bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pemanfaatan Wordwall sebagai Media Pembelajaran Interaktif di SD Negeri 27 Palembang
Authors: Ayuhazari Sheny , Waliyyu Friska Sari  , Yeni permata sari  , Syarifuddin
Published: September 2024

Artikel ini akan membahas bagaimana Wordwall dapat digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran interaktif di Sekolah Dasar (SD) dan memberikan materi yang relevan untuk referensi lebih lanjut. Media Wordwall efektif digunakan sebagai alat pembelajaran di sekolah dasar karena memberikan pembelajaran yang menyenangkan dan interaktif. Hal ini terlihat dari banyaknya fitur yang tersedia, mulai dari template yang bisa diubah, tema yang bisa ditempelkan ke dalam website, bisa diedit lagi, bisa dibagikan, bisa dijadikan tugas untuk peserta didik. Dengan menggunakan Wordwall ini, saya yakin Anda dapat belajar secara intuitif. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif dengan penelitian kualitatif yang menggunakan  teknik pengumpulan data yaitu wawancara, angket, dan studi pustataka. Pengaruh dari penggunaan media ini, media wordwall dapat meningkatkan minat belajar peserta didik. Hal ini terlihat dari aktivitas peserta didik, dimana kriteria penilaian observasi diukur melalui beberapa indikator. Penelitian ini dibatasi pada bahan yang digunakan dan media yang digunakan untuk mengolah bahan tersebut. Penelitian ini dapat menjadi tolak ukur dan menjadi sumber media pengetahuan terkait yang dapat digunakan oleh para pendidik lainnya dalam pengajaran bahasa Indonesia pada tingkat kedua. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga dapat menjadi referensi bagi peneliti selanjutnya. Dengan keuntungan meningkatkan keterlibatan peserta didik, memudahkan adaptasi terhadap materi, mendukung pembelajaran mandiri, dan meningkatkan keterampilan berpikir kritis, dinding kata dapat menjadi bagian penting dalam strategi pengajaran modern. Jika digunakan dengan benar, dinding kata dapat membantu guru menjadikan pembelajaran lebih menarik dan efektif.
Position of the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary in the sections of Western Mongolia according to the malacological data
Authors: Parkhaev P. Yu. , Zhegallo E. A. , Dorjnamjaa D.
Published: September 2024

The Early Permian (275.3 ± 3.1 Ma) 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of detrital mica (Cr-phengite) from clasts in listvenite sandstones of the ophiolite-derived clastic sequence of the Rassokha Terrane of the Chersky Range probably corresponds (or is close) to the time of the formation of listvenites of the provenance (ophiolitic massifs of the range) and restricts the maximum deposition age of clastic rocks. A partial loss of Ar by mica as a result of deformations and postsedimentation transformation of rocks of the ophiolite-derived clastic sequence in the Early Permian is possible but it is less probable.
Forms of occurrence metals and metalloids in products of the Mutnovsky volcano gas-hydrothermal activity
Authors: Shevko A. Ya. , Gora M. P. , Shevko E. P. , Bortnikova S. B.
Published: September 2024

On the basis of concentrate analysis of the Mutnovsky volcano thermal sites substance, new data of the ore elements forms of occurrence were obtained. In the course of large-scale hydrothermal alteration of volcanic rocks, with the participation of magmatic fluids and meteoric waters, metals and metalloids are transported to the surface, which are concentrated in the form of the main or impurity components of new-forming minerals. Sulfides of copper, zinc, mercury, silver and barium sulfate are confidently diagnosed, in which, in addition to mineral-forming Zn, Cu, Hg, Ag and Ba, admixtures of Mn, Cd, Sr, I, Cl, Te, Pb are present. Micron-sized phases were found containing Ru, Os and Ir (laurite), Pb (galena) as the main components, as well as intermetallic compounds (Fe–Ni), (Fe–Ir–Os), (Pb–Bi), (Bi–Te) and native Au. Most of the new-forming mineral individuals are associated with a mineral of the pyrite-marcasite group, which contains admixtures of As, Cu, Ni, and Co. Platinoids Os, Ir, Ru among the new-forming minerals within the East Kamchatka volcanic belt were discovered for the first time.
On modeling seismicity in seismic hazard assessment problems
Authors: Shebalin P. N. , Baranov S. B. , Vorobieva I. A. , Grekov Е. M. , Krushelnitskii К. V. , Skorkina A. A. , Selyutskaya О. V.
Published: September 2024

