bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Newman Anastasia N. L. , Oliveira Ana , Goldstein Roger , Farley Christopher , Nair Parameswaran , Brooks Dina
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common, preventable lung disease which affects more than 300 million people worldwide. People with COPD have elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, which are linked to physiological alterations in the respiratory system and extrapulmonary manifestations. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the strategies used in the management of individuals with COPD irrespective of severity, however its effect on systemic inflammation is poorly understood. We report the protocol of a systematic review on the effects of PR on systemic inflammation in patients with COPD.

Materials and methods

Using the search terms “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”, “pulmonary rehabilitation”, and “inflammatory biomarkers” and their synonyms, five databases (AMED, CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE) will be searched from their inception to identify primary literature evaluating the effects of PR on systemic inflammation. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts for eligibility using the Covidence web-based software. Eligible studies must be published in a peer-reviewed journal and include: (1) participants with COPD undergoing PR with an exercise component of at least 4 weeks in length and (2) a measure of systemic inflammation (e.g., bloodwork or sputum sample) as an outcome of interest. We will use the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools (ROB2 and ROBINS-I) and will rate the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. This protocol has followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).

Conclusion

The results of this systematic review will summarize the status of the evidence highlighting the effect of PR on systemic inflammation. A manuscript will be drafted and submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and shared at conferences.
Asset pricing with long-run disaster risk
Authors: Fan Rujie , Xiao Chao
Published: June 2023

Traditional disaster models with time-varying disaster risk are not perfect in explaining asset returns. We redefine rare economic disasters and develop a novel disaster model with long-run disaster risk to match the asset return moments observed in the U.S. data. The difference from traditional disaster models is that our model contains the long-run disaster risk by treating the long-run ingredient of consumption growth as a function of time-varying disaster probability. Our model matches the U.S. data better than the traditional disaster model with time-varying disaster risk. This study uncovers an additional channel through which disaster risk affects asset returns and bridges the gap between long-run risk models and rare disaster models.
Generalization of generative model for neuronal ensemble inference method
Authors: Kimura Shun , Takeda Koujin
Published: June 2023

Various brain functions that are necessary to maintain life activities materialize through the interaction of countless neurons. Therefore, it is important to analyze functional neuronal network. To elucidate the mechanism of brain function, many studies are being actively conducted on functional neuronal ensemble and hub, including all areas of neuroscience. In addition, recent study suggests that the existence of functional neuronal ensembles and hubs contributes to the efficiency of information processing. For these reasons, there is a demand for methods to infer functional neuronal ensembles from neuronal activity data, and methods based on Bayesian inference have been proposed. However, there is a problem in modeling the activity in Bayesian inference. The features of each neuron’s activity have non-stationarity depending on physiological experimental conditions. As a result, the assumption of stationarity in Bayesian inference model impedes inference, which leads to destabilization of inference results and degradation of inference accuracy. In this study, we extend the range of the variable for expressing the neuronal state, and generalize the likelihood of the model for extended variables. By comparing with the previous study, our model can express the neuronal state in larger space. This generalization without restriction of the binary input enables us to perform soft clustering and apply the method to non-stationary neuroactivity data. In addition, for the effectiveness of the method, we apply the developed method to multiple synthetic fluorescence data generated from the electrical potential data in leaky integrated-and-fire model.
It’s not research: It’s intellectual activism!
Authors: O’Neill Deirdre
Published: June 2023

This editorial explores the ethical and ideological questions involved in dealing with questions of class. It considers questions of perception and representation in relation to class and academic research. Paying particular attention to the specific positionality of the working-class academic it asks if it is possible for academics from working-class backgrounds to have an insight that those academics from more privileged backgrounds might not have access to.
A testimonio of trials, tribulations and hope: Community college as pathway to a four-year university
Authors: Jaime-Diaz Jesus , Dubkin-Lee Shelley
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the early lived experiences that some Mexican American students utilize to further their education in a community college in Oregon, United States. The research questions for the study were ‘What experiences (personal, educational, familial, etc.) influenced your decision to pursue a college education?’ and ‘How has community college served as a tool for empowerment to further your education?’ Through testimonio we explored the lived experiences of Mexican descent students. Each participant was interviewed; all data were recorded, then transcribed for themes. The findings that overlapped across student testimonios were early lived struggles, memories of K-12 and community college empowerment which highlighted the importance for students in community college to revisit their early socialization. The authors advise that in furthering the community college pathway, self-reflexive methodologies be incorporated that cultivate educational resilience and transformational resistance in the transfer of Mexican descent students onto four-year universities.
How estate demolition is destroying London’s working-class communities
Authors: Utley-Williams David
Published: June 2023

In this short article, housing campaigner David Utley-Williams looks at the class dynamics that underpin estate demolition. Drawing on his own personal experience and looking at the broader sociopolitical context, he examines how estate demolition is a policy failure that inflicts huge damage on London’s working-class communities.
Crystal sounds in contemporary film and TV
Authors: Karaduman Arzu
Published: June 2023

