bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacterial and fungal assemblages of the gut and carapace of loggerhead sea turtles
Authors: Filek Klara , Vuković Borna Branimir , Žižek Marta , Kanjer Lucija , Trotta Adriana , Bello Antonio , Corrente Marialaura , Bosak Sunčica 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
The research on microbial communities of marine megafauna species represents a valuable source of knowledge that could be used for species conservation programs. Loggerhead sea turtles are marine flagship species with a currently thriving population in the Mediterranean Sea due to strong conservation efforts. In our study we aimed to further understand their biology in relation to their associated microorganisms. We investigated bacterial and fungal community structure of cloacal, oral swabs and carapace biofilm samples obtained from 18 juvenile, subadult and adult turtles as well as 8 respective enclosures, during a period of 3 years, by amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region of nuclear ribosomal gene.
Results
Our results reveal a trend of decreasing diversity of distal gut bacterial communities with the age of turtles. Notably, Tenacibaculum genus shows higher relative abundance in juveniles than in adults. Differential abundance of genera like Tenacibaculum, Moraxellaceae, Cardiobacteriaceae, and Campylobacter was observed in both cloacal and oral samples in addition to having distinct microbial compositions such as Halioglobus genera in oral samples. Fungal communities in loggerheads' cloaca were diverse and varied significantly among individuals, differing from those of tank water. However, we could not identify discernible patterns related to age, sex, or clinical status due to study limitations.
Conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive view of the loggerhead sea turtle bacterial microbiota and marks the first report of distal gut fungal communities studied via amplicon sequencing. Our findings expand the known microbial diversity repertoire of loggerheads, highlighting interesting taxa specific to individual body sites. This contributes to establishing a baseline understanding of the loggerhead bacterial and fungal microbiome.
Enhancing Deep Learning Models for Image Classification using Hybrid Activation Functions
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Li Xiaoming , Yang Yihe , Shi Zhiyong 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In the era of big data, efficient data processing has become a crucial issue for scientific development. Image classification, as one of the core tasks in the field of computer vision, holds great significance for achieving automated and intelligent applications. Nonlinear activation functions play a crucial role in neural networks, as they can introduce nonlinear properties and improve the representation and learning ability of the model. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the performance of different nonlinear activation functions on image classification tasks to optimize model performance and improve data processing efficiency. This paper is based on three nonlinear activation functions, namely, the cosine linear unit (CosLU), derivative exponential linear unit (DELU), and rectified linear unit with nonnegative slope (ReLUN), proposed by E. Pishchik in 2023, to study their performance on image classification tasks. We selected two datasets, CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100, and employed these three activation functions to train five progressively deepening network models. By comparing them with the ReLU activation function and between the two datasets, we expanded the number of classes in the dataset to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of these activation functions. The experimental results demonstrate that when trained on the CIFAR-10 dataset, the cosine linear unit (CosLU) activation function outperforms ReLU, while the derivative exponential linear unit (DELU) activation function exhibits poor performance, and the rectified linear unit with nonnegative slope (ReLUN) activation function performs similarly to ReLU. However, when trained on the CIFAR-100 dataset, the effectiveness of these activation functions significantly decreases. Additionally, we observed that activation functions with trainable parameters tend to exhibit an overall performance trend that improves as the model size increases. Furthermore, we identified a characteristic shared by most activation functions with trainable parameters, indicating that the larger the model is, the better the overall performance trend may become.
Machine Learning Applications in Studying Mental Health Among Immigrants and Racial and Ethnic Minorities: An Exploratory Review
Authors: Park Khushbu , Ahmed Abdulaziz , Al-Garadi Mohammed Ali 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
The use of machine learning (ML) in mental health (MH) research is increasing, especially as new, more complex data types become available to analyze. By examining the published literature, this review aims to explore potential gaps in the current use of ML to study MH in vulnerable populations of immigrants, refugees, migrants, and racial and ethnic minorities.
Methods
From October 2022 to June 2023, Google Scholar, EMBASE and PubMed were queried. ML-related terms, MH-related terms, and population-of-focus search terms were strung together with Boolean operators. Backward reference searching was also conducted. Included peer-reviewed studies reported using a method or application of ML in an MH context and focused on the populations of interest. We did not have date cutoffs. Publications were excluded if they were narrative or did not exclusively focus on a minority population from the respective country. Data including study context, the focus of mental healthcare, sample, data type, type of ML algorithm used, and algorithm performance was extracted from each.
Results
Ultimately, 13 peer-reviewed publications were included. All the articles were published within the last 6 years, and over half of them studied populations within the US. Most reviewed studies used supervised learning to explain or predict MH outcomes. Some publications used up to 16 models to determine the best predictive power. Almost half of the included publications did not discuss their cross-validation method.
Conclusions
The included studies provide proof-of-concept for the potential use of ML algorithms to address MH concerns in these special populations, few as they may be. Our review finds that the clinical application of these models for classifying and predicting MH disorders is still under development.
