bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prácticas de Responsabilidad Social con Enfoque al Desarrollo Sostenible Implementadas en las Pymes de Colombia
Authors: Quintero Rivera Juan José , Cervantes Rosas María de los Ángeles
Published: March 2024

OBJETIVO: Analizar las prácticas de responsabilidad social implementadas por las empresas colombianas y su contribución en los Objetivos Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030.
MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: La investigación se clasifica como descriptiva, con un enfoque documental. Para recopilar información sobre las prácticas implementadas por empresas colombianas, se llevó a cabo una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura y una exploración minuciosa de las páginas web de dichas empresas. El objetivo principal de este proceso fue identificar las prácticas específicas y evaluar su contribución a los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030.
RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 16 empresas pymes en Colombia, destacan prácticas de RSE alineadas con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), estos incluyen aspectos como sostenibilidad ambiental, bienestar laboral y responsabilidad social, cada empresa implementa ODS específicos, como ODS 12 para consumo responsable y ODS 13 para acción climática, en la Tabla 3 se presenta las empresas y sus ODS aplicados.
CONCLUSIONES: Los efectos del cambio climático en Colombia incluyen pérdidas del 0,49% del PIB anual, afectando diversos sectores. Pymes adoptan prácticas de RSE enfocadas en ODS, con énfasis en producción y consumo responsables y bienestar laboral, pero hay margen para mejorar en sostenibilidad.
Terapêutica Substitutiva com Imunoglobulina G Polivalente: Particularidades de um Coorte Português
Authors: Cosme Ferreira Sofia , Vieira Josefina , T. Silva Maria Inês , P. Silva Sara , Caiado Joana , Pedro Elisa , L. Silva Susana
Published: March 2024

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Influência social e uso de álcool, cigarros eletrônicos e narguilé
Authors: Gomes Ana Carolina , Reichert Richard Alecsander , De Micheli Denise
Published: March 2024

Introdução: Estudos apontam a influência das interações sociais no consumo de substâncias psicoativas entre estudantes universitários. Objetivo: O objetivo geral do presente estudo foi analisar a influência dessas interações no contexto brasileiro, com objetivos específicos de explorar percepções, motivações dos estudantes e efeitos no bem-estar psicológico. Metodologia: uma abordagem qualitativa envolveu 18 participantes recrutados por e-mail e redes sociais. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário on-line sobre informações sociodemográficas, frequência de uso, motivações, influências sociais e consequências do consumo. Resultados: Os achados evidenciaram a interseccionalidade de fatores sociodemográficos, como raça, gênero e estrato socioeconômico, que influenciam o consumo de substâncias psicoativas. A cultura social projetou positivamente o uso dessas substâncias, enquanto a pressão para integração em grupos sociais desempenhou um papel de destaque. No contexto do álcool, foram identificadas motivações subjacentes, incluindo busca por sensações, desinibição e alívio da ansiedade. No caso dos cigarros eletrônicos, várias perspectivas foram observadas, abrangendo influências positivas e estigma social. Quanto ao uso de narguilé, as motivações envolveram atividades de lazer, relaxamento e participação em eventos sociais mais restritos. Todas as substâncias foram apontadas como recursos para enfrentar situações adversas decorrentes de uma vida acadêmica estressante, com as interações sociais desempenhando um papel crucial. Conclusão: Os resultados ressaltaram a complexidade das influências sociais no consumo de substâncias entre estudantes universitários, fornecendo subsídios para o desenvolvimento de ações e políticas eficazes para promover a saúde e o bem-estar desta população.
Misinterpretation of a skin fold artifact as pneumothorax on the chest x-ray of a trauma patient in Korea: a case report
Authors: Park Yoojin , Kim Eun Young , Yu Byungchul , Kim Kunwoo
Published: March 2024

Misinterpreting radiographic findings can lead to unnecessary interventions and potential patient harm. The urgency required when responding to the compromised health of trauma patients can increase the likelihood of misinterpreting chest x-rays in critical situations. We present the case report of a trauma patient whose skin fold artifacts were mistaken for pneumothorax on a follow-up chest x-ray, resulting in unnecessary chest tube insertion. We hope to help others differentiate between skin folds and pneumothorax on the chest x-rays of trauma patients by considering factors such as location, shape, sharpness, and vascular markings.
New secular holidays in modern Kazakh culture. Westernization of everyday life and transfor-mation of family rituals
Authors: Stasevich I.V.
Published: March 2024

