bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Features of nutrition behavior of Kazakhstani adult population 2021: cross-sectional study
Authors: Namazbayeva Zhanar , Smailova Dariga S. , Mukasheva Gulmira , Zhamakurova Ayaulym , Kuanyshkalieva Asylzhan , Karibayeva Indira , Kauysheva Almagul , Otyzbayeva Nurzhamal , Glushkova Natalya , Kulzhanov Maksut , Ni Roman , Brusati Luca
Published: September 2023

The external environment, diet, and lifestyle are the major determinants influencing the development of health disorders. Chronic cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diseases of digestive system and diabetes mellitus are the five major groups of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the main cause of global mortality worldwide, which in turn determine the high trend in the occurrence of causes of death in middle and high-income developing countries. NCDs have become due to the incidence of premature mortality, preventable morbidity and disability in more than 60% of cases in the world. In addition, by 2030 according to experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), the proportion of noncommunicable diseases has increased by 75% of deaths, which is 52 million people in the world. We aimed to identify eating habits among adults in Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan. We used a cross-sectional study of the risk factors of NCDs in people aged 18 to 69 years using the standardized and adapted STEPS tool in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study consists of four phases. Average usual consumption of fruit is 5 days a week, usually two servings, the usual consumption of vegetables is slightly more (6 days a week, 5 servings a day). As can be seen from data, salt or salty sauces are never added to food before eating or directly during meals, 25.3% of respondents, with slightly more of them among men (27%) than among women (24.2%). Other individuals add salt or salty sauces to food: always-20.2%, often-12.2%, sometimes-20.7%, and rarely-21.7%. Individuals who add salt or salty sauces to food always and often are significantly more among women (34.4%) than men (28.8%). Naturally, the majority of the population adds salty spices or salty sauces during cooking 98.7% of the respondents: always and often-75.3%, sometimes and rarely-23.5%. Finally, excessive consumption of table salt (more than 5 grams per day), fatty and fried foods, as well as insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables (less than 5 servings per day) are among one of the main risk factors in the development of non-communicable diseases.
Fetal gut cell-like differentiation in esophageal adenocarcinoma - rare tumor subtype with therapeutically relevant claudin-6 positivity and SWI/SNF gene alteration
Authors: Kraemer Max , Zander Thomas , Alakus Hakan , Buettner Reinhard , Simon Adrian Georg , Schroeder Wolfgang , Bruns Christiane J. , Quaas Alexander
Published: September 2023

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is one of the deadliest tumor entities worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 25%. Unlike other tumor entities, personalized therapy options are rare, partly due to the lack of knowledge about specific subgroups. In this publication, we demonstrate a subgroup of patients with EAC in a large screening cohort of 826 patients, characterized by specific morphological and immunohistochemical features. This subgroup represents approximately 0.7% (6/826) of the total cohort. Morphological features of this subgroup show a striking clear cytoplasm of the tumour cells and the parallel existence of rare growth patterns like yolk sac-like differentiation and enteroblastic differentiation. Immunohistochemistry reveals expression of the fetal gut cell-like proteins Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4), claudin-6, and glypican 3. Interestingly, we find a correlation with alterations of SWI/SNF-complex associated genes, which are supposed to serve as tumor suppressor genes in various tumour entities. Our results suggest a possible implication of rare tumour subtypes in the WHO classification for EACs according to the classification for gastric cancer. Furthermore, claudin-6 positive tumors show promising efficacy of CAR T cell therapies in clinical studies. This represents a personalized therapeutic option for this tumor subtype.
An Evaluation Method of Dental Treatment Quality Combined with Deep Learning and Multi-index Decomposition
Authors: Peng Gang , Liu Jie , Yan Feng , Liu Beicun
Published: September 2023

