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Bibliometric Analysis:13 Years of Halal Tourism Research using Scopus Database

April Kim Lalisan

and 5 more

April 25, 2024
For the last ten (10) years, there has been a significant shift toward the acceptance of Muslim practices worldwide. For instance, Islamic banking started initially in Muslim-majority countries and has now spread to other parts of the world; the same goes for the concept of halal tourism. Although this concept is compulsory for Muslims, it slowly garnered attention from non-Muslim majority countries such as European countries. Using bibliometric analysis, the researchers discovered the first publication about halal tourism was recorded in 2011. On the other hand, Indonesia was the leading country in terms of halal tourism research publications. Developed countries that are non-Muslim majority that are keen on halal tourism research are from the European Union (EU). Sustainability, MDPI, a publisher based in Switzerland was the leading journal in terms of halal tourism research, while Heesup Han was the leading author. Qualitative methods and PLS-SEM were mostly used for the statistical method in halal tourism research papers. Using the VOS Viewer software application, the researchers discovered that there are four (4) key theme occurrences in published halal tourism research. Limitations faced and further suggestions for future research are also included in this paper.
Design of a large language model for improving customer service in telecom operators
xiaol Ma
RuQiang Zhao

xiaol Ma

and 4 more

April 10, 2024
For telecom operators, customer service is integral to their business. Traditional service systems, responsible for managing large amounts of data and complex knowledge bases, need more time retrieval processes and a lack of precision, hindering their ability to respond quickly to customer requests. To address these issues, this paper uses the LangChain programming framework to create a customized Large Language Model (LLM) specifically for the customer service context of telecom operators. It also uses reinforcement learning to improve the performance of the models and reduce the production of incorrect information. Experimental results show that the acceptance of our model’s recommended knowledge has increased from 15% to 70%, confirming its reliable operation in resource-constrained environments.
Temporal anomalies and time invariant variability of soil moisture in a subhumid coas...
Claus Kohfahl
Ismael Lare David

Claus Kohfahl

and 3 more

February 16, 2022
The knowledge of soil moisture spatio-temporal variability is highly relevant for water resources management. This is especially significant in highly demanding areas of arid and semiarid regions where sensitive ecosystems, agriculture and recreational areas are competing for water resources. This study reports an analysis of the spatial-temporal variability of soil moisture data for a small to medium-scale network in a coastal wetland of southwestern Spain. Measurements were taken from 5 sites located in the Doñana National Park, with an extension of approx. 25 × 3 km over the time-period of one hydrological year from September 2017 to September 2018. Absolute soil moisture was separated in two components: the temporal mean (time-invariant term) and the deviations from the mean or anomalies (time-variant term). The time-invariant component was generally the main contributor to the total spatial variance of absolute soil moisture data and it was mostly controlled by the groundwater levels in the area. Nevertheless, the time variant terms have a huge effect on soil moisture variability in very dry states at all 5 sites. Time-dependent patterns were found between average soil moisture state and the variance and covariance of both the time-variant and time-invariant components of soil moisture, which could be used for the up and downscaling of soil moisture from satellite data. Those patterns were only affected by heavy rainfalls giving rise to hysteretic behavior. This study shows that even though groundwater level is a time-variant variable, it significantly affects soil moisture’s time-variant and time-invariant terms.
Modulation of anticipatory brain activity as a function of action complexity
Andrea Casella
BiancaMaria Di Bello

Andrea Casella

and 5 more

April 09, 2024
Stimulus-driven actions are preceded by preparatory brain activity that can be expressed by event-related potentials (ERP). Literature on this topic has mainly focused on simple actions, such as the finger keypress, finding activity in frontal, parietal, and occipital areas detectable up to two seconds before the stimulus onset. However, little is known about the preparatory brain activity when the action complexity increases, and specific brain areas designated to achieve movement integration intervene. The main aim of this paper is to identify the time course of preparatory brain activity associated with actions of increasing complexity using ERP analysis and a visuomotor discrimination task. Motor complexity was manipulated by asking nineteen volunteers to provide their response by simply pressing a key or by adding to the keypress arm extensions (reaching) alone, or in combination with a standing step (involving the whole body). Results showed that these actions of increasing levels of complexity appear to be associated with different patterns of preparatory brain activity. Specifically, the simple keypress was characterized by the largest motor excitatory preparation in premotor areas paralleled by the largest prefrontal inhibitory/attentional control. Reaching presented a dominant parietal preparation confirming the role of these integration areas in reaching actions toward a goal. Stepping was characterized by localized activity in the bilateral dorsomedial parieto-occipital areas attributable to sensory readiness, for the approaching stimulus. In conclusion, the brain is able to optimally anticipate any stimulus-driven action modulating the activity in the brain areas specialized in the preparation of that action type.
ICD in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Variables associated with appropriate therapy, inappropri...
Sebastian Mactaggart
Raheel Ahmed

