bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A quantitative 3D Subcellular Map of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Discovers Non-stochastic Cell State Transition in Establishment of Apical/Basal Polarity
Authors: Bharti Kapil , Ortolan Davide , Sathe Pushkar , Volkov Andrei , Reichert Dominik , Sebastian Sheldon , Maminishkis Arvydas , Shaub Nicholas , Ljungquist Bengt , Bose Devika , Ferrari Jorge , Lin Nyusha , Pegoraro Gianluca , Simon Carl , Sharma Ruchi , Bajcsy Peter
Published: October 2024

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a specialized cell monolayer that forms the barrier between the subretinal and the choroidal spaces. During development RPE cells polarize perpendicular to the monolayer plane such that organelles attain specific intracellular locations. This allows the RPE to differentially interact with overlying photoreceptors and underlying choriocapillaris. When RPE polarity is disrupted, tissue homeostasis is disturbed leading to retinal degeneration. The subcellular organizational principles of RPE polarity are unknown. We used high-content imaging, machine-learning-based image-segmentation, phenotypic quantification, and mathematical modeling to develop quantitative 3-dimensional maps of subcellular structures during the establishment of RPE apical/basal polarity. Leveraging the statistical power of large imaging datasets, we discovered holistic RPE cell phenotypic states at four polarization timepoints. We discovered, during apical/basal polarization, cells constrict along the lateral axis and elongate apically, nuclear volume decreases while nuclear envelope develops invaginations, junctional complexes consolidate to the lateral membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria increase in volume and translocate towards the nucleus, and lysosomes move towards the central-apical side. Mathematical analysis using generalized linear models suggests non-stochastic cell state transitions and spatial organelle interactions during RPE polarization. These integrated quantitative morphometric data provide reference maps to discover intracellular defects in diseased RPE.
The Versatility of Influenza A Surveillance and Monitoring in European Swine; results from an electronic survey
Authors: Puspitarani Gavrila Amadea , Pedersen Kasper , Simon Gaëlle , Dauphin Gwenaelle , Larsen Lars Erik , Tobias Tijs
Published: October 2024

Surveillance of influenza A virus in swine populations is essential, from both a veterinary and public health perspective. Although some international organizations have published guidelines for swine influenza A virus (swIAV) surveillance, there is no standardized guidelines available and a clear overview of current existing surveillance activities is lacking at the European level.
This study aimed to describe swIAV surveillance systems across Europe in 2022. An electronic survey was distributed to 41 member countries of the Cost Action “ESFLU”, resulting in 44 responses from 39 institutions representing 25 countries. The analysis identified 26 unique surveillance systems, operating at local, national, regional, and multi-national levels.
The majority of the systems had the objective of surveilling emerging strains or monitoring for swine influenza viruses in herds. In 2022, approximately 3,500 farms were sampled, with piglets and weaners being the most sampled age groups. Most systems (n=23) used RT-PCR for detection and fourteen used sequencing for viral characterization/subtyping. The study also highlighted a strong reliance on passive surveillance. While data sharing with OFFLU and other public databases is advocated, nine systems consistently shared their data, while eleven others indicated that data sharing occurs conditionally, depending on specific circumstances.
The study emphasized the need for harmonized guidelines for surveillance and the establishment of pipelines for the systematic collection and analysis of data in swIAV in pigs.
Comparative Analysis of Biogas Yields from Different Organic Waste Sources in Rural Communities
Authors: Wonyanya Moses , Uzorka Afam
Published: October 2024

This study presents a comparative analysis of biogas yields from various organic waste sources in Nakisunga Parish, Mukono District, Uganda, a rural area with significant potential for biogas production. The primary objective was to identify the most efficient waste sources for biogas production, thereby offering insights into optimizing biogas systems in similar rural communities. The study utilized a combination of field surveys and laboratory analyses to evaluate the biogas production potential of farm waste, household waste, municipal waste, and food processing waste. Results indicated that farm waste, particularly swine manure, exhibited the highest biochemical methane potential (BMP), with a BMP value of 0.007 mL CH₄/g VS, making it the most promising feedstock for biogas production. Crop residues and cow dung also showed moderate potential, while household and food processing wastes had lower BMP values. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate feedstocks to maximize biogas yields and highlight the viability of biogas production in rural Ugandan communities where agricultural activities dominate. This study provides localized data on biogas potential in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the gap in research regarding the comparative efficiency of various organic waste sources in these settings. The results have significant implications for sustainable energy policy and rural development, suggesting that targeted biogas initiatives could play a critical role in improving energy access and waste management in rural areas. Recommendations for future research include exploring co-digestion strategies to further enhance biogas production and examining the socio-economic impacts of biogas adoption in rural communities.
Effect of an Educational Program on Nurses’ Level of Knowledge about Pain Assessment and Management: A Quasi-Experimental study
Authors: Alomari Hussein , Allobaney Nabeel F. , Swallmeh Esmat , Macaaly Rosario A. , AL-Husban Raya Yousef
Published: October 2024

