bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overlap in the diagnostic criteria of frontotemporal dementia syndromes with parkinsonism
Authors: Heikkinen Sami , Katisko Kasper , Haapasalo Annakaisa , Portaankorva Anne , Hartikainen Päivi , Solje Eino
Published: February 2025

Background

Differentiating neurodegenerative diseases can be difficult in the clinical setting. This study examines the overlap of diagnostic criteria between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes with parkinsonism [e.g., corticobasal syndrome (CBS), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD)] and Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective

To explore the diagnostic overlap in patients with FTD syndromes with parkinsonism and PD.

Methods

Patient records from 2751 individuals at a tertiary neurological care center were reviewed, resulting in 112 bvFTD, 38 PSP, and 15 CBS patients. Clinical features and diagnostic criteria fulfillment were assessed.

Results

Significant overlap in diagnostic criteria fulfilment was found: 42 bvFTD and 22 PSP patients met possible CBS criteria, 6 bvFTD patients met possible PSP criteria, and 4 met criteria for all three conditions. Higher cerebrospinal fluid levels of phosphorylated tau and tau were observed in the bvFTD group compared to PSP (p = 0.009, p = 0.002). The Mini-Mental State Examination score also differed between bvFTD and PSP (p = 0.020), and between PSP and CBS (p = 0.047). Neuroimaging showed substantial heterogeneity.

Conclusions

The study reveals significant overlap in diagnostic criteria among FTD syndromes with parkinsonism, underscoring the need for more precise diagnostic criteria. Improved biomarkers could support differential diagnosis and enhance clinical trial design. Common cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers used in Alzheimer's disease diagnostics may provide additional support in the differential diagnosis.
Prevalence and correlates of the head turning sign in mild cognitive impairment and dementia due to neurodegenerative, chronic cerebrovascular, and mixed etiologies
Authors: Aiello Edoardo Nicolò , Curti Beatrice , De Luca Giulia , Trombi Marta , Maranzano Alessio , Poletti Barbara , Silani Vincenzo , Ticozzi Nicola , Verde Federico
Published: February 2025

Background

The head turning sign (HTS) consists in the patient turning his/her head towards the accompanying person in search for support when being asked questions. Although the HTS is known to be associated with cognitive impairment, previous investigations were biased towards Alzheimer's disease (AD) or did not differentiate between diverse dementia etiologies; moreover, little is known about the specific cognitive correlates of the HTS.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and clinical correlates of the HTS in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia of various etiologies.

Methods

The HTS was recorded during the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in 232 MCI/dementia patients with the following etiological classification: AD ( N = 121); frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD; N = 24); Lewy body disease (LBD; N = 11); vascular ( N = 29); mixed ( N = 47).

Results

The overall prevalence of the HTS in the whole cohort was 27.6%. Albeit being descriptively higher in dementia (29.9%) versus MCI (22.7%), as well as descriptively lower in FTLD and LBD than in remaining subgroups, no significant association was detected between the HTS and either MCI/dementia status or etiology. HTS + patients were older and more frequently females, also reporting lower MMSE scores and differing from HTS- ones on Temporal and Spatial Orientation and Constructional Praxis sub-scores. An association between the HTS and lower MMSE scores was found in patients with MCI but not in those with dementia.

Conclusions

In patients with cognitive impairment due to diverse causes, the HTS might occur regardless of MCI versus dementia status and across different etiologies. MCI patients displaying the HTS might have more severe cognitive deficits.
Assessing tourist satisfaction through extended marketing mix strategies: A study of Kanha National Park
Authors: Saxena Vishal , Mishra Ashish , Sharma Prashant , Sharma Arun Kumar
Published: February 2025

The present research investigates how tourists’ satisfaction at Kanha National Park is influenced by the expanded marketing mix of people, processes, and physical evidence. To determine the connections between the latent variables and customer happiness, data from visitors was gathered using a structured questionnaire. Path analysis utilising AMOS was then used to examine the data. The data is analysed employing a structural equation modelling (SEM) multivariate technique utilizing SPSS 20 and AMOS 23. The findings reveal that the expertise and professionalism of tourism workers (people) significantly enhance tourist satisfaction. Efficient processes, such as seamless bookings and quick response times, further improve the visitor experience. Additionally, the physical environment, including well-maintained facilities, clear signage, and high-quality safari experiences, shapes tourists’ perceptions and overall satisfaction. The study emphasises the importance of employee training, streamlined operations, and infrastructure improvements in boosting visitor satisfaction. These insights extend beyond Kanha National Park, offering valuable strategies for enhancing wildlife tourism experiences globally. The study’s implications extend beyond Kanha National Park, offering valuable insights for similar wildlife tourism destinations internationally. Limitations of the study include potential sampling bias and response bias, which could affect the generalisability of results. Future research should address these constraints and explore additional marketing mix dimensions for a holistic understanding of tourist satisfaction.
A Sufficient Condition for the Hamiltonicity of Vertex Envelopes of Plane Graphs
Authors: Muzheve Michael T
Published: February 2025

