bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cinquante Jours au Brésil: relatos da Viagem de Édouard Claparède (1930)
Authors: Campos Azevedo Laís Paula de Medeiros , De Medeiros Neta Olívia Morais
Published: December 2024

Objetivo: Este artigo objetiva analisar o relato da viagem realizada pelo psicólogo e médico suíço Édouard Claparède, no ano de 1930ao Brasil. Sobre essa viagem, Claparède publicou um relato intitulado Cinquante jours au Brésil na Revista L’Intermédiaire dês Educateurs do Instituto Jean Jacques Rousseau, em abril de 1931.
Originalidade: Na historiografia da educação brasileira, diversos trabalhos dedicam-se as viagens realizadas por brasileiros para conhecer e estudar em outros países. Nesse estudo, nos propomos ao percurso inverso: os europeus em viagens pedagógicas ao Brasil.
Método: Nosso aporte teórico-metodológico, é formado, principalmente, pelas contribuições de Michel de Certeau (1982, 2017) e Jean François Sirinelli (2003). E Carlo Ginzburg (2007) nos indica o caminho da pesquisa por meio do paradigma indiciário.
Estratégias/Coleta do dados: Ao analisar o relato de viagem, intencionamos responder aos seguintes questionamentos: quais os sentidos do relato da viagem de Claparède ao Brasil? qual o percurso da viagem e quais as impressões do intelectual? Ao ampliar nosso olhar sobre o documento, nos voltamos ainda para os registros encontrados na imprensa brasileira.
Conclusão: As pistas deixadas por Claparède em seu relato apontam, por exemplo, para o percurso do intelectual, seu lugar de origem, não apenas a cidade ou país, mas sua filiação institucional, bem como o suporte escolhido para o registro e publicização da viagem; para a existência de uma troca de correspondências com intelectuais brasileiros, além da sua relação de amizade e profissional com Hélène Antipoff, psicóloga e educadora russa, radicada no Brasil.
Perceived Learning about Climate Change During Survey Responses: A Pre-Experimental Study with a Mexican Population
Authors: A Urbina-Soria
Published: December 2024

This study was conducted as part of a broader investigation into the perception and communication of environmental change, climate change, and quality of life among a sample of 1,854 Mexicans [1]. Using a pre-experimental, pre-post design with a single sample, and based on the experiential learning theory, it was hypothesized that exposure to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral content related to climate change during a survey would positively influence participants’ perceptions of their own knowledge about the issue. A comparative analysis of responses to a relevant question administered before and after the intervention, answered using a 4-point Likert scale, was conducted using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for related samples. The results indicated a significant difference between the pretest median (2.0) and the posttest median (3.0), with a Z value of -25.67 and a p-value of < .001. This finding was in the anticipated direction and had a large effect size (r ≈ 0.79). The result suggests that assessments can be effective tools for environmental awareness and education, while also highlighting the importance of considering the ‘learning effect’ during testing when designing studies.
AZ ÁLLATI ÉS A NÖVÉNYI LÉT IDEGENSÉGE CSÁTH GÉZA ELBESZÉLÉSEIBEN
Authors: UTASI Csilla
Published: December 2024

Csáth Gézát mélyen megérintette Darwin tanítása. A freudi és breueri pszichoanalízist, mellyel később sokat foglalkozott, a Darwinnal kezdődő 19. századi természettudományos fordulat részének tekintette. A dolgozat szerzője azt az álláspontot fogalmazza meg, hogy Csáth novelláit a darwini tan bizonyos kérdései, mint például állat és ember különbsége, mélyebben alakítják, mint a freudizmus. Az állati szféra már Csáth korai elbeszélésében, A békában szerepet kap. A szőrös, fogakkal rendelkező varangy ebben az esetben a világ ismeretlen, ijesztő dimenzióját testesíti meg, amelyet a racionális világnézet kizár a létezésből. Csáth Gézát a darwini tanításnak az a tétele foglalkoztatta legintenzívebben, mely szerint az élet valamennyi formáját a saját létének fenntartására irányuló vágy mozgatja. A dolgozat a gyönyörelv megjelenéseit vizsgálja Csáth prózájában. Novelláiban az élvezet egyik lehetőségét a gyerekkori létérzékelés, a másikat pedig a kábítószernek a lét közvetlen élvezetét ígérő gyönyöre képviseli.
A VAJDASÁG AUTONÓM TARTOMÁNY HIVATALOS LAPJÁNAK MAGYAR FORDÍTÁSÁBAN TAPASZTALT GRAMMATIKAI ÁTVÁLTÁSI MŰVELETEKRŐL
Authors: JUHÁSZ TÓTH Tímea
Published: December 2024

A fordító a forrásnyelvi és a célnyelvi szöveg közötti transzfert ún. átváltási műveletek segítségével valósítja meg. A dolgozat a grammatikai átváltási műveleteket vizsgálja Vajdaság Autonóm Tartomány Hivatalos Lapja 2019-ben megjelent számainak magyar fordításában. Az említett műveletekre a legtöbb esetben azért van szükség, mert a nyelvek grammatikai rendszere sokszor különbséget mutat. A szerb a magyarhoz képest analitikus nyelvnek számít, ezért grammatikai rendszerük felépítése szükségessé teszi az átváltási műveletek alkalmazását. Az eltérő nyelvtani felépítés miatt végtelennek mondható a grammatikai átváltási műveletek száma a fordításokban, ezért a dolgozat csak a szerb–magyar viszonylatú eljárásokra mutat rá.
A közösségi tudomány a helynévgyűjtés szolgálatában
Authors: RASZTOVÁC Henrietta
Published: December 2024

