bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The protective and antiapoptotic effects of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra against cyclophosphamide-induced lung injury in rats: in vitro evaluation
Authors: ÇETİK YILDIZ Songül , KESKİN Cumali , ŞAHİNTÜRK Varol , AYHANCI Adnan
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (HTT) has been traditionally used in medical treatments due to its sedative, antiseptic, antiinflammatory, and anthelmintic properties. The present study aims to investigate the lung-protective and antiapoptotic effects of HTT against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced lung injury in rats.
Methods: Thirty-five Sprague Dawley rats were categorized into 5 groups, each consisting of seven members. Phenolic acid and flavonoid contents of this plant were determined. The lung tissue samples cultivated from the rats were examined in histopathological and immunohistochemically for the apoptosis markers of Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2.
Results: Histopathological results indicated that structural defects, bleeding areas, and edema had occurred in the lungs of the CP-Alone Group. Besides, Caspase-3 and Bax positivity of the lung cells had also increased while Bcl-2 positivity had decreased. On the other hand, in the HTT+CP Group, HTT was shown to have reversed the aforementioned changes positively.
Conclusion: Based on in vivo results, HTT could be a strong protective candidate for CP-induced lung injury and apoptosis
Morphometric Analysis of Greater Palatine Canal by Computed Tomography
Authors: GÜZEL Hilal , TURAMANLAR Ozan , KOYUNCU Esra , HORATA Erdal , ÖZER GÖKASLAN Çiğdem
Published: December 2023

Aim: The greater palatine canal connects to the oral cavity through the greater palatine foramen. Preoperatively identifying the morphology of the greater palatine canal and greater palatine foramen is very important to avoid possible complications during surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the greater palatine canal and surrounding anatomical structures using computed tomography.
Material and Methods: Images from 100 patients (35 female and 65 male) who had previously undergone computed tomography for various reasons were evaluated. The study data were divided into three age groups, <20 years, 20-60 years, and >60 years. Morphological parameters measured in this study included; diameter measurement from the widest part of the canal, length of the canal, beginning diameter of the canal, the ends diameter of the canal, localization of the canal entrance with respect to the third molar tooth, distance of the canal entrance to palatine suture. The values obtained from the measurements were compared in terms of age group, gender, and side.
Results: The mean length of the canalis palatinus major was 15.19±4.38 mm. The diameter of the widest part of the canal and the end of the canal, and the distance between the canal entrance and the sutura palatina increased with age, but these increases were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Proper administration of anesthesia through the greater palatine foramen in maxillofacial surgeries and related applications requires a detailed understanding of the anatomy of the greater palatine canal, and the results of the present study will contribute to the understanding of this anatomy.
Potential risks of developing countries in the process of exploration and extraction of deep-sea mineral resources
Authors: Popoola Samuel Olatunde
Published: December 2023

Deep sea mining involves the extraction of minerals from the ocean floor. As deep sea mining is a relatively new practice, there is still much to be learned about the technology and the potential risks associated with it by the developing countries. Developing states must ensure that proper safety measures are in place to prevent accidents and minimize the risk of environmental damage. While the potential benefits of deep sea mining are significant, it is essential to ensure that the process is carried out responsibly and sustainably to protect both the environment and local communities. Developing countries face numerous challenges when it comes to actively participating in deep-sea exploration. Some of these challenges include a lack of adequate resources, limited technological capabilities, and limited access to funding. Additionally, developing countries often lack the necessary legal frameworks and regulatory systems to effectively regulate deep-sea exploration, licensing and extraction activities, especially within the continental shelves and the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). These challenges can make it difficult for developing countries to fully participate in this important area of scientific research for a sustainable blue economy. This paper suggests an effective partnership between oceanographic research institutes from developing countries with research institutes from countries like France, Germany, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, China and International seabed Authority (ISA) in deep sea marine scientific research. The paper identifies the need for a joint collaboration for the purpose of acquiring reliable data on the seabed topography, location, shape, coverage, and abundance of deep-sea mineral resources in the continental shelves, exclusive economic zones of developing countries, and area beyond the national jurisdiction. There is also a need to develop legal framework on deep sea policy for sustainable actualization of developing nations’ blue economy.
Physiological Response of Blackgram Varieties to Foliar Nutrition and Growth Regulators under Partial Shade in Coconut Orchard in Kerala
Authors: Pooja A.P. , Ameena M. , Arunjith P.
Published: December 2023

