bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Daily global methane super-emitter detection and source identification with sub-daily tracking
Authors: de Jong Tobias , Maasakkers Joannes , Irakulis-Loitxate Itziar , Randles Cynthia , Tol Paul , Aben Ilse
Published: February 2024

We use the Shortwave Infrared bands of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite instruments to retrieve atmospheric methane enhancements with 750m resolution. We show that the three VIIRS instruments in orbit uniquely enhance the currently-employed capabilities of tracking methane super-emission events. The VIIRS instrument on Suomi-NPP and the TROPOMI instrument on Sentinel-5 Precursor have overpasses that are only a few minutes apart, which allows for direct identification of methane super-emitter sources by VIIRS as first detected by TROPOMI. The co-location also allows us to cross-validate our VIIRS methane enhancements with TROPOMI. Furthermore, we show how the global multiple overpasses per day by VIIRS and Sentinel-3 give a unique insight in the timeline of emissions and can be vital in understanding and attributing transient emissions.
Repeated Exposure Decreases Aesthetic Chills Likelihood but Increases Intensity
Authors: Schoeller Felix , Jain Abhinandan , Christov-Moore Leonardo , Lynch Caite , Diot Thomas , Reggente Nicco
Published: February 2024

Aesthetic chills are a peak emotional response to affectively charged stimuli such as music, films, or speech. This study investigates the impact of repeated exposure on the frequency and intensity of aesthetic chills. Through a longitudinal approach, we quantified changes in chill likelihood, intensity, and pleasure across multiple exposures, focusing on audio stimuli. Participants (n = 58) were randomly exposed to 6 chill-evoking stimuli pre-validated on the population of interest, in a counterbalanced order. Our findings revealed a significant decrease in the likelihood of experiencing chills with repeated exposure, suggesting habituation to chills itself or potential fatigue in response to aesthetic stimuli. The study also identified distinct demographic and psychophysiological response patterns across different participant groups, indicating variability in chill responses. These results provide insights into the dynamic nature of aesthetic experiences and their underlying neural mechanisms, with implications for understanding emotional and reward processing in psychophysiology.
Empathy from Dissimilarity: Multivariate Pattern Analysis of Neural Activity During Observation of Somatosensory Experience
Authors: Lulla Roshni , Christov-Moore Leonardo , Vaccaro Anthony G , Reggente Nicco , Iacoboni Marco , Kaplan Jonas
Published: February 2024

Empathy seems to rely on our ability to faithfully simulate multiple aspects of others’ inferred experiences, often using brain structures we would use during a similar experience. Much neuroimaging work in this vein has related empathic tendencies to univariate correlates of simulation strength or salience. However, novel evidence suggests that empathy may rely on the multivariate distinctiveness of these simulations. Someone whose representations of painful and non-painful stimulation are more distinct from each other may more accurately simulate that experience upon seeing somebody else experience it. We sought to predict empathic tendencies from the dissimilarity between neural activity patterns evoked by observing other people experience pain and touch and compared those findings to traditional univariate analyses. In support of a simulationist perspective, diverse observed somatosensory experiences were best classified by activation patterns in contralateral somatosensory and insular cortices, the same areas that would be active were the subject experiencing the stimuli themselves. In support of our specific hypothesis, the degree of dissimilarity between patterns for pain and touch in distinct areas was each associated with different aspects of trait empathy. Furthermore, the pattern dissimilarity analysis proved more informative regarding individual differences than analogous univariate analyses. These results suggest that representative dissimilarity at distinct points in the processing hierarchy facilitates the multimodal simulation of others’ experiences in the service of empathy. Activation pattern dissimilarity may be a useful tool for parsing the neuroimaging correlates of complex cognitive functions like empathy.
Jazz Trio Database: Automated Annotation of Jazz Piano Trio Recordings Processed Using Audio Source Separation
Authors: Cheston Huw , Schlichting Joshua L. , Cross Ian , Harrison Peter M. C.
Published: February 2024

Recent advances in automatic music transcription have facilitated the creation of large databases of symbolic transcriptions of improvised music forms including jazz, where traditional notated scores are not normally available. In conjunction with music source separation models that enable audio to be “demixed” into separate signals for multiple instrument classes, these algorithms can also be applied to generate annotations for every musician in a performance. This can enable the analysis of interesting performer-level and ensemble-level features that have often been difficult to explore. To this end, we introduce JTD (Jazz Trio Database), a dataset of 44.5 hours of jazz piano solos accompanied by bass and drums, with automatically generated annotations for each performer. These annotations consist of onset, beat, and downbeat timestamps, alongside MIDI for the piano soloist. Suitable recordings, broadly representative of the “straight-ahead” jazz style, were identified by scraping user-based listening and discographic data; source separation models were applied to isolate audio for each performer in the trio; annotations were generated by applying appropriate algorithms to both the separated and mixed audio sources. Onset annotations generated by the pipeline achieved a mean F-measure of 0.94 when compared with ground truth annotations. We conduct several analyses of JTD, including with relation to swing and inter-performer synchronization. We anticipate that JTD will be useful in a variety of music information retrieval tasks, including artist identification and expressive performance modeling. We have made JTD, including the annotations and associated source code, available at https://github.com/HuwCheston/Jazz-Trio-Database.
Tugas Matematika B09 Kelas 5D
Authors: Setiawan Adib Rifqi
Published: February 2024

