bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Modeling and Experimental Validation of Heat Transfer Characteristics in Small PTCs with Nonevacuated Receivers
Authors: Ebolese Amedeo , Marano Domenico , Copeta Carlo , Bruno Agatino , Sabatelli Vincenzo
Published: October 2023

The development of small-sized parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) for processing heat production at medium temperatures (100–250 °C) represents an interesting approach to increase the utilization of solar thermal technologies in industrial applications. Thus, the development of simplified models to analyze and predict their performance under different operative and climatic conditions is crucial for evaluating the application potential of this low-cost technology. In this paper, we present a numerical method that by combining three-dimensional finite element simulations (implemented with COMSOL Multiphysics software version 6.1) with a one-dimensional analysis (based on a MATLAB script) allows for the theoretical determination of the power output of a small-PTC with a nonevacuated tubular receiver operating at a medium temperature. The finite element model considers both the nonuniformity of the concentrated solar flux on the receiver tube (evaluated using Monte Carlo ray-tracing analysis) and the establishment of natural convection in the air gap between the glass envelope and absorber tube. The model calculates, for several values of direct normal irradiance (DNI) and inlet temperatures, the thermal power transferred to the heat transfer fluid (HTF) per unit length. The data are fitted using the multiple linear regression method, obtaining a function that is then used in a one-dimensional multi-nodal model to estimate the temperatures and the heat gains along the receiver tube. The outputs of the model are the outlet temperature and the total thermal power transferred to the HTF. In order to validate the developed methodology for the assessment of the heat transfer characteristics in the small-PTC with a nonevacuated receiver, an experiment at the ENEA Trisaia—Solar Thermal Collector Testing Laboratory was carried out. This work compares the theoretical data with those acquired through experimentation, obtaining a good agreement, with maximum differences of 0.2% and 3.6% for the outlet temperatures and the power outputs, respectively.
Environmental Information: Different Sources Different Levels of Pro-Environmental Behaviours?
Authors: Dagiliūtė Renata
Published: October 2023

The role of final consumers for reaching different environmental policy targets is crucial. Therefore, raising awareness and fostering pro-environmental behaviours is of importance. However, there are a variety of sources for environmental information which can influence the activities undertaken. The study aims to analyse the relationship between different environmental information sources/channels and pro-environmental behaviours indicated by EU citizens. Based on a Eurobarometer survey covering all EU member states of that time, results revealed that television news remains the dominant source of environmental information (69.3%), followed by internet sources (36.7%) and newspapers (29.1%). On average, respondents perform 4.2 of 14 analysed pro-environmental behaviours. Those who indicate books and scientific literature as a source of environmental information on average perform 5.99 activities, compared to 4.8 activities by those receiving information from the internet, and 4.7 activities when information is received from newspapers. Though scientific literature is a source of environmental information for only 6.8% of EU citizens, regression analysis indicates that usage of books or scientific papers is significantly related to the number of actions performed. Internet sources (websites, blogs, forums), newspapers, and films and documentaries on television are other rather strong predictors of pro-environmental behaviour. Though all sources might be of importance for environmental information provision, less employed ones should be promoted and used to raise awareness of environmental issues and corresponding behaviours.
A Sustainable Approach to the Conversion of Waste into Energy: Landfill Gas-to-Fuel Technology
Authors: Un Cagri
Published: October 2023

Landfill gas (LFG) is a methane-rich gas produced by the decomposition of organic waste in landfills. It has the potential to be a greenhouse gas, but it can also be a valuable source of energy. LFG can be used to generate electricity, heat, or fuel. Renewable natural gas, abundant in methane derived from organic matter or waste streams, can undergo processing to align with established specifications for conventional fossil natural gas pipelines and vehicle use. This article assesses the present state of understanding concerning the transformation of landfill gas into a valuable fuel resource. This study shows the methods for LFG collection and conversion into usable fuels, along with the environmental benefits and challenges associated with its utilization and usage. In this study, a thorough examination was conducted concerning the waste generated in residential communities, specifically within the rural districts of Adana, known as the Yedigoze region. This research focused on assessing the gas potential derived from these waste materials and their potential environmental implications when employed as a fuel source for municipal buses. The transitioning analysis of 50 diesel buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) buses resulted in a remarkable reduction of 950,625 kg of CO2 emissions in one year.
Does Asia’s Financial Intermediation of China’s Solar Industry during the 2020s Exhibit a “California Effect”?
Authors: Michael Bryane , Tai Andy Chi-Lok
Published: October 2023