Sebastian Mactaggart

and 1 more

April 09, 2024
Introduction: Those with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), which may be prevented using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). There is limited data available that follows the post-procedural outcomes of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) who have had an ICD implanted. Areas Covered: This review will highlight studies that focus on both appropriate and inappropriate therapies in those with an ICD, as well as device complications in this group. There were several variables inclusive of age, gender, ventricular characteristics and findings on cardiac imaging that were investigated and discussed as influencing factors in predicting appropriate and inappropriate therapies. Conclusions: Adverse events in those with an ICD and CS were minimally reported in the literature. Individuals diagnosed with CS are at high risk of ventricular arrhythmia, with comparable rates of appropriate therapy but higher incidence of side effects and inappropriate therapy. The younger average age of CS patients in comparison to other ICD cohorts warrants the need for further, large-scale, prospective trials with periodic interim follow-ups focused on those with this condition.
Extensive and Progressive Cerebral Infarction Associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae I...
Shijia Ni
Siyi Che

Shijia Ni

and 2 more

April 09, 2024
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is one of the most common respiratory pathogens causing respiratory infection in children, especially in those above 5 years old. Although rare, cerebral infarction is the most severe neurological complication of MP infection and could be fatal. Herein, we report a case of extensive and progressive acute cerebral infarction associated with MP infection, which not only received medical treatment but also underwent a decompressive craniectomy. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed occlusion of the left internal carotid artery, left anterior cerebral artery, and middle cerebral artery. In order to better understand the relationships between MP infection and cerebral infarction both on clinical and radiological perspectives, literature of cerebral infarction associated with MP infection were searched and reviewed.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case report
Ante Damjanović
Daniela Kraljević

Ante Damjanović

and 5 more

April 09, 2024
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case reportDaniela Kraljević MD, PhD 1 / Ante Damjanović MD1 / Tamara Nikše MD 1 / Ivan Pavić MD, PhD 2 / Iva Mihatov Štefanović MD, PhD3 / Josip Pejić MD41 UCH Mostar, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pulmonology and Alergology2 Children’s Hospital Zagreb, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology, Immunology and Rheumatology3 CHC „Sestre Milosrdnice“ Zagreb, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Pulmonology and Allergology4 CH Dubrava, Surgery Clinic, Department for thoracic surgeryCorrenspondence: Ante Damjanović, MD, UCH Mostar, Pediatric Clinic, Department of pulmonology and alergology, Bijeli Brijeg, 88 000, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaEmail: antedamjanovic2@gmail.comKeywordspediatric pulmonology, cancer, lungs1 INTRODUCTIONPrimary lung neoplasms in children are rare. A significantly larger number of lung neoplasms are secondary neoplasms, mostly metastases from some other primary tumor process.1 Primary lung tumors in children, although rare, are mostly malignant (75% of cases). Carcinoids account for 40% of these tumors, bronchogenic carcinomas for 17% of cases, and pleuropulmonary blastomas for about 15% of cases.2 Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common type of salivary gland carcinoma in the adult population. It can also be found in the bronchi and in the thyroid gland. It is not frequently found in the lungs, especially in children, where it constitutes approximately 0.1-0.2% of all primary lung tumors.3It originates from glandular tissue identical to that of the salivary glands, which is located in the submucosa of the trachea and bronchi.4 We will present a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the right bronchus in a six-year-old girl who was hospitalized due to right-sided pneumonia and pleural effusion.2 CASE PRESENTATIONA six-year-old patient was referred to our clinic due to an elevated body temperature, shivering, and vomiting. Laboratory diagnostics were performed at the local Health Center (CRP 338 mg/L, WBC 18.8 x 10^9/L (neutrophils 78%)), along with a chest X-ray, which revealed right-sided pneumonia with pleural effusion. The patient had previously experienced chickenpox seven months ago and had two episodes of pneumonia since, which were treated on an outpatient basis.The clinical examination of the patient revealed the following: Subfebrile temperature (37.8°C), tachycardia (118/min); reduced breath sounds on auscultation over the right lung, with no breath sounds heard at the base. Additional radiological assessment (ultrasound of the lung base) confirmed the presence of pleural effusion.Parenteral (ceftriaxone, clindamycin) and oral (azithromycin) antimicrobial therapy was prescribed, and a pediatric surgeon was consulted. There was no indication for pleural drainage.The patient responded positively to the prescribed therapy, becoming afebrile on the fifth day of hospitalization. Follow-up X-rays showed partial regression of the previously described inflammatory changes, and a follow-up ultrasound confirmed the regression of pleural effusion. The girl was discharged for home treatment with continued oral antimicrobial therapy (cefpodoxime), with a scheduled follow-up appointment at the clinic.
“The Effect of Social Emotional Capacities of Infertile Individuals on Their Ability...
Gonca BURAN
Belma TOPTAŞ ACAR

