bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cinnamon and clove aqueous extracts promote in vitro and postharvest control of Alternaria alternata in tomato fruit
Authors: Carmello Camila Rodrigues , Magri Márcia Maria Rosa , Cardoso Jean Carlos
Published: July 2024

Post-harvest fungal diseases result in great environmental, economic, and social impacts due to the loss and disposal of food. In tomato cultivation, alternaria spot stands out, caused by different species of Alternaria sp., with losses in the pre- and post-harvest of fruits. Control is made by spraying synthetic fungicides but essential oils and plant extracts with antifungal activity can be an alternative in controlling post-harvest diseases, especially in fruits and vegetables, with increased safety in the consumption of fresh food by reducing the use of synthetic fungicides. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and mode of action of aqueous extracts of cinnamon and cloves and their active ingredients in the in vitro and in vivo control of Alternaria alternata in post-harvest tomato fruit. The extracts were evaluated for their ability to inhibit and/or alter mycelial growth, inhibit spore germination in vitro, and control the disease in tomato fruit. Total inhibition of mycelial growth in vitro of A. alternata was achieved by 5% clove aqueous extract and the combination of cinnamon and clove, at concentrations of 2.5 and 5%. In addition, inhibition of spore germination and control of the fungus in tomato fruit post-harvest were also observed. The antifungal activity of these extracts was attributed to the active ingredient eugenol, contained in higher concentrations in clove extract, and the clove and cinnamon mixture, which resulted in morphological changes in the mycelial growth of the fungus and inhibition of spore germination.
Effect of a concurrent stimulus on timing depends on level of schizotypy: Evidence from a visual and an auditory temporal bisection task
Authors: Hopkins Matthew , Reed Phil , Reppa Irene
Published: July 2024

The ability to perceive time is central to cognition. However, the ability to judge durations accurately is impaired in schizophrenia and schizotypy. Conclusions about similar aetiology of both, are constrained by sparse empirical evidence. Two experiments – using the temporal bisection task – examined the impact of schizotypy on judgements for visual and auditory stimuli. A click train manipulation, known to influence durations was also included. The following findings emerged. First clicker increased the percentage of long responses irrespective of schizotypy level, but only for visual and not for auditory stimuli. Second, auditory durations were overestimated compared to visual durations. Third, high schizotypy showed a pattern consistent with a lengthening memory for the anchors. The results suggest there are differences in perception of durations among low and high schizotypy –low schizotypals overestimate durations, indicative of the pacemaker component. The pattern of duration judgments of high schizotypals is compatible with a lengthening distortion in memory for standard durations of auditory stimuli – the auditory anchors seem to be lengthened compared to the visual anchors, for high schizotypals. Results from high schizotypals accord with previous evidence from those suffering from schizophrenia suggesting a similar pattern of distortion in time perception in schizophrenia and schizotypy.
Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae) in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation In Wayanad region of Western Ghats.
Authors: Sreepadmanab Remya Venugopal , R Swaran P
Published: July 2024

The diversity of ants in the conventional Robusta coffee plantation of the Wayanad region of the Western Ghats is discussed in detail for the first time. We investigated ant diversity in the Conventional Robusta Coffee plantation. Ants were sampled using pitfall traps, honey baits, litter sifting, soil core extraction, and hand-picking methods. We found six subfamilies and 51 species of ants belonging to 26 genera during the study period. Many ant species belonged to Formicinae, followed by Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Pseudomyrmicinea, and Dorylinae. Subfamily Myrmicinae exhibits dominance in Genus diversity followed by Formicinae and Ponerinae. Most of the ant species found in this study have been reported as generalized foragers and predators. Anoplolepis racillipe and Paratrechina longicornis are the two invasive ant species reported in this study.
Dynamic mesh simulation flow field and micro-filling experiment analysis of viscous medium transported by two- lobe rotary pump
Authors: Enlong Zhu , Runqi Wang , Bowen Sun , li Li , Hongzheng Zhao , Hao Qi , Qian Wu
Published: July 2024

The current study aimed to explore the conveyance properties exhibited by the rotary lobe pump.To simulate the flow field of a two-lobe rotary pump, the K-ε turbulence model was employed in conjunction with the dynamic mesh technique, and the micro-filling accuracy of pure water and syrup with different viscosity were tested by servo control technique. 3D model of the two-lobe rotary pump was established by CREO, 2D model was meshed by ICEM, and the area near the rotor was meshed encrypted. The effects of medium viscosity on outlet flow characteristics, volumetric efficiency and medium viscosity on pump efficiency and micro-filling accuracy at low rotating speed were discussed. The results show that when the rotor speed is at 25.58 rpm, the flow pulsation is minimal; And the outlet flow rate is increased by 0.533kg/s when the rotor speed increased by 10 rpm. For fluids with low viscosity (ranging from 1 to 100cP), there is a notable increase in volumetric efficiency as the rotational speed rises. Conversely, the volumetric efficiency of medium-viscosity and high-viscosity fluids (spanning 250 to 850cP) is relatively insensitive to changes in rotor speed; When the inlet pressure is increased by 1kPa, the flow rate is increased by 0.127kg/s. In the viscosity range of 1cP-250cP, the flow non-uniformity coefficient decreases continuously, and when the viscosity reaches 450cP, the flow non-uniformity coefficient is almost not affected by the medium viscosity. According to the numerical simulation results, rotor lobe pump is used to carry out the micro-filling accuracy experiment. When filling 25g syrup, the optimal precision could be controlled within 0.6g, and when filling 500ml pure water, the precision could be controlled within 1.2ml. Therefore, the rotor lobe pump driven by servo motor is suitable for the micro-filling requirements of the milk tea industry.
The multiple effects of the wasp Cotesia congregata, a parasitic manipulator, on the brain of its host, the caterpillar Manduca sexta.
Authors: McMillan LEM , Herbison RH , Biron DG , Barkhouse A , Miller DM , Raun N , Adamo SA
Published: July 2024

