bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adaptation of Bacillus subtilis MreB Filaments to Osmotic Stress Depends on Influx of Potassium Ions
Authors: Dersch Simon , Graumann Peter L.
Published: June 2024

The circumferential motion of MreB filaments plays a key role in cell shape maintenance in many bacteria. It has recently been shown that filament formation of MreB filaments in Bacillus subtilis is influenced by stress conditions. In response to osmotic upshift, MreB molecules were released from filaments, as seen by an increase in freely diffusive molecules, and the peptidoglycan synthesis pattern became less organized, concomitant with slowed-down cell extension. In this study, biotic and abiotic factors were analysed with respect to a possible function in the adaptation of MreB filaments to stress conditions. We show that parallel to MreB, its interactor RodZ becomes more diffusive following osmotic stress, but the remodeling of MreB filaments is not affected by a lack of RodZ. Conversely, mutant strains that prevent efficient potassium influx into cells following osmotic shock show a failure to disassemble MreB filaments, accompanied by less perturbed cell wall extension than is observed in wild type cells. Because potassium ions are known to negatively affect MreB polymerization in vitro, our data indicate that polymer disassembly is directly mediated by the physical consequences of the osmotic stress response. The lack of an early potassium influx response strongly decreases cell survival following stress application, suggesting that the disassembly of MreB filaments may ensure slowed-down cell wall extension to allow for efficient adaptation to new osmotic conditions.
Enhancing Geopolymeric Material Properties: A Comparative Study of Compaction Effects via Alkaline and Acidic Routes
Authors: Zribi Marwa , Issa Maher , Baklouti Samir
Published: June 2024

This research undertakes a comparative study between compacted phosphate-based (CPG) and alkaline-based (CAG) geopolymeric materials. The obtained materials underwent comprehensive evaluation through mechanical, physical, and chemical analyses. CPG exhibited superior mechanical strength, demonstrating an exponential growth with curing age in contrast to CAG. Both materials exhibited stable density over time, with CPG displaying a notably higher density attributed to its enhanced reactivity in an acidic medium. Dimensional variations revealed stable dimensions for CPG and subtle shrinkage for CAG, potentially associated with an observed efflorescence phenomenon. Visual assessments during water immersion highlighted the enhanced stability of CPG. Chemical analyses confirmed the persistence of mineralogical phases, such as quartz and illite, and the emergence of an amorphous geopolymeric network in both CPG and CAG samples. CPG materials featured aluminum phosphate phases, reinforcing structural integrity, while CAG materials exhibited sodium carbonate phases, introducing impurities, elucidating the superior performance of CPG over CAG. For the formation kinetics, CPG exhibited a faster reaction time than CAG, as evidenced by the evolution of pH, densification rate, and FTIR band over curing time.
Pterostilbene Reverses Epigenetic Silencing of Nrf2 and Enhances Antioxidant Response in Endothelial Cells in Hyperglycemic Microenvironment
Authors: Harithpriya Kannan , Ganesan Kumar , Ramkumar Kunka Mohanram
Published: June 2024

The epigenetic regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a pivotal redox transcription factor, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Recent research has underscored the significance of epigenetic modifications of Nrf2 in the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This study investigates the epigenetic reversal of Nrf2 by pterostilbene (PTS) in human endothelial cells in a hyperglycemic microenvironment (HGM). The activation potential of PTS on Nrf2 was evaluated through ARE-Luciferase reporter assays and nuclear translocation studies. Following 72 h of exposure to an HGM, mRNA expression and protein levels of Nrf2 and its downstream targets NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme-oxygenase 1(HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) exhibited a decrease, which was mitigated in PTS-pretreated endothelial cells. Epigenetic markers, including histone deacetylases (HDACs class I–IV) and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs 1/3A and 3B), were found to be downregulated under diabetic conditions. Specifically, Nrf2-associated HDACs, including HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC4, were upregulated in HGM-induced endothelial cells. This upregulation was reversed in PTS-pretreated cells, except for HDAC2, which exhibited elevated expression in endothelial cells treated with PTS in a hyperglycemic microenvironment. Additionally, PTS was observed to reverse the activity of the methyltransferase enzyme DNMT. Furthermore, CpG islands in the Nrf2 promoter were hypermethylated in cells exposed to an HGM, a phenomenon potentially counteracted by PTS pretreatment, as shown by methyl-sensitive restriction enzyme PCR (MSRE-qPCR) analysis. Collectively, our findings highlight the ability of PTS to epigenetically regulate Nrf2 expression under hyperglycemic conditions, suggesting its therapeutic potential in managing diabetic complications.
Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens in Valvular Infective Endocarditis: A Review
Authors: Reisinger Maximilian , Kachel Mateusz , George Isaac
Published: June 2024