Background: Coconut is one of the major plantation crops in Kerala which are planted at a wider spacing of 7.6 m × 7.6 m giving an ample opportunity for growing intercrops. To enhance soil fertility and productivity of crops inclusion of legumes is a viable option. Blackgram, though a shade sensitive crop performs well in partially shaded coconut gardens due to fast growing nature. The unique ability of biological nitrogen fixation, soil amelioration, carbon sequestration, low water requirement and capacity to withstand extreme drought, pulses have remained an integral component of coconut based cropping system. Since blackgram is a shade sensitive crop, to increase the productivity of blackgram in coconut garden, foliar spray of nutrients and growth regulators is a viable option. Under, shaded or stressed situations, nutrients and plant growth regulators provide optimum vegetative growth by regulating plant growth and architecture. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of foliar nutrition and growth regulator application on the physiology and yield of different blackgram varieties. Methods: A field trial was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, India during rabi 2020 and summer 2020-21. To find the performance of five blackgram varieties. The treatments consisted of five performing blackgram varieties under partial shade viz; Sumanjana, DBGV 5, VBN 5, VBN 6, CO 6 and foliar sprays of nutrients (19:19:19 NPK, sulphate of potash) and plant growth regulators [naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and salicylic acid (SA)] alone and in combinations in split plot design at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS). Result: The study identified Sumanjana and DBGV 5 as shade adaptive varieties with suitable physiological traits. In both seasons, a higher stomatal conductance and lower stomatal index were observed, indicating a more efficient allocation of resources towards the photosynthetic machinery. Foliar spray of 19:19:19 (1%) and NAA at 40 mg/L and SA at 100 mg/L at 45 and 60 DAS resulted in higher seed yield, dry matter production and also higher net income and benefit cost ratio for these two varieties.
UNVERSIDADE VIRTUAL: análise dos meios pedagógicos da Univesp por meio da disciplina Projeto Integrador para Licenciatura
Authors: Pasquali Bruno Tomazela , Pimenta Pedro Henrique
Published: December 2023

Este artigo tem como objetivo realizar a análise dos instrumentos pedagógicos empregados para o desenvolvimento e avaliação das habilidades de escrita acadêmica ofertados aos alunos dos cursos de licenciatura EaD da Univesp. Os questionamentos levantados aqui se justificam pelo contexto de crescimento do número de professores formados por instituições EaD e a necessidade da análise da adequação dos cursos em oferecer estruturas apropriadas para o desenvolvimento das habilidades de redação científica. Tal análise ocorreu por meio da avaliação dos planos de ensino e rubricas de correção da disciplina Projeto Integrador para a Licenciatura, considerando também a participação discente e a seleção de oito relatórios de pesquisa desenvolvidos entre 2020 e 2022 em diferentes polos da universidade. As conclusões evidenciam que, embora haja o predomínio de estratégias pertinentes, são necessárias adequações pedagógicas no uso de rubricas de correção, avaliação de plágio, devolutiva aos discentes, entre outros.
Desafios dos profissionais de enfermagem na promoção da saúde no sistema prisional
Authors: Diniz Alves Leslie , Marchi Barcellos Dalri Rita de Cassia , Do Carmo Cruz Robazzi Maria Lucia , Santos Sérgio Valverde Marques dos
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: refletir sobre os desafios dos profissionais de enfermagem na promoção de ações de saúde em unidades prisionais. Método: ensaio teórico e reflexivo acerca dos desafios que a enfermagem enfrenta para atuar na promoção da saúde no sistema prisional brasileiro. Foram elaborados pontos norteadores/categorias para apoiar o ensaio teórico e a reflexão do estudo, sendo eles: o sistema prisional brasileiro e as condições de saúde, ações de promoção da saúde no sistema prisional e desafios da enfermagem para promoção da saúde nos presídios. Resultados: os desafios que mais aparecem no trabalho da equipe de enfermagem no sistema prisional estão relacionados à questão estrutural, organizacional e relacional. Conclusão: há a necessidade de maior formação e treinamento para que esses profissionais consigam gerenciar questões éticas, manter sua identidade e autonomia e desenvolver mais habilidades no contexto prisional.
Peligros biológicos y químicos, legislación, técnicas de detección y su disponibilidad en la exportación de trucha arcoíris (Oncorhynchus mykiss) y concha de abanico (Argopecten purpuratus) desde el Perú
Authors: Monsalve Tequen Eveling
Published: December 2023

El objetivo del estudio fue describir los peligros biológicos y químicos que limitan la exportación de trucha arcoíris y concha de abanico en el Perú a través de evidencias reglamentarias y antecedentes desde la literatura, así como citar las técnicas de detección y su disponibilidad en el Perú. Para ello, se realizó una lista de las normativas vigentes relacionadas a los peligros biológicos y químicos en Perú, Europa y Estados Unidos, encontrándose una estrecha semejanza entre los peligros y sus límites máximos permisibles. Se compilaron los casos de exportación rechazados entre los años 2015 y 2020 mediante la búsqueda de información a través de cuatro fuentes: informe de inocuidad de SANIPES (Organismo de Sanidad Pesquera), solicitud a SANIPES, web IntradeBid y portales web internacionales (OASIS-FDA de Estados Unidos y RASFF de Europa), identificándose solo un caso de rechazo por causa de peligro biológico (Salmonella) en concha de abanico durante el 2015. Finalmente, se mencionan los métodos de detección y su disponibilidad. En todos los casos, los laboratorios que realizan los ensayos deben estar acreditados mediante ISO/IEC 17025, el cual garantiza la fiabilidad de los mismos y el comercio exterior; además, en el caso del Perú, SANIPES es responsable de publicar la relación de laboratorios y métodos aprobados.
Multi-robot cooperative search for radioactive sources based on particle swarm optimization particle filter
Authors: Luo Minghua , Huo Jianwen , Liu Manlu , Zhou Zhongbing
Published: December 2023