The parasitic wasp, Cotesia congregata, manipulates the behaviour of its host, the caterpillar Manduca sexta. The female wasp injects her eggs and a symbiotic virus (i.e. bracovirus, CcBV) into the body of its host. The host’s behaviour remains unchanged until the wasps exit the caterpillar, and then the caterpillar becomes a non-feeding bodyguard for the wasp cocoons. Using proteomic, transcriptomic and qPCR studies, we discovered an increase in antimicrobial peptide gene expression and protein abundance in the host central nervous system at the time of wasp emergence, correlating with the change in host behaviour. These results support the hypothesis that the wasps hyperactivate an immune-neural connection to help create the bodyguard behaviour. At the time of wasp emergence, there was also an increase in bracoviral gene expression and proteins in the host brain, suggesting that the bracovirus may also be involved in altering host behaviour. Other changes in gene expression and protein abundance suggest that synaptic transmission is altered after wasp emergence, and this was supported by a reduction in descending neural activity from the host’s brain. We discuss how a reduction in synaptic transmission could produce bodyguard behaviour.
Exploring Behavioral Diversity in Robot Swarms: A Comparative Study of Evolutionary Strategies for Aggregation Tasks
Authors: Pagliuca Paolo , Vitanza Alessandra
Published: July 2024

Collective decision-making is widely observed in natural organisms, especially insects and animals. In this regard, aggregation represents one of the paramount behaviors, as it can be useful for protecting groups against predators or speeding up the foraging process. In the field of autonomous robotics, aggregation is modeled through a series of alternative paradigms, among which evolutionary algorithms are considered a convenient tool. In this work, we compared three modern evolutionary strategies --- CMA-ES, xNES and OpenAI-ES --- for their ability to evolve an aggregation behavior in a swarm of robots. Specifically, we systematically varied the number of agents in the group, the environmental conditions (i.e., the number of target nests) and the parameters tuning the fitness function. Our aim is to verify whether and how the selected methods are effective at addressing the problem. The results we obtained indicate how the OpenAI-ES achieves better performance in all the considered scenarios. Furthermore, it displays qualitatively more interesting strategies than the other two methods.
A model for suppressing stray light in astronomical images based on deep learning
Authors: Chen Mo , Zhao Yan , Yang Wenbo , Qian Jiahui , Li Shanwei , Zheng Yulong , Ma Jiaqian , Wang Shigang , Chen Jian , Wei Jian
Published: July 2024

Wide-Field Small Aperture Telescopes (WFSAT) are widely used for surveilling space objects. Due to their wide-field of view (FOV) characteristics, these telescopes can cover a large areas of the sky at once, improving observation efficiency. However, a wide-field optical telescope is highly sensitive to external stray light (such as moonlight and thin clouds), which can significantly reduce the quality of observation data. In severe cases, it can cause the telescope to malfunction and inaccurately position the object. In response to this problem, this paper proposes a model for suppressing stray light in astronomical images based on deep learning: the Pyramid Deformable Large Kernel Attention (PD-LKA) Model. This model expands the receptive field through a pyramid structure, captures multi-scale features, and improves the model’s robustness to various scales of stray light interference. Meanwhile, through the Deformable Large Kernel Attention (D-LKA), the model can more accurately locate and enhance the feature extraction ability in areas affected by stray light interference, thereby better suppressing stray light.Using simulated astronomical image pairs to train the model, the tests achieved a PSNR of up to 32.540 and an SSIM of up to 0.938. Finally, the model is applied to a image sequence with real stray light interference. The restored images undergo astronomical positioning and orbital association processing. The results show that the positioning accuracy of the object is better than 5 arcseconds. This indicates that the model proposed in this paper not only recovers the object and background stars but also effectively preserves their gray values, shapes, and positional information.
Genus Paxillus: A new record for Pakistan based ITS-nrDNA marker and phylogenetic studies
Authors: Hanif Sana , Razaq Abdul , Majeed Muhammad Bilal Bin , Kiran Munazza , Ishaq Aamna
Published: July 2024