Tugas Matematika B09 Kelas 5D
Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from skin and soft-tissue infection patients attending a tertiary care hospital in North India
Authors: Bajarangi Lal Chaudhary  , Sanjeev Sahai
Published: February 2024

Background: Antimicrobial susceptibility among bacterial isolates varies from center to center. Mupirocin is a topical antibacterial antibiotic used to treat wound infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted to know the prevalence of high and low levels of mupirocin resistance along with antimicrobial susceptibility in MRSA isolates from skin and soft-tissue infection in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in North India.
Materials and Methods: A total of 97 non-repetitive isolates of MRSA from various pus samples over a period of 1 year were included in this study. These strains were identified as per standard laboratory protocols given by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. High- and low-level mupirocin resistance of the isolates was tested by using mupirocin discs of 200 μg and 5 μg, respectively. Mupirocin strips of 256 μg and 512 μg were used for the E-test to detect low-level and high-level mupirocin resistance, respectively. The isolates were reported as sensitive to mupirocin, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of <4 mg/L.
Results: Overall, 9.27% of mupirocin resistance was found, of which 2.06% of isolates were high-level resistant to mupirocin, while 7.21% had low-level resistance. All MRSA strains were susceptible to vancomycin, followed by linezolid (94.84%), teicoplanin (91.75%), and fusidic acid (88.65%).
Conclusion: Regular monitoring, good infection control practices, and proper awareness about utilizing mupirocin therapeutically and prophylactically may help prevent the emergence of mupirocin resistance in health-care facilities.
Speciation of Candida species isolated from cutaneous skin lesions using CHROMagar and conventional methods
Authors: Neha Rathore  , Jaya Lalwani  , Priyanka Singh  , Mamta Meena
Published: February 2024

Background: Candida species are members of the normal flora of the skin, mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal tract. They are endogenous opportunists which cause secondary infection in individuals with some underlying immunocompromised conditions. Candidiasis is a common fungal disease found in humans affecting mucosa, skin, nails, and internal organs of the body. Candida albicans is generally considered the major pathogen among the Candida species. An increase in the prevalence of non-albicans species has been noted during the last decades.
Aims and Objectives:The study was done to evaluate the performance of the conventional identification method and commercially available chromogenic Candida speciation media (CHROMagar) for the identification of medically important yeast and yeast-like organisms in a routine clinical microbiology laboratory. 
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Gandhi Medical College, Hamidia, and Associated Hospitals, Bhopal (M.P.), from January 2020 to October 2021. A total of 180 samples were collected from patients suspected of superficial mycoses which were then subjected to direct KOH examination and culture on plain Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA), on SDA with antibiotics slants (cycloheximide and chloramphenicol). The growths were examined macroscopically as well as microscopically. Germ tube tests and inoculations on CHROMagar Candida medium were performed on all growths identified as yeasts and confirmed by morphology on CMA.
Results: In our study, the majority of patients, belonged to the age group of 21–30 years (25%) with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Candida tropicalis (44.68%) was the most common Candida species, followed by C. albicans (38.30%), Candida krusei (12.77%), and Candida glabrata (4.25%).
Conclusion: Along with C. albicans, non-albicans Candida spp such as C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. glabrata are increasingly being isolated from clinical specimens. Identification of Candida species by colony color on Hicrome correlated with the morphology on CMA. Thus, the incorporation of CMA in routine yeast identification is more judicious than Hicrome as it increases the accuracy in the identification of Candida species within the same time as that of Hicrome.
A randomized control study on the effect of probiotics on feed tolerance in very low birth weight neonates
Authors: Senthil Kumaran G  , Chairman Muthu Prem Kumar L  , Jeyarama Krishnan R
Published: February 2024

Background: Probiotics are live microbial supplements that increase feed tolerance, colonize the gut of these newborns with beneficial flora, and promote growth in these infants.
Aims and Objectives: This study was planned to compare the role of probiotics in low birth weight (LBW) infants in the time taken to reach full feeds, episodes of feed intolerance, weight gain, duration of hospital stay, incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) stage 2 or more, and morbidity and mortality during hospital stay.
Materials and Methods: This interventional two-arm blinded randomized control study was conducted in Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital, Thoothukudi, from November 2019 to October 2020. The selected sample of babies was randomly divided into two groups, the probiotic and the no-probiotic group. Bifidobacterium breve M-16 was administered to infants in the probiotic group at a dose of 0.5 g/day once a day in breast milk. Only breast milk was used to feed babies in the no-probiotic group.
Results: The time to reach full enteral feed was shorter in the probiotic group (9.21±1.74 days) than in the no-probiotic group (12.43±3.74 days). Better feed tolerance (12%) was seen in the probiotic group than in the no-probiotic (44%) group. A low incidence of sepsis (12%) was seen in the probiotic group than in the non-probiotic group (40%). A lesser duration of hospital stay (10.42±1.77 days) was seen in the probiotic group than in the probiotic group (13.78±4.18 days).
Conclusion: Very LBW neonates who received probiotic supplements along with their feeds have shorter times to reach full feeds, greater feed tolerance, lower rates of sepsis, and shorter mean hospital stays.
A comparative study between laser hemorrhoidoplasty with digital-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation and conventional (Milligan-Morgan) hemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Rajkumar Verma  , Narendra Kumar  , Vipin Mishra
Published: February 2024