Background
Pain is universally acknowledged as one of the most distressing experiences individuals encounter, often leading to significant psychological and physical implications. Effective pain management is essential in healthcare, and it is imperative that nursing professionals possess the requisite knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain effectively.
Aim
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured educational program on the performance levels of nurses in the domains of pain assessment and management.
Design
A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and posttest intervention design was used to facilitate this investigation.
Setting
The research was conducted in the inpatient medical and surgical units in a main tertiary governmental hospital in Jordan.
Subjects
A total of 106 nurses, both male and female, who provided direct nursing care in medical and surgical wards, voluntarily participated in the study.
Tools
Two instruments were utilized for data collection. A questionnaire was designed to assess nurses' knowledge regarding pain assessment and management. An observational checklist to evaluate the practical application of pain management techniques by nurses.
Results
The study focused on a sample predominantly comprising female nurses, most of whom held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and had 2–5 years of clinical experience. Notably, 88.7% of participants had not previously attended any educational sessions centered on pain assessment and management. Following an educational intervention, statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the mean knowledge scores (P<0.001). Furthermore, all dimensions of nursing practices related to pain management showed statistically significant enhancement after the training, demonstrating a strong correlation between knowledge and practice levels before and after the educational program.
Conclusion
The implementation of the educational program resulted in more than half of the participating nurses achieving a commendable level of knowledge and satisfactory practices in pain assessment and management. This underscores the program's effectiveness in enhancing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Recommendations
It is recommended that nursing professionals engage in ongoing training and educational opportunities focused on pain assessment and management to further refine their competencies and improve patient outcomes.
Exploring the link between ruminal methane production and physiological resilience in Japanese Black cattle during fattening
Authors: Lee Huseong , Kim Minji , Masaki Tatsunori , Ikuta Kentaro , Iwamoto Eiji , Oikawa Kohei , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Haga Satoshi , Terada Fuminori , Roh Sanggun
Published: October 2024

Background: Gastroenteric release of methane from livestock accounts for a substantial portion of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Here, we examined the characteristics of rumen microbiome and physiological resilience associated with methane production, a breed characterized by enhanced intramuscular fat deposition.
Results: Methane emissions were measured during three phases: early (13 months), middle (20 months), and late (28 months), and the liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, rumen fermentation characteristics, and microbiota were analysed. Hydrogen-sinking microbes such as Anaerovoraxand Succinivibrio were present at low levels, whereas the prevalence of hydrogen-producing microbes including Christensenellaceae, Clostridium methylpentosum, and Mogibacterium was high in cattle with high methane emissions. Functional profiling of rumen microbiota revealed decreased coenzyme M biosynthesis and an increased hydrogen sink from L-glutamate biosynthesis in low-emission cattle. In the liver, glutamate-derived ornithine and elevated ornithine transcarbamylase gene expression facilitated ammonia detoxification in low-emission cattle, whereas the glutamate transporter-encoding gene SLC1A1was upregulated in high-emission cattle, thereby enhancing glutathione synthesis and reducing the oxidative stress induced by beta-hydroxybuteric acid.
Conclusions: These ruminal and physiological changes reflect the resilience of these cattle to different rumen fermentation conditions, have potential as biomarkers for monitoring the methanogenic potential of Japanese Black cattle, and highlight the upstream oxoglutarate-to-glutamate biosynthesis pathway as a promising target for decreasing methane production by reducing hydrogen in the rumen.
The Relationship between Green Tea Consumption and Happiness
Authors: Shibata Megumi , Ojima Toshiyuki , Aida Jun
Published: October 2024

Methods
We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study conducted between October and December 2016. Green tea consumption questionnaires were mailed to 34,567 functionally independent community-dwelling residents aged 65 and older in 39 municipalities. Participants rated their well-being on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating the happiest and 1 indicating the least happy. The scores were treated as continuous variables and used as dependent variables in the multivariate linear regression analyses.
Results
We found that the higher the level of happiness, the more friends the person had, and the more green tea they consumed. When social network size (indicated by number of friends) was controlled for, along with tea consumption, gender, age, education, and income, there was a statistically significant correlation, indicating that an increase in number of friends was associated with increased happiness.
Conclusions
This study found that even after adjusting for social network size and other confounding factors, higher green tea consumption was associated with increased happiness. However, the effect size was small, indicating the need for further validation.
Laparoscopic curative resection following perioperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel and its influence on Claudin18.2 expression in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A two-case report
Authors: Takahashi Tohru , Ishii Takahiro , Maejima Taku , Aimono Eriko , Miyazaki Dai , Fukahori Susumu , Kimura Taichi , Yanai Mitsuru , Ono Yusuke , Hagiwara Masahiro , Mizukami Yusuke
Published: October 2024

