bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EU surveys insights: analytical tools, future directions, and the essential requirement for reference materials in wastewater monitoring of SARS-CoV-2, antimicrobial resistance and beyond
Authors: Paracchini Valentina , Petrillo Mauro , Rajashekar Anandasagari Arcot , Robuch Piotr , Vincent Ursula , Corbisier Philippe , Tavazzi Simona , Raffael Barbara , Suffredini Elisabetta , Rosa Giuseppina La , Gawlik Bernd Manfred , Marchini Antonio
Published: March 2024

Background
Wastewater surveillance (WWS) acts as a vigilant sentinel system for communities, analysing sewage to protect public health by detecting outbreaks and monitoring trends in pathogens and contaminants. To achieve a thorough comprehension of present and upcoming practices in WWS, two EU surveys were conducted targeting WWS laboratories across Europe and other regions. The first survey explored a diverse range of activities currently undertaken or planned by laboratories. The second survey specifically targeted methods and quality controls utilised for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.
Results
The findings of the two surveys provide a comprehensive insight into the procedures and methodologies applied in WWS. In Europe, WWS primarily focuses on SARS-CoV-2 with 99% of the survey participants dedicated to this virus. However, the responses highlighted a lack of standardisation in the methodologies employed for monitoring SARS-CoV-2. The surveillance of other pathogens, including antimicrobial resistance, is currently fragmented and conducted by only a limited number of laboratories. Notably, these activities are anticipated to expand in the future. Survey replies emphasize the collective recognition of the need to enhance the accuracy of results in WWS practices, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing precision and effectiveness in WWS methodologies.
Conclusions
These surveys identified the need for quality standards and reference materials to enhance the accuracy and reliability of WWS methods in the future. In addition, it is important to broaden surveillance efforts beyond SARS-CoV-2 to include other emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to ensure a comprehensive approach to protecting public health.
The role of non-timber forest products in reducing rural poverty in Burkina Faso
Authors: OUEDRAOGO Issoufou , MAIGA Eugenie , ESBJERG Lars
Published: March 2024

Using data collected in 2023 on five hundred and thirty (530) randomly selected rural households in two regions of Burkina Faso, this research investigates the contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) exploitation to rural poverty reduction using two different approaches. Firstly, it considers NTFP income as an "exogenous transfer", which is added to total household income, and compares the Foster, Greer and Thorbecke (FGT) poverty indices calculated with and without NTFP income. Secondly, it considers NTFP income as a "potential substitute" for other household income and simulates the counterfactual of what rural household income and poverty would be in the absence of access to NTFPs. The results show that in the absence of NTFPs, rural poverty would be much higher and deeper. These results suggest that rural development policies focused on the sustainable exploitation of these products are potentially feasible. This would require improving rural populations' access to NTFPs through the domestication of species providing the main NTFPs.
Static Analysis-based Rapid Fire-Following Earthquake Risk Assessment Method using Simple Building and GIS Information
Authors: Kang Jaedo , Kang Taewook , Lee Kihak , Kim Haewon , Shin Jiuk
Published: March 2024

After the occurrences of large-scale earthquakes, regional secondary damage (e.g., fire-following earthquake) can result in tremendous losses of life, properties, and buildings. To reduce these disaster risks, fire-following earthquake assessment method composed of ignition and fire-burned rate estimation models were utilized. However, the previous methods required complex building/GIS information and large amount of time to consider various regional characteristics. This paper proposed static analysis-based rapid fire-following earthquake assessment method using simple information and implemented it to Pohan City, South Korea. Based on the previous studies, the best-fit model for the ignition rate estimation was selected, and the cluster-based fire-burned rate model simulated using simple building information (e.g., construction year, building occupancy, story, and total floor area) in public building database was developed. For the fire-burned rate model, the fire-resistant structural types were defined using the public database, and this was utilized to group or cluster buildings in a regional level by comparison between fire-spread distance for each structural type and adjacent distance among the buildings. This rapid method was demonstrated as follows: (1) the selected ignition rate model predicted the same ignition numbers with the actual reported number, and (2) the fire-burned rate model estimated fire-spread areas with a marginal difference compared to the dynamic fire spread simulation.
Season of birth and schizotypy in a sample of undergraduate students
Authors: Szöke Andrei , Richard Jean-Romain , Ladea Maria , Ferchiou Aziz , Ouaknine Elie , Briciu Victor Alexandru , Pirlog Mihai , Bran Mihai , Pignon Baptiste , Schürhoff Franck
Published: March 2024