Background: Hemorrhoids have a much higher incidence than rectum and colon diseases worldwide. The prevalence was estimated to be between 2.9% and 27.9% among the worldwide population, of which 4% are symptomatic. Based on the Gauss method, the highest incidence was present in patients aged between 45 and 65 years.
Aims and Objectives: To compare laser hemorrhoidoplasty with digital-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation (DGHAL) and conventional (Milligan-Morgan) open hemorrhoidectomy procedures.
Materials and Methods: A prospective follow-up study was undertaken in the Department of Surgery, Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi, from January 2020 to June 2021. In this comparative and prospective study, 60 patients were included, of whom 30 were treated with open surgical hemorrrhoidectomy (Milligan-Morgan) and 30 were treated with laser hemorrhoidoplasty with the DGHAL method.
Results: Male patients numbered 41 and female patients numbered 19. Between laser hemorrhoidoplasty with DGHAL and the open surgical hemorrrhoidectomy (Milligan-Morgan) approach, there were significant differences in operating time, blood loss, bleeding; and early postoperative pain. In terms of early postoperative pain, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.001). The mean operational time for laser hemorrhoidoplasty with DGHAL was 22.57±1.794 min, compared to 29.43±3.664 min for the open surgical hemorrrhoidectomy (Milligan-Morgan) method (P<0.002).
Conclusion: Laser hemorrhoidoplasty with Doppler-guided hemorrhoidal artery ligation (DGHAL) is safe and effective in cases of all grades of hemorrhoids as compared to open surgical (Milligan-Morgan) hemorrhoidectomy.
Association between anesthetic type and perioperative outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery: An observational study
Authors: Sugandhini Boda  , Rajeshwari K
Published: February 2024

Background: Pediatric surgeries require careful anesthetic choice. The impact of general anesthesia (GA) versus regional anesthesia (RA) on post-operative outcomes remains underexplored.
Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to assess the association between anesthetic type and perioperative outcomes, including post-operative pain, nausea incidence, and recovery room stay duration in pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery.
Materials and Methods: This observational study involved 100 pediatric patients undergoing elective surgery. Participants were grouped based on the anesthetic received: GA or RA. Outcomes measured included post-operative pain (0–10 scale), post-operative nausea incidence, and recovery room stay length.
Results: The mean post-operative pain score for GA patients was 4.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 1.5), with most reporting scores between 3.0 and 6.0. For RA patients, the mean pain score was 3.8 (SD: 1.2), with the majority reporting scores between 2.6 and 5.0. Patients under RA had marginally reduced post-operative pain scores than those under GA. Regarding nausea, 56% of GA patients reported post-operative nausea, while only 36% of RA patients did. The mean recovery room stay for GA patients was 120 min (SD: 30 min), with most staying between 90 and 150 min. RA patients had an average stay of 100 min (SD: 25 min), with the majority staying between 75 and 125 min.
Conclusion: Pediatric patients administered RA demonstrated slightly lower post-operative pain, decreased incidence of nausea, and a shorter recovery room stay compared to those given GA. These findings suggest potential benefits of RA in pediatric elective surgeries, although further research is warranted.
Comparative analysis of different cervical screening methods with special reference to the WHO recommended human papillomavirus detection at a rural tertiary care center - A pilot study
Authors: Sandip Kumar Sengupta  , Rupsha Dutta Pal  , Dwaipayan Samaddar  , Jaya Bagchi Samaddar  , Bidyut Krishna Goswami
Published: February 2024

Background: Cervical cancer (Ca Cx) the 4th common cancer has a high mortality rate. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is chiefly responsible for a long latent period to progress from preinvasive to invasive Ca Cx. So it can be prevented by screening procedures such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), conventional cervical PAP smear (CP), liquid-based cytology (LBC), and high-risk (HPV-hr) detection along with vaccination.
Aims and Objectives: The study aims to determine the socio-demographic profile of Ca Cx and the most appropriate cost-effective community screening method.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study with 80 symptomatic women of reproductive and peri/postmenopausal age groups attending the Gynecology Department who underwent VIA, CP, and LBC and thereby detected positive along with screened negative but clinically suspicious women were tested for HPV-hr detection. Results were tabulated into an Excel sheet and screening methods were compared using Chi-square test, gold standard being cervical histopathology (P<0.5 significant). Statistical software used - Graphpad Prism 9 (San Diego, CA).
Results: The mean age was 43.3 years. Multiparity and early marriage were seen in 80% and 45% respectively. Inflammatory lesions were best diagnosed by CP but epithelial cell abnormality and more satisfactory smears by LBC (P<0.05). Sensitivity was highest (93.75%) in VIA, positive predictive value, and specificity in CP (91.66%, 75%). negative predictive value was highest in VIA and HPV-hr DNA (50%).
Conclusion: VIA with CP/LBC is an economically viable and effective screening method for Ca Cx in developing countries along with HPV vaccination.
Comparison of clinical efficacy of hyperbaric ropivacaine with hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for transurethral resection of prostate: A randomized and double-blind study
Authors: Savita Gupta  , Isha Yadav  , Anupriya Saxena  , Satendra Kumar
Published: February 2024

