bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Site effects exacerbate the building damages from Mw7.8 Turkey Earthquake, 2023
Authors: Song Quan , Ren Yefei , Zhou Baofeng , Yang Yongqiang , Liu Aiwen , Wen Ruizhi , Zhang Yajun , Hui Yingxin
Published: February 2024

It is well-known that the impact of site effects on ground motion is a crucial factor to consider for earthquake disaster protection and mitigation. On February 6, 2023, southeastern Turkey experienced two strong earthquakes with Mw7.0 or greater followed by multiple aftershocks, resulting in significant casualties and economic losses. Field investigations revealed that mid-rise and high-rise buildings in Kahramanmaras and Antakya both situated in the valley, suffered severe damage. In this paper, H/V technique is used to study how site effects affect ground motion and damage in two cities by using S-wave periods based on the records of historical strong motion response and the main earthquakes. The H/V spectral ratio indicates that the predominant frequency tends to be lower near the valley and higher toward the hill slope. The nonlinearity of the site was found to amplify the acceleration response spectrum within a certain range, exceeding the local structure defense standards. Additionally, the observed building natural vibration period and response spectrum indicate a higher likelihood of resonance occurrences in mid-rise and high-rise structures situated in areas of depression. The results demonstrate that site effects exacerbate earthquake damage in Kahramanmaras and Antakya.
Assessing Heavy Metal and Physiochemical Pollution Load of Danro river and its management using floating bed remediation
Authors: Majumdar Aditi , Avishek Kirti
Published: February 2024

River Danro in Garhwa (India) plays a vital role as a significant source of surface water and a crucial tributary of the North Koel River, ultimately joining the Ganga River Basin. Serving both urban-industrial and rural areas, the region faces challenges, including sand mining near Belchampa Ghat. This study aimed to assess physicochemical and heavy metals pollution at nine sampling locations, utilizing the Overall Index of Pollution (OIP), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), and Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI). OIP values indicated excellent surface water quality (0.71) in non-monsoon and slight pollution (6.28) in monsoon. NPI ranged from 0.10 to 1.74 in non-monsoon and from 0.22 (clean) to 27.15 (heavily polluted) in monsoon. HPI results suggested groundwater contamination, particularly by lead. Principal component analysis (PCA) and geospatial mapping showed similar outcomes, highlighting the influence of adjacent land use on water quality. Recognizing the significance of Danro River in sustaining life, livelihoods, and economic growth, the study recommends implementing measures like floating bed remediation and regulatory actions for effective river management.
Aerosol-type classification based on AERONET version 3 data over two megacities of Pakistan
Authors: Zeeshan Muhammad
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the temporal distribution of atmospheric particles over two mega-cities in Pakistan for the period 2015–2023, offering an aerosol-type classification based on the Particle Linear Depolarization Ratio (PLDR) and Single-Scattering Albedo (SSA) at 1020 nm, retrieved by the AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) Version 3.0 Level 2.0 inversion products. Results reveal that Lahore has comparatively higher average values for Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD 440nm) and Ångstroṁ Exponent (AE 440-870nm) than Karachi. The contribution of fine (coarse)--mode aerosols to the total volume concentration dominates at lower (higher) PLDR values. The dust ratio (Rd) parameter indicated that coarse-mode aerosols are dominated at both sites with occurrence rates of 86% at Lahore, and 99% at Karachi, respectively. The atmosphere of Lahore city is mainly affected by pure dust (PD), and Karachi city with pollution-dominated mixture (PDM) aerosols with occurrence rates of 43.16% and 49.14%, respectively, while dust-dominated mixture (DDM) has low-frequency rates (33.91% and 29.63%, respectively). The annual incidence rates for dust-free pollution aerosols (NA, WA, SA, and MA) are lower (25.62% at Lahore, 27.87% at Karachi) at both sites as compared to dust-containing (28.47% at Lahore, 30.43% at Karachi) aerosol type. Weakly absorbing (WA) and non-absorbing (NA) aerosols are dominated as compared to strong absorbing (SA) and moderately absorbing (MA) aerosols. In addition, seasonally, winter season is strongly affected by PD (85.42%) and DDM (54.39%), spring seasons by WA (55.53%) and PDM (68.61%), summer by NA (Lahore: 64.94%, and Karachi: 57.22%), and autumn seasons by WA (Lahore: 51.56%, and Karachi: 49.46%) aerosols, over Lahore and Karachi, respectively.
Variation of migration routes in the Central Asian-breeding Cuculus canorus population influenced by the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Cheng Zhichang , Ma Donghui , Kong Lingwang , Lu Mengjie , Du Xingnan , Bao Xinkang
Published: February 2024