Purpose
In line with the psychotic continuum theory, the study of psychometric schizotypy in non-clinical samples has been proposed as a convenient yet powerful method for studying the etiology of psychosis. Based on this paradigm, several studies explored the association between season of birth (SoB) and schizotypy but led to inconsistent results. Building on the analysis of the previous studies, in the present study, we aimed to advance our understanding by improving the methodology (using a homogeneous group, eliminating unreliable respondents, taking into account potential confounders) and the reporting.
Methods
Subjects were recruited among undergraduate students from 3 Romanian Universities. To limit the potential influence of invalid response, we applied methods for detecting unreliable and/or biased questionnaires and excluded subjects with unreliable/ biased answers from the analyses. Schizotypal dimensions were measured using the Romanian translation of the 22-items Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B). The association between schizotypy scores and season of birth was explored using linear regression.
Results
In a sample of 484 undergraduate students from Romania, we found that being born in late winter/early spring (February and March) was associated to higher total schizotypy score and disorganization. Furthermore, we found that restricting the sample to subjects born in an urban environment increased the strength of the association.
Conclusion
This study is consistent with an association between SoB and the risk of psychotic disorders.
Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic on Death Among Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Jang Hye Jin , Han Soyul , Won Sungho , Lee Bora , Kim Young Sam
Published: March 2024

Backgrounds: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic is a major public health problem worldwide. This study estimated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in terms of the excess mortality from any cause during the COVID-19 epidemic in the Republic of Korea.
Methods: The excess mortality, ICU admissions and hospital admissions during the COVID-19 epidemic was analyzed using the number of deaths over the past 5 years (2015–2019) in Korea. The numbers of total deaths and COVID-19–related deaths were counted from January 2020 through May 2022, using public data from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) of Statistics Korea. Data of hospital admissions were obtained from Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) service and KOSIS of Statistics Korea.
Results: These numbers were compared with nationwide mortality data from January 1, 2015, through December 2019. There were more than 24,000 reported deaths officially across Korea from January 2020 through May 2022. Excess mortality was observed nationwide in March, August, October, November, and December 2020; January, March, July, and August 2021; and October 2021 through May 2022, which was consistent with the epidemic waves in the country. There was a decline in ICU admissions, especially soon after the declaration of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Conclusions: After 2021, significant excess mortality occurred at the national level despite decreasing COVID-19 case fatality rates and decreased admissions to intensive care units, which means there might be an another relevant factors on all-cause mortality aside from the direct effect of deaths from COVID-19.
Clinical characteristics of 2,378 patients presenting with headache disorders to headache clinics in Japan: A clinic-based multicenter study
Authors: Imai Noboru , Takizawa Tsubasa , Watanabe Narumi , Matsumori Yasuhiko
Published: March 2024

Background
There are single-center reports regarding patients visiting headache clinics; however, few multicenter studies have been conducted in Japan. This study aims to fill the aforementioned gaps by providing a detailed analysis of the clinical characteristics, headache types, severity, and psychiatric comorbidities of patients presenting to headache clinics across three distinct healthcare settings in Japan: a university hospital, regional headache center, and private headache clinic.
Methods
We prospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of 2,378 patients with headache disorders visiting three Japanese Headache Society–accredited headache educational facilities between March 2021 and March 2022. Baseline demographics, such as the visual analog scale (VAS), and psychiatric assessments, such as the Japanese versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), were evaluated. Headache types were classified as migraine, tension-type headache (TTH), trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TACs), other primary headache disorders (OPHDs), and secondary headache. Parameters were compared between headache types using the Kruskal–Wallis test.
Results
The most common headache type was migraine (78.8%), followed by TTH (12.2%), secondary headache (5.5%), OPHDs (2.1%), and TACs (1.6%). Patients with migraine were significantly younger at first consultation (median age 32.0) than those with other headache types (TTH; 47.0, TACs; 39.0, OPHDs; 49.5, and secondary headache; 47.0). Patients with TACs exhibited the highest severity and psychiatric symptoms, with VAS (median 90.0), GAD-7 (7.0), and PHQ-9 (7.5) scores significantly higher than those of other headache type (migraine; 70.0, 5.0, 5.0, TTH; 50.0, 4.0, 4.0, OPHDs; 65.0, 4.0, 3.5, and secondary headache; 60.0, 3.0, 3.5: p < 0.001, p = 0.032, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Most patients visiting headache clinics had migraine; patients with TACs showed significantly higher headache severity and psychiatric symptoms than those with other headache types.
Sense of Coherence, mental health, and hair cortisol concentrations among older people during the COVID -19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Koppner Jenny , Lindelöf Ann , Iredahl Fredrik , Nilsson Staffan , Thorsell Annika , Larsen Hanna Israelsson , Faresjö Åshild
Published: March 2024