The growing attention to processes related to the revival of Islam throughout Central Asia leaves in shadow some no less interesting tendencies associated with the westernization of the daily life. These processes have been recorded across the entire Central Asia but presently they manifest themselves to the greatest extent specifically in Kazakhstan, where interweaving of traditional elements of the East and the West created a remarkable distinctive culture of the 21st century. The voluntary or involuntary neglect of these processes undoubtedly leads to serious misrepresentation in our understanding of further routes of development of the traditional rites. Equally important is the fact that problems of Islamization itself undoubtedly appear more prominent when taking into account factors linked with the new ‘westernized daily routine’. In this regard, very interesting are the new secular rituals and festivities which appeared in modern Kazakh culture not long ago: gender reveal party, baby shower, tilashar (Kaz., literally ‘opening of the tongue’), constituting the subject of this research. This study employs methods of his-torico-cultural and ethnographic approaches, and it is based on fieldwork data obtained during the ethnographic studies in Western Kazakhstan in recent years and data from monitoring personal profiles of users of social networks and services. Gen-der reveal parties and baby shower celebrations are widespread in the entire world, and they are of a secular nature. The analysis of evidence from Kazakh culture shows an example of how modern Kazakhs attempt to fit the ‘westernized’ practices into the universal matrix of present-day Kazakh ritual activities based on three constituents: a repast with an indispensable na-tional dish of ‘meat in Kazakh style’, a symbolic exchange of presents between members of socially kindred group, and bata beru i.e. ‘best wishes from senior relatives’. This is also supported by the search for parallels in the rites, conventional synonymity of the new practices and established family rites. Thus, the secular celebrations of gender reveal and baby shower are acquiring a national colour. The culture is adapting the ‘westernized’ practice; copying of the original example and its re-interpretation at a new level is taking place. In contrast to family rites, the gender party and baby shower are not obligatory; following of such practices is rather a fashion of its kind — a response of the modern Kazakh young people to cultural globalization. The author is trying to find an answer to the ques-tion: why indeed the Kazakh culture is so readily accepting and adapting practices of this kind? The answer seems to lie in the specifics of the social organization of the Kazakh society, in the emergence of new channels for storing and broadcasting of information, and in the overall orientation of modern Kazakhstan towards globalization.
Households of Bohai Gorbatka walled town
Authors: Gelman E.I.
Published: March 2024

The results of excavations on the territory of the Gorbatka walled town became the basis of the research into the economic activity of the early medieval population in the valley of the Ilistaya River (Primorye). The site represents the remains of a large administrative center of the Bohai state (698–926 AD). The purpose of the research is to clarify the role of households in the stable functioning of Gorbatka within the administrative-territorial system of Bohai for a long time. To implement a comprehen-sive study of the excavated dwellings and adjacent spaces, stratigraphic and planigraphic methods, the method of water flota-tion and separation were used, a geological survey was carried out, also botanical remains, bones of terrestrial mammals and fish, and mollusk shells were analyzed. The inhabitants of the households had diversified subsistence economy, in which the leading role belonged to agriculture. Hunting, fishing, collecting wild plants and shellfish, and home crafts (bone carving, wea-ving, woodworking, stone working, production of hand-made pottery) provided main resources needed for survival. Furthermore, the households specialized in non-ferrous metalworking, and possibly small-scale repair of iron products. However, the smelting of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and the production of wheel-made pottery took place in specialized workshops outside households. The lacking food (sea fish and shellfish, prestigious goods from other regions of Bohai) and non-food resources (imported goods) were arriving as a result of local, inter-regional and international exchanges. Planning domestic economic activities at home combined with the implementation of necessary public works during the economic year provided a relatively stable functio-ning of the walled town in the administrative-territorial system of the Bohai state. The town arranged the collection of taxes in households (in manufactured products) towards the central regions of the state and supervised the safety of trade routes.
Artificial Intelligence: A Kalam and Sufi Perspective
Authors: Khalili A.
Published: March 2024

The recent remarkable progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has renewed the discussion on the possibility of human-level AI. Despite the difficulty of the problem and the presence of many large gaps and challenges, most people working in the field think that human-level AI is achievable, but they disagree on the date. In this paper, I briefly discuss the possibility of human-level AI from the perspective of two traditions in the Islamic world, namely Kalam and Sufism, and despite their different mode of investigation, they converge to the same conclusion on this topic.
The p53 tumor suppressor protein activates transcription of DUSP13 isoform from the alternative promoter in intron
Authors: Krześniak Małgorzata , Łasut-Szyszka Barbara , Będzińska Agnieszka , Gdowicz-Kłosok Agnieszka , Rusin Marek
Published: March 2024