In this work, we introduced a new report, Paxillus ammoniavirescens, a new genus for Pakistan. The studied sample was collected during the monsoon season growing on soil mixed with leaf litter. This taxon was identified through morphological (macro- and micromorphology) techniques and molecular (ITS-region) markers. Results showed that the world-wide collection's macro- and micro-morphological characters match the type specimen of Paxillus ammoniavirescens. In the phylogenetic tree, sequences of our collections fall within section P. ammoniavirescens and are clustered with sequences of P. ammoniavirescenswith strong statistical support. The genus Paxillushas been reported from Europe and South Asia (India) previously and is described here for the first time from Pakistan. This paper provides a detailed morphological and molecular analysis of this species to differentiate it from closely related taxa.
Peculiarities of the course and management of Ukrainians with post-traumatic stress disorder in the context of the Ukrainian-Russian war
Authors: Kiro Liudmyla , Urbanovych Alina , Zak Maksym
Published: July 2024

Background
The amount of Ukrainians with PTSD has been steadily increasing since December 2022. According to the National Health Service, amount of Ukrainians with posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD) in 2021 were 3,167 patients; 2022 — 7,051 patients; 2023 — 12.494 patients; 2024 (January-June) — 6,292, and for the forecasts of WHO, it will continue to increase rapidly.
Methods
The study involved 450 patients who sought psychological help at the University Clinic of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University from January to June 2024. All patients were divided into 3 groups: 1st group — patients with PTSD (18–44 years); 2nd group — patients with PTSD (45–59 years), 3rd group — patients with PTSD (60–74 years). The examination of patients included clinical, psychological, questionnaire survey for CAPS-5 scale, SDS — 2000, and static methods.
Results
In 2nd group, mild and moderate course of PTSD among women were occurred in 2.0 (χ2 = 0.86, p = 0.001) and 2.2 (χ2 = 0.46, p = 0.023) times more often than in male. While severe and extreme course of PTSD in male of 2nd group were recorded in 1.6 (χ2 = 0.16, p = 0.033) and 1.8 (χ2 = 0.99, p = 0.006) times more often than in female patients.
Conclusions
Examination of patients found that, men have a greater resistance to the risk of developing a disorder in the long term in response to stressors than women, but when the disorder develops, men tend to have more severe manifestations. In women, in the long term after severe mental trauma, the risk of developing PTSD is higher, but the intensity of clinical and psychological manifestations of the disorder is less pronounced.
Registration
The study was carried out in accordance with the plan of research works at the Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University (Adress: 68 Desantnykiv St, 10, Mykolaiv, Ukraine, 54000) on the topic: “Clinical-pathogenetic justification of the system of primary and secondary prevention of the most socially significant chronic non-infectious diseases of internal organs”, state registration number 0120U101641.
Date of registration: 17.03.2021
Duration of research: 03.2021-12.2024
Identification and Phylogeny of Fusarium falciforme causing Potato Dry rot, its Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis, Characterization and Use against Bacterial Pathogens
Authors: Shah Syed Haseeb , Shan Xiaoliang , Baig Sofia , Zhao Hongwei , Siddique Maria , Ismail Bushra , Shahzadi Irum , Bilal Muhammad Saqib , Nawazish Shamyla , Naz Ishrat , Baig Ayesha
Published: July 2024

Potato tubers collected from different areas showed the prevalence of dry rot with characteristic white mycelia of Fusarium pathogen. Fusarium species on diseased tubers were isolated based on morphological features. 18S-ITS based analysis followed by Phylogenetic tree constructed using TEF1-α identified Fusarium isolates as Fusarium verticilloides, Fusarium soloni, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium falciforme. According to our knowledge, this study is the first report of occurrence of Fusarium falciforme causing dry rot on potato tubers in Pakistan. The pathogenicity test confirmed the reappearance of dry rot symptoms with Fusarium falciforme on potato tuber. Similarly, the formation of Fusarium falciforme Ag NPs was confirmed using UV, XRD, FTIR and SEM. The synthesized Ag NPs showed color change with Fusarium falciforme and accordingly UV peak was observed at 430 nm. The XRD revealed Ag based specific angles at 36.14°, 44.26°, 64.42° and 77.44° corresponding to face cubic structure. Similarly, FTIR band absorption at 1413 cm1, 1041 cm1 and 690 cm1 ascribed the presence of various biomolecules with O-H and N-H stretching vibrations based on Fusarium falciforme Ag NPs synthesis. SEM indicated the synthesized Ag NPs and EDS analysis showed the presence of Ag in NPs. Maximum zone of inhibition with Fusarium falciforme Ag NPs was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas syringae and Staphylococcus aureus at 0.05 LSD significance.
Chaos-Driven Encryption Algorithm Integrated Logistic Chua Map for Secure Medical Image Communication
Authors: Baowidan Souad Ahmad
Published: July 2024