Dentists judge the quality of dental treatment for each patient is very time-consuming, and inefficient, lack of quantitative evaluation criteria, easy to cause errors. At the same time, the traditional method of extracting tooth and root canal image features based on experience is difficult to accurately extract the tooth area and root canal filling area, resulting in low accuracy of tooth and root canal segmentation, which in turn affects the accuracy of tooth treatment quality evaluation. In this paper, the deep learning convolutional neural network is used to segment the root canal filling area, tooth boundary and the boundary between tooth and soft tissue for the real patient ’s root canal treatment and filling image. Finally, the segmented image is quantitatively evaluated according to the multi-evaluation index of professional doctors. The experimental results show that the intelligent evaluation method of dental treatment quality combined with deep learning and multi-index decomposition proposed in this paper not only unifies the evaluation criteria of dental treatment quality, but also the therapeutic effect of quantitative scoring can effectively improve the work efficiency of doctors, which has reference significance for the application of artificial intelligence in the medical field.
Do osteoporosis and spinal degenerative disorders affect low back pain and related disorders? The Wakayama Spine Study
Authors: Iwata Shoei , Hashizume Hiroshi , Yoshimura Noriko , Oka Hiroyuki , Iwahashi Hiroki , Ishimoto Yuyu , Nagata Keiji , Teraguchi Masatoshi , Kagotani Ryohei , Sasaki Takahide , Tanaka Sakae , Yoshida Munehito , Yamada Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the coexistence of osteoporosis (OP) and spinal degenerative disorders in the general population, determine the factors influencing low back pain (LBP), and how they impact the activities of daily living (ADL) and physical performance in older individuals with multiple comorbidities. This cross-sectional study was part of a large-scale population-based cohort study in Japan, involving 1,009 participants who underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess cervical cord compression, radiographic lumbar spinal stenosis, and lumbar disc degeneration. Vertebral fractures (VF) in the thoracolumbar spine were evaluated using sagittal MRI with a semi-quantitative method. Bone mineral density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. LBP, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and physical performance tests, such as one-leg standing time, five times chair-stand time, maximum walking speed, and maximum step length, were assessed. Using clinical conditions as objective variables and image evaluation parameters as explanatory variables, multiple regression analysis showed that VF was significantly associated with LBP and ODI. VF and OP were significantly associated with physical performance, whereas OP alone was not significantly associated with LBP or ODI (all P<0.05). Our findings contribute to new insights on LBPand its impact on ADL and physical performance.
The in vivo biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus in a mouse model: albumin is the major biofilm matrix
Authors: Shu Jwu-Ching , Hsu Chi-Yu , Wu Chih-Ching , Lin Mei-Hui , Chen Chien-Cheng , Hsiao Ching-Hsi
Published: October 2023

Generally, Staphylococcus aureus biofilms are composed of proteins, extracellular DNA (eDNA), and polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA). Our knowledge of biofilm development is largely derived from in vitro systems. The molecular mechanisms underlying in vivo biofilm formation remain unclear. We analyzed murine catheter-associated biofilms through a proteomic approach and demonstrated the potential development process of the in vivo biofilm matrix. The biofilm-forming capacity of different S. aureus strains was evaluated through the classical static biofilm assay in vitro or subcutaneous implantation of a catheter infection model in mice. The protein composition of the in vivo biofilm matrix was analyzed through a proteomic approach. An albumin pull-down assay was employed to identify cell wall proteins interacting with albumin, followed by characterization using a bacterial adhesion assay. The expression levels of biofilm-associated genes were determined using qRT-PCR. The S. aureus strains used in this study produced exopolysaccharide-rich biofilms in vitro but proteinaceous biofilm matrices in vivo. Proteomic analysis showed that albumin was one of the most abundant proteins in the in vivo biofilms and was specifically incorporated into the biofilm matrix. Staphylococcal fibronectin-binding proteins were characterized as binding with albumin to form biofilms that were stabilized with eDNA. The production of PIA was suppressed in the presence of albumin. In vitro biofilm nonproducers may utilize host factors to form biofilms in vivo. We demonstrated that S. aureus used different strategies to develop biofilms in vitro and in vivo. Our study provides insight into the strategies used in eradicating biofilms in hosts.
An integrated wave modelling framework for classifying extreme events in the English Channel and on the Normandy coasts
Authors: Solano Carlos López , Turki Emma Imen , Mendoza Ernesto Tonatiuh , Barceló Ángel David Gutiérrez , Migaud Antonin , Laignel Benoit , Lafite Robert
Published: September 2023

Coastal storms have a significant impact on population and environments lying on the shore, and, in a context of climate change, the magnitude and frequency of these impacts are increasing. The English Channel, located between France and the United Kingdom, is one of the most impacted areas in terms of human activity, being also one of the most exposed spots to the effects of coastal extreme events, which are of great importance due to the specific morphology of the basin. Getting to know the characteristics of the storms that arrive to the English Channel and their evolution through it until they arrive to the coast is essential to define the actions that should be taken into consideration to protect these populations and environments. In this study, a database of sea level and waves is generated, selecting the most important extreme events during 12 years in terms of wave height, direction, and duration. Then, a classification is carried out to finally follow the most representative storms when they propagate from the shelf seas of English Channel to the Normandy coasts, in the North of France.
“A true life changing event I will take with me on the journey of life”: Results from a mixed- method pilot study evaluating an emotion intervention for people with eating disorders
Authors: Vuillier Laura , Greville-Harris Maddy , Talbot Catherine Valerie , May Liz , Moseley Rachel Louise
Published: September 2023