Effective management and monitoring of radioactive sources are crucial to ensuring nuclear safety, human health, and the ecological environment. A multi-robot collaborative radioactive source search algorithm based on particle swarm optimization particle filters is proposed. In this algorithm, each robot operates as a mobile observation platform using the latest observations to fuse into particle sampling. At the same time, the particle swarm optimization algorithm moves the particle set to a high-likelihood area to overcome particle degradation. In addition, each particle can learn from the search history of other particles to speed up the convergence of the algorithm. Lastly, the Dynamic Window Approach (DWA) for dynamic window obstacle avoidance is used to avoid obstacles in complex mountainous terrains to achieve efficient source search. Experimental results show that the search success rate of the proposed algorithm is as high as 95%, and its average search time is only 3.43 s.
Prinsip Peradilan Bebas dan Tidak Memihak dalam Negara Hukum: Studi Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 53/PUU-XIV/2017 Mengenai Verifikasi Partai Politik
Authors: Fadillah Nor
Published: December 2023

The Constitutional Court holds the independent authority of the state to administer justice in upholding law and justice. However, one phenomenon that occurs in recent years is the decline in people's trust towards the independent judicial institutions topped off by the absence of intervention which has eventually led to serious polemics in the society. This is also due to the fact that it appears as if the law is no longer serves as a tool for seeking justice, but rather a tool for perpetuating power. This article aims to identify and examine how the principle of free justice in rule of law is implemented in the Constitutional Court decision no. 53/PUU-XIV/2017 on political party verification. The method used is a normative method which positions law as a system of norms for analyzing laws that have been decided by judges through the court process. The results of this research show that the Constitutional Court judges in the Constitutional Court decision Number 53/PUU-XIV/2017, especially regarding political party verification, were guided by the constitution and upheld the principle of an independent and impartial judiciary in the principles of the rule of law. This can be seen from legal considerations that the Constitutional Court considers the obligation to carry out political party verification of all political parties participating in the general election as a whole, both in the 2014 election and new political parties in 2019, so that there shall be no differences and discrimination.
Timbulnya Persaingan Tidak Sehat Antar Notaris Sebagai Dampak Dari Pelanggaran Kode Etik Notaris
Authors: Kusuma Prihayuningtyas Anggita , Silviana Ana
Published: December 2023

In carrying out their positions, notaries are obligated to work professionally and to refer to the Notary Code of Ethics which is regulated in Law Number 2 of 2014 on the Position of Notaries (UUJN). The existence of a notary has the aim of providing legal services to the community, especially in terms of making deeds. As legal needs increase, the need for notary services increases. Unhealthy competition that occurs between fellow notaries can of course occur in various forms and ways. The aim of this research is to identify how the notary code of ethics is enforced and the factors that cause violations of the notary's Code of Ethics which give rise to unhealthy competition between fellow notaries. This research is normative in nature where a statutory regulation approach is taken, collecting data using literature and document studies, the data analysis method used is qualitative. The results of the research include, first, efforts that can be made to enforce the code of ethics, the Central Honorary Council together with the Central Management of the Indonesian Notary Association by making regulations embodied in PDKP INI. Second, the increasing public need for legal activities that require authentic deeds, and the increasing number of people who work as Notaries, are reasons for Notaries to take actions that result in unhealthy competition among some Notaries.
Rekonstruksi Desain Pengujian Peraturan Daerah Pasca Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi
Authors: Saifudin Saifudin , Riza Hakiki Yuniar , Widiastuti Retno , Taufiqurrahman Taufiqurrahman , Wahyuningsih Aprillia
Published: December 2023