The use of medical imaging as an effective means of diagnosing diseases has become crucial in the recent past. As all these images are communicated through networks, it’s crucial to provide sufficient protection against unauthorized access. There are several ways in which these images can be protected, and encryption is among some of the best methods available. Encryption algorithms typically involve two primary steps: confusion and diffusion, making it secure and safe. This study proposes a new chaos-based encryption algorithm accompanied by the novel Logistic-Chua Map to maintain privacy of medical images transmission through digital media. Thus, based on the characteristics of the LC Map, a robust Substitution box (S-box) with parameters a = 2.15,b = 0.08,c = 0.03, and r ranging from 0.5 to 5.5. generated by means of the proposed Algorithm. The first algorithm searches for these parameters systematically and strived for an S-box which provides increase in cryptographic strength by means of non-linear substitutions. The S-box is used in the second algorithm to encrypt images with medical data, with 8-bytes key size and the block size of 16 × 16. The encryption process is done via pixel-wise and block-wise substitution, which ensures that there is enough diffusion and confusion. These encrypted images are tested for statistical properties of the data, sensitivity to initial conditions, and against various attacks. The results highlighted that the proposed scheme is effective in protecting medical images and a more efficient solution of secure transmission of medical images.
An Ultra-Fast and Precise Automatic Design Framework for Predicting and Constructing High-Performance Shallow-Trench-Isolation LDMOS Device
Authors: Xu Chenggang , Tang Hongyu , Zhu Yuxuan , Cheng Yue , Jin Xuanzhi , Gao Dawei , Ma Yitao , Xu Kai
Published: July 2024

Shallow Trench Isolation laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (STI LDMOS) is a crucial device for power integrated circuits. In this article, a novel framework that integrates an optimal objective function, Bayesian Optimization (BO) algorithm and Deep Neural Network (DNN) model is proposed to fully realize automatic and optimal design of STI LDMOS devices. On the one hand, given the structure of device, the DNN model in the proposed method can provide the ultra-fast and high-accurate performance estimation including breakdown voltage (BV) and specific on-resistance (Ronsp). The experimental results demonstrate 98.68% prediction accuracy in average for both BV and Ronsp, higher than that of other machine learning (ML) algorithms. On the other hand, to target the specified value of BV and Ronsp, the proposed framework can fully automatically and optimally design the precise device structure that simultaneously achieves the target performance with the optimal figure-of-merit (FOM) of device. Compared to Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD), there is only 0.002% error in FOM and 2.83% average error in BV and Ronsp. Moreover, the proposed framework is 4000 times more efficient than other conventional frameworks. Thus, this research provides experimental groundwork for constructing an automatic design framework for LDMOS device and opens up new opportunities for accelerating the development of LDMOS device in the future.
Managing risks and harms associated with the use of anabolic steroids: a qualitative study
Authors: Amaral Julio Mario Xerfan do , Kimergård Andreas , Deluca Paolo
Published: July 2024

Background
People using anabolic steroids adopt different strategies to manage risks and harms associated with the use of these substances. We investigated the process of learning and incorporating risk-management strategies (RMS), as well as the events that triggered changes in health behaviour.
Methods
Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with anabolic steroid users living in the UK to discuss their RMS (19 males, 1 female; median time of drug use = 9 years). Online interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitative data was analysed via iterative categorisation.
Results
The RMS were characterised as a continuous cycle of identification, prevention and control of risks and harms. Preventative RMS were more commonly adopted after many years of anabolic steroid use. Changes in life circumstances and adverse health conditions were described as triggers for changes in behaviour, including stop using anabolic steroids.
Conclusion
Our results can be used to support interventions aiming to increase awareness and improve health-related behaviours of people using anabolic steroids. Further studies are required to assess the effectiveness and safety of the RMS adopted by this population.
Differentiated Service Pricing Strategies for Ride-Hailing Considering Rational Inattentive Passengers
Authors: Zhao Chuan-Lin , Sun Yangqi , He Shaosong
Published: July 2024

Considering the ambiguity of passengers’ perception of the real service level of ride-hailing, the heterogeneity of driver and passenger preferences for differentiated service modes, the frictions of driver and passenger matching, and the inter-group network externality caused by the scale of driver and passenger, this paper establishes a bi-level optimization model for the pricing strategies of differentiated services on ride-hailing platforms based on the theory of rational inattention. It explores the pricing mechanism of ride-hailing platforms under two optimization objectives (profit maximization and social welfare maximization) and three service strategies (providing both high and low differentiated services, providing a single low service, and providing a single high service). The upper level aims to maximize the profits of ride-hailing platform or social welfare, with service price and commission rate as decision variables. The lower level constructs a driver-passenger equilibrium choice model based on the theory of rational inattention. The model is solved using a combination of particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and method of successive averages (MSA). The upper level model uses PSO algorithm to obtain differentiated service prices and commission rates, which are transmitted to the lower level. The lower level model uses the MSA to solve, and the obtained matching rate and maximum matching time of the driver are transmitted to the upper level. Numerical examples have verified the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. The results show that when passenger prior beliefs follow a uniform distribution, under three strategies, the platform profit shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of unit information cost. To ensure maximum profit, the platform should disclose the service information of ride-hailing as much as possible, but also maintain the unknownness of ride-hailing services appropriately. When the goal is to maximize social welfare, when the unit information cost is low, compared to providing a single service strategy, differentiated service strategy can better meet the differentiated choices of drivers and passengers, thereby ensuring higher social welfare. As the unit information cost increases, three strategies need to attract rational inattentive passengers to choose ride-hailing services by reducing service prices, thereby improving social welfare. The results can provide references for ride-hailing platforms in formulating pricing strategies for differentiated services.
Experimental Validation of a Novel Solid-Liquid Swirling Flow Reactor for Dense Suspensions
Authors: Holemans Thomas , Hogendoorn Willian , Poelma Christian , De Greef Johan , Vanierschot Maarten
Published: July 2024