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection of the endocardial surface, most commonly affecting native and prosthetic valves of the heart. The epidemiology and etiology of the disease have evolved significantly over the last decades. With a growing elderly population, the incidence of degenerative valvopathies and the use of prosthetic heart valves have increased, becoming the most important predisposing risk factors. This change in the epidemiology has caused a shift in the underlying microbiology of the disease, with Staphylococci overtaking Streptococci as the main causative pathogens. Other rarer microbes, including Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Coxiella burnetti and Brucella, have also emerged or re-emerged. Valvular IE caused by these pathogens, especially Staphylococcus aureus, is often associated with a severe clinical course, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and management are crucial. Due to the high virulence of these pathogens and an increased incidence of antimicrobial resistances, surgical valve repair or replacement is often necessary. As the epidemiology and etiology of valvular IE continue to evolve, the diagnostic methods and therapies need to be progressively advanced to ensure satisfactory clinical outcomes.
Overview on Space-Based Optical Orbit Determination Method Employed for Space Situational Awareness: From Theory to Application
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Zhang Gaopeng , Cao Jianzhong , Li Cheng , Chen Weining , Ning Xin , Wang Zheng
Published: June 2024

Leveraging space-based optical platforms for space debris and defunct spacecraft detection presents several advantages, including a wide detection range, immunity to cloud cover, and the ability to maintain continuous surveillance on space targets. As a result, it has become an essential approach for accomplishing tasks related to space situational awareness. However, the prediction of the orbits of space objects is crucial for the success of such missions, and current technologies face challenges related to accuracy, reliability, and practical efficiency. These challenges limit the performance of space-based optical space situational awareness systems. To drive progress in this field and establish a more effective and reliable space situational awareness system based on space optical platforms, this paper conducts a retrospective overview of research advancements in this area. It explores the research landscape of orbit determination methods, encompassing orbit association methods, initial orbit determination methods, and precise orbit determination methods, providing insights from international perspectives. The article concludes by highlighting key research areas, challenges, and future trends in current space situational awareness systems and orbit determination methods.
Internal Model Control Design for Nonlinear Systems Based on Inverse Dynamic Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Model
Authors: Karama Karama Khamis , Ulu Cenk
Published: June 2024

In recent years, applications of inverse model-based control techniques have experienced significant growth in popularity and have been widely used in engineering applications, mainly in nonlinear control system design problems. In this study, a novel fuzzy internal model control (IMC) structure is presented for single-input-single-output (SISO) nonlinear systems. The proposed structure uses the forward and inverse dynamic Takagi–Sugeno (D-TS) fuzzy models of the nonlinear system within the IMC framework for the first time in literature. The proposed fuzzy IMC is obtained in a two-step procedure. A SISO nonlinear system is first approximated using a D-TS fuzzy system, of which the rule consequents are linearized subsystems derived from the nonlinear system. A novel approach is used to achieve the exact inversion of the SISO D-TS fuzzy model, which is then utilized as a control element within the IMC framework. In this way, the control design problem is simplified to the inversion problem of the SISO D-TS fuzzy system. The provided simulation examples illustrate the efficacy of the proposed control method. It is observed that SISO nonlinear systems effectively track the desired output trajectories and exhibit significant disturbance rejection performance by using the proposed control approach. Additionally, the results are compared with those of the proportional-integral-derivative control (PID) method, and it is shown that the proposed method exhibits better performance than the classical PID controller.
Removal of Cefuroxime from Soils Amended with Pine Bark, Mussel Shell and Oak Ash
Authors: Cela-Dablanca Raquel , Míguez-González Ainoa , Rodríguez-López Lucía , Barreiro Ana , Arias-Estévez Manuel , Fernández-Sanjurjo María J. , Álvarez-Rodríguez Esperanza , Núñez-Delgado Avelino
Published: June 2024

The global increase in antibiotics consumption has caused hazardous concentrations of these antimicrobials to be present in soils, mainly due to the spreading of sewage sludge (or manure or slurry) and wastewater, and they could enter the food chain, posing serious risks to the environment and human health. One of these substances of concern is cefuroxime (CFX). To face antibiotics-related environmental pollution, adsorption is one of the most widely used techniques, with cost-effective and environmentally friendly byproducts being of clear interest to retain pollutants and increase the adsorption capacity of soils. In light of this, in this work, three low-cost bioadsorbents (pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell) were added to different soil samples (at doses of 12 and 48 t/ha) to study their effects on the adsorption of CFX. Specifically, batch experiments were carried out for mixtures of soils and bioadsorbents, adding a range of different antibiotic concentrations at a fixed ionic strength. The results showed that the addition of pine bark (with pH = 3.99) increased the adsorption to 100% in most cases, while oak ash (pH = 11.31) and mussel shell (pH = 9.39) caused a clearly lower increase in adsorption (which, in some cases, even decreased). The Freundlich and linear models showed rather good adjustment to the experimental data when the bioadsorbents were added at both doses, while the Langmuir model showed error values which were too high in many cases. Regarding desorption, it was lower than 6% for the soils without bioadsorbents, and there was no desorption when the soils received bioadsorbent amendments. These results show that the addition of appropriate low-cost bioadsorbents to soils can be effective for adsorbing CFX, helping in the prevention of environmental pollution due to this emerging contaminant, which is a result of clear relevance to environmental and human health.
Advances in Development of Safe and Efficient Mining of Coexisting Coal and Uranium Resources
Authors: Su Xuebin , Liu Xiaochao , Du Zhiming , Hou Chunru , Li Mengjiao , Cao Fengbo , Chen Meifang , Zhang Tong
Published: June 2024