We explore a sufficient condition for the hamiltonicity of vertex envelopes of plane graphs. In particular we show that if a plane graph G contains an independent set of vertices [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is a tree, then its vertex envelope [Formula: see text] is Hamiltonian. Based on this criteria, we identify classes of plane graphs whose vertex envelopes are Hamiltonian. We also describe constructions that produce plane graphs whose vertex envelopes are Hamiltonian, and investigate the hamiltonicity of graphs obtained through edge subdivisions.
Ratio and Product Type Estimators in Post-Stratified Sampling with Measurement Errors
Authors: Yadav Amita , Thakur Narendra Singh , Pareek Sarla
Published: February 2025

In this paper, an extension of ratio and product type estimators be studied to estimate population mean in the context of post-stratification design while the data is affected by measurement errors. The expressions of extended estimators to calculate bias and MSE up to first order of approximation has been derived. By using some real data sets, an empirical study has been done to check the performance of estimators under measurement errors.
Lactation anaphylaxis complicated by reversible cardiac dysfunction in a multiparous woman with previous breastfeeding experience
Authors: Al-Tikriti Shahad , Kumar Mahendar , O’Brien Maggie , McMorrow Roger , Crosby David
Published: February 2025

A multiparous woman in her late 20s developed postpartum angioedema, rash, profound hypotension, and decreased consciousness, progressing to acute myocardial dysfunction with left ventricular impairment. Despite thorough investigations, no clear cause was found. Anaphylaxis to medication was initially suspected as the patient had received paracetamol, ibuprofen and intrapartum antibiotics, however the symptoms resolved with cabergoline-induced lactation suppression leading to the diagnosis of lactation anaphylaxis being made. This case suggests lactation anaphylaxis can trigger transient cardiac issues, highlighting the need for awareness and further research. Lactation anaphylaxis is rarely documented, and cardiac involvement has not been previously described. Effective management of lactation anaphylaxis, particularly with cardiac complications, is crucial. This case emphasizes the importance of considering lactation anaphylaxis in postpartum allergic presentations and highlights the necessity for more research on its mechanisms and treatment.
Early neurobehavioral outcome in preterm small for gestational age neonates with increased pulsatility index in antenatal umbilical artery Doppler
Authors: Choudhary Sushil Kumar , Datta Vikram , Sunda Urmila , Chhapola Viswas
Published: February 2025

Objective: To evaluate the early neurobehavioral outcome in preterm small for gestational age neonates with increased pulsatility index in antenatal umbilical artery Doppler.

Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care neonatal unit in India. 30 preterm SGA neonates born to mothers with increased pulsatility index (> 95th centile) were enrolled and compared with 30 SGA neonates with normal pulsatility index (<95th centile). These neonates were followed up to 40 weeks of post-menstrual age. They were evaluated by NAPI score of MDV (Motor development-vigor) and AO (Alertness orientation) at 40 weeks.

Result: The mean NAPI score of MDV (Motor development- vigor) in neonates born to mothers with pulsatility index ≥95th percentile in umbilical artery Doppler was 58.59 ± 11.28 as compared to 61.73 ± 10.24 in another group (p-value 0.263) and mean difference (95%CI) was 3.14(2.42-8.71). The mean NAPI score of AO (Alertness-orientation) in the exposed group was 54.47 ± 10.19 as compared to 56.36 ± 9.07 in the unexposed group (p-value 0.44) and mean difference (95%CI) was 1.89 (3.1-6.88).

Conclusion: Preterm, SGA neonates born to mothers with high pulsatility index in umbilical artery Doppler had low neurodevelopmental scores as compared to neonates with normal PI.
Investigating the molecular mechanisms of deltamethrin resistance in Musca domestica populations from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alzabib Ali A. , Al-Sarar Ali S. , Abobakr Yasser , Saleh Amgad A.
Published: February 2025

Background

The house fly, Musca domestica L., is a global insect pest that poses serious health risks by carrying pathogens to humans and animals. Pyrethroid (PYR) insecticides have been widely used to control agricultural pests and disease vectors. Multiple reports have documented house fly resistance to PYR insecticides.

Methods

In this study, we assessed the resistance levels of M. domestica populations collected from slaughterhouses in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Taif, Saudi Arabia, against the PYR insecticide deltamethrin (DM). We also examined the genetic mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) and P450 genes of the collected field flies and analyzed the correlation between these detected genetic mutations and the levels of DM resistance.

