bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engaging fathers to support child nutrition increases frequency of children’s animal source food consumption in Rwanda
Authors: Flax Valerie L. , Ouma Emily A. , Schreiner Mary-Ann , Ufitinema Adeline , Niyonzima Eugene , Colverson Kathleen E. , Galiè Alessandra
Published: April 2023

Although social support from fathers is associated with improved child feeding practices, evidence on feasible, acceptable, and effective ways to involve fathers in supporting child nutrition, including animal source food (ASF) consumption, is limited. This study was a follow-on to a trial that tested the effects of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) targeted mainly at mothers to promote ASF consumption by children in households that received an exotic or crossbred cow through the government of Rwanda’s Girinka “One Cow Per Poor Family” program (NCT0345567). A delayed SBCC intervention was provided to mothers in the non-intervention arms prior to the present pre/post study, which targeted fathers in households across the trial study arms. Baseline and endline surveys with a cohort of 149 fathers with a child <5 years were used to evaluate the effects of a SBCC intervention for fathers on their children’s ASF consumption and on fathers’ knowledge, awareness, and support for children’s ASF consumption. Qualitative data collected from fathers, mothers, and program implementers were used to assess feasibility and acceptability of the intervention for fathers. The SBCC intervention comprised group meetings led by model fathers, text messages, print materials, and megaphone blasts. The odds of children consuming any type of ASF ≥2 times in the last week increased from baseline to endline (OR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9, 12.3), as did the odds consuming milk, eggs, and beef, but not fish. Fathers’ mean ASF knowledge and awareness scores increased from baseline to endline (knowledge: 2.3 to 3.5 out of 4 items, P<0.001; awareness: 2.5 to 3.0 out of 3 items, P<0.001), with the largest changes observed in knowledge of timing of introduction of milk and other ASFs. The percentage of fathers who offered two or more supportive actions for their children’s milk and other ASF consumption increased from baseline to endline (milk: 19.5% to 31.5%, P = 0.017; other ASFs: 18.8% to 37.6%, P<0.001). Fathers appreciated gaining knowledge on child nutrition in a setting specifically for men and liked the print materials that offered clear actions they could take to support their children’s ASF consumption. This study shows that an SBCC intervention for fathers can improve children’s ASF consumption and increase fathers’ knowledge, awareness, and support for children’s nutrition.
Study on the measurement of industrial eco-efficiency, spatial distribution and influencing factors in Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Liu Liang , Zhao Yuting , Yang Yirui , Liu Shu , Gong Xiujuan , Jiang Pan
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, China insists on the strategy of ecological priority and green development, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt is a pioneering demonstration belt for the construction of ecological civilization in China. Promoting industrial ecological efficiency is of great significance to Chinese sustainable development and high-quality economic development. Based on the provincial panel data of 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region from 2011 to 2020, we use the super-efficient slacks-based measure of efficiency SBM model to measure the industrial eco-efficiency of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, reveal the spatial differences in industrial eco-efficiency of different provincial units, and explore the industrial eco-efficiency. The results show that: (1) from the perspective of the Yangtze River Economic Belt as a whole, industrial eco-efficiency is on a stable upward trend, but the efficiency level is not high, and there is more room for improvement; (2) in terms of the spatial distribution of industrial eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, there are significant differences, with industrial eco-efficiency in the downstream region being higher than that in the midstream region and the upstream region, and the lowest in the midstream region, while in terms of the spatial distribution pattern, the industrial eco-efficiency of 11 provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt eco-efficiency has a significant positive spatial autocorrelation; (3) in terms of influencing factors, economic development level, factor endowment, and foreign investment can significantly influence industrial eco-efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The study’s result helps provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for promoting the green and ecological development of industries in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
The selection of software and database for metagenomics sequence analysis impacts the outcome of microbial profiling and pathogen detection
Authors: Xu Ruijie , Rajeev Sreekumari , Salvador Liliana C. M.
Published: April 2023

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis is widely used for microbial profiling of biological specimens and pathogen detection. However, very little is known about the technical biases caused by the choice of analysis software and databases on the biological specimen. In this study, we evaluated different direct read shotgun metagenomics taxonomic profiling software to characterize the microbial compositions of simulated mice gut microbiome samples and of biological samples collected from wild rodents across multiple taxonomic levels. Using ten of the most widely used metagenomics software and four different databases, we demonstrated that obtaining an accurate species-level microbial profile using the current direct read metagenomics profiling software is still a challenging task. We also showed that the discrepancies in results when different databases and software were used could lead to significant variations in the distinct microbial taxa classified, in the characterizations of the microbial communities, and in the differentially abundant taxa identified. Differences in database contents and read profiling algorithms are the main contributors for these discrepancies. The inclusion of host genomes and of genomes of the interested taxa in the databases is important for increasing the accuracy of profiling. Our analysis also showed that software included in this study differed in their ability to detect the presence of Leptospira, a major zoonotic pathogen of one health importance, especially at the species level resolution. We concluded that using different databases and software combinations can result in confounding biological conclusions in microbial profiling. Our study warrants that software and database selection must be based on the purpose of the study.
Commensal Neisseria species share immune suppressive mechanisms with Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Zhu Weiyan , Cardenas-Alvarez Maria X. , Tomberg Joshua , Little Marguerite B. , Duncan Joseph A. , Nicholas Robert A.
Published: April 2023