Seismicity modeling is an important part of creating General Seismic Zoning maps within the framework of a probabilistic approach. We consider the main disadvantages of individual elements of the recent seismicity models. A variant of the methodology is proposed, which, due to the improvements of those elements, should provide more accurate estimates of the future seismicity. For the first time, a stochastic seismicity model has been proposed in the form of a synthetic earthquake catalog, generated for an arbitrary conditional period and reproducing the properties of the catalog of actual earthquakes, including spatiotemporal grouping. A methodology for verifying seismicity models is proposed to check the compliance of the models with the initial data, to assess the predictive efficiency of the models, and to compare efficiency of different models.
Acceleration of Antarctica glaciers at high subglacial heat flow
Authors: Lobkovsky L. I. , Baranov А. А. , Ramazanov M. M.
Published: September 2024

High subglacial heat flow and volcanic activity in West Antarctica contribute to instability and accelerated flow into the ocean of the West Antarctic ice sheet. In this case, a catastrophic rise in sea level by tens of centimeters – the first meters can occur in a very short geological time (years-decades) due to the rapid sliding of large masses of ice in West Antarctica into the ocean. If the Pine Island (50 cm sea level rise) or Thwaites (65 cm sea level rise) glaciers slide into the ocean, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will lose support from these glaciers and may begin to collapse. In this case, the sea level will rise by a few meters. Based on Glen’s rheological law for a two-dimensional model of the movement of ice as a nonlinear viscous fluid, the flow velocities of a 3000 m thick glacier were calculated under conditions of adhesion to the bed (~20 m/year) and under conditions of sliding along the bedrock when the lower edge of the glacier melts due to increased heat flow from below (~3000 m/year). These velocities are in good agreement with the velocities of the Pine Island, Thwaites, Amery, Denman and Totten glaciers. The rapid movement of some outlet glaciers in East Antarctica is also likely caused by melting of their bases, suggesting increased subglacial heat flow in these areas of East Antarctica.
On-site provision of family planning services in factory settings in Egypt [in Arabic]
Authors: Abdel-Tawab Nahla , Abou El-Fadl Reham , El Khorazaty Noha , Alam Eldin Tarek
Published: September 2024

Between February 2023 and May 2024, the Population Council, in partnership with the Egyptian Chamber of Apparel and Home Textile Industries (ECAHT) and with support from the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo, assessed the acceptability, effectiveness and cost of an intervention that combines raising awareness of family planning/reproductive health with on-site provision of family planning services. The intervention, known as the “Our Health is Our Capital” project, was implemented in 10 garment factories in El Amereya Free Investment Zone. Results showed that this model of public–private partnership is acceptable to both workers and factory managers/line supervisors, is effective in addressing workers’ family planning needs, and is a smart investment for businesses. A number of recommendations for scaling up this intervention to the national level are provided in the report.
On-site provision of family planning services in factory settings in Egypt
Authors: Abdel-Tawab Nahla , Abou El-Fadl Reham , El Khorazaty Noha , Alam Eldin Tarek
Published: September 2024

Between February 2023 and May 2024, the Population Council, in partnership with the Egyptian Chamber of Apparel and Home Textile Industries (ECAHT) and with support from the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo, assessed the acceptability, effectiveness and cost of an intervention that combines raising awareness of family planning/reproductive health with on-site provision of family planning services. The intervention, known as the “Our Health is Our Capital” project, was implemented in 10 garment factories in El Amereya Free Investment Zone. Results showed that this model of public–private partnership is acceptable to both workers and factory managers/line supervisors, is effective in addressing workers’ family planning needs, and is a smart investment for businesses. A number of recommendations for scaling up this intervention to the national level are provided in the report.
Strategi Pengembangan Pada Bintang Bakery
Authors: Rahma Ardhya Yosheta
Published: September 2024

Penelitian ini dilakukan pada usaha Bakery di Bintang Bakery Lampung. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah (1) Mengetahui posisi Bintang Bakery jika diidentifikasi menggunakan matriks analisis SWOT; (2) Mengetahui prioritas strategi pengembangan yang tepat dalam pengembangan usaha Bintang Bakery. Informan ditentukan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dengan mempertimbangkan latar belakang informan yang memiliki pengetahuan mengenai Bintang Bakery dan berusia 17 tahun keatas. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, nilai analisis matriks IFAS dan EFAS yaitu 1,032 dan 0,485 sehingga dapat diketahui posisi Bintang Bakery berada pada kuadran I. Strategi yang diterapkan pada kuadran ini yaitu mendukung kebijakan pertumbuhan yang agresif dan menghasilkan 8 strategi pada analisis matriks SWOT. Data dianalisis menggunakan matriks QSPM untuk mengetahui urutan prioritas strategi. Hasil analisis matriks QSPM didapatkan prioritas strategi pengembangan pada Bintang Bakery yaitu meningkatkan mutu produk dengan melakukan inovasi pada jenis, tekstur, rasa, dan kemasan roti dengan nilai TAS sebesar 5,203.
Relationship between Food Contamination Factors and the Presence of Escherichia coli in Juice Drink Outlets in Banjarbaru Selatan Subdistrict
Authors: Muhammad Prayogo Pangestu  , Rahmawati  , Abdul Khair
Published: September 2024