Overlapping uranium and coal resources are widely distributed in the basins of China. The current uranium–coal coordinated mining model, mining interaction, and multi-phase and multi-field coupling mechanisms remain unclear, thereby substantially restricting the mining of overlapping uranium and coal resources. This article reviews the overlapping uranium–coal mining technology and conditions, summarizes the main problems faced by the coordinated mining of coexisting uranium–coal resources, proposes a dynamic coordinated mining technology system for the entire life cycle of coexisting uranium–coal resources, and describes the multiphase and multifield coordinated mining of co-associated uranium–coal resources. The multifield coupling mechanism clarifies the solid–liquid–gas three-phase spatiotemporal coupling effects of the stress, fracture, seepage, geochemical, pressure, and microbial fields, and explains the safe and efficient mining technology of uranium and coal resources, and the coordinated mining and isolation technology of uranium and coal. “Trinity” pollution prevention and control technology and other key research directions are discussed to promote green, efficient, joint, and coordinated mining of uranium and coal.
Correction: Borowski, Michael. 2023. Doctrine and Change in Western Dogmatics: The Examples of Michael Seewald and Kevin J. Vanhoozer. Religions 14: 524
Authors: Borowski Michael
Published: June 2024

Following the request of the Academic Editor, the title should be corrected to the following:Doctrine and Change in Western Dogmatics: The Examples of Michael Seewald and Kevin J [...]
Oxygen Saturation Curve Analysis in 2298 Hypoxia Awareness Training Tests of Military Aircrew Members in a Hypobaric Chamber
Authors: Alvear-Catalán Manuel , Montiglio Claudio , Aravena-Nazif Danilo , Viscor Ginés , Araneda Oscar F.
Published: June 2024

We aim to provide reference values for military aircrews participating in hypoxia awareness training (HAT). We describe several parameters with potential biomedical interest based on selected segments and slopes of the changes in oxygen saturation (SatO2) during a standard HAT. A retrospective analysis of 2298 records of the SatO2 curve was performed, including 1526 military men aged 30.48 ± 6.47 years during HAT in a hypobaric chamber. HAT consisted of pre-oxygenation at 100% and an ascent to 7620 m, followed by O2 disconnection starting the phase of descent of SatO2 until reaching the time of useful consciousness (TUC), and finally reconnection to 100% O2 in the recovery phase. Using an ad hoc computational procedure, the time taken to reach several defined critical values was computed. These key parameters were the time until desaturation of 97% and 90% (hypoxia) after oxygen mask disconnection (D97/D90) and reconnection (R97/R90) phases, the time of desaturation (TUC-D97) and hypoxia (TUC-D90) during disconnection, the total time in desaturation (L97) or hypoxia (L90), and the slopes of SatO2 drop (SDSAT97 and SDSAT90) and recovery (SRSAT97). The mean of the quartiles according to TUC were compared by ANOVA. The correlations between the different parameters were studied using Pearson’s test and the effect size was estimated with ω2. Potentially useful parameters for the HAT study were those with statistical significance (p < 0.05) and a large effect size. D97, D90, R97, and R90 showed significant differences with small effect sizes, while TUC-D97, TUC-D90, L97, L90, and SDSAT97 showed significant differences and large effect sizes. SDSAT97 correlated with TUC (R = 0.79), TUC-D97 (R = 0.81), and TUC-D90 (R = 0.81). In conclusion, several parameters of the SatO2 curve are useful for the study and monitoring of HAT. The SDSAT97 measured during the test can estimate the TUC and thus contribute to taking measures to characterize and protect the aircrew members.
Higher-Order Spectral Analysis Combined with a Convolution Neural Network for Atrial Fibrillation Detection-Preliminary Study
Authors: Mika Barbara , Komorowski Dariusz
Published: June 2024

The global burden of atrial fibrillation (AFIB) is constantly increasing, and its early detection is still a challenge for public health and motivates researchers to improve methods for automatic AFIB prediction and management. This work proposes higher-order spectra analysis, especially the bispectrum of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals combined with the convolution neural network (CNN) for AFIB detection. Like other biomedical signals, ECG is non-stationary, non-linear, and non-Gaussian in nature, so the spectra of higher-order cumulants, in this case, bispectra, preserve valuable features. The two-dimensional (2D) bispectrum images were applied as input for the two CNN architectures with the output AFIB vs. no-AFIB: the pre-trained modified GoogLeNet and the proposed CNN called AFIB-NET. The MIT-BIH Atrial Fibrillation Database (AFDB) was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed methodology. AFIB-NET detected atrial fibrillation with a sensitivity of 95.3%, a specificity of 93.7%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of 98.3%, while for GoogLeNet results for sensitivity and specificity were equal to 96.7%, 82%, respectively, and the area under ROC was equal to 96.7%. According to preliminary studies, bispectrum images as input to 2D CNN can be successfully used for AFIB rhythm detection.
Comparison of Six Sensor Fusion Algorithms with Electrogoniometer Estimation of Wrist Angle in Simulated Work Tasks
Authors: Razavi Arvin , Forsman Mikael , Abtahi Farhad
Published: June 2024