What explains the rise of certain cities as international financial centers—and not others? Increasingly, authors have pointed to a supposed “California effect”—where financiers must geographically locate neither too close nor too far from the companies they serve. However, the successes and failures of Hong Kong’s financial firms to provide finance to China’s solar (photovoltaic) “sunrise industry” paint a far more nuanced picture than the simplistic California effect portrays. We find using new research—financial services firms intermediate or disintermediate the value chains of the client companies they provide finance for. Financial centers can exist thousands of miles—or literally half a world way—from their clients if they develop competencies that let them opportunistically seize market opportunities in sunrise industries, such as the Chinese solar industry. As financial firms actively seek to penetrate new markets, their collective action can make their urban centers hotbeds of novel finance. Such a competencies-based approach to understanding the geography of which we develop helps us understand why certain places emerge as (international) financial centers, and others do not.
Comparison of Energy Evolution Characteristics of Intact and Fractured Coal under True Triaxial Progressive Stress Loading
Authors: Liu Yubing , Zhao Dong , Yin Shan , Zhang Li
Published: October 2023

The underground coal mining process is closely associated with frequent energy storage and consumption of coal mass with natural and induced fractures. Exploring the energy evolution characteristics of intact and fractured coal samples could be helpful for dynamic disaster control. In this study, laboratory true triaxial tests on the energy evolution characteristics of intact and fractured coal samples have been carried out and systematically discussed. The results show that the brittleness and peak strength are weakened due to the presence of macro-fractures in coal. The mean peak strength and brittleness for fractured coal are 29.00% and 74.59% lower than the intact coal samples. For both intact and fractured coal, the energy evolution curves are closely related to the deformation stages under true triaxial stresses. When subjected to the same intermediate stress, intact coal stores more elastic strain energy compared to fractured coal. Additionally, the rate of dissipative energy variation is two–three times lower in fractured coal samples compared to intact coal samples.
Does the Collaboration of Digitalization Foster Regional Green Development?
Authors: Zhu Tianyi , Li Xue , Wu Haoqiang , Chu Ziyu
Published: October 2023

The collaboration of digitalization refers to a comprehensive digital governance system that achieves cross-regional digital industrialization and deep integration of industrial digitization through the construction of digital infrastructure, which paves the way toward regional sustainability. However, little is known about whether and to what extent regional digital collaboration contributes to green development. Furthermore, the specific role of digital collaboration in greening the regional economy and society remains unexplored. Thus, this paper tests the relationship between digital collaboration, business environment, and regional green development by using data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2008 to 2022. The findings suggest that: (1) the hysteresis phenomenon of the “green dividend effect” response to regional digital collaboration is present; (2) digital collaboration in eastern cities positively impacted (but lagged) the greening of the economy and society, but cities in central and western regions negatively impact this process; (3) the business environment mediates the relationship between the lagged digital collaboration and regional green development, and it positively moderates the relationship between both the current and lagged digital collaboration and regional green development. By elucidating the relationship between digital collaboration, business environment, and regional green development, contributions have been made to previous digital innovation literature, and management insights have been provided for how regions can promote green development in the digital age.
Environmental Dimension of Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Persistence: An Exploration of the Moderator Roles of Operating Efficiency and Financing Cost
Authors: Zhang Yongming , Imeni Mohsen , Edalatpanah Seyyed Ahmad
Published: October 2023

Society has gradually realized that companies’ actions have consequences. Companies can fulfill their accountability to society by disclosing information beyond their financial data, providing better decision making for stakeholders. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on earnings persistence (EP) for the moderator roles of operational efficiency and financing cost for the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. For this purpose, the statistical population consists of 714 firm-year observations from 2014 to 2020 (7 years). A multivariate regression method was used based on the panel data analysis method to test the research hypotheses. The results indicate that corporate social responsibility for earnings persistence has a positive and significant relationship with the moderator role of operational efficiency, but is unrelated to the moderator role of financing cost. The majority of the prior research in this field has focused on developing countries. An international perspective is critical, and this study helps draw a more contextualized picture of sustainability than before.
The Impact of Chief Sustainability Officers on Environmental Performance of Korean Listed Companies: The Mediating Role of Corporate Sustainability Practices
Authors: Ebele Nebedum Ekene , Bae Seong Mi , Kim Jong Dae
Published: October 2023

Chief sustainability officers and sustainability consultants have become increasingly common today as many organizations have become more aware of their impact on the environment and society at large. With the growing importance of integrating sustainability into business, many firms are appointing chief sustainability officers to manage and oversee the sustainability affairs of their firms at various levels. However, very little is known about the chief sustainability officer and the sustainability management team. This study investigates the potential importance of the chief sustainability officer (CSO) and the sustainability management team toward the firm’s environmental performance. Using a sample of Korean-listed companies for the year 2017–2020, this study aims to investigate the relationship between appointment of the chief sustainability officer and a firm’s environmental performance. It also explores the possible mediating role of corporate sustainability practices (CSP) in this relationship, utilizing Baron and Kenny’s method to analyze the mediating role. First, the regression analysis was conducted to assess the impact of the presence and role of CSO on the firm’s environmental performance. Subsequently, the firm’s CSP was then introduced into the regression analysis as a mediator, to evaluate its influence on the relationship between the chief sustainability officer and the firm’s environmental performance. We found that CSP completely mediated the relationship between CSO and environmental performance. This study contributes empirically to the growing literature on the relevance of sustainability management officials and their impacts on the firm’s environmental performance.
Model Selection in Generalized Linear Models
Authors: Mamun Abdulla , Paul Sudhir
Published: October 2023