Juice drinks are one of the beverage snacks that are favored by all circles of society. In South Banjarbaru Sub-district, there are 16 juice drink outlets. As with other food snacks, juice drinks have a risk of contamination by microorganisms, because the manufacturing process is without going through a heating process, so it is necessary to know the factors associated with the presence of Escherichia coli as an effort to prevent bacterial contamination.This study aims to determine the factors associated with the presence of E.coli in juice drink outlets in South Banjarbaru District with a total sample of 16 outlets and juice drink samples. Data collection was done by observation and laboratory tests using the MPN coli method. Based on the results of laboratory tests, 56.3% of the samples met the requirements of Permenkes RI No. 02 of 2023 concerning Regulations on the Implementation of PP No. 66 of 2014 concerning Environmental Health, namely <3.6 MPN/gr or 1.1 CFU/gr. The results of statistical tests showed that there was a relationship between personal hygiene and the presence of Escherichia coli and there was no relationship between the condition of peddler facilities and infrastructure, equipment cleanliness, and food storage and packaging methods with the presence of Escherichia coli in juice drink snack food outlets in South Banjarbaru District. In order to maintain quality and improve personal hygiene, vendors are expected to wash their hands with running water and soap, use gloves/tools, masks and head coverings when handling food, maintain personal hygiene and not wear jewelry.
АНАЛИЗ СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫХ МНЕНИЙ С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ
Authors: Касекеева А.Б. , Тогисова А.Б. , Бакиева А.М. , Ламашева Ж.Б. , Байбақты Е.Н.
Published: September 2024

С ростом социальных платформ в интернете отзывы играют ключевую роль в процессе принятия решений при выборе товаров и услуг.
В наши дни, прежде чем сделать покупку, потребители не ограничиваются мнением близких, а активно исследуют отзывы других клиентов, размещённые на сайтах интернет-магазинов.
Организациям больше не обязательно проводить традиционные опросы для сбора общественного мнения о своих товарах и услугах, поскольку эта информация теперь доступна в открытых источниках. Для извлечения ценного анализа из отзывов клиентов применяются методы анализа мнений и сентиментального анализа, основанные на обработке естественного языка. Развитие этих технологий началось в 2000-х годах.
Отзывы клиентов делятся на две основные группы: несравнительные мнения (non-comparative) и сравнительные мнения (comparative).
В этой статье мы сосредоточимся на исследовании процесса сравнительного анализа и выявлении сравнительных предложений.
Optimizing Energy Consumption of Kubernetes Clusters with Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Espinosa Alejandro , Ulied Daniel , Escrig Josep , Fernández-Fernández Adriana , Touma Rizkallah
Published: September 2024

As the usage of the edge-cloud continuum rises, Kubernetes presents itself as a solution that allows easy control and deployment of applications in these highly-distributed and heterogeneous environments. In this context, Artificial Intelligence methods have been proposed to aid in the task allocation process to optimize different aspects of the system, such as application execution time, load balancing or energy consumption. In this paper, we propose a space-time combinational model that uses Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to recommend node allocations for Kubernetes pods with the objective of optimizing the overall energy consumption of the cluster while maintaining pod execution ratio. In particular, our approach uses Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) with custom Neural Networks to train a DRL agent and includes a custom Kubernetes operator to enforce allocations based on the node recommendations generated by the agent. Using our custom solution, we performed a series of experiments with different workloads and compared the performance with the base Kubernetes scheduler. Our experimental results demonstrate a notable reduction of up to 24% in the energy consumption of the Kubernetes cluster.
Temporal-Invariant Segmentation of Multiple Sclerosis Lesions Using Generative Models
Authors: Diaz-Hurtado Marcos , Martínez-Heras Eloy , Vivó Francesc , Solana Elisabeth , Kanber Baris , Llufriu Sara , Casas-Roma Jordi , Prados Ferran
Published: September 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that predominantly affects the central nervous system (CNS) and is a leading cause of neurological disability among young adults. MS diagnosis heavily relies on clinical symptoms coupled with the detection of demyelinating lesions in the CNS, as depicted in conventional magnetic resonance images (MRI). These lesions may evolve over time and serve as critical biomarkers for assessing disease activity and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Manual lesion delimitation in images is a tedious and error-prone process, prompting active research into automated systems. MS lesion segmentation can be conducted in two very different approaches: cross-sectionally: by using a single MRI, or longitudinally, by identifying changes such as new lesions or variations in lesion size across consecutives MRIs. Deep learning architectures such as U-Net, which employs convolutional neural networks with skip connections, have proven effective for MRI lesion segmentation. In this paper, we utilize the nnUNet v2 architecture and introduce an enhanced method capable of segmenting both cross-sectional and longitudinal MRIs. We used the ISBI 2015 dataset, training our U-Net model on a subset of patients using a generative pipeline and testing on another subset of patients from the same dataset. For training the model, we used a Bayesian generative approach to create different synthetic data simulating random variations in lesion masks. In this process, we have randomly simulated multiple temporal variations of the lesion masks, including erosion, dilation, and the removal of individual lesions within each mask. Then, we adapted the U-Net to train using a single MRI and its corresponding synthetic segmentation, which simulates the lesions in a previous time point. Thanks to the large amount of synthetic data generated, the U-Net is able to learn the intrinsic behavior of the lesions which include expansion, shrinkage, appearance and disappearance. This approach enables, for the first time, the two classical operational modes for MS lesion segmentation within a single model: cross-sectional segmentation, where the model receives a MRI and an empty mask as input, and longitudinal segmentation, where the input includes a MRI and a mask from a previous time point. Our approach achieved a Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.75 for cross-sectional segmentation and 0.81 for longitudinal segmentation, indicating improved performance when incorporating temporal information.This study demonstrates that it is possible to apply a generative method in conjunction with a U-Net architecture for both cross-sectional and longitudinal MRI lesion segmentation in MS, yielding promising results.
Weakly Supervised Localization of Mammograms for Dense Breast Tissues
Authors: Alsuhbani Thamer , Okran Ammar M. , Algabli Shaima , Rashwan Hatem A. , Puig Domenec
Published: September 2024