Cutting oneself off from difficult emotions in the face of danger. The role of self- compassion and experiential avoidance in the link between the perceived threat of Covid-19 and the severity of adjustment disorder symptoms
Authors: Holas Paweł , Juszczyk Aleksandra , Ciarrochi Joseph , Hayes Steven 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a major health crisis associated with adverse mental health consequences. The present study evaluated the link between the perceived threat of COVID-19 pandemic and adjustment disorder (AjD) severity and assessed if self-compassion (SC) and experiential avoidance (EA), previously indicated as protective factors for mental health, function as moderators of this relationship. Participants (N = 308) with the symptoms of AjD filled out questionnaires assessing the severity of depression, anxiety, and AjD, and scales evaluating experiential avoidance (EA), self-compassion (SC), and perceived health and life risk of COVID-19. We found a moderating effect of SC and EA on the association between the perceived threat of COVID-19 and AjD severity. Participants scoring high in EA showed a lack of the link between those variables, similar to those who were low in SC. Cluster analysis, however, revealed that individuals characterized by a high level of EA and a low level of SC had higher AjD, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared with those in the cluster with the opposite pattern. Current results point to the importance of being compassionate toward one's own psychological experiences, in spite of the tendency to shut from the emotional meaning of worrying.
Temporal evolution of suicide by levels of rurality and deprivation in Japan between 2009 and 2022
Authors: Yoshioka Eiji , Hanley Sharon J.B. , Sato Yukihiro , Saijo Yasuaki 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Previous studies have reported that levels of rurality and deprivation are factors associated with suicide risk. Reports on the associations between rurality, deprivation and suicide incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. The study aims to investigate how suicide rates evolved in areas with different levels of rurality and deprivation in Japan between 2009 and 2022.
Methods
Suicide data were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. This study used population density in 2020 as an indicator of rurality and per capita prefectural income in 2019 as a proxy for deprivation in Japan’s 47 prefectures. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to analyze secular trends in suicide rates by rurality and deprivation.
Results
Suicide rates for both men and women at different levels of rurality and deprivation remained roughly parallel during the research period. Suicide rates for men and women at all levels of rurality and deprivation were on a downward trend until around 2019, just before the onset of the pandemic. And then, suicide rates in women showed a clear upward trend, while the trend in suicide rates for men also changed around 2019, with a slightly increasing or flat trend thereafter.
Conclusions
In Japan, time trends in suicide rates for both men and women have changed before and after the pandemic, but levels of rurality and deprivation across the 47 prefectures do not appear to have contributed much to these changes.
Evaluating Similarity between Characters Printed with Ancient Movable Metal Types using Skeletonization
Authors: Ahmed Maaz , Choi Kang-Sun 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This paper presents a novel computational approach for character recognition and grouping of ancient Korean movable metal types printed during the Joseon dynasty. Existing comparative analysis methods lack consistent discrimination between typeface variations in digitized images of characters from historical printed works. The proposed approach applies a three-step process: skeletonization extracts structural features, registration aligns images, and similarity metric computation assesses matching between typefaces. Various preprocessing techniques and metrics are experimentally evaluated. The Dice coefficient emerges as the most reliable discriminative metric. An algorithm is developed employing binarization, skeletonization, iterative closest point registration, and distance computation. Compared to conventional methods, the approach achieves 45 times faster computation while improving character grouping accuracy, enabling more accurate reconstruction of the scale and types of metal letters produced. This methodology provides new insights into historic printing technologies and cultural developments through movable type.
Neuromanagement of the Metaverse: Direction based on happiness and health could offer a competitive edge in the Metaverse
Authors: González-Morales Antonio , Martín-López Milagro , Barroso Alejandro Talaminos 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The study of the metaverse and its possibilities as a workplace is proposed as a very promising future reality for companies and organisations. It was carried out in a cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach, analysing more than 100 studies found in various major databases under the terms "metaverse", "metaverse management", "metaverse neuromanagement", "management", "metaverse I/O psychology", "neuro-IE" and "neuromanagement". It is now well known that the way in which the work environment, the relationships within it and the emotions generated within it, influence the happiness, health and performance of employees. But what happens in the metaverse with these issues? Emotions and well-being affect decision-making, engagement, health and performance, but this has not yet been explored in the metaverse. While studies exploring these effects in the metaverse are lacking, neuromanagement should not be overlooked as a means of enhancing labour relations, organization, workplaces and possibly providing competitive advantage. Neuroscience can help with workplace design, task organisation, tracking emotional states and other workplace-related issues, including relaxation time, motivational state and many other issues.
JEL Classification: M10, M30
Water quantity–quality assessment in the transboundary river basin under climate change: a case study
Authors: Nazari Mejdar Hasan , Moridi Ali , Najjar-Ghabel Saeid 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

