bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multidrug resistance and virulence genes in Campylobacter isolates from poultry waste in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Falodun Olutayo Israel , Ameh Adams Agbo
Published: March 2024

Objective:

This study aims to determine antibiotic susceptibility profile and detect virulence genes in Campylobacter spp. isolated from poultry waste in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods:

Poultry droppings were collected from ten poultry farms, and Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Anaerobic Count (TAC) of the samples were determined. Campylobacter species were isolated using modified Charcoal Cefoperazone Deoxycholate Agar (mCCDA). The isolates were identified using conventional biochemical techniques, and antibiotics susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion assay on Mueller Hinton agar. Detection of virulence genes in selected multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates was carried out using polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Campylobacter species (240) were isolated from Moniya (44.6%) and Igbo-Oloyin (55.4%) farms. Campylobacter (C.) lari was the most prevalent isolate (32.5%) while C. fetus was the least common. Resistance to streptomycin was observed in 76.7% of the isolates, while 3.3% exhibited resistance to ertapenem. Specifically, C. jejuni isolates from Igbo-Oloyin farms showed resistance rates of 86% to cephalothin and 71% to cefuroxime. In comparison, C. jejuni isolates from Moniya farms showed even higher resistance rates of 95% to cephalothin and 81% to cefuroxime. The antibiotypes of the selected isolates showed that four Campylobacter spp. were resistant to a combination of eight antibiotics. Furthermore, the detection of virulence genes from the selected MDR isolates showed that cadF and hipO genes were detected in 70.0% and 50.0% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions:

MDR strains with virulent genes were found in Campylobacter species isolated from poultry wastes, posing a significant health challenge. Therefore, prudent use of antibiotics in animal husbandry should be ensured in addition to preventing indiscriminate discharge of untreated poultry waste into the environment.
SAA: A novel skin lesion Shape Asymmetry Classification Analysis
Authors: Reshma Shaik , S R Reeja
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION: Skin cancer is emerging as a significant health risk. Melanoma, a perilous kind of skin cancer, prominently manifests asymmetry in its morphological characteristics.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to classify the asymmetry of the skin lesion shape accurately and to find the number of symmetric lines and the angles of formation of symmetric lines.
METHOD: This study introduces a unique methodology known as Shape Asymmetry Analysis (SAA). The SAA incorporates a comprehensive framework including image pre-processing, segmentation along with the computation of mean deviation error and the subsequent categorization of data into symmetric and asymmetric forms using a classification model.
RESULT: The PH2 dataset is used in this study, where the three labels are consolidated into two categories. Specifically, the labels "symmetric" and "symmetric with one axis" are merged and classified as "symmetric," while the label "asymmetric" is unchanged and classified as "asymmetric". The model demonstrates superior performance compared to conventional methodologies, achieving a noteworthy accuracy rate of 90%. Additionally, it exhibits a weighted F1-score, precision, and recall of 0.89,0.91,0.90 respectively.
CONCLUSION: The SAA model accurately classifies skin lesion shapes compared to state-of-the-art methods. The model can be applied to the shapes, irrespective of irregularity, to find symmetric lines and angles.
Effect of Reaction Parameters on Silica Nanoparticles Synthesized by Sol-gel Method
Authors: Lim Young-Hyun , Kim Do Kyung , Jeong Young-Keun
Published: March 2024

The sol-gel method is the simplest method for synthesizing monodispersed silica particles. The purpose of this study is to synthesize uniform, monodisperse spherical silica nanoparticles using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as the silica precursor, ethanol, and deionized water in the presence of ammonia as a catalyst. The reaction time and temperature and the concentration of the reactants are controlled to investigate the effect of the reaction parameters on the size of the synthesized particles. The size and morphology of the obtained silica particles are investigated using transmission electron microscopy and particle size analysis. The results show that monodispersed silica particles over a size range of 54-504 nm are successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method without using any additional process. The nanosized silica particles can be synthesized at higher TEOS/H2O ratios, lower ammonia concentrations, and especially, higher reaction temperatures.
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy through Selective Laser Melting: Comprehensive Study on the Effect of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP)
Authors: Roy Gargi , Hajra Raj Narayan , Kim Woo Hyeok , Lee Jongwon , Kim Sangwoo , Kim Jeoung Han
Published: March 2024

This study explores the profound impact of varying oxygen content on microstructural and mechanical properties in specimens HO and LO. The higher oxygen concentration in specimen HO is found to significantly influence alpha lath sizes, resulting in a size of 0.5-1 μm, contrasting with the 1-1.5 μm size observed in specimen LO. Pore fraction, governed by oxygen concentration, is high in specimen HO, registering a value of 0.11%, whereas specimen LO exhibits a lower pore fraction (0.02%). Varied pore types in each specimen further underscore the role of oxygen concentration in shaping microstructural morphology. Despite these microstructural variations, the average hardness remains consistent at ~370 HV. This study emphasizes the pivotal role of oxygen content in influencing microstructural features, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between elemental composition and material properties.
Cryogenic Tensile Behavior of Ferrous Medium-entropy Alloy Additively Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Lee Seungyeon , Kim Kyung Tae , Yu Ji-Hun , Kim Hyoung Seop , Bae Jae Wung , Park Jeong Min
Published: March 2024