Seasonal climate changes and fluctuations in food resources drive the migratory behavior of birds between their breeding and wintering sites. Migratory birds change their migration routes in response to climate and environmental stresses. Existing studies have indicated that the widely distributed Eurasian Common cuckoo migrates individually during the night, necessitating further research to elucidate its global migration routes. From 2018 to 2021, the migration routes of 13 adult Common cuckoos breeding in the north of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were tracked using satellite trackers. We found that (1) the migration routes of this Common cuckoo population mainly separate into three directions: 8 individuals followed the western routes along the western edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the south, 3 individuals traversed the eastern routes along the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the rest 2 opted for the middle routes across most of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the south. (2) Individual marked with the identifier 201907 exhibited a consistent stopover site selection during autumn migration. However, it changed the breeding area after spring migration. (3) In the context of autumn migration, 4 tracked Common cuckoos (50%) along the western migratory routes exhibited a consistent preference for the Hotan area in Xinjiang as their stopover site. Concurrently, 3 individuals (100%) traversing the eastern migratory route consistently selected stopover locations in the vicinity of Baoshan city, Yunnan. (4) The migration speed of Common cuckoos is significantly higher in spring than in autumn, and the stopover duration of spring migration is significantly lower than that of autumn migration. The daily flight time of spring migration is concentrated between 0–12 clock, while that of autumn migration is between 0–6 clock. (5) Migration routes of the Central Asian Common cuckoo population were limited by the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The population exhibited high levels of plasticity, with individuals with longer wings tending to select the east and middle routes, while shorter wings were observed more frequently in the west route. Our findings reveal that central Asian common cuckoo populations exhibit a preference for a minimum-time strategy during spring migration, with migration routes selected based on wing length.
Feature Selection with PSO and Convolutional Neural Network with Long Short-Term Memory for Medical Application
Authors: ASWATHI R. RAJA , KUMAR K. PAZHANI , RAMAKRISHNAN B.
Published: February 2024

The presence of cardiovascular disease is the main cause of fatalities and illnesses throughout. Predicting heart disease prognosis in medical data analytics is quite difficult. The spectacular amount of unstructured data produced by search has demonstrated that significant features are crucial in enhancing the effectiveness of machine learning models. In this study, the dataset of hospitalised patients' heart failure survivors is analysed. It is important to discover critical characteristics and effective deep-learning methodologies to increase the accuracy of survival prediction for cardiovascular patients. This research is approached by using K-Means segmentation for partitioning data. After segmentation, the highest-ranking features chosen by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are used to train machine learning models. Finally, trained data of patients are classified using a hybrid technique combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM). The classification attains an overall accuracy of 94.63%, thereby supporting experts to predict disease earlier. The examination of the proposed is accomplished through Python Software and the outcomes reveal that the hybrid classification technique performs better metrics when contrasted with state-of-art approaches.
An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis on Person-Centered Thinking Trainer Training in a Korean Context
Authors: YOON JAE YOUNG , Ahn Hyungjin , Park Jaesung
Published: February 2024

Aim: This study aimed to interpret the experiences of Korea's first trainers in Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) training and provide guidelines for future contextually relevant programs.
Design: Utilizing Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research explored subjective experiences of four pioneering PCT trainers in Korea, emphasizing the importance of subjectivity within the training process.
Findings: Four distinct themes emerged, representing the trainers' transformative journey: "Ignition: The Spark of Change," "Illumination: Lighting the Path Ahead," "Guidance: Navigating Progress," and "Introspection: The Destination of Transformation." These encapsulate the nuanced dimensions of their training.
Discussion: The study unravels the complexities of becoming a PCT trainer in Korea, emphasizing training as a transformative journey, surpassing mere skill acquisition. It underscores the need for tailored, contextually-appropriate PCT training.
Conclusion: The findings are vital for developing context-specific PCT training in Korea. They offer insights shaping PCT's future direction, particularly highlighting the significance of understanding and addressing relationships within the training system.
Effect of Time and Photoactivated Face on Bond Strength of Brackets and on Degree of Monomer Conversion
Authors: Cruz Itanielly Dantas Silveira , de Sena Lorena Marques Ferreira , Fernandes Eloisa Cesario , Moreno Mariana Cabral , Souza Rodrigo Othávio de Assunção e , Alves Arthur César de Medeiros , Caldas Sergei Godeiro Fernandes Rabelo , Simplício Hallissa
Published: February 2024