Ultrasound Imaging Velocimetry (UIV) is a maturing technique for measuring two-phase flows. It enables measurements of dense suspensions when optical methods fail. This study explores UIV’s applicability to measure the flow field in an Swirling Flow Reactor (SFR) for solid-liquid mixing of dense suspensions. Despite UIV’s historical focus on unidirectional flows like arteries and axisymmetric pipes, this research demonstrates its adaptation to an inherently complex 3D flow field, i.e. a swirling sudden expansion flow in an SFR. Using high-speed plane-wave imaging and correlation averaging techniques, satisfactory velocity profiles are achieved while preserving sufficient temporal information. Firstly, the applicability of UIV in this specific setup is demonstrated by comparing UIV with Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry measurements of a one-phase flow in the SFR. Secondly, several bulk velocities and volume concentrations (up to 50 vol%) are measured with UIV for a two-phase flow of water and 2.3 mm glass beads. A transducer is installed in two orientations and captures all three velocity components when combining the two datasets. A timestep optimization process is implemented to avoid manual fine-tuning of the acquisition frequency. A temporal analysis on the solid’s velocity fields in the SFR reveals dominant frequencies between 1.21–2.42 Hz, similar to those found in one phase flow. The general flow structure of the suspension flow is very similar to the latter, however the addition of particles confines the Central Recirculation Zone (CRZ) to the center. Finally, the implementation of swirl to keep solid-liquid mixtures in suspension in the SFR is experimentally confirmed by this study. According to camera recordings, a uniform suspension is achieved across all volumetric loadings. Quantitative UIV measurements confirm favorable flow structures for mixing, specifically a Coandã Jet Flow that avoids sedimentation. The concentration of solids in an SFR can even be increased up to 50 vol% while still maintaining a uniform suspension.
Optimal narrowband composite pulses in two-level systems
Authors: Liang Shi-Peng , Shi Zhi-Cheng , Chen Ye-Hong , Song Jie , Xia Yan
Published: July 2024

We propose a protocol to construct narrowband (NB) composite pulses using quantum optimal control in a full-parameter adjustable two-level system. The optimal NB composite pulses are highly sensitive to various types of parameter deviations. The optimal modulation parameters are obtained by minimizing the cost function composed of the weight factor and the expansion coefficients of transition probabilities. In this way, the problem of multi-parameter modulations and incomplete nullification of expansion coefficients can be effectively solved. Furthermore, the NB composite pulses with arbitrary population transfer can be flexibly achieved by only changing the constraint of the cost function, and the current protocol is easily extended to implement passband composite pulses.
Performance and Diversity of Ethiopian Core Tef Germplasm Under Seasonal Conditions
Authors: Tesfa Derejaw
Published: July 2024

Tef is an indigenous and important food, feed, and cash crop for smallholder Ethiopian farmers. Information about the natural genetic variation of the crop would be useful for genetically improving it through breeding. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the extent and pattern of genetic variability among selected tef core germplasm lines and released Varieties from Ethiopia, using morphological traits. A total of 81 tef genotypes were field- evaluated for 17 morphological traits using a 9 × 9 simple lattice designs at Debre Zeit during the 2021 main cropping season and off-season. Among the assessed traits, only a few showed significant differences among the genotypes. Specifically, these traits were thousand seed weight and fertile tiller number in the main season, and peduncle length and number of fertile tillers in the off-season. Cluster analysis grouped the 81 tef genotypes into four clusters, each consisting of 15 to 31 genotypes. Principal component analysis indicated that approximately 71% of the gross variance among the tested genotypes could be explained by six principal components with eigenvalues greater than one. In general, the study revealed highly significant genetic distances between clusters 1 and 2. This suggests that selecting tef materials from these clusters for a cross-breeding program would likely be beneficial.
Study of the Moral Identity of the Younger Adolescent
Authors: Veiner Anastasia V. ,   Transbaikal State University
Published: July 2024