The problem of model selection in regression analysis through the use of forward selection, backward elimination, and stepwise selection has been well explored in the literature. The main assumption in this, of course, is that the data are normally distributed and the main tool used here is either a t test or an F test. However, the properties of these model selection procedures are not well-known. The purpose of this paper is to study the properties of these procedures within generalized linear regression models, considering the normal linear regression model as a special case. The main tool that is being used is the score test. However, the F test and other large sample tests, such as the likelihood ratio and the Wald test, the AIC, and the BIC, are included for the comparison. A systematic study, through simulations, of the properties of this procedure was conducted, in terms of level and power, for symmetric and asymmetric distributions, such as normal, Poisson, and binomial regression models. Extensions for skewed distributions, over-dispersed Poisson (the negative binomial), and over-dispersed binomial (the beta-binomial) regression models, are also given and evaluated. The methods are applied to analyze two health datasets.
Next Generation Mucosal Vaccine Strategy for Respiratory Pathogens
Authors: Dotiwala Farokh , Upadhyay Arun K.
Published: October 2023

Inducing humoral and cytotoxic mucosal immunity at the sites of pathogen entry has the potential to prevent the infection from getting established. This is different from systemic vaccination, which protects against the development of systemic symptoms. The field of mucosal vaccination has seen fewer technological advances compared to nucleic acid and subunit vaccine advances for injectable vaccine platforms. The advent of the next-generation adenoviral vectors has given a boost to mucosal vaccine research. Basic research into the mechanisms regulating innate and adaptive mucosal immunity and the discovery of effective and safe mucosal vaccine adjuvants will continue to improve mucosal vaccine design. The results from clinical trials of inhaled COVID-19 vaccines demonstrate their ability to induce the proliferation of cytotoxic T cells and the production of secreted IgA and IgG antibodies locally, unlike intramuscular vaccinations. However, these mucosal vaccines induce systemic immune responses at par with systemic vaccinations. This review summarizes the function of the respiratory mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and the advantages that the adenoviral vectors provide as inhaled vaccine platforms.
Long COVID Prevalence and the Impact of the Third SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Dose: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the Third Follow-Up of the Borriana Cohort, Valencia, Spain (2020–2022)
Authors: Domènech-Montoliu Salvador , Puig-Barberà Joan , Badenes-Marques Gema , Gil-Fortuño María , Orrico-Sánchez Alejandro , Pac-Sa María Rosario , Perez-Olaso Oscar , Sala-Trull Diego , Sánchez-Urbano Manuel , Arnedo-Pena Alberto
Published: October 2023

Background: In March 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak linked to mass gathering dinners at the Falles Festival in Borriana, Spain, resulted in an estimated attack rate of 42.6% among attendees. Methods: In June 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional follow-up study of 473 adults aged 18 to 64 who attended the dinners at the Falles Festival in 2020, examining the cumulative experience after SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination responses. Data included demographic details, lifestyle habits, medical history, infection records, and vaccinations from a population-based vaccine registry. Blood samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and cellular immunity. We employed a doubly robust inverse-probability weighting analysis to estimate the booster vaccine dose’s impact on long COVID prevalence and symptom count. Results: A total of 28.1% of participants met the WHO criteria for long COVID, with older individuals showing higher rates. Long COVID diagnosis was less likely with factors including O blood group, higher occupational status, physical activity, three vaccine doses, strong SARS-CoV-2-S-reactive IFNγ-producing-CD8+ response, and infection during the Omicron period. Increased age, high or low social activity, underlying health conditions, a severe initial COVID episode, and reinfection were associated with higher long COVID likelihood. A booster dose, compared to one or two doses, reduced long COVID risk by 74% (95% CI: 56% to 92%) and symptom count by 55% (95% CI: 32% to 79%). Conclusion: Long COVID was prevalent in a significant portion of those who contracted COVID-19, underscoring the need for sustained follow-up and therapeutic strategies. Vaccinations, notably the booster dose, had a substantial beneficial effect on long-term infection outcomes, affirming the vaccination’s role in mitigating SARS-CoV-2 infection consequences.
Optimizing the Flood Limit Water Level of Reservoirs in Sediment-Laden Rivers under Changing Water and Sediment Conditions: A Case Study of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir
Authors: Chen Cuixia , Gao Xing , Wu Moxi , Zhu Chenghao , An Cuihua , Li Da , Liu Junxiu
Published: October 2023