A dolgozat célja a közösségi tudomány bemutatása, amelynek alkalmazására a Vajdaságban végzett élőnyelvi és online felületen történt helynévgyűjtés kapcsán került sor. A gyűjtés a Magyar Nemzeti Helynévtár Program keretében valósult meg. A korpuszba az adatokat a történeti források feldolgozása mellett hangfelvétellel dokumentált gyűjtés, valamint a közösségi oldalak által, az interneten kapott információk biztosítják. Jelen dolgozat a terepmunka során szerzett tapasztalatokat mutatja be, valamint szemelvényeket nyújt a hagyományos és az internetes gyűjtés során szerzett adatokból.
A gyermeki kegyetlenség
Authors: MATOS Sára Anna
Published: December 2024

Honnan ered az agresszió? Vajon az emberben az evolúció termékeként fennmaradó adaptív viselkedési formáról beszélhetünk-e, úgy, ahogyan Darwin vagy Lorenz gondolta? Vagy inkább a szexuális drive az, ami miatt az ember olykor agresszív cselekedetekhez folyamodik, mint ahogyan Sigmund Freud feltételezte? Vagy pedig a szociális tanuláselmélet szerinti elgondolás érvényesül, miszerint az agresszió egy tanult viselkedésforma volna? Írásomban e kérdések kapcsán vizsgálom a gyermeki „ártatlanság” problémáját Csáth Géza – akinek műveiben sokszor megjelennek a pszichoanalízis motívumai – A kis Emma és az Anyagyilkosság című novelláin keresztül. Csáth a szélsőséges gyerekkori agressziót mutatja be. Így tanulmányomban áttekintem a pszichológia agresszióról szóló elméleteit, valamint a pszichoanalízis felfogását, és mindezek segítségével megpróbálom értelmezni Csáth történeteit és feltárni főhősei tetteinek lehetséges „miértjeit”.
Ağır Ticari Araç Kardan Mili Kayıcı Takım Uygulamasında Spline Temas Boyunun Optimize Edilmesi ve Doğrulanması
Authors: Kahyalar Mert Can , Şen Onur , Özbakış Murat
Published: December 2024

Kardan millerinin yol koşullarına bağlı olarak açısal ve eksenel olmak üzere iki temel hareketi vardır. Açısal hareket üniversal mafsallar tarafından sağlanırken, eksenel hareket kayıcı takım tarafından sağlanır. Temel olarak, bir kayıcı takım, spline formları aracılığıyla birbirini kavrayan çatallı kayıcı mil ve kayıcı kovan olmak üzere iki parçadan oluşur. Parçalar, spline formlarının kavrama yüzeyleri sayesinde momenti iletirken aynı zamanda eksenel ileri-geri hareket edebilir. Motorlu aracın hareketi sırasında, kayıcı takım burulmaya maruz kalır. Burulma sırasında temas eden spline dişleri arasında basınç oluşumu meydana gelmektedir. Bu bağlamda, kayıcı takım tasarım sürecinde basınç ve gerilim dağılımı göz önüne alındığında spline formunun boyutu ve uzunluğu oldukça önemlidir. Çalışmada, kayıcı takımın yalnızca spline temas boyu değişimi sağlanarak dişler arasındaki basıncın analitik olarak hesaplanması sonucunda kayıcı takımın spline temas boyu optimize edilmiştir. Bu kapsamda, daha önce ortaya koyduğumuz bir çalışmada geçen ve sonlu elemanlar analizi (FEA) ile korele edilmiş olan spline dişlerinde kesme geriliminin analitik hesaplaması bu çalışmada da kullanılmıştır. Son olarak, optimize edilen spline boyuna sahip kayıcı takım laboratuvar ortamında statik burulma testine tabi tutulup, olumlu sonuçların alınmasıyla doğrulanmıştır. Kayıcı takım spline temas boyu optimizasyonu neticesinde (kayıcı kovan spline boyu değiştirilmeden) çatallı kayıcı milin spline boyunun azalması ile %6,1 seviyesinde ağırlık tasarrufu sağlanmıştır.
Doğal Çevre Verilerinin Yüksek Yapılar Özelinde İrdelenmesi: Yaşayan Harika Burj Khalifa
Authors: Bal Hatice , Demir Kayan Hale
Published: December 2024

Mimari tasarım sürecini biçimlendiren doğal çevre verileri (topografya, iklim, güneş ve rüzgâr vb. parametreler), tasarım kararları alınırken en zorlayıcı faktörlerdir. Bu faktörleri işbirlikçi bir çabayla gerçekleştiren Burj Khalifa, benzersiz bir örnek olmuştur. Yüksekliği 828 metre olan yapı çöl iklimi, kum fırtınaları, güçlü rüzgârlar, yakıcı güneş ve aşındırıcı zayıf bir zemin gibi zorluklara karşı yeni teknikler geliştirmiş ve güncel teknolojileri kullanmıştır. Çalışmada literatür taraması yapılarak, Dubai kentinin güncel ve istatiksel doğal çevre verileri kullanılmıştır. Bu verilerle inşaat sürecindeki zorluklar karışında alınan tasarım kararları irdelenmiştir. Bu çalışma ile kulede kullanılan yapım, yöntem ve tekniklerin inşa edilecek yeni yapılara ilham kaynağı olması hedeflenmektedir. Böyle devasa bir binanın yan yatmasını engellemek için “Hymenocallis” adlı çiçeğin formu kullanılarak kulede “burun” ve “kuyruk” kısımları rüzgârı kontrol etmiştir. Zayıf bir zemine karşı temelde yaşanacak sorunlara binaen su yalıtım sistemleri, artırılmış beton kaplama, titanyum ağ, katodik koruma sistemi ve kalıp astarı uygulanmıştır. Güneşin sıcaklığını kontrol altına almak için ise el yapımı özel cam paneller üretilmiştir. Birçok zorluğa karşı çölde yükselmeyi başaran bu ikonik yapı kentin ticari merkezi haline gelmiş ve “En”leri başararak, ezberleri bozmuştur.
Schiff Bazlı İndazol Bileşiğinin Yapı Karakterizasyonu ve Kuramsal Hesaplamalarla İncelenmesi
Authors: Güzel Enis , Ertürk Aliye , Yavuz Metin
Published: December 2024

