Shaohong , Shen Yupeng , Yang Tuo
Published: November 2023

In this thesis, we summarized the characteristics of mining stress in the large-mining-height fully mechanized caving face in our country's typical ultra-thick coal seams, and expounded the staple features of the“combined short cantilever beam-articulated rock beam”structure of the overlying rock in the large-cutting height fully mechanized caving face systematically. The basic cogitation of stope rock formation control is to maintain the "temporary stability" of the structure formed by the overlying strata. The cogitation of safety control of the roof rock strata in a fully-mechanized caving mining face with large mining height is to seek the quantitative criterion of the structural stability of the "combined cantilever beam-articulated rock beam" formed by the upper roof and seek operational control measures to maintain the temporary balance structure. It should start with increasing the working resistance of the hydraulic support, appropriately increasing the distance between the reasonable combined forces effect point of the support and the coal wall, reducing the step distance of the main roof pressure and immediate roof pressure, and reducing the main roof subsidence. The artificial methods such as hydraulic fracturing and pre-split blasting can be adopted with quantitative control design.
Internet-delivered modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (iMBCT) intervention for perceived stress and emotional distress: A pilot RCT study
Authors: Wardeszkiewicz Jan , Holas Pawel
Published: November 2023

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing depression relapse and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Preliminary research on the online version of an eight-week MBCT (iMBCT) has shown promising results in decreasing emotional distress, aligning with the positive effects observed in traditional MBCT programs. However, there is a notable gap in our understanding regarding whether the abbreviated form of iMBCT effectively reduces perceived stress and emotional distress. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap. A total of 1,348 distressed individuals from the community participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to 30-day, modified, unguided iMBCT intervention or waiting-list condition (WLC). Our reduced iMBCT consisted of six sessions, each containing guided meditations and psychoeducation recordings and materials. Perceived stress, anxiety, depression, resilience and self-compassion measurements were assessed at baseline and after 30 days of the intervention. At post-test the iMBCT participants showed a significant decrease in perceived stress, anxiety and depression and an increase of self-compassion and resilience. Participants in WLC, contrary, did not manifest any changes over time in any of the measures. Our results indicate that an online, unguided, 30-day MBCT program may be effective for distressed individuals.
Exploring the Determinants of Community-oriented Education to Anchor Relevance in Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Talaat Wagdy , Hamed Omayma
Published: November 2023

Background
Community-oriented education is increasingly prioritized in health professions curricula but evidence on determinants for effective implementation is dispersed. This scoping review aimed to identify key determinants to guide curriculum design, implementation and evaluation.
Methods
Databases (PubMed, Scopus) were searched for relevant studies which were screened against eligibility criteria. Determinants were extracted, analysed thematically, and synthesized narratively. A concept framework was developed to visualize relationships between determinants.
Results
Of 2789 records screened, 88 studies were included. Determinants were organized into 8 themes: community needs relevance, priority health problems, integration level, community involvement, cultural sensitivity, social accountability, health systems science, and collaboration with organizations. Determinants centred on aligning education with local contexts and priorities through engaged partnerships. Relationships between determinants were hypothetical requiring further verification.
Conclusion
The framework offers a preliminary model of determinants that can direct further rigorous inquiry. Evidence for definitive determinants of community-oriented curricula requires validation through systematic reviews. The results provide an initial synthesis to guide curriculum development pending robust evidence.
Visuo-dynamic self-modelling of soft robotic systems
Authors: Monteiro Richard Marques , Shi Jialei , Wurdemann Helge , Iida Fumiya , Thuruthel Thomas George
Published: November 2023

Soft robots exhibit complex nonlinear dynamics with large degrees of freedom, making their modeling and control challenging. Typically, reduced-order models in time or space are used due to these challenges. However, such simplified models limit control accuracy and restrict the motion repertoire of the soft robots. In this work, we introduce an end-to-end learning-based approach for fully dynamic modeling of any general robotic system that do not rely on predefined structures. The key idea is to learn dynamic models of the robot directly in the visual space. The generated models possess identical dimensionality to the observation space, resulting in models whose complexity is determined by the sensory system without explicitly decomposing the problem. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we apply it to a fully soft robotic manipulator. We demonstrate its applicability in controller development through an open-loop optimization-based controller. Our work thus far provides the most comprehensive strategy for controlling a general soft robotic system, without constraints on the shape, properties, and dimensionality of the system. This enables us to derive a wide range of dynamic control tasks including shape control, trajectory tracking and obstacle avoidance using a model derived from just 90 minutes of real-world data.
Assessment of Students’ Satisfaction: A Case Study of St Lideta Health Science and Business College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Authors: Demissie Bekele Simegn
Published: November 2023