Background: Ropivacaine is an ammino-amide local anesthetic agent with properties similar to bupivacaine, but its decreased lipophilicity is associated with reduced incidence of central nervous system toxicity and cardiotoxicity. This study evaluated the safety, efficacy, effects on hemodynamics and complications of spinal anesthesia using 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 0.75% hyperbaric ropivacaine in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
Aims and Objectives: The aim was to evaluate the safety, efficacy, hemodynamic stability, and side effects of spinal anesthesia using 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 0.75% hyperbaric ropivacaine in patients undergoing TURP.
Materials and Methods: Sixty adult patients with physical status classes I and II, as determined by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, scheduled to undergo elective transurethral resection of prostate, were randomly allocated to receive either hyperbaric ropivacaine 0.75% 2.8 mL plus fentanyl 15 mcg or hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% 2.8 mL plus fentanyl 15 mcg. The parameters, such as demographic characteristics, duration of surgery, onset of sensory and motor blockade, hemodynamic stability, and complications, were compared in both groups.
Results: Hyperbaric ropivacaine exhibited significantly slower onset times for sensory and motor blockade compared to hyperbaric bupivacaine. Patients in the ropivacaine group demonstrated better hemodynamic stability and experienced less hypotension compared to those who received bupivacaine. Moreover, the sensory and motor block lasted significantly longer in the bupivacaine group.
Conclusion: About 0.75% hyperbaric ropivacaine is a better choice for spinal anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing TURP as compared to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine.
Intron Retention: What that means for the biologist
Authors: Ruby Dhar  , Arun Kumar  , Subhradip Karmakar
Published: February 2024

Introns are non-coding segments within eukaryotic genes that are transcribed along with exons. They are subsequently removed during splicing, and their presence allows for generating diverse mRNA isoforms through the process called alternative splicing. The functional significance of introns going beyond mere "junk DNA" is questionable until recently; scientists identified that these pieces of junk DNA could hang around with the functional mRNA escaping splicing.  Intron retention is a type of alternative splicing, a process that occurs during the maturation of messenger RNA (mRNA) in eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotes, genes typically consist of exons (coding regions) and introns (non-coding regions). After transcription, the precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) undergoes splicing, where introns are removed, and exons are joined together to form the mature mRNA. Intron retention, however, deviates from this typical splicing process. Instead of being entirely removed from the pre-mRNA, the mature mRNA may retain one or more introns. This results in the inclusion of intronic sequences within the final mRNA transcript. The retained introns may contain premature stop codons or regulatory elements that can influence gene expression and protein function. Intron retention is a form of alternative splicing because it generates multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene. This diversity in mRNA transcripts can produce different protein isoforms with distinct functions or regulatory properties. The regulation of intron retention is complex and involves various cellular factors, including splicing machinery components and RNA-binding proteins. Research on intron retention has revealed its importance in various biological processes, including development, cell growth and  differentiation, and diseases like cancer. Aberrant intron retention has been associated with certain genetic disorders and cancers. Understanding the mechanisms and functional consequences of intron retention is crucial for unraveling the complexity of gene regulation and its impact on cellular processes. With an increasing output of data from high throughput assays line RNA Seq, scRNA-Seq, etc., it's high time data scientists look into these signatures in the context of disease pathology. This may well be the tip of the iceberg.
Application of DNA barcode ITS2to identify herbal medicinal materials
Authors:   Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen University, Quyet Thang Commune, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Tien Dung , Tran Thi Thu Ha ,   Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen University, Quyet Thang Commune, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Duc Huy ,   Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thai Nguyen University, Quyet Thang Commune, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Trinh Ngoc Ai ,   Tra Vinh University, 126 Nguyen Thien Thanh Street, Ward 5, Tra Vinh City, Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Phi Hung ,   Institure of Natural Products Chemistry, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Nghia Do Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam
Published: February 2024