Özet: (E)-4-Metoksi-2-(((4-metoksi-1H-indazol-3-il)imino)metil)fenol bileşiği IR, Uv-Vis, 13C-NMR / 1H-NMR ve X-ışını kırınımı yöntemleri kullanılarak yapısal karakterizasyonu yapıldı ve bileşik yapısının enol-imin formunda şekillendiği belirlendi. Moleküler yapının 3-boyutlu yüzey özelliklerini görselleştirmek için Hirshfeld yüzey analizi kullanıldı. Moleküler yapının kuramsal özelliklerinin belirlenmesinde Yoğunluk Fonksiyonel Teorisi’nin 6-311G(d,p) baz setinden yararlanıldı. Başlık bileşiğinin UV-Vis spektrumları DMSO içinde 5x10-5 M konsantrasyonda hazırlandı. 13C-NMR ve 1H-NMR karakterizasyon analizleri deneysel ve kuramsal olarak karşılaştırmalı olarak verildi. Kuramsal hesaplamalar yardımıyla moleküler yapının elektrofilik doğası, nükleofilik doğası, kimysal aktiviteleri hakkında ayrıntılı çalışmalar yapıldı. Bu çalışmalar sonucunda frontier moleküler orbitallar, sertlik, yumaşaklık, mulliken popülasyon analiz yükleri, MEP ve kontür yüzeyleri hakkında bilgilere ulaştık. Ek olarak, DNA temel yapı taşları olan adenin, sitozin, guanin ve timin bazları ile moleküler yapımızı kuramsal olarak birleştirdik ve hesaplamlar yaptık. Bu hesaplamalar sonucunda moleküler yapının yük transferini ve elektrofilik ve nükleofilik doğasını araştımak için ECT (elektrofilik tabanlı yük transferi) yöntemi ve DN (yük transferi) kullanıldı.
Farklı Bakteri Yapıştırıcılarının Nohut (Cicer arietinum L.) Bitkisinde Nodülasyon ile Verim Performansına Etkileri
Authors: Kaya Muharrem , Şener Aykut , Tekeli Cemile
Published: December 2024

Bu araştırma, bakteri aşılamada farklı yapıştırıcı ajanların kullanılmasının nohut bitkisinin nodülasyon verileri ve verimi üzerine etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Tarla denemeleri tesadüf blokları bölünmüş parseller deneme desenine göre 3 tekerrürlü olarak 2 yıl süre ile Isparta lokasyonunda yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada, test bitkisi olarak Azkan çeşidi ve İspanyol nohut genotipi kullanılmıştır. Rhizobium bakterilerini nohut bitkisinin tohumlarına yapıştırmak için saf su, şekerli su, süt tozu, arap zamkı ve metil selüloz kullanılmıştır.

Araştırma sonucunda, bakteri aşılamada yapıştırıcı madde kullanımının yüz tane ağırlığı özelliği dışındaki diğer tüm özelliklerde olumlu etkileri olduğu gözlenmiştir. Nodül sayısı 24.3-174.0 adet bitki-1, nodül ağırlığı 0.38-3.29 g bitki-1, ilk çiçeklenme süresi 47.3-66.3 gün, bitki boyu 34.9-54.9 cm, bitkide bakla sayısı 23.9-42.5 adet, bitkide tane sayısı 24.4-42.1 adet, bitki tohum verimi 4.03-8.84 g, hasat indeksi % 36.5-43.7, tohum verimi 117.0-269.0 kg da-1 ve yüz tane ağırlığı 38.3-49.0 g arasında değişim göstermiştir. Tane verimi bakımından en iyi bakteri yapıştırma uygulamalarının arap zamkı ve metil selüloz olduğu söylenebilir.
The effect of icon arrays and analogies in risk communication among adolescent children
Authors: Klimova Aigul , Gavrilov Kirill
Published: December 2024

The aim of the study was to measure the effect of icon arrays and analogies on the comprehension of risk information in adolescents aged 11–15 years. We tested whether icon arrays lead to higher accuracy in simple risk calculation tasks and in difficult tasks such as trade-off and Bayesian problems compared to the numerical format. We also measured whether analogies improved risk understanding. Icon arrays led to better understanding of risk information and more accurate risk comparisons. The effects varied according to the difficulty of the task and the risk literacy of the participants. Analogies were helpful for adolescents with high risk literacy.
GATA: Test–retest reliability of measurement outcomes
Authors: Chernozub Oleg
Published: December 2024

