Accessible Part Research Articles

Hallmarks of aging in age-related macular degeneration and age-related neurological disorders: novel insights into common mechanisms and clinical relevance.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-related neurological diseases (ANDs), such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases, are increasingly prevalent conditions that significantly contribute to global morbidity, disability, and mortality. The retina, as an accessible part of the central nervous system (CNS), provides a unique window to study brain aging and neurodegeneration. By examining the associations between AMD and ANDs, this review aims to highlight novel insights into fundamental mechanisms of aging and their role in neurodegenerative disease progression. This review integrates knowledge from the emerging field of aging research, which identifies common denominators of biological aging, specifically loss of proteostasis, impaired macroautophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Finally, we emphasize the clinical relevance of these pathways and the potential for cross-disease therapies that target common aging hallmarks. Identifying these shared pathways could open avenues to develop therapeutic strategies targeting mechanisms common to multiple degenerative diseases, potentially attenuating disease progression and promoting the healthspan.

IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN IN GHANA'S PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR ON UPSTREAM PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Purposes: In today's business landscape, success isn't solely reliant on financial goals. Adapting to the global economy is crucial for a company's viability. Stakeholders prioritize business sustainability, evident in empirical studies exploring sustainable supply chain management theories in the sector. The study aimed to assess how Sustainable Supply Chain in Ghana's Pharmaceutical Sector influences firm performance within the upstream industry. Method: The study was conducted in the accessible southern part of Ghana, known for its concentration of pharmaceutical companies. Specifically, individuals involved in procurement and supply chain activities within these companies were selected for inclusion in the study. The study used quantitative methods to explore Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) in the upstream pharmaceutical industry. Out of 2000, 210 managers were randomly sampled, and SPSS Version 26 was employed for structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results and Conclusion: The study found that there was a significant relationship between SSCM and supply chain performance (SSCMP). Besides, the study found moderation impact between Top Management Commitment (TMC) and SSCM and SSCMP respectively. Pharmaceutical companies should not solely focus on economic performance; rather, strategic efforts and policies must prioritize sustainability. Top management commitment is crucial for enhancing supply chain performance. Their dedication ensures the integration of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) with strategic objectives, embedding sustainability across the entire supply chain, from procurement to distribution. Research Implication: Top management should drive sustainability strategy, integrating it into operations and fostering a culture of sustainability for robust Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the pharmaceutical upstream sector. Originality/Value: the study leverages on the theoretical understanding of upper echelon theory to provide empirical evidence on the impact of top management commitments on performance of supply chain which hitherto has been scarcely deployed in recent years.

Perlindungan Konsumen Terhadap Jaminan dan Kenyamanan Konsumen Pada Pinjaman Online

Online loans have become a significant part of today's digital economy, providing quick and easy access to additional funds. However, this growth also raises concerns about consumer protection regarding collateral and convenience in online loan transactions. This paper explores various aspects of consumer protection in the context of online lending, with a focus on assurance and consumer convenience. Through a literature review, it was found that there are significant challenges faced by consumers in understanding and protecting their rights in online loan transactions. Although there are regulations governing this industry, implementation is still uneven and sometimes inadequate. In addition, product complexity and unclear information provided to consumers often create obstacles to achieving adequate protection.

Building an Educational Automated Mechatronics-Based Sorting System

This paper discusses the development of an automated sorting machine designed as a comprehensive mechatronics educational project. The project integrates mechanical and electrical design, incorporating a robot arm, a microcontroller, sensors, and actuators. The sorting machine uses color identification to sort wooden blocks of three different colors. The blocks are stacked and dropped onto a conveyor belt by a hopper system that employs a solenoid actuator and a servo to release one block at a time at specific intervals. As the belt runs continuously, each block passes under a color sensor, which monitors the color and signals one of three servo-powered mechanical arms to guide the block into the appropriate chute. Each chute is equipped with a capacitive proximity sensor that sends a voltage signal to the robot controller, queuing commands for the robot to pick up the blocks from the bottom of each chute and return them to the hopper to form a continuously running sorting system. This paper details the design and integration of the system’s various elements and the development of the control software. The designed system can drop blocks every 8.05 s, sort each block within 5 s of being sensed, and return them to the sorting system every 12 s. It has a color-sensing accuracy of 97%, with a failure rate of around 7%. The system achieved quick and reliable sorting using various low-cost, accessible, and open-source parts. The project exemplifies a cost-effective solution suitable for mechatronics education, demonstrating the numerous challenges involved in developing automated sorting systems.