The p53 tumor suppressor protein is an activator of transcription. Diverse stress factors lead to various sets of posttranslational modifications of p53 what results in different sets of upregulat-ed genes. We noticed that actinomycin D and nutlin-3a (A+N) synergize in inducing activating phosphorylations of p53 and upregulation of selected p53-target genes. Here we found that one of these genes is DUSP13, which codes for poorly-studied, dual-specificity phosphatase having at least two isoforms, one expressed in testis and the other in skeletal muscles. In cancer cells ex-posed to A+N, DUSP13 is expressed from an alternative promoter in intron, what results in ex-pression of isoform named TMDP-L1. The luciferase reporter tests demonstrated that this pro-moter is activated by both endogenous and ectopically expressed p53. We showed for the first time that mRNA expressed from this promoter actually produces the protein, which can be de-tected by Western blotting in all examined cancer cell lines with wild-type p53 exposed to A+N. In some cell lines it is also induced by clinically relevant camptothecin or by nutlin-3a acting alone. This isoform, fused with green fluorescent protein localizes in perinuclear region of cells. Thus, TMDP-L1 isoform may be an important element of p53-regulated stress response system.
A Longitudinal Study on the Development of Executive Function and Calibration
Authors: Goudas Marios , Samara Evdoxia , Kolovelonis Athanasios
Published: March 2024

This longitudinal study examined the development of executive function and calibration accuracy in pre-adolescents. Two hundred sixty two students(127 females) from grades 4 (n = 91), 5 (n = 89) and 6 (n = 82) took measures of executive function and performance calibration in a sport task, three times within a period of 20 months. A latent growth curve modeling analysis showed a significant relation between the rates of change of executive function and calibration. Further, the results showed a dynamic interplay in the development of executive function and calibration. There were significant inter-individual differences in the estimated population means both in executive function and calibration and in the rate of change of executive function, but not in the rate of change for calibration. The age of the participants had a positive effect only on the estimated population mean of executive function.
Power to the People – on the Role of Districts in Decentralized Energy Systems
Authors: Schnidrig Jonas , Chuat Arthur , Terrier Cédric , Maréchal François , Margni Manuele
Published: March 2024

In the face of escalating climate concerns and the push for sustainable development, the global shift towards renewable and decentralized energy systems presents new challenges and opportunities. This study investigates integrating decentralized energy production, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, into national energy planning, aiming to optimize energy strategies that balance local production and consumption with national objectives. By analyzing the Swiss energy model, the research employs the EnergyScope and REHO models to assess the strategic implications of decentralized versus centralized energy systems. Results show that a decentralized approach can significantly reduce PV installation needs to 35 GW, about 23% of potential capacity, and decrease annual system costs by 10% to CHF 1230 per capita. This strategy emphasizes local consumption, minimizes grid reinforcement demands, and leverages economic advantages while addressing overproduction challenges through effective energy storage and grid management. Conclusions underline the strategic value of combining centralized and decentralized methods for resilient and sustainable energy planning. The study contributes to the discourse on energy policy and infrastructure planning, advocating for a hybrid model that accommodates both local conditions and broader energy objectives, urging further research into climate impacts and technology integration for a comprehensive energy future.
Assessment of Vegetation Dynamics at a Hyper Arid Region Using Remote Sensing, a Case Study from The Arava Valley
Authors: Meroz Ariel Mordechai , Yin He , Levin Noam
Published: March 2024

The hyper-arid environment is characterized by high inter-annual climatic fluctuations. The yearly average rainfall can change substantially for several years, forming wet or dry sub-periods. Observing rainfall trends over a sub-period can lead to a false perception of a change in the trend but may in fact represent a periodic cycle when examined on a larger time scale. We aimed to better characterize the rainfall regime prevailing in the hyper-arid Arava Valley (Israel/Jordan), and to examine the response of vegetation to annual rainfall. We hypothesized that annual and perennial vegetation would respond differently to wet and dry sub-periods, and that grazing activities will impact vegetation growth. We used a time series of monthly rainfall, from which we calculated Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), and calculated proxies of perennial and annual vegetation over the last four decades using Landsat-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We found no clear trend in rainfall amounts during this period, however we did identify wet and dry sub-periods which were statistically distinct in rain and in vegetation patterns from each other. The highest levels of correlation between rainfall and the NDVI derived proxies were found when examining average rainfall over a period of two- three years for the annual vegetation and over four years for perennial vegetation. Using the Mann-Kendall test, we identified a time lag of two to four years, with the proxies of annual vegetation responding faster than the proxies of perennial vegetation, to shifts between wet and dry sub-period. In addition, we found a consistent difference between natural vegetation cover in Jordan (grazed) and Israel (non-grazed), favoring the development of natural vegetation on the Israeli side. We conclude that integrating between long-term remote sensing satellite imagery and climatic records revealed the greater resilience of perennial vegetation in the hyper-arid region to climatic fluctuation, and enabled us to identify the vegetation’s sensitivity to anthropogenic impact.
Effect of Dentin Irrigants on Push-Out Bond Strength in Resin Cementation Protocols for Fiber Post in Endodontically Treated Teeth: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Varela Sandra García , Ramos João Carlos , Villamayor María José Ginzo , Baz Pablo Castelo , Díaz Ramón Méndez , D`Abate Marcos Aníbal Anache , Gancedo-Gancedo Tania , Piñón Manuel Ruíz , Bueno Soledad Mareque , Biedma Benjamín José Martín
Published: March 2024