Breast density is a crucial biomarker for predicting BC risk and recurrence. Women with dense breast tissues have a higher likelihood of developing BC, and dense tissue can obscure lesions, reducing detection sensitivity. Mammograms are vital for evaluating breast density, typically classified using the BI-RADS system. The main challenge in breast density segmentation is accurately localizing dense tissues. While segmentation models require detailed pixel-wise annotations, obtaining these labels is time-consuming and requires medical expertise. This paper proposes a weakly supervised approach for breast density localization, allowing deep neural network classifiers to generate saliency maps that highlight dense tissue regions based on image-level labels. We validate this model on the RSNA dataset and achieve a Dice score of 0.754, comparable to state-of-the-art supervised methods.
Glottal Source Features for Speech Under Stress Classification
Authors: Joglar-Ongay Luis , Alías-Pujol Francesc
Published: September 2024

Stress, the body’s reaction to threatening situation, may derive in negative physical and mental health effects. Since speech under stress (SuS) shows relevant changes in the voice production system, its analysis may become instrumental to identify stressful situations non-invasively. Despite most investigations have focused on identifying SuS from prosodic and spectral variations, preliminary attempts have evaluated the alterations of the glottal source. This work evaluates the viability of considering glottal source features for SuS classification. Results on the cardinal vowels extracted from VOCE corpus show classification accuracies between 90.5% and 92.3% when glottal source features are combined with Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients to identify SuS, improving results in 6 out of 8 the SVM and NN two-class classifiers when trained with them separately.
Negotiating Control: Neurosymbolic Variable Autonomy
Authors: Bakirtzis Georgios , Chiou Manolis , Theodorou Andreas
Published: September 2024

Variable autonomy equips a system, such as a robot, with mixed initiatives such that it can adjust its independence level based on the task’s complexity and the surrounding environment. Variable autonomy solves two main problems in robotic planning: the first is the problem of humans being unable to keep focus in monitoring and intervening during robotic tasks without appropriate human factor indicators, and the second is achieving mission success in unforeseen and uncertain environments in the face of static reward structures. An open problem in variable autonomy is developing robust methods to dynamically balance autonomy and human intervention in real-time, ensuring optimal performance and safety in unpredictable and evolving environments. We posit that addressing unpredictable and evolving environments through an addition of rule-based symbolic logic has the potential to make autonomy adjustments more contextually reliable and adding feedback to reinforcement learning through data from mixed-initiative control further increases efficacy and safety of autonomous behaviour.
On the Use of Modular Quasi-Metrics and Possibility Theory for Heterogeneous Multi-Robot Systems
Authors: Guerrero José , Jaume-Martin Gabriel , Bibiloni-Femenias María-del-Mar , Antich Javier , Valero Oscar
Published: September 2024