Working it out together: Lessons and insights into inclusive research in an arts context

AbstractBackgroundI'm Me is a creative research project co‐created between York St John University and Mind the Gap, investigating learning disabled and autistic artists’ understandings of identity, representation and voice.MethodsIn this paper, we use Walmsley and Johnson's criteria for inclusive research to reflect on the involvement of people with learning disabilities and autism in I'm Me.FindingsResearchers need to carefully reflect on who benefits from research. Long‐term relationships allow genuine allyship and for research design to emerge in an inclusive manner. Taking the time to develop access and clear structures for decision‐making can support people with learning disabilities’ participation and control over research. Part of access is sharing our findings in accessible ways, in this case, by using plain language and artistic outputs.ConclusionsWorking out how people with learning disabilities and autism should be involved in research has involved establishing structures, reflecting and responding to create as much involvement and enable as much decision‐making as possible.

A preliminary survey of the flora and vegetation of an ex-situ conservation area (Hyde Park Zoo Sanctuary and Tropical Gardens Inc., Guyana)

Hyde Park Zoo Sanctuary and Tropical Gardens Inc. is a local ex-situ conservation area located at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, Guyana. It serves to manage and conserve species of wild flora and fauna, boasts several diverse native and exotic species, and hosts a rescue centre for wild captures. Over a six (6) week period, flora & vegetative visual surveys were conducted there to i) identify and classify the species of flora found at accessible parts of the site (according to the official established map of the area), and ii) report these findings in a comprehensive report in order to establish a database of the preliminary findings of the study. Based on the preliminary findings of the study, a total of ninety-nine (99) plant species from twenty (20) families were identified. The largest family group was found to be Arecaceae with 15 species. Leguminosae and Bromeliaceae both contained 6 species each. Other representative families were Apocynaceae, Orchidaceae, Rosaceae and Aracaceae. Seventy-nine species (80.8%) were exotic and nineteen (19.4%) species were found to be native. None of the identified species were found to be under threat, or near extinction. Based on these preliminary findings, it is established that the area has great taxonomic and conservation potential, and with effective management along with strategic planning, the area can serve as an ex-situ conservation model, where both native and exotic species thrive together.

Local data inverse problem for the polyharmonic operator with anisotropic perturbations

In this article, we study an inverse problem with local data for a linear polyharmonic operator with several lower order tensorial perturbations. We consider our domain to have an inaccessible portion of the boundary where neither the input can be prescribed nor the output can be measured. We prove the unique determination of all the tensorial coefficients of the operator from the knowledge of the Dirichlet and Neumann map on the accessible part of the boundary, under suitable geometric assumptions on the domain.

Gradient-Based Optimization for Intent Conflict Resolution

The evolving landscape of network systems necessitates automated tools for streamlined management and configuration. Intent-driven networking (IDN) has emerged as a promising solution for autonomous network management by prioritizing declaratively defined desired outcomes over traditional manual configurations without specifying the implementation details. This paradigm shift towards flexibility, agility, and simplification in network management is particularly crucial in addressing inefficiencies and high costs linked to manual management, notably in the radio access part. This paper explores the concurrent operation of multiple intents, acknowledging the potential for conflicts, and proposes an innovative reformulation of these conflicts to enhance network administration effectiveness. Following the initial detection of conflicts among intents using a gradient-based approach, our work employs the Multiple Gradient Descent Algorithm (MGDA) to minimize all loss functions assigned to each intent simultaneously. In response to the challenge posed by the absence of a closed-form representation for each key performance indicator in a dynamic environment for computing gradient descent, the Stochastic Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) is integrated into the MGDA algorithm. The proposed method undergoes initial testing using a commonly employed toy example in the literature before being simulated for conflict scenarios within a mobile network using the ns3 network simulator.