Background
A person’s sense of coherence (SoC) is likely to affect coping when exposed to a life changing event like the COVID − 19 pandemic, which impacted the older population especially hard, an age group that already suffers from a lot of mental illness. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the associations between SoC and mental health in older adults using both screening scales and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC).
Method
A cross-sectional design studying a cohort of 70–80 years old, N = 260, set in Swedish primary care during the pandemic years 2021–2022. Instruments used are sense of coherence 13 (SoC-13), EQ-5D-3L, Geriatric depression scale 20 (GDS-20), Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and Perceived stress scale 10 (PSS-10). Sociodemography and factors concerning SoC, and mental health are explored. HCC are measured using radioimmunoassay. Outcome measures are factors independently associated to SoC. Linear regression models were performed with SoC as dependent variable, and priory path analyses explored whether associations with SoC were direct, or indirect via anxiety.
Results
SoC was significantly associated to anxiety (p < 0.001), perceived economic status (p = 0.003), belief in the future (p = 0.001), and perceived negative mental effect from the COVID − 19 pandemic (p = 0.002). The latter was 95% indirectly associated with SoC, and perceived economic status together with belief in the future was 82% directly associated with SoC. HCC and sex were not significantly associated to SoC, but women had somewhat higher HCC than men, though not significantly, and women reported significantly lower quality of life (p = 0.03), and more symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.001) and depression (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Anxiety, belief in the future, perceived negative effect on mental health due to the pandemic, and perceived economic status were significantly associated with SoC. Anxiety is suggested to be important in explaining the association between perceived negative mental effect from the COVID-19 pandemic and SoC. Women reported significantly poorer mental health and life quality than men.
Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. indius AG1: Potential candidate for Degradation of agriculture wastes and production of biogas by orsat instrument method
Authors: Suvagiya Ankita
Published: March 2024

The anaerobic digestion of organic materials, which is necessary to add chemicals to the continuous biochemical process, is largely mediated by microorganisms. Through a sequence of metabolic events, the microorganisms efficiently break down complex organic compounds to produce simple compounds like methane. In this investigation, inoculums used for biogas production was isolated from agriculture waste sources—L. delbrueckii ssp. Indius AG1 at mesophilic temperature (35ºC)—to assess their suitability for anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues (AR) and fruit and vegetable waste (FVW). The highest biogas production of 215 ml/2 kg waste was achieved for a mixture of inoculums, and biogas characterization by orsat instrument method showed 47.7% of the methane content. The morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques were used to identify the microbial flora present in the high-yield reactor. The abundance of L. delbrueckii ssp. indius AG1. To get a high methane yield from organic waste it is necessary to maintain the equilibrium and availability of efficient microbial communities like firmicutous, hydrogenotrophic, and acetoclastic methanogens.
A Version-aware Data Layout for Heterogeneous Workloads in In-Memory Database Systems
Authors: Zhang First Qian , Wei Second Jianhao , Zhang Third Shichen , Luan Fourth Hao , Gong Fifth Xueqing
Published: March 2024

Most modern in-memory database systems rely on multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) to support real-time data analysis without interfering with concurrent writes. While MVCC elegantly enables lightweight isolation of readers and writers, it also generates many short-lived versions and results in long version chains. Existing version storage designs employ traditional data layouts lacking version information. Consequently, as time elapses, the long-running query latency increases due to increased chain lengths. In this paper, we introduce a novel version-aware data layout for in-memory MVCC databases. This layout improves search performance for heterogeneous workloads. It differs from previous approaches by organizing data in a version-centric manner, which supports index-only searches and reduces costly version traversals. Specifically, the layout utilizes a version B+-tree to organize the latest tuple versions of a table, making the table index-organized. Additionally, it employs range partitioning and epoch partitioning techniques to group older tuple versions efficiently. This design allows for fast retrieval of the correct versions visible to transactions, minimizing redundant memory accesses. Compared to existing version storage schemes, the version-aware data layout considers workload access patterns and the opportunity to skip unnecessary version accesses. The experimental evaluation indicates that the version-aware data layout can outperform the state-of-the-art designs by 1.15× ∼ 2×.
ABWOA: Adaptive Boundary Whale Optimization Algorithm for Large-Scale Digital Twin Network Construction
Authors: Feng Hao , Cao Kun , Huang Gan , Liu Hao
Published: March 2024

Digital twin network (DTN) as an emerging network paradigm, have garnered growing attention. For large-scale networks, a crucial problem is how to effectively map physical networks onto the infrastructure platform of DTN. To address this issue, we propose a heuristic method of the adaptive boundary whale optimization algorithm (ABWOA) to solve the digital twin network construction problem, improving the efficiency and reducing operational costs of DTN. Extensive comparison experiments are conducted between ABWOA and various algorithms such as genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, artificial bee colony, differential evolution algorithm, moth search algorithm and original whale optimization algorithm. The experimental results show that ABWOA is superior to other algorithms in terms of solution quality, convergence speed, and time cost. It can solve the digital twin network construction problem more effectively.
Creating an Early Diagnostic Method for Glaucoma Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Alqarni Areej A. , Al-Harbi Sanad H. , Subhan Irshad A.
Published: March 2024