Objectives
Eating disorders (EDs) have a worldwide prevalence of 7.8%, with towering mortality rates and high healthcare costs. The current recommended treatment for EDs principally works by directly targeting ED thoughts and behaviours, but recovery rates are low. A multifaceted link between difficulties with emotions and EDs is now widely established, and newer third-wave therapies that aim to address these underlying emotion difficulties are promising. The current study piloted an emotion self-help intervention which was co-developed with clinicians and people with lived experienced of EDs. The intervention aimed to specifically address difficulties with emotion identification and regulation, as well as unhelpful beliefs about emotions, which are believed to give rise to and maintain ED thoughts and behaviours.
Method
We recruited 39 people with self-reported EDs to test this intervention over a one-week period. Our participants were asked to complete a series of questionnaires measuring emotion processes and psychopathology on Day 1 (T1) before being given access to the intervention. Participants were then asked to practice the newly acquired skills for seven days, before taking the same questionnaires on Day 9 (T2). We also asked participants to qualitatively report on their experience of the intervention.
Results
We found significant improvements in ED psychopathology (ED-15), depression (PHQ-9), and anxiety (GAD-7) pre- to post-intervention, with medium to large effect sizes. All our emotion variables namely alexithymia (TAS-20), difficulties regulating emotions (DERS-SF), and unhelpful beliefs about emotions (EBQ) also showed significant changes post-intervention with medium to large effect sizes. Most importantly, changes in emotion regulation processes were linked to improved eating psychopathology. The qualitative analysis corroborated this finding, highlighting how the intervention helped them form new beliefs about emotions, which helped them reduce ED behaviours.
Discussion
Significant improvements in emotion processing and regulations, as well as psychopathology, along with positive qualitative feedback, suggest that the intervention effectively met its aims of increasing awareness of the link between emotions and eating psychopathology, providing help to identify and regulate emotions, and normalising emotional experiences. While our results are promising, further research is required to assess its effectiveness longer term and in clinical settings.
Somatic embryogenesis in Vaccinium vitis-idaea and genetic fidelity evaluation of regenerants using molecular markers together with their phytochemical profile.
Authors: Kundu Sayani , Barua Rajesh , Marshall Dawn , Siow Yaw , Igamberdiev Abir , Debnath Samir
Published: September 2023

A proficient plant propagation technique using somatic embryogenesis was successfully established in lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.), a small evergreen shrub. The formation of callus and somatic embryos was observed in two lingonberry genotypes during the process. The most favorable conditions for embryogenic callus induction were observed on a nutrient medium supplemented with 5.5 µM thidiazuron. To confirm the development of somatic embryos, scanning electron microscopy analysis was conducted. The embryos were further cultured on a nutrient medium with 4.0 μM zeatin to facilitate their transformation into plantlets. The growth chamber-maintained ex vitro plants were compared with in vitro-grown somatic embryonic plants to determine whether the regenerants exhibited clonal stability. This was done by using 3 EST-SSR, 3 EST-PCR, and 3 genomic SSR primers. All in vitro- and ex vitro-grown plants displayed similar monomorphic amplification profiles in both genotypes, indicating that they maintained genetic fidelity. The total flavonoid and anthocyanin contents, antioxidant activity, and the catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme activities were higher in SE plants than ex vitro-grown plants. On the other hand, total phenolic and proanthocyanin contents and glutathione reductase enzyme activity was more in the ex vitro plants compared to SE plants.
Parametric sensitivity analysis of precursor generated inflow profiles including atmospheric stability for RANS-based ABL microscale wind simulations
Authors: Hågbo Trond-Ola , Venkatraman Kartik , Buckingham Sophia
Published: September 2023

Atmospheric thermal stability significantly influences global circulation patterns and local weather. However, microscale wind simulations often rely on idealized atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) inlet profiles that inadequately consider this essential factor. Addressing this limitation, this study provides a tool for generating realistic ABL inflow profiles by conducting a comprehensive parametric investigation. Utilizing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) precursor model that incorporates surface heat fluxes, the study analyzes the impact of various meteorological, atmospheric, and geographic parameters on ABL wind profiles. These include factors such as ground heating/cooling, atmospheric pressure differences, roughness length, latitude, and the number of iterations, with assessments across different atmospheric stabilities. More than a hundred RANS-based precursor simulations were conducted to systematically examine the effects of these parameters on ABL wind profiles. The results reveal that certain parameters have clear and straightforward effects on the wind profiles, while others exhibit more complex dependencies on atmospheric stability. The findings offer practical guidelines for the creation of realistic inflow profiles in microscale wind simulations, thereby contributing to more accurate predictions in applications such as wind farm design, pollutant dispersion studies, and urban wind assessments.
Oral esketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with open-label extension
Authors: Smith-Apeldoorn Sanne , Veraart JKE , Kamphuis Jeanine , Spijker Jan , Meij Annemarie van der , Asselt Antoinette van , Rot Marije aan het , Schoevers Robert
Published: September 2023