Hand-intensive work is strongly associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) of the hand/wrist and other upper body regions across diverse occupations, including office work, manufacturing, services, and healthcare. Addressing the prevalence of WMSDs requires reliable and practical exposure measurements. Traditional methods like electrogoniometry and optical motion capture, while reliable, are expensive and impractical for field use. In contrast, small inertial measurement units (IMUs) may provide a cost-effective, time-efficient, and user-friendly alternative for measuring hand/wrist posture during real work. This study compared six orientation algorithms for estimating wrist angles with an electrogoniometer, the current gold standard in field settings. Six participants performed five simulated hand-intensive work tasks (involving considerable wrist velocity and/or hand force) and one standardised hand movement. Three multiplicative Kalman filter algorithms with different smoothers and constraints showed the highest agreement with the goniometer. These algorithms exhibited median correlation coefficients of 0.75–0.78 for flexion/extension and 0.64 for radial/ulnar deviation across the six subjects and five tasks. They also ranked in the top three for the lowest mean absolute differences from the goniometer at the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of wrist flexion/extension (9.3°, 2.9°, and 7.4°, respectively). Although the results of this study are not fully acceptable for practical field use, especially for some work tasks, they indicate that IMU-based wrist angle estimation may be useful in occupational risk assessments after further improvements.
Development and Integration of a Digital Twin Model for a Real Hydroelectric Power Plant
Authors: Ersan Mustafa , Irmak Erdal
Published: June 2024

In this study, a digital twin model of a hydroelectric power plant has been created. Models of the entire power plant have been created and malfunction situations of a sensor located after the inlet valve of the plant have been analyzed using a programmable logic controller (PLC). As a feature of the digital twin (DT), the error prediction and prevention function has been studied specifically for the pressure sensor. The accuracy and reliability of the data obtained from the sensor are compared with the data obtained from the DT model. The comparison results are evaluated and erroneous data are identified. In this way, it is determined whether the malfunction occurring in the system is a real malfunction or a malfunction caused by measurement or connection errors. In the case of sensor failure or measurement-related malfunction, this situation is determined through the digital twin-based control mechanism. In the case of actual failure, the system is stopped, but in the case of measurement or connection errors, since the data are calculated by the DT model, the value in the specified region is known and thus there is no need to stop the system. This prevents production loss in the hydroelectric power plant by ensuring the continuity of the system in case of errors.
Post-Quantum Secure Identity-Based Signature Scheme with Lattice Assumption for Internet of Things Networks
Authors: Zhang Yang , Tang Yu , Li Chaoyang , Zhang Hua , Ahmad Haseeb
Published: June 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays an essential role in people’s daily lives, such as healthcare, home, traffic, industry, and so on. With the increase in IoT devices, there emerge many security issues of data loss, privacy leakage, and information temper in IoT network applications. Even with the development of quantum computing, most current information systems are weak to quantum attacks with traditional cryptographic algorithms. This paper first establishes a general security model for these IoT network applications, which comprises the blockchain and a post-quantum secure identity-based signature (PQ-IDS) scheme. This model divides these IoT networks into three layers: perceptual, network, and application, which can protect data security and user privacy in the whole data-sharing process. The proposed PQ-IDS scheme is based on lattice cryptography. Bimodal Gaussian distribution and the discrete Gaussian sample algorithm are applied to construct the fundamental difficulty problem of lattice assumption. This assumption can help resist the quantum attack for information exchange among IoT devices. Meanwhile, the signature mechanism with IoT devices’ identity can guarantee non-repudiation of information signatures. Then, the security proof shows that the proposed PQ-IDS can obtain the security properties of unforgeability, non-repudiation, and non-transferability. The efficiency comparisons and performance evaluations show that the proposed PQ-IDS has good efficiency and practice in IoT network applications.
Food Safety and Health Concerns of Synthetic Food Colors: An Update
Authors: Amchova Petra , Siska Filip , Ruda-Kucerova Jana
Published: June 2024