Purpose Perioperative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel has improved survival in patients with locally advanced resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas in Europe.
Methods We report two cases of laparoscopic curative resection with perioperative docetaxel-based chemotherapy for advanced gastroesophageal junction or gastric adenocarcinoma and investigated variations in Claudin18.2 expressions associated with chemotherapy.
Results Preoperative four-cycle docetaxel-based chemotherapy enabled laparoscopic total gastrectomy with distal esophagectomy via trans-hiatal approach or laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with extensive lymph node dissection. Postoperative left inferior pulmonary arterial thrombosis and chylous ascites recovered with pharmacotherapy and lipiodol lymphatic embolization. Despite discontinuing postoperative one-cycle chemotherapy, no recurrence was observed for over 1.5 years and 1 year. Immunohistochemical staining showed increased Claudin18.2 expression in undifferentiated adenocarcinomas in the resected specimens than in pre-chemotherapeutic biopsies.
Conclusion Perioperative docetaxel-based chemotherapy was effective for Japanese patients with gastroesophageal junction and gastric adenocarcinoma, suggesting a combination treatment with anti-Claudin18.2 antibody as neoadjuvant or first-line chemotherapy.
Crustal-Scale Structure of the Nasr-Abad Buried Salt Diapir in Northwest Central Iran from a Profile Magnetotelluric Dataset
Authors: Montahaei Mansoure , Zare Elham
Published: October 2024

Great Kavir is the largest salt desert in Iran, located in the northern part of the Central Iran depression. Groups of clustered salt diapirs exist in the northwestern part of the Great Kavir. The Nasr-Abad salt diapir in the Shurab diapiric group is the largest buried salt diapir in this region, whose geometry at depth and surrounding structure are rarely known. In this study, we investigate a broadband magnetotelluric (MT) dataset recorded at 37 closely spaced stations distributed along a SW-NE profile to characterize the geometry, substratum, and overburden of the Nasr-Abad salt diapir. The spatially distributed MT responses noted in this study are associated with geological structures at depths of less than 30 km.The measurements were used to generate a crustal-scale resistivity model of the study area, which correlates well with the known lithostratigraphy of the region. The resistivity model reveals a dipping resistive body that has been uplifted from a deep resistive layer to shallower depths. The geometry of this body indicates a well-defined base and a northeastward dip, suggesting that it corresponds to the Nasr-Abad buried salt diapir.
Mining and Growth Linkage in Odisha Economy: an Econometric Analysis From 1950-51 to 2014-15
Authors: Biswal Niharika , Chinara Mitali
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses relationship between the growth rate of Mining sector and growth rate of GSDP of Odisha at the disaggregate level. Results from trend analysis shows that Secondary Sector is the second most leading sector which leads the economic growth in the state. Exploring the relationship between growth rate of individual sectors and growth rate of GSDP, Granger causality test shows that the growth rate of secondary sector has unidirectional causality with the growth rate of GSDP. But there is no such causality found between Growth Rate of Mining Sector and Growth Rate of GSDP though it has its strong base in Odisha. Rather it is the growth of secondary sector that causes the growth rate of GSDP. Hence, the secondary sector is the growth driver for Odisha economy.
So far as the long and short run relationship is concerned, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) shows that at an aggregate level, growth rate of secondary sector has long-run influence on growth rate of gross state domestic product (GSDP).
JEL Classifications: C01, C32
Mean Performance and Heterotic Pattern of Maize (Zea Mays L.) Inbred Lines Adapted to Sub-Humid Central Highland of Ethiopia
Authors: Mitiku Takele
Published: October 2024

In spite of abiotic and biotic stresses and low availability of high-yielding cultivars restrict potential production of maize, it is a major food crop in Africa. To overcome this production barrier, promisinggermplasm must be chosen, combining ability must be understood, and heterotic groups must be formed in order to generate high-yielding maize varieties. The study set out to evaluate plant height, ear height, ear diameter, thousand seed weight, kernel per row, kernel row per ear, and number of ear per plant in order to assess the performance evaluation and heterotic pattern of inbred lines. In 2019, twenty-six inbred lines and two single cross testers were crossed using a line by tester mating design to create fifty-two three way cross F1 hybrids. The experiment, which used an alpha lattice design with two replications, was conducted at the Ambo and Kulumsa Agricultural Research Centers during the 2020 cropping season. Analyses of variance revealed that among the parameters with significant mean squares arising from crosses and lines both within and across locations were grain yield, anthesis date, silking date, plant height, ear height, kernel row per ear, and number of ears per plant. Because of the lines, testers, and crossings for grain yield, anthesis date, silking date, plant height, ear height, kernel row per ear, and number of ear per plant, the line x tester ANOVA results revealed significant mean squares. Due to line x site, line x tester, tester x site, and line x tester x site, there was a noticeable difference in plant height, ear height, and the number of ears per plant. This proved that different environment have different selection criteria for materials and different performance levels. This genetic study Categorized, L1, L22, and L24 under heterotic group A (CEL08008/CEL08047), while L8, L10, L14, L17, L20, and L26 were placed under heterotic group-B (CEL08024/CML561).
Identifying Barriers for Sustainable Townscape Development: Challenges in Malaysia
Authors:   School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin, Dublin, IRELAND, Sonet Ungku Norani ,   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, No. 1 Jalan Taylor’s, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA,   Liveable Urban Communities Impact Lab, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, No. 1 Jalan Taylor’s, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Shahruddin Syafizal ,   School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

