Experimental Approach Research Articles

Employ the 5H Model, Evaluate its Efficacy, And Illustrate the Change in Elderly Depression Levels and Symptoms

Introduction: Age-related disorders include mental health. This reduction in intergenerational cohesion and filial responsibilities has caused older people's dissatisfaction, sadness, and grief. Depression and dementia impair elderly people worldwide by taking away their independence and autonomy. Methodology: The authors use the experimental approach to implement the 5H model, evaluate its efficacy, and show the change in depression levels and symptoms in Quang Ngai's elderly. The author chose 26 senior persons from Truong Quang Trong Ward and 23 from Tinh Thien Village to engage in the intervention study. The semi-experimental study compared N=60 samples (Experimental Group=30 and Control Group=30). The elderly control group receives conventional therapy according to the local program, whereas the experimental group receives community intervention. The GDS-15 and ICD-10 examined the intervention's efficacy. Results: This study found that I mild depression had a significant change post-intervention; (ii) the mean score of depression through 2 assessments (GDS-15 scale and ICD-10 clinical assessment) both showed a significant reduction; (iii) females tended to change more than males; (iv) elderly aged 60-70 were easier to change than those over 80 years old; and (v) community-based psychosocial therapy had a significant impact on depression. Conclusion: Considering the aforementioned favourable results, the Quang Ngai city depression prevention intervention program for the elderly is practical and can reduce symptoms, severity, and reverse depression. Hence, the model is applicable across Quang Ngai City.

Testing a policy intervention in the lab: differences between students and non-students in switching bank accounts

The reliance on student samples has long been a subject of debate in experimental approaches to studying behaviour. We contribute to this discussion by looking at differences in financial behaviour between a student and a non-student sample in three sets of lab experiments conducted in Spain, Germany and Poland (n=857). Participants from both samples switched more often and made better financial decisions after they received a message encouraging them to switch financial service providers. While the size of the effect on switching frequency was comparable between the two samples, the effect on switching quality was significantly stronger on non-students. Further analysis suggests this is due to a better performance of students before the prompt leaving less room for improvement by the reminder. Results suggest that experimental evidence derived from students should be generalized with caution.

AE-RW: Predicting miRNA-disease associations by using autoencoder and random walk on miRNA-gene-disease heterogeneous network

Since scientific investigations have demonstrated that aberrant expression of miRNAs brings about the incidence of numerous intricate diseases, precise determination of miRNA-disease relationships greatly contributes to the advancement of human medical progress. To tackle the issue of inefficient conventional experimental approaches, numerous computational methods have been proposed to predict miRNA-disease association with enhanced accuracy. However, constructing miRNA-gene-disease heterogeneous network by incorporating gene information has been relatively under-explored in existing computational techniques. Accordingly, this paper puts forward a technique to predict miRNA-disease association by applying autoencoder and implementing random walk on miRNA-gene-disease heterogeneous network(AE-RW). Firstly, we integrate association information and similarities between miRNAs, genes, and diseases to construct a miRNA-gene-disease heterogeneous network. Subsequently, we consolidate two network feature representations extracted independently via an autoencoder and a random walk procedure. Finally, deep neural network(DNN) are utilized to conduct association prediction. The experimental results demonstrate that the AE-RW model achieved an AUC of 0.9478 through 5-fold CV on the HMDD v3.2 dataset, outperforming the five most advanced existing models. Additionally, case studies were implemented for breast and lung cancer, further validated the superior predictive capabilities of our model.