The emergence of ferrous-medium entropy alloys (FeMEAs) with excellent tensile properties represents a potential direction for designing alloys based on metastable engineering. In this study, an FeMEA is successfully fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), a metal additive manufacturing technology. Tensile tests are conducted on the LPBF-processed FeMEA at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures (77 K). At 77 K, the LPBF-processed FeMEA exhibits high yield strength and excellent ultimate tensile strength through active deformation-induced martensitic transformation. Furthermore, due to the low stability of the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase of the LPBF-processed FeMEA based on nano-scale solute heterogeneity, stress-induced martensitic transformation occurs, accompanied by the appearance of a yield point phenomenon during cryogenic tensile deformation. This study elucidates the origin of the yield point phenomenon and deformation behavior of the FeMEA at 77 K.
On the asymptotic growth of Birkhoff integrals for locally Hamiltonian flows and ergodicity of their extensions
Authors: Frączek Krzysztof , Ulcigrai Corinna
Published: March 2024

We consider smooth area-preserving flows (also known as
locally Hamiltonian flows
) on surfaces of genus

g\geq 1

and study ergodic integrals of smooth observables along the flow trajectories. We show that these integrals display a
power deviation spectrum
and describe the cocycles that lead the pure power behaviour, giving a new proof of results by Forni [Ann. of Math. (2) 155 (2002), 1–103] and Bufetov [Ann. of Math. (2) 179 (2014), 431–499] and generalizing them to observables which are non-zero at fixed points. This in particular completes the proof of the original formulation of the Kontsevitch–Zorich conjecture. Our proof is based on building suitable
correction operators
for cocycles with logarithmic singularities over a full measure set of interval exchange transformations (IETs), in the spirit of Marmi–Moussa–Yoccoz work on piecewise smooth cocycles over IETs. In the case of symmetric singularities, exploiting former work of the second author [Ann. of Math. (2) 173 (2011), 1743–1778] we prove a tightness result for a finite codimension class of observables. We then apply the latter result to prove the existence of ergodic infinite extensions for a full measure set of locally Hamiltonian flows with non-degenerate saddles in any genus

g\geq 2

.
Построение новых полуортогональных разложений в арифметической геометрии
Authors: Bondarko Mikhail Vladimirovich
Published: March 2024

Статья посвящена построению новых допустимых подкатегорий и полуортогональных разложений из исходных. Пусть $\mathcal{T}$ и $\mathcal{T}'$ - триангулированные подкатегории некоторой категории $\mathcal{D}$, а $(\mathcal{A},\mathcal{B})$ - полуортогональное разложение $\mathcal{T}$; мы ищем или такое разложение $(\mathcal{A}',\mathcal{B}')$ категории $\mathcal{T}'$, что нет ненулевых $\mathcal{D}$-морфизмов из $\mathcal{A}$ в $\mathcal{A}'$ и из $\mathcal{B}$ в $\mathcal{B}'$, или такое разложение $(\mathcal{A}_{\mathcal{D}},\mathcal{B}_{\mathcal{D}})$ категории $\mathcal{D}$, что $\mathcal{A}_{\mathcal{D}}\cap \mathcal{T}=\mathcal{A}$ и $\mathcal{B}_{\mathcal{D}}\cap \mathcal{T}=\mathcal{B}$. Доказываются несколько общих теорем существования (они также обобщаются на полуортогональные разложения произвольной длины); они применяются к различным производным категориям когерентных пучков на схеме $X$, собственной над спектром нeтерова кольца $R$. Это дает взаимно однозначное соответствие между полуортогональными разложениями категорий $D_{\mathrm{perf}}(X)$ и $D^{\mathrm{b}}(\operatorname{coh}(X)) $; последние распространяются на $D^-(\operatorname{coh}(X))$, $D^+_{\mathrm{coh}}(\operatorname{Qcoh}(X))$, $D_{\mathrm{coh}}(\operatorname{Qcoh}(X))$ и $D(\operatorname{Qcoh}(X))$ (если выполнены очень слабые дополнительные предположения). В частности, доказывается широкое обобщение некоторой теоремы Дж. Кармазина, А. Кузнецова и Е. Шиндера. Для получения этих результатов применяются недавние результаты Неемана, выражающие категории $D^{\mathrm{b}}(\operatorname{coh}(X))$ и $D^- (\operatorname{coh}(X))$ через $D_{\mathrm{perf}}(X)$. Также доказывается аналогичная новая теорема, связывающая $D^+_{\mathrm{coh}}(\operatorname{Qcoh}(X))$ и $D_{\mathrm{coh}}(\operatorname{Qcoh}(X))$ (это некоторые модификации ограниченной снизу и неограниченной производной категории когерентных пучков на $X$) с гомологическими функторами $D_{\mathrm{perf}}(X)^{\mathrm{op}}\to R-\operatorname{mod}$. Мы также изучаем применение этой теорем к построению некоторых сопряженных функторов. Библиография: 30 названий.
Задача Коши для нелинейного уравнения Шредингера с большим начальным градиентом в слабодисперсионном пределе
Authors: Zakharov Sergei Viktorovich
Published: March 2024