Background: College and University in the modern world are expected to seek and cultivate new knowledge, provide the right kind of leadership and strive to promote equality and social justice.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the satisfaction level of final year undergraduate students enrolled in regular and Extension program of St Lideta Health Science and Business College (SLHBC), Addis Ababa and there by understand St Lideta Health Science and Business College overall level of service quality perceived by the students.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 final year undergraduate students of the college. The participants were selected using non probability, Convenience sampling technique. The data was collected through self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data was entered and analyzed using Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 26.0 for windows. Analyzed data was presented using text narrations, frequency tables, graph and pie chart.
Results: The total of 102 study participants was involved in this study, with response rate of 100%. The overall level of service satisfaction among the respondents was 63.2%. Regarding administrative services, the findings from this study revealed that 40 (40.8%), 35(35.7%) and 4 (0.1%) of students were satisfied with the colleges monitoring and evaluation system, registrar service and internet service (related services) respectively.
Conclusion and recommendations: More than half of the students were satisfied with the current service status of the college, this finding is more or less comparable with previous similar studies locally and abroad in similar set ups. However, the main areas of improvement were identified to be those related with computer and internet facilities, registrar service, administrative support and related issues. Therefore, this situation invites attention of all stakeholders including the College management, government or non-government stakeholders engaged in education to enhance the quality & standards of services of St Lideta Health Science and Business College.
Depth-dependent responses of soil microbial respiration to nitrogen addition in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Jiang Yun , Wang Weitao , Li Jiawei , Xu Xia , Huang Yongmei , Wu Xiuchen , Zhang Bingwei
Published: November 2023

Background and aims
Over the past few decades, terrestrial ecosystems have experienced rising atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, which further impacts the global carbon (C) budget through soil microbial respiration (MR). However, the effects of N deposition on MR are rarely characterized in subsoil (depth > 10 cm) rather than in topsoil (0–10 cm). This study attempted to elucidate how N deposition regulates MR along the soil profile and its underlying mechanism.
Methods
We collected soil samples and determined MR across three soil layers (shallow, medium, and deep) from a decade-long and five-level N addition experiment in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia. We further used structural equation modeling to explore how long-term N addition regulates MR through various biotic (plant attributes and microbial community structure) and abiotic (soil properties) factors across the three soil layers.
Results
The overall response of MR to N addition varied with soil depth, shifting from stimulation in the shallow soil layer (standardized total effect of 0.36) to inhibition in the medium and deep soil layers (-0.34 and − 0.31). The identified direct and indirect pathways by which N addition regulates MR significantly differed across soil layers.
Conclusion
As soil depth increases, the suppressive effect of N deposition on MR provides evidence that increasing N deposition may contribute to C accrual in the subsoil in grassland ecosystems.
Recommendations for Contrast Learning Based on Stochastic Masking and Feature-Level Enhancement
Authors: Wang Zhenhai , Fan Rong , Guo Yunlong , Tian Hongyu , Li Weimin
Published: November 2023

Learning graph structure-based representations of user-item interaction data has become the core of modern recommender systems, and graph neural networks (GNNs) show great potential for mining high-quality user-item representations. Therefore, GNN-based collaborative filtering (CF) models have been very successful. However, we believe that further improvement in CF model performance is limited owing to data sparsity and interaction noise in CF. Consequently, the GNN-based CF model is highly prone to problems such as overfitting and poor generalization after multiple graph convolution operations with limited training data. To resolve these problems, we propose a new solution,That is, contrast learning based on stochastic masking and feature-level enhancement(MFCL); specifically, we perform a random masking operation on the resulting embeddings after each layer of graph convolution to prevent the model from learning relations containing excessive sampling noise. In recommender systems, comparative learning better resolves the data sparsity problem than CF because it can extract self-supervised signals from raw data. To further enhance the robustness of the model, we adopt a robust strategy based on feature enhancement. This strategy, called feature blending, blends the feature information of the original graph to obtain an enhanced graph, thereby strengthening the representation learning ability of the nodes. We experimentally demonstrate the superiority and effectiveness of the proposed method using two datasets (MovieLens-1M and Gowalla).
Enhanced understanding of organic solvent transportation in NR-NBR blend reinforced with ferrite nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Investigation
Authors: S Hema , S Gayathri , A Anagha D , Krishna Sruthi R , Krishnan Sreedeep G , Sambhudevan Sreedha
Published: November 2023