Gonca BURAN

and 1 more

April 09, 2024
A document by Gonca BURAN. Click on the document to view its contents.
Outpatient Inhaled Corticosteroid Use in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Sharon McGrath-Morrow
Cynara Leon

Sharon McGrath-Morrow

and 7 more

April 09, 2024
Rationale: In the outpatient setting, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are frequently given to children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) for treatment of respiratory and asthma associated symptoms. In this study we sought to determine if correlations existed between ICS use and ICS initiation and patient characteristics and outpatient respiratory outcomes. Methods: This study included children with the diagnosis of BPD (n=661) who were seen in outpatient pulmonary clinics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia between 2016-2021. Chart review was used to determine patient demographics, use and timing of ICS initiation, asthma diagnosis and acute care usage following initial hospital discharge. Results: At the first pulmonary visit, 9.2% of children had been prescribed an ICS at NICU discharge, 13.9% had been prescribed an ICS after NICU discharge but before their first pulmonary appointment, and 6.9% were prescribed an ICS at completion of initial pulmonary visit. Children started on an ICS as outpatients, had a higher likelihood of ER visits (adjusted OR: 2.68 ±0.7), hospitalizations (4.81 ± 1.16) and a diagnosis of asthma (3.58 ± 0.84), compared to children never on an ICS. Of those diagnosed with asthma, children prescribed an ICS in the outpatient setting received the diagnosis at an earlier age. No associations between NICU BPD severity scores and ICS use were found. Conclusions: This study identifies an outpatient BPD phenotype associated with ICS use and ICS initiation independent of NICU severity score. Additionally, outpatient ICS initiation correlates with a subsequent diagnosis of asthma and acute care usage in children with BPD.
Case Report: Fatal Pneumocystis jirovecii Infection in an Elderly Man Receiving Adjuv...
Colin Vercueil
Hamza Ouaz

Colin Vercueil

and 3 more

April 09, 2024
Introduction:Pneumocystis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with severe T-cell immunodeficiency. Its occurrence in patients with solid tumors is relatively rare, unless additional significant predisposing factors are present.We present the case of a patient who developed a Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia after the 9th course of Paclitaxel, administered as part of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Health Insurance Literacy: Bridging the gap between Financial Knowledge and Purchase...
M.Lalitha Supriya
Jyothi P

M.Lalitha Supriya

and 1 more

April 09, 2024
It is a matter of serious concern that in spite of having the financial capacity, a significant portion (30%) of India’s population referred to as the ‘Missing Middle’- lacks health insurance due to limited awareness [1](#ref-0001). The present research tries to understand how health insurance literacy influences purchase intentions and how financial knowledge contributes to this relationship. This study aimed to explore and understand the mediating role of health insurance literacy in the relationship between an individual’s financial knowledge and their intention to purchase health insurance. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire and analysed using the PLS-SEM technique with SmartPLS software. The results are in the expected direction and the findings confirm that an individual’s subjective financial knowledge does affect their purchase intention which is mediated by health insurance literacy. These insights have implications for stakeholders in the health insurance industry as well as policy makers, suggesting the need for targeted educational efforts aimed at different and distinct population segments.
Optimizing Chitosan Derived from White Shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis): A Novel Approach...
Anali Riahi
Elahe Tajbakhsh