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a highly adapted human sexually transmitted pathogen that can cause symptomatic infections associated with localized inflammation as well as asymptomatic and subclinical infections, particularly in females. Gonococcal infection in humans does not generate an effective immune response in most cases, which contributes to both transmission of the pathogen and reinfection after treatment. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is known to evade and suppress human immune responses through a variety of mechanisms. Commensal Neisseria species that are closely related to N. gonorrhoeae, such as N. cinerea, N. lactamica, N. elongata, and N. mucosa, rarely cause disease and instead asymptomatically colonize mucosal sites for prolonged periods of time without evoking clearing immunologic responses. We have shown previously that N. gonorrhoeae inhibits the capacity of antigen-pulsed dendritic cells to induce CD4+ T cell proliferation in vitro. Much of the suppressive effects of N. gonorrhoeae on dendritic cells can be recapitulated either by outer-membrane vesicles released from the bacteria or by purified PorB, the most abundant outer-membrane protein in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We show here that three commensal Neisseria species, N. cinerea, N. lactamica and N. mucosa, show a comparable capacity to suppress dendritic cell-induced T cell proliferation in vitro through mechanisms similar to those demonstrated previously for N. gonorrhoeae, including inhibition by purified PorB. Our findings suggest that some immune-evasive properties of pathogenic N. gonorrhoeae are shared with commensal Neisseria species and may contribute to the ability of both pathogens and commensals to cause prolonged mucosal colonization in humans.
Increasing digitalization is associated with anxiety and depression: A Google Ngram analysis
Authors: Teepe Gisbert Wilhelm , Glase Edda Magareta , Reips Ulf-Dietrich
Published: April 2023

The prevalence of anxiety disorders and depression are rising worldwide. Studies investigating risk factors on a societal level leading to these rises are so far limited to social-economic status, social capital, and unemployment, while most such studies rely on self-reports to investigate these factors. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the impact of an additional factor on a societal level, namely digitalization, by using a linguistic big data approach. We extend related work by using the Google Books Ngram Viewer (Google Ngram) to retrieve and adjust word frequencies from a large corpus of books (8 million books or 6 percent of all books ever published) and to subsequently investigate word changes in terms of anxiety disorders, depression, and digitalization. Our analyses comprise and compare data from six languages, British English, German, Spanish, Russian, French, and Italian. We also retrieved word frequencies for the control construct “religion”. Our results show an increase in word frequency for anxiety, depression, and digitalization over the last 50 years (r = .79 to .89, p < .001), a significant correlation between the frequency of anxiety and depression words (r = .98, p < .001), a significant correlation between the frequency of anxiety and digitalization words (r = .81, p < .001), and a significant correlation between the frequency of depression and anxiety words (r = .81, p < .001). For the control construct religion, we found no significant correlations for word frequency over the last 50 years and no significant correlation between the frequency of anxiety and depression words. Our results showed a negative correlation between the frequency of depression and religion words (r = -.25, p < .05). We also improved the method by excluding terms with double meanings detected by 73 independent native speakers. Implications for future research and professional and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Mining and quantitative evaluation of COVID-19 policy tools in China
Authors: Liu Jianzhao , Li Na , Cheng Luming
Published: April 2023

Policy quantitative analysis can effectively evaluate the government’s response to COVID-19 emergency management effect, and provide reference for the government to formulate follow-up policies. The content mining method is used to explore the 301 COVID-19 policies issued by the Central government of China since the outbreak of the epidemic in a multi-dimensional manner and comprehensively analyze the characteristics of epidemic prevention policies. Then, based on policy evaluation theory and data fusion theory, a COVID-19 policy evaluation model based on PMC-AE is established to evaluate quantitatively eight representative COVID-19 policy texts. The results show that: Firstly, China’s COVID-19 policies are mainly aimed at providing economic support to enterprises and individuals affected by the epidemic, issued by 49 departments, and include 32.7 percent supply-level and 28.5 percent demand-level, and 25.8 percent environment-level. In addition, strategy-level policies accounted for at least 13 percent. Secondly, according to the principle of openness, authority, relevance and normative principle, eight COVID-19 policies are evaluated by PMC-AE model. Four policies are level Ⅰ policies, three policies are level Ⅱ policies and one policy is level Ⅲ policies. The reason for its low score is mainly affected by four indexes: policy evaluation, incentive measures, policy emphasis and policy receptor. To sum up, China has taken both non-structural and structural measures to prevent and control the epidemic. The introduction of specific epidemic prevention and control policy has realized complex intervention in the whole process of epidemic prevention and control.
Fluorescent microspheres can affect in vitro fibrinolytic outcomes
Authors: Stoll Ethan G. , Cone Sean J. , Lynch Spencer R. , Fuquay Andrew T. , Bannish Brittany E. , Hudson Nathan E.
Published: April 2023