Objective
was to evaluate the effect of different photoactivation protocols of a high-power photo activator on the shear bond strength (SBS) between metal brackets and dental enamel and on the degree of conversion (DC) of an orthodontic resin.
Material and Methods
40 bovine incisor crowns were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 10). The brackets were bonded with Transbond XT® resin using 4 protocols according to the “photoactivation protocol” factor which was subdivided into: photoactivated faces and photoactivation time. All the samples were stored for 4 months (water,37ºC) and then subjected to a SBS test (100KgF,1mm/min). 40 resin discs were made to evaluate the monomer degree of conversion. Data from the SBS and DC were assessed by One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test (5%). Bond failures were analyzed according to the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) and evaluated by the Kruskal-Wallis test (5%).
Results
One protocol showed a clinically acceptable SBS value. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.008) in the One-way ANOVA result for SBS values, but the protocols showed statistically similar results (p ≥ 0.05–Tukey’s tests) concerning the photoactivated faces and photoactivation time factors individually. There was no statistically significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in the One-way ANOVA result for DC values.
Conclusion
The SBS and DC values will vary depending on the protocol applied and 6 seconds-centered activation seems to be the most suitable for clinical practice.
Clinical Relevance: It is possible to maintain the bracket fixation quality with the use of a high-power LED photo activator associated with a shorter photoactivation time.
A Composite Innovation Factor based on the Constrained MAR Model
Authors: Xin Ling , Wang Xiaohang , Yu Philip L.H.
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this paper is to measure firms’ innovativeness by integrating multiple indicators of R&D activities. In each year, observations from homogeneous firms naturally form a matrix with each column (row) for a firm and each row (column) for an indicator. We propose to monitor the matrix-valued observations over time via a constrained matrix autoregressive (MAR) model and to estimate a latent factor, named the composite innovation factor (CIF), which drives the comovement of multiple indicators. We develop the estimation procedure for the constrained MAR model by means of the iterated least squares method and the inference procedure by bootstrapping. The proposed model contributes to building linkages among different dimensions of R&D activities. It monitors the commonality and interplay of multiple indicators with minimum parameters, captures the persistency through time in innovation activities, and enables each firm to have a unique persistency coefficient. The CIF estimation facilitates the peer and trend analysis of firms’ innovativeness, and it is promptly and easily implemented. In real data analysis, we adopt classification tests to compare innovation evaluation by our estimated CIF and by reputable ranking organizations.
A numerical technique for solving fractional optimal control problems using fractional wavelet method
Authors: Singh Akanksha , Ray S.
Published: February 2024

This manuscript presents an efficient numerical method for solving fractional optimal control problems using an operational matrix for a fractional wavelet. Using well-known formulae such as Caputo and Riemann-Liouville operators to determine fractional derivatives and integral fractional wavelets, operational matrices were devised and utilized to solve fractional optimal control problems. The proposed method reduced the fractional optimal control problems into a system of algebraic equations and apply the Lagrange multiplier technique for determining the cost value. The convergence analysis and error bound of the proposed scheme have been established. To validate the effectiveness of the presented numerical approach, some illustrative examples were solved using fractional Taylor and Taylor wavelets, and the approximate cost function value derived by approximating state and control functions was compared.
MSC Classification: 49J15 , 49N10 , 65T60 , 26A33.
An optoelectronic Portable Device for Real-Time Nitrate Detection in Water
Authors: Saxena Gaurav , Joshi Amit M. , Sahu Chitrakant
Published: February 2024

The utilization of autonomous devices has disrupted conventional digital monitoring across diverse domains, particularly impacting environmental monitoring, agriculture, healthcare, as well as healthcare diagnostics. These contemporary autonomous deployables in the field enable dependable testing, gathering of data, and swift transmission of information. Among a variety of prevalent identifying techniques, the spectrophotometric approach stands out for its ability to precisely detect environmental samples at very low concentrations, offering cost-effectiveness and user-friendly operation. Consequently, this study focuses on designing a standalone, handy real-time nitrate concentration detection in water samples, employing readily available light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodi-odes with a peak response matching the absorption wavelength of the quartz cuvette in the spectrophotometric detection device. The end product is a portable, extremely sensitive, economical, and energy-efficient device. It integrates a display for offline transfer of information. In a proof-of-concept scenario, nitrate samples were spectrophotometrically tested, detecting nitrate in the linear range of 10–140 mg/L with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0072 mg/L. With suitable modifications to the optoelectronic components, the developed spectrophotometric detection platform could potentially be adapted to sense various analytes.
Behavior and injuries of phytophagous mites on apple trees (Malus domestica: Rosaceae)
Authors: Rode Priscila Andrade , Schneider Júlia Renata , Mariano Cristina Jardim Cezar , Matthes Ronice Drebel , Castro Iury Silva , Ferla Noeli Juarez
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to assess the behavior of phytophagous mites, including conspecific and heterospecific effects, and the injuries caused by them at different population levels on apple tree leaves (Malus domestica: Rosaceae). The oviposition of Panonychus ulmi (Koch) was evaluated on apple tree leaves with the presence of webs, eggs, and cues of phytophagous mites (Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa), P. ulmi, Tetranychus urticae Koch, and Tetranychus ludeni Zacher). The response to different infestation levels of P. ulmi, T. urticae, and T. ludeni on apple tree leaves was assessed through chlorophyll A, B, and total chlorophyll indices and membrane stability loss. The presence of conspecific webs and cues increased the oviposition of P. ulmi, while the presence of A. schlechtendali and T. urticae webs and eggs decreased oviposition. The presence of A. schlechtendali cues also led to a decline in P. ulmi oviposition. Leaves infested with T. urticae showed higher chlorophyll loss, leaves infested by P. ulmi and T. ludeni had decreased chlorophyll averages in treatments with 25 mites/leaf and above. The evaluation of membrane stability loss identified T. ludeni as a potential cause of injuries in apple trees. The evaluations indicated that the higher the number of mites on the leaf surface, the larger the damaged area. This work warning to the apple production chain for monitoring infestations and preventing a potential threat to culture. These results provide a foundation for further research on the potential of apple tree phytophagous mites and their interactions, both among herbivores and with predators.
Conventional and microfluidic methods: Design and optimization of lipid-polymeric hybrid nanoparticles for gene therapy
Authors: González-García Daniel , Tapia Olga , Évora Carmen , García-García Patricia , Delgado Araceli
Published: February 2024