According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, accounting for over 12% of global blindness as it affects one in every 100 people. In fact, 79.6 million people worldwide live with blindness caused by glaucoma. This is because the current method for diagnosing glaucoma is by examining retinal fundus images. However, it is considerably difficult to distinguish the lesions' features solely through manual observations by ophthalmologists, especially in the early phases. This study introduces a novel glaucoma detection method using attention-enhanced convolutional neural networks, achieving 98.9% accuracy and a swift 30-second detection time, vastly surpassing traditional diagnostic methods. The attention mechanism is utilized to learn pixel-wise features for accurate prediction. Several attention strategies have been developed to guide the networks in learning the important features and factors that affect localization accuracy. The algorithms were trained for glaucoma detection using Python 2.7, TensorFlow, Py Torch, and Keras Machine Learning-Based Applications. The methods were evaluated on Drishti-GS and RIM-ONE datasets with 361 training and 225 test sets, consisting of 344 healthy and 242 glaucomatous images. The proposed algorithms can achieve impressive results that show an increase in overall diagnostic efficiency, as the algorithm displays a 30-second detection time with 98.9% accuracy compared to the 72.3% accuracy of traditional testing methods. Finally, this algorithm has been implemented as a webpage, allowing patients to test for glaucoma. This webpage offers various services such as: connecting the patient to the nearest care setup; offering scientific articles regarding glaucoma; and a video game that supports eye-treatment yogic exercises to strengthen vision and focus. This early diagnostic method has the near future potential to decrease the percentage of irreversible vision loss due to glaucoma by 42.79% (the percentage was calculated using the mean absolute error function), which could prevent glaucoma from remaining the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Our glaucoma diagnostic webpage can be found at: Glaucoma Detector (glaucomadiagnosis.com)
Representing Network Frontiers based on Spatio-temporal Graph Transformations
Authors: Nazir Hafiz Muhammad Jamsheed , Han Weihong , Li Shudong
Published: March 2024

Purpose-Spatio-temporal prediction in cyber elements can be enhanced by incorporating geographic features into the estimation process for cyber elements. It highlights a deficiency in existing studies that do not incorporate geographic characteristics when estimating network security factors.
Methodology-This methodology is then assessed through benchmark experiments using ARIMA and LSTM models, with the spatiotemporal graph convolution prediction model demonstrating superior forecasting performance based on evaluation criteria such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE).
Findings-This leads to the creation of a spatiotemporal network vulnerability dataset, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating spatial and temporal dimensions into network vulnerability analysis.
Research Limitations -The identified gap in studies integrating geographic characteristics in estimating network security factors suggests a need for further research in this area. Future studies could explore different approaches, datasets, and applications to build upon the current findings and contribute to the evolving field of spatio-temporal prediction in cyberspace.
Practical Implications-The practical implications of incorporating geographic features and utilizing the proposed spatiotemporal graph convolution model include improved network security planning, enhanced predictive capabilities, informed data-driven decision-making, benchmarking against traditional models, adaptation to evolving threats, and resource optimization. These implications highlight the potential practical benefits for organizations seeking advanced and effective approaches to cybersecurity.
Originality-The originality of incorporating geographic features, addressing a gap in the literature, introducing an innovative methodology, creating a unique spatiotemporal dataset, and proposing a sophisticated spatiotemporal graph convolution model with demonstrated superior forecasting performance. These contributions collectively advance the understanding and application of spatio-temporal prediction in the field of cyberspace security.
Natural history and prognostic model of untreated breast cancer: a study based on the SEER database
Authors: Wang Dasong , Yang Yan , Yang Hongwei , Yang Lei , Chen Maoshan , Fan Li , He Yu
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to explore the natural history of breast cancer in the absence of treatment, aiming to identify the main factors affecting the prognosis of untreated breast cancer patients.
Methods: Data for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2010 and 2020 were obtained from the SEER database. The disease progression time was estimated by subtracting the median survival time of higher stages from that of lower stages. Untreated patients were divided into a training set and a validation set in a 7:3 ratio. In the training set, independent risk factors affecting prognosis were identified through univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazards regression analysis. A nomogram model was constructed using these risk factors to predict the prognosis of untreated patients, which was then validated in the validation set.
Results: In untreated breast cancer patients, the progression time from stage I to stage II was 43 months, from stage II to stage III was 18 months, and from stage III to stage IV was 9 months. Age, tumor stage, ER status, PR status, histological grade, and marital status were identified as independent predictive factors for the overall survival of untreated breast cancer patients, and a nomogram model was constructed with these factors.
Conclusion: The disease progression speed of breast cancer patients accelerates with the increase in tumor stage in the absence of treatment, and prognosis progressively worsens. Age, tumor stage, ER status, PR status, histological grade, and marital status are independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of untreated patients.
Ergogenic effects of spinal cord stimulation on exercise performance following spinal cord injury
Authors: Hodgkiss Daniel D. , Williams Alison M.M. , Shackleton Claire S. , Samejima Soshi , Balthazaar Shane J.T. , Lam Tania , Krassioukov Andrei V. , Nightingale Tom E.
Published: March 2024