Рассматривается задача Коши для кубического нелинейного уравнения Шредингера с большим градиентом начальной функции и малым параметром дисперсии. Методом ренормализации строится асимптотическое решение в явном виде интегральной свертки. Устанавливается асимптотический аналог ренормгруппового свойства при масштабных преобразованиях, определяемых параметром дисперсии. В случае отрицательного коэффициента фокусировки получено уточняющее выражение для асимптотического решения через известные эллиптические специальные функции.
Солитоны в полубесконечном ферромагнетике с анизотропией типа "легкая ось"
Authors: Kiselev Vladimir Valer'evich
Published: March 2024

Предложен специальный вариант метода обратной задачи рассеяния для построения и анализа солитонных возбуждений в полубесконечном образце легкоосного ферромагнетика при частичном закреплении спинов на его поверхности. Рассмотрены предельные случаи свободных краевых спинов и спинов, полностью закрепленных на границе образца. Найдены частотные и модуляционные характеристики солитонов, локализованных вблизи поверхности образца. При разной степени закрепления краевых спинов исследованы изменения ядер движущихся солитонов в результате их упругого отражения от границы образца. Получены интегралы движения, которые управляют динамикой магнитных солитонов в полубесконечном образце.
L’infini s’abouchant avec le fini : la poétique labyrinthique d’Henri Michaux
Authors: Prince Justine
Published: March 2024

The infinite merging with the finite: the labyrinthine poetics of Henri Michaux

This paper examines how the figure of the labyrinth helps us to grasp the particular writing of Henri Michaux. Based on a reading of Déplacements, dégagements, it will show how the aesthetic experience of wandering arises from compositional processes of the multiple. This double perspective, both poetic and aesthetic, allows us to grasp the specificity of labyrinthine wandering, which suggests the infinite within a structure that is however finite. It is not the absence of any signification, but the multiplication and proliferation of significant data, that produces wandering. Confronted with this multiplicity, the reader is not confined to a passive state of reception, but actively projects a trajectory in order to give meaning on all his perceptual details, even if this meaning remains unstable.
The analysis of a novel COVID-19 model with the fractional-order incorporating the impact of the vaccination campaign in Nigeria via the Laplace-Adomian Decomposition Method
Authors: Yunus Akeem Olarewaju , Olayiwola Morufu Oyedunsi
Published: March 2024

This study underscores the crucial role of COVID-19 vaccinations in managing the pandemic, with a specific focus on Nigeria. Employing a fractional-order mathematical modeling approach, the research assesses vaccination efficacy, minimum effectiveness, and duration. The model’s numerical solution is derived through the Laplace Adomian Decomposition Method (LADM), utilizing rapidly converging infinite series. Simulation results illustrate the impact of COVID-19 transmission and vaccination rates. The study concludes that implementing a vaccination strategy in an integer order proves to be the most effective approach to controlling the spread of COVID-19. These findings have significant implications for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare workers. They emphasize the central role of fractional calculus in facilitating vaccine implementation in the ongoing battle against COVID-19. The study calls for global efforts to maximize vaccination implementation for the overall benefit of public health.
The influence of the leading defense mechanisms of the psyche on the components of personal creativity
Authors:   Samarkand State University named after Sh. Rashidov, Gut Yu. N. , Lubkova А.А. ,   Samarkand State University named after Sh. Rashidov
Published: March 2024

The article presents the results of an empirical study indicating the influence of the leading destructive defense mechanisms of the psyche on some components of personal creativity.
Enhancing the Precision of Proportional Electromagnetic Actuators used in Automatic Processes Control
Authors:   1 Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Inginerie Electrică (INCDIE) ICPE-CA, Splaiul Unirii, nr. 313, Sector 3, 030138 Bucharest, Romania, PÎSLARU-DĂNESCU Lucian , ZĂRNESCU George-Claudiu ,   1 Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Inginerie Electrică (INCDIE) ICPE-CA, Splaiul Unirii, nr. 313, Sector 3, 030138 Bucharest, Romania, POPESCU Ionel ,   2 Institutul pentru Calculul și Experimentarea Structurilor Aero-Astronautice (STRAERO) SA, Bd. Iuliu Maniu, nr. 220, Sector 6, 061126 Bucharest, Romania, POPA Marius ,   1 Institutul Național de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Inginerie Electrică (INCDIE) ICPE-CA, Splaiul Unirii, nr. 313, Sector 3, 030138 Bucharest, Romania, MIU Jan ,   2 Institutul pentru Calculul și Experimentarea Structurilor Aero-Astronautice (STRAERO) SA, Bd. Iuliu Maniu, nr. 220, Sector 6, 061126 Bucharest, Romania, ILIESCU Cristian ,   2 Institutul pentru Calculul și Experimentarea Structurilor Aero-Astronautice (STRAERO) SA, Bd. Iuliu Maniu, nr. 220, Sector 6, 061126 Bucharest, Romania
Published: March 2024