Optimizing the flood limit water level (FLWL) of reservoirs in sediment-laden rivers under changing water and sediment conditions is an important research topic that could improve comprehensive utilization benefits. Because reservoir operation has multiple objectives in sediment-laden rivers, this study established a water–sediment mathematical model, a comprehensive benefit evaluation model, and an evaluation index system. Taking the Xiaolangdi Reservoir of the Yellow River as an example, the operation mode of the FLWL under changing water and sediment conditions was studied. Under the scenarios of incoming sediment amounts of 300–800 million tons, when using the operation mode of gradually raising the FLWL, the sediment retention period was 4–13 years longer; the lower average annual siltation of the downstream channel and minimum bank-full discharge of the downstream channel after 50 years was larger by 150–260 m3/s than the operation mode of raising the FLWL at one time. However, with enhanced benefits of sediment blocking and siltation reduction, other benefits such as water resources supply, hydropower generation, and ecological improvement are reduced. The average annual number of days that do not meet the downstream water resources supply requirements, irrigation, and ecological improvement was increased by 0.64–2.16 days, and 91–197 million kW·h reduced average annual hydropower generation. The critical amount of incoming sediment was 350 million for conversion between the two FLWL operation modes, and it will increase to 450 million tons if the incoming runoff of the Yellow River increases by 20%. After constructing the Guxian Reservoir in the middle of the Yellow River, the critical amount of incoming sediment will increase to 600 million tons. This study is of great significance for improving the utilization efficiency of water resources and promoting the socio-economic development of river basins.
Comparison of Soil Hydraulic Properties Estimated by Steady- and Unsteady-Flow Methods in the Laboratory
Authors: Koka Dimitrios , Kargas George , Londra Paraskevi A.
Published: October 2023

In this study, soil hydraulic conductivity (K) and soil sorptivity (S) values estimated by applying various steady- and unsteady-flow methods using cumulative infiltration data of three disturbed soils (sandy loam, loam, clay) obtained from a disc infiltrometer in the laboratory at various negative pressure heads were compared. The steady-flow methods used were those of Ankeny et al. and Reynolds and Elrick as well as Logsdon and Jaynes, while the unsteady-flow methods were those of Haverkamp et al. (two-term (2T) and three-term (3T) infiltration equations) and Zhang. The method of White et al., which is a steady-flow method but also uses unsteady-flow infiltration data, was also examined. The results showed that the three steady-flow methods, as well as the Zhang equation, for values of the van Genuchten coefficient n > 1.35, tend to give similar values of K. The 2T infiltration equation with β = 0.6 provided hydraulic conductivity values greater than those estimated by the steady-state methods but gave negative K values in some cases. The values of the coefficients C1 and C2 of the 2T equation were affected by the infiltration time. The coefficient C1 increased while C2 decreased with increasing time when the cumulative linearization method (CL) was applied, but the change in C1 tended to be smaller than that in C2. The inverse solution of the 3T equation using the Excel Solver application for β = 0.75 and β = 1.6, when positive values of K were obtained, approached better the K values estimated by the steady-flow methods compared with those estimated using β = 0.6. Regarding the estimation of S from the unsteady-flow equations (2T, 3T, Zhang), comparable S values were obtained by all equations. The differences between the S values of the various methods are smaller compared to those of K, and S is less affected than K in terms of time. The problem of negative estimates of K might be attributed to the fact that the soils used in this study are classified as soils situated in the domain of lateral capillarity or are not completely homogeneous or soil compaction is observed at some depth. In the case where the soils are not completely homogeneous, the Sequential Infiltration Analysis (SIA) method with β = 0.75 corresponding to the soil types studied was proved to be effective in estimating K values.
Study on the Effect of Ore-Drawing Shear Factor on Underground Debris Flow in the Block Caving Method
Authors: Niu Xiangdong , Zhe Yalei , Sun Huafen , Hou Kepeng , Jiang Jun
Published: October 2023

The shear factor of ore drawing is an important factor affecting the formation of underground debris flows. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the mining shear factor on underground debris flows in natural caving. The research background was the underground debris flow in the Plan copper mine, and we analyzed the characteristics of the slurry material structure of the underground debris flow, as well as the influence of the ore-drawing shear factor on the formation mechanism of the underground debris flow. The results showed that the slurry of the underground debris flow in the Plan mine is both a pseudoplastic and thixotropic fluid. Shearing force induced in drawing deforms the slurry and decreases its viscosity with the increase in shear rate and time. The shear force produced by the flow of ore particles first produces shear action on the paste in the shear boundary region of the ore drawing, reducing the paste viscosity while increasing its fluidity. Consequently, the “activation” makes the paste flowable, which flows along with the bulk ore flowing through the drawing mouth. The continuous ore-drawing process continuously shears the new moraine slurry in the ore-drawing channel and continuously “activates” the moraine slurry in the ore-drawing channel. Finally, destructive underground debris flow accident of a certain scale occurs. To our knowledge, this study thoroughly investigated the effect of the ore-drawing shear factor on the formation mechanism of underground debris flows, which not only broadens the research field of debris flow but also covers the deficiency of systematic research on underground debris flows, providing theoretical guidance for the prevention and control of underground debris flows.
Analysis of Water-Surface Oscillations Upstream of a Double-Right-Angled Bend with Incoming Supercritical Flow
Authors: Elgamal Mohamed , Chaouachi Lotfi , Farouk Mohamed , Helmi Ahmed M.
Published: October 2023