Sustainability has become a key concept in urban development, with increasing attention being paid to creating a townscape that is both environmentally friendly and socially inclusive. However, the townscape quality in Malaysia has been criticised as having poor quality in general. Many cities in Malaysia suffered from a lack of attention or awareness of the importance of a good quality of townscape, resulting in a lack of character and identity of the place. This research presents the findings of a focus group discussion research method on the factors contributing to the barriers for sustainable townscape development in Malaysia. This involved five urban design experts from both academia and industry. The data were analysed by adopting the thematic analysis matrix and analysed using Atlas.Ti software and five themes were established. The framework of “Barriers for Sustainable Townscape Development in Malaysia” is beneficial to policymakers, local authorities and practitioners in ensuring the enforcement of good development and meeting the need for a sustainable townscape in Malaysia.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Safety Predictors in Construction Sites: A DEMATEL-Based Model
Authors:   Faculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA, Kang Chun Xiang , Chai Changsaar ,   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA,   UTM Construction Research Centre (UTM CRC), Institute for Smart Infrastructure and Innovative Construction (ISIIC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia, Lee Chia Kuang ,   Faculty of Industrial Management, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, 26300 Kuantan, Pahang, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

The construction industry, vital for economic growth and human capital development, faces significant safety challenges, particularly in the Malaysian context. Despite technological advancements, addressing safety concerns necessitates a deeper understanding of behavioural interventions. This study explores the critical factors influencing safety compliance intention and safety participation in the Malaysian construction industry, utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as its theoretical framework. TPB posits that actual behaviour can be predicted by intention, while the formation of intention is mainly determined by attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Despite the posited framework considering TPB, there is no evidence to prove the correlation between safety predictors, safety compliance intention and safety participation. This study examines the influence of safety predictors on safety compliance intention and safety participation by using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique. Based on the DEMATEL technique, 25 experts were invited to provide pairwise ranking on the predictors influencing safety compliance intention and safety participation. The predictors examined in the study include “Attitude”, “Subjective norm”, “Perceived behavioural control”, “Types of leadership styles”, “Safety knowledge”, “Safety climate”, “Safety motivation”, “Risk perception” and “Communication”. Among these predictors, the study revealed significant relationships between all safety predictors, with “Attitude” emerging as the most impactful predictor. Organisations should prioritise this to enhance safety performance. Safety performance in construction projects can be improved and intervened in when the interrelationships between safety predictors, safety compliance intention and safety participation are fully understood.
Transaction Cost Economics Framework Development for Malaysian Housing Development
Authors:   Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, MALAYSIA, Zainuddin Farah Kamilah , Mustapa Fara Diva ,   Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

Housing development is a high-risk, multifaceted and cross-subsidies business. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly evaluate its viability through comprehensive feasibility studies. It is imperative to carry out meticulous investment appraisals, specifically in the realm of Malaysian housing developments, known for their substantial regulatory expenses that consequently elevate housing costs. Thus, this study aims to demonstrate the development of the transaction cost economics (TCE) framework recommended to unbundle the hidden cost components within the housing development processes. TCE adoption is useful to coordinate and optimise the economic activities within these processes. To overcome the shortcomings of TCE, the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 stages and key tasks are integrated with the housing development stages, processes and cost components to determine the essential economic activities, highlighting the corresponding parties, processes and costs. The TCE framework is established by experts from various sectors, including government agencies, local authorities, professionals and developers. This is achieved through the use of sequential explanatory mixed methods, which are employed to handle the diverse variables and aspects that hinder the nature of the research. Initially, a literature review identified 26 anticipated TCE components. However, data gathering revealed a total of 38 TCE components. The openended questionnaire and semi-structured interview were analysed and triangulated using frequency analysis, content validity ratio analysis and content analysis to ensure all necessary elements were included and unnecessary items removed. Eventually, the findings are applied in the development of the proposed TCE framework for Malaysian housing development. This framework outlines the necessary economic activities along with their associated development costs and TCE categorisation. It can be used to accurately prepare feasibility studies. To conclude, the research outcome improves the efficiency of economic transactions in Malaysian housing development by identifying and organising the various cost components involved, allowing for the optimisation of transaction costs and increased transparency of housing development expenses.
Students’ Perception of Virtual Reality Applications to Analyse Daylighting and Spatial Functions in Architecture and Environment
Authors:   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Gunasagaran Sujatavani , Mari Tamilsalvi ,   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Mohamed Razif ,   The Design School, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Ng Veronica ,   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA, Srirangam Sucharita ,   School of Architecture, Building and Design, Faculty of Innovation and Technology, Taylor’s University, Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA
Published: October 2024