About one-third of patients with depression do not achieve adequate response to current treatment options. Although intravenous and intranasal administrations of (es)ketamine have shown antidepressant properties, their accessibility and scalability are limited. We investigated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of generic oral esketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in a randomized placebo-controlled trial with open-label extension. This study consisted of 1) a six-week fixed low-dose treatment phase during which 111 participants received oral esketamine 30 mg or placebo three times a day; 2) a four-week wash-out phase; and 3) an optional six-week open-label individually titrated treatment phase during which participants received 0.5 to 3.0 mg/kg oral esketamine two times a week. The primary outcome measure was change in depressive symptom severity, assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17), from baseline to 6 weeks. Fixed low-dose oral esketamine when compared to placebo had no benefit on the HDRS17 total score (p=0.626). Except for dizziness and sleep hallucinations scores, which were higher in the esketamine arm, we found no significant difference in safety and tolerability aspects. During the open-label individually titrated treatment phase, the mean HDRS17 score decreased from 21.0 (SD 5.09) to 15.1 (SD 7.27) (mean difference -6.0, 95% CI -7.71 to -4.29, p<0.001). Our results suggest that fixed low-dose esketamine is not effective in TRD. In contrast, individually titrated higher doses of oral esketamine might have antidepressant properties.
Native and freeze-dried bacterial nanocellulose as techno-functional ingredients of low-fat meat emulsions
Authors: ML Balquinta , Marchetti Lucas , Cecilia Andrés Silvina , Lorenzo Gabriel
Published: September 2023

The new habits of consumers related to healthier nutritious foods are driving the development of functional foods. The development of low-fat meat products with a healthier lipid profile implies doing it without solid fats which affects their quality characteristics. Hydrocolloids could be included to mimic their textural attributes. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), is gaining keen interest in multiple industrial applications. During the thermal treatment of the batters, typical mechanical spectra, with a sharp increase in G' related to the sol-gel transition were observed. However, batters with d-BNC reached higher elastic moduli than those with n-BNC, possibly due to the water availability in the system. Cooked products presented a characteristic solid-like behavior, with the elastic modulus gradually increasing with the hydrocolloid content. All formulations showed high process yields without significant differences among them. Water retention capacity significantly increased with both BNC only at intermediate concentrations. Hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness increased with BNC level. Micrographs of the meat systems showed that d-BNC led to a finer and more homogeneous microarchitecture, while n-BNC aggregated in hollows of the meat protein network. Additionally, the Pickering effect of dried-BNC, produced meat emulsions with smaller oil droplets, is in agreement with the differences in lightness detected. Thus, BNC is an effective hydrocolloid for improving the techno-functional properties of low-fat meat products. The results suggest that freeze-dried BNC is a more convenient and effective option for the food industry due to its low weight, longer storage period, and easy handling, compared to native BNC.
Integrated transcriptomic and WGCNA analyses reveal candidate genes regulating mainly flavonoid biosynthesis in Litsea coreana var. sinensis
Authors: Xie Na , Guo Qiqaing , Li Huie , Yuan Gangyi , Gui Qin , Xiao Yang , Liao Mengyun , Yang Lan
Published: September 2023

Litsea coreana var. sinensis is a popular ethnic herb and beverage plant known for its high flavonoid content, which has been linked to a variety of pharmacological benefits and crucial health-promoting impacts in humans. The progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of flavonoid accumulation in this plant has been hindered due to the deficiency of genomic and transcriptomic resources. We investigated the presence of four valuable flavonoids—quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-galactoside, and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucoside in 98 samples, using high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, we utilized Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) sequencing to derive full-length transcriptome sequences. Subsequent ONT sequencing yielded a total of 126,977 unigenes, of which 107,977 were successfully annotated in seven public databases. Within the annotated unigenes, 3,781 were categorized into 58 transcription factor families. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified two co-expression modules, MEpink and MEturquoise, that showed strong positive correlation with flavonoid content. Within these modules, four transcription factor genes (R2R3-MYB, NAC, WD40, and ARF) and four key enzyme-encoding genes (CHI, F3H, PAL, and C4H) emerged as potential hub genes. Among them, the R2R3-MYB (LcMYB123) as a homologous gene to AtMYB123/TT2, was speculated to play a significant role in flavonol biosynthesis based on phylogenetic construction. Our findings provided a theoretical foundation for further research into the molecular mechanisms of flavonoid biosynthesis, as well as a valuable resource for novel gene identification and genetic improvement in high-flavonoid L. coreana var. sinensis.
Propensity Score Estimation Using Neural Networks: A Comparison of DNN, CNN, and Logistic Regression
Authors: Kim Seungman , Lee Jaehoon , Jung Kwanhee
Published: September 2023