At the core of Deleuze’s theorization of the time-image is the ‘crystal image’ that appears as a direct presentation of time in an indiscernibility of the actual and the present from the virtual in various forms. Lending his ears to cinema after the Second World War, Deleuze coins the term ‘sound-crystal’, but he neither sufficiently engages with it nor thinks about it beyond music. Turning to film sound scholarship or film philosophy is futile in a similar fashion. To address these gaps in Deleuze, film philosophy and sound in cinema, I listen carefully to a number of contemporary films and TV shows in which sound crystallization splits time in an indiscernibility of the perceived actual from the virtual sounds of recollections, dreams, hallucinations, fantasies and worlds. I argue that crystallization of sounds avoids an anthropocentric approach to understanding the relation between a sound and its source which cannot be claimed to ‘voice’ it.
The effect of Forensic Accounting on Public Procurement: A new Perspective to Fraud Prevention in Ethiopia
Authors: Enigda Adane , Adissie Haileselassie , Workayehu Gedamnesh , Kindu Yeshambel , Agegne Abebaw , Abebe Tezera
Published: June 2023

As forensic accounting is the application of the laws of nature to the laws of man, this study was about asserting the applicability of forensic accounting on public procurement as a fraud prevention tool. It examined deterrence, government performance and attitude on the policy fairness in ten selected Ethiopian public Universities in the 2022. 109 questionnaires were administered to procurement officers of the selected universities with a simple random sampling. The collected data was analyzed via EVIEWS software package through a multiple linear regression analysis. The study revealed that forensic accounting couldn’t deter procurement fraud. Also, it discovered that the current government performance of exploiting forensic accounting is minimal. Ipso facto, the study recommends that governments from all level shall develop interest in forensic accounting & accountants for monitoring & investigation of suspected and confirmed fraud cases. The management of procurement authority shall better train accountants and auditors in; criminology, specifically oriented to the dynamics & scope of financial crimes, fraud prevention, ethical issues, investigation and remediation, alongside, giving prominent emphases to rationality, neutrality and independence of courts, if, forensic science is to be used as a driving engine of fraud prevention.
Characterization of nuclear DNA content and chromosome numbers of Tulipa luanica Millaku, T. kosovarica Kit Tan, Shuka & Krasniqi and T. albanica Kit Tan & Shuka
Authors: Osmani Mirsade , Tuna Metin , Elezaj Isa
Published: June 2023

The Balkan Peninsula is considered an important centre of native tulip species. Tulipa kosovarica and Tulipa luanica are new species recently discovered in Kosovo, and Tulipa albanica in Albania. The current study aims at the investigating the nuclear DNA content and chromosome number of these three tulipa species in order to provide for the first time data on their genome size and differences among these three Tulipa species. Analysis of nuclear DNA content was performed by flow cytometer (Partec CyFlow Space) in mature fresh leaves for each Tulipa species. Samples for chromosome analysis were taken from the root tip meristem of the bulbs. Results showed significantly higher amounts of nuclear DNA (2C) in T. luanica compared to T. kosovarica and T. albanica. The chromosome number for these three species was 2n = 2x = 24, while the chromosome sizes of T. luanica resulted larger, compared to that of T. kosovarica and T. albanica. A correlation between the nuclear DNA content and chromosome size was found among these tulipa species. Moreover, nuclear DNA content and chromosome sizes of T. luanica, T. kosovarica and T. albanica showed clear differences among these species.
Biodecolorization of azo dye Acid Blue 92 (AB92) by Ceratophyllum de-mersum L.: process optimization using Taguchi method and toxicity as-sessment
Authors: EFTEKHARI Zahra , NORASTEHNIA Akbar , MASOUDIAN Zahra
Published: June 2023

This study evaluated the ability of the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum to remove the Acid Blue 92 (AB92) dye. The effect of some operational parameters such as the reaction time, initial dye concentration, initial plant biomass, and pH, on dye removal efficiency was studied. Based on Taguchi’s results, the optimized conditions for dye removal were time 7 days, dye concentration 20 mg l-1, initial plant biomass 4 g, and initial pH 5. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirmed the interaction between dye molecules and plants. Based on the results of this study, C. demersum had a reusability to remove the dye, this fact confirming the mechanism of biodegradation in the dye removal process. Also, the effect of AB92 on the physiological responses of C. demersum was investigated. Minimum relative growth rate, tolerance index, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and total carotenoids at a concentration of 20 mg l-1 of AB92 were observed. The concentration of cyanidin glycoside, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant activity increased in both concentrations of 10 and 20 mg l-1. It can be concluded that both concentrations of AB92 induced antioxidant activity and the risk of oxidative stress for Ceratophyllum.
Investigating the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria isolates on germination and physiology status of durum wheat under salt stress
Authors: BOUFARES Khaled , KOUADRIA Mostefa , KARIMA Mohamedi , MERDJET Yahia Naima
Published: June 2023