Social researchers have long sought to overcome the vulnerability of the self-report method to a variety of effects based on respondents’ inability or unwillingness to answer correctly. One obvious strategy for solving this problem is to try to extract information in such a way that the respondent’s attitude towards the object under study can be assessed by his or her actions “indirectly” related to that object, without relying on the respondent’s “direct” answers as to what he or she thinks that attitude is. One of the many tools that claim to be able to probe the respondent’s consciousness in this way is the Graphical Associative Test of Attitudes (GATA). This paper presents a summary of the test-retest reliability of GATA. 18 repeat tests two (12 tests) and four (6 tests) weeks after the initial meas¬urement showed that GATA can potentially produce reliable results. At the same time, this ability is not completely stable, it depends on the subject being assessed and the time between the tests being compared. While the reliability of GATA over a two-week period is often satisfactory (Spearman ρ > 0.700 in 4 out of 12 tests) and comparable to that of the self-report method, over a four-week period, only one out of six GATA evaluations maintains such a high level of reliability. Possible dimensions of future research aimed at improving the reliability of GATA output are discussed in the paper.
Plantations forestières en Afrique tropicale sèche. Techniques et espèces à utiliser : 4e partie : le choix des espèces, les essais élimination d'espèces, les essais provenances, les plantations conservatoires, l'obtention des graines pour les boisements industriels, les espèces essayées en zone sèche d’Afrique tropicale, etc.
Authors: Delwaulle J.C.
Published: December 2024

Le quatrième volet concerne le choix des espèces à planter.Avant de passer en revue celles qui ont été introduites, l'auteur examine le processus de recherche par lequel leur étude, leur introduction et leur diffusion en cas de succès ont été abordées. Il décrit les essais d'élimination des espèces, les essais de provenance, les plantations de conservation et pose le problème de l'obtention de semences pour les plantations industrielles.Enfin, l'auteur commente les résultats obtenus avec des espèces dont les noms scientifiques, classés par ordre alphabétique, vont d'Acacias à Erythrophleum guineense.
History of higher education in Ukraine between Sovietization, linguistic discrimination and internationalization (1890-1972)
Authors: Caroli Dorena
Published: December 2024

This article aims to reconstruct the main aspects of the development of the Ukrainian system of higher education from its birth to the 1970s. It provides an overview of the historiographical debate, covering not only higher education but also the role played by intellectuals and the history of nationalities. After an introduction describing the history of higher education in the Ukrainian territories during the modern period, the article is divided into four parts analyzing, respectively, the development of higher education from its start in the modern University of Bologna era to the last decades of the nineteenth century, before Ukraine’s existence as a nation-state; the reform of higher education after the October Revolution until World War II, with reference to the Soviet system; the impact of World War II on these reforms; and the role of UNESCO’s European Centre for Higher Education (from 1972). This makes it possible to grasp the salient stages of a development that thanks to the succession of governments was very complex and was also marked by internal tensions and nationalist overtones.
El conflicto “Laica o Libre” en las universidades argentinas a mediados del siglo XX. ¿Qué papel jugaron los intereses empresariales?
Authors: Díaz de Guijarro Eduardo
Published: December 2024

Este artículo es una nueva mirada del conflicto que se suscitó en Argen­tina entre 1955 y 1959, cuando el gobierno autorizó que universidades privadas pudie­ran otorgar títulos profesionales habilitantes. Debido a que la Iglesia Católica era en ese momento la principal instigadora de la inicia­tiva, el conflicto adquirió características reli­giosas, y fue denominado “Laica o Libre”. Los defensores de la enseñanza superior pública estatal defendían el tradicional laicismo de la educación argentina, pues consideraban que las nuevas universidades serían confesionales e ideológicamente sectarias. Por su parte, los partidarios de la enseñanza superior pri­vada sostenían que el monopolio estatal res­tringía la libertad, y por lo tanto impedía la enseñanza religiosa. Los hechos que se anali­zarán aquí permiten concluir que el problema era más complejo y que en el proceso de crea­ción de universidades privadas tuvieron un papel importante las empresas que las finan­ciaron, movidas por intereses económicos. El conflicto debería llamarse “Pública o Priva­da”, términos más amplios que reflejan mejor no sólo los aspectos ideológicos del problema sino también los económicos y su relación con la tendencia de la posguerra, época en la que se estaba difundiendo en todo el mundo el modelo de universidad estadounidense con gerenciamiento empresarial.
Injuries from blank cartridge shots in suicide attempts within the South Korean military: a case series of five patients
Authors: Joo Jeong Il , Lee Changsin , Lee Kyungwon
Published: December 2024

Purpose: Blank cartridges are designed to produce the sound and gas flare of a gunshot without firing a bullet. However, blank cartridge shots (BCS) can still cause injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Within the South Korean military, most BCS-related injuries have occurred during suicide attempts. This study documents a case series of patients who sustained injuries from BCS during such attempts.Methods: We examined the medical records of Korean soldiers at a military trauma center between April 2022 and April 2024 who had sustained injuries from BCS during suicide attempts. The analyzed data included general characteristics, injury site, surgical and psychiatric interventions, and length of hospitalization.Results: The case series included five patients between 19 and 20 years old (mean age, 19.6±0.55 years). Four of these patients sustained self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the submandibular area, while one targeted the right temporal area. Although initial vital signs and laboratory findings were unremarkable, computed tomography scans revealed injuries from projectile gas and gunpowder, including burns, subcutaneous emphysema, and major structural damage. Cases 1 and 2 required emergency surgery for foreign body removal and debridement. The average length of hospitalization was 35.2±12.11 days. Patients were first admitted to the trauma surgery department for BCS injury management, and then transferred to the psychiatry department for emotional support. The average stay was 15.6±15.87 days in trauma surgery and 19.6±14.99 days in psychiatry.Conclusions: This study highlights the consequences of BCS from suicide attempts in the South Korean military and provides valuable insights for medical personnel who may encounter patients with BCS injuries.
Suivis réglementaires de la mortalité dans les parcs éoliens : de l’analyse locale à l’approche intégrée
Authors: Ravache Andreas , Sand Camille-Amélie , Normand Brice , Kerbiriou Christian , Barré Kévin
Published: December 2024