This study deals with the free-surface supercritical flow through a double-right-angled bend (DRAB), which can be found in storm drainage networks in steep terrains. Laboratory experiments showed that strong backwater effects and water-surface oscillations are generated upstream of the DRAB, especially in supercritical flow conditions. This paper investigated the DRAB hydraulic behavior and water-surface heading up (backwater), and oscillations under supercritical flow conditions. Thirty-four lab experiments were conducted with Froude numbers ranging between 1.03 and 2.63. Dye injection and video analysis were used to visually capture the flow structure and to record water-surface oscillations. A tracker package was utilized to analyze the collected visual data. Time series and spectral analysis were used to identify the statistical characteristics of recorded water level time series and the dominant frequencies. It was found that the dominant frequencies of water-surface oscillations upstream of the DRAB range between 1.6 and 4.6 Hz with an average value of about 3 Hz. The Strouhal number of the water-surface oscillations is more sensitive to the Froude number than to the Reynolds number. The Strouhal number ranged between 0.03 and 0.3 for Froude numbers ranging from 2.63 to 1.03. The study confirms that near critical flow conditions exhibit the highest water oscillation, and that the maximum nondimensional water depth upstream of the DRAB is underestimated by both the Grashof formula and Knapp and Ippen (1939) model. A new formula is proposed to estimate the maximum water depth upstream of the DRAB.
Modeling of Monthly Rainfall–Runoff Using Various Machine Learning Techniques in Wadi Ouahrane Basin, Algeria
Authors: Anaraki Mahdi Valikhan , Achite Mohammed , Farzin Saeed , Elshaboury Nehal , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Elkhrachy Ismail
Published: October 2023

Rainfall–runoff modeling has been the core of hydrological research studies for decades. To comprehend this phenomenon, many machine learning algorithms have been widely used. Nevertheless, a thorough comparison of machine learning algorithms and the effect of pre-processing on their performance is still lacking in the literature. Therefore, the major objective of this research is to simulate rainfall runoff using nine standalone and hybrid machine learning models. The conventional models include artificial neural networks, least squares support vector machines (LSSVMs), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), M5 model trees, random forests, multiple adaptive regression splines, and multivariate nonlinear regression. In contrast, the hybrid models comprise LSSVM and KNN coupled with a gorilla troop optimizer (GTO). Moreover, the present study introduces a new combination of the feature selection method, principal component analysis (PCA), and empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), relative RMSE (RRMSE), person correlation coefficient (R), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and Kling Gupta efficiency (KGE) metrics are used for assessing the performance of the developed models. The proposed models are applied to rainfall and runoff data collected in the Wadi Ouahrane basin, Algeria. According to the results, the KNN–GTO model exhibits the best performance (MAE = 0.1640, RMSE = 0.4741, RRMSE = 0.2979, R = 0.9607, NSE = 0.9088, and KGE = 0.7141). These statistical criteria outperform other developed models by 80%, 70%, 72%, 77%, 112%, and 136%, respectively. The LSSVM model provides the worst results without pre-processing the data. Moreover, the findings indicate that using feature selection, PCA, and EMD significantly improves the accuracy of rainfall–runoff modeling.
A Review of Analytical Methods and Technologies for Monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water
Authors: Nahar Kamrun , Zulkarnain Noor Azwa , Niven Robert K.
Published: October 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) consist of a range of manufactured fluorinated chemicals that are used in a variety of household and waterproofing products, industrial processes, and firefighting foams. In the past few years, there has been increasing concern about PFAS in the environment, since they are difficult to break down through natural processes, are highly persistent in humans, animals, soils and waters, and can travel long distances in surface and groundwater. This has created an increased need for PFAS analysis. Most PFAS monitoring currently takes place using field sampling and chromatographic analytical methods, which are laboratory-based and are very costly when used to monitor PFAS in the environment. Using a semi-systematic literature review approach, a comparative study is conducted in this article on the available analytical methods and sensor technologies that can be used to monitor and detect PFAS in the environment, including chromatographic, instrumentation analysis, and sensor-based methods. This study considered four critical factors for effective and efficient monitoring methods, which include the type of PFAS detected, removing background levels, determining detection limits, and identifying samples. In general, other analytical instruments are used in conjunction with chromatographic techniques for detecting both target and non-target analytes at a lower level of detection (LOD). It is shown that even though some sensor types have a low LOD, they are only useful for detecting targeted PFAS in water samples. However, sensors are an emerging technology that could be developed to enable low-cost, portable methods for the remote detection of PFAS species on-site.
Online Food Marketing in Supporting Food Security Based on the Perspective of Urban Consumers in Riau Province
Authors: Septya Fanny , Andriani Yulia , Yolanda Anne Mudya
Published: October 2023