A The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of different endodontic irrigants and adhesive systems on resin bond strength of fiber post cementation. 144 single-rooted, unrestored human teeth were endodontically treated and randomly divided into 12 groups according to 4 endodontic irrigants (distilled water as control; EDTA 17%; NaOCl 5%; clorhexidine 2%) and 3 different adhesive/resin cement systems (etch-and-rinse: ortofosforic acid, Parabond® A+B/Paracore®; self-etch: ParaBond® Non-Rinse Conditioner, Parabond® A+B /Paracore®; Universal: ClearfilTM Universal Bond/ ClearfilTM DC Core Plus). 48 h after post cementation ten teeth from each group were cross sectioned into 3 discs (cervical, middle and apical regions). 30 specimens of each group (n=30) were submitted to push-out test at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The remaining 2 teeth of each group were sectioned in the same manner and the resin-dentin interface was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were statistically analyzed with the ANOVA and Tukey’s test (< 0,01). The adhesive protocols and post space region showed no significant effect on bond strength (> 0.01). The combination of NaOCl 5% and ClearfilTM Universal Bond reduced the adhesive strength (< 0.01). The NaOCl 5%, in relation with other irrigants, significantly decreased the push-out bond strength.
The SGLT2 Inhibitors Empagliflozin Alleviate Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting CTGF-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) Rats
Authors: Ji Kuirong , Zeng Xiaochun , Wei Jianbin , Zhang Lingyi , Hao Lanxiang , Fan Mingliang , Chen Xiaomin
Published: March 2024

Objective: Aims to investigate the effects of empagliflozin (EMPA), a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, on renal fibrosis in male diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Methods: Streptozotocin(STZ) were injected to establish diabetes model, EMPA (10 mg/kg·d) or normal saline (NS) were administered for four weeks. The changes in renal fibrosis-related biomarkers, include vimentin (VIM), collagen types I(Col-I), collagen types III(Col-III), fibroblast-specific protein 1(FSP-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN) were evaluated. Renal pathology, serum glucose levels and urinary protein excretion were also assessed. Results: Biomarkers of renal fibrosis were significantly reduced in the EMPA group compared to those in the NS group after 4-week treatment, including VIM (519.84±83.37 vs. 663.27±91.84 ng/ml, P<0.05), Col-I (21.27±1.46 vs. 25.71±2.82 ng/ml , P<0.05) and Col-III (7.06±1.12 vs. 9.43±1.36 ng/ml, P<0.05), FSP-1 (4.38±0.81 vs. 5.70±0.78 ng/ml, P<0.05), and CTGF (1147±217 vs. 1556±235 pg/ml, P<0.05),respectively. Nevertheless, compared to normal control (NC) group, the levels of renal fibrosis-related biomarkers in the EMPA group showed no significant differences except for VIM, which was VIM (336.66±28.87 vs. 519.84±83.37 ng/mL, P<0.001). NS group rats showed notable renal tubular dilation and casts, EMPA group exhibited only mild tubular dilation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that empagliflozin reverse renal fibrosis potentially through inhibiting CTGF-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
The Use of Various Methods in Assessing the Quality of Honey in Terms of the Presence of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (Hmf)
Authors: Zembrzuska Joanna , Pakulski Łukasz , Karbowska Bożena , Bartoszewicz Jarosław , Janeba-Bartoszewicz Edyta , Selech Jarosław , Kurczewski Przemysław
Published: March 2024

The 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a six-carbon heterocyclic organic compound with two substituents an aldehyde group and an alcohol group. It is formed from saccharides as a result of two reactions: the Maillard reaction and the caramelization of saccharides. It has both a negative and a positive effect on the human body, which makes it, even more, an attractive research object. The objective of the study was to determine HMF content in honey samples available on the Polish market using three varied methods and compare the results obtained. The methodology used included: two spectrophotometric methods (by White and Winkler) and the HMF determination method based on the LC-MS/MS technique developed uniquely for this study. The determined HMF content in all tested honey samples did not exceed the applicable standard. All results are within the scope of the European Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001, i.e. they do not exceed HMF content in honey, which is 40 mg/kg.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for the Evaluation of Dental Pulp Chamber Volume: Implications for Clinics and Teaching
Authors: Llacer-Martínez Maria , Martín-Biedma Benjamín , Sanz María T. , Aura-Tormos Juan I. , Fos-Galve Pablo , Fernández-Muñiz Zulima , Vega José A. , Jovani-Sancho Mar
Published: March 2024