Nowadays, the demand for using herb plants to treat and protect human health is increasing. Along with the growing herbal market, the adulteration of herbal medicinal materials is increasing in many countries, including Vietnam. It is difficult to determine the origin of herbal medicinal materials by morphological or chemical methods when they are substituted by herbs from closely related species or adulterated intentionally by materials from unrelated plants or processed materials. Therefore, it is necessary to use molecular methods based on DNA markers. ITS is a highly conservative nuclear ribosomal marker that has been widely used in the identification of plant species. In this study, the ITS2 marker was used to identify 8 herbal medicinal materials, including 2 samples of polyscias(DLTN, DLBG), 2 samples of morinda (BKTN, BKQN), 2 samples of black zingiber (GDTN, GDYB) and 2 samples of black curcuma (NDTN, NDYB). Gene analysis and sequencing results showed that the DLTN and DLBG were Polyscias fruticosa; BKTN and BKQN were different species, Gynochthodes officinalis (BKTN) and Morinda officinalis (BKQN); GDTN and GDYB were Kaempferia parviflora; NDTN and NDYB were Curcuma caesia. The research results show that the ITS2 indicator can be used to identify medicinal species.
Research on production and testing of antifungal activity Phytophthora spp. causing fruit rot and Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of silver nanoparticles, chitosan and turmeric resin bioproducts
Authors:   Ha Tinh Department of Science and Technology, 142 Tran Phu Street, Tran Phu Ward, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, Cao Duc Danh ,   Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology Ha Tinh, 81 Ngo Quyen Street, Thach Ha Commune, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, Le The Tam ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Thai Van Binh ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Tran Thi Ngan ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Le Dang Quang ,   Institute of Tropical Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Street, Nghia Do Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam, Ho Dinh Quang ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Cao Cuong ,   Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology Ha Tinh, 81 Ngo Quyen Street, Thach Ha Commune, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Ha ,   Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology Ha Tinh, 81 Ngo Quyen Street, Thach Ha Commune, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, Le Thi Thu Hiep ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Tran Phuong Chi ,   Vinh University, 182 Le Duan Street, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam, Duong Thi Ngan ,   Center for Advanced Application of Science and Technology Ha Tinh, 81 Ngo Quyen Street, Thach Ha Commune, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam
Published: February 2024

In this paper, the research team made samples of bio-products (BN) of turmeric resin combined with silver nanoparticles and chitosan and investigated the factors affecting the production of BN preparations. Specifically, the results of research on the production of BN preparations including ingredients, additives, mixing ratios, and technological parameters have been calculated and tested to obtain nano-preparations with the highest durability and dispersion. The experimental results obtained the optimal set of parameters for production at a pilot scale of 5 litres/batch are the ratio of active ingredients/additives =3/1, the optimal temperature for the mixing process is 40-45oC, the stirring speed is 500 rpm, and the time is 60 minutes. From here, we have successfully fabricated 18 samples of BN1-BN18 preparations with colours ranging from light yellow to dark yellow. Antifungal activity was tested against Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose disease and fruit rot disease caused by Phytophthora spp., the results showed that BN1-BN18 products exhibited good antifungal activity, and antifungal activity increased gradually when the content of turmeric oil resin increased.
The influence of polysiloxane on the mechanical properties and water repellency of cotton fabrics
Authors:   Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, 1 Vo Van Ngan Street, Linh Chieu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Nguyen Vu Viet Linh , Pham Thi Hang ,   Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Block C4, 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,   Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Huynh Dai Phu ,   Faculty of Materials Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Block C4, 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 14, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,   Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Published: February 2024

Cotton fabric is commonly used in the textile industry owing to good ventilation and absorption capacity. However, dirt resistance and water resistance of cotton fabrics are low. Therefore, coating cotton fabrics with water-repellent polysiloxane is a special requirement for outdoor and protective clothing products. The effects of polysiloxane content on the water resistance and mechanical properties of materials were studied. The morphology of coated cotton fabric was characterised by SEM (Scanning electron microscope), and EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray) was used to determine the presence of polysiloxane on the surface of cotton fabric. The effects of polysiloxane content on the water resistance and mechanical properties of materials were studied. Compared with raw cotton fabrics, the tensile strength of the cotton fabrics impregnated with 20%wt polysiloxane solution increased, but the elongation at break was reduced. The hydrostatic pressure (AATCC 127) and water spray test (AATCC 22) results showed that the water repellence of polysiloxane-coated cotton fabrics increased significantly compared to pure cotton fabrics. In addition, the polysiloxane content has no almost effect on the water repellency of the material. Therefore, the appropriate use of polysiloxane can contribute to minimising the cost of the product.
Optical properties of Eu3+ - doped Sr2TiO4 phosphor powder synthesised by solid-phase reaction method
Authors:   University of Education, Thai Nguyen University, 20 Luong Ngoc Quyen Street, Quang Trung Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Chu Viet Ha , Chu Thi Anh Xuan ,   University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Lo Thi Hue ,   University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Bui Minh Quy ,   University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Khieu Thi Tam ,   University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, Nguyen Phuong Thao ,   Department of Chemistry, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, Nguyen Van Linh Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Phuc Yen City, Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, Ho Kim Dan ,   Science and Technology Advanced Institute, Van Lang University, 69/68 Dang Thuy Tram Street, Ward 13, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam,   Faculty of Applied Technology, Van Lang University, 69/68 Dang Thuy Tram Street, Ward 13, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Le Tien Ha ,   University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen University, Tan Thinh Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam
Published: February 2024