In this study, an electromagnetic actuator is presented, that features precise proportional action and wide displacement capabilities. This actuator operates in two distinct modes. In the proportional mode, the actuator positions its mobile equipment within a 0 to 14 mm range, governed by the balance between electromagnetic force and spring elastic force. By employing the pulse width modulation (PWM) principle, the electronic control section finely tunes the duty cycle factor and the coil current, thus achieving precise displacement control. The displacement control was further enhanced through the integration of a magnetic sensor that correlates movement with the Hall Voltage. This additional feature augments the actuator's precision by providing real-time feedback on the position of the mobile equipment, thereby refining the overall control mechanism. In the modulated mode, the actuator's oscillation frequency spans from 1Hz to 10 Hz, requiring control from the arbitrary signal generator. The PWM waveform controller DRV101 and the related electronic circuits are powered by two stabilized encapsulated continuous voltage sources that are compact enough to fit inside the actuator housing. The final power stage was represented by two power IGBT transistors that are powered by an external continuous voltage source. Experiments were also realized for heat management and to measure the plunger force at different distances between 0 and 14 mm. These analyses aim to optimize performance across both operational modes, advancing the efficiency and reliability of precision control systems in automated processes.
Fuzzy Logic Controllers Design for the Path Tracking of an Autonomous Coaxial Octorotor
Authors:   Laboratory of Applied Automatic and Industrial Diagnostics (LAADI), Djelfa University, Algeria, TOUDJI Khaled , NADOUR Mohamed ,   Laboratory of Applied Automatic and Industrial Diagnostics (LAADI), Djelfa University, Algeria, CHERROUN Lakhmissi ,   Laboratory of Applied Automatic and Industrial Diagnostics (LAADI), Djelfa University, Algeria
Published: March 2024

Due to the essential characteristics and utility of coaxial octocopter vehicles in various real-time applications and many actual domains, this article aims to propose intelligent fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) for a six-degrees-of-freedom coaxial octorotor with a dynamic model. Using expert knowledge, the developed control structure is applied to track reference paths in the 3D environment with sufficient stability and effectiveness. The tested octorotor dynamic model is divided into six subsystems: altitude, pitch, roll, yaw, x position, and y position. Meanwhile, a Mamdani fuzzy inference controller is designed and applied for each subsystem to generate the appropriate control action. The simulation and the evolution tasks are done using a MATLAB dynamic model of the controlled process in order to perform and evaluate the proposed intelligent control structures of the 6 DOF octorotor model. The illustrated simulation results demonstrate the designed fuzzy controllers' effectiveness in motion stability and error tracking for different types of paths and all tested variables.
Coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays using Growth Optimizer
Authors:   Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics Laboratory (LAADI), Djelfa University, Djelfa 17000, Algeria, MOHAMMED Ridha Djamel , KADDOURI Miloud ,   Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics Laboratory (LAADI), Djelfa University, Djelfa 17000, Algeria, BELADEL Abdelkader ,   Applied Automation and Industrial Diagnostics Laboratory (LAADI), Djelfa University, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
Published: March 2024

The protection system plays a crucial role in the generation, transmission, and distribution systems of a power network. Among various protection relay types, Directional Overcurrent Relays (DOCRs) are the most used. When abnormal conditions are detected, these relays trigger the tripping of protection devices by detecting the direction and magnitude of current flow and isolating faulty parts of the system. The present article proposes a novel approach for the coordination and settings of DOCRs using the Growth Optimizer (GO) algorithm; the main objective is to minimize the sum of operation time of the relays while ensuring the minimal time gap between primary and backup relays. This optimization problem is subject to different constraints including maximum allowable operating times, relay coordination margins, and discrete values for pickup current settings. The technique is applied to the IEEE 4-bus, 8-bus, and 15-bus test systems, and its performance is compared with that of other optimization algorithms. Results show that the proposed approach provides the proper coordination of protection systems with a high, robust, and computationally acceptable speed of convergence.
Uji Aktivitas ALT, AST dan Histopatologi Ekstrak Etanol Rimpang Temu Kunci (Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf) pada Tikus Putih Jantan
Authors: Harahap Mawandha Sari , Harahap Urip , Sitorus Panal
Published: March 2024

Experimental research in the field of hepatology on the development of traditional medicine into a potential pharmacological solution to protect the liver from cirrhosis. Accordingly, this study investigated the effect of ethanol extract of temu kunci rhizome on liver cirrhosis. The rats were divided into six groups, the normal control group was given nothing but pellets and sufficient water, the negative control group was given orally CMC-Na 0.5%, 200 mg acetylcysteine (dose converted to rat) was given to the positive control group, and the treatment group was given ethanol extract of temu kunci rhizome doses of 250, 500, 750 mg/kg BW, given daily for 10 days. Then on the 10th day after 1 hour of extract administration, induction was carried out with paracetamol 800 mg/kg BW orally; 16 hours after induction, rats were sacrificed, blood was taken for ALT and AST enzyme examination, then liver organs were taken for histopathological examination. The administration of ethanol extract of temu kunci rhizome can prevent liver damage by reducing ALT and AST enzyme levels in rat blood serum. The best dose in reducing ALT and AST enzymes was produced by giving 500 mg/kg BW of temu kunci rhizome ethanol extract every day for 10 days. At a dose of 500 mg/kg BW ethanol extract of temu kunci rhizome morphologically (evaluation with H&E staining) can also repair liver tissue damaged by paracetamol induction. The development of liver damage can be interpended by using ethanol extract of temu kunci rhizome, so that the status of liver morphology, structure and function of the liver can be maintained.
The Influence of Maternal Empowerment Through Maternal Class on Maternal Knowledge about Pregnancy Danger Signs
Authors: Rahmawati Rahmawati , Era Dwi Prihatin , Urnia Ega Ersya
Published: March 2024

Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) remain serious issues related to pregnancy and childbirth. To address this problem and enhance maternal knowledge about pregnancy danger signs, innovative efforts through maternal classes are necessary. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of maternal empowerment through maternal classes on maternal knowledge about pregnancy danger signs in UPT Karangan Primary Health Center, Kutai Timur Regency. This study utilized a pre-experimental design with one-group pretest and posttest. The purpose was to assess the influence of maternal empowerment through maternal classes on maternal knowledge in UPT Karangan Primary Health Center, Kutai Timur Regency. The population consisted of 54 pregnant women who attended maternal classes in UPT Karangan Primary Health Center during the period of July 2022 to November 2022. Nonprobability sampling technique was used to select a sample of 22 pregnant women. The test statistic showed that the Sig (2-tailed) value was 0.008, which is less than α (α=0.05). Based on the analysis using the Mc Nemar test, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence between pretest and posttest scores in the first and second meetings. Maternal empowerment through maternal classes significantly enhances knowledge about pregnancy danger signs. Expert teaching and class evaluation contribute to the effectiveness of this program in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Analysis of the factors of heart rate variability affected after a hypoxia tolerance test as a function of gender
Authors: Rochel Vera Cristina , Albertus Cámara Inés , Martínez González-Moro Ignacio
Published: March 2024

Heart rate variability (HRV), the variation of time intervals between heartbeats, reflects the result of the interaction between the autonomic nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Hypoxia is a stressor that causes changes in HRV and a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). The aim of our study is to analyse if the time and frequency domains of HRV are affected after a hypoxia tolerance test in healthy participants as a function of gender. Material and methods: 23 healthy volunteers (11 women and 12 men) with a mean age of 23.08±2.99 performed a hypoxia tolerance test (11%, 5050 m) with the iAltitude simulator. Heart rate and SaO2 were monitored during the test and HRV frequency domain (FD) and time domain (TD) data were obtained. We analysed the five minutes before and after each session. Outcomes: Simulated altitude-induced hypoxia can cause changes in HRV in a group of healthy individuals. Statistically significant differences were also found between before and after the normobaric hypoxia test in the time-domain variables RRm, SDNN, HRm, HR STD, pNN50. In addition, in women statistically significant differences were found in RMSSD, and in the frequency-domain variables HF and LF/HF. While in males, statistically significant differences were found in SDNN. In both men and women, significant differences were observed in RRm, HRm and pNN50. Conclusion: The differences found in HRV after the hypoxia tolerance test indicate that females show a greater activation of the parasympathetic nervous system compared to males. While males showed greater sympathetic activation.
Keywords: Heart rate variability, normobaric hypoxia, stress, autonomic nervous system.
The Effect of Coaching Style on Performance of Athletes Through Anxiety as Mediating Variable in Adolescent Swimmers
Authors: Sridana Rosa , Tomoliyus Tomoliyus , Sukamti Endang Rini , Prabowo Trisnar Adi , Abrori Raja Bintang
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to analyze the effect of the relationship between coach leadership style and the performance achievement of adolescent swimmers through anxiety as a mediator. This study was conducted on 100 adolescent swimmers in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province who have won at least at the regional level. This type of research was descriptive correlation using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach with Smart-PLS. The results of this research are the validity test on outer loading (>0.7) and the constructed value on the Fornell-Larcker Criterion is greater than the other construct values (>0.7) and the Cronbach's alpha reliability value (>0.7) means that this instrument is suitable for use for research. The results of the fit model are SRMR or Standardized Root Mean Square value, the value is 0.066 < 0.10 or 0.077 < 0.08 so the model fits the data. Hypothesis results from 1) coaching style and the performance of swimming athletes are P-Values 0.001, 2) the relationship between coaching style and anxiety, P-Values 0.002, 3) the relationship between anxiety and the performance of swimming athletes, P-Values 0.000, 4) the relationship between coaching style and the performance of swimming athletes through anxiety P-Values 0.021. Therefore, four hypotheses can be accepted. In conclusion, differences in types of coaching styles, either directly or indirectly, will influence athletes' achievement orientation and performance.
Keywords: Coaching Style, Anxiety, Performance Achievement, Swimmer
Evidências de validade de escalas de medida de desenvolvimento afetivo-social e de democratização em competições esportivas infantojuvenis
Authors: Treter Gonçalves Gabriel Henrique , Abaide Balbinotti Marcos Alencar , Zeilmann Brasil Vinicius , Tierling Klering Roberto , Abaide Balbinotti Carlos Adelar
Published: March 2024

