Digital Commons Network^™

Solar Irradiance Forecasting Using A Novel Hybrid Deep Ensemble Reinforcement Learning Algorithm, Seyed Mohammad Jafar Jalali, Sajad Ahmadian, Bahareh Nakisa, Mahdi Khodayar, Abbas Khosravi, Saeid Nahavandi, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam, Miadreza Shafie-Khah, João P. S. Catalão

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Solar irradiance forecasting is a major priority for the power transmission systems in order to generate and incorporate the performance of massive photovoltaic plants efficiently. As such, prior forecasting techniques that use classical modelling and single deep learning models that undertake feature extraction procedures manually were unable to meet the output demands in specific situations with dynamic variability. Therefore, in this study, we propose an efficient novel hybrid solar irradiance forecasting model based on three steps. In the first step, we employ a powerful variable input selection strategy named as partial mutual information (PMI) to calculate the linear and non-linear …

Hypertonic Dextrose Injections For Osteoarthritis, Tai-Yung Yi, Ta-Wei Wu, Kuen-Huei Lin

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Among the elderly, an increase in the prevalence of certain diseases, such as osteoarthritis, has been observed. Patients with osteoarthritis not only experience discomfort and pain but also have limited range of motion in the joints, which lowers their quality of life. At present, non-drug, drug, and surgical treatment options are available for patients with osteoarthritis; these approaches mainly focus on relieving symptoms and reducing the impact of joint disability. Initially, non-drug therapies, such as those focusing on changing the habits of patients, are usually administered. If the disease remains uncontrolled following non-drug therapy, drugs are administered and/or surgery is …

Age-Related Sonoanatomical Change Of The Knee In Children, Shu-Mei Yang, Chia-Wei Lin, Wen-Shiang Chen

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

Ultrasound has been thoroughly studied and become a well-established tool for assessment of adult patients' musculoskeletal system both in research and clinical practice. However, the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in pediatric populations is still limited. The age-dependent variability of normal sonoanatomy dueto bone maturation and ossification in children is the main limitation to establishing its validity as an imaging tool. Also, standardized definitions of gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasonography findings in different age groups of children is still lacking. Nonetheless, ultrasound is a readily accessible imaging modality that is well tolerated by children. It also allows physicians to perform a …

Operating Fund Budget/ Expenditure Summary Report 2022-23, Csusb Budget Office

University Budget Office records

No abstract provided.

Neuromarketing Study: The Effect Of Jingle On Consumer Behavior, Hilman Fauzi, Rafif Rizqullah, Maya Ariyanti, Ivy Anindhita Hadyningtyas

ASEAN Marketing Journal

Manuscript type: Research Article

Research Aims: This research investigates the impact of a jingle associated with a top-brand product on consumer behavior, as assessed through short-term memory activity in the brain.

Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from six participants, three men and three women aged 19-24. The Contec KT88-1016 Digital 16-Channel EEG machine and the Mapping System device were used to retrieve the data. The channel selection was employed to identify the optimal channel based on L2-norm energy calculations performed on the EEG channels within the short-term memory area.

Research Findings: The frontal area exhibited higher energy levels than other …

Integration Of Urban Farming Into City Infrastructure Development, Ayobami Popoola, Bolanle Wahab, Hangwelani Magidimisha Chipungu, Lovemore Chipungu

CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development

The ability to respond to the need for food is threatened by the scarcity of urban farmers (UF) in the elevation of the urban population. This shows that the availability of food is a cultivated land function, indicating that agriculture is only a mirage when sites are unavailable for farming. Irrespective of these conditions, the sustainability of food production within the city spaces is still the complimentary urban infrastructure enhancing the movement of goods and farmers. Therefore, this study aims to determine the patterns of integrating urban farming into city infrastructure development. In this case, a mixed methods approach was …

Sialylation And Fucosylation Modulate Inflammasome-Activating Eif2 Signaling And Microbial Translocation During Hiv Infection, Leila B. Giron, Ceylan E. Tanes, Mariane H. Schleimann, Phillip A. Engen, Lisa M. Mattei, Altizel Anzurez, Mohammad Damra, Huanjia Zhang, Kyle Bittinger, Frederic Bushman, Andrew Kossenkov, Paul Denton, Hiroaki Tateno, Ali Keshavarizian, Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen, Alan L. Landay