Hemostasis is the cessation of bleeding due to the formation of a blood clot. After the completion of wound healing, the blood clot is typically dissolved through the natural process of fibrinolysis, the enzymatic digestion by plasmin of the fibrin fibers that make up its structural scaffold. In vitro studies of fibrinolysis reveal mechanisms regulating these processes and often employ fluorescent microscopy to observe protein colocalization and fibrin digestion. In this study, we investigate the effects of labeling a fibrin network with 20 nm diameter fluorescent beads (fluorospheres) for the purpose of studying fibrinolysis. We observed fibers and 2-D fibrin networks labeled with fluorospheres during fibrinolysis. We found that the labeling of fibrin with fluorospheres can alter fibrinolytic mechanisms. In previous work, we showed that, during lysis, fibrin fibers are cleaved into two segments at a single location. Herein we demonstrate that fibrinolysis can be altered by the concentration of fluorospheres used to label the fibers, with high concentrations of fluorospheres leading to very minimal cleaving. Furthermore, fibers that are left uncleaved after the addition of plasmin often elongate, losing their inherent tension throughout the imaging process. Elongation was especially prominent among fibers that had bundled together due to other cleavage events and was dependent on the concentration of fluorophores used to label fibers. Of the fibers that do cleave, the site at which they cleave also shows a predictable trend dependent on fluorosphere concentration; low concentrations heavily favor cleavage locations at either end of fibrin fiber and high concentrations show no disparity between the fiber ends and other locations along the fiber. After the initial cleavage event bead concentration also affects further digestion, as higher bead concentrations exhibited a larger population of fibers that did not digest further. The results described in this paper indicate that fluorescent labeling strategies can impact fibrinolysis results.
Relationships between total reserve and financial indicators of Bangladesh: Application of generalized additive model
Authors: Salan Md. Sifat Ar , Naznin Mahabuba , Pandit Bristy , Sumon Imran Hossain , Hossain Md. Moyazzem , Kabir Mohammad Alamgir , Majumder Ajit Kumar
Published: April 2023

Background

The reserve of a country is a reflection of the strength of fulfilling its financial liabilities. However, during the past several years, a regular variation of the total reserve has been observed on a global scale. The reserve of Bangladesh is also influenced by several economic and financial indicators such as total debt, net foreign assets, net domestic credit, inflation GDP deflator, net exports (% of GDP), and imports of goods and services (% of GDP), as well as foreign direct investment, GNI growth, official exchange rate, personal remittances, and so on. Therefore, the authors aimed to identify the nature of the relationship and influence of economic indicators on the total reserve of Bangladesh using a suitable statistical model.

Methods and materials

To meet the objective of this study, the secondary data set was extracted from the World Bank’s website which is openly accessible over the period 1976 to 2020. Moreover, the model used the appropriate splines to describe the non-linearity. The performance of the model was evaluated by the Akaike information criterion (AIC), Bayesian information criterion (BIC), and adjusted R-square.

Results

The total reserve of Bangladesh gradually increased since 2001, and it reached its peak in 2020 which was 43172 billion US dollars. The data were first utilized to build a multiple linear regression model as a base model, but it was later found that the model has severe multicollinearity problems, with a maximum value of VIF for GNI of 499.63. Findings revealed that total debt, inflation, import, and export are showing a non-linear relationship with the total reserve in Bangladesh. Therefore, the authors applied the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) model to take advantage of the nonlinear relationship between the reserve and the selected covariates. The overall response, which is linearly tied to the net foreign asset in the GAM model, will change by 14.43 USD for every unit change in the net foreign asset. It is observed that the GAM model performs better than the multiple linear regression.