The use of various pedagogies is essential to aid the complex learning of architectural students, especially due to tools for visualising design becoming advanced. Accordingly, experiential learning by simulation or physical presence and case study-based learning in teaching and learning architecture are essential. Using virtual reality (VR), students are able to experience the simulation of daylighting virtually in their modelled case study from various places in the world. Thus, this study investigated the students’ perception of using VR in learning daylighting in architecture. The study’s objectives were to (1) understand the learning process using VR, (2) assess students’ acceptance level of the use of VR, (3) compare VR and traditional methods of architectural learning and (4) suggest improvements needed for using VR for teaching and learning in architectural undergraduate programmes. A mixed methodology consisting of a questionnaire and observation was used for this study. A questionnaire was distributed to 15 students who had gone through a workshop on visualising a case study that was modelled in three dimensions to simulate daylight. Students found that using VR was very useful in understanding daylight and daylight use in space. The study found almost all students (93.4%) agreed that using VR enhanced their learning skills and 80% of the students responded that visualising daylight in VR enabled them to establish their tasks more quickly. This workshop helped students construct their knowledge, enhance the learning experience and motivate learning of daylight using VR. This study concludes that VR is a great tool for teaching and learning.
Percepção sobre desperdícios de alimentos no âmbito de consumo familiar
Authors: Renzcherchen Simone Kucznir , Viante Marcelo Fernando , Siatkowski Aldo , Kuhl Marcos Roberto
Published: October 2024

O estudo tem como objetivo investigar a percepção das famílias sobre o desperdício de alimentos no ambiente doméstico, identificando os comportamentos e atitudes que contribuem para esse desperdício. A pesquisa busca responder à pergunta: quais fatores influenciam as práticas de desperdício de alimentos nas famílias? A análise revelou três fatores principais que moldam a percepção do desperdício: Ambiental, Econômico e Desperdício. Através da Análise de Cluster, dois grupos distintos de consumidores emergiram: ‘Consumidores Reflexivos’, caracterizados por uma maior conscientização e práticas mais sustentáveis, e 'Consumidores Desatentos', que demonstram menor percepção do problema e maior tendência ao desperdício. Os resultados mostraram que os ‘Consumidores Reflexivos’ tendem a planejar melhor suas compras e refeições, resultando em menores índices de desperdício, enquanto os ‘Consumidores Desatentos’ frequentemente compram e preparam alimentos em excesso, contribuindo significativamente para o desperdício. Essas diferenças indicam que estratégias de redução do desperdício devem ser adaptadas para atender às necessidades e comportamentos específicos de cada grupo, com foco em aumentar a conscientização e promover práticas sustentáveis entre os ‘Consumidores Desatentos’. As conclusões ressaltam a importância de políticas públicas direcionadas e campanhas educativas para abordar as variações comportamentais e, assim, mitigar o desperdício de alimentos de maneira mais eficaz.
Catadores de materiais recicláveis: Uma investigação dos aspectos socioeconômicos dos autônomos e associados em um município da fronteira oeste do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Vieira Leandro da Fontoura , Medeiros Flaviani Souto Bolzan , Cappellari Gabriela , Gomes Angela Quintanilha
Published: October 2024

Considerando toda a história do movimento e da luta por melhoria da classe dos trabalhadores de materiais recicláveis, este estudo teve como objetivo apurar os aspectos socioeconômicos dos catadores associados e autônomos em um município brasileiro. Para isso, adotou-se uma pesquisa descritiva, com abordagem quantitativa, utilizando dados secundários fornecidos pelo programa que realiza o acompanhamento dos catadores autônomos e associados por parte do poder público local. O estudo foi realizado com 73 (setenta e três) catadores do município. Dentre os principais resultados, destaca-se a questão da baixa escolaridade dos trabalhadores e o caráter de legado da tarefa de catação, estando significativa parte dos catadores, trabalhando há mais de 10 anos. O vínculo informal de trabalho e a falta de uso de Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPIs) por expressiva parte dos trabalhadores, manifestou a alienação das próprias condições de trabalho. O mapeamento demográfico e a caracterização das residências dos catadores, que se localizam nas regiões periféricas da cidade, enfatizam a exclusão social vivida por eles. Devido aos fatores resultantes dos baixos índices socioeconômicos, ficou evidente a necessidade de formação e manutenção de políticas públicas para os catadores autônomos e associados do município.
The Sicyonian Chronicle — a Forged Archaic Inscription?
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Almazova Nina A.
Published: October 2024