Anali Riahi

and 4 more

April 09, 2024
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a commonly found Gram-negative bacterium in healthcare facilities and is renowned for its ability to form biofilms and its virulence factors that are controlled by quorum sensing (QS) systems. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains of this bacterium poses a significant challenge in the field of medicine. Consequently, the exploration of novel antimicrobial agents has become a top priority. This research aims to optimize chitosan derived from white shrimp (Metapenaeus affinis) using the Response Surface Methodology computational approach. The objective is to investigate chitosan’s potential as a solution for inhibiting QS activity and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa ATCC 10145. Under optimized conditions, chitin treated (NaOH: 1.41 M) for 15.75 hours, HCl (7.49% vol) for 2.01 hours, at a deacetylation temperature of 81.15 °C. Resulting chitosan exhibited a degree of deacetylation exceeding 93.98%, as confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectral analysis, indicating its high purity. The extracted chitosan demonstrated a significant synergistic antibiotic effect against P. aeruginosa when combined with ceftazidime, enhancing its bactericidal activity by up to 15-fold. In addition, sub-MIC concentrations of extracted chitosan (10 and 100 μg/mL) successfully reduced the production of pyocyanin and rhamnolipid, as well as the swimming motility, protease activity and biofilm formation in comparison to the control group. Moreover, chitosan treatment downregulated the RhlR and LasR genes in P. aeruginosa when compared to the control group (P<0.05). The optimized chitosan extract shows significant potential as a coating agent for surgical equipment, effectively preventing nosocomial infections caused by P. aeruginosa pathogens.
Preventing breastmilk HIV transmission using broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodi...
Philippe Van de Perre
Gabriella  Scarlatti

Philippe Van de Perre

and 7 more

April 09, 2024
The prospect of preventing HIV infection with broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) has generated unprecedented enthusiasm in the scientific community and hope among people living with HIV around the world. HIV bNAbs could be a game changer in the prevention of HIV acquisition. Some of these bNAbs are being tested in early phase clinical trials, and the debate is now about the priorities for strategic large-scale efficacy trials. The prevailing view is that only a fixed combination of at least three bNAbs could prevent HIV, regardless of target populations or routes of transmission. We propose an alternative strategy consisting of evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of one or two bNAbs cocktails tailored to different target populations and indications. The rationale for this alternative strategy is based on ethical, pathophysiological and practical facts and is illustrated by the possibility of preventing HIV transmission through breastfeeding in high incidence/prevalence areas such as southern Africa. There is a prospect of eliminating paediatric HIV acquisition through breastfeeding by using single/dual long-acting bNAb regimens.
Electromagnetic Detection of ELF/VLF Signals Emitted by Geminids 2017 Meteors
Samaneh Aghelpasand
Parvin Howaida

Samaneh Aghelpasand

and 2 more

April 12, 2024
Skywatchers have been fascinated by 'meteors' radiant glow for years. Early reports show that the sounds of these luminous meteors have been recorded, a rare occurrence due to 'sound's slower speed compared to light. Astronomers studying meteors suggest that ionized tails can produce electromagnetic waves and their investigations show it is in ELF and VLF bands, causing nearby metal objects to vibrate and create audible sounds, known as the Electrophonic effect. These waves travel at the speed of light, confirmed by various measurements. This study details the detection of such signals during the 2017 Geminids meteor shower using a loop antenna and SuperSID monitor, distinguishing signals from local and natural noise. Factors affecting data recording are also discussed. These findings shed light on an overlooked aspect of meteor observations, guiding future research in this field.
Movahed protocol and algorithm for prevention of intubation in patients with acute ca...
Mohammad Reza Movahed