This research aims to identify: first, the urgency of reconstructing the design of reviewing the regional regulations after the Constitutional Court decision, and second, reviewing the regional regulations which are in line with the system of regional government administration and the system of reviewing legislative regulations in Indonesia. This is a juridical-normative research. The results of the research conclude that: first, the urgency of reconstructing the review of regional regulations after the Constitutional Court decision is based on: a) the central government has lost control and correction of regional regulations; b) the problematic design of reviewing the regional regulations at the Supreme Court; and c) institutional problems of the Supreme Court in reviewing regional regulations. Second, the design of reviewing the regional regulations and the proposed regional legislation reviewing system, among others: a) expanding the clarification authority of the central government by canceling/revoking regional regulations whose content regulates the implementation of assistance tasks and/or regulates further elaboration of legal regulations -higher invitation by the central government/governor as a representative of the central government; and b) redesign of the Supreme Court's procedural law in reviewing statutory regulations by accommodating formal review; changing the concept of respondent to parties which include the applicant, the person providing information, and related parties; holding trials open to the public, forming a field (panel of judges) for reviewing statutory regulations; and extending the deadline for completing statutory examinations.
Pertanggungjawaban Pidana terhadap Pelaku Obstruction of Justice dalam Perkara Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual
Authors: Afifah Yukiatiqa , Yuslita Julianis Dewi
Published: December 2023

One of the causes of sexual violence is the failure of law enforcement officials to eradicate sexual predators due to acts of obstruction of justice which are often carried out by certain individuals. Obstruction of justice is an action that obstructs and obstructs the law enforcement process in various forms. This research will review the matter of how the obstruction of justice is regulated in Indonesian positive law and the forms of criminal liability for perpetrators of obstruction of justice in cases of criminal sexual violence? This research uses normative juridical methods in the form of a literature study and examines several statutory regulations. The results of his research indicate that regulations regarding obstruction of justice are contained in Article 221 of the Criminal Code and are spread across several special laws such as laws on eradicating corruption, terrorism and criminal acts of sexual violence. Regarding criminal liability, a person who commits obstruction of justice in a criminal case of sexual violence can be held accountable in the form of a maximum prison sentence of 5 years. Essentially, the regulations governing obstruction of justice in criminal acts of sexual violence are quite good, but the government is expected to immediately speed up the formation of derivative regulations or implementing regulations for the TPKS Law in the form of government regulations so that the TPKS Law can be implemented properly.
Proporsionalitas Penetapan Ancaman Sanksi Pidana Dalam Undang-Undang No. 23 Tahun 2004 Tentang Penghapusan Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga
Authors: Anisatul Azizah Nita
Published: December 2023

Proportionality in the criminal sanctions formulation policy in this research is the criminal sanctions for perpetrators of criminal acts of violence against women which need to receive full attention from legislators in determining criminal sanctions policies. This is due to preventing violations of individual rights and as a barrier for legislators in imposing criminal sanctions for offenses. The focus of the problem in this research is the practice of developing violence against women in the family sphere during the Covid-19 pandemic and an analysis of the proportionality of determining the threat of criminal sanctions in Law no. 23 of 2004 on the Elimination of Domestic Violence. The type of research used is normative legal research. The approach used is conceptual and statutory. The research results showed that the level of violence in the domestic realm tends to be higher than in the public realm, as in 2021 the domestic realm experienced an increase of 4% compared to 2020. In 2020 violence against women was around 75%, while in 2021 it rose to 79% or 6,480 cases. The results of the proportionality analysis of criminal sanctions in the law are based on the principle of parity contained in ordinal proportionality, namely that a person is punished or sentenced in proportion to the level of seriousness of the crime or violation, reflecting the existence of parity, rank ordering, spacing of penalties from Articles 44 to 49.
Revolutionizing Petrochemical Production: Unleashing the Full Potential of Industry 4.0 to Drive Efficiency, Harness Reserve and Propel Innovation
Authors: DOZIE EWELIKE ASTERIUS , JOHNSON NNADIKWE , ANDREW NWOSI HEZKIAH , JUSTINE AKUCHIE  CHUKWUMA
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT"In the realm of the industrial complex, a pressing concern lies in optimizing resource utilization and enhancing energy efficiency. This critical issue finds strong support from a variety of government programs, strategies, and regulatory documents. To effectively tackle this challenge and revolutionize petrochemical production, it is imperative to establish and develop innovative mechanisms. One such mechanism involves harnessing the power of automation and advanced Industry 4.0 technologies to streamline production processes. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of these systems, driving operational efficiency, conserving valuable reserves, and propelling innovation within the petrochemical industry."The article delves into an in-depth analysis of the prominent trends in the application of the "Industry 4.0" concept within the petrochemical industry. It sheds light on the various factors that impact the efficiency of organizing production systems. Additionally, the article identifies the primary avenues that drive the advancement and enhancement of production organization practices. Moreover, the article explores the fundamental tools employed for process improvements and highlights the significance of process automation in petrochemical plants. By examining these key aspects, it aims to provide valuable insights and recommendations for leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies to optimize production processes in the petrochemical industry..The study focuses on examining and evaluating various systems and technologies that contribute to the optimization of production processes within the petrochemical industry. Specifically, it delves into the implementation and benefits of the just-in-time system, the 5S system for workplace rationalization, as well as different information systems including ERP systems and CALS-technologies. By exploring these systems and technologies, the article aims to identify the advantages of automating production processes within the petrochemical complex. This analysis will unveil the potential benefits such as improved efficiency, reduced waste, enhanced productivity, streamlined operations, and increased overall competitiveness. Through this research, we aim to shed light on the value of these automation solutions and their impact on driving the petrochemical industry towards greater success.
Syntheses of Cannabinoid Metabolites: Ajulemic Acid and HU-210
Authors: Shao Wenbin , Liao Pingyong , Zhang Xiaoyan , Fan Binbin , Chen Ruijia , Chen Xilong , Zhao Xuejun , Liu Wenbin
Published: December 2023