Fluorescent powder Sr2TiO4 doped with Eu3+ ions was synthesised by the solid-phase reaction method with a sintering temperature of 1200oC in the air with a 1-6% doping concentration. The resulting material has a perovskite structure of I4/mmm space group, and the Eu3+ ion doping concentration does not change the material’s structure. This characteristic space group of the material was also investigated through the Raman scattering spectrum with characteristic peaks at positions 145, 240, 448, and 699 cm-1 corresponding to vibrational modes with 2A1g + 2Egcharacteristic states of Sr2TiO4 material. The results showed that the material absorbs strongly in the ultraviolet and blue light regions with characteristic peaks of the Sr2TiO4 matrix and Eu3+ ions to emit strongly in the red light region with characteristic emission peaks of Eu3+ ions in the background network when moving from the excited state 5D0 to state 7Fj (j is a positive integer number). Fluorescence quenching was also observed at a doping concentration of 4% Eu3+ ions. The fabricated material is suitable for coating applications on nUV-LED LED chips.
Nova metoda za definiranje izbornih jedinica u Hrvatskoj
Authors: Sabo Kristian , Scitovski Rudolf
Published: February 2024

U radu predlažemo novu metodu za definiranje konfiguracije izbornih jedinica primjenom metode spektralnog klasteriranja. Metoda pronalazi konfiguracije izbornih jedinica koje zadovoljavaju neku unaprijed zadanu toleranciju ujednačenosti težina biračkih glasova te pritom čuva granice županija. Također, u metodu se prirodno može uključiti i razina političke/socijalne/gospodarske povezanosti županija. Nadalje, navodimo popis poznatih metoda za određivanje broja zastupničkih mjesta po izbornim jedinicama, koje se temelje na načelu razmjernosti broja birača i broja zastupničkih mjesta. U radu dajemo pregled indeksa iz literature kojima se može mjeriti ujednačenost težina biračkih glasova. Primjene tih indeksa ilustriramo na najnovijem prijedlogu Hrvatske vlade, vlastitim prijedlozima te na nekoliko primjera konfiguracija izbornih jedinica od kojih su neki već predstavljeni javnosti.
An Assessment of Institutional Resilience Capacity of the Local Public Administration
Authors: Profiroiu Alina Georgiana , Nastacă Corina Cristiana
Published: February 2024

Over time, the Romanian society has experienced different shocks, disruptions and stressors ranging from the fall of communism, transition to a market economy, European Union accession, development of new institutions, the necessity for rapid solutions to the economic crisis, and the most recent one, the COVID-19 pandemic and its outcomes. The pandemic showed the need to develop and strengthen the resilience capacity of the public organisations that play important roles in managing all sorts of crises, including at the local level. Institutional resilience of the local public administration depends on a series of factors such as the design of the institutions, the human resources training process, and the organisational culture that dominates the institutional framework. In this respect, taking into consideration different factors that might influence resilience in public organisations, the present pilot study investigated the concept of institutional resilience in the Romanian local public administration starting from a conceptual framework for assessing the resilience capacity previously designed by the authors. The objective of the research was to assess the capacity of institutional resilience in the local public administration, namely in two of the six District Halls of the Bucharest Municipality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the results, the research instrument will be improved and the study will be extended to other organisations from the public administration. The capacity of institutional resilience in the local public administration was measured using four dimensions, created based on the resilience framework developed by the authors: capacity for innovation and learning, strategic capacity, stakeholders’ involvement in decision-making, and transparency and communication. The research was conducted in a comparative manner, aiming to establish if there were any differences between the capacity of institutional resilience in the two District Halls. The research revealed that both District Halls proved a medium to high level of resilience. District Hall 3 exhibited a higher capacity of resilience compared with District Hall 2, with the remark that both organisations should improve the factors that influence this capacity.
Modelado Geométrico y Simulación Cinemática de Prótesis de Mano para Pacientes Adultos con Amputación Transradial
Authors: Zavala Molina Diego Alonso , Silva Cabrejos Ricardo Jesús , Murillo Manrique Margarita Fredesvinda , Rodríguez Bustinza Ricardo Raúl , Cornejo Aguilar José Luis , Palomares Orihuela Ricardo John
Published: February 2024

Antecedentes: La amputación transradial, que implica la perdida de la extremidad superior por debajo del codo, es una realidad que afecta profundamente la vida de las personas. Objetivo: La investigación consideró como objetivo modelar y simular el movimiento de los dedos de la mano de una prótesis para pacientes adultos con amputación transradial, para incrementar su calidad de vida permitiéndoles realizar con mayor facilidad actividades cotidianas específicas. Metodología: Se realizó el análisis morfológico y diseño CAD de la mano utilizando como modelo la mano de un paciente adulto voluntario con amputación transradial derecha, asimismo, se detalló el diseño CAD del dedo pulgar de 2 GDL utilizando el software de ingeniería SolidWorks Professional. Luego se realizó el modelamiento cinemático de los dedos de la mano utilizando el algoritmo de Denavit – Hartemberg y se simuló los movimientos de los dedos utilizando el software de ingeniería Matlab. Resultados: Se obtuvo las posiciones iniciales y finales del extremo de los dedos de la mano, así como, las trayectorias durante la simulación del cierre de la mano. Conclusiones: La toma de medidas de un paciente maximiza la posibilidad de implementar un prototipo funcional. El modelamiento cinemático permite simular las trayectorias de los dedos de la mano con el software Matlab.
A study of mixer-feeder equipment operational reliability
Authors: Nоvitskiy Andriy , Banniy Oleksandr , Novitskyi Yuri , Antal Maxim
Published: February 2024