A competição esportiva pode ser positiva ou negativa, a depender de como é formatada. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi demonstrar as primeiras evidências de validade de duas escalas de medida de desenvolvimento de conteúdos pedagógicos em competições esportivas infantojuvenis. São eles o Desenvolvimento Afetivo-Social e a Democratização – ambas as escalas compõem a Bateria de Testes Gonçalves-Balbinotti de Favorecimento ao Desenvolvimento de Conteúdos Pedagógicos no Esporte Infantojuvenil. Uma amostra de 210 treinadores esportivos de 20 a 75 anos, de ambos os sexos, respondeu as escalas, a fim de se estimar suas estruturas e consistências internas, além de testar suas estabilidades. As duas escalas apresentaram estruturas limpas, compostas por dois fatores, com saturações significativas (Satf > .40) e explicando respectivamente 72.76% e 66.82% da variância total dos construtos. Os resultados relativos ao ajuste do modelo foram, de forma geral, satisfatórios. Os resultados do estudo de consistência interna (.833 < α < .911 para os fatores; αAS = .936; αDe = .915) asseguram a precisão das medidas e a confiabilidade de sua utilização aos objetivos a que se propõe. Os resultados respondem aos objetivos central e específicos da pesquisa e indicam a possibilidade da segura utilização das duas escalas, seja na avaliação de eventos competitivos e consequente seleção daqueles mais adequados aos objetivos do praticante, seja na avaliação e elaboração de novos formatos de competição.
Palavras-chave: Pedagogia, competição, esporte, crianças, adolescentes, estudos de validação.
Types of Corruption Crimes in Sports in the Countries of the European Union
Authors: Kyslenko Dmytro , Podliehaiev Kostiantyn , Zarubei Viktoriia , Kuzmichova-Kyslenko Elizaveta , Rymarchuk Olha
Published: March 2024

Corruption crimes in sports have long gone beyond a national scale, having become a global problem. The aim of this research was to study the most common types of corruption crimes in the EU and to provide recommendations on the legislative regulation of combating sports corruption in in the EU. The following methods were used in this study: the method of comparison and contrasting; the method of descriptive analysis; the anamnestic method; the forecasting method. The study established that the main forms of corruption crimes in sports are bribery or fraud. The most common types of them are match-fixing (33 cases), doping (24 cases), fraud (6 cases), legalisation (laundering) of criminal proceeds (4 cases). Corruption has the following influence on sports: discrediting of athletes; threat to the athlete’s health; decreased popularity and spread of sports; decreased confidence of fans; a threat to the entire sports sector. Conclusions. It is advisable to adopt the EU Convention on combating corruption and bribery in sports, which will enshrine a list of the main types of corruption crimes in sports, the main threats from corruption crimes for sports, directions of state policy in the field under research, types of responsibility for these actions; the obligations of the EU member state to this regulatory legal act must bring the national legislation into compliance with it. This study is not comprehensive, and the proposal for the development of the Convention on combating sports corruption and bribery opens up prospects for further research in the field of regulation and management in sports.
Keywords: Corruption crimes, Sports sector, Match fixing, Doping, Bribery, Bribery in sports.
Satisfacción Vital y Adolescencia en la Educación Física Española (Life Satisfaction and Adolescence in Spanish Physical Education)
Authors: Galán-Arroyo Carmen , Gómez-Paniagua Santiago , Castillo-Paredes Antonio , Rojo-Ramos Jorge
Published: March 2024

La satisfacción vital (SV) durante la adolescencia puede estar influenciada por varios factores y la educación física juega un papel importante en este periodo crucial de desarrollo. Se refiere a cómo se sienten con respecto a su existencia, teniendo en cuenta sus relaciones sociales, su entorno académico, su bienestar emocional y su sentido de logro personal. Esta satisfacción puede influir en su desempeño académico, su salud mental y su bienestar general. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio es analizar la satisfacción vital en estudiantes españoles de Educación Física desde los 6 hasta los 18 años. A 723 estudiantes se les pasó la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (SLSS). Los resultados muestran un nivel de SV general muy similar en función del sexo. Con respecto a la edad parece mantener una correlación negativa con la SV, a diferencia del IMC que no muestra tener influencia en la SV. Sobre la ubicación del centro existe una ligera influencia en el nivel de SV, sin encontrar diferencias significativas. Conocer los factores que influyen en la SV dota a la comunidad educativa de herramientas para poder promover un estilo de vida saludable y mejorar el bienestar general de los adolescentes.
Palabras clave: Bienestar emocional, Adolescente, Educación, Actividad Física
Abstract. Life satisfaction (LS) during adolescence can be influenced by a number of factors and physical education plays an important role in this crucial period of development. It refers to how they feel about their existence, taking into account their social relationships, their academic environment, their emotional well-being and their sense of personal achievement. This satisfaction can influence their academic performance, mental health and general well-being. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse life satisfaction in Spanish Physical Education students aged 6 to 18. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLSS) was administered to 723 students. The findings show a very similar overall level of SV according to gender. With respect to age there seems to be a negative correlation with SV, in contrast to BMI which shows no influence on SV. Regarding the location of the centre, there is a slight influence on the level of SV, but no significant differences were found. Knowing the factors that influence SV provides the educational community with tools to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve the general well-being of adolescents.
Keywords: Emotional wellbeing, Adolescent, Education, Physical activity
Minimizing Urban Flooding by Optimal Design of Drainage System Using Sequential Least Squares Quadratic Programming and Spatial Datasets
Authors: Ekeh James O. , Jha Manoj K.
Published: March 2024