Dental pulp chamber volume is a fundamental measurement in the field of endodontics, but also in forensic sciences, teaching and training, or tissue engineering. This study evaluates the precision of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in comparison with computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) in evaluating pulp chamber volume of upper central incisors ex vivo. The intra-operator and inter-operator error were evaluated, and the results for the two techniques were compared with a T-test for paired samples. Intra-operator and inter-operator errors were >0.05, indicating an adequate reproducibility in each operator and no significant differences between their meas-urements. On the other hand, no significant differences between the two measurement techniques. The present results demonstrate that CBCT is a precise, feasible and reproducible technique for evaluation of dental pulp chamber volume ex vivo. Results provided with this method are suitable for different medical branches but also for teaching and training of undergraduate and post-graduate students. Furthermore, the findings of this study carry significant clinical implications, as accurate assessment of pulp chamber volume is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of various endodontic conditions. The ability of CBCT to provide reliable 3D dental anatomy measurements can enhance the planning of endodontic treatments by allowing for a better understanding of internal tooth morphology. Additionally, the precision and reproducibility of CBCT in assessing pulp chamber volume can contribute to improved clinical outcomes and reduced complications during endodontic procedures. These findings further support the increasingly vital role of CBCT in modern clinical practice and underscore its value as an indispensable tool in the field of dentistry.
Validation of a 3D Local-Scale Adaptive Solar Radiation Model by Using Pyranometer Measurements and High-Resolution DEM
Authors: Rodríguez Eduardo , García-Ferrero Judit , Sanchez-Aparicio Maria , Iglesias José Manuel , Oliver-Serra Albert , Santos Sánchez María Jesus , Andres-Anaya Paula , Cascón José Manuel , MONTERO GUSTAVO , Medina Alejandro , Lagüela Susana , Asensio M.Isabel , Montenegro Rafael
Published: March 2024

The result of the multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from different areas of knowledge to validate a solar radiation model is presented. The MAPsol is a 3D local-scale adaptive solar radiation model that allows to estimate direct, diffuse and reflected irradiance for clear sky conditions. The model includes the adaptation of the mesh to complex orography and albedo, and considers the shadows cast by the terrain and buildings. The surface mesh generation is based on surface refinement, smoothing and parameterisation techniques and allows the generation of high quality adapted meshes with a reasonable number of elements. Another key aspect of the paper is the generation of a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM). This high-resolution DEM is constructed from LiDAR data and its resolution if two times more accurate than the publicly available DEMs. The validation process uses direct and global solar irradiance data obtained from pyranometers at the University of Salamanca located in an urban area affected by systematic shading from nearby buildings. This work provides an efficient protocol for studying solar resources, with particular emphasis on areas of complex orography and dense buildings where shadows can potentially make solar energy production facilities less efficient.
Characterization of Nutritional Potential of Amaranthus sp. Grain Production
Authors: Mătieș Alexandru , Negrușier Cornel , Roșca Mare Oana , Mintaș Olimpia Smaranda , Zanc (Săvan) Gabriela , Odagiu Antonia Cristina Maria , Andronie Luiza , Păcurar Ioan
Published: March 2024

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches the amaranth, which is a plant with high potential, highlighting the morphological growth, grain biomass pro-duction, and quantitative traits of seven varieties of amaranth cultivated in the pedoclimatic con-ditions of Somes meadow in Transylvania. A bifactorial trial was implemented with factors ama-ranth species and amaranth varieties. Two amaranth species and seven varieties were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The interrelationships between amaranth morphological traits quantified by using Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately con-tribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly con-tributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that morpho-productive, and nutritional characteristics of the seven amaranth varieties comprised by our study recommend the plans to be used in various nutritional aims, being a valuable replacer of traditional raw materials in specific food and feed industry sectors.
Strict Sense Minimizers Which Are Not Extended Minimizers and Abnormality
Authors: Fusco Giovanni , Motta Monica
Published: March 2024

We consider a constrained optimal control problem and an extension of it, in which the set of strict-sense trajectories is enlarged. Extension is a common procedure in optimal control, used to derive necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for the original problem from the extended one, which usually admits a minimizer and has a more regular structure. However, this procedure fails if the two problems have different infima. It is therefore relevant to identify such situations. Following on from earlier work by Warga but adopting perturbation techniques developed in non-smooth analysis, we investigate the relation between the occurrence of an infimum gap and abnormality of necessary conditions. For a notion of local minimizer based on control distance and an extension including the impulsive one, we prove that (i) a local extended minimizer which is not a local minimizer of the original problem and (ii) a local strict-sense minimizer which is not a local minimizer of the extended problem, both satisfy the extended maximum principle in abnormal form. The main novelty is result (ii), as until now it had only been shown that a strict-sense minimizer which is not an extended minimizer is abnormal for an `averaged version’ of the maximum principle.
Removable Singularities of Harmonic Functions on Stratified Sets
Authors: Dairbekov Nurlan S. , Penkin Oleg M. , Savasteev Denis V.
Published: March 2024