The article is devoted to the study of the moral identity of a younger teenager. The author analyzes the philosophical and pedagogical grounds for the problem of the moral identity of a person, accepted in domestic and foreign pedagogy. The study is carried out in line with the axiological approach, during which the term “morality” is considered as a set of value orientations of an individual and the concept of “identity” as an awareness of one’s own uniqueness, on the one hand, and a sense of internal solidarity with social ideals, on the other. The author specifies the concept of “moral identity of a younger teenager” as a set of value characteristics of a person, which are formed through correlation of oneself with one’s age role, social status, existential essence in accordance with the moral norms inherent in social communities to which one feels one’s belonging and belonging, and on the basis of which relationships in the teenage community are built and independent vital decisions are made. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that a system of psychological and pedagogical diagnostics of the moral identity of a younger teenager has been developed. The article presents the methods: “Definition of moral concepts” according to L. S. Kolmogorova; Cattell test, 12PF/CPQ; scale of existence, ESK Frankl; method of M. Rokeach “Value orientations” as the most popular in the study of the moral identity of a person. The essential, substantive and diagnostic characteristics of the concept under study are scientifically substantiated. The shortcomings in the level of the moral identity formation of younger adolescents are revealed. The necessity of purposeful work are focused on spiritual, moral and cultural values formation which form the basis of self-organization of the activity and behavioral components of the identity of younger adolescents.
Strategies for Using Fine Arts Terms in Teaching Chinese Students in Russian
Authors: Song Juanping Song Juanping ,   Russian State Pedagogical University A. I. Herzen
Published: July 2024

The relevance of the study of this problem is due to the need to develop a methodology for explaining the terms of fine and applied arts in Russian to Chinese students. In connection with the rapidly developing technologies of fine art, previously not used in China and borrowed from the experience of foreign countries, the question of the rapid saturation of the conceptual usage of new terms that have been established in Russian and other European languages arises. The opportunities for Chinese students to study at Russian universities are expanding. In this regard, this article is aimed at identifying terms that cause difficulties in the perception of Chinese students and developing methodological proposals for their most accessible explanation. The leading method in the study of this problem is the method of questionnaire of Chinese students studying at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Russian State Pedagogical University named after A. I. Herzen. It has revealed both common for the Chinese and Russian language pictorial terms and lexemes of color meanings, as well as various ones. The study sample included about a hundred terms and was conducted among two study groups of Chinese students. The article considers several matching color meanings and a number of unparalleled in Chinese. The term currency is discussed in detail. The basic principle by which the difference between Russian and Chinese terminology systems can be judged is revealed. It dates back to various historical traditions of fine art in China and Europe. The principle of explaining concepts is justified, taking into account the cultural foundations of fine arts of various countries, using illustrative examples. The materials presented in the article allow to develop a training session on explaining the concept of “valure” and a number of lexical color meanings.
Bound impurities in a one-dimensional Bose lattice gas: Low-energy properties and quench-induced dynamics
Authors: Isaule Felipe , Rojo-Francàs Abel , Juliá-Díaz Bruno
Published: July 2024

We study two mobile bosonic impurities immersed in a one-dimensional optical lattice and interacting with a bosonic bath. We employ the exact diagonalization method for small periodic lattices to study stationary properties and dynamics. We consider the branch of repulsive interactions that induce the formation of bound impurities, akin to the bipolaron problem. A comprehensive study of ground-state and low-energy properties is presented, including an examination of the interaction strengths which induce the formation of a bound dimer of impurities. We also study the dynamics induced after an interaction quench to examine the stability of the bound dimers. We reveal that after large interaction quenches from strong to weak interactions the system can show large oscillations over time with revivals of the dimer states. We find that the oscillations are driven by selected eigenstates with phase-separated configurations.
Characterization of Kaolin Deposits in Kutigi, Niger State, Northern Nigeria
Authors: Joseph Samuel Ominu , Olalekan David Adeniyi , Moses Aderemi Olutoye , Isah Abubakar Garba , Sallau Alhassan Adeku
Published: July 2024

Kaolinite is among the most important mineral resource of kaolin clay sample with numerous industrial applications. Its effective characterization in terms of its chemical composition, structure and thermal properties is important for streamline it specific industrial application. In this study, the mineralogical, thermal properties, surface morphology, surface area, structural functional groups and chemical compositions were determined using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analyser, scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption BET, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method. The major phases in the kaolin clay samples was the kaolinite with quartz, orthoclase, and albite as minor phases. the kaolin sample loss in weight was due to dihydroxylation. The kaolin particles were made of agglomeration of its irregular sized particles. The BET surface area of kaolin sample was 181.549 m2/g, with particle size of 2.98 nm and pore volume of 0.161 cc/g. The FTIR spectra showed presence of peaks for Si-O at positions 2359.48,1217.35, 1032.21, and 753.55 cm-1, while the Al-O group appeared at 1365.84, 912.65 and 668.21 cm-1. Elemental composition content results from XRF showed that SiO2 was 34.25 wt %, Al2O3 was 28.16 wt % as the major content while the minor content such as Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2, CeO2, K2O and ZrO2 were 1.17, 1.63, 1.59, 0.95, 0.37, and 0.27 wt % respectively.
Analysis the Effect of Activated Natural Zeolites for Fe Metal Adsorption
Authors: Fadliah Fadliah , Palit Christin , Pratiwi Reno , Aryanto Reza , Putri Tri Widayati
Published: July 2024