Results

The house fly field populations showed very high levels of resistance to DM, with resistance ratio (RR) values of 625-, 256-, and 107-fold for Jeddah, Taif, and Riyadh, respectively. Three VSSC resistance alleles, kdr (T929 + 1014F), kdr-his (T929 + 1014H), and 1B (929I + 1014F), along with the susceptible allele (T929 + L1014) were identified in the Saudi house fly populations. The super-kdr allele (918 T + 1014F) and type N (D600N + M918T + L1014F) were not detected in Saudi house fly populations. Type 1B was the most dominant VSSC resistance allele, followed by kdr and kdr-his, in both field populations and the surviving flies exposed to DM. The resistance CYP6D1v1 allele of P450 was detected in slaughterhouse house fly populations of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Taif, with frequencies of 71%, 58%, and 60%, respectively. The VSSC resistance alleles exhibited a positive correlation with the resistance levels to DM; conversely, the CYP6D1v1 displayed a negative correlation with DM resistance levels.

Conclusions

In general, the Saudi house fly populations exhibited high genetic diversity, with three VSSC resistance alleles identified in slaughterhouse populations. The Vssc mutations appear to be the principal mechanism of DM resistance in Saudi house fly field populations. This study is the first report on the Vssc and CYP6D1 mutations associated with PYR resistance in M. domestica field populations from Saudi Arabia.

Graphical Abstract
BEV 2C protein inhibits the NF-κB signalling pathway to promote viral replication by targeting IKBKB and p65
Authors: Cui Xuyuan , Guo Yidi , Zhang Fan , Chang Xiaoran , Hu Junying , Zhang Qun , Zheng Xuebo , Yan NaiTian , Wang Xinping
Published: February 2025

Bovine enterovirus, a member of the Enterovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family, causes severe digestive and respiratory illnesses in cattle. These illnesses threaten the healthy development of the cattle industry. Innate immunity plays a critical role in resisting viral infections, but viruses also use various strategies to evade or counteract the host’s immune system. The mechanisms by which bovine enteroviruses evade the host immune response and promote their replication remain unclear. This study used the HY12 strain of enterovirus as a model to investigate its interaction with both bovine enterovirus and its host. Our findings indicate that bovine enterovirus promotes the replication of HY12 by disrupting the NF-κB pathway. Here, one strategy was to down-regulate the IΚBΚB expression to inhibit the activation of NF-κB. Another approach was to directly interact with p65 to reduce the dimerisation of p65/p50 and inhibit the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65. Our study’s results show that 2C’s N-terminal 1-121 aa is essential for 2C-mediated inhibition of the NF-κB signalling pathway, and four amino acids (position 118-121 aa) are the interaction site of 2C with p65. This report is the first on BEV 2C protein promoting virus replication through new strategies, which provides novel insights into the understanding of enterovirus pathobiology and the development of drugs against BEV.
Anticipatory macroeconomic governance: exploring future-oriented strategies for economic resilience and sustainability
Authors: Elgin Ceyhun
Published: February 2025

This paper aims to identify and discuss the integration of anticipatory practices in the macroeconomic governance regime, an emerging yet crucial dimension in the field. It examines the contextual differences shaping these practices at the intersections of society, innovation, policy, and governance, focusing on the interrelationship between institutions, cultures, and national contexts. The study also investigates the multi-dimensional relationships between anticipatory practices and various economic dynamics, addressing a significant gap in the literature. It explores how these practices manifest in different settings, analyzing the challenges and opportunities in adapting them to diverse contexts. The paper analyzes the connections between micro, meso, and macroeconomic spheres, and examines the institutionalization and temporal dynamics of anticipatory practices. It also delves into the cultures of anticipation within macroeconomics, analyzing their influence on decision-making processes and the visibility of different voices. By offering a comprehensive exploration of anticipatory practices in macroeconomic governance, this interdisciplinary study provides valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and scholars, contributing to a holistic understanding of the roles and challenges at the intersection of innovation, policy, and society within macroeconomic contexts.
AI and Neurology
Authors: Bösel Julian , Mathur Rohan , Cheng Lin , Varelas Marianna S. , Hobert Markus A. , Suarez José I.
Published: February 2025

Background

Artificial Intelligence is influencing medicine on all levels. Neurology, one of the most complex and progressive medical disciplines, is no exception. No longer limited to neuroimaging, where data-driven approaches were initiated, machine and deep learning methodologies are taking neurologic diagnostics, prognostication, predictions, decision making and even therapy to very promising potentials.