Conclusion

A non-linear relationship is observed between the total reserve and different economic indicators of Bangladesh. The authors believed that this study will be beneficial to the government, monetary authorities also to the people of the country to better understand the economy.
Effectiveness of Children’s Rights-based Diversity Education Program
Authors: Park Soowon , Lee Guiohk , Park Hyun-Sun
Published: April 2023

This study investigated the changes in perception of children's rights, diversity (general, family, and gender stereotypes), and anti-discrimination (race and disability) after conducting children's rights-based diversity education for elementary school students. Of 210 students, 106 who participated in the program were from the experimental group and 104 who did not participate in the program were from the control group. After controlling the student's gender, age, multicultural family status, local child center experience, and prior experience of child rights education, repeated measure analysis of covariance showed that the interactions between the pre- and post- scores changed with the perception of children’s rights (Wilk’s lambda=0.933, p<.001) and gender stereotypes (Wilk’s lambda=0.978, p=.034), and were significant. In addition, the paired t test showed that only the experimental group showed significant changes in the perception of children's rights (t=5.807, p<.001), general diversity (t=3.095, p=.003), family diversity (t=2.468, p=.015), and anti-discrimination on race (t=2.282, p=.024). The results of this study show that rights-based diversity education played an influential role in leading positive changes in students' perception of children's rights, diversity, and anti-discrimination perception. Therefore, the program is suitable for application
to the diversity education field and will contribute to the flexible and effective implementation of multicultural education by educators.
A Case Study on the Operation of Multicultural Education Policy Schools in Elementary School: Focusing on the Case of Metropolitan City Policy Schools Composed of Multicultural Students Born in Korea
Authors: Lee Youn-Jeong
Published: April 2023

This study is a case study to provide implications for multicultural education by exploring in-depth the operation status and problems of elementary multicultural education policy schools. To this end, a multicultural education policy school located in Daejeon Metropolitan City was selected, and improvement measures were explored by identifying the status and problems through participation observation in educational activities and interviews with education officials. As a result of the analysis, the elementary multicultural education policy school showed limitations in the gap between operation plan and implementation, negative perception of multicultural students and parents, superficial and one-off educational activities, and alienation of multicultural students born in Korea. The homeroom teachers suffered from difficulties in the emotional support process of multicultural students, but there was a lack of practical training or educational materials to strengthen multicultural education capabilities. Therefore, in order to implement multicultural education in elementary schools, it is necessary to establish an integrated support system for multicultural students, expand net support, and provide multicultural
career education linking emotional support and identity development activities. In addition, it is necessary to support practical multicultural teacher training and establish a multicultural teacher cooperation system in school. Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen the systematicity and continuity of educational programs, and to lay the foundation for collecting measures to improve multicultural education by establishing a policy proposal window
A Phenomenological Study on the Empowerment Experiences of Marriage Migrant Women Working as Multicultural Family Supporters
Authors: Lee Myungjin , Jang Yoojin
Published: April 2023

In this study, we explored in-depth the empowerment experiences of marriage immigrant women who are working as multicultural family supporters. For data collection, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 5 marriage immigrant women who are currently working as multicultural family supporters, and analyzed the interview data using Giorgi’s phenomenological research procedure. As a result of data analysis, 52 subcomponents, 11 components, and ultimately 3 themes were identified. Participants experienced personal empowerment by recognizing their own worth and achieving inner growth through their activities as multicultural family supporters. In interpersonal relationships, they experienced empowerment by maintaining their own agency and cooperating with others in equal relationships. Furthermore, they showed a high level of empowerment in the local community, actively helping neighbors who needed assistance and becoming more responsible for the community through their activities as supporters. This study demonstrates the need to revise existing stereotypes and prejudices that view marriage immigrant women as passive recipients of care by shedding light on their lives as active agents who design their own voluntary and self-directed lives, exercise positive influence on others, and increase their own empowerment through their work as supporters.
Verhaltensentscheidungen für das automatische Fahren an innerstädtischen T-Kreuzungen mittels ereignisdiskreter Systeme
Authors: Weinreuter Hannes , Strelau Nadine-Rebecca , Deml Barbara , Heizmann Michael
Published: April 2023

Eine der Herausforderungen vor der Einführung des automatischen Fahrens sind nicht signalisierte innerstädtische Kreuzungen. Dort kann es zu nicht eindeutig geregelten Verklemmungssituationen kommen. Die Beteiligten müssen in diesem Fall miteinander kooperieren, was für automatische Fahrzeuge eine Herausforderung darstellt. Der vorgestellte Algorithmus ist in der Lage, eine Verhaltensentscheidung für eine automatische Fahrzeugführung zu treffen. Die Entscheidung ist abhängig von der Situation und dem Verhalten der übrigen Verkehrsteilnehmer. Das Modell ist als ereignisdiskretes System modelliert, dies ist insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Nachvollziehbarkeit der Entscheidungen von Vorteil. Der Algorithmus wird mitsamt der verwendeten Eigenschaften und der definierten Ereignisse ausführlich vorgestellt und anhand einer Simulation auf Karten realer Kreuzungen validiert.
Investigating the limestone quarries as geoheritage sites: Case of Mardin ancient quarry
Authors: Karataş Lale , Alptekin Aydın , Yakar Murat
Published: April 2023