The aim of this work is to evaluate the seedling growth and physiology status of wheat seeds inoculated with a suspension of eight plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolates. For this purpose, rhizobacteria strains were isolated from the roots of native plants growing in the Algerian steppe, then evaluated for their plant growth promotion (PGP) features, and finally applied on wheat seeds. The obtained results showed that the majority of the tested strains displayed pertinent PGP features. In in vitro experiments, results showed that salinity affected negatively seed germination and impaired plant growth while the inoculation with BC3, BC6 and BC7 strains induced a good germination rate and improved significantly the root length. In greenhouse experience, data demonstrated that non-inoculated plants accumulated a significant amount of osmoregulators (proline and glycine betaine), and recorded a decrease of their chlorophyll content, compared to inoculated plants, where the salinity tolerance of this latter has been much better with a high seedling growth as well as high chlorophyll and low osmolyte contents. The results may be a useful extension of our knowledge of the interaction between plant and PGPR, in view of their possible applications as a biofertilizer to improve plant growth in salinity-impacted regions.
Establishment of an in vitro method for micropropagation of ironwort, (Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & Heldr.)
Authors: SOTA Valbona , SHUKA Donald , BEKHEET Shawky , KONGJIKA Efigjeni
Published: June 2023

Ironwort / Mountain Tea (Sideritis raeseri Boiss & Heldr.) is an endangered (EN) plant species in Albania. This study aimed to develop a rapid clonal propagation protocol using in vitro methodologies. The ironwort seeds were pre-treated with three concentrations of GA3 (250, 500, and 1000 mg l-1). During the inoculation stage, two types of culture media, Murashige & Skoog (MS) and Woody Plant Medium (WPM), were tested, and the effects of both GA3 concentration and culture media used were evaluated. For the subculture stage, three cytokinins (6-benzylaminopurine / BAP, kinetin, zeatin) at four concentrations (0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 mg l-1), were compared for the RGR index, while for the rooting stage, two different auxins (1-naphthaleneacetic acid / NAA and indole-3-butyric acid / IBA) at four concentrations (0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 mg l-1) were tested. GA3 at 500 mg l-1 and MS medium resulted as more effective. The highest value of the RGR index during the subculture stage was obtained in the MS nutrient medium supplemented with BAP at 1.5 mg l-1. For rhizogenesis response, IBA was more effective for roots and length number. Based on these results, in vitro methodologies can be a promising tool for the mass production of this endangered plant species and with possible applications for enhancing the production of valuable nutraceuticals.
Glosa do wyroku Naczelnego Sądu Administracyjnego z 9 grudnia 2022 r., sygn. akt I OSK 555/201
Authors: Kosicki Tomasz
Published: June 2023

The gloss is devoted to the problem of the admissibility of validating the maintenance debtor’s behavior in the proceedings to recognize him as evading maintenance obligations in the light of the provisions of the Act of 7 September 2007   on assistance to persons entitled to maintenance. It also deals with the essence of the proceedings regarding the annulment of the decision. Although the court of first instance did not allow such a possibility, the analysis carried out in the paper shows that there are legal grounds for this. The paper concludes that if, after the explanatory proceedings are completed, but before the decision is issued, the maintenance debtor reconsiders and consents to a maintenance interview with  him and for a declaration of assets to be taken from him, the public administration body should take these circumstances into account when making a decision. There was criticism of the thesis that allowing for the validation of behavior contradicts the purpose of the introduced solutions aimed at mobilizing debtors to fulfill their obligations towards those entitled to maintenance. It is pointed out that such an approach from the authorities may have further undesirable consequences, as the effect of issuing a decision on the above-mentioned subject is to initiate separate proceedings regarding the suspension of a driving license. The study also analyzes the way in which the premises for initiating the above proceedings are understood, proposing a different understanding of them. It was concluded that the positive and negative premises for initiating proceedings should be understood by the authority in a functional manner. The position of the Supreme Administrative Court was deemed correct, namely that in nullity proceedings the assessment made by the authority concerns only the examination of whether the decision being contested  is affected by one of the defects specified in the Code of Administrative Procedure.
Das BiblioWeekend – Eine nationale Kampagne für Bibliotheken in der Schweiz
Authors: Baetcke Franziska , Ehrlicher Heike
Published: June 2023