Main body

In this review, the basic principles of different types of Artificial Intelligence and the options to apply them to neurology are summarized. Examples of noteworthy studies on such applications are presented from the fields of acute and intensive care neurology, stroke, epilepsy, and movement disorders. Finally, these potentials are matched with risks and challenges jeopardizing ethics, safety and equality, that need to be heeded by neurologists welcoming Artificial Intelligence to their field of expertise.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence is and will be changing neurology. Studies need to be taken to the prospective level and algorithms undergo federated learning to reach generalizability. Neurologists need to master not only the benefits but also the risks in safety, ethics and equity of such data-driven form of medicine.
On the variational principles of the Burgers-Korteweg-de Vries equation in fluid mechanics
Authors: Liu Jing-Hua , Yang Yi-Ning , Wang Kang-Jia , Zhu Hong-Wei
Published: February 2025

As is known to all, it is extraordinarily difficult to construct the variational principles of the nonlinear partial differential equations (NPDEs) for fluid mechanics. In this work, we focus on the Burgers- Korteweg-de Vries equation and attempt to establish its generalized variational principle by employing the semi-inverse method (SIM). Two different generalized variational principles (GVPs) are extracted and the detailed derivation process is presented. The GVPs can present some new inspiration for the study and application of the variational method.
The dynamics of tubulogenesis in development and disease
Authors: Romero Adrian , Walker Brandy L. , Krneta-Stankic Vanja , Gerner-Mauro Kamryn , Youmans Lydia , Miller Rachel K.
Published: February 2025

Tubes are crucial for the function of many organs in animals given their fundamental roles in transporting and exchanging substances to maintain homeostasis within an organism. Therefore, the development and maintenance of these tube-like structures within organs is a vital process. Tubes can form in diverse ways, and advances in our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning these different modes of tubulogenesis have significant impacts in many biological contexts, including development and disease. This Review discusses recent progress in understanding developmental mechanisms underlying tube formation.
Continuous Peak Oxygen Uptake Monitoring in High-Intensity Interval Training Minimizes False Responder Rates Compared to Pre-to-Post Testing
Authors: Matzka Manuel , Lauber Lukas , Lenk Mascha , Engel Florian , Sperlich Billy
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigates the intra- and inter-individual time courses of physiological adaptation to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), comparing single and duplicate pre-to-post testing with session-by-session analysis to more accurately identify “genuine” adaptations.

Methods

Seventeen participants (nine men) engaged in repeated 4x4 min HIIT sessions (2 times/week) until a meaningful change in the primary outcome i.e. relative peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was observed.

Results

Mixed-effects model analysis revealed a significant improvement for VO2peak for both session-by-session (estimate: 0.18, p < 0.01, d = 0.11) analysis and duplicate pre-to-post analysis (estimate: 3.97, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.36). Session-by-session analysis revealed significant variability in physiological responses, with a low coefficient of variation (CV) for VO2peak (3.49% + 1.96) and estimated maximum stroke volume (SVmax) (3.07% ± 1.92) and, indicating their reliability for detecting small changes. With a CV of 22.14% ± 13.80 submaximal blood lactate ([BLa]submax) was the least reliable parameter. With session-by-session analysis VO2peak was the only parameter displaying 100% positive responders after 9.5 ± 3.8 sessions. Additionally, session-by-session analysis revealed lower proportions of participants with positive adaptations for submaximal VO2 and SVmax, but higher proportions for submaximal respiratory exchange ratio and rating of perceived exertion compared with pre-to-post analysis.

Conclusions

This study highlights the value of longitudinal assessments for understanding the variability and dynamics of training adaptations. By addressing the limitations of pre-to-post evaluations, the findings emphasize the importance of frequent monitoring to accurately capture individual responses, thereby advancing strategies for optimizing exercise interventions across diverse populations.
Contemporary applications of umwelt theory. Introduction
Authors: Magnus Riin , Mäekivi Nelly
Published: February 2025

Contemporary applications of umwelt theory. Introduction
Plasticumwelt and umwelt diffraction: A new materialist ecosemiotics
Authors: Zengiaro Nicola
Published: February 2025

The article explores the intricate relationship between plastic materials, semiotics and ecology, offering a novel perspective on the concept of umwelt in the context of pervasive plastic pollution. Drawing on semiotic, ecosemiotic and neo-materialist theories, it examines how plastic has become a ubiquitous presence in ecosystems, profoundly shaping the subjective worlds of organisms. The paper presents a theoretical analogy between the world of the spider and the production of its web on the one hand, and the human world and the production of plastic on the other hand, to show how the minds of animals extend along the production of their materials. Through the lens of material semiotics, the study elaborates the notion of ‘umwelt diffraction’, highlighting how synthetic materials disrupt the ecological dynamics and perception of organisms, forming the structure of a ‘plasticumwelt’. This reconceptualization underlines the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches to address the challenges posed by plastic pollution. Ultimately, the article argues that plastic proliferation creates a toxic heritage, underlining the importance of sustainable practices to mitigate the harmful effects of plastic on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Of bubbles and foams: Umwelt counterpoints in symbiosis
Authors: Markoš Anton , Švorcová Jana
Published: February 2025