Development and characterization of Zn-xCu-yTi-zMo alloys for biomedical applications: a high-throughput gradient continuous casting approach

The limited mechanical properties of pure Zn, such as its low strength and ductility, hinder its application as a material for biodegradable implants. Addressing this challenge, the current study focuses on the development of biodegradable Zn-based alloys, employing innovative alloy design and processing strategies. Here, alloys with compositions ranging from 0.02 to 0.10 weight percent (wt.%) Cu, 1.22 to 1.80 wt.% Ti, and 0.04 to 0.06 wt.% Mo were produced utilizing a high-throughput gradient continuous casting process. This study highlights three specific alloys: Zn-1.82Cu-0.10Ti-0.05Mo (HR8), Zn-0.08Cu-1.86Ti-0Mo (HR7), and Zn-1.26Cu-0.13Ti-0.06Mo (HR6), which were extensively evaluated for their microstructure, mechanical properties, electrochemical performance, potential as bioimplants, and cytotoxicity. These alloys were found to exhibit enhanced mechanical strength, optimal degradation rates, and superior biocompatibility, evidenced by in-vivo experiments with SD rats, positioning them as promising candidates for medical implants. This research not only introduces a significant advancement in biodegradable alloy development but also proposes an efficient method for their production, marking a pivotal step forward in biomedical engineering. Statement of SignificanceThe limited mechanical properties of pure Zn have hindered its application in biodegradable implants. Our research primarily focuses on the alloy design and process strategies of biodegradable Zn-based alloys. We explore the Zn-Cux-Tix-Mox alloys. This study introduces a high-throughput experimental approach for efficient screening of multi-component alloy systems with optimal properties. The Zn-Cux-Tix-Mox alloys were designed and processed through gradient continuous casting, followed by homogenization and hot rolling. Our findings indicate that the Zn-1.82Cu-0.10Ti-0.05Mo alloy demonstrates superior tensile, mechanical, and corrosion properties post hot rolling. The study suggests that Zn-0.13Cu-1.26Ti-0.06Mo, Zn-0.08Cu-1.86Ti-0Mo, and Zn-1.82Cu-0.10Ti-0.05Mo alloys hold significant potential as biodegradable materials.

Computational and experimental identification of keystone interactions in Ebola virus matrix protein VP40 dimer formation.

The Ebola virus (EBOV) is a lipid-enveloped virus with a negative sense RNA genome that can cause severe and often fatal viral hemorrhagic fever. The assembly and budding of EBOV is regulated by the matrix protein, VP40, which is a peripheral protein that associates with anionic lipids at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. VP40 is sufficient to form virus-like particles (VLPs) from cells, which are nearly indistinguishable from authentic virions. Due to the restrictions of studying EBOV in BSL-4 facilities, VP40 has served as a surrogate in cellular studies to examine the EBOV assembly and budding process from the host cell plasma membrane. VP40 is a dimer where inhibition of dimer formation halts budding and formation of new VLPs as well as VP40 localization to the plasma membrane inner leaflet. To better understand VP40 dimer stability and critical amino acids to VP40 dimer formation, we integrated computational approaches with experimental validation. Site saturation/alanine scanning calculation, combined with molecular mechanics-based generalized Born with Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-GB/PBSA) method and molecular dynamics simulations were used to predict the energetic contribution of amino acids to VP40 dimer stability and the hydrogen bonding network across the dimer interface. These studies revealed several previously unknown interactions and critical residues predicted to impact VP40 dimer formation. In vitro and cellular studies were then pursued for a subset of VP40 mutations demonstrating reduction in dimer formation (in vitro) or plasma membrane localization (in cells). Together, the computational and experimental approaches revealed critical residues for VP40 dimer stability in an alpha-helical interface (between residues 106-117) as well as in a loop region (between residues 52-61) below this alpha-helical region. This study sheds light on the structural origins of VP40 dimer formation and may inform the design of a small molecule that can disrupt VP40 dimer stability.

Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Natural Compounds against Influenza: A Combined Computational and Experimental Approach.

The influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1), which is crucial for viral replication and immune evasion, has been identified as a significant drug target with substantial potential to contribute to the fight against influenza. The emergence of drug-resistant influenza A virus strains highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutics. This study proposes a combined theoretical criterion for the virtual screening of molecular libraries to identify candidate NS1 inhibitors. By applying the criterion to the ZINC Natural Product database, followed by ligand-based virtual screening and molecular docking, we proposed the most promising candidate as a potential NS1 inhibitor. Subsequently, the selected natural compound was experimentally evaluated, revealing measurable virus replication inhibition activity in cell culture. This approach offers a promising avenue for developing novel anti-influenza agents targeting the NS1 protein.

Mycenaean ‘gold-embroidery’ and questions of craftsmanship: a combined archaeological, archaeometric and experimental approach

Mycenaean ‘gold-embroidery’ and questions of craftsmanship: a combined archaeological, archaeometric and experimental approach

Carving Positive Changes: Knowledge and Attitudes of Mothers of Toddlers through Nutrition Counseling

Complementary Feeding is food and drinks given to babies who have reached the age of 6 months and above to fulfill their nutritional needs. Therefore Complementary Feeding is only introduced to babies after they reach the age of 6 months or older. Complementary Feeding represents the transitional stage from breastfeeding to family foods gradually, both in terms of types and frequency of provision, portion sizes, and the form of food that is suitable for the age and digestive capacity of the baby. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of counseling on MP-ASI on the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of toddlers aged 0-24 months at Nurtiana Ginting Clinic from December 2023 to March 2024. This research method uses an experimental approach with a pre-experimental design known as the one-group pretest-posttest design. In this approach, before counseling, respondents were asked to fill out questionnaires before (pretest) and after (posttest) counseling. Subsequently, the researcher compared the results of the pretest with the posttest. The research sample consisted of 38 mothers who had toddlers aged 0-24 months. Bivariate data analysis used the Wilcoxon test because the data were not normally distributed. Initially, only 5 respondents (13%) had good knowledge. However, after counseling, the number of respondents with good knowledge increased to 34 people (89%). The attitudes of mothers before counseling showed that 11 respondents (29%) had good attitudes, while after counseling, the number of respondents with good attitudes increased to 32 people (84%). The results of bivariate analysis using the Wilcoxon test showed a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), indicating the rejection of the null hypothesis (Ho) and acceptance of the alternative hypothesis (Ha). Thus, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence on the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of toddlers after counseling. These findings indicate that nutrition counseling is effective in carving positive changes in the knowledge and attitudes of mothers of toddlers. The implication of this research is the need for broader and more focused nutrition counseling programs to support the health and nutrition of toddlers.

The Impact of Talkpal.AI on English Speaking Proficiency: An Academic Inquiry

This study aims to investigate the impact of using Talkpal.AI in improving the English-speaking ability of university students. The research problem is to what extent Talkpal.AI can enhance fluency and intelligibility in English speaking. The research methodology used was quantitative research with an experimental approach where the experimental group used Talkpal.AI while the control group did not use the application. The research participants were university students with varying levels of English proficiency. Data was collected through an initial test to assess the level of English speaking ability before intervention with Talkpal.AI and a final test after a certain period of using the application. Then, an independent t-test was conducted with significant results. The findings of this study show that students have not widely used Talkpal.AI because they do not know the Talkpal.AI tool and are not facilitated by the institution. Participants in the experimental group showed considerably improved speaking fluency and clarity compared to the control group. In addition, survey results showed that participants had a positive perception of using Talkpal.AI to support English learning. This study confirms that Talkpal.AI positively impacts improving English speaking in a university setting. The implications of this research highlight the potential of Talkpal.AI as an effective tool in supporting English language learning in higher education institutions, as well as suggesting further integration of this type of technology in the English language teaching curriculum. Hopefully, this research provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of using Talkpal.AI in improving English speaking skills among university students. The results of this study can provide helpful information for developing more effective English learning strategies in the academic environment.