We prove an analog of the removable singularity theorem for bounded harmonic functions on stratified sets. The harmonic functions are understood in the sense of the soft Laplacian. The result can become one of the main technical components for extending the well-known Poincaré–Perron’s method of proving the solvability of the Dirichlet problem for the soft Laplacian.
Humane slaughter in Mediterranean sea bass and bream aquaculture: Farm characteristics, stakeholder views, and policy implications
Authors: van Pelt Koen , Carpendale Max , Ryba Ren
Published: March 2024

In many countries, increasing concern for animal welfare is driving retailer commitments and government legislation that aim to improve the lives of farmed fish. One aspect of fish welfare involves stunning fish prior to slaughter. The feasibility of stunning depends on the species of fish and physical farm characteristics. In this article, we provide an overview of stunning before slaughter in European sea bass and sea bream aquaculture, one of the largest finfish farming industries in the developed world that does not yet stun most of its production. Sea bass and sea bream stunning necessitates the use of electrical stunning equipment aboard harvest vessels, often a significant distance from the shoreline; this presents an interesting engineering and policy challenge. Together, Türkiye, Greece, Spain, and Italy produced over 400,000 t of sea bass and sea bream in 2020. In Türkiye and Greece, farms are numerous and located very close to the shoreline. In Spain and Italy, farms are few and located far from the shoreline. The highest average production is found in farms from Türkiye (1,000 t) and Spain (1,300 t, and lower average production is found in Greece (300 t) and Italy (350 t). Producer progress towards the installation of electrical stunning appears comparatively well-developed for Türkiye, Spain, and Greece, though we emphasise that producers and other stakeholders require continued support to realise this opportunity. Producers in Italy appear slower to make progress on this aspect of animal welfare and may require additional support.
Technological Advancements in Cotton Agronomy: A Review and Prospects
Authors: Adeleke Adeyemi
Published: March 2024

Cotton is the most ubiquitous and profitable fiber with diverse industrial and domestic applications. Grown in over 100 countries, it has a global market value of about $40 billion and employs over 350 million people from fields to textile mills, contributing about 7% of total labor-force recruitment in developing economies. Cotton has an indeterminate growth habit and an extensive tap root system affected by soil physicochemical and environmental conditions. There is a consensus among experts that conventional cotton cultivation still has a long way to attain sustainability, which is essential if cotton will maintain its competitive edge over other natural and synthetic fibers like hemp, polyesters, and rayon. Despite several efforts already committed to growing cotton sustainably, sustainability has eluded cotton cultivation globally because of the intense farm inputs (freshwater, pesticides, and heavy-duty equipment) needs, especially in developing economies. Some of the technological advancements towards achieving the goal of sustainable cotton cultivation include the development of new varieties, improved irrigation and mulching and precision agriculture techniques, application of remote sensing and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) combined with image processing, and the introduction of autonomous and multi-purpose robotic platforms for growing and harvesting cotton. This review attempts to evaluate the successes already achieved by stakeholders in moving cotton towards sustainable production and identify areas where efforts are still needed to reach sustainable production and improved profitability goals for cotton with projections for future research directions.
Influence of Internal and External Foot Rotation on Peak Knee Adduction Moments and Ankle Moments during Gait in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kim Yongwook
Published: March 2024

Biomechanical changes such as increased knee adduction moment (KAM) during walking are known to be involved in the development and severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Although various foot progression angle (FPA) modifications during gait have been applied to reduce peak KAM, few studies have investigated effects of applying toe-in or toe-out walking modifications for knee OA on peak KAM and three-dimensional (3D) moments of the ankle joint. Kinetic moment variables were acquired from 35 individuals with medial knee compartment OA. A 3D motion analysis system and two force platforms were used to acquire KAM and 3D moments of both ankle joints during gait. Visual3D motion analysis program was used to obtain final moment data for statistical processing. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment was used to compare kinetic and kinematic values for each FPA walking condition. The first peak KAM of an internal rotation foot position of the FPA walking condition showed significant decrease compared to normal foot position walking (p < 0.01). The second peak KAM of an external rotation foot position walking showed significant decrease compared to normal foot position walking (p < 0.01). Compared to a normal foot position, peak ankle inversion moment of the external rotation foot position walking showed a significantly decrease (p < 0.05). There were no interactive effects between FPA condition and limb sides for any KAM values (p > 0.05). These results suggest that clinical application of toe-in or toe-out gait modification walking in individuals with knee OA should be performed based on biomechanical evaluations such as peak KAM.
Through-Wall Imaging Using Low-Cost FMCW Radar Sensors
Authors: Paun Mirel
Published: March 2024