In recent years, our aim has been to expand the concept of ‘umwelt’ towards its evolutionary aspects. In this contribution, we argue that since the different lineages of life share their origins, they also share, at least to some extent, the (informational) norms and interpretative practices (deeply established rules in addition to memory and experience) that apply in their particular umwelten. If so, some “dialects” of such norms may be understandable to umwelten across different forms of life that inhabit the same space and time. Such “umwelt overlaps” then facilitate a mutual understanding of different life forms, leading to coordinated (negotiated) cohabitation. We highlight some of the ways in which such “vertical” and “horizontal” processes can lead to an evolutionary and/or ecological networking of umwelt “bubbles”. We believe that the original concept of ‘umwelt’ should be expanded so as to encompass all living beings and their evolutionary memory, experience, and present ecological settings. Our interpretation also leads to abandoning of the concept of an external “composer of symphony” and allows life forms to compose their being in the world according to their “inner contexts”, “players available”, and evaluation of external factors, mainly biospheric but also physical.
From the meaning to the world: the catasemiosis
Authors: Édeline Francis , Klinkenberg Jean-Marie
Published: February 2025

We now know that meaning arises from an initial interaction between the bodies of living beings and stimuli from the outside world. This process, which leads to the development of semiotic structures, is known as anasemiosis. However, the description of semiosis would be incomplete if we did not take into account a second movement in which the body is involved in a second interaction with the world: that of the action exerted on this world by meaning. This movement can be called ‘catasemiosis’ (if the Greek prefix ‘ana-’ refers to a movement from the bottom up, ‘cata-’ refers to a movement from the top down), and the complete semiosis is made up of the interactive cycle of anasemiosis–catasemiosis.
After outlining the reasons why the consideration of catasemiosis has been largely neglected by the sciences of language and meaning, this paper situates catasemiosis within the general process of semiosis, establishes the complementary nature of the processes of anasemiosis and catasemiosis, and demonstrates that their structures are comparable since they are based on the same principle of opposition – or dipole. The discussion emphasizes the existence of an actional drive in living organisms, complementary to the interpretative drive, and shows that routinization is the catasemiotic equivalent of categorization at the anasemiotic level. Considering the sign as a tool and stressing the importance of the concept of energy in semiotics, it pays particular attention to tools, conceived as extensions of bodies, and to their mediating function.
Was motiviert junge PolInnen zum Deutschlernen? Eine Befragung unter Studierenden der Angewandten Linguistik.
Authors: Teshajev Sunderland Eva
Published: February 2025

Seit 1996 ist Deutsch nach Englisch die meistgelernte
Fremdsprache in Polen, sowohl an Schulen als auch in
Sprachkursen für Erwachsene. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es
anhand der Auswertung einer Befragung am Institut für
Angewandte Linguistik der Adam-Mickiewicz-Universität
Poznań zu illustrieren, was polnische Studierende,
die Deutsch als Erst- oder Zweitsprache wählten, zur
Studienwahl bewog und was sie während des Studiums
motiviert. Bei der Auswertung der Antworten des 3.
Studienjahres BA und des 1. Studienjahres MA erwies
sich, dass zwar bei der Studienwahl berufsorientierte
Motive deutlich dominierten und intrinsische Motive eine
geringere Rolle spielten, letztere aber dennoch relevant
waren.
Building a governance for Sustainable Development in Italy: means (indicators), mechanisms and the role of territories.
Authors: Coronato Maria , Occhino Mara , Cossu Tiziana
Published: February 2025

The article aims to critically analyze the process followed by the Ministry of
Environment and Energy Security (MASE) – national authority for sustainable
development in Italy – to define the National Strategy for Sustainable Development
(NSDS). To this aims, the paper: i) explain the complex mechanism of public
sustainability policies in Italy, focusing on the thematic competencies of all the actors
involved (public/non-public, institutional/non-institutional from the local to the
national level); and ii) identify the Italian national approach and the tools provided by
MASE for the periodic review of NSDS, highlighting the integrated and participatory
approach to public policies capable of capturing the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainability. To this end, and from a qualitative
approach, the political and strategic documents that inspired the NSDS and that
respond to the challenge of the 2030 Agenda at the national level in Italy are
presented. The results show the process to achieve at the localization of the SDGs in
Italy in a coherent way both with national laws and lower in the strategic framework,
taking in mind territorial capital and geographical diversity in a multilevel approach.
They also demonstrate the capacity, at the national level, to produce a set of
indicators for the preparation of reports on sustainable development capable of
covering the territorial diversity of the Italian regions
Parasites in cats and dogs
Authors: Elsheikha Hany
Published: February 2025