Biology Faculty Publications

An emerging paradigm suggests that gut glycosylation is a key force in maintaining the homeostatic relationship between the gut and its microbiota. Nevertheless, it is unclear how gut glycosylation contributes to the HIV-associated microbial translocation and inflammation that persist despite viral suppression and contribute to the development of several comorbidities. We examined terminal ileum, right colon, and sigmoid colon biopsies from HIV-infected virally-suppressed individuals and found that gut glycomic patterns are associated with distinct microbial compositions and differential levels of chronic inflammation and HIV persistence. In particular, high levels of the pro-inflammatory hypo-sialylated T-antigen glycans and low levels of the …

Spatial And Seasonal Variation In Polychaete Communities According To Their Trophic Categories In Southwest Tobago, West Indies, Attish Kanhai

Neotropical Biodiversity

Bon Accord Lagoon (BAL), Tobago is home to a Thalassia testudinum (K.D. Koenig, 1805) dominated seagrass community and polychaetes usually show an affinity to seagrass beds compared to other environments. The objectives of this study were to investigate the polychaete community associated with the Thalassia beds in BAL, determine seasonal variation, and compare with the neighbouring hard bottom polychaete community in Mt. Irvine Bay (MIB). Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled using a 15 cm diameter corer at a depth of 10 cm. Six stations were sampled during the wet and dry seasons of 2018. Samples were sieved in the field using …

Use Of Artificial Nest Boxes By Two Species Of Small, Arboreal Mammals In Ecuadorian Tropical Dry Forest, Gabriel A. Brito Vera, Jaime A. Salas, George E. Heimpel, Mariana Bulgarella

Neotropical Biodiversity

The nest structure of two species of small mammals, Marmosa simonsi and Rhipidomys latimanus were recorded for the first time. Nests were found inside artificial nest boxes in a tropical dry forest remnant ecosystem in Western Ecuador. We described the nests and categorized them as rearing nest, permanent resting nest and transient refuge, depending on their intended use. Artificial nest boxes provide an optimal place for pup rearing and resting for these small mammals. These nest sites can be useful for ecological studies of behavior and habits of elusive, poorly-known mammalian species.

The Burrowing Crayfish Parastacus Pugnax (Decapoda: Parastacidae) In The Semiarid Region Of Chile: Findings Of A Naturalized Or Threatened Population?, Carlos Velásquez, Erich Rudolph, Alejandra Oyanedel, Yeriko Alanís, Luis A. Henríquez-Antipa

Neotropical Biodiversity

Parastacus pugnax is an endemic burrowing crayfish from the basins of the Mediterranean and Temperate Wet regions of Chile. For the first time, specimens were found incidentally in the Semiarid Region of Chile (Choapa River Basin). In these regions, hydrological changes derived from global warming and the intensive use of water for irrigation have resulted in highly fragmented habitats, where the effects of the dry season are exacerbated by periods of permanent drought. Unfortunately, in the Semiarid Region there are not regulatory measures for the conservation of the native biota. The aims of this study were to determine the spatial …

Mortandades Masivas Del Camarón De Río Cryphiops Caementarius Causadas Por La Crisis Hídrica En El Norte Semiárido De Chile, Carlos Velásquez, Yeriko Alanís, Francisco Cárcamo

Neotropical Biodiversity

Cryphiops caementarius is an amphidromous freshwater prawn endemic to the basins of Peru and northern Chile, where its populations are strongly threatened by hydric and fishing overexploitation. Mortalities of C. caementarius caused by canalization and water extraction in the Choapa River Basin are reported during March 2020 in Tunga Norte (⁓250 specimens) and January 2021 in Limahuida (⁓300 specimens). This situation was also reported in other basins in the Semiarid north of Chile during 2014 and 2018. These changes are related to the water crisis facing this country zone and reflects a mismatching in the water management in the face …

Home Range And Movement Patterns Of Male Dwarf Caimans (Paleosuchus Palpebrosus And Paleosuchus Trigonatus) Living In Sympatry In Amazonian Floodplain Streams, Boris Marioni, William Ernest Magnusson, Richard Carl Vogt, Francisco Villamarín

Neotropical Biodiversity

Dwarf caimans (Alligatoridae: Paleosuchus palpebrosus and Paleosuchus trigonatus), are small crocodilians exhibiting cryptic behaviour and complex habitat use that occur throughout the Amazon region. Our goals were to evaluate individual home range, habitat occupancy and movement patterns where they occur in sympatry in relation to seasonal water-level variation. We tracked five P. palpebrosus and seven P. trigonatus using VHS radio transmitters along the shores of two streams directly influenced by the flooding pulse of the Purus River. Paleosuchus palpebrosus individuals moved greater distances on a daily basis and had larger home ranges than P. trigonatus, and the species had different …