Cannabinoid metabolites have been reported to be more potent than the parent compounds. Among them, Ajulemic acid (AJA) is a synthetic analogue of Δ9-THC-11-oic which will be a good template structure for discovery of more potent analogues. Herein, we optimized the key allylic oxidation step to introduce the C-11 hydroxy group with high yield. And a series of compounds were prepared with this condition applied including HU-210, 11-Nor-Δ8-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid and Δ9-THC-COOH.
Effects of Lincomycin and Faecal Bacterial Stress on Intestinal Metabolite Composition of Weaned Tibetan Piglets
Authors: Zhao Mingxuan , Zhang Jian , Liu Fuzhou , Luo Lv , Wei Mingbang , Ye Yourong , Chamba Yangzom , Shang Peng
Published: December 2023

Abstract：To investigate the effects of feeding the Lincomycin and faecal bacterial on weaning stress in Tibetan piglets, we divided the weaned Tibetan piglets at 30 days of age into four groups. We measured growth performance, blood physiological indexes, and metabolomics. The results showed that the Ant, Tib, and Fec groups significantly reduced the ratio of diarrhoea to feed/weight (F/G) and increased the average daily gain (ADG) compared to the Nor group (p < 0.01). The Nor group had significantly lower leukocyte counts, hemoglobin levels, and erythrocyte counts compared to the other three groups on 21d (p < 0.05). These physiological indexes tended to stabilize on 42d. We found that there were beneficial metabolites and metabolic pathways for gastrointestinal function. Specifically, the porphyrin metabolic pathway was elevated in the Ant group, and the tryptophan metabolic pathway was significantly elevated in the Tib and Fec groups compared to the Nor group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, adding faecal bacterial supernatant and fifteen-flavour black pills of Tibetan medicine to the feed reduced the rate of diarrhoea and improved the growth performance of piglets. Moreover, it had an effect on microorganisms and their metabolites and pathways in the gastrointestinal tract of the animals, which might be the main reason for influencing the diarrhoea rate of weaned Tibetan piglets and the growth and development of the piglets. This study provides a new approach for anti-stress applications in weaned Tibetan piglets and the development of substitute anti-products.
Impacts of extreme climate change event on small-scale fishers and their community and their adaptation in Baganga, Davao Oriental
Authors: Macusi Edison D. , Sabino Lizel L. , Macusi Erna S.
Published: December 2023

Climate change is unpredictable and can change rapidly or over time; anthropogenic stressors work synergistically to strengthen their impact on vulnerable ecosystems and the fisheries sector. This study documented the past occurrence of extreme climate change impacts, such as supertyphoon Pablo (ST: Bopha), which severely affected Baganga, Davao Oriental, about ten years ago. A mixed-methods data collection was used, combining semi-structured interviews with small-scale fishers (N=120) in four fishing villages and focus group discussions (N=4, participated by about 4 focus groups) on assessing the impacts and their adaptation after climatic events occurred. Our findings indicate that the four selected fishing villages were exposed to common factors of climate change events that destroyed many lives and their livelihood. Including a decrease in catch per trip and the fishing operations disruption (98%). However, due to the impact of the supertyphoon, small-scale fishers in Baganga developed psychological distress (emotional 44% and physical 24%) due to the extreme event or disaster and economic losses (32%). In order to survive, their adaptation strategies relied on government and non-government-provided provisions and projects, e.g., planting trees, constructing a sea wall with wave breakers, cash for work, and tourism as an alternative livelihood. Despite this, our study revealed that the community had limited knowledge on the impacts of climate change, lack clear management goals especially for fishers, and the widespread use of illegal fishing gears. The local government must strongly implement rules, policies, and adaptation measures that will contribute to better and more resilient communities. This can help them to withstand future shocks and provide sustainable fisheries resources that will benefit all the fishers. The study will be useful to policymakers, disaster management group and organization that will help assist affected communities highly affected by climatic events.
Cognitive Semantics: From Sensations to Contrast, Opposition and Numbers
Authors: Raykowski Wes
Published: December 2023