Gene therapy holds significant promise as a therapeutic approach for addressing a diverse range of diseases through the suppression of overexpressed proteins and the restoration of impaired cell functions. Developing a nanocarrier that can efficiently load and release genetic material into cells remains a challenge. In this study, lipid-polymeric hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) with PLGA, DC-cholesterol, and DOPE-mPEG2000 were produced by single-step nanoprecipitation (SSN) and microfluidic (MF) methods. The optimized nanoparticles by SSN have a size of 149.9 ± 18.07 nm, a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.23 ± 0.02, and a zeta potential of (ZP) of 29.34 ± 2.44 mV, while by MF the size was 179.8 ± 6.3, a PdI of 0.24 ± 0.01, and a ZP of 32.25 ± 1.36 mV. Furthermore, LPHNPs prepared with GapmeR-protamine by both methods exhibit a high encapsulation efficiency of approximately 90%. The encapsulated GapmeR is completely released in 24 h. The LPHNP suspensions are stable for up to 6 h in 10% FBS at pH 5.4 and 7.4. By contrast, LPHNPs remain stable in suspension in 4.5% albumin at pH 7.4 for 24 h. Additionally, LPHNPs are successfully freeze-dried using 2.5 and 5% trehalose for long-term storage. The LPHNPs produced by MF and SSN increase 1.8–3.2 fold GapmeR cell uptake, respectively. They also endosomally escape in approximately 80%. The developed LPHNPs will be useful for targeting gene therapies.
Exploring the Impact of Smog on Healthy Male Rat Physiology: A Holistic Approach Integrating Behavior, Immunology, Histopathology, and Antibiotic- Resistant Gene
Authors: Khan Muhammad Imran , Amin Arshia
Published: February 2024

This study has investigated the repercussions of extended exposure to smog on the behavioral, immunological, and histopathological dimensions in healthy male rats. The research utilized an experimental design with two groups, each comprising 12 rats. Group I, identified as the control group, was further divided into subgroups (A-Islamabad & B-Lahore) and placed in a smog-free environment. Group II, the test group, was also subdivided into subgroups (A-Islamabad & B-Lahore) and exposed to a smog-laden atmosphere for a 60-day duration. Following this exposure period, comprehensive behavioral and immunological testing was conducted. Subsequently, the rats were humanely euthanized through cervical dislocation for an in-depth histopathological analysis of lung tissues. Behavioral assessments included the open field test, evaluating locomotion, anxiety, and exploratory tendencies. The Y-maze test assessed spontaneous alternation and working memory. These evaluations aimed to unveil the impact of smog exposure on the mental well-being of the rats. Immunological analyses involved the collection of blood samples for the assessment of levels of CD4 and CD8, providing insights into oxidative stress in both control and test groups. Following the comprehensive testing, the animals were sacrificed, and lung tissues were meticulously separated for subsequent histopathological examination. Further, metagenomic analysis of smog-exposed rat lung tissues reveal antibiotic resistant gene profiles. The research has successfully revealed potential alterations in behavior, immunological, and histopathology induced by prolonged smog exposure in healthy male rats. The outcomes of this study contribute significantly to our understanding of the health implications associated with environmental smog pollution.
Study on the influence of Amorphophallus muelleri and flue-cured tobacco rotation on the soil microbial community in Southwest China
Authors: 农 晚意 , Lu Chao , Li Hongyu , Lu Wei , Liu Shuai , Zhang Tiehuai , Liu Fawei , Liu Zengjie , Huang Feiyan , Lin Jiang , Yu Lei
Published: February 2024

The continuous cropping of tobacco soil is an obstacle in current flue-cured tobacco production. To explore the effects of the different planting patterns on soil nutrients and microbial community structure, soil samples from the Amorphophallus muelleri continuous cropping (MMT1), A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco rotation (MKT2) and flue-cured tobacco continuous cropping (KKT3) systems were collected at the same experimental site. The characteristics and relationships between the soil microbial community and soil nutrients under the different planting patterns were analyzed via Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the soil organic matter content, hydrolyzable nitrogen content and pH value in the A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco rotation treatment were significantly higher than those in the other two treatments. The composition of the soil microbial communities under the different planting patterns was similar at the phylum level, but the relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Mortierellomycota and Basidiomycota in the A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco rotation treatment were 0.31, 0.56 and 0.39 times higher than those in A. muelleri continuous cropping and flue-cured tobacco continuous cropping, respectively. The abundance of Ascomycota in the flue-cured tobacco continuous cropping treatment was 0.02 times higher than that in the A. muelleri continuous cropping of A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the abundances of Sphingomonas, Arthrobacter, Bacillus and Mortierella in the A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco rotation treatment were 0.84, 0.006, 0.36 and 0.07 times higher than those in the A. muelleri continuous cropping, and 0.78, 1.41 and 0.24 times higher than those in the flue-cured tobacco continuous cropping treatment. The dominant bacteria and fungi were significantly correlated with the soil nutrients. From the perspective of microbial function, the bacterial KEGG enrichment pathway of the tested soil samples was mainly the metabolism pathway. The energy metabolism, carbohydrate and amino acid gene abundances of the soil bacterial community after A. muelleri + flue-cured tobacco rotation were higher than those after A. muelleri continuous cropping and flue-cured tobacco continuous cropping. The rotation planting pattern plays a positive role in regulating soil nutrients, improving the microbial community structure and increasing the functional metabolism of beneficial bacteria. The results of this study can provide a reference for the production of high-quality flue-cured tobacco.
In Silico Drug Discovery: Unveiling Potential Targets in Plasmodium falciparum through Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Murugesan  , kaleeswaran
Published: February 2024