2022 fand in der Schweiz erstmals das BiblioWeekend statt; ein Wochenende der offenen Bibliotheken. Treibende Kraft der jährlich wiederkehrenden Kampagne ist der noch junge Bibliotheksverband Bibliosuisse, der mit dem „BiblioWeekend“ ein öffentlichkeitswirksames Zeichen setzt. Der Artikel beleuchtet zunächst die Ausgangslage und Besonderheiten einer Bibliothekslandschaft, die von der Dreisprachigkeit des Landes geprägt ist. Aufgezeigt werden dann der Organisationsaufbau und die Mitgliederpartizipation als wesentliche Leitlinie im Kampagnenprozess. Die Autorinnen berichten über die Durchführung der Premiere im März 2022 und setzen sich anschließend mit den lessons learned auseinander. Aufgegriffen wird auch die Frage nach dem Mehrwert der Kampagne für den Bibliotheksverband. Der Artikel schließt mit einem Ausblick auf die Zukunft des BiblioWeekends.
Magán egészségügyi szolgáltatók márkaneveinek megítélése asszociációs vizsgálat segítségével
Authors: Katona Norbert , Tessényi Judit
Published: June 2023

A TANULMÁNY CÉLJA
A márkanevek a márkaidentitás egyik elemeként a márka reprezentációját szolgálják. A tanulmány célkitűzése, hogy egy előzetesen, szakemberek körében végzett kutatás eredményeire alapozva, olyan egészségügyi szolgáltatói márkanév elemeket azonosítson hazai környezetben, amelyek alkalmasak arra, hogy egészségügyi szolgáltatások igénybevevői értelmezni és azonosítani tudják az adott szolgáltató fő értékeit, így a márkanév be tudja tölteni a márkát és a márkaüzenetet hordozó funkcióját.
ALKALMAZOTT MÓDSZERTAN
A márkanevek üzletileg is értékes vizsgálati területe jelenleg még gyerekcipőben jár, így primer kutatásunkat saját szerkesztésű kérdőívvel, szabadon kiválasztott 201 fős mintával végeztük. Kutatásunk során kvalitatív, szabadszavas szóasszociáción alapuló vizsgálatot folytattunk online adatgyűjtéssel, 18 év feletti válaszadók körében. Először szakértők által korábban már tesztelt 25, majd ezt szűkítve 11, jellegzetes márkanév-profilú budapesti magánegészségügyi szolgáltató márkanév-asszociációit dolgoztuk fel.   
LEGFONTOSABB EREDMÉNYEK
A tanulmányozott magánklinikák esetében az ismertség még kevésbé markáns, így az intézmények által közvetített márkakép is további erősítést igényel, miközben kifejezett fogyasztói érdeklődés tapasztalható az egészségügyi szolgáltatások iránt, sőt a fővárosi válaszadók körében szignifikánsan magasabb az egészségi intézményét önállóan kiválasztók aránya (p < 0,05). A válaszadók a „szakembergárdát” és a „megbízhatóságot” emelték ki fontos döntési kritériumként, a „márkanév” megítélése a “frekventált elhelyezkedés” és az “ismertség” dimenziókkal mutatott azonos szintű fontosságot. Lényeges eredmény, hogy a tejes minta általános márkanév reprezentációja jelentősen eltérhetnek az intézményt ismerőkétől, amely többdimenziós márkapercepciós-aszimmetria jelenlétére utalhat.
GYAKORLATI JAVASLATOK
Az aszimmetria feltárása hasznos eszköz lehet egyrészt a már meglévő páciensekkel kapcsolatos lojalitásépítő márkatalálkozási pontok menedzselése, másrészt pedig a potenciális fogyasztók megcélzására és befolyásolására törekvő márkaelemépítési tevékenységek megalapozása érdekében. A márkanevek alkotása során javasolt lehet az érzelmi kapcsolódásnak is teret adó márkanevek mellett a humor és a szokatlanabb asszociációk használatát is tesztelni az egészségügyi intézmények márkanevei kapcsán.
Efgartigimod, an FcRn antagonist, as a potential treatment for post COVID-19 syndrome
Authors: Reznik Sandra E. , Tiwari Amit K. , Ashby Charles R.
Published: June 2023

A significant proportion of patients who survive coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) develop a constellation of life-altering symptoms that persist long after the initial infection has resolved. This post-COVID-19 syndrome may result from the development of autoreactive IgG antibodies that cause inflammation and tissue injury. In this commentary, we suggest that efgartigimod, a drug approved for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis, be tested for use in patients with post-COVID-19. Efgartigimod is a humanized IgG Fc fragment containing five point mutations that significantly increase affinity for the Fc region of the neonatal crystallizable fragment receptor (FcRn). FcRn is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases via the IgG recycling pathway because FcRN binds to autoreactive IgG antibodies and prevents the antibodies from being catabolized. Efgartigimod is a modified immunoglobulin that competitively displaces endogenous IgG from FcRn, thus increasing the level of unbound IgG, which is then catabolized and leads to decreased circulating levels of autoreactive as well as normal IgG. We suggest that efgartigimod be evaluated in a random, double-blind placebo-control trial in adults with post-COVID-19 for at least 2 months. If re-purposing this myasthenia gravis-approved drug for post - COVID-19 is successful, additional bioengineered FcRn antagonists should be tested for efficacy in patients with post-COVID-19.
Regulation of LRRK2 mRNA stability by ATIC and its substrate AICAR through ARE‐mediated mRNA decay in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Liu Qinfang , Zhu Dong , Li Naren , Chen Shifan , Hu Liang , Yu Jianzhong , Xiong Yulan
Published: June 2023