Abandoned quarries are valuable as a tourism element, as they exhibit the building material of the buildings built in the geographical area they are located in as historical objects. However, in order to determine how the quarries can be used for tourism purposes, it is necessary to determine the constraints on the choice of solution in spatial arrangements. The aim of this study is to investigate how the ancient limestone quarry of Mardin, which is a natural and cultural geological heritage, can be used for tourism and to develop suggestions. Within the scope of the study, in order to examine the possibilities of how an idle quarry located in Mardin province in Turkey can be used for tourism, the constraints in the selection of the post-use solution will be determined. In order to determine whether the Mardin quarry is accessible and safe to visit, various field studies were carried out in the study area, laboratory experiments and analyses. The caves were scanned with a 3D laser scanner, and its plans and sections were obtained. The findings were evaluated and suggestions were developed for the use of the ancient limestone quarry for tourism.
Gum tragacanth-mediated synthesis of metal nanoparticles, characterization, and their applications as a bactericide, catalyst, antioxidant, and peroxidase mimic
Authors: Kora Aruna Jyothi
Published: April 2023

Among biogenic methods employed for synthesizing various nanoparticles (NPs), gum tragacanth (TGC)-mediated NP production is important. The gum TGC not only qualifies the principles of green chemistry but also embraces unique qualities. In this perspective, the current review concentrates on the composition, uses, and exploitation of gum towards synthesizing metal NP of silver (Ag), gold (Au), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and their characterization (UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy). In addition, applications of synthesized NP as a bactericide, catalyst, antioxidant, and peroxidase mimic are emphasized. Ag NP (13 nm) showed antibacterial action against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at 2–12 μg‧mL−1. The exploitation of Ag NP as a bactericide makes it a candidate of choice for medicinal and pharmacological applications. The catalytic activity of Pd NP (14 nm) demonstrated borohydride reduction of methylene blue. The gum reduced/capped metal and metal oxide NP serve as redox and photocatalysts for the remediation of toxic pigments and dyes in industrial effluents. At 15 μg‧mL−1, Pd NP exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyle radical scavenging activity (95.8%) and served as an artificial enzyme mimic for colorimetric sensing of hydrogen peroxide. The industrial applications of other TGC-based nanocomposites, such as heavy metal sorption, wound dressing, drug carrier, tissue engineering, etc., are mentioned.
Quantum-enhanced interferometer using Kerr squeezing
Authors: Kalinin Nikolay , Dirmeier Thomas , Sorokin Arseny A. , Anashkina Elena A. , Sánchez-Soto Luis L. , Corney Joel F. , Leuchs Gerd , Andrianov Alexey V.
Published: April 2023

One of the prime applications of squeezed light is enhancing the sensitivity of an interferometer below the quantum shot-noise limit, but so far, no such experimental demonstration was reported when using the optical Kerr effect. In prior setups involving Kerr-squeezed light, the role of the interferometer was merely to characterize the noise pattern. The lack of such a demonstration was largely due to the cumbersome tilting of the squeezed ellipse in phase space. Here, we present the first experimental observation of phase-sensitivity enhancement in an interferometer using Kerr squeezing.
Impact of Acute Visual Experience on Development of LGN Receptive Fields in the Ferret
Authors: Stacy Andrea K. , Schneider Nathan A. , Gilman Noah K. , Van Hooser Stephen D.
Published: April 2023

Selectivity for direction of motion is a key feature of primary visual cortical neurons. Visual experience is required for direction selectivity in carnivore and primate visual cortex, but the circuit mechanisms of its formation remain incompletely understood. Here, we examined how developing lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) neurons may contribute to cortical direction selectivity. Usingin vivoelectrophysiology techniques, we examined LGN receptive field properties of visually naive female ferrets before and after exposure to 6 h of motion stimuli to assess the effect of acute visual experience on LGN cell development. We found that acute experience with motion stimuli did not significantly affect the weak orientation or direction selectivity of LGN neurons. In addition, we found that neither latency nor sustainedness or transience of LGN neurons significantly changed with acute experience. These results suggest that the direction selectivity that emerges in cortex after acute experience is computed in cortex and cannot be explained by changes in LGN cells.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe development of typical neural circuitry requires experience-independent and experience-dependent factors. In the visual cortex of carnivores and primates, selectivity for motion arises as a result of experience, but we do not understand whether the major brain area that sits between the retina and the visual cortex—the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus—also participates. Here, we found that lateral geniculate neurons do not exhibit changes as a result of several hours of visual experience with moving stimuli at a time when visual cortical neurons undergo a rapid change. We conclude that lateral geniculate neurons do not participate in this plasticity and that changes in cortex are likely responsible for the development of direction selectivity in carnivores and primates.
Application of electrostatic powder coating on wood composite panels using a cooling method. Part 1: Investigation of water intake, abrasion, scratch resistance, and adhesion strength,
Authors: Akkuş Memiş , Akbulut Turgay , Candan Zeki
Published: April 2023