Modern livestock development trends in the agricultural production structure include the use of feed mixers and distribution equipment. However, a stream of malfunctions and failures is reported for mixer-feeders due to factors that are specific to agricultural enterprises in Ukraine, which reduce the operational reliability of feed mixers and distributors. The study aims to evaluate the quantitative indicators of the in-service reliability of mixer-feeders and develop methods to improve them. The reliability test plan [NMT] was used, which implies a certain number of research objects (N), objects undergoing repair in case of performance loss (M), and tests terminated when the operating time (T) is reached. Initial information was collected and processed, and empirical data on the time between failures of KUHN PROFILE 12.2 DS and PROFILE 14.2 DS mixer-feeders in Ukraine were analysed. The analysis established that the faulty condition of mixers-feeders in the initial operation period is caused by the second complexity group failures. Failures related to the loss of the grinding and mixing mechanism, which limits the average time between failures of the feed mixture and distribution equipment, were identified among the second complexity malfunction group. A statistical analysis of the mixer-feeder failure occurrence was carried out. The failure probability of the grinding-mixing mechanism of the feed mixer was determined to be within the normal distribution law. The main parameters of the given theoretical distribution law were determined by calculation results. The calculations determined that the average time between failures is 3152.0 motor-hours; the standard deviation is 902.6 motor-hours; and the coefficient of variation is 0.40. An average time between failures of the study objects was proved to be consistent with the normal distribution law following Kolmogorov’s agreement criterion. Calculations determined that the average reliability index value, according to the normal distribution law, is within the confidence intervals: 1964.2 motor-hours – lower confidence limit; 4339.8 motor-hours – upper confidence limit. The obtained results may be used to improve the mixer-feeder operational reliability
Peningkatan Keahlian Guru dalam Membentuk Siswa untuk Memiliki High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) melalui Pembelajaran Berbasis HOTS di SMP Negeri 4 Tinambung Kabupaten Polewali Mandar Provinsi Sulawesi Barat
Authors: Herna Herna , Damayanti Mesra , Supardi Supardi
Published: February 2024

SMP Negeri 4 Tinambung merupakan salah satu sekolah yang menerapkan kurikulum 2013. Namun praktek pembelajaran yang diterapkan oleh guru-guru di sekolah tersebut masih jauh dari pembelajaran berbasis HOTS, sementara kurikulum 2013 menuntut siswa memiliki kemampuan berpikir tingkat tinggi. Program Kemitraan Masyarakat Stimulus (PKMS) ini bertujuan untuk mendampingi guru dalam merancang pembelajaran berbasis HOTS. Metode pelaksanaan PKMS ini berupa ceramah, workshop, dan simulasi. Hasilnya adalah pemantapan konsep guru-guru SMPN 4 Tinambung terkait pembelajaran berbasis HOTS, dan perangkat pembelajaran berbasis HOTS yang disusun oleh guru-guru tersebut melalui kegiatan workshop dan telah disimulasikan pada kelasnya masing-masing.

 

Kata kunci: Pembelajaran HOTS, Perangkat Pembelajaran
Meningkatkan Minat dan Motivasi Belajar Siswa Melalui Kegiatan Rangking 1
Authors: Hidayah Nurul , Ulfah Maria , Amin Nursafitri , AR Rezki Amaliyah
Published: February 2024

Indonesia sekarang ini memasuki masa New Normal atau kehidupan baru yang mana pemerintah memberikan arahan agar masyarakat memakai masker, sering mencuci tangan, menjaga jarak, dan lain sebagainya. Pada masa ini siswa mulai kembali melakukan kegiatan sekolah secara normal tapi masih dibatasi dengan protokol kesehatan. Namun, karena mereka telah terbiasa dengan pembelajaran Daring, jadi siswa hanya memiliki sedikit semangat belajar karena mereka merasa nyaman belajar di rumah dengan menggunakan hand phone dan bisa membuka aplikasi-aplikasi sosial media. Melihat situasi ini, tim pengabdian yang merupakan Mahasiswa universitas sulawesi barat yang terdiri dari 10 mahasiswa bekerja sama melakukan kegiatan pengabdian sebagai upaya untuk meningkatkan minat belajar dan motivasi belajar siswa MAN 1 POLMAN melalui kegiatan perlombaan Ranking 1 dengan menggunakan aplikasi Quizizz. Rangking 1 merupakan suatu teknik pembelajaran melalui sebuah perlombaan dalam upaya untuk dapat meningkatkan minat belajar siswa. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan pengabdian ini adalah kuis interaktif menggunakan media IT Quizizz. Hasil yang didapat dari perlombaan ini menjadisalah satu upaya dilakukan untuk meningkatkan semangat belajar siswa.
Pelatihan Pembuatan Produk Olahan Ikan “Kripik Ikan Cakalang” untuk Meningkatkan Perekonomian Ibu-ibu Rumah Tangga pada PW GKI Siloam Waena
Authors: Mandey Vera K. , Warpur Maklon , Ayer Popi Ida Laila , Rumahorbo Basa T. , Indrayani Elvina , Tuhumena Lolita , Wanimbo Efray , Rejauw Korinus , Paiki Kalvin , Hisya Muhammad
Published: February 2024