Mutations in LRRK2 are the most common genetic causes of Parkinson's disease (PD). While the enzymatic activity of LRRK2 has been linked to PD, previous work has also provided support for an important role of elevated LRRK2 protein levels, independent of enzymatic activity, in PD pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of LRRK2 protein levels remain unclear. Here, we identify a role for the purine biosynthesis pathway enzyme ATIC in the regulation of LRRK2 levels and toxicity. AICAr, the precursor of ATIC substrate, regulates LRRK2 levels in a cell‐type‐specific manner in vitro and in mouse tissue. AICAr regulates LRRK2 levels through AUF1‐mediated mRNA decay. Upon AICAr treatment, the RNA binding protein AUF1 is recruited to the AU‐rich elements (ARE) of LRRK2 mRNA leading to the recruitment of the decapping enzyme complex DCP1/2 and decay of LRRK2 mRNA. AICAr suppresses LRRK2 expression and rescues LRRK2‐induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in PD Drosophila and mouse models. Together, this study provides insight into a novel regulatory mechanism of LRRK2 protein levels and function via LRRK2 mRNA decay that is distinct from LRRK2 enzymatic functions.
Structural Design of Field Plate Load Test Equipment to Determine In situ Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Clayey Soil
Authors: Umaru Ibrahim , B. Alkali  , M.M. Alhaji  , M. Alhassan  , T.E. Adejumo  , A.H. Jagaba
Published: June 2023

The study is to design field-operated plate load test equipment to overcome the problem of predicting bearing capacity and settlement of clayey soil on site using the conventional/traditional methods of short-duration plate load test where a hydraulic jack is used in conducting the test. Ashby's method of material selection was used for the selection of a suitable material for each of the components. The 12 mm thickness was obtained as the minimum safe thickness for the applied load of 500 kg on the lever arm. The I-section frame that support the entire system has sectional modulus of 19.4 cm3 and 4 mm thickness. The equipment will use a lever arm mechanism to conduct an in-situ test that will take long-duration on clay soil where the dissipation of pore water from the clayey soils takes a longer time to complete as against the current conventional method of plate load test that is in use. The equipment will offer several advantages in terms of cost, reliability, portability, authenticity, and user friendly.
Using Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer as Steel Reinforcement - Review
Authors: Hasan Kamrul , M.T. Islam  , Tohfa Tusdid Sabur , Yahaya Fadzil Mat
Published: June 2023

The production of affordable, lightweight polymers using sustainable composites reinforced with natural, eco-friendly fibers has recently attracted a lot of attention from both the research and manufacturing realms. Future construction of buildings must have the least negative impact on the environment while also being long-lasting. Basalt is the best material to utilize as reinforcement among natural fibers (animal, vegetable, or mineral) because of its advantageous qualities. The superior features of basalt rebar, such as its high tensile strength, low young's modulus, and corrosion-inhibiting properties, contribute to its operational excellence. This article summarizes the previous studies to investigate the use of basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars as a substitute for steel reinforcement, emphasizing flexural strength, serviceability, and durability. That fits with the objective of this study, which is to analyse the most updated available data, compile the findings, and then identify any knowledge gaps that warrant future investigation. Moreover, the authors concluded following the review that basalt rebar might be used in construction as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable substitute for steel reinforcement.
On-Site Sequencing Of Sars-Cov-2 Genomes Identify Two Variant Of Concern Clusters In Pahang, Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Hajar Fauzan , Zainulabid Ummu Afeera , Wan Ramli Wan Nurliyana , Haroon Raihanah , Aslam Ayesha , Hussain Mushtaq
Published: June 2023

Timely variant identification is required in respond to effective public health measures. It has been demonstrated that comprehending genetic epidemiology can be aided by a combination of public health expertise and through viral genomic sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The purpose of this study is to determine the utility of using Oxford Nanopore Sequencing to elucidate the genetic epidemiology in two significant clusters in Pahang, Malaysia. The combined oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs of clinical specimens from two significant clusters in Pahang, Malaysia, were retrieved for long-read sequencing. Results: We identify Beta and Delta variants as 2 variants of concern from our analysis. We found that the B.1.351 (ß) and B.1.617 (D) variants were responsible for the Taman Tanah Putih Baru and Pasar Kemunting clusters, respectively. In conclusion, ONT long-read sequencing tools offer a practical solution with a number of advantages. ONT devices are compact, affordable, and need little technical hands-on or laboratory equipment to prepare samples. They can also be used to quickly and adaptably execute sequencing analyses and to understand genomic epidemiology.
Exploration of Secondary Deposit to Determine Manganese Ore Body
Authors: Ishak M.F. , Zolkepli M.F. , Daud S. , Mohd Zin N.S. , Mohamad Talhah M.F.
Published: June 2023