Zeolite, as an adsorbent, can be improved by a chemical activation process. In this study, zeolite was activated using the acid activation method by soaking natural zeolite with HCl and HF, and the activated zeolite was then used to adsorb Fe metal. Zeolite was characterized using SEM and XRD, and the adsorption capacity of the zeolite was analyzed using AAS. The results of SEM analysis show that zeolite after activation has a more significant number of pores than zeolite before activation. The results of XRD analysis show that zeolite that has been activated has a higher content of quartz (SiO2) and clinoptilolite than zeolite that has not been activated. The results of the zeolite adsorption capacity and efficiency test on Fe metal showed that the most excellent adsorption capacity was when the contact time was 60 minutes, with adsorption capacity and adsorption efficiency values of 3.2403 mg/g and 97.21%.
In-Silico Analysis of Polyphenol Compounds in Pomegranate Fruit (Punica granatum L.) Peel Potential as type 2 Antidiabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ummah Khoirotul , Jariyah Ita Ainun
Published: July 2024

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by increased blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance caused by the uncontrolled expression of the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). Several compounds that inhibit PTP1B have been studied, including polyphenol. Many studies have been conducted on diabetes medicines based on natural ingredients, including the pomegranate fruits (Punica granatum L). This study aims to test the inhibitory activity of polyphenolic compounds in pomegranate peel (gallic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, apigenin, quercetin, pelargonidin, and cyanidin) against PTP1B through molecular docking. The 3D structures of polyphenolic compounds were obtained from the PubChem database, while PTP1B was from the Protein Data Base. Molecular docking simulations were carried out using AutoDock Vina and several supporting softwares, such as Biovia Discovery Studio Client 4.1, AutoDockTools 1.5.6, PyMOL, and LigPlot. Molecular docking results showed that polyphenolic compounds from pomegranate peel have good inhibitory potential against PTP1B. It is proven by the binding affinity value for PTP1B, which is low and negative, namely in the range -6.4 to -8.4 kcal/mol, and the inhibition constant in the range 0.69 to 20,12 µM. The presence of phenol and carboxylic acid groups in polyphenol compounds can strengthen ligand-protein complexes through hydrogen bonds, especially with the amino acid residues Gln221 and Cys215. The potential of polyphenolic compounds as antidiabetics is also supported by van der Waals interactions and π-π stacking interactions with PTP1B. Based on the molecular docking test that has been carried out, it can be concluded that the polyphenolic compounds in pomegranate peel have the potential to act as type 2 anti-diabetes mellitus.
Analysis of the Quality of Waste Cooking Oil Resulted from Rejuvenation Using Raja Nangka Banana Peel Adsorbent with Variations in Mass of Adsorbent and Length of Adsorption Time
Authors: Devianti Vika Ayu , Arifiyana Djamilah
Published: July 2024

Continuous use of cooking oil at high temperatures produces oil that is no longer suitable for help because it is not good for the body’s health. So that waste cooking oil can be reused, it needs to be processed to improve its quality by utilizing waste to increase its benefits. Raja Nangka, one of the banana types, is commonly used as raw material for making fried bananas, resulting in abundant banana peel waste. Therefore, this research aims to utilize Raja Nangka peel waste to rejuvenate waste cooking oil. Raja Nangka banana peel was cut into small pieces, dried, sifted, and then activated using KOH to increase its surface area so that its adsorption capacity increases. The results showed that the greater the adsorbent mass and the longer the adsorption time, the greater the ability to reduce the acid number and peroxide value in waste cooking oil. An adsorbent mass of 10 grams and a soaking time of 150 minutes were the best results for reducing the acid number and peroxide value.
Experimental study of a viscous damped portal frame
Authors: Paredes Cristian , Sánchez Carlos , Arguello Edison , Paredes Marco
Published: July 2024

The prototype analysed is based on the structure of a gantry made to scale for didactic purposes, relating its dimensions to large structures used in buildings. The present work contributes substantially in the vibrational analysis of structures, simulating in a practical way the behaviour of the portal against the action of external loads. Additionally, the contribution provided by the incorporation of a viscous damper in the structure is observed. The structure includes a mechanism that generates dynamic loads inducing horizontal movement in the system exactly as it happens during a telluric movement. The graphs that characterize the movement of the system are obtained, showing the notable reduction of the acceleration when including a viscous shock absorber. The behavior of a building that incorporates a viscous dampening system in its gantry presents ideal characteristics during a seismic movement reducing the damage generated to the structure during the event.
Prestressed concrete continuous bridge girders: comparison of the Chinese and Southern African codes
Authors: Wang Junping , Mi Xiaosong , Li Lifeng , Liu Shuhua , Wang Daoyu , Liu Sen
Published: July 2024

To provide a reference for designers, taking a 30 m + 40 m + 30 m prestressed concrete continuous beam bridge as an example, this paper compares the differences between Chinese Codes and Southern African Codes in terms of load effect, prestressing requirements and design safety. The results show that the actual number of prestressed strands required by the Southern African Code in the mid-span section is 11.63 %-12.50 % larger than that required by the Chinese Code. The actual number of prestressed strands required by the Southern African Code in the fulcrum section is 16.33 %-30.00 % lower than that required by the Chinese Code. The safety margin factor of the section designed by the Southern African Code is higher than that of the Chinese Code, and has a higher safety reserve.
Cooperação em redes políticas públicas de turismo com base na confiança interpessoal
Authors: Ferreira Lacerda Paulo Henrique , Endres Ana Valéria , Tomazzoni Edegar Luis
Published: July 2024