This workshop discussed the wide range of parasites that can infect cats and/or dogs, looked at routes of transmission, diagnosis and, most importantly, methods of treatment and control.
Water resources of Azerbaijan and biosecurity
Authors: Muradov P. Z. , Aliyeva L. A. , Aliyeva S. I. , Isayeva V. K. , Hasanova G. M. , Abdulayeva S. A.
Published: February 2025

In the presented work summarizes information about the water resources of Azerbaijan based on literature data, and it is justified that the efficient use of water resources, both in the world and in Azerbaijan, which is part of it, is a problem that needs to be solved, but is still waiting to be solved. Thus, the problems faced by the world's population today include water, primarily freshwater scarcity, and today this issue has a global character. As a part of the world, this problem has a more serious impact in the Republic of Azerbaijan, due to the fact that a certain territory of the country has been under occupation for nearly 30 years, 70% of water resources are formed by transboundary rivers, and some of the states to which these rivers belong have not joined the "Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes", and the lack of an advanced mechanism (including biosafety) that reflects the efficient use of river waters. The main task in eliminating these is to find a balance between social, ecological, and economic relations.
Evaluation of clinical application of Korean medicine standard clinical pathway in a public hospital
Authors: Shin Seung-Jae , Kim Jin-Won , Jeong Ji-Cheon
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Clinical pathways (CPs) are structured guidelines introduced to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. In South Korea, CPs for Korean medicine have been developed since 2016 under the 3rd Comprehensive Plan for Korean Medicine Promotion, with limited studies on their clinical application. Neck and shoulder pain are common conditions frequently treated at Korean medicine clinics, often by patients dissatisfied with conventional treatments. The demand for Korean medicine treatments for neck and shoulder pain is on the rise.

AIM

To evaluate the clinical applicability and effectiveness of Korean medicine CPs for neck pain and shoulder pain in public healthcare institutions in South Korea.

METHODS

We collected and analyzed data from patients aged 19 years and older who visited the outpatient clinic of the Department of Korean Medicine at the National Medical Center in Korea from March 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023. CP completion rates, along with patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and economic outcomes between the CP-implemented and non-CP groups were assessed.

RESULTS

The CP completion rates were 93.3% for neck pain and 96.8% for shoulder pain. Patient satisfaction scores showed an improvement of 17.7% for neck pain and 18.0% for shoulder pain in the CP-implemented group compared to the non-CP group. For neck pain, significant improvements were observed in the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the neck disability index, while for shoulder pain, only the University of California-Los Angeles shoulder rating scale showed notable progress, with no substantial change in NRS scores.

CONCLUSION

This study partially confirms the clinical applicability and effectiveness of the Korean medicine CPs for neck pain and shoulder pain. Further research is required to enhance and validate these findings.
Exploring the impact of mobile device use on mealtime distractions and its consequences for metabolic health: A narrative minireview
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Shahzad
Published: February 2025

The habitual use of smartphones during meals has become a common behavior, raising concerns about its potential impact on eating habits and metabolic health. The present narrative review investigates how using a smartphone or tablet during meals can cause distractions and negatively affect metabolic health. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted by synthesizing peer-reviewed studies on the interplay between smartphone use during meals, eating behaviors, and metabolic health. Relevant literature was identified through searches in electronic databases and organized thematically to highlight trends and research gaps. By synthesizing evidence from existing literature, this review highlights that smartphone use during meals is associated with increased caloric intake, altered food composition, and disruptions in postprandial metabolic responses. These effects are mediated by reduced meal awareness and psychological distractions, including multitasking. Variability in findings arises from differences in study designs and populations. This review identifies critical research gaps, including the lack of longitudinal studies and the need to explore mechanisms underlying these relationships. By summarizing trends and patterns, this narrative review offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between digital device use, eating habits, and metabolic health, providing a foundation for future research and interventions.
Inca Garcilaso in Translation: Pierre Richelet's Histoire de la Floride (1670) and the Politics of Paraphrase
Authors: Forsythe Jenny Marie
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Inca Garcilaso de la Vega's La Florida del Inca (1605) is an account of the 1539–44 De Soto invasion of Mississippian chiefdoms inland of the Florida peninsula and the first history of the Americas by an Indigenous American historian to be published on a printing press. This article examines Pierre Richelet's Histoire de la Floride (1670), the first translation of La Florida del Inca from Spanish into any other language, and the only French translation of this work. At first glance, Richelet's translation appears to adapt the source text to the conventions of seventeenth-century relations de voyage (travel narratives). However, I argue that Richelet's translation is better understood as an experiment in paraphrase, a form of translation that challenges the balance of power between author and translator. This article attends to Richelet's translation practices in the context of seventeenth-century theories of paraphrase, compares the translation and source text, and considers the author's and translator's work as lexicographers. I demonstrate that Richelet claimed an identity as a paraphraste and as a lexicographer by enacting violence over a source text by an Indigenous American author. At the same time, this article reveals Garcilaso's enduring presence in early French theories of translation, where his work was instrumental in charting the distinction between paraphrase and metaphrase.
Assessing Hemodynamic Improvements in Peripheral Arterial Interventions:
Authors: Stibbs Peter , Khurana Neal , Laurich Chad , Goldman Ari
Published: February 2025