Background
Observational studies serve as an alternative to randomized experiments, but they can introduce selection bias. Propensity score (PS) methods address this issue by balancing covariates between groups. For the best estimation of PS, all possible and important covariates should be included in the estimation model. However, if too many covariates are included in the estimation model, problems may occur due to the high dimensionality. As the solution, many studies suggested neural networks for high-dimensional data.
Methods
This study utilized a deep neural network(DNN) and a convolutional neural network (CNN) for PS estimation, which can algorithmically handle nonlinear relationships and interactions of covariates. A simulation was conducted to examine the performance of the DNN and CNN in comparison to logistic regression (LR).
Results
This study demonstrated that DNN and CNN are feasible and effective as PS estimators, outperforming LR in reducing bias. Specifically, while LR increased bias in the outcome by 17% and could only decrease 5% of covariate imbalance, DNN and CNN were capable of reducing 13% and 16% of bias in the outcome respectively, alongside diminishing 16% and 21% of covariate imbalance.
Conclusions
Although the application of neural networks requires specialized tools and additional system resources, they offer significant advantages when the precise estimation of treatment is essentially required with many covariates. However, we found that for reliable PS estimation using DNN and CNN, it is imperative to establish and adhere to proper error rate thresholds. Therefore, it is imperative to utilize these machine learning techniques for PS estimation judiciously until appropriate error rates are determined and methods for achieving these error rates are established.
Implementation of merger remedies in Indian Competition/Antitrust Law – Jurisprudential journey of the Competition Commission of India in the last decade
Authors: Gupta Devanshu
Published: September 2023

Remarkably, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has never sought to block outright a proposed combination (acquisition, merger or amalgamation of enterprises/group). Rather, if the CCI finds after an investigation that a proposed combination would be likely to harm competition in one or more markets, its response is to impose conditions – “remedies” – on the deal. As in jurisdictions around the world, these conditions may be behavioral, structural, or some mix of the two (hybrid remedies); also as in other jurisdictions, structural conditions are in principal favored over behavioral, as typically not requiring ongoing monitoring of the merged firms. This paper, after discussing the most important provisions of the Indian Competition Act, places the CCI approach to merger remedies in the context of practices observed in other jurisdictions. It discusses the details of the remedies imposed in important merger investigations over the past ten years (2014-2023) and closes with recommendations for bringing the CCI remedies approach up to world best practices.
Assessment of quality of life in hispanic patients with vestibular disorders using EQ-5D 3L, VAS and Dizziness Handicap Inventory Questionnaire
Authors: Gómez-Roldan Alejandro , Robles José , Franco Isabela , Valencia Santiago , Vanegas-Munera Johanna , Castillo-Bustamante Melissa , Madrigal Jorge
Published: October 2023

Background: Vestibular disorders often lead to physical impairments, an increased risk of falls, elevated rates of anxiety and depression, and a significant reduction in quality of life (QoL).
While previous studies have consistently documented the adverse effects of vestibular disorders on QoL, limited research has employed uniform tools like the EQ-5D 3L to assess these effects across different vestibular conditions. This study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating Hispanic/Latin patients with acute, episodic and chronic vestibular disorders, using the EQ-5D 3L and VAS questionnaire and Dizziness Handicap Inventory.
Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted across three specialized vertigo and dizziness centers in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Medellín. Patients diagnosed with vestibular disorders were administered the EQ-5D-3L, EQ VAS, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaires.
Results: A substantial negative impact on QoL, with mobility impairment, self-care difficulties, and challenges in performing daily activities affecting a significant proportion of patients. The study found no significant differences in EQ-5D and VAS scores between females and males with vestibular disorders, and patients with acute and episodic vestibular syndromes exhibited comparable scores. In contrast, patients with chronic vestibular syndromes showed significantly lower EQ-5D and VAS scores. Additionally, lower scores on the DHI were observed in patients with episodic and chronic vestibular syndromes, further indicating the profound effect of these conditions on QoL.
Conclusion: This study underscores the significant and diverse impact of vestibular disorders on the QoL of Hispanic/Latin patients and highlights the importance of using standardized tools like the EQ-5D 3L for comprehensive assessment.
Additive Manufacturing of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Composites via In-Situ Thermal Curing
Authors: Yourdkhani Mostafa , Dojan Carter , Ziaee Morteza , Radosevich Samuel
Published: October 2023

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are lightweight structural materials widely used in the transportation and energy industries. Current approaches for the manufacture of composites require expensive tooling and long, energy-intensive processing, resulting in a high cost of manufacturing, limited design complexity, and low fabrication rates. Here, we report the rapid, scalable, agile, and energy-efficient additive manufacturing of fiber-reinforced thermoset composites, while eliminating the need for tooling or molds. Use of a thermoresponsive thermoset resin as the matrix of composites and localized, remote heating of carbon fiber reinforcements via photothermal conversion enables instantaneous,in-situcuring of composites without further post-processing. Rapid curing and phase transportation of the matrix thermoset, from a liquid or viscous resin to a rigid polymer, immediately upon deposition by a robotic platform allows for the high-fidelity, freeform manufacturing of discontinuous- and continuous fiber-reinforced composites without using sacrificial support materials. This method is applicable to a variety of industries and will enable the rapid and scalable manufacture of composite parts and tooling as well as on-demand repair of composite structures.
An Efficient Human Action Recognition System Using Deep Learning‑Based Method
Authors: Parui Souvik Kumar , Biswas Saroj Kr. , Das Soumen
Published: October 2023