Importance:
Cervical or upper-thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI, ≥T6) often leads to low resting blood pressure and impaired cardiovascular responses to acute exercise due to disrupted supraspinal sympathetic drive. Epidural (invasive, ESCS) and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (non-invasive, TSCS) have been used to target sympathetic circuits and modulate cardiovascular responses, yet their impact on submaximal upper-body exercise performance in individuals with SCI is unknown.
Objective
To compare the effects of cardiovascular-optimised ESCS and TSCS versus sham ESCS and TSCS on modulating cardiovascular responses and improving submaximal upper-body exercise performance in individuals with SCI.
Design:
Double-blinded, randomised comparison trial.
Setting:
Research center.
Participants:
Seven males with a chronic, motor-complete SCI between C6-T4, underwent a mapping session to identify cardiovascular responses to spinal cord stimulation. Subsequently, four participants (two ESCS and two TSCS) completed submaximal exercise testing.
Exposures:
Stimulation parameters (waveform, frequency, intensity, epidural electrode array configuration, specific transcutaneous electrode locations in the lumbosacral region) were optimized to elevate cardiovascular responses (CV-SCS). A sham condition (SHAM-SCS) served as a comparison. Participants performed arm-crank exercise to fatigue at a fixed workload corresponding to above ventilatory threshold, on separate days, with CV-SCS or SHAM-SCS.
Main Outcomes and Measures:
The primary outcome was time to fatigue during submaximal exercise. Heart rate and gas exchange variables were recorded throughout exercise and used to calculate oxygen pulse (a surrogate for stroke volume, SV). Blood pressure (BP) was monitored before exercise (pre-post applying stimulation). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded every 5-min.
Results
CV-SCS increased resting BP, left ventricular cardiac contractility and total peripheral resistance. CV-SCS increased time to fatigue with ESCS and TSCS, relative to SHAM-SCS. Relative to baseline, change in systolic BP at rest was greater with CV-SCS versus SHAM-SCS. Peak oxygen pulse during exercise was greater with CV-SCS relative to SHAM-SCS. Furthermore, RPE tended to be lower with CV-SCS than SHAM-SCS during exercise.
Conclusions and Relevance:
Comparable improvements in time to fatigue with ESCS and TSCS suggest that both approaches could be promising ergogenic aids to support exercise performance or rehabilitation, along with reducing fatigue during activities of daily living in individuals with SCI.
A MEDT Study of the Mechanism and Selectivities of the non- Catalyzed and the Lewis Acid Catalyzed Diels-Alder Reaction between R-Carvone and Isoprene -Molecular Docking Analysis: Anti-HIV-1 Activity
Authors: Idrissi Khadija El , Abdoul-Hakim Mohamed , Saleh Na'il , Garmes Hocine , Syed Asad , Ríos-Gutiérrez Mar , Meenakshi Bilal , Zeroual Abdellah , Domingo Luis R.
Published: March 2024

The non-catalyzed and Lewis acid (LA) catalyzed Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between R-(-)-carvone 1R and isoprene 2 has been studied within Molecular Electronic Density Theory (MEDT) by using DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311 + + G(d,p) computational level. Analysis of the theoretical reactivity indices at the ground state of the reagents indicates that carvone 1R plays the role of an electrophile whereas isoprene 2 should be regarded as nucleophile participating in a polar process. The presence of the LA catalyst significantly increases the electrophilicity ω of carvone 1R, resulting in improved reactivity and selectivities in the LA catalyzed DA reaction. The presence of the LA catalyst significantly reduces the activation Gibbs free energy by increasing the polarity of the DA reaction. The computed relative Gibbs free energies clearly demonstrate a high degree of region- and stereoselectivity in this LA catalyzed DA reaction, which is consistent with the experimental findings. Through an examination of the Electron Localization Function (ELF), it became evident that the LA catalyzed DA reaction follows a non-concerted two-stage one-step mechanism. Finally, docking analysis was conducted for cycloadducts 3 and 4, docked them to the main protease of HIV-1 (5W4Q and 1A8O), and their binding was compared to the antiviral drug Azidothymidine (AZT). The results indicated that cycloadduct 3 exhibited lower binding energies than AZT, suggesting a significant potential for anti-HIV activity.
Optimal defense traits in plants living in environments with different productivities: extending Coley, Bryant and Chapin's model
Authors: Czekaj Łukasz , Janczur Mariusz Krzysztof
Published: March 2024

Background: Resource Availability Hypothesis (RAH) states that natural selection favors slow-growing plants with high levels of defense and lower rates of damage in less productive environments, and fast-growing plants with low levels of defense and high rates of damage in more productive environments.
Methods: A model of optimal energy allocation to the growth, reproduction, and production of stable defensive substances in plants under different environmental productivities.
Results: An exponential increase of environment productivity makes optimal a lower investment of energy to the production of defensive substances and thus, lower concentration of defensive substances, but differences in their concentrations among environments with different productivities are rather weak. Contrary to RAH, plants growing in more productive environments lost a lower lifetime proportion of vegetative tissue than plants from less productive environments. Higher environmental productivity led to a lower effect of defense on fitness for resistant strategies; however, the absolute value of the reproductive success was higher at higher environmental productivity.
Conclusions: The optimal energy allocation approach allows for an understanding of why some plants growing at environments with higher productivity lose proportionally less biomass than plants growing at environments with lower productivity, even when they produce higher concentrations of defensive substances.
Physicochemical and ecotoxicological approaches for Moknine Continental Sebkha in Tunisia
Authors: Belaid Afifa , Bekir Karima , Beltifa Asma , Sedrati Mouncef , Santana Rodríguez José Juan , Ben Mansour Hedi
Published: March 2024