PW GKI Siloam merupakan persekutuan ibu-ibu yang memiliki peran membangun rohani tetapi juga berperan dalam pendidikan.  PW GKI  Siloam merupakan kumpulan ibu-ibu rumah tangga yang bekerja sebagai PNS, swasta dan sebagai ibu rumah tangga.  Sebagai ibu rumah tangga yang tidak memiliki penghasilan sangat kesulitan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan keluarga. Untuk dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pokok dan sekunder seperti kebutuhan makan atau kebutuhan pendidikan/sekolah anak-anak, mereka harus rela berhutang. Agar ibu-ibu tidak kesulitan dalam memenuhi  kebutuhan rumah tangga maka perlu diberikan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan. Program pengabdian pada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan skill kelompok ibu-ibu rumah tangga dalam PW GKI Siloam melalui transformasi teknologi pengolahan dan pengemasaran dengan bahan dasar ikan cakalang menjadi produk olahan kripik ikan cakalang.  Manfaat yang diperoleh dari kegiatan ini adalah (1) ibu-ibu rumah tangga mampu membuat produk olahan ikan “ Kripik Ikan Cakalang”, (2) Ibu-ibu rumah tangga memiliki jiwa wirausaha (2) ibu-ibu rumah tangga memiliki usaha dan penghasilan/ pendapatan untuk membantu perekonomian keluarga.
A Comparison between Structural Allografts and Polyetheretherketone Interbody Spacers Used in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Fong Francis Jia Yi , Lim Chee Yit , Tan Jun-Hao , Hey Hwee Weng Dennis
Published: February 2024

Among interbody implants used during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), structural allografts and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) are the most used spacers. Currently, no consensus has been established regarding the superiority of either implant, with US surgeons preferring structural allografts, whereas UK surgeons preferring PEEK. The purpose of this systematic review (level of evidence, 4) was to compare postoperative and patient-reported outcomes between the use of structural allografts PEEK interbody spacers during ACDF. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) were searched for articles comparing the usage of structural allograft and PEEK interbody spacers during ACDF procedures from inception to April 10, 2023. The searches were conducted using the keywords “Spine,” “Allograft,” and “PEEK” and were performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines. Subsequent quality and sensitivity analyses were performed on the included studies. Nine studies involving 1,074 patients were included. Compared with the PEEK group, the structural allograft group had comparable rates of postoperative pseudoarthrosis (p=0.58). However, when stratified according to the number of levels treated, the 3-level ACDF PEEK group was 3.45 times more likely to have postoperative pseudoarthrosis than the structural allograft group (p=0.01). Subsequent postoperative outcomes (rate of subsidence and change in the preoperative and postoperative segmental disc heights) were comparable between the PEEK and structural allograft groups. Patient-reported outcomes (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] of neck pain and Neck Disability Index [NDI]) were comparable. This study showed that for 3-level ACDFs, the use of structural allografts may confer higher fusion rates. However, VAS neck pain, NDI, and subsidence rates were comparable between structural allografts and PEEK cages. In addition, no significant difference in pseudoarthrosis rates was found between PEEK cages and structural allografts in patients undergoing 1- and 2-level ACDFs.
Samples in Psychological Research – Conclusions and Recommendations from the Literature Review
Authors: Świderska Joanna , Puchalska Magdalena , Grzegorczyk Maciej , Szałek Zuzanna , Nadolna Natalia , Andryszkiewicz Martyna , Jastrzębska Maria , Szablowski Przemysław , Śmigrodzka Maja
Published: February 2024

Objective: The goal of the review was to identify the elements occurring in the both survey procedure and sample descriptions and to formulate recommendations for the authors on this basis.
Method: The study was conducted following the PRISMA standard. A total of 305 articles by Polish researchers from four journals were analyzed. Critical evaluation have been conducted for 230 articles of the analyzed sample, encompassing 295 research descriptions.
Results: Analysis revealed that researchers most frequently report the research procedure, sampling method, sample size, form of the research and sociodemographic characteristics, such as: gender or sex and age.
Conclusions: The conclusions drawn from the analysis and insights gained from the review led to the formulating recommendations regarding comprehensive methodological description of research procedures and samples.