The research paper examines the transport of three regularly used laboratory organic solvents with varying solubility parameter values over a polymer blend nanocomposite membrane generated by two-roll milling. The three solvents employed (hexane, toluene, and ethanol) have varying solubility parameters. The study aimed to determine how solubility affects diffusion transport parameters in NR/NBR blends. The study indicated that incorporating magnetically active ferrite material decreased solvent absorption, diffusion, sorption, and permeation constants at lower loading. The transport method of NR/NBR nanocomposites was discovered to be unusual. Different solubility values significantly impact transport qualities. Morphological analysis data supports the relationship between ferrite content and other characteristics. The study analysed the influence of blend ratio, size of solvent molecule, and ferrite loading on the diffusion of aromatic and aliphatic solvents within NR/NBR blended systems. Including fillers' reduced swelling coefficient values, indicating a blocked solvent diffusion channel into the polymer matrix. Lower filler loading improved reinforcement, as validated by cross-link density and mechanical qualities. Data on transport was used to develop mathematical models to predict diffusion behaviour and understand the physical process of transport over nanocomposite membranes.
Psychotropic medication adherence and associated personality traits in Uganda: a hospital based cross-sectional study
Authors: Niyokwizera Emmanuel , Niyubahwe Raissa Marie Ingrid , nitunga David , Iryivuze Olivier , Muhumuza Joshua , Abamara Nnaemka Chukwudum , Kirabira Joseph
Published: November 2023

Background: Psychiatric disorders like other chronic disorders need medications both in short and in long-term treatment. Medication adherence is the first and main determinant of treatment success. Non-adherence to psychiatric drugs is associated with relapse, rehospitalisation and premature death. The beliefs about medication which influence non-adherence to medications are moderated by specific personality traits. Non-adherence to psychotropic medications is high in Africa but there is paucity of published studies on the level of psychotropic medication adherence and associated personality traits in Uganda.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of psychotropic medication adherence and associated personality traits among people with mental illness attending Kampala International University Teaching Hospital and Jinja Regional Referral hospital.
Methods: A Hospital based cross-sectional design was used in this study. 396 adult patients with mental illness were recruited from outpatient clinics of Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Medication adherence was assessed using Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) while personality traits were assessed by the short form of Big Five Inventory (Ten Items Personality Inventory). We first determined other possible factors (confounders) that could influence medication adherence before reaching to the objective of the study. Logistic regression was used to assess personality traits and other factors associated with psychotropic medication adherence.
Results: The majority of the study participants were males 234(59.1%), from rural areas (74.2%), with secondary educational level (47.5%) and unemployed (44.9%). 53.8% of patients were adherent to psychotropic medications. The personality traits significantly associated with psychotropic medication adherence were neuroticism (aOR=0.84, CI=0.812-0.881, P<0.001) and agreeableness (aOR=1.11, CI=1.080-1.145, P<0.001). Others factors associated with psychotropic medications adherence included poor family support (aOR=0.145, CI=0.077-0.272, P<0.001), belief in witchcraft (aOR=0.338, CI=0.170-0.672, P=0.002), presence of side effects (aOR=0.443, CI=0.260-0.754, P=0.003) and substances use (aOR=0.240, CI=0.122-0.471, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The prevalence of medication adherence was low. Patients with neuroticism personality traits were less likely to be adherent to medications and patients with agreeableness trait were more likely to be adherent to medications. Reinforced psychoeducation about mental illness and medication adherence to specific population such as patients with neuroticism personality traits and those with alcohol and other substances use would help to improve adherence to medication in Uganda.
Complete electromagnetic consideration of plasmon mode excitation in graphene rectangles by incident terahertz wave
Authors: Mashinsky Konstantin V. , Popov Vyacheslav V. , Fateev Denis V.
Published: November 2023