Powder coating is environmentally friendly and safe in terms of human health and is used especially on home appliances and in the automotive sector. Because of these advantages, recent studies have expanded work on the application of powder coating on non-conductive surfaces. Within the scope of this research, low temperature curing (120 °C to 130 °C) was applied on wood-based composite panels of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and plywood to facilitate conductivity. Epoxy, polyester, and hybrid (epoxy-polyester) types of powder paint and water-based liquid paint (control group) were applied to the surface of materials. Panels coated with the powder coatings were compared to the panels coated with the water-soluble acrylic resin coating. The prepared samples were analyzed for performance properties. The best results for thickness swelling, water absorption, adhesive strength, abrasion, and scratch resistance were found for the plywood coated with water-based liquid paint, MDF coated with polyester-based powder paint, plywood coated with hybrid powder paint, particleboard coated with hybrid powder paint, and plywood coated with epoxy powder paint, respectively.
Non-destructive testing of mechanical properties of solid wood panel based on partial least squares structural equation modeling transfer method
Authors: Jiang Dapeng , Zhang Yizhuo , Jinhao Chen
Published: April 2023

Calibration transfer between near infrared (NIR) spectrometers is a subtle issue in the chemometrics and process industry. Similar instruments may generate strongly different spectral responses, and regression models developed on a first NIR system can rarely be used with spectra collected by a second apparatus. In this work, two novel methods based on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), called Enhanced Feature Extraction Approaches for factor analysis (EFEA-FA) and Enhanced Feature Extraction Approaches for spectral space transformation (EFEA-SST), were proposed to perform calibration transfer between NIR spectrometers. They were applied to a NIR nondestructive testing model for solid wood panels mechanical properties. Four different standardization algorithms were evaluated for transferring solid wood panels quality databases between a portable NIRS (InGaAs)-array spectrometer (NIRquest512) and a HSI Camera (SPECIM FX17). The results showed that EFEA-SST yielded the best model evaluation metrics (R2 and Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP)) values for tensile strength (RMSEP=11.309, R2=0.865) parameters, while EFEA-FA gave the best fit for flexural strength (RMSEP=10.653, R2=0. 912). These results suggest the potential of two novel quality parameters prediction methods based on spectral databases transferred between diverse NIRS spectrometers.
Progression of vacuum level in successive vacuum suction boxes in a paper machine – Impact on dewatering efficiency and energy demand – A laboratory study
Authors: Sjöstrand Björn
Published: April 2023

Producing tissue paper is an energy-demanding process; a significant amount of energy is expended when removing water by vacuum, mechanical pressing, and thermal drying. Because the water is most energy-demanding to remove in drying, making the preceding step of vacuum dewatering more efficient would benefit the whole process. This article focuses on developing a laboratory-scale method for verifying the nature of diminishing returns of water removal and investigating efficiency strategies of the vacuum dewatering. The theoretical concept of successive vacuum suction boxes with progressing vacuum levels was tested at the laboratory scale in order to show quantifiable results of the previously solely theoretical concept. The results confirmed that vacuum dewatering can be improved by adding progressively higher vacuum levels and that such a practice can benefit both outgoing dryness levels and expended vacuum pump energy. To truly examine the power of progression of vacuum levels, rewetting can be included in the calculations, by using an approximate value collected from pilot or full-scale measurements. For any new fiber mix, pulp type, vacuum level setup, basis weight, etc. the vacuum levels, rewetting, and dwell times need to be tuned to that specific case.
On the dynamic behaviour of carbon nanotubes conveying fluid resting on elastic foundations in a magnetic-thermal environment: effects of surface energy and initial stress
Authors: M Sobamowo Gbeminiyi , O Isaac Olorunfemi , A Oladosu Suraju , O Kuku Rafiu
Published: April 2023

In this article, simultaneous impacts of surface elasticity, initial stress, residual surface tension and nonlocality on the nonlinear vibration of single-walled carbon conveying nanotube resting on linear and nonlinear elastic foundation and operating in a thermo-magnetic environment are studied. The developed equation of motion is solved using Galerkin’s decomposition and Temini and Ansari method. The studies of the impacts of various parameters on the vibration problems revealed that the ratio of the nonlinear to linear frequencies increases with the negative value of the surface stress while it decreases with the positive value of the surface stress. The surface effect reduces for increasing in the length of the nanotube. Ratio of the frequencies decreases with increase in the strength of the magnetic field, nonlocal parameter and the length of the nanotube. Increase in temperature change at high temperature causes decrease in the frequency ratio. However, at room or low temperature, the frequency ratio of the hybrid nanostructure increases as the temperature change increases. The natural frequency of the nanotube gradually approaches the nonlinear Euler–Bernoulli beam limit at high values of nonlocal parameter and nanotube length. Nonlocal parameter reduces the surface effects on the ratio of the frequencies. Also, the ratio of the frequencies at low temperatures is lower than at high temperatures. It is hoped that the present work will enhance the control and design of carbon nanotubes operating in thermo-magnetic environment and resting on elastic foundations.
Role of biostatistics and biometrics based artificial intelligence in human medicare system in 2050
Authors: Garg Amar P , Bisht Neha
Published: April 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be the third biggest scientific discovery after fire and electricity that have and will change the life of human on this earth. Various applications of AI are based on simple mathematical, biometrical and statistical applications using computer and machine learning (ML). Strong networking is the key of the success of the AI based technology. The world is progressing very fast and it is expected that in 2050, AI based diagnosis and the tele-surgery will play an important role in human health. AI based human medicare system may change the human life and prolong the life expectancy to close to 120years for which the human genome is made for.
A new approach for determination of adsorption energy for each adsorption site and improve conventional adsorption isotherms
Authors: Arjmandi Mehrzad , Ahmadpour Ali , Arjmandi Abolfazl
Published: April 2023