A compreensão do planejamento turístico sob a perspectiva de redes atenta-se às questões relacionais, em redes de políticas públicas formais e informais. E temas como a confiança e a cooperação são premissas da governança de destinos turísticos. Porém, apesar desse papel relevante, pesquisas recentes alertam para uma lacuna no entendimento da articulação entre cooperação e confiança na governança turística. Assim, é preciso compreensão desses conceitos em redes de políticas públicas de turismo e das redes informais nos processos formais de planejamento turístico. Desse modo, o objetivo do artigo é investigar a confiança e a cooperação nas redes de políticas públicas para o desenvolvimento de destinos turísticos. Para isso, realizou-se pesquisa aplicada de métodos mistos, com coleta de dados primários e secundários, Análise de Redes Sociais e Análise de Conteúdo, no destino Petrolândia, Sertão de Pernambuco. Como principais achados, o estudo revela: a baixa participação, o pouco engajamento, o domínio estatal, a não-inclusão da comunidade no planejamento turístico e a existência de cooperação em uma rede informal, expressa nas trocas de informações e materiais, com vínculos de amizade e trabalho, baseados na confiança interpessoal. Logo, conclui-se que a confiança é um fator relevante na mediação das relações entre o Estado e a Sociedade, que redes informais têm se mostrado mais promissoras, sobre ações cooperativas, do que as redes formalmente institucionalizadas. Por fim, vislumbra-se um cenário de investigações futuras sobre redes formais e informais na condução das políticas de turismo.
miR-1204 Positioning in 8q24.21 Involved in the Tumorigenesis of Colorectal Cancer by Targeting MASPIN
Authors: Tian Simeng , Chen Meilin , Jing Wanting , Meng Qinghui , Wu Jie
Published: July 2024

Background:

Colorectal cancer remains to be the third leading cause of cancer mortality
rates. Despite the diverse effects of the miRNA cluster located in PVT1 of 8q24.21 across various
tumors, the specific biological function in colorectal cancer has not been clarified.

Methods:

The amplification of the miR-1204 cluster was analyzed with the cBioPortal database,
while the expression and survival analysis of the miRNAs in the cluster were obtained from several
GEO databases of colorectal cancer. To investigate the functional role of miR-1204 in colorectal
cancer, overexpression and silencing experiments were performed by miR-1204 mimic and inhibitor
transfection in colorectal cancer cell lines, respectively. Then, the effects of miR-1204 on
cell proliferation were assessed through CCK-8, colony formation, and Edu assay. In addition, cell
migration was evaluated using wound healing and Transwell assay. Moreover, candidate genes
identified through RNA sequencing and predicted databases were identified and validated using
PCR and western blot. A Dual-luciferase reporter experiment was conducted to identify MASPIN
as the target gene of miR-1204.

Results:

In colorectal cancer, the miR-1204 cluster exhibited high amplification, and the expression
levels of several cluster miRNAs were also significantly increased. Furthermore, miR-1204
was found to be significantly associated with disease-specific survival according to the analysis of
GSE17536. Functional experiments demonstrated that transfection of miR-1204 mimic or inhibitor
could enhance or decrease cancer cell proliferation and migration. MASPIN was identified as a
target of miR-1204. Additionally, the overexpression of MASPIN partially rescued the effect of
miR-1204 mimics on tumorigenic abilities in LOVO cells.

Conclusion:

miR-1204 positioning in 8q24.21 promotes the proliferation and migration of colorectal
cancer cells by targeting MASPIN.
The Regulatory Landscape of Biobanks In Europe: From Accreditation to Intellectual Property
Authors: Corradi Antonella , Bonizzi Giuseppina , Sajjadi Elham , Pavan Francesca , Fumagalli Marzia , Molendini Luigi Orlando , Monturano Massimo , Cassi Cristina , Musico Camilla Rosella , Leoni Luca , Frascarelli Chiara , Pala Oriana , Rocco Elena Guerini , Albini Adriana , Orecchia Roberto , Fusco Nicola
Published: July 2024

Biobanks are necessary resources for the storage and management of human biological
materials, such as biofluids, tissues, cells, or nucleotides. They play a significant role in the development
of new treatments and the advancement of basic and translational research, especially in
the field of biomarkers discovery and validation. The regulatory landscape for biobanks, which is
necessary to safeguard both privacy and scientific discoveries, exhibits significant heterogeneity
across different countries and regions. This article outlines the standards that modern biobanks
should fulfill in the European Union (EU), including general, structural, resource, process, and
quality requirements. Special attention is given to the importance of transparency and donor
consent following the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ISO 20387:2018, the
international standard specifies general requirements for biobanks. A dedicated section covers the
preparation of donor information materials, emphasizing consent for research involvement and personal
data processing. The delicate balance between donors' privacy rights and scientific research
promotion is also discussed, with a focus on the patenting and economic use of biological material-
derived inventions and data. Considering these factors, it would be warranted to refine legal
frameworks and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to ethically and responsibly expand biobanking.