Urban flooding is caused due to poor drainage design and excessive rain. It severely affects the road infrastructure. Existing hydrologic software tools to examine the extent of urban flooding primarily require walking through a series of manual steps and address each study area individually, preventing a collective review of poor storm-drains in an efficient manner. Previous methods for optimal drainage design were inefficient and lacked the ability of solving the underlying optimization problem due to the inherent nonlinearity of the decision variables. In this paper, we develop a nonlinear optimization formulation to minimize urban flooding using underground pipe size as a decision variable. We propose a solution algorithm using sequential least squares quadratic programming and spatial datasets. The proposed method eliminates the need to examine each study area manually using existing hydrologic tools. An example using the storm-drain system for the Baltimore County is performed. The results show that the model is effective in identifying storm-drain deficiencies and correcting them by choosing appropriate storm-drain inlet types to minimize flooding. Future works may include using large datasets and a more sophisticated modeling approach for estimating rainfall intensity based on extreme weather patterns. The method can be applied to other jurisdictions if relevant hydrological and underdrain piping network data were available.
 
Received: 23 January 2024 | Revised: 26 February 2024 | Accepted: 7 March 2024
 
Conflicts of Interest
Manoj K. Jha is an Associate Editor for Journal of Computational and Cognitive Engineering, and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.
 
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in ESRI's ArcGIS portal at http://www.arcgis.com using the following code: Storm_drain = gis.content.get(‘07d6eb057e554c51832c4f0852ecf9c0’). The data are good as of June 12, 2023 and may have changed over time.
 
Author Contribution Statement
James O. Ekeh: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Writing – review & editing, Visualization. Manoj K. Jha: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization.
Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis successfully treated with glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin: a case report
Authors: Ahn Soo Hyun , Ahn Seon-Jae , Kim Seung Ae , Lee Han Sang , Chu Kon
Published: March 2024

Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is a rare inflammatory condition of the central nervous system. As a limited number of cases has been reported, debate remains on the optimal treatment. We present a case of idiopathic eosinophilic meningoencephalitis successfully treated with glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). After extensive evaluation to rule out other possible causes, the patient was treated with intravenous (IV) dexamethasone and showed significant improvement within a few days. However, neurologic impairment persisted, and follow-up lumbar puncture results showed only a mild decrease in pleocytosis. Even after an additional 5 days of IV methylprednisolone, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis persisted, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an increase in enhanced lesions, implying persistent neuroinflammation. The patient was maintained on high-dose oral prednisolone for 2 months, and additional immune-modulatory effects were treated with IVIG. Follow-up MRI at 2 months showed a significant decrease in the extent of multiple enhanced lesions and a normalized CSF profile. The patient was maintained on regular maintenance doses of IVIG for an additional 6 months without any neurologic signs or symptoms. Inflammation is the key pathophysiology underlying neurological damage in eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. A literature review revealed that corticosteroid treatment is the only anti-inflammatory treatment used in cases of idiopathic meningoencephalitis, resulting in sufficient response in most patients but only partial response or death in a few cases. This is the first case report of IVIG use in idiopathic eosinophilic meningoencephalitis, suggesting the possibility of a new treatment modality for refractory cases.
Evaluation of Level 2 of Kirkpatrick’s Model “Learning” Among the Masters of Health Professional Education Candidates of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad
Authors: Ayesha Fazal  , Nasir Falahat , Anosha Mujtaba  , Seemi Tanvir  , Nida Fatima  , Saamiya Nabeel
Published: March 2024

Objective: To evaluate the extent of learning achieved by the participants of ongoing Masters of Health Professionals Education (MHPE) program, corresponding to level 2 of Kirkpatrick’s model.
Methodology: A total of 18 Masters of Health Professionals Education (MHPE) candidates were recruited in the study by convenience sampling, who attended the MHPE first session of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, from 8th March, 2023 to 14th March. 2023. Those participants with at least 80% attendance and willing to participate were included, while those with attendance less than 80% were excluded from the study. A questionnaire comprising of three parts was used for data collection. The level 2 of Kirkpatrick’s model, that is “learning” was evaluated by analyzing data through SPSS.
Results: Majority of the participants 12 (66.7%) agreed that they had clear understanding of learning objectives (LOs), and that the LOs were aligned with the knowledge and skills. Also, majority of the candidates showed strong consensus that the course material provided was easy and essential to success. Regarding content relevance, the content was found to be relevant to the HPE candidates. A large portion of the samples agreed that they were enriched with learning from the facilitator’s knowledge and skills. The delivery and style of the two facilitators involved in teaching was well engaging. The candidates showed little discomfort over the pace and length of the session.
Conclusion: Overall, it was noted that the learning of MHPE candidates was improved in the first contact session of the MHPE program.
Preference and acceptance of fresh rabbit, pork and chicken meat sausages among young consumers
Authors: González-Redondo Pedro , Fierro-Raya María
Published: March 2024