The toxicity of food additives is widely studied and concerns many consumers worldwide. Synthetic food colors are often considered an unnecessary risk to consumer health. Since the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) re-evaluation between 2009 and 2014, the body of scientific literature on food colors has grown, and new evaluations are being published by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Therefore, this narrative review aims to review the toxicological data that have become available since 2014. The reviewed colors are Quinoline Yellow, Sunset Yellow, Azorubine, Amaranth, Ponceau 4R, Erythrosine, Allura Red, Patent Blue, Indigo Carmine, Brilliant Blue FCF, Green S, Brilliant Black, Brown HT, and Lithol Rubine BK. Tartrazine was not included in this paper; the overwhelming amount of recent data on Tartrazine toxicity requires more space than this review can provide. The issues regarding the toxicity of synthetic food colors and real population exposures are being regularly examined and reviewed by relevant authorities, such as the EFSA and JECFA. The current ADI limits set by the authorities are mostly in agreement, and they seem safe. However, the EFSA and JECFA assessments of some of the colors are more than a decade old, and new evidence will soon be required.
Toxic Elements in Sheep Milk, Whey, and Cheese from the Environmentally Burdened Area in Eastern Slovakia and Health Risk Assessment with Different Scenarios of Their Consumption
Authors: Almášiová Simona , Toman Róbert , Pšenková Martina , Tančin Vladimír , Jančo Ivona
Published: June 2024

The study aimed to determine the content of 17 elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, and Zn) in samples of sheep milk, cheese, and whey (36 samples in total) collected from a farm in an environmentally burdened area due to the long-term mining and industrial activity in Slovakia as well as to determine the possible risk of consumption via health risk assessment calculations. Consumption of 120 g of milk, 500 g of milk, 20 g of cheese, and 100 g of cheese were used in calculations for children and adults, respectively. According to the results, concentrations of four elements are controversial. Lead concentrations in all types of samples exceeded the maximum permissible lead limit in milk set by European Union legislation. The content of Se and As is problematic for children’s consumption, and the target hazard quotient for As and Al is higher than one (considered potentially not safe) in all scenarios. According to the target system approach, lead concentrations in milk and cheese could adversely influence the nervous system and kidneys of adults’ and children’s developmental and reproductive systems. Considering the worst-case scenario, consuming sheep milk and cheese from the monitored areas could represent a risk and be potentially harmful to human health, mainly for children. However, further monitoring of the levels of elements and concentrations in environmentally burdened areas and more robust data on consumption are needed.
What Is Missing in Offshore Explosive Ordnance Disposal Risk Assessment?
Authors: Frey Torsten
Published: June 2024

Offshore explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the marine environment is a high-risk activity. Structured risk assessment (RA) can be a helpful tool to provide EOD experts with decision-making support. This paper hypothesizes that existing RA approaches that address unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the sea do not meet the requirements of EOD RA. To test this hypothesis, the paper proposes a novel categorization tool. It uses five review criteria: study type (qualitative vs. quantitative), level of decision-making (strategic vs. applied), risk component (probability vs. consequence), spatial scale (global vs. local), and temporal scale (long-term vs. short-term). The categorization tool is used to identify the requirements of EOD RA and to test whether nine existing RA methods fulfill these requirements. The study finds that none of the investigated RAs meets the requirements and, hence, concludes that a new method should be developed. However, some aspects of the existing studies should be considered when designing a new method. This includes using risk factors (type and mass of explosive material, type and state of the fuze, and water depth) that are relevant for EOD RA. It also involves setting up a directed graph to assess the complex interdependencies between these risk factors.
The Characteristics of Adsorption of Di-n-Butyl Phthalate by Surface Sediment from the Three Gorges Reservoir
Authors: Zhang Yuting , Liu Min , Lin Li , Zhao Liangyuan , Deng Wei , Han Cheng , Wu Mingli
Published: June 2024

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs), recognized as endocrine disruptors, are identified as predominant organic pollutants in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a representative PAE, has been extensively studied for its sources, distribution and ecological risks. However, there are few studies on the adsorption of DBP by sediment from the TGR, and the adsorption characteristics of surface sediment on DBP are not clear. Therefore, based on the actual sediment contents and particle sizes in the TGR, the kinetics and isothermal adsorption characteristics of surface sediment on DBP were investigated in this study. The results showed that the equilibrium time was 120 min, the adsorption kinetics were more in line with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the sediment in water from the Yangtze River exhibited a higher adsorption rate and maximum adsorption amount on DBP than that observed in deionized water. Additionally, a decrease in DBP adsorption was observed with increasing sediment content, while sediment particle size and specific surface area had a slight influence. Analysis using SEM, TGA and FTIR revealed that organic matter on the sediment surface significantly contributed to DBP adsorption. This study contributes valuable insights into the adsorption characteristics of DBP by the surface sediment from the TGR, providing a scientific foundation for understanding the migration and transformation of DBP in this critical reservoir in China.
Reconstruction of Fermi and eROSITA Bubbles from Magnetized Jet Eruption with Simulations
Authors: Chang Che-Jui , Kiang Jean-Fu
Published: June 2024