Manganese ore is one of the most critical mineral commodities and irreplaceable in steelmaking. With the high demand for manganese ore, exploration to find manganese ore deposits is essential before large investments in mine development. The purpose of this study is to determine the content of secondary manganese through exploration in Ladang Sungai Terah Gua Musang with an area of 40.5 hectares. The area is located near the Permian -dominated zone which can be observed during plutonic igneous granites in the southwest and in the presence of phyllite, slate and shale with subordinate sandstone and schist. The significant secondary mineral found is manganese oxide or pyrolusite. The exploration method is by excavating the trial pit (TP) and bore hole (BH) drilling. The location of TP and BH are determined from anomalies data and outcrop and boulders presence at site. Results that obtained from the thirteen TP sampling showed that the deepest TPs are excavated at 4.0 meter depth and the shallowest depth was at 3.6 meter depth. The thickest manganese ore was at 0.4 meter for TP 06. The highest-grade manganese was 54.3% at 3.8 meter depth of TP 01 located at north-west from BH1. The BH soil which obtained at 12.0 meter depth with silt clay and the presence of sand gravel. The BH soil was taken and homogenised prior testing in order to get representative result. The XRF analysis shown that the manganese ore was found at 55.90 % and second highest mineral was silica oxide which was 21.74 % followed by aluminium at 14.32 %. The calculation of manganese ore reserves was estimated at 157,545 tonnes of which the lifespan of manganese mining operations was estimated at only 10.375 months. Even the quality was high but it still not reaching the ore body It can be concluded that this area is not economical for commercial production of manganese ore and by pursuing this area will surely contribute to business risks, negatively impacting on potential profitability. Mining revenue calculated from estimated ore reserved in this area is not expected to cover costs such as the exploration working capital, property acquisition costs, mine development costs including development drilling and infrastructure development such as roads, utilities, plant and equipment costs which include mining equipment, mill and processing equipment and building, structure and many more.
Effects of Environmental Waste Plastic Bottle Cover (EWPBC) on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete
Authors: John Wasiu  , Douglas Osegbowa Enoguan
Published: June 2023

The rapid industrialization and urbanization in many countries of the world is leading to great infrastructural development which in turns result to problems like shortage of construction materials and increased productivity of wastes – which has caused environmental issues due to inadequate recycling and disposal facilities. Construction industry is in need of materials which can increase the strength of concrete structures with low cost and less environmental impact. This research is aimed at addressing such issues by investigating the effect of environmental waste plastic bottle cover (EWPBC) on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. EWPBC samples was collected within the environs and used at different percentage (0%, 12.5%, 25%, 50% and 100%) replacement for coarse aggregate. Physical properties of the materials were investigated and found to be in accordance with relevant specifications. Mechanical properties such as compressive strength and flexural strength tests were also carried out in line with relavant codes of practice. The compressive strenght increases with days of curring and at 12.5% EWPBC, the strength is 4.7% higher than the conventional concrete. The flexural stress is also higher than that of the conventional beam sample at 12.5% EWPBC. The flexural strain is 0.00248-0.0036 and within the specified acceptable limit (0.002-0.0035) for concrete with grade less than or equal to C50/C60. This shows a promising properties at 12.5% EWPBC replacement and also a reduction in cost. It was concluded that EWPBC can be used as substitute for aggregates and also a means of reducing environmental wastes and cost of disposal of such waste.
DISCOVERING THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFERS FRAMEWORK ON AERO-COMPOSITE MANUFACTURER IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Mohd Irman Ibrahim  , Huei Ruey Ong  , Azrul Zamir Mohd Idris  , Md Maksudur Rahman Khan  , Martin Gomes
Published: June 2023

This work elucidated the knowledge transfer method used by an international first tier advanced composite multinational company supplier in transferring the technical knowledge to a Malaysian advanced composite manufacturer. Effective route of knowledge transfer could significantly improve the performance of the company. The process of the transferring knowledge is an ongoing progression of learning, adjusting, and improving. An excellent knowledge transfer could benefit both the knowledge provider and receiver. A “Backward Engineering” investigation on the relationship between the factors during the knowledge transfer process is useful, to be an ideal reference for others. This paper exhibits the technological transfer executed by the aero-composite manufacturer. Method chosen in this study is focus group discussion involving the working committee of respective programme. It was found that a systematic two stages with multi-phases of knowledge transfer has been explored during flat-curvature structures aero-composite project. Tacit and explicit knowledge is important for transferring technical knowledge in industry context. It is noticed that a useful knowledge transfer mechanism has an impact on the performance of organization such as increases in productivity, profits, and growth.
Evaluation of direct-quadrature position and saturation of a SynRM machine with Segmented Rotor
Authors: Rasid Mohd Azri Hizami , Shahril Anwar M.
Published: June 2023