Many fields of human activity benefit from the ability to create images of obscured objects placed behind walls and to map their displacement in a noninvasive way. Usually, imaging devices like Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR) and Ground Penetrating Radars (GPR) use expensive dedicated electronics which results in prohibitive prices. This paper presents the experimental implementation and the results obtained from an imaging system capable of performing SAR imaging and interferometric displacement mapping of targets located behind walls, as well as 3D GPR imaging using a low-cost general-purpose radar sensor. The proposed solution uses for the RF section of the system a K-band microwave radar sensor module implementing Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave operation. The low-cost sensor was originally intended for simple presence detection and ranging for domestic applications. The proposed system was tested in several scenarios and proved to operate as intended for a fraction of the cost of a commercial imaging device.
Decreasing Soil Organic Carbon in Maize Cultivated Soil in Lowland Northern Thailand: Evidenced by the Interactions between Nutrients and Dissolved Organic Carbon
Authors: Aumtong Suphathida , Chotamonsak Chakrit , Lapyai Duangnapha
Published: March 2024

.Maize cultivation in Thailand faces challenges owing to climate change and soil organic carbon (SOC) loss. This highlights the importance of comparing maize soil with paddy soil in terms of the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrient availability, as they influence SOC content. Soil samples from Chiang Mai province, primarily Fluvisol, were collected for the cultivation of paddy rice and maize, analysed for carbon fractions and chemical properties, and categorised into layers. Comparative analysis revealed that maize soils had lower levels of labile carbon components and organic carbon than paddy soils (P
Anaerobic Digestion’s Process Stability Parameters for Maximizing Methane Yield
Authors: Adisa Abidemi Olawunmi , Durrant Andy
Published: March 2024

The mechanical pre-treatment constitutes an unavoidable pre-step prior to biofuels conversion. As the cost of this step is often underestimated, recently researchers have striven to identify and characterize the mechanical pre-treatment effects in terms of post-treatment physical characterization, derived improvement of enzymatic digestibility, and output yields. The status of existing mechanical pre-treatment techniques is reviewed by substrate’s typology for lignocellulose biomass, focusing on comminution techniques. Emphasis has been dedicated to the particle size achieved after treatment, crystallinity breakage and eventual inhibitory phenomena deriving from the application of particle size reduction, which are analysed and discussed.
Analysing the Dynamics of Housing Price-Vacancy Relationship in the Hong Kong Housing Markets
Authors: Yiu Chung Yim , Murray Thomas
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the relationship between housing prices and vacancy rates in Hong Kong, offering insights distinct from previous cross-sectional analyses. Addressing limitations in data availability and methodological approaches, the study examines annual data spanning multiple housing size categories to uncover nuanced dynamics in the housing market. Two major contributions emerge: firstly, the analysis reveals the price elasticity of vacancy, elucidating how housing prices respond to changes in vacancy rates over time. Secondly, by considering housing vacancy changes as outcomes of the interactions between supply and demand, the study challenges the conventional independence assumption between these variables. The results support the hypothesis that housing vacancies exert a negative impact on housing prices, holding other factors constant. These findings have significant implications for policymakers, urban planners, and real estate investors, providing valuable insights for crafting targeted interventions and informing investment decisions.
Electrochemical Monitoring on Anticoagulation Therapy
Authors: Mruthunjaya Ashwin K. V. , Torriero Angel Alberto Jesus
Published: March 2024

The process of blood coagulation, wherein circulating blood transforms into a clot in response to internal or external injury, is a critical physiological mechanism. Monitoring this coagulation process is vital to ensure that blood clotting occurs neither too rapidly nor too slowly. Anticoagulants, a category of medications designed to prevent and treat blood clots, require meticulous monitoring to optimise dosage, enhance clinical outcomes, and minimise adverse effects. This review article delves into the various stages of blood coagulation, explores commonly used anticoagulants and their targets within the coagulation enzyme system, and emphasises the electrochemical methods employed in anticoagulant testing. Electrochemical sensors for anticoagulant monitoring are categorised into two types. The first type focuses on assays measuring thrombin activity via electrochemical techniques. The second type involves modified electrode surfaces that either directly measure the redox behaviour of anticoagulants or monitor the response of standard redox probes in the presence of these drugs. The review provides a comprehensive list of different electrode compositions and their detection and quantification limits. Additionally, it discusses the potential of employing a universal calibration plot to replace individual drug-specific calibrations. The insights presented are anticipated to significantly contribute to the sensor community's efforts in this field.
Derivation of Creep Parameters for Surrounding Rock Through Creep Tests and Deformation Monitoring Data: Assessing Tunnel Lining Safety
Authors: Pei Jiangrong , Liu Lipeng , Wang Xiaogang , Ling Yuanqiao
Published: March 2024