The Fermi bubbles and the eROSITA bubbles around the Milky Way Galaxy are speculated to be the aftermaths of past jet eruptions from a supermassive black hole in the galactic center. In this work, a 2.5D axisymmetric relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) model is applied to simulate a jet eruption from our galactic center and to reconstruct the observed Fermi bubbles and eROSITA bubbles. High-energy non-thermal electrons are excited around forward shock and discontinuity transition regions in the simulated plasma distributions. The γ-ray and X-ray emissions from these electrons manifest patterns on the skymap that match the observed Fermi bubbles and eROSITA bubbles, respectively, in shape, size and radiation intensity. The influence of the background magnetic field, initial mass distribution in the Galaxy, and the jet parameters on the plasma distributions and hence these bubbles is analyzed. Subtle effects on the evolution of plasma distributions attributed to the adoption of a galactic disk model versus a spiral-arm model are also studied.
Dietary Features Are Associated with Differences in the Urinary Microbiome in Clinically Healthy Adult Dogs
Authors: Coffey Emily L. , Becker Zoe W. , Gomez Andres M. , Ericsson Aaron C. , Churchill Julie A. , Burton Erin N. , Granick Jennifer L. , Lulich Jody P. , Furrow Eva
Published: June 2024

Nutrition plays an important role in shaping the gut microbiome composition, although the impact of diet on the urinary microbiome (i.e., urobiome) remains unknown. The aim of this pilot study was to discover how nutritional features affect the diversity and composition of the urobiome in dogs. Dietary histories were obtained for 15 clinically healthy adult dogs, including limited nutrient (protein, fat, crude fiber), commercial diet brand, and dietary diversity profiles. The urine samples were collected via cystocentesis, followed by sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The data were analyzed to determine associations between major nutrients and dietary sources with the urobiome’s composition. The protein, fat, and crude fiber contents had no statistically significant effect on the alpha or beta diversity. However, the beta diversity values differed (PERMANOVA; p = 0.017, R2 = 0.10) between dogs fed one commercial diet brand compared to dogs consuming any other brand. The beta diversity values also differed (p = 0.019, R2 = 0.10) between dogs consuming more diverse daily diets compared to those consuming less diverse diets (≥3 or <3 unique food sources, respectively). Overall, the results of this pilot study suggest that diet might impact the urobiome and support further exploration of the relationship between diet and the urobiome’s composition in dogs.
Music in Mevlevi Rituals in the Mevlevi Tekke (Lodge) in Nuremberg / Germany
Authors: Öksüzoğlu Osman
Published: June 2024

The Mevlevi Order, which emerged in Konya towards the end of the 13th century, is a religious order that arouses the curiosity of, and is followed quite closely by, many people from all around the world, both for its philosophy and for its performance rituals Although 750 years have passed since the death of Mevlana, the culture and traditions of the Mevlevis are kept alive not only in Turkey but in different countries of the world. In Germany, Mevlevism attracts the interest of people of Turkish origin, but also people of other ethnic origins, and its traditions continue in both traditional and modern interpretations. The Mevlevi Association in Nuremberg, which is one of the two Mevlevi centers in Germany, has been operating since 1990 with the aim of preserving the Mevlevi tradition, while at the same time establishing dialogues between different cultures.
The purpose of this article is to examine the Nuremberg Mevlevi Tekke (lodge) in Germany from historical, cultural and artistic perspectives. I will provide information about the establishment and development of the Nuremberg Mevlevi Tekke. And I will also try to provide information about the Mevlevi Sema ritual and about the music performed both in the lodge and in public places, referring to established published scholarship, as well as to my own field research.
El impacto de la vinculación universidad-comunidad en el comercio informal: un estudio longitudinal
Authors: Vásquez Obando Fabricio Javier , Aucancela Bravo Joan Manuel , Suasti López Claudia Alexandra
Published: June 2024

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar las actividades de vinculación de la carrera de Economía en línea de la Universidad Técnica de Manabí entre 2020 y 2022. Se evaluaron seis proyectos finalizados y realizados con la participación de estudiantes y miembros de la sociedad. Asimismo, se empleó una metodología de investigación mixta, utilizando encuestas tipo escala de Likert a 317 colaboradores participantes de los proyectos y analizadas utilizando el software estadístico IBM SPSS v.22. Los resultados mostraron que los proyectos respondieron a las necesidades de la sociedad y se alinearon con los ejes de investigación, involucrando a docentes, estudiantes y la comunidad. Evidenciando la importancia de la vinculación universitaria y su continuo beneficio para la sociedad, siempre que se planifiquen y ejecuten adecuadamente. Además, el estudio subraya que la vinculación universitaria puede ser un proceso efectivo para satisfacer necesidades de la sociedad, fortaleciendo el vínculo entre universidad y comunidad.
Konfigurasi Layout Area Kerja Berdasarkan Preferensi Pengguna (Studi Kasus : Area Kerja Dosen Desain Interior, Universitas Telkom)
Authors: Palupi Fajarsani Retno
Published: June 2024