This paper is focused on the “multi-robot task allocation” problem where a team of heterogeneous robots must select the best next task to perform at any given moment. Several approaches have been recently proposed to address this problem. Among them, the Response Threshold Methods (RTMs) should be high-lighted, which are inspired by swarm intelligence. In RTMs, each robot has a stimulus associated with each task that represents how suitable that task is for it and a parameter, called threshold, that modulates the response tendency of the robot to the stimulus. The robot selects the best next task to execute based on a probability that depends on the stimulus, the threshold and the task the robot is currently executing. In recent years, some works have demonstrated that possibility theory (specifically, fuzzy Markov chains) is a better tool than probability theory for describing robot transitions. This paper continues this research line and presents a mathematical model based on the use of modular quasi-metrics, possibility theory and RTMs in order to describe the behavior of multi-robot systems with heterogeneous agents/robots possessing distinct characteristics. Concretely, each robot will have a different threshold value. Moreover, a very simple communication mechanism among robots, compatible with the requirements of swarm intelligence, has been considered. So, each robot makes its decision taking into account the decision made by its teammates in a neighbourhood. In this approach, due to the system’s heterogeneity, the transitions possibilities will be modeled by means of modular quasi-metrics (a type of distances which depend on a parameter, such that the dissimilarity measure is relative to that parameter). To the best of our knowledge, this mathematical framework represents the first attempt to model this kind of systems.
Comparative Analysis of Electricity Demand Forecasting at Substation Level
Authors: Segura Alex , Lancereau Jérémy , Meléndez Joaquim , do Carmo Carolina M.R.
Published: September 2024

Growing electrical demand on the electric system along with the rising use of renewable energy sources is highlighting the importance of energy flexibility management on the electric grid. The Electric System Operators at both transmission (TSO) and distribution level (DSO) are responsible to ensure the security of supply and efficiency of the grid under strict balancing conditions (demand equals supply at every time instant). Acting on both generation and demand to maintain this equilibrium considering the technical constraints of the grid is known as flexibility management and it requires accurate generation and demand forecasting to predict possible critical events and react accordingly. The objective of this paper is to analyze the performance of different forecasting methods for predicting demand at the substation level. Substation level data is the result of aggregating the consumption and generation data of multiple points on the grid. Results show that current state of the art algorithms, such as deep learning models, perform better than simpler methods, such as random forests, specially when datasets do not present clearly repetitive profiles. Deep learning models manage to reduce forecasting error by 16% on average compared to random forest models on next day load forecasting, whereas the forecasting error reduction on next hour load forecasting is 5%.
Technology and quality of the consumable electrodes, received by semi-continuous casting, for vacuum-arc remelting
Authors: Anikeev V. V.
Published: September 2024

he process of vacuum arc melt down is greatly dependent on the quality of the electrodes used. Electrodes of highly alloyed steels are negatively affected by the great amount of films, inversions, subcortical bladders and others; they are being cleansed and sanded down, this leads to substantial waste of expensive metals. For this purpose in the process of casting of highly alloyed steels a great deal of importance is put upon the creation of a method, which could be used for the purpose of protecting the metal from secondary oxidization. The increase in quality of semi-continuous cast electrodes and the removal of previously mentioned defects can be achieved with the use of slag mixtures, which posses thermo-insulating properties and can be partially melted down by the heat which is produced by the liquid metal, that fills the catalyzer. The goal of this project was to research the influence of thermal-insulating slag-producing mixtures on the quality of semi-continuous cast electrodes in the process of vacuum arc melt down in comparison to the ones that were casted under the exothermic mixtures, their effect on the process of melting and the quality of vacuum arc melt down ingots. In this project there were researched such topics as the componential, chemical composition, the physical properties of the thermo insulating mixture and the physical-chemical properties of the melt of said mixture. We researched the quality of the surface of the electrodes, the macrostructure, the chemical uniformity, density, content and the dispersal of non-metallic and gas-like additions on the transverse templates after the main cutting of 600mm, the stability of flow of the vacuum melt down, the quality of the vacuum arc melt down ingots and the rolled sheets made from the arc welded ingots. The geometry of the electrodes, casted under the thermal insulating mixture, is in order with the requirements: the degree of distortion of the profile, in comparison with the one achieved with the use of exothermic mixture, was reduced in half. The macrostructure of the electrodes is dense, without any visual defects. The losses of the metal in the process of sanding during the preparation for the vacuum arc melting were reduced by 2 times in comparison with the casting under exothermic mixture. The depth of the shrinkage cavity is reduced approximately by 12%, the form of the cavity takes the form of a “cup”. The amount of non-metallic and gas-like additions is being significantly reduced. The amount of electrodes that are being recast without issues (the creation of slag, ionization, ionization with slag), during the transition from exothermal to thermal insulating on average is reduced by 3–3,5 times. The purity of metal of vacuum arc melt down electrodes, that are casted under thermo insulating mixture, is in accordance with the requirements; the mechanical properties of rolled vacuum arc ingots exceed the norms of technical conditions.
A Cross-Sectional Study Concerning Piriformis Tightness: Identifying Predisposing Factors and its Association with Low Back Pain in Office Workers
Authors: Khan Rabia Shaheen , Shafiq Zufa , Mehar Rukash , Akhtar Arfa , Sabir Usama Bin , Ammar Muhammad , Zainia Tariq  , Saleem Junaid
Published: September 2024