Heraclides of Pontus (active ca 360–310 BC) is one of the sources used in Ps.-Plutarch’s De musica. In his turn, the Pontic philosopher is known to have quoted a list of ancient poets and musicians and their achievements from an epigraphical document preserved in Sicyon. Incising such a work in stone would be natural as a dedication to some divinity in a sanctuary, where it would promote the fame of the historian who composed it. The system of dating used in the Sicyonian chronicle was based on the records of Hera’s priestesses held in Argos. As far as we know, this approach was first applied by Hellanicus of Mytilene (ca 480–395 BC). If the unknown author of the chronicle borrowed his method of dating from Hellanicus, this implies that the document was created in the late fifth or early fourth century BC. Nevertheless, for Heraclides this inscription was, on the one hand, anonymous, and on the other, authoritative. Both these peculiarities lead us to assume that he believed the Sicyonian chronicle to be an archaic document. Perhaps the author forged it to pass for an ancient inscription, in order to quote from, and thus give weight to his arguments in discussions on music.
The Description of Tyche in Galen’s Treatise “Protrepticus”
Authors:   St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Koryuk Ksenia I.
Published: October 2024

This article discusses the extract from Galen’s treatise “Protrepticus” which contains a description of the goddess Tyche. In the extract, Galen contrasts Hermes (a male master of the arts) and Tyche (a capricious and irrational woman). The fragment is considered in the context of the entire treatise (“Protrepticus” was intended as a polemical statement against the empirical school and their method) and its purpose (exhortation to the study of arts). G. Kaibel has previously shown that many details in the description of Tyche coincide with similar descriptions in the treatise “Tabula Cebetis’’. As a result, the scholar came to the conclusion that Galen and the author of “Tabula’’ relied on the same source. The fragment from the poem by Pacuvius provides additional evidence. However, in addition to the similarities in the description, it is worth considering the differences that appear in Galen’s treatise. For example, Galen replaces the term μανία (μαινομένη in “Tabula Cebetis’’) with the term ἄνοια, depriving it of medical connotations. The translators, apparently, did not attach any importance to this replacement, and therefore we have different translations of the term ἄνοια: folie, mancanza di senno, inanity. Since the replacement of the term μανία is not commented on in the editions and the existing translations demonstrate different interpretations, the author of the article provides an additional commentary, including a comparison of “Protrepticus” with other texts of Galen and the works of Plato, and also draws attention to the parallel passage from Pacuvius.
Mithridates’ Letter in Sallust’s Historiae: Roman and Pontic Propaganda
Authors:   State Academic University for the Humanities, Korolenkov Anton V. ,   Pskov State University
Published: October 2024

According to the author of the article, Mithridates VI Eupator’s letter to the Parthian monarch Arsaces in Sallust’s Historiae does not reproduce the genuine document from the personal archives of the Pontic king as some researchers believe. The opinion that Sallust criticized Roman politics under Mithridates’mask is rejected; many scholars consider this letter to be a condemnation of deep moral decline of the Roman society. On the contrary, the Roman writer attributes to the Pontic king the weak and vulnerable arguments based on the false facts (at least from the Roman point of view) to discredit his (and not only his) criticism of Roman foreign policy. He calls the Romans “strangers without a homeland, without parents”, but it is naturally that Romans themselves did not think in this way. The author objects to E. Adler, who believes that most of Sallust’s readers did not know history well enough to mark the distortions of facts in Mithridates’ letter. There is every reason to believe that Sallust was counting on an educated public that would be able to appreciate these distortions and their meaning. The author thinks that Mithridates’ argumentation looks like a parody of the anti-Roman propaganda and it might have been perceived as such by Sallust’s readers.
Initiatur in spelaeo: A Review of Ancient Terminology for Mithraic Cultic Spaces
Authors:   Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campos Méndez Israel
Published: October 2024