Ichthyofaunal Diversity In The Upper Jejuí River Watershed In Eastern Paraguay, Gerald L. Zuercher, Lee Jackson, David R. Edds, Jeffrey C. Miller, S. Andrew Satterlee, Alan Butler, Fredy Ramirez Pinto, Sixto Fernandez, Myriam C. Velazquez, David E. Koch, Phylicia Schwartz

Neotropical Biodiversity

The upper Jejuí River is a major tributary of the Paraguay River in eastern Paraguay and is the principal drainage for the Mbaracayú Forest Biosphere Reserve. Despite the international significance of the biosphere reserve and detailed documentation of its terrestrial fauna and flora, the fish fauna in its streams remains relatively unknown, with 48 species previously recorded. We sampled 35 sites within the biosphere reserve over five years (2007–2011) to assess the richness of its ichthyofauna. These surveys yielded a new total of 105 known species for the biosphere reserve, including two newly-recorded orders, Gymnotiformes and Cyprinodontiformes, and 14 newly-recorded …

Primer Registro Del Polluelo Y Nuevos Datos Del Nido Del Autillo Rojizo (Megascops Ingens) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) En Zamora Chinchipe, Sureste De Ecuador, Leonardo Ordóñez-Delgado, Freddy Ramon Castillo, Angel Pineda Díaz

Neotropical Biodiversity

No abstract provided.

Cooperative Harassment Strategy By The European Starling To Usurp Cavities And Reproductive Cost For The Neotropical Green-Barred Woodpecker, Paula A. Gerstmayer, Virginia Monges, Adrián Jauregui, Martín A. Colombo, Luciano N. Segura

Neotropical Biodiversity

The European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a cavity-nesting bird with great invasive potential. As a result of human intervention, this bird is now distributed across all continents (except Antarctica) and its distribution range is increasing at an alarming rate. The European Starling was introduced to Argentina in 1983 and is currently distributed across almost the entire country. It is considered one of the hundred most damaging invasive species in the world and constitutes a serious competitive threat to native cavity-nesting birds. Interactions between European Starlings and cavity-nesting birds generally have negative consequences on native bird populations, although there are still …

Una Nueva Especie De Pristimantis (Anura: Strabomantidae) De La Provincia Del Azuay, Andes Sur De Ecuador, Juan C. Sánchez-Nivicela, Eduardo Toral-Contreras, Verónica L. Urgiles

Neotropical Biodiversity

En este estudio, basándonos en evidencias morfológicas y moleculares, describimos una nueva especie del género Pristimantis que habita en las montañas y valles áridos de la provincia del Azuay, incluyendo zonas urbanas y periurbanas de la ciudad de Cuenca. La nueva especie se destaca por presentar una textura dermal externa fuertemente granulada, una papilla proyectada en la punta del hocico y un canto de advertencia que consiste en series combinadas de tres y dos notas, Morfológicamente, la nueva especie es similar con P. cajamarcensis, P. ceuthospilus, P. jimenezi, P. lojanus, P. phoxocephalus y P torresi, por presentar una quilla en …

Movement And Habitat Use Of Three High Andean Rodent Species (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) In Andean Páramos Of Ecuador, Ariatna Villarreal, Ricardo Zambrano-Cevallos, Jorge Brito, Santiago F. Burneo

Neotropical Biodiversity

The movements and habitat use of three species of Sigmodontine rodents (Akodon mollis, Phyllotis haggard and Thomasomys paramorum) from the high Andes of Ecuador were evaluated using the spool-and-line technique in four transects. The floristic composition was analyzed at sampling sites to explain how these three species of Sigmodontine rodents use the vegetation as a habitat. Rodents were captured using live Sherman traps and equipped with a spool-and-line device. Each thread trail was traced, and their nests, feeders and shelters were recorded using GPS receivers. Also, the construction materials, nest morphology and shelters used during foraging, and the food resources …

A Novel Biomaterial Platform For Cardiac Tissue Engineering, Andrew House

Dissertations

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world. With a growing demand for in vitro cardiac models that can recapitulate the complex physiology of the cardiac tissue, there is a desire to create novel therapies and treatments. However, due to a lack of fundamental understanding of the heart's inflammatory response to myocardial infarction, the development of new therapies is both time consuming and costly. In this work, a novel approach to fabricating a dynamic hydrogel cardiac platform is reported. This platform better mimics the dynamic changes occurring in the native cardiac tissue microenvironment during cardiac …