The most significant human health problem is malaria, caused by the Plasmodium parasite and affecting nearly half of the global population. Malaria results in an annual death toll ranging from 1.2 to 2.7 million worldwide. Consequently, there is a pressing need for novel active ingredients with targeted effects to curb the worldwide spread of malaria. The objective of the present research was to explore innovative pharmacological molecules and employ bioinformatics methods for the development of effective anti-malarial drugs. As part of the latest anti-malarial chemical development, our study identified seven drug combinations from various databases demonstrating drug-like properties and robust anti-malarial activity in silico. Dioncophyllin-A, hugorosenone, marmesine, oxyprotostemonin, pachyrrhizin, plumbagin, and stemocurtisin were subjected to docking against the hexokinase-1 protein (PDB: 1CZA). Among the pachyrrhizin compounds, the one with the highest docking score (-9.9 kcal/mol) was directed towards the 1CZA protein. Through superimposing the target and template structures, the active centres of the hexokinase I protein were identified, revealing structurally identical folds and undoubtedly conserved active sites. The SWISS-ADME tool was employed to assess the excellent absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of the investigated drug candidates. In summary, our research identifies seven potential anti-malarial drug combinations with strong in silico activity. We've elucidated their interaction with the hexokinase-1 protein and assessed their favourable pharmacokinetic properties. These findings represent a significant step toward developing effective treatments for malaria, emphasizing the importance of further experimental validation and clinical studies.
a Care Regime Typology of Elder, Long-Term Care Institutions
Authors: Damme Maike van , Spijker Jeroen , Pavlopoulos Dimitris
Published: February 2024

This study generates a classification of 26 European OECD countries with respect to care regimes. We build upon the literature on the dimensions of defamilialization and familialism and empirically test how these two dimensions indicate different types of care regimes. Using Latent Profile Analysis, we group the 26 countries based on five indicators of institutional elderly care. These indicators cover formal elder care support in care in kind as well as in financial support. The results reveal three care regime types: ‘defamilialized’; ‘medium familialism’; and ‘familialism-by-default’. This classification contributes to developing a theoretical framework of care institutions.
A Post COVID-19 Analytics of African Users Perception of Online Learning
Authors: Abdulkareem Zainab Olorunbukademi , Folajimi Yetunde , Abdulkareem Sulyman Age
Published: February 2024

This study explores the potentials of user-generated text on twitter to offer insights into the pre- and post-COVID'19 attitude on e-learning users in Africa. First, we manually assigned positive, negative or neutral sentiment to each of the 1193 tweets collected based on their content. From the sentiment tagging, we found that half of the tweets posted about e-learning are neutral, 27% are negative and 23% are positive sentiments. Furthermore, we evaluated the tested the predictive accuracy of VADER and TextBlob automatic sentiment assigning Phython Libraries. By comparing the VANDER and TextBlob results to the manually assigned sentiments, we found the accuracy to be low at 51% and 45% respectively. This calls for more research to improve sentiments prediction of African tweets. Thus, we report our findings, including data analytics of the extracted tweets, and our future plans to create a model that would take African slangs and expressions into consideration for better sentiments prediction of African tweets.
Keynote Talk: AI at Africa's Crossroads: Extractive or Generative Future?
Authors: Eglash Ron
Published: February 2024

In African traditions, the crossroads is where the trickster makes his/her appearance. Eshu, Legba, Anansi and others create complexity when our decisions fold back on themselves. AI has created yet another crossroads, and again the trickster brings surprises. What might have seemed like Africa’s worst challenges-“underdeveloped” from the colonial perspective-could be the basis by which computational aids can facilitate more sustainable and egalitarian futures. Blending the heritage algorithms of Africa’s past with full stack decolonization can guide us through the crossroads, on the path towards generative justice.
FALKNORS NEEDLING TECHNIQUE IN THE TREATMENT OF PALMOPLANTAR WARTS: A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Authors:   Post Graduate, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy., Nikhil Pathulothu , Seeram Ravi Srinivasa ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy., Susmitha Meda ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy., Suresh Kumar B. ,   Professor and HOD, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy.
Published: February 2024