Degradation of water quality is an emerging issue in many developing countries. In this context, industrial and domestic effluents heavily contaminate the coast of Moknine Continental Sebkha in Tunisia. The present study aimed to biomonitor the seawater quality of the Moknine Continental Sebkha coast using physicochemical and ecotoxicological approaches. The ecotoxicological assessment was performed using three species representing different trophic levels, namely Vibrio fischeri, Selenastrum capricornutum, and Lepidium sativum. In the physicochemical analysis such as BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TSS (total suspended solids), TOC (total organic carbon), NO3− (nitrate), AOX (adsorbable organic halogen), the recorded levels of pH and total suspended solids did not comply with the Tunisian standard (NT.09.11/1983). The ecotoxicological data confirmed that the tested water samples displayed toxicity to two test indicators L. sativum and S. capricornutum. A targeted chemical screening of the Moknine Continental Sebkha coast previously performed revealed the presence of total mercury, four phthalate acid esters, and one non-phthalate plasticizer, a fact that could explain the observed ecotoxicological effects and therefore might harm the biotic area and the health of the surrounding population.
Educar para empreender e inovar
Authors: Pifano de Rezende Frederico , Hamedi d'Escofier Afsaneh , Braga Marco
Published: March 2024

O presente trabalho estudou um hackathon acadêmico e como as universidades podem promover o empreendedorismo que transcenda a experiência acadêmica, considerando a percepção de estudantes que decidiram criar uma startup. Pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, teve como campo o evento promovido pela Universidade Texas A&M (EUA), com componentes da COPPE/UFRJ e do CEFET-RJ. A coleta de dados aconteceu por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e grupos focais. Percebeu-se que a iniciativa empreendedora foi motivada pela experiência vivida no evento, uma vez que a universidade não ofereceu educação para o empreendedorismo e nem suporte à iniciativa de empreender do grupo. Constatou-se que hackathons estimulam a inovação, mas são insuficientes no fomento ao empreendedorismo. Propõe-se um Programa de Desenvolvimento de Startups para que as universidades auxiliem o processo de inovação, construindo estruturas de apoio para estudantes em etapas posteriores aos eventos, fortalecendo uma formação que contemple o educar para empreender e inovar.
Formulation and Characterization of Simvastatin-Loaded Nanosponges: An Innovative Technique for Colon-Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Swapna Vanapalli , Saripilli Rajeswari , Sravya Kudumala , Sharma Dinesh Kumar
Published: March 2024

Background::

To enhance the solubility of simvastatin by improving the surface area of the drug particle by preparing nanosponges that are enclosed in a tablet and capsule oral solid dosage forms, which in turn helps maintain the drug's stability.

Objective::

The present investigation aimed to develop a simvastatin nanosponge containing Eu-dragit as a polymer with different ratios of drug-to-polymer concentration to increase its solubility and further improve the oral bioavailability by using nanosponges’ formulation technique.

Methods::

The emulsion solvent diffusion method was used to prepare simvastatin nanosponges by using Eudragit S 100, Eudragit L 100, and a combination of both in different drug-to-polymer ratios, i.e., 1:0.5, 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2. To characterize the conductivity, molecular changes, and size of the prepared nanosponges, a variety of evaluation parameters, including the compressibil-ity index, Hausner's ratio, angle of repose, microscopy, production yield, entrapment efficiency, drug content, in vitro drug release studies, DSC, XRD, FTIR, and SEM were evaluated. Opti-mized formulation was used to prepare colon-targeted tablets and capsules by taking nanosponges equivalent to 20 mg of simvastatin.

Results::

The percentage yield, drug content, and entrapment efficiency of the final formulation were observed at 81 ± 0.26%, 92.4%, and 97 ± 0.56%, respectively. The in vitro drug release of the optimized formulations was 91.42 % at 12 hrs. The drug release followed the Peppas model with a super case II transport mechanism.

Conclusion::

The use of the nanosponge delivery system increased the solubility of simvastatin seven times, which in turn increased the drug's bioavailability.
Desarrollo territorial sostenible: conocimientos puestos en valor bajo enfoque de ecosistema de innovacion
Authors: Contreras Varas Juan Carlos
Published: March 2024