Changes in people’s behavior in shopping for food needs from offline to online are rife in urban communities, especially in Pekanbaru and Dumai cities. This study aimed to identify consumer characteristics and gaps in online food purchase activities and analyze the mapping of consumer perceptions of online food marketing in support of regional food security. The research used a qualitative and quantitative descriptive approach with a nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis tool. The data collection method used a survey purposively selected 140. The results showed that the majority of consumers who purchased food online were women, with the majority of respondents being 26–35 years old, having a high school education and household income of Rp3,000,000.00–4,999,000.00 and having two dependents in the family. The monthly online food expenditure averaged Rp300,000.00 twice the monthly buying frequency. Food types often purchased online were frozen food and ready-made food. Based on the analysis of perception mapping, the availability of food products in the online market all the time, affordable food prices, transaction facilities, improvement of food distribution systems, and the use of varied and diverse foods selections were the determining indicators for online food marketing in supporting regional food security according to the perspective of urban consumers.
The Role of Farmers Groups Towards Increasing the Productivity of Rice Business in Semarang City
Authors: Nur Cholisoh Khilmi Nur Cholisoh
Published: October 2023

Farmer groups help to manage the farm and overcome farming problems, as well as a place for the learning process for farmers to carry out farming activities optimally. This study analyzed the correlation between farmer groups’ role in rice farming productivity in Mijen District, Semarang City. The correlation test was carried out using the chi-square test. Data collection methods used questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling based on farmer groups who were active and less active in organizations. The sample collection method used the census method (complete enumeration), where all members of the farmer group based was interviewed, which amounted to 110 people. The role of the farmer group as a learning class, a vehicle for cooperation, and a production unit in Mijen District, Semarang City, was classified as very good. The productivity of rice farming of farmer group members has increased after joining the farmer group. There was a significant correlation between the role of farmer groups as a learning class, cooperation model, and also production unit with the productivity of rice farming. All stakeholders, including the government, community institutions, and farmers, are expected to take advantage of the factors that have been identified to improve farm productivity.
Evaluation of tumor-suppressive properties and apoptotic functions of Mad Honey and Vincristine applications in a rat model of breast cancer
Authors: Kurtdede Efe , Alçığır Mehmet Eray , Alperen Ahmet Mahmut , Baran Berk , Kuzu Necat , Gülendağ Erman
Published: October 2023

In this study, the suppressive effects of vincristine and Turkish mad honey alone and in co-applications were biochemically, hematologically, and histopathologically investigated in a mammary tumor model induced with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in rats. A total of 72 rats, 43-49 days old, were divided into 6 groups of 12 rats each. The control group (CG) consisted of healthy rats. The vehicle group (VG) received only vehicle substance and the cancer control group (CCG) was given only DMBA. DMBA and the honey group (HG) given group. DMBA and the vincristine (VinG) given group, and DMBA, the vincristine-honey group (VHG) received both Turkish mad honey and vincristine. Turkish mad honey and/or vincristine was given in the last 4 weeks of the 13-week trial period. White blood cell and lymphocyte counts differed significantly in the CCG and VG groups. Alanine transaminase and total protein levels were higher in the CCG and VinG groups. Aspartate transaminase was higher in the CCG, HG and VG groups. Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels were in the HG and VHG groups significantly higher than CCG. In caspase-8 protein level VHG significantly higher than other groups. Caspase -9 protein level was in CG and VG groups significantly lower than other groups. Bcl-xL increased more in the CCG group. Anaplasia was reduced in the HG and VinG groups, although apoptosis and other cellular damages increased. It was concluded that mad honey and vincristine could be considered together as effective therapeutic agents in this model of DMBA-induced breast cancer.
Henry de Rochas, médecin spagirique et les eaux minérales aux XVIe et XVIIe siècles
Authors: Bernard Christine
Published: October 2023

Henry de Rochas, alchemist physician and mineral waters the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries – In the seventeenth century, mineral waters were used as medicinal waters and took all the more importance as salt chemistry was being developed under the influence of Paracelsus. Henry de Rochas d’Ayglun, King Louis XIII’s and King Louis XIV’s physician, famous then, forgotten today, also a geologist, analysed mineral waters, by distilling them following the ways of medieval alchemists so they could be used as remedies. He was to prove very innovative in the practice of medicine.
Le pansement de campagne aseptique Mesclon, premier pansement ardéchois
Authors: Jullien Laurent
Published: October 2023