The synchronous reluctance machine has gained popularity in traction and other smaller application thanks to its design that need very little or even no permanent magnet. Without internal permanent magnet assistance, an adequate level of torque density could be achieved by having an optimized rotor design to attain the optimum ratio of direct inductance over quadrature inductance. In order to properly control the machine, the direct and quadrature position need  to be identified. In this study, a segmented rotor topology without permanent magnet was chosen. We evaluate the direct and quadrature position of the rotor topology, its saturation level and provide the flux linkage and the inductances of the machine.
Fine-tuned RetinaNet models for Vision-based Human Presence Detection
Authors: Tang Jin Cheng , Ab. Nasir Ahmad Fakhri Bin , P. P. Abdul Majeed Anwar , Thai Li Lim , Mohd Razman Mohd Azraai , Mohd Khairuddin Ismail
Published: June 2023

Moving towards Industry 4.0, the idea of human-robot interaction (HRI) and human-robot collaboration (HRC) has been popularized. To introduce more robots into the industries, risk-correlated issues would be always on the hook as robots are not as flexible as human. In fact, although robots can replace human workers in some of the dangerous tasks, still human safety is always the top priority for all industries. The most common way to safeguard the human was to isolate the working space of human workers and robots. To realize the idea of Industry 4.0, it is postulated to have the robots and cobots out of the cage to maximize productivity and efficiency. Hence, studies have been conducted with the attempts to free the robots from the isolated working space while preserve the safety of human operators. The present study seeks to explore the feasibility of transfer learning strategy — fine-tuning to human presence detection tasks as the base of practicing safe HRI. A custom image dataset with 1463 images was collected and separated into train, validation, and test set with a ratio of 70:20:10. Three RetinaNet object detection models with different backbone networks were fine-tuned with the acquired dataset to transfer the knowledge learned from source domain to the target domain, which is the human presence detection tasks. The result has shown that the RetinaNet_ResNet152-V1-FPN has the highest test AP of 74.4% with an inference speed of 13.09 FPS, suggesting that it is the best fine-tuned RetinaNet models. This study has demonstrated the feasibility of using fine-tuning as the strategy to train the object detection models, which can possibly act as the base for improving HRI applications via a deep learning visual-based method. In summary, the research has signified the uses of deep learning models to perform human presence detections and can be further extended for HRI safety applications.
Pengembangan Buku Pengayaan Pada Materi Tembang Dolanan Bagi Siswa Kelas III SD
Authors: Anggraeni Dewi Kholifah , Yuwono Agus
Published: June 2023

In learning at school, sometimes teachers find it difficult to explain and teach the tembang dolanan due to the lack of teaching materials that explain details about it. The purpose of this study was to determine the teacher's needs for the development of enrichment books, compile a prototype for the development of enrichment books, and describe the results of the expert validation test on the development of enrichment books. This research was conducted using an R&D approach from Borg & Gall. The target sources data are students, teachers, media experts, and material experts. Data collection techniques are interview techniques and filling out questionnaires. The results of this study include (1) the analysis of teacher needs for the development of enrichment books on the material (tembang dolanan), that teachers want interesting complementary teaching materials for learning tembang dolanan for third-grade elementary school students. (2) the development of the prototype includes a book cover designed with children's pictures, while the contents of the book consist of ten lists of dolanan songs and their meanings. (3) The results of the expert validation test got several improvements from the validator, namely, adding page numbers, changing the title font of the dolanan song, correcting wrong diction, correcting wrong lyrics, and replacing some dolanan songs that are not in accordance with learning.
Defining the Impacts of Historical Development Activities on Urban Heritage of İskenderun (Alexandretta)
Authors: Nalça Kıssaboylu Canan , Kul Fatma Nurşen , Rifaioğlu Mert Nezih
Published: June 2023

İskenderun, also known as Alexandretta in antiquity, has long been a strategically significant port city in the Eastern Mediterranean thanks to its natural harbour. Due to its advantageous location, the settlement began to rapidly urbanize after the mid-19th century as a result of the impacts of Ottoman and later the French Mandate period development activities. This article focuses on defining the influences of historical development activities on the urban heritage of İskenderun by understanding and evaluating various efforts that lie behind the formation of the city as an important trade centre and port city connecting the Middle East, Asia Minor, and Europe. By doing so, the formation, development and transformation of the settlement are chronologically deciphered regarding its historical turning points: the mid-19th century Ottoman period, the beginning of the French Mandate period (1919), and the joining of İskenderun to the Republic of Türkiye (1939). Accordingly, the characteristics of the urban form, the ways these characteristics were transformed, and the problems and strategies encountered within different periods are decoded. This decoding employed a combined methodology, including historical interpretation and case study research methods. The results of the study reveal that İskenderun has experienced different solutions for problems of infrastructure within the different periods, as a reflection of different political understandings and public and social needs among those periods.
Design Approaches to Museum Open Spaces with User Evaluations
Authors: Canbakal Ataoğlu Nihan , Yavuz Aysel , Acar Habibe
Published: June 2023