The excitation of terahertz plasmon modes in a graphene rectangle by normally incident linearly polarized electromagnetic wave has been theoretically studied. The complete electromagnetic approach based on formulation of the integral equations for sought-for electromagnetic quantities has been developed. The influence of edge-field effects on excitation of plasmon modes for different polarization of the incident wave and different shapes of graphene rectangle has been studied. The absorption cross-section spectra and the charge density distributions in graphene rectangle for different plasmon modes have been studied. It has been found that the edge-field effect, which results in spreading the plasmon field beyond the geometric boundaries of graphene rectangle, leads to considerable red shifts of the plasmon mode frequencies and modifies the plasmon mode dispersion.
On oscillatory and spectral properties of a class of higher-order differential operators
Authors: Kalybay Aigerim , Oinarov Ryskul
Published: November 2023

In the paper, we study the oscillatory properties of a 2nth order differential equation and spectral properties of a 2nth order differential operator. These properties are established by the variational method based on the validity of some nth order differential inequality, where its weights are the coefficients of the equation and the operator. In turn, the inequality is characterized when the weights satisfy certain conditions that guarantee for the function in this inequality the existence of boundary values at infinity and at zero.
AMS Subject Classification: Primary 34C10, 34K08; secondary 26D10
Numerical Keller Box Method for Micropolar Casson-Nanofluid Flow with Double Stratification and Magnetic Effects
Authors: Ali Ahmed Refaie , Rafique Khuram , Ahmad Shahzad , Alotaibi Hammad
Published: November 2023

This analysis focuses on the flow of Casson-type micropolar nanofluid induced by a stretchable vertical surface. Energy and mass transport are investigated in this study. Furthermore, the impacts of double stratification (thermal and solutal) are considered. In addition, the transport equations incorporate Brownian motion and thermophoretic effects. The non-linear governing flow equations, along with associated boundary conditions, are transformed into dimensionless ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using appropriate similarity variables. These ODEs are solved numerically using the Keller box scheme. This investigation aims to examine the influences of Casson parameter effects on the micro-rotations of nanofluid flow. A comparative study is conducted with available outcomes. The velocity of the liquid exhibits an inverse relationship with the Casson and magnetic factors. Moreover, the temperature and concentration distribution of the considered fluid show a decreasing trend with changes in thermal and solutal stratification. Meanwhile, the mixed convection factor exhibits a direct correlation with the liquid velocity.
Miten tutkia kohteliaisuutta? Käsityksiä suomalaisesta ja ranskalaisesta kohteliaisuudesta
Authors: Isosävi Johanna
Published: November 2023

How to study politeness? Perceptions of Finnish and French politeness Politeness is a key means by which we maintain interpersonal relationships. This book is the first comprehensive study of politeness in Finnish. Based on linguistic and pragmatic research, the book spans three parts. The first part is theoretical and historical, summarising three waves of politeness research, describing politeness as a cultural and historical phenomenon. The second part is empirical, providing an example of the study of im/politeness from outsiders’ perspectives—that, is French people living in Finland and Finns living or having lived in France. The focus group discussions ranged from definitions of politeness and differences of behaviour, to learning and teaching as well as to changes to politeness norms within society. The third part summarises the conclusions and offers an epilogue. This reader-friendly book includes exercises and recommended readings, and is welcomed by researchers and students working on politeness and, more broadly, relational work.
BRST invariant formulation of the Bell-CHSH inequality in gauge field theories
Authors: Dudal David , De Fabritiis Philipe , Guimaraes Marcelo Santos , Peruzzo Giovani , Sorella Silvio Paolo
Published: November 2023

A study of the Bell-CHSH inequality in gauge field theories is presented. By using the Kugo-Ojima analysis of the BRST charge cohomology in Fock space, the Bell-CHSH inequality is formulated in a manifestly BRST invariant way. The examples of the free four-dimensional Maxwell theory and the Abelian Higgs model are scrutinized. The inequality is probed by using BRST invariant squeezed states, allowing for large Bell-CHSH inequality violations, close to Tsirelson’s bound. An illustrative comparison with the entangled state of two 1/21/2 spin particles in Quantum Mechanics is provided.
Dark matter as a QCD effect in an anti de Sitter geometry: Cosmogonic implications of de Sitter, anti de Sitter and Poincaré symmetries
Authors: Cohen-Tanoudji Gilles , Gazeau Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2023