L'expansion rapide de l’éolien, bien que nécessaire pour lutter contre le changement climatique, suscite des préoccupations concernant ses impacts sur les chauves-souris et les oiseaux. En France, un protocole standardisé de suivi de mortalité encadre la collecte réglementaire des données et l’estimation de la mortalité sur les parcs éoliens terrestres depuis 2018. Cette étude évalue les données des rapports de suivi de mortalité réalisés par les bureaux d’étude, en vue de l’amélioration de leur qualité et de leur capacité à traiter de questions globales telles que les facteurs influençant la probabilité de collision. Elle compare également les estimations de mortalité des rapports avec celles obtenues via l'estimateur de mortalité GenEst, reconnu pour sa robustesse. Bien que 96% des dossiers semblent conformes à la méthodologie sur le terrain, 30,5 % des rapports ne respectent pas le protocole dans son intégralité, principalement en raison du manque de disponibilité des données brutes. Les estimateurs recommandés par le protocole environnemental de 2018 produisent des résultats significativement différents de l’estimateur GenEst. L'étude fourni une suite de recommandations pour améliorer le protocole et son application, et recommande d'adopter l'estimateur GenEst. L'intégration des données dans une base nationale selon les principes FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) est également préconisée pour améliorer la gestion, l'accessibilité et le traitement des données
Finite element modelling of soil nailing inclination effect on slope stability: Cibeureum slope case study
Authors: Aufa Iftikhar Azmi , Kusuma Artati Hanindya
Published: December 2024

On November 21, 2022, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake caused a landslide on one of the slopes in Cibeureum, Cianjur district. To repair the slope, reinforcement is necessary to achieve stability values that can withstand future earthquakes. One method for enhancing slope stability is soil nailing. Various soil nailing installation angles were analyzed to find the optimal design for the Cibeureum slope. Using the Plaxis 2D V20 program, the safety factor of the original slope without an earthquake was found to be 1.62. Increasing the installation angle of the soil nails from 10°, 15°, to 20° improved the safety factor, but the increase was not significant because the initial installation point was far from the slip line, requiring a nail length of 50 meters. The best configuration, yielding the highest safety value, was achieved with a modified slope angle of 19° and soil nails with a 50 m length installed at a 20° angle. This configuration produced a safety factor of 2.55 without an earthquake and 1.102 with an earthquake, as calculated using the Plaxis 2D V20 program.
A Comprehensive Exploration Of Flu Severity: Pilot Study of Symptoms, Duration, and Patient-Driven Management in Rural Areas of Eastern Cape South Africa
Authors: Gumede Thulani , Sineke Ncomeka , Dlamini Sizwe , Ranelo Yonela , Apalata Teke , Faye Lindiwe Modest
Published: December 2024

Background: Influenza commonly known as flu is a highly contagious viral infection that affects millions of people globally each year, causing major morbidity, mortality, and economic consequences. Despite vaccine availability, seasonal flu outbreaks continue, exacerbated by virus mutations and varied transmission patterns. The Eastern Cape region of South Africa faces specific obstacles when it comes to flu management, such as limited healthcare access and dependence on traditional treatments This study investigated the relationships among flu severity, symptom duration, and management strategies using regression models, statistical testing, and decision trees. Data included key metrics; severity scale, symptom duration, and management types (home remedies, medical treatment, prescription medication, and over-the-counter treatments). Regression analysis showed that the severity scale is influenced by symptom duration (r = 0.88, p < 0.001), with longer durations correlating with higher perceived severity. However, management strategies did not significantly affect severity (ANOVA F = 1.415, p = 0.291). Logistic regression demonstrated that severity scale positively predicted seeking medical attention (pseudo R² = 0.624, p = 0.038). Decision tree analysis identified prescription medication and symptom duration as key factors predicting high or low severity. Findings indicate that symptom duration strongly correlates with severity, while management strategies, including home remedies and medical treatments, show mixed effects. No significant interaction effects between management types were observed (p > 0.05). These results emphasize the need for timely interventions to reduce symptom duration and perceived severity. Limitations include a small sample size and potential biases in self-reported data. Future research should explore larger datasets and test intervention efficacy to refine symptom management strategies.
Tracking of Fin Whales Using Their Calls Recorded by Triplets of Hydrophones
Authors: Le Bras Ronan , Nielsen Peter
Published: December 2024

Whale signals originating in the vicinity of and recorded at a triplet of underwater hydrophones, 2 km distant from each other, offer the opportunity to verify simple models of propagation applied in the immediate neighborhood of the triplet, by comparing arrival times and amplitudes between the three hydrophones. Amplitudes are rarely examined in detail and the data sets presented offer the possibility of verifying theoretical models of propagation. Examples of recordings of individual fin whales, based on the characteristics of their vocalizations around 20 Hz, passing by hydrophone triplets are presented. Conclusions are drawn about waveform coherency and amplitudes of the signals recorded at the three hydrophones in the [0-50] Hz frequency band. Based on the locations of the whales obtained using the time picks on each of the three hydrophones, the spherical amplitude decay law of one over the distance is verified using amplitude ratios between two of the hydrophones, when the cetacean is in the immediate vicinity of the triplet, in a circle of radius 1.5 km centered in the centre of the triplet. Analysis of hundreds of calls located within that circle leads to the possibility that more accurate coordinates and depth of the hydrophones are needed to unambiguously verify the laws of propagation, or that more elaborate models of propagation are needed.
Isolation, Screening and Identification of Pectinolytic Fungi from the Soil of Decomposed Plant Materials
Authors: Owusu Sylvester Boakye , Zakpaa Hilary Domakyaara , Borigu Malik , Duwiejuah Abudu Ballu
Published: December 2024