To identify the predisposing factors of piriformis tightness and its association with lower back pain in office workers due to prolonged working hours. In this cross-sectional study, a convenient sampling technique was used to collect data from the study participants. The study setting was private office setups in Faisalabad, Pakistan. A sample size of 250 office workers was selected through defined inclusion criteria after the screening of almost 400 workers. The selection criteria were individuals aged 26-50 years having a minimum of 2 years of work experience. The study period was from October 2021 to March 2022. Seated piriformis test was used to check the presence of piriformis muscle tightness. The visual analogue scale was used for pain assessment and a structured questionnaire was used to check the predisposing factors. Piriformis tightness was found in 76% of the office workers. Chi-square test resulted in a significant association of piriformis tightness with lower back pain (p<0.05). Conclusively, it was observed that piriformis tightness was frequent in office workers due to prolonged working hours. Furthermore, it was highlighted that predisposing factors, included prolonged working hours, uncomfortable chairs without appropriate foot support, poor posture, and work-related pain.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Phytoextraction in Combination with Antibiotics Against Bacteria Isolated from Diabetic Foot Infection
Authors: Asif Rizwan , Ahmad Hammad , Yasmin Riffat , Ansari Farheen , Mustafa Madiha , Alam Minhas , Shah Subtain
Published: September 2024

The worldwide growing antibiotic resistance against microbes has shifted the trend towards medicinal plants. Herbs are gaining courtesy for their effectiveness, safety, cheapness, and therapeutic potential. The current study focuses on the antibacterial potential of Mentha piperita (mint), Syzygium cumini (jamun), Citrus limon (lemon), and Punica granatum (pomegranate) extracts against isolated bacterial strains from diabetic foot infections. Diabetic foot samples (n=80) were collected for isolation of bacteria. Samples were run on respective media for isolation of different bacteria, which were further identified through microscopy and biochemical testing. Antibacterial activity was determined by disc and well diffusion methods. Several bacteria like S. aureus (42), P. aeruginosa (41), E. coli (28) K. pneumonia (22), S. epidermidis (15), Bacillus (7), and Proteous mirabilis (7) were isolated. Antibacterial analysis revealed moderate sensitivity of the four selected extracts against isolates, which was higher compared to most synthetic antibiotics. The lemon extract showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis (8mm), P. aeruginosa (10mm) Bacillus (10mm), and P. mirabilis (11mm). Similarly, pomegranate also showed moderate sensitivity against all isolated bacteria. Jamun leaf extract showed antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis (12mm), K. pneumonia (10mm), E. coli (12mm), S. aureus, (11mm) and P. mirabilis (10mm). Hence plants could be used as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics with modifications to achieve better results.
Professional Quality of Life among Healthcare Workers: A Case Study Conducted during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Rashid Hafiz Hamid , Hussain Ghazal , Rashid Tariq , Hussain Sarah
Published: September 2024

Coronavirus is an infectious respiratory disease. Following its outbreak in China, the virus spread rapidly throughout the world. Consequently, the WHO declared it as a serious international emergency concern. The healthcare workers (HCWs) fighting as active and critical frontline warriors during the COVID-19 pandemic were at a high risk of exhibiting psychosocial stress and mental health symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the professional quality of life of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The population of this research consisted of 238 HCWs. The data was collected through online Google forms and participants were assessed by using professional quality of life tool (ProQOL-5). The results showed that the majority (84.2%) of HCWs had average compassion satisfaction (CS), while only 14.6% had high CS scores. For burnout, the majority had average scores whereas only 8.3% had a low count of burnout. Similarly, the majority of the participants had average secondary traumatic (ST) stress (88.3%), while 9.2% had low ST stress, and 2.5% had high ST stress. This study concluded that the healthcare workers (HCWs) had average CS, burnout, and ST stress
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Impact of Phytomedicine using Experimental Animal Models
Authors: Jahangeer Muhammad , Ameen Humayun , Fatema Ghazia , Rehman Muti Ur , Nawaz Shaista , Tariq Kashaf , Firdous Shamma , Munir Shafqat , Farooq Muhammad Hassan , Maryam Afifa , Riasat Areej
Published: September 2024

Human beings have been using plants as medicines for centuries. The development of traditional medicinal systems utilizing plants as a form of medicine may be traced back only as far as historical documentation of their similarity. Immunosuppression and bone resorption is a major drawback in conventional chemotherapy. Modern medicines contain plant-derived components that are the source of immunomodulators. Withania somnifera and Cnidium monnieri are the plants which have been used for immunomodulatory and anti-osteoporotic activities. Medicinal plant samples were obtained from diverse parts of Pakistan. Following extraction, phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial potential were investigated, and the hepatoprotective effect was evaluated. An in vivo study was conducted on experimental animals by administering ethnomedicinal plant extracts in comparison to some allopathic drugs. Various blood samples were collected to analyze calcium level, vitamin-D, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), parathyroid hormone (PTH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and Testosterone for antiosteoporosis activity. The possible outcomes were positive and hepatoprotective as well as antimicrobial effect was present in Polyherbal preparation (PHP). During trails on Albino rats, the improvement in their body weight was recorded. PHP administration of plant extracts enhanced the parameters of blood and neutralized the effect of CCl4 intoxication. The proper administration of plant extracts showed a positive effect on hormones, particularly progesterone, testosterone, and oestradiol. In the future, these selected medicinal plants and their PHP might be preferred for the separation of lead bioactive compounds to overcome the extremely alleviating issues associated with infertility.
Habitual Breakfast-Skipping as Predictor of Health Quality among Young Women
Authors: Sherwani Rabiah , Masood Afsheen , Sherwani Hafsah
Published: September 2024