This study combined hydrological and water quality simulation models with a water resources planning model to project future water supply conditions under the dam construction in the Harirud River, located at the Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and the Iran border. The sustainability requirements and possible conflicts among riparian countries were assessed under climate change and future development in Afghanistan's upstream. The water quantity and quality of the Doosti Dam Basin on the Harirud River were investigated based on a contemporary time (1955–2015) to predict the future condition (2020–2099). The representative concentration pathway scenarios were applied based on five bias-corrected climate models. Results showed that most areas of the study area experienced an increase in temperature (1.5–3.8°C) and a decrease in precipitation (19–24%). The Doosti Dam inflow decreased by about 70% after the Salma Dam construction, and the reliability and sustainability of agricultural water supply in Iran and Turkmenistan will reduce to less than 3% under the representative concentration pathways 8.5 climate change scenario. The results show that the Doosti Dam is not a reliable source to supply the domestic water demand of Mashhad, the second most important city in Iran.
E. coli contamination of drinking water sources in rural and urban settings: an analysis of 38 nationally representative household surveys (2014–2021)
Authors: Santos Thiago M. , Wendt Andrea , Coll Carolina V. N. , Bohren Meghan A. , Barros Aluisio J. D. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The world is not on track to achieve universal access to safely managed water by 2030, and access is substantially lower in rural areas. This Sustainable Development Goal target and many other global indicators rely on the classification of improved water sources for monitoring access. We aimed to investigate contamination in drinking water sources, comparing improved and unimproved sources in urban and rural settings. We used data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, which tested samples from the household water source and a glass of water for Escherichia coli contamination across 38 countries. Contamination was widespread and alarmingly high in almost all countries, settings, and water sources, with substantial inequalities between and within countries. Water contamination was found in 51.7% of households at the source and 70.8% in the glass of water. Some improved sources (e.g., protected wells and rainwater) were as likely to be contaminated as unimproved sources. Some sources, like piped water, were considerably more likely to be contaminated in rural than urban areas, while no difference was observed for others. Monitoring water contamination along with further investigation in water collection, storage, and source classification is essential and must be expanded to achieve universal access to safely managed water.
Chemical pretreatment of Lagenaria breviflora seeds used as biosorbents for the removal of aqueous-bound Ni2+
Authors: Abugu Hillary Onyeka , Eze Samson Ifeanyi , Ezugwu Arinze Longinus , Ali Ibeabuchi Jude , Ihedioha Janefrances Ngozi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Lagenaria breviflora (LB) seeds were modified with acid (AMLB) and base (BMLB) for the sorption of Ni2+ from an aqueous solution. It was characterized by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). Kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and effects of pH were also studied. The FTIR revealed a shift and formation of new functional groups on the pretreated biosorbent surface which could be attributed to the adsorption of Ni2+ onto the modified LB. SEM analysis under different magnifications revealed that the external surface of the modified LB exhibited several cracked surfaces and different pore structures which could be involved in the adsorption of Ni2+. The XRD showed an amorphous structure, while the BET revealed a large surface area (BMLB-360.430 and AMLB-322.965 m2/g). The experimental conditions – contact time, pH, and initial metal ion concentration indicated that the maximum adsorption was attained at 30 min at pH 6, while the adsorption efficiency increased as the concentration of the biosorbents increased. Kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process correlates with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model suggesting a chemosorption mechanism. The isotherm data obtained obeyed a Langmuir model suggesting monolayer adsorption of Ni2+. The calculated sorption thermodynamic factors showed the adsorption of Ni2+ to be exothermic and spontaneous.
Assessment of risks to the quality of water supplied in Bushenyi-Uganda using the water safety plan approach
Authors: Kanyesigye Christopher , Twesigye Innocent , Marks Sara J. , Niwagaba Charles B. , Kulabako Robinah N. , Ferrero Giuliana , Kansiime Frank 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This study assessed the effects of environmental and operational hazardous events on the Bushenyi water supply system over the period 2017–2020. Monthly secondary water quality data for the period July 2013–December 2017 were analyzed together with data from field samples collected monthly from January 2018 to November 2020. The parameters analyzed were pH, turbidity, total iron, free chlorine and faecal coliforms. Hazardous events and risks affecting the water supply at the source, treatment and distribution system were identified and assessed during the field visits. Control measures were determined during water safety plan development effective July 2017 and implemented effective August 2018. Quality of water in the distribution system met the national standards for turbidity (93%), total iron (99%), residual free chlorine (90%) and faecal coliforms (96%). pH in the storage and distribution system was below the national standard (annual mean range, 5.5–6.7). Water quality was negatively influenced by extreme seasonal weather variations at the source, source protection gaps, treatment deficiencies related to clarifier, filter and chemical dose management as well as distribution management and maintenance gaps. Improved source protection, treatment and distribution network management and maintenance are recommended for sustainable system and water quality standards.
Radical Scavenging, Anti-Inflammatory, and Hepatoprotective Activities
of Pentacyclic Triterpene isolated from Rosa webbiana
Authors: Abdullah  , Khan Mir Azam , Adhikari Achyut 
Published: November 2023