The rabbit sector has proposed sausages as a suitable presentation format to increase rabbit meat consumption among young people in a context in which it is declining in several traditionally-consuming countries. In order to confirm its suitability in this context, this work compares the acceptability and preference of commercial fresh rabbit sausages with those of chicken and pork meat, using an untrained panel of 70 young Spanish consumers (22.1 yr old on average; 57.1% male and 42.9% female). In the first part of the trial, cooked sausages were evaluated for: a) acceptability of organoleptic characteristics (odour, colour, appearance, texture, flavour, elasticity and juiciness) and the overall rating using a 9-point hedonic scale, and b) order of preference of sausages (first to third). Overall acceptance and sensory attributes were rated in the medium-high range (6.1-7.9 points) and differed among the cooked sausages, except for odour and appearance. Rabbit sausage was rated at the same level as chicken and pork sausages in terms of odour, appearance, texture, flavour and overall assessment, outperformed pork sausage in colour, elasticity and juiciness acceptance, and was only rated lower than chicken sausage in terms of juiciness. Cooked chicken sausage was preferred in first place, followed by rabbit sausage, while pork sausage came last. In the second part of the trial, raw sausages were evaluated visually for: a) acceptability of colour and visual appearance, and b) order of preference of the sausages. No difference was found between the raw sausages in terms of colour, while the appearance of the raw pork sausage was rated better than that of the rabbit and chicken sausages, with no difference between the latter two. The visual appearance of the raw pork sausage was ranked first, followed by the chicken sausage, while the raw rabbit sausage came last. Only 40% of the young panellists could identify the meat ingredient of the rabbit sausage in both cooked and raw sausages. No interaction was found between the type of sausage and the gender of the panellists in evaluation of either the cooked or raw sausages. Young women rated the texture, flavour, elasticity, juiciness and overall assessment of the cooked sausages lower than men, regardless of meat type, whereas no gender difference was found for the visual assessment of the raw sausages. In conclusion, cooked rabbit sausage was accepted as well as chicken sausage overall and better than pork sausage, while raw rabbit sausage was accepted as well as chicken sausage overall and worse than pork sausage in the visual assessment, showing its potential to promote rabbit meat consumption among young people.
From I to We: Impact Management is the Management of Life towards Holistic Well-being and Flourishing
Authors: Tsao Chavalit Frederick
Published: March 2024

The Era of Well-being is here, and it falls upon us all to awaken to and align ourselves with the flow of history and time. Impact management is the management of life towards flourishing and well-being. It refers to our ability to direct our intention and attention towards evolving
in the direction of our challenges, towards well-being and happiness. Recognizing that we are an inseparable part of a collective system, we must come to embrace and celebrate our life purpose which is to add value and impact, so that all systems are well. Such recognition then brings us on
a journey from the "I" into the "We". When "I am We", that is when I am truly well. In Volume Two of this Special Issue, I am humbled by the opportunity to co-create this future together with the six excellent contributions to this volume, which detail how well-being and happiness can lead
to a life-centered organization and to business flourishing.
Variety study of the tree peony Paeonia x suffruticosa Andr. when grown in the conditions of the Moscow region
Authors:   RGAU-MSHA named after K.A. Timiryazev, Kozlova Elena
Published: March 2024

The work is devoted to the variety study of tree peonies when grown in open ground conditions in the Moscow region. During the research, varieties with different growing seasons were identified, the duration of the flowering period was established, varieties with maximum values in height, plant diameter, number of flowers and flower size were identified, the most decorative varieties of tree peony were identified. The varieties Green Beans, Snow Fortress and Shima Nishiki bloomed first – 08.06, the varieties Midday Heat, Anastasia Sosnovets and Helen Martin – 09.06, 10.06 and 11.06, respectively. The longest flowering time for the varieties Midday Heat, Snow Fortress and Shima Nishiki is 9 days. The long duration of the growing season was noted in the varieties Snow Fortress, Green Beans, Midday Heat and Shima Nishiki, 118 days. The decorative variety is Shima Nishiki, which scored 64 points due to its originality. Anastasia Sosnovets and Helen Martin varieties are recommended for use in single and group plantings. Early varieties of Snow Fortress and Green Beans can be planted in flower beds, mixborders and in single plantings. When creating rock gardens and English gardens, it is possible to use the Midday Heat. To create rocky gardens, stylized Chinese and Japanese gardens, it is recommended to plant the Shima Nishiki variety. Keywords: TREE PEONY, VARIETIES OF TREE PEONY, CULTIVATION OF TREE PEONY, DECORATIVE PEONY, ASSESSMENT OF DECORATIVE PEONY