Breakfast-skipping habit is quite common among women, especially adolescent girls. Resultantly, their mental health, physical activity level, and menstruation cycle get affected. A quantitative study was conducted to determine this phenomenon. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of breakfast-skipping habits on mental health, physical activity level, and menstruation cycle among women of ages ranging between 18-24 years. A sample of 93 women was selected from different colleges in Lahore. Their demographics, breakfast-skipping habits, mental health, physical activity level, and menstruation cycle irregularities were determined through different tools. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between breakfast-skipping habits, mental health, physical activity level as well as menstrual irregularities. Breakfast-skipping habits predicted the menstrual irregularities significantly (P=0.02*). It was inferred that school and college girls who skip their breakfast daily, suffer from poor mental health and menstrual problems. They were also less active and participated in fewer physical activities. The current study may be further implicated among adolescent girls to have a good breakfast for improved mental health, physical activity level, and menstrual irregularities.
Impact of the Mediterranean Diet (Med-Diet) on Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention and Management: A Narrative Review
Authors: Chaudhary Ifra , Anwar Hassan
Published: September 2024

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Dietary patterns play a crucial role in the prevention and management of these life-threatening diseases. Moreover, the Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is consistently associated with health benefits. Therefore, the current study attempted to synthesize the contemporary scientific evidence, outlining the impact of Med-Diet on CVD. The key components of this dietary pattern include a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, olive oil, and moderate consumption of poultry and dairy products which interact to provide protective effects against these diseases. The Med-Diet  emphasizes the use of monounsaturated fats from olive oil and polyunsaturated fats from seafood, which significantly contribute to cardiovascular health. This diet is also rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, offering potential protective qualities against cancer through combating inflammation and oxidative stress. High fiber content contributes to a healthy digestive system and potentially reduces the incidence of colorectal cancers. While, the Med-Diet alone cannot guarantee complete immunity against these diseases, it is an essential element of a holistic approach to disease prevention and management. Moreover, it also reinforces the importance of incorporating dietary patterns into public health strategies. To strengthen the evidence base, future research should focus on long-term randomized controlled trials in diverse populations.
Apigenin With Protective Effect Against Oxidative Injury to Skeletal Muscle Cells via Activation of the Nrf-2HO-1 Pathway
Authors: LIU WEI , JIA TAO , CHEN FANGJI , YANG XIAOQIN , WANG YEHONG , HUANG XIAO
Published: September 2024

Human skeletal muscle would suffer from an oxidative injury caused by long-term training or exhaustive exercise. It is important to scavenge oxygen free radicals in due course to reduce oxidative damage to human skeletal muscle cells (HSKMC) by some means. Apigenin, as an effective antioxidant, is likely to protect HSKMC against oxidative injury. In this study, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was used to induce oxidative injured HSKMC. Then, we studied the protective effect of apigenin on cell viability, oxidative stress status, and the expression of antioxidation-related proteins and tried to understand the mechanisms driving these effects. Results show that the cellular viability of HSKMC could be obviously improved by apigenin treatment at the concentration of 80 μM. Pretreatment with celery resulted in the activity of related enzymes approaching normal levels, and decrease the release of malondialdehyde and the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species in HSKMC. The Nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathway could also be activated by apigenin. Therefore, apigenin could attenuate t-BHP induced oxidative injury in HSKMC through enhancement of the activities of related antioxidant enzymes by activating the Nrf2 pathway.
Foreign policy for the goal of peace, stability, cooperation, and development of the Communist Party of Vietnam towards ASEAN countries in the innovation age
Authors:   Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, VNU-HCM, Dao Hong Thi Bich
Published: September 2024