Objectives- The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Falknor's needling procedure for the treatment of Palmoplantar warts. Materials and Methods: Between July 2022 and June 2023, an open-label, prospective non -randomized study was conducted on patients attending the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. A study group comprised of 50 patients with multiple palmoplantar warts was selected as subjects. The index wart of eligible patients was punctured several times with a 26 gauge needle to produce a beefy red wound. Adverse effects were noted and study participants were followed up for 6 months. Results: Out of 50 patients, complete resolution was seen in 38[76%] patients and partial response in 7 [14%] patients, while 5 [10%] patients developed secondary infection. Conclusion: Falknors needling for treatment of palmoplantar warts gives a higher rate of complete resolution after a single session with less recurrence rate. Limitations: small sample size, no comparison group Key Words: Needling technique, Palmoplantar warts.
Resilience and vulnerability of Ukrainians: The role of family during the war
Authors: Kostenko Andriana , Semenov Volodymyr , Osetrova Oksana , Kubatko Oleksandr , Nazarov Mykola , Stepanov Vitalii
Published: February 2024

The full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine led to numerous physical and moral challenges. The paper aims to estimate the role of family as a social resilience driver in managing wartime challenges on a regional level. It used the online survey method based on Google Forms and online focus-group interviews in September-November 2022. Household members (1,089 respondents) of Kyiv, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Dnipropetrovsk territorial communities were surveyed. Most respondents generally positively assess Ukraine’s prospects; 59% believe that the situation in the country will most likely improve. During war escalation, 67.2% of respondents waited for family support, and 48.8% helped their relatives, but relying on family support did not increase their safety expectations. In communities that did not increase their activity level in response to the war by one percentage point, the “feeling unsafe” responses increased by 1.8 percentage points, which means that an active civil position is also responsible for feeling safe (other things being equal) and increasing society’s resilience. At the same time, even in wartime, the indicators of social atomization are quite high, as 46.2% relied only on themselves and solved their problems independently, without anyone’s help. Therefore, developing family relations is one of the effective mechanisms for raising internal human resources to manage wartime challenges.
AcknowledgmentThis study was supported by a project “Digital transformations to ensure civil protection and post-war economic recovery in the face of environmental and social challenges” (№0124U000549) and “Economic and energy security of Ukraine in the conditions of war and post-war reconstruction: disruptive technologies for sustainable development” (№0123U103593).
Erratum in the article “Algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic tonsillitis”
Authors: Editorial Article
Published: February 2024

.
Infective endocarditis presentations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Have they paid an untold toll?
Authors: Elamragy Ahmed , Samir Ahmad , Maher Ahmed , Rizk Hussein , Mashaal Marwa
Published: February 2024

Background: COVID-19 caused restrictions and re-allocation of medical resources among all healthcare services. During the peak of the pandemic, several unrelated–yet critical–conditions had silently taken their toll. Infective endocarditis (IE), owing to its non-specific clinical presentation, may have been largely mislabeled as COVID-19 in a number of cases.
Results: This retrospective observational study reviewed all IE presentations at an IE unit in a university hospital during the peak of COVID-19. Patient characteristics, courses, and outcomes were compared with historical controls from our IE database published before the COVID era. We identified 30 IE cases [Group A] during the COVID-19 peak in our region (June 2021 to June 2022), with a 25% decrease compared to the usual annual rate. This is in contrast to the expected surge during the pandemic. Compared with group B (398 published IE cases from our database), group A had significantly longer symptoms-to-presentation intervals (60 [31–92] vs. 28 [14–72] days, p = 0.01). Male sex dominated both groups, but group A had significantly less pre-existing structural heart disease. Despite the more liberal use of empirical antibiotics in the COVID-era, group-A had lower rates of culture-negative IE. Compared to group B, group A demonstrated a better response to medical therapy, fewer arterial embolizations, fewer indications for surgery, and fewer overall complications, except for increased acute kidney injury. This can be explained by the abundant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The data analysis strongly suggests that there might have been a natural selection or selection bias of IE patients with favorable profiles to survive the pandemic to the appropriate diagnosis.
Conclusions: The diagnosis of IE and commencing the appropriate workup were significantly undermined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The inexplicable decline in IE referral rate and the favorable outcomes witnessed during the pandemic strongly suggest a referral bias and natural selection of those who survived the pandemic to the appropriate IE diagnosis.
Paclitaxel-eluting stents versus paclitaxel-coated balloons in coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: De Liyis Bryan Gervais , Aryaweda Made Dhiyo Wiweka , Suastika Luh Oliva Saraswati
Published: February 2024