Mohammad Reza Movahed

July 08, 2024
Introduction: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema is related to left ventricular failure leading to increases in the feeling pressure and pulmonary congestion. If not rapidly treated, severe hypoxia will develop, and mechanical ventilation will be necessary until congestion is resolved. Rapid pre- and afterload reduction can lead to a very quick reversal of pulmonary edema and hypoxia thus preventing intubation. Nitroglycerin has been safe in reducing pre- and afterload as long as blood pressure can tolerate it. Rapid administration of high doses of nitroglycerin is crucial in order to reverse acute congestion. Nitroglycerin ointment has the best pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties for this purpose as it is widely available and rapidly absorbed by buccal administration. The successful use of buccal nitroglycerin ointment in patients with severe cardiogenic pulmonary edema has been used successfully in many published case reports but is rarely utilized and hardly known in the medical community. Hereby, six cases of successful buccal nitroglycerin ointment administration are reported in patients suffering from severe cardiogenic pulmonary edema with hypoxia on maximal oxygen therapy thus preventing intubation and the need for mechanical ventilation in all of these patients. This report is followed by a review of the literature. Furthermore, a treatment protocol and algorithm are developed based on our patients and reported cases in the literature for the prevention of intubation in these patients. Figure 1 summarizes the clinical characteristics of these patients.
Potential impact of climate change-induced alterations on pyroptotic cell death in an...
Caglar BERKEL

Caglar BERKEL

April 09, 2024
Climate change-induced alterations in temperature variation, ozone exposure, water salinity and acidification, and hypoxia might influence immunity in diverse animal groups from fish to mammals. Pyroptosis is a type of lytic pro-inflammatory programmed cell death, which participates in the innate immune response, and is involved in multiple diseases characterized by inflammation and cell death, mostly studied in human cells. Here, I review previous research pointing to the potential impact of climate change on pyroptotic cell death in different animal cells. I propose that temperature-, ozone exposure-, salinity-, acidification- and hypoxia-induced pyroptotic cell death should be better understood to be able to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on animal physiology. This is of high importance considering the increasing frequency of climate-based changes in these environmental parameters, and the critical function of pyroptosis in immune responses of animals.
Pore Structure Manipulation Enhanced Sodium Storage of Calcium-lignosulfonate-based H...
Yunfei Gou
Lixin Bai

Yunfei Gou

and 5 more

April 09, 2024
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted a lot of attention owing to the low cost, as well as similar working mechanism and manufacturing technique with Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the practical application of SIBs is severely hindered by limited electrode materials. Disordered carbons are reported to be promising as anode materials for SIBs. Here, for the first time, calcium lignosulfonate (LSCa), one papermaking waste, is explored as a novel low-cost precursor for carbon materials of SIBs. The optimized LSCa-derived carbon delivers a high reversible capacity of 317 mA h g -1 at 30 mA g -1 with ~ 60% plateau capacity and it retains a capacity of 170 mA h g -1 even at 3000 mA g -1. These achievements are ascribed to the larger d 002 value, smaller defects and more closed pores, compared to the original sample from the direct carbonization of LSCa.
Aligning technical knowledge to an industry domain in global software development: a...
Vitor de Campos
José Maria Nazar David

Vitor de Campos

and 3 more

April 09, 2024
Finding software developers with expertise in specific technologies that align with industry domains is an increasingly critical requirement. However, due to the ever-changing nature of the technology industry, locating these professionals has become a significant challenge for companies and institutions. This research presents a comprehensive overview of studies exploring suitable recommendation systems that can assist companies in addressing this pressing need. To conduct this study, we employ a hybrid systematic mapping approach with an initial number of 1251 studies and a final selection of 21 studies. Our work focuses on collecting data on key technologies, methodologies, and data sets utilized in proposed recommendation systems, to design a new recommendation system that can effectively identify specialists capable of aligning specific technical knowledge with industry domains. The outcomes of this study include insights into the current research trends in this field, alongside a practical overview of considerations necessary for developing a recommendation system that successfully meets the criteria for aligning technical skills with industry domains. By following a hybrid Systematic Mapping methodology and presenting the outcomes in the form of insights, this research addresses the challenge of finding software developers with domain-specific expertise in a rapidly changing technology industry, laying the groundwork for aligning technical skills with industry domains.
Bidirectional Data Pipelines: An Industrial Case Study
Aiswarya Raj Munappy
Anas Dakkak