Pectinases are essential enzymes and command a quarter of all food enzymes sold globally, and are recognised as excellent workhorses in plethora of industries. These enzymes are mainly sourced from animals, microorganisms and plants, with microbes serving as the main sources owing to the quality, quantity, ease of extraction and economic considerations. This research study isolated, screened, and identified five pectinase-producing fungi from the soil of decaying fruits and vegetables. The isolated fungal species were cultured and screened for highest pectinase production using pectinase screening agar medium containing 1% citrus pectin. Four isolates identified as Aspergillus niger, Fusarium species, Trichoderma species and Aspergillus flavus, exhibited very high values of pectinase hydrolysis based on clear zone method, which were 25, 23, 20, and 20 mm for the respective isolates. A secondary pectin hydrolysis screening exercise was conducted afterwards to obtain the highest level of reducing sugars and pectinase released by the isolates. Aspergillus niger, once again, proved to be the best as it recorded maximum reducing sugar of 3.92 mg/mL and pectinase enzyme activity of 36.23 U/mL. Soil have the potential to serve as the primary source of fungal species capable of degrading pectin to release pectinase enzymes, which have numerous applications in the production of pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, animal feed, textiles, detergents, protoplast fusion, pulp and paper and biofuels.
Signal Preprocessing for Enhanced IoT Device Identification Using Support Vector Machine
Authors: Santana-Cruz Rene Francisco , Moreno Martin , Aguilar-Torres Daniel , Valverde-Dominguez Roman Arturo , Vazquez-Medina Ruben
Published: December 2024

Device identification based on radio frequency fingerprinting is widely used to improve the security of Internet of Things systems. However, noise and inconsistencies in raw radio frequency signals can reduce the accuracy of identification, classification, and authentication algorithms. This paper investigates how preprocessing methods affect the performance of a support vector machine classifier based on radio frequency fingerprinting. Four preprocessing methods are evaluated, each of which is applied to the raw radio frequency signals in an attempt to improve the consistency between signals emitted by the same Bluetooth device. Experiments conducted on a dataset of raw Bluetooth signals from sixteen smartphone radios, provided by Uzundurukan, show that selecting appropriate preprocessing methods can significantly improve the classification accuracy of a support vector machine classifier.
Analysis of Uneven Settlement of Long-Span Bridge Foundations Based on SBAS-InSAR
Authors: Zhang Kaixuan , Xiao Weifo , Zhu Haojie , Ning Shaowei , Huang Shenjiang , Jin Dongxing , A Rong , Thapa Bhesh Raj
Published: December 2024

Bridge foundation settlement monitoring is crucial for infrastructure safety management, as uneven settlement can lead to stress redistribution, structural damage, and potentially catastrophic collapse. While traditional contact sensors provide reliable measurements, their deployment is labor-intensive and costly, especially for long-span bridges. Current remote sensing methods have not been thoroughly evaluated for their capability to detect and analyze complex foundation settlement patterns in challenging environments with multiple influencing factors. Here, we applied Small Baseline Subsets Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (SBAS-InSAR) technology to monitor foundation settlement of a long-span bridge. Our analysis revealed distinct deformation patterns: uplift in the north bank approach bridge foundation and the left-side main bridge foundation (maximum rate: 36.965 mm/year), concurrent with subsidence in the right-side main bridge foundation and south bank approach bridge foundation (maximum rate: 35.585 mm/year). We then investigated the relationship between these settlement patterns and various environmental factors, including geological conditions, Sediment Transport Index (STI), Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), relative humidity, and temperature. The observed settlement patterns were attributed to the combined effects of stratigraphic heterogeneity, dynamic hydrological conditions, and seasonal climate variations. These findings demonstrate that SBAS-InSAR technology can effectively capture complex bridge foundation deformation processes, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional monitoring methods. This advancement in bridge monitoring technology could enable more widespread and frequent assessment of bridge foundation stability, ultimately improving infrastructure safety management.
Assessing the Future ODYSEA Satellite Mission for the Estimation of Ocean Surface Currents, Wind Stress, Energy Fluxes, and the Mechanical Coupling between the Ocean and the Atmosphere
Authors: Larrañaga Marco , Renault Lionel , Wineteer Alexander , Contreras Marcela , Arbic Brian K. , Bourassa Mark , Rodriguez Ernesto
Published: December 2024