Cognitive linguistics is founded on the assumption that language is a reflection of universal cognitive principles, implying that all cognitive processes share a common origin. This assumption is known as the 'Cognitive Commitment.' The present article examines the sensory schema hypothesis, which traces all forms of expression back to sensations. This theoretical framework integrates the physicality of the body with sensations that underlie human experiences and their linguistic and non-linguistic expressions. By challenging the traditional dichotomy between mind and body, it provides a more integrated understanding.
Air-pollutant Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5)-induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Diseases: Possible Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Ghosh Asish K
Published: December 2023

Today, air pollution is the greatest threat to organismal healthspan. The environment of our planet earth, the habitat of over eight billion humans and estimated twenty billion billions other animals, is contaminated with a wide variety of pollutants. Unfortunately, humans, out of billions and billions of living organisms on earth, are solely responsible for polluting the environment through emitting pollutants like particulate matter from industry, fuel engine vehicles, biomass combustion, toxic fumes from blasting, and wildfire. In the modern world, human-caused air pollutants induce massive oxidative stress and inflammation, the major contributors in initiation and progression of many diseases including pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, reproductive, neurological, mental, and accelerated biological aging. The provocative question is the following: how can we solve this human-created problem? As it is not realistic to clean the environment at once from human-caused pollution, initiatives have been undertaken to develop novel therapeutic approaches to control air-pollutant-induced oxidative stress and inflammation to protect humans from pollution-induced devastating diseases. In this article, I discuss the key findings of numerous recent preclinical studies documenting first, the role of air pollutant PM2.5 in augmentation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and associated diseases; and second, the efficacies of different natural and synthetic compounds in amelioration of PM2.5-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, pyroptosis, and associated pathologies.
PRC-Light YOLO: An Efficient Lightweight Model for Fabric Defect Detection
Authors: Liu Baobao , Wang Heying , Cao Zifan , Wang Yu , Tao Lu , Yang Jingjing , Zhang Kaibing
Published: December 2023

Defect detection plays a pivotal role in quality control for fabrics. In order to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of fabric defect detection, we have proposed the PRC-Light YOLO model for fabric defect detection and have established a detection system. Firstly, we add new convolution operators in Backbone for the YOLOv7 and integrate them with Extended-Efficient Layer Aggregation Network. This combination constructs a new feature extraction module that not only reduces the computational effort of the network model, but also extracts spatial features effectively. Secondly, we employ multi-branch dilated convolutions feature pyramid, and introduce lightweight upsampling operators to improve performance of the feature fusion network. This module achieves an expanded receptive field by generating real-time adaptive convolution kernels, allowing for the collection of crucial information from regions with a richer contextual context. To further minimize the computation during network model training, we adopt the HardSwish activation function. Finally, we apply the Wise-IOU v3 bounding box loss function as a dynamic non-monotonic focusing mechanism, which decreases adverse gradients from low-quality instances. We conduct data augmentation on real fabric dataset to raise the generalization capability of the PRC-Light YOLO model. Compared with the YOLOv7 model, numerous simulation experiments show that our proposed methods reduce the model’s parameters and computation by 18.03% and 20.53%, respectively. Simultaneously, there has been a 7.6% improvement in mAP.
A Review of the Study Designs and Statistical Methods Used in the Determination of Predictors of Melioidosis Mortality in Malaysia: 2010–2021
Authors: Mardhiah Kamaruddin
Published: December 2023

Background: In Malaysia, the mortality from melioidosis infection was reported to be higher than in other infectious diseases. The research on melioidosis is still limited in Malaysia but slightly increasing. Objective: To give an overview of the study designs, statistical methods and comparison of research in identifying the predictors of melioidosis mortality in Malaysia between January 2010 to December 2021. This review articles were divided into two sections; Section 1: Review of literature and Section 2: Findings on predictors of melioidosis mortality in Malaysia. Data sources: Pubmed/Medline. Study Eligibility Criteria: Original English-language articles were abstracted. The articles that identified the predictors of melioidosis from mortality in Malaysia only included. Letters to the editor, editorials, reviews, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case reports and any other ineligible articles were excluded. Results: A total of 7 studies were identified related to predictors of melioidosis mortality in Malaysia. From the selected articles, all of the data were retrospectively collected. Six out of 7 articles (85.7%) used the logistic regression in identifying the predictors of melioidosis mortality. Only 1 (14.3%) used advanced survival analysis methods of Cox regression analysis. Conclusion: Logistic regression methods remain the most common methods of analysis in publications on predictors of melioidosis mortality in Malaysia while retrospective research designs are favoured. There is a limitation of research in predictors of melioidosis mortality and the use of advanced statistical techniques reported using the melioidosis data in Malaysia. More published research on melioidosis will provide input to the clinicians on a more detailed understanding of how to improve the diagnosis of melioidosis and the prognosis factors of this disease.
Research on the Construction of Digital Higher Education of China from the Perspective of Symbiotic Education
Authors: Wu Shuguang , Yuan Zhenning , Zhou Na
Published: December 2023