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent and debilitating condition characterized by progressive arterial stenosis that compromises blood flow to the lower extremities, leading to claudication, ischemia, and, in severe cases, limb-threatening complications. Traditional methods of assessing arterial lesions primarily rely on angiographic imaging, which, while useful for anatomical evaluation, does not provide direct physiological insights into the functional severity of stenosis or the hemodynamic impact of interventions.Resting fractional flow reserve (rFFR) has emerged as a promising tool for quantifying pressure gradients across stenotic lesions in real time, offering a more precise and objective measure of lesion severity and post-treatment efficacy.
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING AND OPERATION
Authors: Meins-Becker Anica , Kelm Agnes , Kaufhold Matthias , Quessel Melanie , Helmus Manfred
Published: February 2025

The research project "BIM-based operation" contributes standardization and uniform understanding of the BIM process and the resulting changes in the construction and real estate sectors. The project develops an ideal-type target process chain, based on an actual process analysis, for using the BIM method in real estate operations. A standardized life-cycle process is intent to show required information for operation actives in concrete terms. Based on this, information and communication interfaces can be identified to analyze changing performance requirements of the parties involved, and open questions such as legal issues can be further elaborated or dealt with. Based on literature research and numerous expert interviews, it analyzes and determines how individual process steps are carried out and which parties need to deliver what kind of information to which participant at what time, to fulfill build owners' requirements to a successfully constructed and managed building. The focus is thus on the exchange of information between those involved in the operation phase. Existing standards are consciously integrated into the development. Companies, institutions, and other stakeholders are thus given an overview of the situation in relation to the important exchange of information. In particular, the real estate operating phase is attributed to a high optimization potential through digitization.
DATA AND PROCESS MODEL FOR ADVANCED INTEGRATION OF MEP INTO BIM PROJECTS
Authors: Partl Rainer , Hauer Stefan , Monsberger Michael
Published: February 2025

The coordination of mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) and architecture is a most important task in BIM projects. Open data exchange based on BIM formats such as the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is an important basis for advanced collaboration in complex project environments. It facilitates performance-based design concepts as multidisciplinary teams can more easily combine task-specific design and simulation tools. An analysis of the IFC4 standard pointed out, that MEP components are not sufficiently specified yet in order to provide such functionality. Moreover, MEP specific guidelines and process models describing the various interactions between architectural and MEP design in a BIM project are still lacking. This paper thus presents a comprehensive MEP data model that complements the current state of IFC. In addition, an associated BIM process model using Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) that outlines the application of the data model in different design stages of a project is introduced. For this purpose, we take an air-handling unit as example and apply the developed model to an air-handling unit of a campus building at Graz University of Technology. The presented results support architects, MEP engineers, and BIM managers in the project-specific implementation of air-handling unit models and the set-up of a suitable process for the integration into the project.
AUTOMATING BACKHOE OPERATION USING FUZZY LOGIC
Authors: Sharma Deepak K.
Published: February 2025

During the past decade, automation has significantly increased in all forms of engineering. With the fast-paced research and development in automation, it is expected that automation will be commonplace and many operations will be performed using robots. Automation of heavy construction equipment is in its early stages. Attempts are persistently made to push the frontiers of science and technology to automate heavy equipment but, limited progress has been made. This research presents a fuzzy logic modeling approach for moving a back-hoe bucket from a fill point to a dump point. The fuzzy logic model is designed to accept all feasible points formed by boom and stick movements in 3D space. Inputs to the model are coordinates of fill and dump spots, as well as stick and boom dimensions. The model provides output signals to automate the bucket movement by swinging the bucket, lowering (or raising) boom, and stretching (or retracting) stick. The paper also includes three site scenarios to demonstrate the performance of the model. The three scenarios are varied from a very basic to a very complex maneuver. All three scenarios are tested for error, and the errors are within acceptable limits.
CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE: DISTINGUISHING IMPREGNATED FIRE-RETARDANT-TREATED WOOD FROM SURFACE-APPLIED TREATMENTS
Authors: Eckhoff Mike
Published: February 2025