Over the past decade, several studies based on coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations have shown that the oceanic surface current feedback to the atmosphere (CFB) leads to a slow-down of the mean oceanic circulation and, overall, to the so-called eddy killing, i.e., a sink of kinetic energy from oceanic eddies to the atmosphere that damps the oceanic mesoscale activity by about 30%, with upscaling effects on large-scale currents. Despite significant improvements in the representation of western boundary currents and mesoscale eddies in numerical models, some discrepancies remain when comparing numerical simulations with satellite observations. These include a stronger wind and wind stress response to surface currents and a larger air-sea kinetic energy flux from the ocean to the atmosphere in numerical simulations. However, altimetric gridded products are known to largely underestimate mesoscale activity, and the satellite observations operate at different spatial and temporal resolutions and do not simultaneously measure surface currents and wind stress, leading to large uncertainties in air-sea mechanical energy flux estimates. ODYSEA is a new satellite mission project that aims to simultaneously monitor total surface currents and wind stress with a spatial sampling interval of 5 km and 90% daily global coverage. This study evaluates the potential of ODYSEA to measure surface winds, currents, energy fluxes, and ocean-atmosphere coupling coefficients. To this end, we generated synthetic ODYSEA data from a high-resolution coupled ocean-wave-atmosphere simulation of the Gulf Stream using ODYSIM, the Doppler scatterometer simulator for ODYSEA. Our results indicate that ODYSEA would significantly improve the monitoring of eddy kinetic energy, kinetic energy cascade, and air-sea kinetic energy flux in the Gulf Stream region. However, despite the improvement over the current measurements, the estimates of the coupling coefficients between surface currents and wind stress may still have large uncertainties due to the noise inherent in ODYSEA, but also due to measurement capabilities related to wind stress.
Implications of Low Cost Hydroponic System for Growth, Yield and Quality Attributes of Sukhsagar Cultivar of Onion (Allium cepa L.)
Authors: Karak Chandan , Marandi Sanjita , Chakraborty Satadal , Das Puspita , Bhutia Pradeep , Choudhuri Partha , Thakur Pran Krishna
Published: December 2024

Present experiments were framed to study the implications of low cost hydroponic system for production of red onion bulbs for growth yield and quality of Sukhsagar cultivar with the use of minimum inputs to reduce the production cost. Hydroponic and sand based growing conditions were carried out under the open roof condition of direct sunlight and field experiment was undertaken at Horticulture Research Station Mondouri following Completely Randomized Design with three replications during the Rabi season of 2023-2024 employing the Sukhsagar cultivar for vegetative growth, initiation of root, bulb and bulb development for yield and quality of onion. The results revealed the considerable plant height in hydroponic grown onion. Highest number of leaves per plant, maximum root length, early initiation of bulb, higher rate of bulb development, highest equatorial diameter, maximum individual weight of bulb, higher number of scales per bulb and higher pungency were found in the hydroponically grown onion followed by open field condition except TSS and total sugar whereas, early bulb initiation and faster root growth and the lowest plant height, number of leaves per plant, was experienced in sand conditions. The floating bed of hydroponic system performed better in terms of vegetative growth of the onion plants, root development, early bulb initiation and faster rate of bulb development and better establishment of plants, early harvesting of onion bulb and quality for Sukhsagar cultivar over the sand and soil based growing conditions. The floating bed condition found better for low-cost materials and least management might be a promising option followed by sand conditions for the future onion growers to increase the production within a short period of time.
A Computational Approach to Replicating Correlated Portfolios Using Algorithmic Insights from Stock Market Dynamics
Authors: Gottimukkala Srinivas Raju
Published: December 2024

This study aims to explore methods for automating the replication of correlated portfolios across shares using various algorithms. The goal is to select one algorithm for implementation in a visualization tool that will facilitate portfolio building. The dynamics of the stock market provide a comprehensive view of the global economy, acting as a catalyst for stakeholders to participate and benefit various sectors financially, primarily through investments in companies that yield returns and contribute to the economy. The evaluation and comparison of these algorithms are crucial for making well-informed decisions regarding the core objectives of the study. Ultimately, a determination will be made as to whether the program can effectively analyse data from Yahoo finance to provide a quick overview of the financial market state of companies in the S&P 500 US stock prices.
Sea Level Rise: Mozambique's Coastal Cities
Authors: Mazuze Estevao Muduviu
Published: December 2024

Sea level rise (SLR) poses significant risks to coastal regions worldwide, with over one billion people living in low-lying areas already experiencing its effects. Mozambique, with a population of 32.97 million and an extensive coastline, is particularly vulnerable to extreme events. This study examines the past and future dynamics of sea level rise along the Mozambican coast, focusing on the cities of Maputo, Inhambane, Beira, and Pemba. Using a combination of historical sea level data (2010-2020) and future projections (2021-2050) derived from global climate models (CMIP6) and oceanographic databases, the study analyzes regional variations in sea level behavior through time series and spatial distribution using Matlab for image visualization.

The results highlight that Pemba and Maputo are the most vulnerable areas to rising sea levels. Therefore, integrated adaptation strategies are recommended, prioritizing nature-based solutions within disaster risk management frameworks to protect Mozambique's coastal communities and ecosystems, ensuring greater resilience to the ongoing and projected impacts of sea level rise.
Speckle Strain Analysis of Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Paediatric Patients with Bicuspid Aortic Valve—A Pilot Study
Authors: Făgărășan Amalia , Ghiragosian-Rusu Simina-Elena , Ghiragosian Claudiu , Gozar Liliana , Suteu Carmen , Toma Daniela , Al-Akel Cristina , Cucerea Manuela
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a prevalent congenital heart defect that continues to present a significant challenge in the management of paediatric patients. The assessment of left ventricle systolic function is typically conducted through the measurement of the left ventricular ejection fraction. Currently, left ventricle global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) is regarded as a more sensitive indicator, enabling the quantitative assessment of global and segmental ventricular function through the determination of myocardial deformation. Methods: A prospective study was conducted between 10 January 2023 and 10 January 2024 in a tertiary paediatric cardiology referral centre. The study enrolled children aged 6 to 17 years with BAV who were undergoing periodic evaluation, as well as a control group. The primary objective is to analyse the systolic function (global and segmental LV) using the classical method (LV EF) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Results: The study group comprised 73 patients with a mean age of 13 years, with a male predominance. The control group comprised 55 patients. The phenotype IB with aortic regurgitation (AR) was the most prevalent. The results of the STE evaluation in the control group demonstrate mean GLS values between -22.1% and -22.8%. A comparison of the BAV group and the control group revealed a significant difference in GLS for the apical four-chamber view (p = 0.022).
Assessment of X Chromosome Centromere Instability in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Quantitative FISH Approach
Authors: Spremo-Potparević Biljana , Zeljezic Davor , Bajic Vladan , Popović Petar , Topalović Dijana , Pirković Andrea , Perry George , Živković Lada
Published: December 2024