In the context of inclusive education, digitalization in higher education is designed to promote the ideals of cultural diversity, social inclusivity, and sustainable development through technological means. This study explores the strategies and practices of digitalization in achieving inclusive education goals in higher education, aiming to provide theoretical and empirical foundations for education policymakers, teachers, and technology developers. This study adopts a mixed-methods research design, combining quantitative and qualitative data analysis to assess the current state of digitalization in higher education from various perspectives, particularly its effectiveness in advancing educational inclusivity. Through surveys, in-depth interviews, and case studies, data were collected from teachers, students, and administrative personnel to reveal opportunities and challenges in digital education resources and practices. The results show that while digitalization has improved the accessibility of educational resources, facilitated information sharing and cultural exchange, there are still numerous challenges, such as unequal technology access, insufficient cultural sensitivity in content, and issues related to the depth and quality of online interactions. Furthermore, the study identifies key factors supporting inclusive education, including cross-cultural curriculum design, teacher professional development, and students' critical use of digital tools. Finally, the paper presents a series of strategic recommendations, including the development of multicultural education platforms, strengthening teacher training, and building an inclusive digital environment. These recommendations aim to promote a more coordinated and inclusive higher education digital ecosystem that emphasizes not only technological innovation but also humanistic care and social responsibility. Through these measures, digitalization in higher education can better serve individual growth and comprehensive societal development.
Uncovering Undiagnosed Hypertension Rates in Bangladeshi Adults: Insights from Advanced Statistical Models
Authors: Siddiquee Tanjim , Ahmed Syed Ejaz
Published: December 2023

Hypertension stands as the foremost modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disorders in South Asia. This research demonstrates the superiority of statistical models over traditional approaches in identifying clinical risks related to hypertension. Leveraging individual-level data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2017-18), a unified dataset was created. Adhering to JNC7 and ACC/AHA guidelines for hypertension classification, two prominent regression models were employed to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension. A substantial 16% of hypertension cases in Bangladesh remain undetected. The study identifies undiagnosed hypertension as a heightened risk, particularly among the youth and residents of Sylhet and Rangpur divisions. Statistical models exhibit efficacy in discerning undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors in South Asia. Subsequent investigations should incorporate biological markers to enhance statistical models and ascertain their practicality.
Advancements in Synthetic Generation for Contactless Palmprint Biometrics Using StyleGan2-ADA and StyleGAN3
Authors: Chowdhury A. M. Mahmud , Khondkar Md Jahangir Alam , Imtiaz Masudul Haider
Published: December 2023

In addressing the challenges of data scarcity in biometrics, this study explores the generation of synthetic palmprint images as an efficient, cost effective, and privacy preserving alternative to real-world data reliance. Traditional methods for synthetic biometric image creation primarily involve orientation modifications and filter applications, with no established method specific to palmprints. We introduced the utilization of the “Style-based generator”, StyleGAN2-ADA, from the StyleGAN series, renowned for generating high-quality images. Furthermore, we explore the capabilities of its successor, StyleGAN3, which boasts enhanced image generation, facilitating smooth and realistic transitions. By comparing the performance of StyleGAN3 on public dataset, we aim to establish the most efficient generative model for this purpose. Evaluations were conducted using the SIFT (Scale-Invariant Feature Transform) algorithm into our evaluation framework. Preliminary findings suggest that StyleGAN3 offers superior generative capabilities, enhancing equivariance in synthetic palmprint generation.
The Solid-Phase Transition of Carbapenem CS-023 Polymorphs and the Change of Helicity Observed in the Transition
Authors: Matsuura Shinji , Igarashi Koichi , Azuma Masayuki , Ooshima Hiroshi
Published: December 2023