El artículo que se presenta propone una relación y aproximación dialéctica, sistémica y virtuosa entre el territorio y la innovación, considerando los diferentes tipos de conocimientos existentes como insumos esenciales para contribuir al desarrollo local. Los esfuerzos en su aplicación estarán orientados al fortalecimiento de las capacidades de los actores sociales, así como a la identificación y posterior despliegue de procesos que permitan habilitar y aprovechar los recursos, logrando un avance sistemático y sistémico de los territorios como realidades propias, con suficiente solidez para valorar las experiencias, tradiciones, historias, atributos y conocimientos. Esto facilita la formación y transformación de los actores sociales en protagonistas del diseño de una nueva situación territorial, abordando la necesidad de resolver los problemas centrales de la sociedad y construir una institucionalidad territorial basada en las experiencias, acciones y percepciones de los ciudadanos, quienes valoran las cualidades que representa la vida en un territorio, su condición medioambiental, biodiversa, inclusiva y su sostenibilidad, con el fin de mitigar y eventualmente eliminar las desigualdades políticas, sociales y económicas, en beneficio compartido entre quienes forman parte de esos espacios habitables.
Ideas políticas y económicas de Carlos Marx en el contexto contemporáneo
Authors: Rocha Valencia Alberto
Published: March 2024

Marx, en obras como "El 18 Brumario de Luis Bonaparte", "La Lucha de Clases en Francia" y "La Ideología Alemana", expone su visión del Estado como una máquina burocrático-militar, centralizada y coercitiva. Identifica al Estado como un instrumento de dominación de clase, relacionado estructuralmente con el capital. Distingue entre regímenes políticos, destacando la Monarquía burguesa y la República como formas de dominación burguesa. Analiza la Comuna de París como un ejemplo de autogobierno obrero y absorción del Estado. Considera la sociedad civil como el motor de la historia y aboga por la autorganización de los trabajadores como base para transformarla y extinguir el Estado. Marx centra su pensamiento en "El Capital", su obra magna sobre el análisis del capitalismo. El Libro I, publicado, aborda la producción capitalista y la plusvalía, mientras que los tomos II y III fueron completados por Engels. En el II, analiza la circulación del capital y la reproducción simple y ampliada. En el III, estudia la producción capitalista y la composición orgánica del capital, fundamentando la Ley de la Tendencia decreciente de la tasa de ganancia. Marx vincula las crisis cíclicas del capitalismo con la contradicción capital/trabajo, anticipando una posible revolución socialista liderada por el proletariado.
E-REKAD: Enhancing students’ understanding of visual art education in Malaysian schools
Authors: Maaruf Siti Zuraida , Fadzir Nor Hafiza , Rusli Nur Shakila Izzati , Mohd Nizar Nur Nabihah , Wang Wang Ling
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the contemporary approach of integrating digital technology into education, focusing on developing the Interior Design Digital Module (e-RekaD) as a teaching aid for Form Four Visual Arts Education. Following the ADDIE model, the research employed a descriptive quantitative design with qualitative data. The need analysis involved five experts and identified a significant demand for the module to enhance student understanding. Visual Art teachers showed enthusiasm for digital integration, anticipating improved pedagogical skills, especially in digital literacy. Overall, the study highlights the imperative role of digital modules in advancing Interior Design education within the framework of Education 4.0.
Sustainable Finance and Fintech: SMEs’ Behavioural Intention towards Islamic Crowdfunding
Authors: Engku Hassan Ashari Engku Huda Mursyidah , Abdul Rahman Aisyah , Indriani Astiwi
Published: March 2024

A wide array of financial options is accessible to SMEs, including Islamic crowdfunding, besides solely depending on bank loans. This study aims to investigate the factors behind SMEs' intention to use Islamic crowdfunding using the extended UTAUT model. Empirical data from 525 participants consisting of Bumiputera SMEs from various sectors and employed SPSS for analysis. The results indicate that there is a positive effect of PE, SI, FC and TB, and no significant effect between EE and BI. The finding generates insights into the realized fundraising benefit factor among the Bumiputera SMEs as an extension to the UTAUT model.
Influences of Night Eating Syndrome and Physical Activity Level towards Students’ Body Mass Index
Authors: Saari Athirah Sorfina , Ab Hamid Mohd Ramadan , Ismail Nazrul Hadi , Fitria Anisa Lailatul
Published: March 2024

It is critical to identify the factors that influence body mass index (BMI) to properly design targeted health interventions. This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical activity level (PAL) and night eating syndrome (NES) with BMI among university students. This cross-sectional study focused on 141 students at UiTM in Selangor and used a self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic data, the IPAQ-SF, and the NEQ. A negative, weak correlation was reported between PAL and BMI, while a positive correlation was found between NES and BMI.  This study concluded that improving NES and PAL are crucial to enhance BMI status.
Roles of Urban Agriculture towards Contributing Sustainable Cities: A scoping review
Authors: Ahmad Nurulanis , Ahmad Zarita , Mohd Adnan Yasmin , Lee Chyi Lin
Published: March 2024