Human activity and action recognition are important in understanding human behavior and have always played a significant role in social communication. Human Action Recognition (HAR) is a challenging task that has various applications, such as intelligent video surveillance and human-computer interaction. Existing HAR models using video data often require high computational resources and a long processing time due to the high frame rate. However, using all frames to recognize a particular action is often unnecessary. Thus, this paper proposes an Efficient Human Action Recognition System (EHARS) using k-means clustering based keyframe extraction technique, which addresses the issue of computational inefficiency in existing models by eliminating redundant and useless frames. The proposed EHRAS utilizes the CNN-LSTM architecture where a pre-trained VGG-16 model is used for spatial feature extraction, and Bi-Directional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network is used for classification, which incorporates temporal features. The proposed model is evaluated using the widely used benchmark UCF-101 dataset and achieved an accuracy of 97.65%, which is comparatively better than some of the existing models for the HAR task.
Investigation of the Effect of Risk Perceptions of the Generation Z Consumers' Against Refurbished Products on Their Purchase Intention
Authors: Onurlubas Ebru , Niyazi Gumus Niyazi Gumus
Published: September 2023

Changes in the consumption culture of individuals, the economic problems experienced and the increase in environmental awareness cause significant increases in the sales of refurbished products, especially technological devices. While the growth of the refurbished product market contributes to consumers having these products at more economical prices, it also contributes to the reduction of the production costs of the enterprises and, from an environmental point of view, to the prevention of possible waste and damages that may arise during the production of new products. Therefore, it would not be wrong to argue that the sales of refurbished products will increase gradually and to predict that the refurbished product market will grow by diversifying. The present study investigates the effect of perceived risk dimensions of young consumers living in Turkey on their intention to purchase refurbished products. The reason why the Z generation was chosen in the study is to learn the buying habits of new or renewed products in technological products and to examine their attitudes towards refurbished products as a generation born and grown up in technology. Another reason for the selection of the Z generation in the research is that the Z generation, which constitutes an important part of society in Turkey, directs technological trends. It is thought that the findings of the research will make significant contributions to the marketing decisions of the companies producing technology for the Z generation, lawmakers and researchers. The research was carried out between January and March 2022 with 415 participants living in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, determined by the convenience sampling method. In this research, regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The research was carried out with 415 participants. As a result of the research, it was determined that social risk has a low positive and significant effect on the effect of perceived risk dimensions of Generation Z consumers on the purchase intention of the refurbished product, performance risk has a low negative significant effect, psychological risk has a good positive and significant effect, time risk has a low positive significant effect, and physical risk has a low negative and significant effect.
These results show that the psychological risk perception of Z generation consumers is important in their renewed product preferences. For this reason, companies should be careful to offer products that meet the expectations of consumers for refurbished products and not disappoint Z generation consumers.
Ações de extensão no contexto coleta seletiva na escola: uma forma de educação ambiental
Authors: REIS Maria José , REIS João Carlos , SILVA Érika Andressa da , REZENDE Vanessa Leite , SANJULIÃO Lo-Ruana Karen Amorim Freire , BATALHÃO André Cavalcante da Silva , REIS Fernanda Medeiros Dutra
Published: September 2023

O objetivo desta atividade de extensão foi inserir os princípios da educação ambiental na vida de alunos e comunidades escolares da cidade de Passos, objetivando a propagação do conhecimento e prática da coleta seletiva, bem como disseminação de hábitos sustentáveis com orientação correta de descarte dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU). Foram realizadas palestras, gincanas educativas e lançada para a comunidade uma campanha de coleta de materiais recicláveis. Observou-se que a gincana despertou um maior engajamento e participação ativa dos estudantes na campanha de arrecadação dos recicláveis, em que foram coletados cerca de 1574 kg de materiais, além dos 3329 bilhetes para o sorteio de uma bicicleta e cesta com doces. Concluiu-se que as atividades lúdicas e palestras, influenciaram positivamente no comportamento dos estudantes.
Adsorption device treatment of associated petroleum gas for power generation
Authors: Gurbanov Abdulaga , Sardarova Ijabika , Damirova Javida , Huseynov Ismayil
Published: October 2023

Hydrocarbon resources were considered as the basis of Azerbaijan's energy security. Ensuring the most complete and rational use of oil-associated gas resources is important for improving the efficiency of the oil industry and the national economy as a whole. Associated gas from oil fields remains the least demanded hydrocarbon raw material. The perspectives for the use of oil-associated gas are associated with new directions in the technique and technology of its use as a result of the creation and implementation of mobile and stationary power plants that consume gas.