The poor solvent crystallization of carbapenem CS-023 has been performed at 25 °C. The following results have been obtained: 1) A solvate crystal Form A (5/2 Ethanol·1/2 H2O) is recovered from 80 v/v% ethanol solution, 2) Form A transforms to Form H (4H2O) by the solid-phase transition through the solvate-free polymorph, Form A-2, and Form A also transformed to Form C (1Ethanol·3H2O) by the solvent-mediated transformation. In the present study, we found that Form C also transforms to Form H by the solid-phase transition through the solvate-free polymorph, Form C-2. The three polymorphs, Form A, H, and C, were composed of the helical-chain structures, respectively. However, there was an incomprehensible affair in the solid phase transition among the three polymorphs. Namely, Form A comprised a left-handed helix.On the other hand, Form C and Form H’s helix chains were in a left- and right-handed helix complex. The solid-phase transition of Form A into Form H suggested the switch of helicity in the solid. We attempted to explain the helicity change in the solid phase transition. As a result, it was suggested that the over-absorption of water of Form A-2 at high humidity plays a vital role in the helicity change.
Advanced Language Understanding with Syntax-Enhanced Transformer
Authors: Rine Wender , Patel Rodolfo , Steve Neo
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we introduce Syntax-Enhanced Transformer Model (SET), a groundbreaking approach in the realm of Transformer-based language modeling that seeks to redefine the boundaries of linguistic analysis and comprehension. SET innovatively combine (i) the well-established high-level performance, scalability, and adaptability of traditional Transformers with (ii) a sophisticated analysis of syntactic structures. This synergy is enabled by a novel attention mechanism tailored to parse syntactic nuances and a deterministic process adept at transforming linearized parse trees into meaningful linguistic representations. Our comprehensive experiments reveal that SET significantly advance the field by surpassing existing benchmarks in sentence-level language modeling perplexity. They exhibit exceptional proficiency in tasks that require an acute awareness of syntax, setting new standards for language models in understanding complex linguistic structures. Furthermore, SET demonstrate an enhanced capability to grasp nuanced linguistic patterns that have traditionally been challenging for standard Transformer models. However, our studies also uncover a unique aspect of SET: while they excel in sentence-level tasks, their representation of sentences as singular vectors—owing to the syntactic composition constraints intrinsic to their design—introduces certain limitations in document-level language modeling. This observation points to an intriguing area for future exploration; it suggests the potential need for an alternative or complementary memory mechanism within Transformer models, one that functions independently from, yet in harmony with, syntactic structures. Such a mechanism could be pivotal in enhancing the model's ability to comprehend and process long-form texts effectively. In conclusion, SET mark a significant stride in the journey towards more sophisticated, syntax-aware language models. They offer promising insights into the integration of deep linguistic knowledge with cutting-edge machine learning techniques, potentially opening doors to a new era of natural language understanding and processing.
Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Framework for Science Teachers’ Comptences in Facing Global Challenges and Issues: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Latip Abdul , Robandi Babang , Amaliah Amaliah , Khakim Rifqi Rohmanul , Fatonah Nurul
Published: December 2023

Technological developments have made technology-assisted learning an essential part of educational areas. However, integrating technology in education requires teachers’ competency, called technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). This study reviews the current body literature of TPACK regarding teachers’ challenges and demands of learning with global issues, such as the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the SDGs 2030 agenda. Researchers employed Narrative Literature Review (NLR), where we reviewed TPACK, teacher competence, and challenges to global issues in education studies from various published articles. This study found a total of 27 articles published in the last ten years. In this study, NLR was carried out in 4 main stages: determining the topic, finding sources and references, analyzing relevant sources, and synthesizing the findings into a structured and informative narrative. The NLR results show that: 1) the form and type of technology integration in education needs to pay attention to aspects of pedagogy and content knowledge so the determination and use of technology in education can work effectively according to the characteristics of students and the content being taught; 2) forms and types of technology integration have been used include virtual labs, molecular and particle animation media, smartphone applications, and augmented reality; and 3) technology integration in the learning process indicated initial, core, and closing activities requiring various approach. Utilizing technology in education within the initial, core, and closing activities requires considering type and form of technology used according to pedagogical aspects (setting learning objectives) and content aspects (depth and breadth of material at each stage). The study results highlighted teachers' competencies on TPACK to effectively support teaching and learning processes in alignment with global needs and challenges.
Estudo dos pilares de ESG - environmental, social and governance – no contexto das empresas brasileiras
Authors: Finageiv Neder Juliana , Affonso Neto Annibal , Andrés Villazón Montalván Roberth , Dos Reis Gomes Paulo Celso
Published: December 2023

Nos últimos anos, o termo ESG tem ganhado especial atenção devido a uma conscientização crescente em relação às responsabilidades sociais, ambientais e de governança corporativa das empresas. O presente estudo buscou identificar a adoção de práticas relativas aos três pilares do ESG, bem como avaliar o grau de aderência das empresas brasileiras a partir da percepção de profissionais que nelas atuam. Utilizou-se a pesquisa descritiva como instrumento de coleta de dados do tipo questionário. Os dados foram tratados com a utilização da estatística descritiva. O estudo procurou contemplar empresas de diversos portes e setores de atuação, e não apenas as empresas listadas na bolsa de valores, para contribuir com estudos acadêmicos relacionados ao entendimento da maturidade das empresas brasileiras em relação às práticas ESG. Ao final do estudo foi possível observar que as empresas brasileiras participantes apresentaram mais práticas e maturidade em relação ao pilar de governança, seguido do pilar social e, por último, do pilar ambiental.
Palavras-chave: ESG; ASG; Gestão da sustentabilidade; Governança corporativa; Sustentabilidade.