As a country in the Southeast Asian region, during the period of renovation, Vietnam has consistently attached great importance to its relations with neighboring nations. Overcoming a long journey filled with challenges and uncertainties, Vietnam's relations with Southeast Asian countries have continued to evolve and have achieved significant milestones. Chief among these achievements is the common aspiration to maintain peace and stability, which has allowed the nation to focus on nation-building and development. However, alongside these notable successes, due to various objective and subjective factors, cooperation between Vietnam and regional countries has not always met the desired expectations. Recognizing this reality, Vietnam has, for many years, exerted efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, consistently working to promote amicable relations and cooperation with ASEAN countries and among ASEAN member states, both in breadth and depth. As Vietnam continues to navigate its foreign relations in a context of global dynamics and changes, a deep understanding of the central role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in shaping foreign activities with ASEAN becomes paramount. This article seeks to contribute to a broader discourse on diplomacy in regional cooperation, guided by the Party's leadership, providing comprehensive insights into the mechanisms and strategies Vietnam employs to achieve its goals of peace, stability, cooperation, and development within the ASEAN community during the renovation era. Particularly, it focuses on the period when Vietnam accelerated industrialization, modernization, and international integration. Furthermore, this article aims to assess the achievements and limitations of the entire aforementioned process, with the intention of proposing solutions to enhance the effectiveness of Vietnam's foreign relations with ASEAN countries in the future.
The international cooperation of the People's Public Security Force in the renovation period - Some theoretical and practical issues
Authors:   People's Security University, Vietnam, Ha Tha Trong
Published: September 2024

The international cooperation in defense and security is a strategic policy of the Communist Party of Vietnam supported by the Vietnamese people, in line with the trend of the times. The international cooperation in defense and security reflects the law of movement and development of objective reality and interests of the country and Vietnamese people. Vietnam's international cooperation in defense and security shows Vietnam’s humanity, peace, and self-defense nature. Both theory and practice confirm the correctness, creativity, and effectiveness of Vietnam's international cooperation in defense and security. This article deals with some theoretical and practical issues on the international cooperation of the People's Public Security Force in the renovation period - an angle on international cooperation in defense and security. Theoretically, the article presents the views of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the international integration and cooperation through National Congresses of the Party, including in the field of defense and security. These views of the Communist Party of Vietnam have clearly demonstrated the inevitability of the international cooperation of the People's Public Security Force in the renovation period. In practical terms, the article presents the international cooperation activities of the People's Public Security Force in the renovation period, including deloying the Communist Party of Vietnam’s guidelines and foreign policy, cooperative relations with neighboring countries and law enforcement agencies of countries in the world, carrying out the United Nations peacekeeping mission, cooperation in rescue, pandemic prevention, etc. The article affirms that the achievements achieved by the People's Public Security Force during the renovation period have confirmed that the international cooperation activities of the People's Public Security Force are very effective and practical. These achievements have brought foreign affairs of the People’s Public Security Force to a new height, creating favorable conditions to contribute to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks of the Vietnamese revolution, namely building and firmly defending the Socialist Vietnam Socialist.
Some solutions for building an educational culture at universities in the context of international integration in Vietnam today
Authors:   Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Dang Phuong Thi Minh
Published: September 2024

The document from the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam defines the education and training objectives in Vietnam towards “building a comprehensive, healthy, competent, and well-qualified Vietnamese individual, who takes high responsibility for themselves, their family, society, and the homeland”. Building an educational culture within schools is one of the fundamental foundations for achieving those objectives, contributing to fulfilling the mission, values, and educational goals of the institution, following the moral-intellectual-physical-aesthetic direction. In order to develop human resources and meet the high-quality workforce demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and international integration in schools, the establishment of a healthy, democratic, open, and joyful academic culture is a crucial requirement for any universities aspiring for sustainable development. The article focuses on clarifying the concept of educational culture within schools, its achievements and limitations in its establishment, and subsequently proposes solutions for building an educational culture at universities in Vietnam in the current context of globalization and international integration.
Ho Chi Minh City's international economic integration in the first two decades of the 21st century - some results and problems
Authors:   University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM, Việt Nam, Nguyen Phuong Thi
Published: September 2024

During the process of the national innovation, the Party and State of Vietnam always consider the international economic integration as a major, consistent, and thorough policy. The Party's views on the international economic integration have been continuously supplemented and improved, especially since Resolution No. 07-NQ/TW dated January 27th, 2001 by the Politburo on "International Economic Integration". The promulgation of a specialized Resolution on the international economic integration has created the most important driving force to promote internal resources and socio-economic development, increase the national synergy, and enhance Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena. The general integration policy of the Party and State has created favorable conditions for localities with many advantages, including Ho Chi Minh City being pioneering in the process of the international economic integration. The article is to clarify the process of Ho Chi Minh City City's international economic integration implementation, thereby assessing the impact of the international economic integration process on the City's socio-economic development within 20 years (2000-2020). Ho Chi Minh City, a special urban area, is a focal point for international exchange and integration, a center of economy, culture, education, science, and technology, with a leading role and position in the proactive international integration, especially in the economic field. Using the historical and logical method as the main method, the article presents an overview of the City's international integration implementation process, and on that basis, focuses on analyzing some of the achieved results, as well as posing some issues, which need to be adjusted in terms of policies and solutions for Ho Chi Minh City's international economic integration implementation in the next period.