This study explores the roles of UA in creating sustainable urban environments. Employing a scoping review based on Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework, the research utilizes NVIVO for thematic analysis to develop a conceptual model. This study emphasizes key UA roles, such as addressing food insecurity and promoting recreation, aesthetics, biodiversity, health, and overall well-being. While acknowledging UA benefits, the findings highlight a significant knowledge gap regarding multidimensional attributes essential for urban sustainability. This research helps achieve diverse, sustainable development goals such as SDGs 2, 11, and 13, contributing to more informed and effective urban planning practices.
Assessing the Purchasing Behaviour in S-commerce among Indonesian Students in Malaysia
Authors: Yahaya Syazwani , Widyodarsono Marcella Angeline , Ahmad Noraini , Khan Muhammad Shahid
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between advertising value, perceived value, and trust for purchasing behaviour in social commerce (s-commerce). The study was quantitative, and 105 Indonesian students provided primary data using a self-administered questionnaire. After applying SPSS to analyze the data, it was found that 56.1% of the variance could be explained by the suggested model. The findings show that there is a positive significant relationship between advertising value, perceived value, and trust for purchasing behaviour in s-commerce. The study's implications are intended to support information technology professionals to implement s-commerce technology in commercial settings
Patients' Awareness of Symptoms, Understanding and Perception of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Majid Norhaini , Nur Aziz Nik Nur Yasmin , Mat Desa Siti Hajar , Suryanto Suryanto
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the crucial role of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' awareness, understanding and perception in achieving positive treatment outcomes. Using the Knowledge and Perception of Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (KPPDQ), a survey was conducted among 169 PD patients in one of the teaching hospital's Neurology Clinics. Significant correlations were found between age, duration since diagnosis, ethnicity, employment status, information sources, and patients' understanding levels. The study highlights the necessity for targeted interventions and continuous research to enhance patient education, correct misconceptions, and foster a more informed and supportive society for PD patients and their families, contributing to overall well-being.
Gender Identity Disorder and Self-Stigma Among University Students in Selangor
Authors: Sham Fatimah , Hamzah Anwari , Razali Salmi , Jamiat Nandang
Published: March 2024

Gender identity (GI) is the cognitive, perception and perspective of a person on his/her own sexual matters. Along with another psychiatric self-stigmatization (SS), caused low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, suicidal ideation, tendencies among youth. The prevalence of GI and SS was relatively low and was associated. Creating appropriate intervention, both at the social education level and other levels was necessary to develop skills and to continue promoting awareness and learning about gender and transgender issues
Stigma on Mental Illness among Nurses
Authors: Seman Nordianna , Asmala Aisyah Fitriah , Mohamad Zuki Nur Mazmira , Inggriane Puspita Dewi
Published: March 2024

A lack of knowledge about mental illness contributes to the pervasive stigma and discrimination that affects the quality of life. This study aims to determine the nurses' knowledge of mental illness and the existence of professional stigma in a teaching hospital in Selangor. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design, with nurses selected using simple random sampling (n = 178) and utilizing the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27) and the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) (α = 0.76 & 0.62). Nurses’ knowledge is high (M=44.57±4.61) and that professional stigma exists.  Additionally, significant association between knowledge and stigma among nurses was found (p<0.05).
Influence of Thrifting Products Purchasing Behavior: Cases of young adults in Indonesia
Authors: Sham Rohana , Mutalip Laidey Nooraneda , Eagen Soetjipto Max Clifford , Kamal Mohammad Arif
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the purchasing behavior of young adults in Indonesia, focusing on thrift products. Key factors influencing their decisions include value for money, electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), and environmental concerns. The research aims to contribute to consumer behavior knowledge in Indonesia, offering practical recommendations for businesses targeting this demographic. The study, conducted quantitatively through online surveys with respondents aged 18-30, establishes a relationship between value for money, e-WOM, and purchase decisions for thrift products. However, it finds no significant correlation with environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for nuanced marketing strategies to address sustainability issues in this market segment.
Recovery in Physical Function, Fatigue and Quality of Life in Post-Mild COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Kamarudin Mohd Nazeri , Ibrahim Muhammad Amin , Ng Li Whye Cindy , Mirza Fatim Tahirah
Published: March 2024

Mild COVID-19 patients are either asymptomatic or present with mild respiratory symptoms, but as high as 5-10% may experience prolonged symptoms. Insufficient knowledge on mild-COVID-19 recovery poses uncertainties among healthcare professionals and patients, potentially causing treatment delays and may lead to a cluster of people not recovering from post-COVID-19 infection. This study aims to determine changes in respiratory symptoms, physical function, dyspnoea and fatigue, and Quality of Life in mild COVID-19 patients up to 3 months after the onset of symptoms. The results showed significant improvements in all outcomes at 3 months, but the scores were below normal.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Radiation Safety among Radiographers in the Government Hospital in Tai’an City
Authors: Liu Sitong , Dahlan Akehsan , Wu Qiong , Abdul Rahman Ahmad Taufek
Published: March 2024

Radiographers are professionals tasked with operating equipment emitting radiation, such as X-rays and Computer Tomography (CT). The focus on their Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) concerning Radiation Protection (RP) establishes a significant and imperative study area. This study endeavours to comprehensively investigate the KAP of RP among Radiographers in the Government Hospital in Tai'an City, aiming to explore correlations with various demographic and professional factors. In conclusion, the study asserts that myriad factors distinctly influence the KAP of RP among radiographers in the government hospital in Tai'an City.