Unlike natural gas produced from gas and gas condensate fields, propane-butanoic and pentane fractions, there are hexanes, heptane’s and heavy hydrocarbons, including aromatic and naphthene tic compounding. The properties of APG were studied in the laboratories. It is known that the composition of petroleum gas in a particular area, due to changes in the volume of its production on fields, is constantly changing, so it is necessary to periodically update characteristics.

The standard technology on gas conditioning for combustion is supplemented with an operation to remove heavy fractions of hydrocarbons in order to prevent these fractions from sticking to the surfaces of these installations with plugs formation and to support optimal fuel burning conditions. The problem of using oil gas in small power must be solved through new, cost-efficient developments that will be widely used both in high-output and small fields. To prepare associated oil gases for combustion, the design of an adsorption device is proposed, which makes it possible to reduce such phenomena when using this type of fuel as the formation of oil and paraffin deposits on the design details of gas burners, the accumulation of products of incomplete combustion of fuel on the heating elements of power plants. With the help of the newly proposed adsorption plant, the process of emulsifying and transporting petroleum gases has become more efficient. The use of this device has increased economic efficiency
Use of additive test methods in the simulation of the methanol synthesis column for the creation of a control system from the model
Authors: Eliseyev Peter , Loriia Maryna , Tselishchev Olexii , Gurin Oleksandr , Kupina Oksana , Sotnikova Tetiana
Published: October 2023

The object of the study is the methodology of developing automatic control systems for one class of technological objects, namely, multi-tonnage chemical-technological productions.

This class of technological objects is characterized by significant inertia, which makes them objects with difficult control. In addition, high production productivity to prevent economic losses requires ensuring the stability of the technological process without significant deviations from design norms.

Based on this, the development methodology for objects of this class should be strictly consistent and theoretically grounded.

The work presents an algorithm for developing the structure of the automatic control system of a large-tonnage chemical-technological facility based on its technological features. The algorithm begins with the analysis of a large-tonnage chemical-technological object as a control object. At the final stage, let’s obtain the complete structure of the control system as a self-adjusting extreme control system with an object model.

The selected structure of the automatic control system, in turn, puts forward specific conditions for the type of mathematical model of the control object. The work presents an algorithm for developing a combined mathematical model, which begins with structural identification and ends with parametric identification. This mathematical model is the most suitable for use in automatic control systems for technological objects of this class. The conclusions were confirmed by many years of research on real technological objects, including, on the example of the ASK TP methanol synthesis column.

The application of the described approach on the example of the development of an automatic control system for the technological process of methanol synthesis confirmed the economic feasibility of implementing the proposed solutions
Codebase release 3.44 for xSPDE
Authors: Kiesewetter Simon , Joseph Ria R. , Drummond Peter D.
Published: October 2023

The xSPDE toolbox treats stochastic partial and ordinary differential equations, with applications in biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, physics and quantum technologies. It computes statistical averages, including time-step and/or sampling error estimation. xSPDE can provide higher order convergence, Fourier spectra and probability densities. The toolbox has graphical output and \chi^{2}χ2 statistics, as well as weighted, projected, or forward-backward equations. It can generate input-output quantum spectra. All equations may have independent periodic, Dirichlet, and Neumann or Robin boundary conditions in any dimension, for any vector field component, and at either end of any interval.
Neutrinos from near and far: Results from the IceCube Neutrino Observatory
Authors: Yuan Tianlu
Published: September 2023

Instrumenting a gigaton of ice at the geographic South Pole, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has been at the forefront of groundbreaking scientific discoveries over the past decade. These include the observation of a flux of TeV-PeV astrophysical neutrinos, detection of the first astrophysical neutrino on the Glashow resonance and evidence of the blazar TXS 0506+056 as the first known astronomical source of high-energy neutrinos. Several questions, however, remain, pertaining to the precise origins of astrophysical neutrinos, their production mechanisms at the source and in Earth’s atmosphere and in the context of physics beyond the Standard Model. This proceeding highlights some of our latest results, from new constraints on neutrino interactions and oscillations to the latest measurements of the astrophysical neutrino flux and searches for their origins to future prospects with IceCube-Gen2.
The mediating effect of information technology business strategic maturity on the relationship between organizational behavior and firm performance: A study of the Jordanian maritime industry
Authors: Alabbadi Shadi , Seva-Larrosa Pedro , Garcia-Lillo Francisco
Published: September 2023