Increasing populations combined with decreasing developable plots are leading to higher real estate prices. Communities are attempting to address these higher prices by increasing the number of residential units per acre. One way to increase the supply is to use fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) to build larger and taller structures. However, as FRTW is increasingly being used, substitute products that do not meet the definition of FRTW in the building codes are also being increasingly used. How does one distinguish the two? By relying on knowing how FRTW is manufactured, where it can be used, and on building code requirements, responsible parties will better understand why FRTW is different from these products and how to verify that only code-compliant, chemically impregnated FRTW is used in larger, taller structures.
MODELING CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE IN POST-CONFLICT ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Amarkhil Qais , Elwakil Emad
Published: February 2025

In the field of the construction industry, research work has widely focused on identifying Key performance indicators and critical success factors without assessing the impact of conflict environment factors. This study focusses on the impact of post-conflict environment factors on local construction organization performance. This paper presents a framework for improving construction organization performance in a post-conflict environment. The proposed framework consists of four stages: identify post-conflict environment impacting factors, determine critical success factors (CSFs), determine key performance indicators (KPIs), and adopt the best strategy to improve performance. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling has been used to analyze quantitative and qualitative variables obtained from the literature and expert opinion through comprehensive literature search, meetings, and survey to determine critical success factors and to identify performance improvement strategy. The study finding suggests that twenty factors from the questioner have a critical impact on the identified five performance measures. The presented CSFs helps the organization management team to consider the impact of these factors on their firm and to formulate a competitive strategy in a post-conflict environment.
ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTABILITY PROCESS IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Minchin R. Edward , Samsami Reihaneh , Tran Dan , D’Angelo Dan , Scott Sidney , Tian Yifeng , Im Haekyung , Russell Jeffrey
Published: February 2025

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Every Day Counts Program (EDC) has resulted in state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) putting evermore emphasis on speeding up the delivery of highway and bridge construction projects for use by the driving public. This has resulted in an increase in the use of integrated project delivery methods and adding alternative technical concepts (ATCs) to traditional design-bid-build (DBB) contracts. ATCs have exhibited great potential for delivering substantial benefits like cost savings, increased constructability, and quicker project delivery. Previous research has found that knowledge of project constructability was lacking in state DOT planning, programming, and environmental staffs. At the same time, the permitting process for several government agencies has become increasingly restrictive. The intent of this paper is to report on the research team's progress in an ongoing effort to furnish the US government with a uniform set of guidelines for the application of the constructability process during all phases of project development and delivery. The research uses surveys, focus groups and interviews to determine which states have implemented formal programs to ensure that the constructor is furnished with a set of contract documents that affords said constructor with the best possible opportunity to successfully construct the project with the highest quality standards, within the contract duration and without exceeding the construction budget.
REVISITING SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Authors: Shojaei Alireza , Mahdavian Amirsaman
Published: February 2025

Artificial neural networks have been widely used for modeling and simulation of different problems in the construction industry, including, but not limited to, regression, clustering, and classification. They provide solutions for complex problems where other modeling methods often fail. For instance, they can capture nonlinear and complex relationships between the variables while many traditional modeling methods fail. However, they have their own limitations. They often can only be trained for a specific problem with a predetermined number of inputs and outputs. As a result, any change that requires an update in the architecture of the network cannot be automatically done and require human intervention. The recent developments in the field of artificial neural networks resulted in new concepts such as neural architecture search, reinforcement learning, and neuroevolution. These new areas can provide new methods for solving past and existing problems facing the construction industry in a more efficient, elegant, and versatile manner. One of the main contributions of the recent developments is networks that can optimize their own architecture and networks that are able to evolve and change their architecture. This paper aims to briefly review the application areas of the artificial neural networks in construction engineering and management and discuss how the recent developments in this field can be applied and provide better solutions.
DESIGN OF CERTIFIED GREEN BUILDINGS USING BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING
Authors: Atabay Senay , Gurgun Asli Pelin , Demirbas Alper Goktug
Published: February 2025

Design of green buildings involves specific processes compared to conventional construction projects that require participation of several disciplines. Having particular activities, functions, and physical aspects, green buildings impose their own difficulties during design. Building Information Modelling systems (BIM) use different software for virtual simulation of characteristics of projects, which promotes early detection of potential problems even before production of the intended design details. Implementing BIM technology in design stage, not only helps to minimize design problems, but also to shorten the stage itself. With this effect of BIM combined with sustainable practices and energy efficient technologies, design stage alone can be considered as a sustainable application of construction activities. Therefore, principles and requirements of green building certification systems can easily be performed for projects with capabilities of BIM technologies and tools. In this study, redesign of Yildiz Technical University, Faculty of Civil Engineering Building based on LEED certification system using BIM tools is presented. The project is prepared as part of a capstone project by senior civil engineering students. Design stages are planned to promote sustainability and qualify the requirements of LEED v3 BD+C (Schools). The main objective is to introduce the students to two major trends in construction industry (green buildings and BIM applications) and to create awareness of sustainable construction, green building certification systems and emerging technologies.