The Analysis of Experiential Learning Method of Dale's Cone Experience Model in Improving the Effectiveness of Arabic Language Learning

This study purposed to analyze the effectiveness of the Arabic language learning model based on Edgar Dale's cone of experience theory. The method used library research by taking books, journals, and documents. The result of this research is that Arabic language learning with an experiential learning model, according to Edgar Dale's cone of experience, is effective learning and can help to develop Arabic language learning that is focused and empowers students to master it. Learning Arabic through this model is also very effective for teaching Arabic as a means of communication. Experiential learning and Edgar Dale's cone of experience theory have a strong fit in the context of Arabic language learning. Dale's cone of experience theory illustrates different levels of student participation and involvement in learning, ranging from concrete experience to abstract conceptualization. According to Dale, direct and interactive experiences promote more effective learning, which is consistent with the experiential learning approach. In experiential Arabic learning, students engage in direct experience by speaking, listening, reading and writing in Arabic, which is the first step in the cone of experience.

Pengaruh Media Busy Board terhadap Perkembangan Motorik Halus Anak di TK Iqra’ Tunggul Hitam Padang

Fine motor skills are acquired through practice and education. Defined as precision movements that use small muscles or specific body parts. From observations made at Iqra' Kindergarten, it can be seen that children's fine motor development is still lacking. The aim of this research is to evaluate the extent to which busy board media can help kindergarten students at TK Iqra' ANGKAL Hitam Padang in developing their fine motor skills. This research stands out for its emphasis on quantitative elements and using an experimental research approach. The researchers used word and action assessments to collect data. To test the data, homogeneity and normality checks were carried out. The average score of the experimental class was 14.17, while the control group's score was 12.75, based on research findings before and after the test. The significance level of 0.05 is somewhat exceeded by the two-sided p value of 0.009. As a result, we can say that the difference between the experimental group and the control group is statistically significant. As a result, there were striking differences between the experimental group and the control group. Thus, it can be concluded that the null hypothesis (Ho) is refuted and the alternative hypothesis (Ha) is validated. The results showed that there were significant differences in the fine motor skills of experimental and control group children aged 5-6 years. This shows that the Media Busy Board is an effective way to help teenagers in this age range improve their fine motor skills.

Electrical Conduction Mechanisms in Gd-Substituted WO3 Ceramics: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches

Electrical Conduction Mechanisms in Gd-Substituted WO₃ Ceramics: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches

Enhancing Mechanical Characteristics of 6061-T6 with 5083-H111 Aluminum Alloy Dissimilar Weldments: A New Pin Tool Design for Friction Stir Welding (FSW)

This research addresses the escalating need for lightweight materials, such as aluminum and magnesium alloys, in the aerospace and automotive sectors. The study explores friction stir welding (FSW), a cost-efficient process known for producing high-quality joints in these materials. The experiment involved the welding of dissimilar aluminum alloys (AA5086-H111 to AA6061-T6) using a novel pin tool design with welding parameters such as holding time, pin tool length, tool spindle speed, and linear speed fine-tuned through a design of experiment (DOE) approach. A comparative analysis of two tool designs revealed that the newly introduced design substantially improved mechanical properties, particularly tensile strengths, by 18.2% relative to its predecessor. It is noteworthy that FSW joint efficiency is 83% when using a normal tool design in comparison with 92.2% when using a new tool design at similar FSW parameters. The new tool achieved the parameter values leading to the maximum tensile strength of 317 MPa with 3 mm thickness (Th), 25 s holding time (Tt), 0.1 mm dimension (L), 1600 rpm spindle speed (SS), and 30 mm/min feed velocity (Fr). In comparison, the normal tool achieved a maximum UTS of 285 MPa, 5 mm Th, 25 s Tt, 0.3 mm L, 800 rpm SS, and 90 mm/min Fr. The new tool design, with longitudinal and circular grooves, improves heat input for plastic deformation and alloy mixing during welding. Subsequent analysis of the joint’s microstructure and microhardness shows its similarity to the original alloys.