Introduction:
Rosa webbiana (RW) Wall Ex. Royle is used in traditional medicine in
Pakistan for the treatment of several diseases including jaundice. To date, only neuroprotective potential
of the plant has been evaluated.

Objective:
The current study was designed to isolate bioactive compound(s) and investigate its
possible radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.

Methods:
Column chromatography was done to isolate compounds from the chloroform fraction
of RW. The compound was characterized by mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectroscopy.
Radical scavenging activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2) assays, while anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated via xylene-induced
ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema models. For hepatoprotection, CCl4-induced
model in mice was used.

Results:
A triterpene compound (3α, 21β-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene) was isolated from RW fruits
(ARW1). The compound exhibited DPPH and H2O2 scavenging activities 61 ± 1.31% and 66 ±
0.48% respectively at 500 μg/ml. ARW1 (at 50 mg/kg) exhibited 62.9 ± 0.15% inhibition of
xylene-induced ear edema and 66.6 ± 0.17% carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. In CCl4-induced
hepatotoxic mice, ARW1 significantly countered elevation in alanine transaminase (ALT),
alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (T.B), and reduction in total protein (T.P) levels. Liver
histomorphological study supported the serum biochemical profile for hepatoprotection. Moreover,
ARW1 significantly attenuated the toxic changes in body and liver weight induced by CCl4.

Conclusion:
The compound ARW1 exhibited anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective
effects. The anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities may be attributed to anti-oxidant
potential of the compound.
The Implementation of the Idea of Nationality in the Educational Process of SPO (to the 200<sup>th </sup> Anniversary of K. D. Ushinsky)
Authors: Konovalova L. I. , Semenova L. A. 
Published: November 2023

All the creativity of the great Russian teacher K.D. Ushinsky is permeated through and through with the idea of creating a national pedagogical system, the basis of which is "nationality". In his opinion, "nationality" is possible and should be brought up in a child primarily by means of the native language and native literature. The relevance of the presented work lies in the refraction of the idea of nationality to the modern literature lesson. The authors presented methodological techniques used in the analysis of works of art, which make it possible to form not only subject-figurative thinking, but also the empathy of the student, a sense of empathy, to introduce him to national traditions. The purpose of the article is to correlate the idea of the nationality of education and upbringing, formulated by K. D. Ushinsky, with traditional and new approaches to the study of literature. The paper presents specific methods of work on the analysis of a literary text, allowing to achieve the goal, the approbation of methods and techniques of work took place at literature lessons in the OBPOU SPO "Zheleznogorsk Mining and Metallurgical College". The authors consider the proposed system of questions and tasks to be the result of the work, which can be used as a sample in the analysis of works of art in order to refract the historical heritage of K.D. Ushinsky and his ideas of "nationality" into a modern literature lesson. The authors consider it necessary to continue correlating the idea of nationality with the methods of work used today to analyze the literary text.