The most common word accepted in Mithraic historiography to refer to places of worship is “Mithraeum”. The historical sources, however, offer us a multitude of terms that diverge from this expression which could be evoking different realities and could be referring to other kind of cultic spaces. In this paper, we have collected all the mentions supported in the epigraphy and literary sources, to have a complete vision of all these terms. With these testimonies, we have revised the previous interpretations related to the use of these different names. The variety of them has little to do with location or period. Still, we propose that this terminological variation is related to the consideration that ancient Mithra’s followers had with the moment when they erected the cultic space. It is possible to connect the choice of the word “spelaeum” or “templum” with the first idea they had of what must be an “original Mithraic cave” if we consider the meaning of the verbs used by the dedicators in their inscriptions. The validity of this interpretation will allow for a better understanding of the symbolic universe in which the followers of Mithra moved, instead of the common acceptance of the modern word “mithraeum”.
Modus concessivus, species concessiva and species affirmativa in the Works of Roman Grammarians
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Chernysheva Vlada A.
Published: October 2024

The article aims to analyze the use of the term concessivus/concessiva ‘concessive’ in Latin grammatical texts which make up Corpus Grammaticorum Latinorum and Digital Library of late antique Latin texts, and to consider the concessive meaning as a grammatical category. A number of grammatical sources (Probus, Ars of Diomedes, Victorini sive Palaemoni Ars, Ars of Cledonius, Explanationes) place the category of concessivity among the verbal categories, namely modus ‘mood’, while in others this term is not mentioned. The text of Diomedes is also notable for the fact that concessivity is included in the concept of species, a term that includes heterogeneous grammatical phenomena among Roman grammarians. At the same time, the grammarian identifies not one meaning of concession, but two, which are defined by the terms — species concessiva (describes situations that are undesirable for the speaker in the present and future) and species affirmativa (describes situations that did not actually happen). All the three terms in the title of this paper correspond to coniunctivus concessivus and indicate the same grammatical form — perfect subjunctive, e. g. feceris ‘even if you did’. In modern linguistics, the meaning of concession is expressed not only by the perfect subjunctive, but also by the present subjunctive, and, thus, does not have a unique formal expression, as in ancient linguistics. I suppose that concession in the Latin language falls under the scope of covert grammatical category, whereas concession, as it was presented in Roman grammars, can be treated as an overt one.
The Correggio Code: In Search of the Nepenthes Lady
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Pozdnev Michael M.
Published: October 2024

The Portrait of a Lady attributed to Correggio (St Petersburg, State Hermitage, inv. no. 5555) was witnessed as signed with the Latin pseudonym Antonius Laetus. The inscription was still legible in the 70s, and the analysis of parallels confirms authenticity of the painting while also indicating the time of its creation — most likely in the winter 1518–1519. The identification of the sitter as Ginevra Rangoni accepted by the majority should not be disputed. The idea expressed by Riccardo Finzi more than half a century ago can moreover be supported by new arguments: not only the scapular and the Franciscan knot, but also the laurel, ivy, myrtle, the general expression of the widow bride, the full cup of charming wit as a cure for the bitterness of losses, and the reference to Helen of Troy — all this perfectly fits in with Ginevra’s life circumstances. Contrary to the authoritative opinion of Claudio Franzoni, the inscription on the cup cannot be reduced to a single word: besides νηπενθές it includes ἄχολο[ν], explaining the uncommon epithet, a hapax, and [ἐπίληθον ἁπά]ντων, marking the end of verse Od. 4. 221. Correggio reflected on the feast scene in Menelaus’ palace, visualized it in his creative imagination, and the viewer should turn to it to understand the artist’s intention. Its central character, Helen, appears to act very differently in the two stories told at its end. She sympathizes with the Achaeans, longs for the husband she left behind, and at the same time wants to destroy the warriors hidden in the belly of the wooden horse, among them this deserted husband of hers. Abnormal details of the second story aroused suspicion; it might well have been an interpolation originally belonging to Iliupersis or Little Iliad. However, to Correggio’s mind the text was, of course, authentic, and he perceived the contradictory behavior of Helen as truly homeric. Inspired by Homer, he thus created an ethically ambivalent female image, feasible in its duality.
Greek “Lament” by Vyacheslav Ivanov
Authors:   HSE University, Ermakova Liia L.
Published: October 2024

This article publishes a Greek poem composed by the Russian symbolist Vyacheslav Ivanov in Rome on September 2, 1893. The author’s signature below contains an indication of the genre (“threnos”, i. e. “lament”): the combination of iambic trimeter with the author’s title “threnos” can be found in the Carmina de se ipso by Gregory Nazianzin. Despite the Greek meter, language, and vocabulary borrowed partly from epic poetry, Ivanov is oriented toward the Russian Romantic tradition in choosing as a key theme the longing for the “sweet north” contrasted with the south, a representation of an earthly paradise. Other Romantic motifs include exile and envy of free birds. References to ancient mythology are expressed in the images of the garden of the Hesperides and the country of the Hyperboreans: whereas the garden of the Hesperides, conceptually linked in Ivanov’s poetry with the South, is an idyllic space metaphorically referring to Italy, Hyperborea is traditionally associated with Russia. The white-winged birds aspiring to the Hyperborean home are swans, and thus here appears implicitly the metapoetic theme developed by Ivanov with the Hyperborean myth in later poems. The genre and theme of exile point to the influence of Ovid’s Tristia: a year earlier, Ivanov had written an elegiac epistle to A. M. Dmitrievsky entitled Laeta, in which he recognizes Rome as his new home, and instead of homesickness, there is a motif of longing for a friend.
Sappho Fr. 96,8 Neri: Why the Moon Lost a Syllable
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Kostyleva Tatiana V.
Published: October 2024