The Impact Of Oxytocin Massage On Breast Milk Production In Post Partum Mother In The Clinic Hj. Dermawati Medan

As of 2018, just 44% of babies worldwide were breastfed within an hour of their delivery, based on the World Healthcare Organization (WHO). By the time they are six months old, under forty percent of children worldwide are exclusively breastfed. The purpose of this study is to find out how oxytocin massage impacts postpartum moms' ability to produce breast milk at the Hj Clinic. Dermawati Medan. This investigation applies an experimental approach without a control group, using a single group pretest and posttest. All postpartum women who visited the clinic between the third and seventh days were used as the study population. Dermawati. Five people were used in the purposive sampling technique. Data analysis was carried out by a paired t test, namely comparing the data from the pre-test (before therapy) with the post-test (after treatment). It emerged that the routine findings from the test were crucial. The Shapiro-Wilk test results for before and after the oxytocin treatment demonstrated that the distribution of the data was normal (p value = 0.119 > 0.05) and that the allocation was taken out (p value = 0.006 > 0.05). if so, it can be said that the data is distributed normally.At the Hj Dermawati Clinic, a p value (0.00 < 0.05) was achieved for the Paired Sample T Test results using the mother's milk volume variable both prior to and following the oxytocin massage test. The results of this research illustrate how postpartum mothers at the Hj Dermawati Clinic produce greater amounts of breast milk as an effect of oxytocin massage. It is recommended that mothers and families take oxytocin therapy education so they can carry out the therapy themselves at home at least once a week

Evolution of the Drug Repurposing Paradigm

The appearance of novel diseases like COVID-19, as well as the resistance of severe diseases to existing medications, have caused a need for new drugs to be developed quickly. The concept of drug repurposing has been offered to increase efficiency and minimise time and financial costs associated with drug development. Repurposing is a strategy for discovering new medical applications for already approved drugs. The study covers recent computational and experimental approaches for finding drug candidates for repurposing, as well as the challenges that arise along the way

Influence of defect geometry on putty performance in pipeline composite repair assessments

The effective repair of pipelines is crucial to ensuring the integrity of infrastructure. However, the effect of defect geometries on the efficiency of pipeline composite repair systems is a major concern in the industry. This study investigated the effects of geometric properties on the performance of composite repaired pipes and putty components in the context of the efficiency of composite repair systems using parametric analysis with various defect geometries as well as two putty formulations. The study involved the development of a finite element model and the analysis of numerical simulations based on a statistical experimental design matrix. Specifically, a design of experiments approach with a specific emphasis on response surface methodology utilizing the Box–Behnken design was employed to identify factor settings tailored to different defect geometries. The analysis revealed that defect depth, length, and width had a significant negative impact on the strength of putty. Defect depth had a greater impact on the putty performance and steel pipe burst pressure compared to defect length and width. However, defect length and width had mixed influences on putty performance, with different geometries resulting in different responses for both types of putty, indicating the existence of complex interactions between these two parameters. The strength capacity of Putty-A in the repair system was significantly influenced by the interaction between defect width, depth, and length, while Putty-B, the interaction was more significant when it came to length and width of the defect. Further statistical analysis confirmed the individual significance of defect depth, length, and width, as well as their interactions on putty strength capacity. The increased sensitivity of Putty-A to changes in defect geometry compared to Putty-B introduces further complexity to material considerations. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate putty properties depending on the defect geometry for effective pipeline repair. This research provides valuable insights that will guide material selection and the development of new putty material, improving the resilience and reliability of future pipeline repair technologies.

ITGAM: A Pivotal Regulator in Macrophage Dynamics and Cardiac Function During Sepsis-Induced Cardiomyopathy.

Sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a critical complication arising from sepsis characterized by reversible myocardial dysfunction. Despite the increasing attention to SIC in research, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly comprehended. In this study, we utilized bioinformatics to analyze RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify key immune cell populations and molecular markers associated with SIC. Our experimental approach combined in vitro and in vivo studies to investigate the roles of integrin alpha M(ITGAM) and intracellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in macrophage recruitment and phenotypic polarization, as well as their impact on cardiac function during SIC. The bioinformatics analysis disclosed significant alterations in gene expression and immune cell composition within the cardiac tissue during SIC, where macrophages emerged as the predominant immune cell type. Notably, ITGAM was identified as a key regulatory molecule that modulates macrophage function, driving the pathogenesis of SIC through its influence on the recruitment and functional reprogramming of these cells. In vitro experiments revealed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation triggered an upregulation of ITGAM in macrophages and ICAM-1 in endothelial cells, underscoring their critical roles in immune cell mobilization and intercellular communication. The strategic administration of ITGAM-neutralizing antibodies to SIC mice resulted in a marked decrease in macrophage infiltration within the cardiac tissue, which was initially associated with an improvement in cardiac function. However, this intervention paradoxically resulted in an increased mortality rate during the later phases of SIC, underscoring the complex and dualistic function of ITGAM. This study provides new insights into the complex dynamics of immune cells within the cardiac environment during SIC, with a particular emphasis on the modulatory role of ITGAM in shaping macrophage behavior. The findings shed light on the reversible nature of myocardial dysfunction in SIC and emphasize the importance of targeted therapeutic strategies for the effective management of SIC.

Controlled Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyesters Based on a Cellulose-Derived Triol Monomer: A Design of Experiment Approach.

Regioselective enzymatic polycondensation of the bio-based cellulose derived polyol, Triol-citro, and dimethyl adipate using Candida antarctica Lipase B (CaLB) was investigated. A Design of Experiment approach with MODDE® Pro 13 was used to determine important factors in the branching behavior of this polymer, and reactant ratio, temperature, reaction time and enzyme wt % were the studied factors. Multifunctional polyesters with pendant hydroxy groups were synthesized and fully characterized using 2D NMR techniques to determine degree of branching. Branching was minimal, with a maximum of 16 % observed, and monomer ratio, temperature and reaction time were all determined to be significant factors. In this work, Mn of up to 13 kDa were achieved, while maintaining degree of branching below 15 %, resulting in a linear polyester with the potential to be further functionalized.

Size and build strategy effects for the L-PBF process applied to Inconel 625 vertical struts: a combined numerical and experimental approach

Size and build strategy effects for the L-PBF process applied to Inconel 625 vertical struts: a combined numerical and experimental approach

Forecasting Stellar XLM Prices: Insights from ARIMA Analysis

The given research is aimed at solving the urgent problem of verifiable methods of forecasting cryptocurrency trading, with a preset focus on Stellar (XLM). Nevertheless, cryptocurrency forecasting is becoming more and more popular and it is still the case that there is a deficiency of research devoted to the use of the most advanced models to Stellar XLM price data. In many instances, the existing studies may pay less attention to the specific features of this cryptocurrency, hence creating a gap between our knowledge and understanding of how its prices fluctuate. Our experimental approach will investigate what accuracy forecasting models, especially the ARIMA model, can come up with by predicting the price of Stellar XLM. The purpose of this research is to experiment with a dataset for several years to know the workability of theoretical results on the forecasting models of Stellar XLM cryptocurrency. Our experimental research evidenced the acceptable price accuracy when forecasting Stellar XLM prices. Regarding the volume data, our metrics are a MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error) of 16.82% and MSE (Mean Squared Error) of 7.41.10 -15 and Accuracyman (Accuracy) of 83.18%. On the other hand, the data with very high data recorded the best performance, with a MAPE of 4. 26%, MSE = 0.00025, and Accuracy of 95.74%. This finding again evinces that applying the more advanced models of forecasting and choosing appropriate data sources is key in a good Stellar XLM forecast. Thereby this study contributes to filling the research gaps and by administrative tools providing insights into the practical use of forecasting models, it guides stakeholders having to cope with the difficulties of crypto-currency markets.