Depuis le Néolithique, les hommes n’ont cessé de rechercher les meilleures solutions pour panser leurs blessures. Au début du XXe siècle, de nombreux laboratoires pharmaceutiques développent leur propre pansement, stérile, pratique et prêt à l’emploi. En Ardèche, le médecin Jos Jullien met au point une boîte à pansement aseptique de nouvelle génération destinée à maintenir stérile le tissu de pansement qu’elle renferme, pendant toute la durée de son utilisation, même si celle-ci est interrompue. L’invention se présente sous la forme d’une boîte métallique cylindrique, avec une fente longitudinale permettant la sortie progressive d’un rouleau de gaze. L’utilisation d’un double tampon d’ouate, pour obstruer la fente à travers laquelle glisse la bande de gaze, constitue la principale originalité de cette invention, permettant à la fois le maintien de l’asepsie et l’utilisation discontinue du pansement. Cependant, malgré l’ingéniosité du système, il semblerait que cette boîte à pansement ne fut au final fabriquée qu’en petit nombre, expliquant qu’aujourd’hui encore elle ne soit que si peu connue.
Il y a deux siècles : la quinine
Authors: Lafont Olivier
Published: October 2023

On September 11th 1820, Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou communicated about their researches on Cinchona trees. They first described the

isolation of Cinchonine from grey cinchona tree. Then they described the process they followed to isolate and identify Quinine from yellow Cinchona trees. They proved that it was a new and an alkaline compound and studied its chemical properties. Then they compared the compositions of the three kinds of Cinchona tree. They showed that the red one, Cinchona succirubra at the time, was richer than the others, so far as Quinine and Cinchonine were concerned. François Magendie

performed the first pharmacological studies. Quinine Sulfate was administered by François

Clément Maillot in 1834 to soldiers of French Army in Algeria, in order to treat them with success against malaria.
Les arrêts de la Cour de cassation portant sur le quinquina et la quinine (1790-1914)
Authors: Galanopoulos Philippe
Published: October 2023

Entre la loi du 21 germinal an XI (11 avril 1803) et la loi du 11 septembre 1941 qui donne la première définition juridique du médicament, c’est la jurisprudence des tribunaux et, au premier chef, de la Cour de cassation qui a fixé la frontière, parfois mouvante, entre le licite et l’illicite en matière de police de la santé publique. Dans ce cadre, la chambre criminelle de la juridiction suprême a rendu une douzaine d’arrêts touchant la vente de l’écorce de quinquina et le commerce de la quinine. Cette jurisprudence a renforcé la monopole des pharmaciens contre les épiciers, les droguistes et les herboristes, clarifié le droit relatif à la contrefaçon de marques de fabrique et contribué à distinguer les médicaments des boissons, ainsi que de nombreux produits d’hygiène.
Comment enrichir les connaissances botaniques et pharmacologiques : les méthodes de l’herboriste apothicaire Ibn al Bayṭār au XIIIe siècle
Authors: Ricordel Joëlle
Published: October 2023

Comment enrichir les connaissances botaniques et pharmacologiques : les méthodes de l’herboriste apothicaire Ibn al Bayṭār au XIIIe siècle – Cette étude sur le Kitāb al-jami` li-mufradāt al-adwiya wa-l-aġḏiya, couramment désigné par le titre de Traité des simples et rédigé au XIIIe siècle par Ibn al-Bayṭār, met en lumière les apports spécifiques de ce grand dictionnaire

alphabétique des simples et des aliments. L’originalité de l’ouvrage qui, de prime abord, se présente

comme une compilation complexe, repose sur divers éléments : profonde connaissance du matériel essentiellement botanique, investigation in situ, large panel de références, contrôle méticuleux

des sources écrites soumises à l’analyse et à la critique de l’auteur, apport de témoignages contemporains, expertise personnelle. L’ensemble enrichit les écrits antérieurs sur la botanique et

sur les vertus thérapeutiques des simples grâce au respect par l’auteur de l’ensemble de ces

méthodes rigoureuses.
Bière, bières médicinales et bières aromatisées
Authors: Labrude Pierre
Published: October 2023

Bière, bières médicinales et bières aromatisées – Les bières médicinales ont aujourd’hui disparu et, comme elles n’ont pas été beaucoup étudiées, les connaissances à leur sujet sont rares. L’une des raisons de leur disparition est certainement la mauvaise conservation des bières avant les travaux pastoriens et la concurrence que leur opposent les vins médicinaux, plus stables et à la publicité plus facile à réaliser. Pourtant la bière est restée pendant très longtemps une boisson habituelle des malades, non dénuée de surcroît d’intéressantes propriétés. De leur côté, les bières médicinales étaient faciles à préparer, par simple dissolution des principes actifs à l’issue de la fermentation ou avant celle-ci, et elles ne nécessitaient généralement que deux à quatre jours de macération. Au XIXe siècle, les pharmacopées privées peuvent en recenser jusqu’à une trentaine, et elles sont encore une quinzaine dans le Dorvault en 1923. Aujourd’hui, s’il n’existe plus de bières médicinales à la composition et aux indications précises, nous avons à notre disposition une foule de bières aromatisées, qui reprennent certains agents qui, à côté du houblon, ont toujours été utilisés. Leur préparation est autorisée aux termes de textes réglementaires récents. Le nombre des agents employés est certainement très grand, mais, parmi ceux qui sont bien connus des spécialistes, beaucoup sont des espèces médicinales. Les bières médicinales sont donc quelque peu de retour !
Construire un livre. Dans l’« atelier » des Pharmaciens Bibliophiles
Authors: Lefebvre Thierry
Published: October 2023