Chromosome instability in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neurons has been previously reported. This pilot study aimed to establish a quantitative technique for assessing X chromosome centromere signals using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Hippocampal brain tissue was collected at autopsy from sporadic AD patients and age-and gender-matched controls. FISH was utilized to detect and measure the intensity of hybridization signals for X chromosome centromeres in the interphase nuclei of hippocampal brain cells. The premature centromere division (PCD) phenomenon, marked by a close bipartite signal appearing as two separated FISH spots, was examined to see if the hybridized DNA amount in each spot matched the expected centromere DNA amount. The technique effectively distinguished between PCD+ and PCD- signals. The average frequency of PCD,X in the AD group was 7 ± 1%, compared to 3.2 ± 0.84% in controls. This quantitative approach supports qualitative analyses of FISH centromere spots, reinforcing findings of chromosomal instability in AD. The presence of a double signal at the centromere of a single X chromosome indicates re-entered cell cycles, DNA replication, and PCD in hippocampal neurons. This technique provides a reliable method for identifying PCD + signals and contributes to understanding chromosomal instability in AD.
Impact of Point-of-Care Testing on Diagnosis, Treatment and Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Viral Infections
Authors: Lakshmanan Kirthika , Liu Benjamin M
Published: December 2024

With the advent of a variety of vaccines against viral infections, there are multiple viruses that can be prevented via vaccination. However, breakthrough infection or uncovered strains can still cause vaccine-preventable viral infections (VPVI). Therefore, timely diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of these viruses is critical to patient care and public health. Point-of-care (POC) viral diagnostics tools have brought significant improvements in the detection and management of VPVI. These cutting-edge technologies enable prompt, accurate results, enhancing patient care by facilitating timely treatment decisions. This review delves into the advancements in POC testing, including antigen/antibody detection and molecular assays, while focusing on their impact on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of VPVI such as mpox, viral hepatitis, influenza, flaviviruses (Dengue, Zika and Yellow fever virus), and COVID-19. The role of POC tests in monitoring viral infection is crucial for tracking disease progression and managing outbreaks. Furthermore, the application of POC diagnostics has shown to be vital for public health strategies. In this review, we also highlight emerging POC technologies like CRISPR-based diagnostics and smartphone-integrated POC devices, which have proven particularly beneficial in resource-limited settings. We underscore the importance of continued research to optimize these diagnostic tools for wider global use for mpox, viral hepatitis, influenza, flaviviruses, and COVID-19, while also addressing current challenges related to their sensitivity, specificity, availability, efficiency, and others.
Outcomes of A Pilot Newborn Screening Program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in A Spanish Region
Authors: Berzal-Serrano Alba , García-Bohórquez Belén , Aller Elena , Jaijo Teresa , Pitarch-Castellano Inmaculada , Rausell Dolores , García-García Gema , Millán José M.
Published: December 2024

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a degenerative neuromuscular condition resulting from a homozygous deletion of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene in 95% of patients. A timely diagnosis via newborn screening (NBS) and initiating treatment before the onset of symptoms are critical for improving health outcomes in affected individuals. We carried out a screening test by quantitative PCR (qPCR) to amplify the exon seven of SMN1 using dried blood spot (DBS) samples. From October 2021 to August 2024 a total of 31,560 samples were tested and four of them were positive for SMA, indicating an incidence of 1/7,890. Genetic diagnosis was performed using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and AmplideX PCR/CE SMN1/2 Plus kit in parallel obtaining concordant results in survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene copy number. Within the first few weeks of their lives, two of the four patients detected by NBS showed signs of severe hypotonia, turning out to be not eligible for treatment. The other two patients were the first presymptomatic patients with two copies of SMN2 to get treatment with Risdiplam in Spain. In order to treat positive cases in early stages, we conclude that the official deployment of SMA newborn screening is necessary.
Stability and Optimal Control Analysis for a Fractional-Order Industrial Virus Propagation Model Based on SCADA System
Authors: Huang Lu-ping , Gao Da-peng , Feng Shi-qiang , Li Jin-dong
Published: December 2024

Growing dependency and remote accessibility of automated industrial automation systems have transformed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks from strictly isolated to highly interconnected networks. This increase in interconnectivity between systems raises operational efficiency and also increases network security threats, especially attacks from industrial viruses. This paper is concerned with the stability and optimal control analysis for a fractional-order industrial virus propagation model based on SCADA system. Firstly, we prove the existence, uniqueness, non-negativity and boundedness of the solutions for the proposed model. Secondly, the basic reproduction number $\mathscr{R}_0^\alpha$ is determined, which suggests the conditions for ensuring the persistence and elimination of the virus. Moreover, we investigate the local and global asymptotic stability of the derived virus-free and virus-present equilibrium points. Thirdly, we present our system as optimal control problem with suitable control variables and derive optimal conditions. Lastly, a set of numerical simulations are performed followed by some conclusions of the whole work.