Kegiatan bekerja setiap individu yang rata-rata dilakukan selama 8-9 jam dalam satu hari, membuat seseorang menjadikan area kantor menjadi lokasi kedua selain rumah tinggal atau tempat tinggal pribadinya untuk menghabiskan waktu produktifnya. Sehingga ruangan kantor juga menjadi area yang harus ditata atau diatur dengan tingkat kenyamanan yang baik sehingga juga mampu mendukung secara positif kenyamanan fisik penggunanya. Kegiatan yang padat dalam area kantor membuat pengguna menyesuaikan pengaturan layout furniture dengan aktivitas utama maupun pendukungnya. Pengaturan ini memunculkan beberapa tipe yang dapat dianalisis sehingga dapat diperoleh hasil yang paling efisien sesuai kegiatan pengguna area kerja kantor. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada ruang kerja dosen desain interior, Universitas Telkom, dengan pendekatan kasus studi, dengan teknis pengambilan data berupa observasi langsung kegiatan yang berlangsung serta pendataan tipe-tipe pengaturan layout cubicle pada area kerja. Adapun aspek-aspek yang dijadikan fokus penelitian meliputi, penataan area kerja, sirkulasi area kerja, dan aktivitas primer yang terjadi di ruangan kerja. Pada penelitian ini didapatkan bahwa masing-masing pengguna mengatur area kerjanya disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan dan kenyamanan pribadi sesuai dengan kegiatan yang berlangsung pada ruang kerjanya masing-masing.
Perancangan Mebel Fasilitas Belajar dan Bermain Anak-Anak Pra-Sekolah dengan Metoda Partisipatoris
Authors: Dharmawan Cherry Cherry
Published: June 2024

Artikel  ini membahas  proses perancangan fasilitas belajar dan bermain untuk anak-anak pra sekolah dengan metode partisipatori di Taman Kanak-Kanak Al Qur’an (Tkq) Ikhlasunniyah, Bandung. Fasilitas belajar dan bermain berupa sebuah meja belajar dan bermain dalam satu fasilitas untuk ana-anak pra-sekolah.  Permasalahan dari penelitian ini ialah Bagaimana desain fasilitas untuk belajar dan bermain yang murah. Selain itu juga permasalahan lainnya adalah bagaimana bahan-bahan tersebut harus  mempunyai tingkat keamanan dan kesehatan pada . Penelitian ini menggunakan metode partsipatori, bepusat pada pengguna ( Human center design ), yang merupakan sebuah metoda dari pemikiran design thinking. Setiap tahapan harus melibatkan pengguna / user.Hasil akhir dari penilitian ini adalah prototipe sebuah meja belajar dan bermain dengan memanfaatan bahan-bahan bekas dari sisa proyek interior di workshop- workshop di Bandung yang  merupakan terjemahan dari berbagai aktivitas yang dapat melatih motorik halus dari anak-anak pra-sekolah.
Identification and Mapping of Fintech Clustering Using a Qualitative-dominant Mixed Method
Authors: Karim Saima , Cunningham Isobel , Bradley McCauley Laura
Published: June 2024

This research delves into the complex landscape of the fintech ecosystem, specifically focusing on the Northwest City region of Ireland, employing a mixed-method approach. The study focused on the methodology used to identify and map the fintech clusters. Different methodologies have been used to map and identify clustering due to its evolving nature. In our case, due to the lack of fintech companies' records on publicly available databases, and fintech being an emerging phenomenon, our methodology relied on a combination of approaches like desk research, stakeholder engagement, geospatial analysis, and in-depth interviews which fall under the qualitative-dominant mixed method approach. Despite a diverse range of methodologies being used to identify clusters, some known studies have used mixed methods. This research aims to provide guidelines for identifying clusters by developing a database of the companies in the fintech sector and its validation in an evolving field like Fintech. It also highlights the importance of the use of geospatial analysis in clustering by mapping the fintech companies, however at the same time questions the simple agglomeration of the firms in the region. It’s not only the physical proximity that develops the clusters but the local linkages, collaborations, and networks that play a pivotal role in reaping the benefits of clusters. The detailed interviews with the fintech companies in the region and their relationship with different components of the fintech ecosystem using the triple helix model highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the fintech ecosystem in the region. The application of mixed methods in this research highlights the value gained in exploring fintech clustering and ecosystems. This study further enhances our understanding of the emerging phenomenon of fintech clusters and ecosystems in cluster-based economies, specifically how a combination of approaches could be used to map and identify fintech clusters.  It also furthers the boundaries of knowledge in business and management methodological literature by introducing a comprehensive qualitative-dominant mixed method approach with a consolidating knowledge base on methodological approaches to clustering.
Natural Experiments and Causation in Strategy Research
Authors: Erickson Scott , Rothberg Helen
Published: June 2024

Research to inform organizational strategy decisions studies the impact of specific managerial decisions on performance.  While links from decisions to outcomes can be convincingly identified in individual, specific circumstances, trying to do the same with a larger set of decisions and outcomes can be problematic.  In a situation with a substantive sample, relying on standard metrics such as financial statements, the link to particular outcomes can be difficult to establish.  Especially when trying to choose metrics not already correlated in some way.
 