To build a book. In the «workshop » of «Les Pharmaciens Bibliophiles » – Using unpublished archives, the author tells about the design and manufacture of one of the most outstanding works of the society «L es Pharmaciens Bibliophiles » (The Pharmacists Bibliophiles) : the «M émoires » of the military pharmacist Sébastien Blaze, published in 1935.
« La Pharmacie a avalé Homais et Bézuquet ». Deux lettres de Pierre Rolland et Jean Hourticq
Authors: Lefebvre Thierry
Published: October 2023

«La Pharmacie a avalé Homais et Bézuquet » . Deux lettres de Pierre Rolland et Jean Hourticq – L’adaptation cinématographique du roman d’André Soubiran, Les Hommes en blanc, en 1955, suscita le mécontentement de certains pharmaciens, en particulier dans les communes rurales. Nous retranscrivons à ce propos deux documents, l’un du Dr Pierre Rolland, président du Conseil national de l’Ordre des pharmaciens, l’autre du conseiller d’État Jean Hourticq.
Microorganisms Isolated from Respiratory Intensive Care Unit and the Change of Antibiotic Resistance Status By Years And Its Effect On Mortality
Authors: TURAN Hamdiye , SEZGİ Cengizhan , ABAKAY Abdurrahman , TANRİKULU Cetin
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND: Intensive care units (ICU) are multidisciplinary departments where patients with life-threatening diseases, major surgical interventions, respiratory failure, coma condition, hemodynamic insufficiency, and ≥1 organ failure are admitted for relevant diagnoses and treatment.
AIM: The present study sought to investigate pathogens causing infections in patients admitted to our respiratory ICU and their antibiotic resistance patterns.
MATERİALS and METHOD: The antibiogram results and clinical data of all patient samples submitted between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010, were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULT: In total, 248 patients with 561 culture results were included in the study. Microbial growth was detected in the following samples: blood, 336 (59.9%); deep tracheal aspirate, 104 (18.6%); urine, 89 (15.9%); wound drain, 12 (2.1%); central venous catheter liquid, 7 (1.3%); phlegm, 10 (1.8%); Foley tip liquid, 1 (0.2%); and pleural effusion, and 1 (0.2%). Rapid growth was most frequently noted in the cultures of coagulase-negative staphylococci (25.3%), Acinetobacter spp. (23.1%), and Escherichia coli (12.6%).
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Descriptive statistics for continuous variables were expressed as means and standard deviations. The intermittent variables were converted into cross-tables and analyzed using Fisher’s exact and Pearson’s chi-square tests. The normal distribution of the study data was assessed using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The mean values of the variables were analyzed using Student’s t-test. Bidirectional hypotheses were used, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Ver. 18.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) software was used for statistical analyses.

IN CONCLUSION, the present study revealed microorganisms’ resistance profiles similar to those of other relevant studies. The study provides important insights into the selection of empiric antibiotic therapy for patients admitted in intensive care unit.

Keywords: respiratory intensive care unit, intensive care infections, antibiotic resistance, antibiotic susceptibility
Insectos benéficos, agricultura y cuidado ambiental
Authors: Gallardo Fabiana Edith , Margaría Cecilia Beatriz , Aquino Daniel Alejandro , Ricci Elisabet Mónica
Published: October 2023

Esta obra de divulgación científica está dirigida a profesores y estudiantes con el propósito, principalmente, de colaborar con su tarea educativa. Se trata de un material didáctico basado en actividades y lecturas, producto del trabajo en proyectos de investigación científica y extensión universitaria por parte de los autores; con un enfoque global interdisciplinario, en temas relativos a la diversidad biológica y el cuidado ambiental. El acceso al texto mediante un lenguaje sencillo de divulgación científica, invita a los lectores a la reflexión y al debate en torno a la fauna benéfica como herramienta posible para el reconocimiento y control de artrópodos plaga, disminuyendo así el uso de insecticidas, por ejemplo, en la agricultura. Para ello, se abordarán temas generales, como la diversidad biológica y los reinos de la vida, para luego explorar el campo de los insectos en el rol de enemigos naturales, polinizadores, descomponedores de materia orgánica y bioindicadores. La edición de este libro digital es el resultado de la experiencia práctica junto a docentes y estudiantes durante dos años de desarrollo de Proyectos de Extensión de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata titulados: “Insectos y ambiente: el agrónomo en la secundaria” e “Insectos y ambiente: ¡ayuda para docentes!”, cuyos objetivos fundamentales fueron, colaborar con las tareas docentes y motivar a los jóvenes en su rol como actores sociales en la demanda de alimentos saludables, el cuidado ambiental, la dignidad del trabajador rural y la agricultura familiar.