Aiswarya Raj Munappy

and 3 more

April 09, 2024
Background: Bidirectional data pipelines have emerged as a response to the evolving needs of modern data ecosystems. Traditionally, unidirectional pipelines allowed data to flow in a single direction, limiting interaction. The surge in demand for real-time bidirectional communication prompted the development of pipelines that enable two-way data flow, facilitating seamless and dynamic exchanges between source and destination. Objective: The research aims to delve into the role of bidirectional data pipelines within the companies producing and selling software-intensive embedded systems products. Further, the study endeavors to elucidate the fundamental differences between unidirectional and bidirectional data pipelines, shedding light on their unique characteristics. Through comprehensive exploration, it seeks to discern the benefits and challenges inherent in implementing and maintaining bidirectional data pipelines. Furthermore, a critical aspect of the research involves outlining the intricate steps and considerations essential for migrating from unidirectional to bidirectional data pipelines. This includes a focus on prerequisites, methodologies, and the potential benefits derived from such a transition. Method: This study employs a qualitative research approach centered around a multiple-interpretive case study to delve into the complexities of bidirectional data pipelines. Five distinct use cases have been meticulously selected to provide a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of bidirectional data pipelines. Through the in-depth analysis of these concrete use cases, this research aims to elucidate the intricacies, benefits, and challenges associated with bidirectional data pipelines in software-intensive embedded systems environment. Results: The study yielded insightful results on various aspects of bidirectional data pipelines, emphasizing their distinctions from unidirectional data pipelines without a shared data transmission channel. It uncovered the compelling need for bidirectional data pipelines in modern data-centric environments, where the dynamic exchange of information between source and destination is pivotal. The identified benefits ranged from enhanced real-time data synchronization to improved responsiveness in addressing evolving business requirements. Concurrently, the study elucidated inherent challenges, such as increased complexity in pipeline management and potential security considerations. Moreover, the research provided a nuanced understanding of the stepwise process involved in transitioning from unidirectional to bidirectional data pipelines. Conclusion: The study underscores the pivotal role of bidirectional data pipelines in meeting evolving data requirements, offering benefits like real-time synchronization and improved decision-making. Despite their importance, there is a lack of comprehensive research on bidirectional pipelines, prompting the need for further exploration. The transitional journey involves addressing challenges such as data consistency and security concerns while optimizing system design for compatibility. For researchers, the study suggests avenues for optimizing bidirectional pipeline performance, examining long-term impacts, scalability, and real-time anomaly detection. Practitioners can leverage insights for informed decision-making in transitioning to bidirectional data pipelines, aligning organizational needs with their benefits and challenges.
Mass Transfer to a Nanoelectrocatalyst
Theodore Wiesner
Klaudia Mata (Robinson

Theodore Wiesner

and 2 more

April 08, 2024
There are few mass transfer studies to nanocatalysts (1 nm ≤ dp ≤ 100 nm). We have experimentally investigated the electrocatalytic reduction of hexacyanoferrate (III) to hexacyanoferrate (II) on gold nanospheres. The surface flux is insensitive to particle sizes of dp≥ 30 nm. For particle sizes of dp < 30 nm, the flux increases sharply with decreasing particle size. However, the measured fluxes are one to three orders of magnitude smaller than predicted by a purely diffusion-limited model. Using mathematical modeling, we evaluated six mechanisms potentially affecting mass transfer to a nanoparticle. Flux concentration due to the curvature effect and electromigration become important below 30 nm. Stabilizing layers on the particle also greatly influence the flux through electrosteric effects. Brownian advection, enhanced surface reactivity, and particle aggregation play negligible roles. Tuning the charge and the tortuosity of the stabilizer layer to potentiate the flux may be useful in nanosuspensions.
Identifying conflicting domains in problem frame diagram for problem-oriented require...
Waqas Junaid
Li Zhi