Use of the CLARKE JU6H-NL30 Diesel Pump in Building Fire Suppression Systems

This study investigates the suitability of the Clarke JU6H-30NL diesel pump engine as a supplementary solution for fire extinguishing systems in a banking facility during August–September 2023. Employing practical fieldwork methods, we analyzed the specifications, operational procedures, and benefits versus drawbacks of diesel pumps compared to electrical alternatives. Observational techniques were utilized to collect real-time data onsite. Our findings reveal that diesel pumps offer significant advantages such as uninterrupted operation during power failures, elevated water pressures, lower maintenance costs due to more accessible spare parts, and enhanced overall building safety and resilience against fires. These insights suggest that incorporating diesel pumps into existing fire protection strategies could provide reliable backup solutions, particularly in critical infrastructure settings where continuous operations are crucial. highlight: The study analyzed the specifications, operational procedures, and benefits versus drawbacks of diesel pumps compared to electrical alternatives. Observational techniques were utilized to collect real-time data onsite. Diesel pumps offer significant advantages such as uninterrupted operation during power failures, elevated water pressures, and lower maintenance costs due to more accessible spare parts. Keywords: Clarke JU6H-30NL diesel pump engine, fire extinguishing systems, banking facility, uninterrupted operation, building safety.

Paediatric drugs and special features of paediatric studies in the AMNOG

The development and accessibility of paediatric medicinal products are subject to special support and regulation in the EU. As part of market access, new medicinal products undergo a benefit assessment in accordance with Section 35a SGB V after the German Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG) came into force in 2011. The additional benefit is assessed by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), after which the reimbursement amounts are negotiated with the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-Spitzenverband). Drugs that are given a new area of application are also subject to benefit assessment. These include extensions of the indication for paediatric patients. Medicinal products with a so-called PUMA authorisation (Paediatric Use Marketing Authorisation) are also affected by the AMNOG. The practical experience to date with the AMNOG benefit assessment for medicinal products with such authorisations is described below. The focus here is particularly on taking into account the special features of conducting paediatric clinical trials.

XrdPlanner: exploring area detector geometries for powder diffraction and total scattering experiments.

xrdPlanner is a software package designed to aid in the planning and preparation of powder X-ray diffraction and total scattering beam times at synchrotron facilities. Many modern beamlines provide a flexible experimental setup and may have several different detectors available. In combination with a range of available X-ray energies, it often makes it difficult for the user to explore the available parameter space relevant for a given experiment prior to the scheduled beam time. xrdPlanner was developed to provide a fast and straightforward tool that allows users to visualize the accessible part of reciprocal space of their experiment at a given combination of photon energy and detector geometry. To plan and communicate the necessary geometry not only saves time but also helps the beamline staff to prepare and accommodate for an experiment. The program is tailored toward powder X-ray diffraction and total scattering experiments but may also be useful for other experiments that rely on an area detector and for which detector placement and achievable momentum-transfer range are important experimental parameters.

Dermatitis artefecta: Effectively managed with psychotherapy and counselling

Abstract: A 20-year-old female presented to the psychiatry outpatient department with multiple lesions at various stages of healing over accessible parts of the body, not improving with multiple dermatological treatments over 6 months. A diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta was made. The patient effectively managed with psychotherapy and counseling with complete resolution of symptoms.