: Tunnel instability and lining integrity are intimately tied to the creep properties of the surrounding rock. The acquisition of rock mass creep parameters is critical in ascertaining the appropriate timing for lining construction. Nevertheless, creep tests on rock specimens conducted in a controlled setting cannot be straightforwardly extrapolated to rock mass creep analysis. This study performs laboratory-based creep tests on mudstone samples and establishes the corresponding creep constitutive model. Integration of a Mohr-Coulomb element with the Burgers model in series serves to characterise the yield creep behaviour of the rock mass. Additionally, the research outlines a series of 100 orthogonal experiments utilising randomised creep parameters, and formulates a GA-BP neural network inversion model. Employing long-term deformation measurements from the crown and sidewalls of the project site, this study deduces the creep parameters of the mudstone in the investigated tunnel section and examines the prolonged deformation traits of the surrounding rock. Drawing on the deformation traits of the surrounding rock and the forces impacting the primary support and lining structures, this paper evaluates the earliest and latest viable lining casting periods and pinpoints an optimal timing interval for lining implementation. The methodologies employed herein can serve as a benchmark for analogous endeavors internationally.
Environmental Sustainability of Building Materials in Turkey: Reference Information Recommendations for European Green Deal Declarations
Authors: Ak Şerife , Aytekin Osman , Kuşan Hakan , Zorluer Ismail
Published: March 2024

The European Green Deal is the policy established by the EU against global environmental problems. However, it is closely concerned with the countries carrying import and export activities with the EU. Because it is planned to impose an obligation to declare greenhouse gas emission inventories of products imported into the EU, the EU will soon begin to assess the CBAM on imports from carbon-intensive industries. This regulation is expected to affect Turkey-EU trade relations. One of the industries that Turkey has export relations with the EU is the building materials industry. For this reason, it will have had necessary to provide sustainability criteria for the export of building materials. However, there is no database in Turkey where the inventory data of building materials is declared. In Turkey, within the scope of EU Green Deal action plans, it is aimed to create different structures for environmental information of building materials in the medium and long term. In light of such information, within the scope of this study it is aimed to create reference information for building material databases to be developed in Turkey. The study recommends weight and normalization reference values following the life cycle assessment methodology defined by ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 international standards. Twelve environmental impact categories accepted in the literature, including greenhouse gas emissions, have been considered as the environmental impacts of building materials. Semi-structured interviews were held with twenty-one industry stakeholders in Tur-key to determine the weight reference values. The results obtained from the semi-structured interviews were combined using the AHP method. An extensive research study was conducted on Turkey’s national inventory data to determine normalization reference values. Environmental impact calculations were carried out for different building materials in a case study to present the importance of regional adaptation of the determined reference values. The recommended reference information may be used in greenhouse gas emission declarations under the EU Green Deal and other potential environmental impact declarations from building materials.
Genome-Wide Identification of the DGK Gene Family in Kiwifruit (Actinidia valvata Dunn) and Expression Analysis of Their Responses to Waterlogging Stress
Authors: Zhang Meijuan , Liu Cuixia , Wang Faming , Liu ShiBiao , Gao Jianyou , Li Jiewei , Mo Quanhui , Ye Kaiyu , Qi Beibei , Gong Hongjuan
Published: March 2024

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is a lipid kinase that phosphorylates diacylglycerol (DAG) to generate phosphatidic acid (PA). Based on converting one important signaling molecule (DAG) to another (PA), DGK plays an important role in plant responses to abiotic stress including waterlogging stress. However, no studies have been reported on the characterization of the DGK gene family in the waterlogging-tolerant kiwifruit germplasm, Actinidia valvata Dunn. Here, we identified 18 AvDGK genes in the A. valvata genome. The phylogenetic analysis showed that AvDGKs can be classified into three clusters, and members within the same cluster have similar domain distribution, exon-intron structures and conserved motif compositions. Chromosome localization analysis revealed that all the AvDGK genes are located across 18 different chromosomes. There were 29 duplicated gene pairs in kiwifruit and all had undergone purifying selection during evolution. Promoter cis-element analysis revealed that the cis-elements within AvDGK genes are associated with multiple functions, including phytohormone signal transduction, stress response, and plant growth and development. The expression pattern analyses indicated that AvDGK play an important role in the fruit development and plant response to waterlogging stress. AvDGKs gene family in the tetraploid A. valvata genome might promote PA synthesis and subsequent signal transduction both under short-term and long-term waterlogging stress. These results provide information regarding the structural characteristics and potential function of DGK genes within kiwifruit and lay a fundamental basis for further research into breeding for enhancing the kiwifruit’s tolerance to waterlogging stress.