In the present study, a new approach for determination of energy distribution (ED) of heterogeneous solid adsorbents is presented. This approach implements pore size distribution (PSD) data of a porous adsorbent obtained from adsorption measurements to estimate the ED of the solid. Moreover, the proposed algorithm imposes some modifications on the conventional adsorption models to improve them and provide better prediction of adsorption behavior. Adsorption data of four different heterogeneous cases were used to evaluate the proposed algorithm. From the results, the proposed algorithm provided better estimation of adsorption isotherm than conventional adsorption models such as Unilan, Toth and Sips as well as easily calculated ED. The accuracy of the proposed algorithm is greatly depends on selection of appropriate PSD determination method. The proposed algorithm regarded as a trustworthy procedure for reliable estimation of ED of heterogeneous solid adsorbents.
Pulmonary hypertension in dog: Case report
Authors: Ruggero Errante Paolo
Published: April 2023

The pulmonary hypertension in dogs is a progressive and serious disease, characterized by abnormal and persistent increase of pressure in pulmonary vasculature and pulmonary artery pressure (>25-30mmHg). Clinical signs of pulmonary hypertension are usually nonspecific and discrete, which leads to a delay in diagnosis. When signs are observed, they are related with the respiratory and cardiovascular tract, where the animal may present dyspnea, tachypnea, respiratory distress, syncope, cough and cyanosis. This case report describes a female dog with 12 year-old, Shih-Tzu breed that presented pulmonary hypertension associated with heart disease, infection and suspected of hyperadrenocorticism.
Local/nonlocal descriptions in physics and dimension of space
Authors: AM Boichenko
Published: April 2023

Over the past 100 years, great progress has been made in describing the microworld in the local approach. Nevertheless, there are serious reasons to believe that real interactions in nature are not local. Whether the interactions are local or not is not simply a question of describing or reflecting the reality that we observe. The nonlocal nature of interactions dictates the necessity of having a certain dimensionality of space. Thus, nonlocality of interactions entails restrictions on the dimensionality of our space connecting together the micro and the macro phenomena.
Considering the four major problems in solar physics
Authors: Akasofu Syun-Ichi
Published: April 2023

There are at least four major and long-standing problems in solar physics, which require crucial considerations. These problems have been pursued during the last fifty years or more. They are: (1) The high temperature of the solar corona (since 1942), (2) The cause of the solar wind (since 1958), (3) The formation of a pair of sunspots (since 1961), (4) The cause of solar flares (since 1958). The last two have well-accepted theories (thus, it may be considered to be understood), but there are actually many unsolved issues. Thus, it may be worthwhile to examine the four problems together. Although each problem is different and is extremely difficult, there seems to be one common reason, which has delayed the progress. It is almost complete lack of considering electric currents, in spite of the that they are all electromagnetic phenomena and curl B = J. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the introduction of electric currents, instead of magnetic field lines, may open a new way to consider these long-standing problems.
Terminological Arsenal of Ukrainian Folkloristics: the Contribution of Oleksii Dei (On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Scholar’s Birthday)
Authors: Dmytrenko Mykola
Published: April 2023