The \LambdaΛCDM standard model of cosmology involves two dark components of the universe, dark energy and dark matter. Whereas dark energy is usually associated with the (positive) cosmological constant \LambdaΛ associated with a de Sitter geometry, we propose to explain dark matter as a pure QCD effect, namely a gluonic Bose Einstein condensate with the status of a Cosmic Gluonic Background (CGB). This effect is due to the trace anomaly viewed as an effective negative cosmological constant determining an Anti de Sitter geometry and accompanying baryonic matter at the hadronization transition from the quark gluon plasma phase to the colorless hadronic phase. Our approach also allows to assume a ratio Dark/Visible equal to 11/2.
A practical perspective on ethical behavior of the educator accountant: A case study at a private university in Indonesia
Authors: Saragih Fitriani , Rialdy Novien , Putra Nainggolan Edisah
Published: November 2023

Ethical behavior is the attitude and actions of a person who adheres to commonly accepted social norms regarding good, proper, beneficial, and non-harmful activities. This study aims to examine the influence of emotional, intellectual, and spiritual intelligence on the ethical behavior of educator accountants at private universities in Indonesia, moderated by locus of control. This study’s population comprised all educator accountants who taught at nine private universities in Indonesia. At the same time, the sample size in this study was 196 accountant educators. The samples were educator accountants who had worked for at least one year. Data collection techniques used questionnaires and interviews (WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook), while the data analysis used was Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with data processing using PLS software. The findings revealed that accountant educators’ ethical behavior is influenced by their emotional (p = 0.016), intellectual (p = 0.030), and spiritual intelligence (p = 0.039). The locus of control can moderate the influence of emotional intelligence on ethical behavior. However, it cannot moderate the effect of intellectual and spiritual intelligence on educator accountants’ ethical behavior.
Pendekatan strategis untuk mengatasi sikap agresif audiens dalam konteks difusi informasi di media sosial
Authors: Ghiffary Dany Maulana
Published: November 2023

Purpose. This study extensively examines social media aggression's patterns and impacts on information reception, focusing on behaviors like cyberbullying and hate speech. It aims to uncover the causes and consequences of these actions, contributing to mitigation strategies.Methodology. The study utilizes data analysis with software assistance and random questionnaires from various respondents to explore strategies for reducing aggression in information diffusion. Qualitative analysis involves examining these strategies with references to social media platform observations.Results and discussion. Findings reveal that respondents prioritize sharing truthful information, even in the face of aggression. They maintain a positive attitude to clarify content and avoid the spread of falsehoods.Conclusions. This study underscores the importance of self-regulation and responsible online behavior. Enhancing self-regulation skills, maintaining a responsible online presence, and selecting content consumption are essential for eliminating unnecessary or aggressive information. These findings offer valuable insights into social media aggression dynamics, so it develops effective mitigation strategies in the digital age.
Effects of ozone on activated sludge: performance of anaerobic digestion and structure of the microbial community
Authors: Gao Pei , Ming Xujia , Wang Xudong , Chen Zhixiang , Liu Yao , Li Xianguo , Zhang Dahai
Published: November 2023

The treatment and disposal of activated sludge are currently challenging tasks in the world. As a common biological engineering technology, biological fermentation exists with disadvantages such as low efficiency and complex process. Ozone pretreatments are commonly applied to improve this problem due to their high efficiency and low cost. In this study, the significant function of ozone in anaerobic fermentation gas production was verified with excess sludge. Compared with other untreated sludge, ozone pretreatment can effectively degrade activated sludge. After ozone treatment and mixing with primary sludge, the methane production of excess sludge increased by 49.30 and 50.78%, and the methanogenic activity increased by 69.99 and 73.83%, respectively. The results indicated that the mixing of primary sludge with excess sludge possessed synergistic effects, which contributed to the anaerobic fermentation of excess sludge. The results of microbial community structure exhibited that methanogenic processes mainly involve hydrogenogens, acidogens and methanogens. The relative abundance of both bacteria and microorganisms changed significantly in the early stage of hydraulic retention time, which coincided exactly with the gas production stage. This study provided a feasible pretreatment strategy to improve sludge biodegradability and revealed the role of microorganisms during anaerobic digestion.
Textos narrativos como estrategia pedagógica para desarrollar el nivel de lectura inferencial en el grado 6B de la I.E.D. La Candelaria
Authors: Vargas Charris Wilfrido , Fernández Rodríguez Olga Yamile , Ortiz Herazo Sandra Yojana
Published: November 2023