The Difference In Transepidermal Water Loss (Tewl) Values Between Sun-Exposed And Non-Sun-Exposed Skin Among Male Medical Students, Ihsany Arafiasetyanto Prihadi, Endra Yustin Ellistasari, Arie Kusumawardani

Journal of General - Procedural Dermatology and Venereology Indonesia

Background: Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) is the amount of water released from the human body into the atmosphere through a diffusion process per unit of time. Changes in TEWL indicate impaired skin barrier function. Exposure to ultraviolet light for an extended period can cause photoaging, characterized by rough and dry skin (xerosis cutis). TEWL will increase significantly in the skin exposed to ultraviolet radiation. This study aims to determine the difference in the TEWL values among male medical students in the sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed skin areas.

Methods: An analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dermatology and …

Association Between Early Antibiotic Administration And In-Hospital Mortality In Moderate And Severe Covid-19 Patients, Lie Khie Chen, Jason Nathanael, Sharifah Shakinah, Adeline Pasaribu, Robert Sinto, Leonard Nainggolan, Adityo Susilo

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 generally receive antibiotic therapy with consideration of the possibility of co-infection or secondary bacterial infection which clinically is difficult to distinguish from COVID-19 symptoms. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to an increased risk of bacterial resistance to antibiotics which is associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess the effect of early antibiotic administration on mortality in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients. Methods. An observational study with a retrospective cohort design was conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital. Data were obtained from medical records of patients admitted from March …

Gambaran Tingkat Kecukupan Energi Dan Tingkat Kecukupan Protein Ibu Hamil Di Kota Malang, Rany Ekawati, Windi Chusniah Rahmawati, Farah Paramita, Dini Elita Berliana, Alfinadelasari Putri Fariadi

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Chronic energy deficiency (CED) in pregnant women is still a nutritional problem in Indonesia. CED in pregnant women is caused by low energy and protein intake in pregnant women. The low energy and protein intake in pregnant women can cause disturbances in pregnancy and the baby in the womb. This research objective is to provide an overview of the level of energy and protein adequacy of pregnant women in the city of Malang. This study is a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 64 pregnant women. The variables of energy adequacy and protein adequacy …

Perbedaan Pemberian Bioaktivator Dalam Kompos Takakura Terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Tomat (Lycopersicum Esculentum), Anjali Putri Agustin, Septa Indra Puspikawati, Mohammad Zainal Fatah

Preventia: The Indonesian Journal of Public Health

Indonesia's population is increasing from year to year which has an impact on increasing the amount of waste and has a negative impact on public health and the environment. One of the proper waste handling methods is simple, practical, and efficient composting using the Takakura composting method. This study aims to determine the differences in stem height and number of leaves of tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) between the control group and the treatment group with the addition of 4 bioactivators in Takakura compost. The research method uses an experimental design conducted in Banyuwangi during March-April 2022. Statistical analysis using T-test …

Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of The Anti-Ulcer Oral Mucosal Protective Agent Radoralex® In The Prevention And Treatment Of Radiation-Induced Oral Mucosal Reactions Induced During Treatment Of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Jun Yin, Jirui Xie, Jiawei Lin, Chengyin Weng, Shun Lu, Peng Xu, Shuo Zhang, Cheng Luo, Yecai Huang, Lu Li, Jinyi Lang, Mei Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antiulcer oral mucosal protectant-RADoralex® in the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced oral mucosal reactions elicited during intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 90 patients with locally advanced NPC who developed post-treatment grade 1 oral mucositis were selected for this study. They were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 44) treated by mouth rinsing with the RADoralex® during radiochemotherapy and the control group (n = 43) treated by mouth rinsing with sodium bicarbonate solution, and the patients’ oral mucosal …

Preparation Of Azomethine Derivatives (Schif Bases) Chitosan Apis Mellifera, A S. Mengliev, G A. Ikhtiyarova

Technical science and innovation

Chitin and chitosan should be considered as derivatives of cellulose. The basis for such an approach to these polysaccharides is their chemical structure. The macromolecular chains of these polymers are formed by glucopyranose cycles, which, being connected by β- (1→4) glucosidic bonds, form linear polymer chains. The biological functions and mechanical properties of these polysaccharides are largely determined by the conformation of macromolecules and the distribution of reactive groups in them. Due to the unique properties of chitin and chitosan, they are becoming increasingly important in the practical and especially in the medical and biological activities of mankind. The aim …