The article is dedicated to the centenary of birthday of an outstanding Ukrainian scholar Oleksii Dei. His biography, contribution to the research of folklore are reflected. It is emphasized on the formation of a young scientist as a researcher of I. Franko’s folkloristic activity. The significance of O. Dei as an organizer of scientific studies, instructor of projects, head of the Folkloristics Department of IASFE, editor-in-chief of the journal Folk Art and Ethnography is described briefly. Such aspects of scientist’s activity are called, as participation in international symposiums, forums of slavists, conferences; training of scientific cadres, official opponing of theses, creation of Kyiv scientific academic school of folkloristic researches. O. Dei work as a member of Scientific and the Specialized Scientific Councils at the M. Rylskyi IASFE of the AS of Ukraine, T. Shevchenko KSU is shown. O. Dei as a compiler and editor has taken an active part in the preparation and publication of literary heritage and works of I. Franko in 50 volumes, Lesia Ukrainka in 12 volumes, M. Rylskyi in 20 volumes, Ukrainian Literary Encyclopedia in 5 volumes, publication of the series Folk Art of the Dnipro Publishing House in 15 volumes, the series Ukrainian Folk Songs Recorded by the Writers in 20 collections. He is the author of chapters and articles in the History of the Ukrainian SSR, Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia. O. Dei has promoted actively Ukrainian folklore in periodicals, on the radio, in a special program about Ukrainian folk songs Word – Song on Ukrainian TV. O. Dei has devoted many pages of his scientific works to the figure, literary and artistic heritage of T. Shevchenko, the image of the poet in folklore, the problem of folklore and literature. The scholar’s interpretation of folkloristic terms legend, traditional story, ballad is considered. Attention is paid to O. Dei views on the problems of classification of Ukrainian folklore, songs of Slavic peoples, history of Ukrainian Folkloristics. His contribution to the voluminous series Ukrainian Folk Art as the editorial board’s chairperson, editor-in-chief, compiler is analyzed. His monographic works Poetics of Ukrainian Folk Song, Ukrainian Folk Ballad, which are still relevant in the scientific folkloristic discourse, are mentioned.
Swear (Oath, Curse, Self-Plight) in Ukrainian Folklore and Judicial Culture of the 14th–18th Centuries
Authors: Shevchuk Tetiana , Balushok Vasyl
Published: April 2023

The article is dedicated to the definition of specific terms used in the sources of the late medieval and early modern period (the 14th – 18th centuries), in particular, such representing judicial, legal and other collisions that have marked swear – oath –curse – self-plight. At that time such short folklore forms have been used for various disputes and disputable cases of human life almost for each social group and state with different official status. They are obligatory and integral part of the procedure for swearing in courts, being the most effective method of truth ascertainment. The methodological basis of the research consists of the papers of foreign (Polish, Israeli, British and others) scientists. At the same time they follow mainly the German version of novation work of Kharkiv professor Yevhen Kaharov published in Lviv at the early 20th century. Analysis of sources (mainly, published legal documents and judicial cases) of the late medieval and early modern periods has shown that the term an oath (prysiaha) and its derivatives to swear an oath (prysiahnuty), to take an oath (prysiahaty) is the most widespread to be used in various cases. The specific term for the definition of oath of vassal’s confidence within the frame of feudal hierarchy was the word hold and its derivative holduvaty – to swear fealty by vassal to his suzerain. The terms swear and to curse are central for this topic. They denote swears and curses, including self-plights. At the same time, it is not possible to distinguish the well-established terms used in forms of swear – curse – self-plight as they have been documented rarely.
Folk Songs of the Central Ukraine: Surprising Cherkashchyna
Authors: Yefremova Liudmyla
Published: April 2023

Cherkasy Oblast, formed in 1954 from various districts of neighboring oblasts, is an important center of folk songs existence of Central Ukraine, covering a part of the ethnographic territories of Eastern Podillia and Middle Over Dnipro Lands. The history of recording folk songs with melodies on the territory of modern Cherkasy Oblast goes back more than a century and a half. Cherkashchyna is the region where Ukraine has been conceived as a state. The southwestern regions of the oblast belong to the ethnographic territory of Eastern Podillia, the rest belong to the Middle Over Dnipro Lands. Cherkashchyna is the center of the formation and development of a prominent regional cultural tradition, including folk singing. Cherkashchyna is the fatherland of Taras Shevchenko and Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, Ivan Nechui-Levytskyi and Mykhailo Starytskyi. Folk songs of the region have been recorded by Mykola Lysenko, Antin Kotsypinskyi, Oleksandr Koshyts, Andrii Konoshchenko, Klyment Kvitka, Mykhailo Haidai senior, Andrii Shmyhovskyi, Oleksandr Pravdiuk and others. Dialects of Zvenyhorodshchyna have been studied by Ahatanhel Krymskyi. The collections of folk songs by O. Oshurkevych and V. Dubravin have been published under the title Songs of the Shevchenko Region in 2005–2006. The project called Polyphony has been elaborated in 2014 (headed by Hungarian Miklós Both), supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe program. The archive is created in three languages: Ukrainian, Hungarian and English. The Museum of Ivan Honchar has become the moderator of the project from the Ukrainian side. A broad singing of vowels is typical for folk songs. Sometimes singers sing consonants marked with a separate sound in the notations. Performance is characterized by the presence of word breaks of various types. The means of concatenation – an interstanza opening, starting from the second stanza, when the last line of the previous stanza is repeated solo at the beginning of the next one – is considered as one of the signs of a long song style. From the musical point of view, the folk songs of the region combine the features of Eastern Podolian hum and Transdnieper prolonged polyphony.