Waqas Junaid

and 1 more

April 08, 2024
The conflicting domains is a serious problem in problem frame diagram. These conflicting domains need to be identified and removed. Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to find the conflicting domains, categorize them, and annotate them on real world case study. Design/methodology/approach: This paper takes the three categories of conflicts such as inconsistencies, inclusion, and interlock to find the conflicting domains. Finding: the results show us the different annotation or symbols to represents these conflicting domains. Based on the annotations or symbols you can say there is a possibility of conflicts between these domains. Conclusion: This paper provide us the annotations or symbols such as interdependenacy, inclusion, and interlock to represent the conflict between domains in insulin injection control system and regular monitoring of patient case studies. Originality/value: The paper addresses a gap of conflicting domains and their annotations or symbols to represent it, is acknowledged both in the literature and by practitioners.
Process Debt: Definition, Risks and Management
Antonio Martini
Viktoria Stray

Antonio Martini

and 4 more

April 08, 2024
Context: Process Debt, like Technical Debt, can be a source of short-term benefits but often is harmful in the long term for a software organization. Nonetheless, information about Process Debt is scarce in the current literature. Objective: This paper aims to define Process Debt, describe its occurrence with associated risks, and show examples of mitigation strategies. Method: Firstly, we conducted an exploratory study of Process Debt in four international organizations by interviewing 16 practitioners. Then, we validated and extended the findings with a cross-company focus group with additional 10 practitioners. Finally, we analyzed 58 additional observations and 35 interviews from a longitudinal case study. Results: The findings show that Process Debt can be a harmful phenomenon that needs attention. We provide a framework and a definition, and report causes, consequences and occurrence patterns over time of Process Debt. We present mitigation strategies and which ones need further attention for future research. Conclusions: The debt metaphor may help companies understand how to manage and improve their processes and make process-related decisions that are beneficial both in the short and long term.
Harnessing cold adaptation for post-glacial colonisation: galactinol synthase express...
Andrew G. Griffiths
Lavinia Ioana Fechete

Andrew G. Griffiths

and 13 more

April 08, 2024
Allotetraploid white clover formed during the last glaciation through hybridisation of two European diploid progenitors from restricted niches: one coastal, the other alpine. Here, we examine which hybridisation-derived molecular events may have underpinned white clover’s post-glacial niche expansion. We compared the transcriptomic frost responses of white clovers (inbred line and an alpine-adapted ecotype), extant descendants of its progenitor species and a resynthesised white clover neopolyploid to identify genes that were exclusively frost-induced in the alpine progenitor and its derived subgenomes. From these analyses we identified galactinol synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in biosynthesis of the cryoprotectant raffinose, and found that the extant descendants of the alpine progenitor as well as the neopolyploid white clover rapidly accumulated significantly more galactinol and raffinose than the coastal progenitor under cold stress. The frost-induced galactinol synthase expression and rapid raffinose accumulation derived from the alpine progenitor likely provided an advantage during early post-glacial colonisation for white clover compared to its coastal progenitor.
Full-length title: Sequencing and characterization of human bocavirus genomes from pa...
Bernard La Scola
Houmadi Hikmat

Bernard La Scola

and 9 more

April 08, 2024
The diversity and evolution of the genomes of Human Bocavirus (HBoV), which causes respiratory diseases, have been scarcely studied. Here, we aimed to obtain and characterize HBoV genomes from patients’s nasopharyngeal samples collected between 2017-2022 period (five years). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) used Illumina technology after having implemented using GEMI an in-house multiplex PCR amplification strategy. Genomes were assembled and analyzed with CLC Genomics, Mafft, BioEdit, MeV, Nextclade, MEGA, and iTol. A total of 213 genomes were obtained. Phylogeny classified them all as of Bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) species. Five HBoV1 genotypes determined by hierarchical clustering analysis of 27 variable genome positions were scattered over the study period although with differences in yearly prevalence. A total of 167 amino acid substitutions were detected. Besides, coinfection was observed for 52% of the samples, rhinoviruses then adenoviruses (HAdVs) being the most common viruses. Principal component analysis showed that HBoV1 genotype α tended to be significantly correlated with HAdV co-infection. Subsequent HAdV typing for HBoV1-positive samples and negative controls demonstrated that HAdVC species predominated but HAdVB was that significantly HBoV1-associated. Overall, we described here the first HBoV1 genomes sequenced for France. HBoV1 and HAdVB association deserves further investigation.
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