The efficacy of drug-coated balloons (DCB) versus drug-eluting stents (DES) for coronary artery disease (CAD) remains inconclusive. Despite paclitaxel's common use in both DES and DCB, there is a lack of meta-analyses comparing paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) and paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCB). This meta-analysis aims to evaluate and compare DES and DCB outcomes using paclitaxel. A Systematic literature search in Medline and Cochrane databases yielded six randomized controlled trials with 951 patients (1:1 ratio). Primary endpoints were mortality, target lesion vascularization (TLV), myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Secondary endpoints included in-device binary stenosis, in-segment binary stenosis, late luminal loss (LLL), post minimal lumen diameter (MLD), and post diameter stenosis. Within the study populations, the incidence of previous MI was significantly lower in the PES group compared to the PCB group (26.70% vs. 39.22%, OR:0.56, 95%CI:0.41–0.76, p=0.0002).  The meta-analysis results showed that mortality (OR:1.57, 95%CI:0.67-3.66, p=0.29), TLV (OR:0.74, 95%CI:0.37-1.48, p=0.39), MI (OR:1.76, 95%CI:0.79-3.88, p=0.16), TVR (OR:0.76, 95%CI:0.51-1.12, p=0.16), and MACEs (OR:1.11, 95%CI:0.48-2.58, p=0.81) did not exhibit significant differences between PES and PCB group in CAD. Furthermore, in stent or in balloon binary stenosis (OR:0.80, 95%CI:0.34-1.87, p=0.60), in segment binary stenosis (OR:1.16, 95%CI:0.48-2.80, p=0.74), LLL (MD:0.03, 95%CI:-0.11 to 0.17, p=0.65), post MLD (MD:0.04, 95%CI:-0.23 to 0.30, p=0.77), and post diameter stenosis (MD:-5.48, 95%CI:-13.88 to 2.92, p=0.20) were similar in both groups. Our comprehensive analysis concludes that both PES and PCB manifest comparable effectiveness and safety in the management of CAD.
Identification of surfactin lipopeptides isoforms produced by a newly isolated strain Bacillus sp. MI27 with potential use as main ingredients in detergent formulation: Application of mixture design for the formulation of a bio-based detergent
Authors: Mnif Ines , Ghoul Marwa , Bouassida Mouna , Segovia Roser , Ghribi Dhouha , Rabanal Anglada Francesc
Published: February 2024

The purification and characterization of lipopeptide biosurfactants produced by Bacillus sp. MI27 permits to identify two clusters of cyclic and linear surfactin isoforms. Aiming for a potential application in industrial biotechnology, we studied its potential washing capacity. The results show a good ability to wash oil stains, motor oil and mayonnaise evaluated by the determination of the % of stain removal and tissue bleaching indices after washing. Optimal washing capacities were unregistered for 300 and 400 mg/L at pH values ranging from 5 to 9 and temperatures ranging from 20 to 40°C. Using a 4-factor mixing design, we optimized a liquid formula composed only of BioS; silicate; carboxymethyl cellulose and calcium phosphate. The washing efficiency of the formula is of the order of 43.46% for petroleum and 49.10% for motor oil with a percentage reduction in surface tension of about 55.79% corresponding to 25.7 mN/m.
Development of MXene for removal of lead (Pb+) ions from wastewater
Authors: Kagalkar Abhishek , Dharaskar Swapnil , Chaudhari Nitin
Published: February 2024

A new family of 2D materials with enhanced properties than graphene plays a crucial role in environmental remediation and sustainability. The concentration of heavy metal ions in wastewater is an emerging issue in the global scenario. Heavy metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium, etc. are natural carcinogens and adversely affect environmental species, which tend to have potential activities on the surface of the new families. Lead poisoning is a very raising issue in some parts of India and is a major effluent disposed of to the waterbodies from various industrial streams. The removal of the lead components is studied in this research using adsorption experimentation using MXene as the surface-active adsorbent. The possible mechanism for lead removal from wastewater is also discussed, as well as the effective regeneration and reusability of the adsorbent over long adsorption cycles. MXenes were applied after the confirmation using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta-potential. The induced coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy confirms the lead remediation by over 96% in the first adsorption cycle, which was then reduced to over 92% in the second adsorption cycle. The lead contamination was under the permissible limits as per the water standards.
Assessment of the impact of land cover changes on sediment yield: a case study
Authors: Güvel Şerife Pınar
Published: February 2024

Land use is one of the most important variables impacting river basin water and land resource planning and management. Sediment transport in streams is an important issue in the assessment of sediment deposition in dam reservoirs and its impact on operational activities. Evaluation of sediment yield contributes to decision-makers for effective water management and protection of the dam body and its elements. In this study, land use cover changes, in particular in forest areas, agricultural areas, arable lands, permanent crops, heterogeneous agricultural areas, and pastures in the Çakıt and Körkün sub-basins of the Seyhan River basin were examined between 1990 and 2018 using CORINE land use cover (CLC) data. The effect of land use/land cover (LULC) modifications on sediment yield was studied using suspended sediment observation data and CLC data. It was determined that the forest area in the Çakıt sub-basin drainage area increased between 1990 and 2018, and decreased in the Körkün sub-basin. It was determined that the increase in forest area in the Çakıt sub-basin drainage region until 2018 helped to reduce sediment movement. The regression values between forest area and suspended sediment concentration in Çakıt and Körkün sub-basins were found to be 0.9521 and 0.4431, respectively.
A importância da construção de redes de conhecimento em IES
Authors: Jorge Carlos Francisco Bitencourt , Valentim Marta Lígia Pomim , Sutton Michael J. D.
Published: February 2024

As Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) estão inseridas em ambientes com um número inimaginável de informações e conhecimentos. Isso proporciona a construção de redes de informações e conhecimentos extremamente dinâmicas. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma IES do estado de São Paulo, dotando-se do método de estudo de caso, permitindo a construção da rede de conhecimento da IES. Realizou-se o mapeamento das fontes e fluxos de informações e conhecimentos. O resultado proporcionou a construção do sociograma da IES, demonstrando as relações de acesso de conhecimentos e informações entre indivíduos da instituição e ao ambiente externo. Demonstrou-se que as fontes e fluxos de conhecimento existentes proporcionam sustentação para a construção de novas inteligências e conhecimentos. Identificou-se também a centralização desses recursos em indivíduos do ambiente interno, bem como a pouca percepção da importância das fontes e fluxos externos. Gerou-se recomendações para a IES realizar melhor uso desses recursos de maneira estruturada.
Zilda Arns, uma intelectual militante e sua relação com a Educação Popular e a Pastoral da Criança
Authors: Thomé Adriana , Orlando Evelyn de Almeida , Mesquida Peri
Published: February 2024

O artigo objetiva apresentar a médica Zilda Arns como mulher intelectual e sua relação com a Pastoral da Criança e a Educação Popular. Para tal compilação, será apresentada a trajetória de vida de Zilda Arns articulada ao contexto histórico da Pastoral da Criança e da Educação Popular. A pergunta norteadora da pesquisa é: Qual a relação da intelectual Zilda Arns com a Pastoral da Criança e a Educação Popular? O aporte teórico está centrado em Paulo Freire (1967; 1970; 1982; 1989; 2005; 2007), Zilda Arns (1996; 2003; 2000; 2010), Brandão (1984; 2005), Orlando (2021), Sapiro (2012) e Batalha (2003). O método utilizado para o desenvolvimento do estudo foi a hermenêutica fenomenológica, com abordagem qualitativa. Os resultados apontaram que Zilda Arns foi uma intelectual militante, que aproximou sua visão de mundo ao pensamento de Paulo Freire, teórico prático da Educação Popular, e assim implementou a Pastoral da Criança, por meio do diálogo e conscientização.
Análisis del Marketing experiencial en la satisfacción del cliente en el sector gastronómico de Guayaquil
Authors:   Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cristellot Paredes Aldo Milenko , Cueva Estrada Jorge ,   Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Sumba Nacipucha Nicolas ,   Universidad Politécnica Salesiana
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Gastronomy in Ecuador has become a key economic engine of the country. Therefore, experiential marketing appears in the gastronomic industry, seeking to transform the visit to a restaurant into an unforgettable experience, strengthening the connection between establishments and their customers; Objective: to analyze experiential marketing in customer satisfaction in the gastronomic sector of Guayaquil, Ecuador; Methodology: an empirical, non-experimental research design was developed, with a descriptive approach and of a cross- sectional nature. Observation was used as a scientific tool to identify the experience marketing strategies being employed by restaurants; and an ad-hoc questionnaire was designed and applied to 384 consumers of theme restaurants to determine their perception of the various strategies implemented by the restaurants; Results: The gastronomic diversity of Guayaquil, enriched by multiple cultures, stands out. Consumers value experiential marketing strategies, mainly emotional and sensory. Conclusions: It is recommended to innovate in strategies, such as menu customization and use of digital technology, and to adopt sustainable practices. The findings, although focused on Guayaquil, may have relevance in similar cities, suggesting the need for future quantitative research
User Experience Evaluation of a Spinal Surgery Robot: Workload, Usability, and Satisfaction Study
Authors: Choi Hyeonkyeong , Kim Seunghee , Jang Wonseuk
Published: February 2024

Background

Robotic spine surgery has continued to evolve since its US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2004, with products now including real-time video guidance and navigation during surgery. As the market for robotic surgical devices evolves, it is important to consider usability factors.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to determine the user experience of a surgical-assistive robotic device. The secondary objective was to evaluate workload, usability, the After-Scenario Questionnaire (ASQ), and the System Usability Scale (SUS). In addition, this study compares the workload, usability, and satisfaction survey of the device among different occupational groups using the device.

Methods

Doctors (n=15) and nurses (n=15), the intended users of the surgical assistant robot, participated in the usability evaluation. Participants performed essential scenarios for the surgical assistant robot and provided scenario-specific satisfaction (ASQ), workload (NASA Task Load Index), and usability (SUS) scores.

Results

Both doctors and nurses had task success rates of 85% or higher for each scenario. ASQ results showed that both doctors and nurses were least satisfied with ease of completing the task of registration (group 1: mean 4.73, SD 1.57 and group 2: mean 4.47, SD 1.8), amount of time it took (group 1: mean 4.47, SD 1.63 and group 2: mean 4.40, SD 2.09), and support information satisfaction (group 1: mean 5.13, SD 1.50 and group 2: mean 5.13, SD 1.89). All participants had low workloads, and the overall Task Load Index score had a P value of .77, which is greater than .05. The SUS results showed that the overall usability mean for doctors was 64.17 (SD 16.52) and the mean for nurses was 61.67 (SD 19.18), with a P value of .84, which is greater than .05, indicating no difference between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

In this study, doctors and nurses evaluated the interaction of the device in a simulated environment, the operating room. By evaluating the use experience and usability of the device with real intended users, we can develop a more effective and convenient user interface.