Our research is generally in the field of knowledge management (KM).  The discipline has an extensive history of attempts to link better management of knowledge and other intangibles to performance outcomes.  While the performance outcomes are fairly straightforward (financial success such as profitability or return on investment, innovation success, etc.), the metric for knowledge management is harder to pin down.  The literature shows dozens of approaches.  Some are for single firms or a small sample, but even if focusing only on metrics for a larger sample of firms, disagreement exists. 
 
But even when a KM metric is chosen for a larger sample, there is often a direct tie between input and output measures, making correlation difficult to establish, let alone causation.  If profitability is part of both the input and output measures, of course they are correlated.  The most advanced statistical techniques don’t establish anything more than what the researcher should already know from a cursory look at the logic of the study and the specifics of the variables.  As a result, whether KM actually results in better organizational performance is still an open and much debated question in the field.
 
One research approach that can get around this issue is the natural experiment.  Pioneered by Nobel winner David Card and others, the natural experiment uses two measurements with a clear, consequential event separating the two—minimizing the impact of samples that might otherwise be connected contemporaneously.  The event, such as a change in law, provides a change in circumstances delinking the measures.  Whether structured as a pre/post experiment (measuring before or after the intervening event) or control/experimental group experiment (one group exposed to the event, the other not), the outcome can provide convincing results and can even suggest causation.
 
This paper will cover our work with natural experiments in relation to KM and performance outcomes for merger and acquisition (M&A) activity.  Can KM metrics before an M&A event predict the success of the event?  Success can be defined by the change in financial performance after the event takes place.
Effects of Action Learning Strategies and Reflection in Teaching Business Research Methods in Business and Management Education
Authors: Grishikashvili Ketty
Published: June 2024

In a rapidly changing business world, Research Methods (RM) and their application to real-world problems are becoming skills that equip students for the rest of their lives. Thus, there are ongoing debates about several practical and pedagogical challenges to teaching research methods. One of the questions to address challenges is how to make RM interesting to Business and Management (B&M) students. Addressing this issue becomes even more debatable for the large class seatings in an increasingly internationalised context. Arguably, to remain relevant, Management Education (ME) must reflect the realities that influence its subject matter, while at the same time addressing social needs and expectations. Therefore, introducing innovative and inclusive methods for learning, teaching and assessment is becoming undoubtedly important for shaping the future of ME. This article presents a reflective analysis of introduced innovative learning, teaching and assessment methods for teaching RM on one of the largest PG taught courses in one of the UK’s higher education institutions. In this course, students learn and develop a research proposal for the final PG project. The innovative methods employed in this course were to address the above-mentioned challenge, making RM more interesting for B&M students by improving an engagement. This was achieved by incorporating an active and action learning strategies in flipped classroom settings. The idea was to create an interactive environment where students could master technical information through Learning Set Conversation (LSC), Reflection, and Critical Analysis. Having, LSC about the Case Study, which was linked to research process, helped students to adopt multicultural environment and have a great experience while they were learning and developing their Research Proposal. In addition, introducing the weekly Reflective Work/Reflective Diaries submission as a form of assessment, helped students to keep Reflective Diaries, which allowed them to observe their own research practice and the lessons they have learnt. Effectiveness of the introduced methods and recommendations are based on the Mid-module feedback data which was taken form 3 different intakes between 2021-2023.
Experimental Designs in Management Studies for Bias Assessment: Setting and Stimulus Material
Authors: Guedes Maria João , Rodrigues Ricardo , Gouveia Luís
Published: June 2024

This manuscript stems from an ongoing research project on gender inequality in Portuguese businesses, particularly concerning access to leadership positions. It aims to provide new insights into the constraints that limit women’s access to managerial roles – both from the worker/employee’s perspective, by exploring expectations, aspirations, and perceived barriers, and from the employer/hierarchy’s perspective, by analysing which biases in recruitment and promotion processes are likely to limit women’s rise to top management positions. Against this analytical background, this paper aims to provide a reflection on the inquiry protocol developed within the project, with particular emphasis on the quantitative approach based on an experimental design. A survey has been developed targeting professionals and directors of large, listed companies and large/medium unlisted companies, where the respondents are given the framework of hiring hypothetical applicants for a management position. The methodological protocol involves elaborating different fictitious CV profiles, representing hypothetical candidates. These profiles are constructed by varying attributes according to various dimensions, specifically gender, combined with educational and professional characteristics. Based on the process of designing the experimental setting, the aim is to reflect on the nuances, obstacles, and limitations in constructing a set of stimulus materials and manipulating the experimental conditions regarding the fictitious applicants’ characteristics (including gender), vertical segregation (‘glass ceiling’ in access to top management positions), horizontal segregation (i.e., associating candidates with typically female or male occupations) and measurement items/scales for assessing the applicants in different dimensions (e.g., perceived competence, job fit, promotion recommendation, etc.). Therefore, this paper aims to reflect on the methodological challenges and advantages of an experimental research design and data analysis strategy to address gender bias in hiring contexts and capable of sustaining an ongoing data observatory to support the definition of public policies and organisational practices aimed at promoting gender equality in top positions.