The concept of the museum today should be considered as a social communication platform, and museums should be designed by taking into account the interaction and harmony of their open and closed spaces with the immediate surroundings. This study emphasizes the importance of museums for the city and discusses design approaches to museum open spaces with examples of their effective use and an evaluation of the opinions of their users. In order to shed light on today's museum exterior design approaches, evaluations of the design setup of the museum open spaces were carried out on the basis of literature research and spatial experiences of the museum examples visited. In addition, using the content analysis method, by creating statements about usage, satisfaction level, and expectations, a questionnaire was planned and designed to be applied to a volunteer user group. According to the examples given and the survey data, museum open space designs were carried out. Four groups of factors - planning and design, social, functional and perceptual-having the greatest impact on visitor satisfaction were identified. The examples given include a discussion of museum open space facilities, along with commentary from the literature. For the evaluation of the users, a survey was conducted with 74 people. The survey asked about their satisfaction levels and their expectations in terms of museums and open spaces. Since there was not chance to conduct face to face survey in pandemic conditions, the study was conducted that questioned the general qualifications. In addition to reaching the users visiting the museum were limited. When we look at the literature, multi-dimensional research has been carried out on museum architecture and design. However, no comprehensive study has been carried out on museum open spaces. Consequently, this study focused on the interaction between museum open spaces and visitors.
Building Production Processes Planning and Management in Classical Greek Era; Comparison with Contemporary Practices
Authors: Yılmaz İbrahim
Published: June 2023

Through the example of the Classical Greek Era, the study focuses on seeking an answer to the question of whether managerial techniques and strategies were developed in building production processes in ancient times. The study aims to identify and examine the stages planned in the building production processes and the construction management and organization techniques developed during the Classical Greek period (VI.-IV. century BCE), which played an important role in the development of building art and to compare the practices of the Era with today's construction and management practices. The research methodology is based on the interpretation of historical data from the Classical Greek Era, consisting of construction texts written on stone slabs and their epigraphic explanations, and the comparison of the practices of the Era with contemporary practices. The stone slab samples with the construction texts used in the study were taken from the Sara B. Aleshire Center for Greek Epigraphic Studies catalogs at the University of Berkeley. The epigraphically analyzed descriptions of these inscriptions by different authors were obtained by searching the literature sources through the catalog numbers given to the samples. In the classical Greek Era, three main administrative public bodies made decisions on construction, planning, and managing the construction processes. These include the Senate, Ecclesia (people's assembly), and building commissions. By the decision of the people's assembly, building commissions were established to manage and supervise the construction process from a financial, administrative, and technical perspective. This research has contributed to the understanding that today's building production strategies and management theories have their roots in ancient times, thereby contributing to the universality of construction and management theory. Due to the dynamic nature of the research, the period analyzed was also compared with the current production management theories. The study's uniqueness lies in interpreting historical documents and observing and comparing current conditions. Hence, while the construction and management systems in the Classical Greek period are understood, two different processes are analyzed in their own contexts, and their differences and similarities are highlighted.
La influencia de los marcos de referencia (framings) en la gobernanza de la adaptación al cambio climático y gestión del riesgo a nivel local: Los casos de Upala de Costa Rica y San Francisco del Valle de Ocotepeque Honduras
Authors: Segura-Ramírez Luis Diego , Bonilla-Vargas Adriana
Published: June 2023

Climate change is one of the main global challenges of the 21st century. The international agenda has come a long way since the approval of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The international community has understood that the mitigation agenda will not be enough to address the problems associated with climate change and the latest international instruments have incorporated adaptation as a central issue in the response to it. States have been approving Nationally Determined Contributions within the framework of the Paris Agreement. In these contributions, the generation of public policy to promote adaptation at the national level has been established as a central element. However, a fundamental challenge of adaptation is that it must be studied and developed locally; therefore, national, and international instruments can stimulate and promote these processes. Nevertheless, it will be the local authorities and actors who will determine the progress of these processes.This article focuses on analyzing the influence of actors and their frames of reference in local planning processes and the integration of adaptation to climate change. We studied the cases of Upala, Alajuela in Costa Rica, and San Francisco del Valle de Ocotepeque in Honduras, to understand how these frameworks influenced the development of local public policies that integrated risk management and climate change adaptation measures.The results show that the referential frameworks of the actors influence how risk and climate change are understood and the assessment of the measures that were included in the local plan. Thus, using comparative case studies applied to countries is a key tool for analyzing international phenomena. Although adaptation is a locally led process, its study, practice, and instruments that facilitate its progress demand research processes that allow the different practices and associated problems to be compared internationally. From the international relations agenda, the study of these adaptation practices of different countries is a key tool in the study of the international agendas for adaptation and response to climate change.