This piece is a fresh take on the crux philologorum in Sappho fr. 96,8, an extended moon simile, where Aeolic σελάννα, a commonplace of Sapphic poetry, easily restituted ex coniectura by W. Schubart in his editio princeps of PBerol. 9722 in 1902, was ousted by an unmetrical, if poetic, μήνα. The author offers an overview of the past and most recent scholarly effort along with an attempt (albeit a speculative one) to approach the issue of the irrational ratio corruptelae from the part of the resonant adjective βροδοδάκτυλος, an altogether uncommon epithet of the moon, paying close attention to the fact that the intruding word is disyllabic. The dactylic feel of the weighty adjective βροδοδάκτυλος is deemed at some point to have prevailed in a scribe’s dictation interne to the result that ἠώς could have landed in the text proper, or could have found its way there gradually from an intrusive marginal gloss left by a learned scribe unable to keep the Homeric clausula ῥοδοδάκτυλος ἠώς to himself. At some point another, no less learned scribe, attentive to the context of the simile, picked up μήνα, not σελήνη, as his remedy of choice, sticking to the number of syllables in the now resident ἠώς.
Flood risk assessment using modern models integrated with GIS for susceptibility mapping of the M'zab Valley watershed (Algeria)
Authors: Brahim Zine , Boualem Remini , Azzeddine Mansour
Published: October 2024

Comprehensive flood control is needed because flooding can be catastrophic for people's lives and ways of living. This management must provide information on the hydrologic, geotechnical, environmental, social, and economic elements of floods. This work created maps for the flood susceptibility of the M'zab Valley using logistic regression (LR) and frequency ratio (FR). The main objective of the research was to strengthen the bivariate probability capabilities of FR and LR. A flood inventory map was created by extracting flood sites from multiple sources. The flood inventory was divided randomly into two parts: 30% was used for validation and the remaining 70% was used to train the models. Independent variable datasets included the distance from the river, rainfall, soil type, land use/land cover (LULC), elevation, drainage density, flow accumulation, and slope. The effect of each variable on flooding was assessed by comparing each independent variable with the dependent flood layer. The flood susceptibility map was assessed using the prediction rate approach on the validation dataset, which was not used for model construction. The accuracy assessment's findings revealed a prediction rate of FR 0.86 and LR 0.881, as well as a success rate of FR 0.924 and LR 0.924.
Effect of wastewater containing mixture of nanoparticles on organic matter removal, power generation, and biofilm integrity in sediment microbial fuel cell
Authors: Vempati Divya , Kumar Arun
Published: October 2024

Industrial wastewaters from the cosmetic industry contain high organic strength and a mixture of nanoparticles (NPs). Sediment microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an emerging nature-based technology that can treat complex wastewaters. The aim of this study is to understand the effect of a binary mixture of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) NPs (concentration: 1 + 1 and 10 + 10 mg/L) on the organic matter removal, power generation, and biofilm health of sediment MFCs after a long-term operation of 120 days. The high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (>95%) observed for all reactors signified the minimal impact of 10 mg/L NP mixture on treatment. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal from the sediment was reduced by 8% due to NPs. NPs also led to 42.2% higher anode extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and 46.65% lesser cathode EPS generation. The maximum power density of 0.29 mW/m2 was obtained for the 10 mg/L NP reactor, with the average being 23% higher than the no-NP control reactor. This was the first study to explore the effect of the mixture of NPs on the performance of an MFC. The results indicated that sediment MFCs can sustain high mixture concentrations of NPs. Furthermore, variation of parameters can aid in establishing the feasibility of this technology for treating wastewater with NPs.
Nanorobots: Types, Principles and Applications
Authors: Kumar Parkarsh , Das Santosh Kumar
Published: October 2024

Nanobots or Nanorobots are one of the emerging applications in both
nanotechnology and robotics. These bots are programmed to carry out specific
applications for a specific purpose. Owing to their properties such as smaller volume,
efficiency and accuracy, nanobots are being explored in different fields of study,
especially nanomedicine, automation, drug delivery, chemistry, aerospace and others.
These bots can be programmed and explored in such a way that they can be used to
repair the specific target in the body, which is impossible using bare hands. In this
chapter, we are going to explore such types of applications and their principles.