Phytochemical And Antibacterial Evaluations Of Chloroform Extract Of Mondia Whitei (Hook F) Skeels, Abdullahi Shehu, Ojochide Inikpi Egwemi, Olufunmilayo Adeola Ajayi, Abdulmumeen Amao Hamid

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mondia whitei, also known as Mondia, is an aromatic plant of Apocynaceae family. It is used as aphrodisiac, antidepressant, fertility medication and to improve appetite. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and antibacterial properties of the plant. The chloroform extract of M. whitei was screened for its antibacterial effects using agar diffusion method against five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhi). The extract was active against S. typhi, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus at 400, 400 and 200 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the extract was observed in a dose-dependent …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Small Pelagic Fish Catches In The Coastal Artisanal Fishers Communities Of Tanzania, Lyidia Kapapa, Paul Onyango Onyango, Nibedita Mukherjee, Prosper Mfilinge

Tanzania Journal of Science

Climate-related effects occur across all regions in Tanzania, affecting primary sectors such as agriculture and fishing. This study investigated the impacts of climatic change on small pelagic catches in fishers in Kilindoni, Kipumbwi and Kilwa Kivinje villages along the Tanzanian coast. We studied how changes in rainfall, sea surface temperature, wind speed and chlorophyll a affect small pelagic fisheries using primary and secondary data. Qualitative and quantitative methods were applied. Primary data collection involved questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Secondary data was obtained from Tanzania Meteorological Agency and remote sensing from Modi's sensor. Results showed an increase …

Enhancing Germination Of Seeds Of A Multipurpose Tree Species Combretum Molle, Samora Macrice Andrew

Tanzania Journal of Science

Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don (Combretaceae) is a highly valued indigenous multipurpose tree species that has gained considerable attention in recent times due to its importance as a medicinal plant as well as an alternative species for wood and charcoal production. However, we lack adequate information on simple and appropriate methods that could be used to break its distinct seed dormancy to support domestication of wild populations apparently undergoing over exploitation and the negative impacts of deforestation. Eight pre-treatment methods involving complete removal of wing, complete removal of mesocarp, overnight soaking in cold water (24 °C) and partial …

Oral Impacts On Daily Performances Among People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus On Haart Era Attending Care And Treatment Clinics In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Leonard Evarist, Irene Kida Minja

Tanzania Journal of Science

Oral disease/conditions are reported to have negative effects on the quality of life of People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (PLWHIV/AIDS). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) and its associated factors among PLWHIV/AIDS. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 PLWHIV/AIDS attending two HIV Care and Treatment Centres (CTCs) in Dar es Salaam. The study utilized a structured interview schedule containing questions on socio-demography and a single item of global oral health measure on the perception of current oral health status (OHS). A Swahili version of an …

Antibacterial Potency Of Allium Sativum, Psidium Guajava, Zingiber Officinale Roots Against The Food Poisoning Strains (Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 And Staphylococcus Aureus), Godfrey O. Mauti

Tanzania Journal of Science

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus are notorious food poisoning bacteria of great effect on human health. This study determined the phytochemical constituents of ethanolic, vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) filtrates of Allium sativum (garlic), Psidium guajava (guava), Zingiber officinale (ginger) and their antibacterial activities on E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus. In a laboratory-based controlled experiment, the antibacterial and inhibitory activities of the VLC filtrates in doses of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08g/mL were investigated on E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus using the agar well diffusion method and compared with a standard antibiotic. The indices of the zone of …

Impacts Of Dietary Chrysophyllum Albidum Fruit Pulp On Brain Cholinesterase Function In High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats, Seun Funmilola Akomolafe, Sunday Idowu Oyeleye, Ifeoluwa Adebayo Odeniyi, Iyabo Folake Oladapo, Ayodele Jacob Akinyemi, Folake Lucy Oyetayo, Olubunmi Bolanle Ajayi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Epidemiologic studies have shown strong correlations between Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes mellitus. The exact mechanism through which this happens remains unclear. However, the dependence on glucose for brain function has been proposed as one possible mechanism. Hence, this study investigated the neuroprotective potential of Chrysophyllum albidum fruit pulp (CAPP) with hypoglycaemic properties in diabetic rats induced with high-fat diet/streptozotocin (STZ). The animals were grouped into seven units as follows: control, STZ-induced, STZ + metformin (positive control), STZ + 5% CAPP, STZ + 10% CAPP, control + 5% CAPP and control + 10% CAPP and each group was made up of …