Librarian's perception of open access repository policy in Islamic State University Indonesia

Institutional repositories that universities mostly manage have an important role in publishing academic works to the public. Some Islamic State University Indonesia, implementing the institutional open access repository policy. The purpose this research to know librarian’s perception of open access repository policy in Islamic State University Indonesia. This study used the mixed-method approach which were analyzed descriptively. Participants were determined by area sampling and divided into four groups as a representation of the Islamic State University area in Indonesia. Resource persons were 10% of participants selected from 416 Islamic State University librarians (42 people). Result study showed that repository access patterns comprised three categories: full open access 63%, 35% patterns were access parts of documents, and 2% access to abstract and metadata. The presentation pattern of the Islamic State University Indonesia, repository data was dominated by one full file open for access. Islamic State University Indonesia, librarians' perception of OAR was based on their understanding of the OAR definition. They agreed that, appropriately, OAR should be free of charge and be used for other legal purposes. However, there were many differences in understanding other aspects. The aspect of the most debate between them was the obligation to open all documents; 30% of participants from librarians disagreed on this aspect. The correlations between librarian perceptions and patterns of OAR are apparent from the results: 65% of librarians agree with OA, and 63% of repositories implement full OAR. Conclusion this research are librarians' perceptions influence the implementation of open access repository policies.

The role of the retranslator: a case study of partial retranslations of the Mencius in Dutch

ABSTRACT The retranslator often plays a decisive role in the choice to do a partial or a complete retranslation of a text that has previously been translated into the same language within the same cultural system. The practice of retranslation is common enough in the case of classical texts, for reasons such as new interpretations of the source text and superseding previous versions in terms of accuracy and readability. When it comes to partial retranslation, the retranslator selects those parts of a text that are important for the purpose of the translation and the readership. This is not the same as omitting parts of the text that are deemed unsuitable or politically sensitive. As a case study, this article examines partial retranslations of the Chinese classical text the Mencius into Dutch. Although partial retranslations facilitate renewed access, the selection and fragmented parts manipulate and distort the original meaning of the source text, as opposed to full translations, which leave more room for the readers’ own selective reading and interpretation.

Legal Review of Producers' Liability for Trademarks Incompatible with Product Advertisements in the Perspective of Consumer Protection Law

People's lives in the digitalization era are heavily influenced by online activities. This online activity reflects cultural changes and digital transformation that is happening in society. The internet has become an integral part of everyday life, facilitating convenience, global connectedness and greater accessibility in various aspects of our lives. Advances in technology and the development of the internet have changed the way we interact, work, shop, communicate and access information. Online shopping has become very popular in recent years. Consumers only need to use gadgets to find the items they need, therefore it is not uncommon for manufacturers to create attractive advertisements to market their products in e-commerce. However, behind these attractive advertisements, there are not a few manufacturers who advertise their products excessively and do not match the trademarks they market, so that consumers are deceived by these attractive advertisements. This research involves collecting data through searching and analyzing literature such as journal articles, books and other resources relevant to the research topic through academic databases and digital libraries. The results of the study show that business actors must be responsible for the advertisements they create if they are not in accordance with the trademarks they market.

Genetic Algorithm-Based Optimization Approach for Solving a Class of Inverse Problems with Tikhonov Regularization

In this paper, we are interested in solving the data completion problem for the Laplace equation. It consists to determine the missing data on the inaccessible part of the boundary from overspecified conditions in the accessible part. Knowing that this problem is severely ill-posed, we consider its formulation as an optimization problem using Tikhonov regularization. Then, we consider an optimization approach based on adapted Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RCGA) to minimize the cost function and recover the missing data. The performed numerical simulations, with different domains, illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method with an adequate regularization parameter, in addition to the good agreement between the numerical solutions and different noise level of the given data.

Technology, innovation and leisure: Leisure engagement in new and unexpected ways

The interweaving of technology and leisure has become an integral part of leisure choice, access, engagement, management, and product development. This interweaving has resulted in new and innovative ways people can access leisure, created leisure opportunities for marginalized groups, and improved efficiencies and effectiveness in management. However, challenges have also resulted, such as the blurring of work/leisure time, raising quality of life issues. The intent of this special issue is to bring attention to ways in which technology and leisure influence each other. The articles in this issue explore various types of technology used to experience leisure, leisure constraints to technology, and aspects of identity related to technology, and leisure. This special issue can extend the body of knowledge of leisure and technology thus contributing to innovations in leisure and better quality of life.