This study aims to investigate the impact of organizational behavior and information technology business strategic maturity on firm performance within the Jordanian maritime industry. A quantitative research approach was employed, and data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to 157 IT managers and 190 managers from 347 operating maritime companies in Jordan. The research data underwent descriptive and analytical analysis to examine the proposed model. The findings indicate that organizational behavior significantly and positively affects firm performance, while information technology business strategic maturity also has a significant positive influence on firm performance. Additionally, the study reveals that IT-business strategic maturity mediates the relationship between organizational behavior and firm performance. These results highlight the significance of enhancing IT-business strategic maturity to strengthen the association between organizational behavior and firm performance in the Jordanian maritime industry. By leveraging effective organizational behavior practices and implementing robust information technology business strategic maturity, maritime companies can improve their performance, achieve operational efficiency, and facilitate strategic decision-making, ultimately enhancing their competitive position in the dynamic business environment.
A környezettudatos életmódhoz való hozzáállás budapesti egyetemi hallgatók körében – a vásárlási döntéseik és a hulladékkezelés tükrében
Authors: Lukács Rita , Szeberényi András , Papp-Váry Árpád
Published: October 2023

Vásárlási döntéseink során egyre jelentősebb szerepet játszik a környezettudatosság, a fogyasztók egyre szélesebb rétege törekszik arra, hogy ezen a téren csökkentse a környezeti lábnyomát – de vajon tényleg rendelkeznek az ehhez szükséges információval? Kutatásunk során azt vizsgáltuk, hogy a Budapesti Metropolitan Egyetem hallgatói vásárlási döntéseik során mekkora jelentőséget tulajdonítanak a környezettudatosságnak – például vásárolnak-e használt terméket, visznek-e magukkal saját zacskót, táskát a bevásárláshoz, illetve tisztában vannak-e azzal, hogy a különböző csomagolóanyagokat melyik hulladéktárolóban kell elhelyezni. A vizsgálat során kiderült, hogy a költséghatékonysági szempontok mellett a környezettudatosság is szerepet játszik abban, hogy a válaszadók használt elektronikai eszközt (például mobiltelefont, tabletet, laptopot, asztali számítógépet vagy játékkonzolt) vásároltak. A hallgatók jelentős része, közel 88% saját bevallása szerint általában visz magával saját zacskót, papírvagy textiltáskát vásárláskor, hogy abban haza tudja vinni a megvásárolt termékeket. A különböző hulladéktípusok megfelelő elhelyezése már vegyes képet mutatott: amíg a gyakran használt csomagolóanyagoknál a többség a megfelelő hulladékgyűjtőt választotta, egyéb hulladékok esetén ez kihívást jelentett a válaszadóknak, amit az információhiány, illetve a többféle, egymásnak ellentmondó információ is okozhat.
Maximizing ecological environment benefits from the perspective of agricultural water resource transformation
Authors: Fang Yuan
Published: September 2023

The economic benefits of tourism are an important indicator for evaluating the tourism economic activities and their impact. In order to maximize the tourism economic benefits, this article studied the economic benefits of tourism from the perspective of agricultural water resource transformation. This paper took the relevant data of Shandong Province from 2010 to 2022 as the object of study and established the evaluation index system of tourism economic benefits of Shandong Province. The coupling relationship between tourism economic benefits and ecological environment (EE) was studied, and the systemic evaluation index system of Shandong tourism economy and EE was constructed. The range method and entropy method were used to calculate indicator weights, thereby constructing a coupled collaborative model between the tourism economy and the EE. Based on the relationship between tourism economic benefits and EE, research has been conducted on the transformation methods of agricultural water resources in EE construction to improve tourism economic benefits. With the continuous improvement of the EE index, the coupling degree between the tourism economic index and the EE index in many cities in Shandong Province has improved, and the tourism economic benefits have greatly improved.
EM NOME DE UMA GUERRA RACIAL TOTAL
Authors: Fernandes Rodrigues Marcos Alexandre , Machado da Rosa Kelli
Published: September 2023

Esta pesquisa prossegue em direção à análise dialógica do discurso da organização terrorista estadunidense Ku Klux Klan (KKK – doravante). Com efeito, objetiva-se compreender seu estilo discurso com vistas a verificar a relação entre forma e conteúdo na produção de sentidos. A justificativa embasa-se na emergência dessa temática, uma vez que, por estar em atividade, essa organização tem a possibilidade de: i) alistar novos integrantes; ii) atacar grupos raciais; iii) coordenar atos de terror; iv) doutrinar seu interlocutor estadunidense ou brasileiro acerca da crença de superioridade e inferioridade racial; v) angariar criptomoedas.  O referencial teórico-filosófico se respalda nas obras de Bakhtin (2015, 2016, 2017) e Volóchinov (2019a, 2019b, 2019c) no que tange à noção de forma, conteúdo, gênero discursivo. Em seu planejamento, fundamenta-se nestes cinco atos procedimentais: i) caracterização e escolha das organizações; ii) observação e registro das interações discursivas; iii) esboço das questões de pesquisa; iv) análise dialógica dos enunciados; v) escrita e apresentação da conclusão. Os resultados permitem a compreensão que o estilo discursivo da KKK se constitui de determinados signos ideológicos para mostrar a existência de uma pretensa batalha racial de grupos marginalizados contra brancos em função de um genocídio em massa, o que lhe responsabilizaria eticamente a reagir.