El problema de comprensión lectora en los estudiantes ha sido una constante en las instituciones educativas del departamento del Magdalena, lo cual se evidencia en los resultados de las pruebas Saber. Desde esta perspectiva, se propuso realizar una intervención pedagógica en la Institución Educativa La Candelaria, en el corregimiento de Candelaria, municipio de Zona Bananera. Metodológicamente, se orientó en un enfoque crítico progresista, con tipo de investigación cuasi experimental. La población del estudio, estuvo constituida por 19 estudiantes del grado 6B. Como técnica de recolección de datos se empleó una prueba diagnóstica (ACL 6°) contextualizada en la región, en la cual, luego de analizar los datos, se encontró que los estudiantes presentaban falencias en el nivel de lectura inferencial. Con base en este análisis, se procedió a crear una secuencia didáctica, que fue aplicada a través de guías, porque la situación de la pandemia obligó a ajustar la intervención. Los resultados fueron positivos tanto en el desarrollo de las guías como en la aplicación de la posprueba. A pesar de la situación que se vivió con la Covid-19 y la aplicación de la propuesta de manera remota, se obtuvo un mejoramiento en el nivel de lectura inferencial en los estudiantes.
Motywy antyczne we współczesnej dystopii, czyli co wspólnego ze starożytnością ma idea państwa przedstawiona w I części trylogii Igrzyska śmierci Suzanne Collins1
Authors: Gryksa Edyta
Published: November 2023

The aim of the article is to prove that Suzanne Collins was inspired by characters, events and ancient traditions while preparing the first part of the Hunger Games trilogy. The main emphasis was placed on associating the characters with their ancient etymological prototypes, issues related to gladiatorial games, mythological themes and the motifs of war and rebellion.
Czy można zabić wiarę? – Ruda Sfora Mai Lidii Kossakowskiej
Authors: Muszyńska Katarzyna S.
Published: November 2023

The article on the example of the novel by the Polish fantasy author Maja Lidia Kossakowska, Ruda sfora, shows how the sacrum is manifested in the literary space in this genre, which values and qualities are sanctified and opposed to what. In order to build a typical for the genre’s plot – the struggle between the forces of good and evil – Kossakowska used shamanic beliefs of the Yakuts. Presenting dangers of doctrinal rationalism, she showed what the desire to extinguish the faith, may lead to, and indicate element which brings hope in the unequal fight against totalitarianism – the memory.
PRIMER CENSO DE LOBOS FINOS EN EL ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE JUAN FERNÁNDEZ
Authors: Aguayo L. Anelio , Maturana C. Rene
Published: November 2023

Como una contribución al desarrollo del programa de investigaciones de los mamíferos marinos, que se realiza bajo el auspicio del Convenio sobre Investigaciones Pesqueras, entre el Ministerio de Agricultura y la Universidad de Chile, efectuamos el primer censo de lobos marinos, Arctocephalus philippii* (Peters, 1866), en el Archipiélago de Juan Fernández, durante marzo de 1969.
Advances in Understanding the Notch Signaling Pathway in the Cochlea
Authors: Chen Xiaoying , Wan Huanzhi , Bai Yutong , Zhang Yuanyuan , Hua Qingquan
Published: November 2023

The cochlear structure is highly complex and specific, and its development is regulated by multiple
signaling pathways. Abnormalities in cochlear development can lead to different degrees of loss of function.
Hair cells (HCs), which are difficult to regenerate in the mature mammalian cochlea, are susceptible to damage
from noise and ototoxic drugs, and damage to HCs can cause hearing loss to varying degrees. Notch, a
classical developmental signaling molecule, has been shown to be closely associated with embryonic cochlear
development and plays an important role in HC regeneration in mammals, suggesting that the Notch signaling
pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for cochlear development and hearing impairment due to HC damage.
In recent years, the important role of the Notch signaling pathway in the cochlea has received increasing
attention. In this paper, we review the role of Notch signaling in cochlear development and HC regeneration,
with the aim of providing new research ideas for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.