Shape reconstruction for an inverse biharmonic problem from partial Cauchy data

In this paper, we address the Robin inverse problem for the biharmonic equation in a simply connected domain, to reconstruct the geometric shape of a non‐accessible part of the boundary from a single measurement of Riquier–Neumann data on the accessible part of that boundary. Our approach extends the nonlinear boundary integral equation, to recover the shape of the boundary. We propose the Newton iterative technique based on the Fréchet derivatives to linearize the system and then establish an injectivity of the linearized system for certain Robin coefficients, as well as the iteration scheme to describe the inverse algorithm for recovering the shape with respect to the unknowns. The mathematical spirit of the proposed method will be presented, and to illustrate its feasibility, some numerical examples will be provided.

Below the Surface: Analyzing the Level of Detail and Depth of Coverage in Library and Information Science Syllabi Addressing Disability and Accessibility

ABSTRACTWhile accessibility is a core part of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice (DEIASJ) considerations, disability and accessibility are rarely centered in Library and Information Science (LIS) curricula. The lack of disability and accessibility coverage is problematic since information professionals must have the required knowledge and skills to effectively serve patrons with disabilities. This paper presents preliminary findings from a content analysis of 39 pre‐filtered syllabi examining how disability and accessibility topics are covered in LIS courses. While nearly all of the syllabi analyzed contained a high level of detail, only 13 were ultimately determined to contain a “partial” depth of coverage of disability‐ and accessibility‐related content and two a “detailed” level of coverage. Even fewer syllabi included a conceptualization of disability or accessibility beyond simply including the words alone. The paper offers suggestions for LIS instructors to better address disability and accessibility within their syllabi and course content.

Experimental investigation of fission gas release from spent nuclear fuels under conditions expected in a deep geological repository

Abstract. In Germany, as well as several other countries (e.g. Sweden, Finland and Switzerland), the disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in deep geological formations, intertwined with a resilient multi-barrier concept, is considered to be the favourable option for the safe and profound isolation of such wastes from the biosphere. However, the intrusion of groundwater, followed by a failure of canisters and loss of cladding integrity, has to be considered in the long-term evaluation of such an underground repository. Therefore, a thorough process understanding of SNF dissolution, radionuclide source terms and alteration processes is necessary in order to evaluate the performance of SNF in the repository system. The aforementioned processes can be assigned into two steps: (i) a fast, initial release of radionuclides, located in accessible structures of the SNF upon cladding failure, and (ii) a slower, long-term release, resulting from the dissolution of the fuel matrix itself (Ewing, 2015). During the first stages of breaching of the container and the resulting contact of groundwater with the waste form, a fraction of radionuclides, located in easily accessible parts of the SNF such as grain boundaries or the pellet-cladding gap, will be released relatively quickly. This fraction is comprised of mostly volatile radionuclides, such as 79Se, 129I, 135Cs, and the fission gases Kr and Xe. Especially the release of fission gases from SNF is often correlated to the release properties of safety-relevant radioisotopes such as 129I or 135Cs and is, therefore, an indicator of their release rates. In particular, 129I shows a release behaviour similar to the fission gases. Within our contribution, we provide results regarding the release of fission gases during the dissolution process of two different types of SNF, i.e. UOX (50.4 GWd tHM-1) and mixed-oxide (MOX) (38.0 GWd tHM-1, where HM denotes heavy metals) fuels, under simulated geochemical conditions, as they are expected in a deep geological repository. Both examined fuel types were irradiated in commercial pressurised water reactors in Switzerland and Germany during the 1980s. The shown data were compiled over more than a decade during experimental campaigns performed at the Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT-INE) within the framework of several international programmes. Results obtained in our study indicate that, independent of the type of SNF, a comparable, fast initial release of fission gases is evident in all experiments. However, throughout the experiments, this prompt release slows down significantly, although a continuous release can be observed. Furthermore, the obtained data on fission gas release are compared to the release behaviour of iodine and caesium. An attempt is made to identify and qualify the role of fission gas release rates as indicator of the radionuclide source term for SNF by comparing and interpreting respective data collected over various experimental campaigns.