bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melhoria de medição de espessura submarina por ultrassom via ROV
Authors: Urbano João Paulo , Pires Gustavo Pinto , Santos Milton dos , Souza Samuell Costa de , Nunes Romario de Carvalho
Published: February 2025

Thickness measurement plays a crucial role in the management of pipelines and subsea equipment, checking their integrity status. The values obtained in the measurements impact the company's future expenses and income, value generation and SMS. This work presents concepts of thickness measurement by ultrasound using ROV, the study that was carried out to improve it, what improvements were applied, the results obtained by Petrobras and the next steps. The study involved analysis of ultrasound techniques and service reports, offshore and onshore submerged tests in laboratories, definition of professional capacity for employees to carry out inspections and meetings with manufacturers, ultrasound specialists, companies contracted by Petrobras and ABENDI. Among the improvements applied are: requirement for a certified professional for services; addition of new ultrasonic techniques and A-scan chart; adequacy of marination; applying a new handling adapter to the tool; improvement of service reports; expansion of tool measurements; preparation of a specific Petrobras standard for this type of inspection; patent development. As a result, there was a reduction in service times and operational stops due to technical failures and an increase in production time. Additionally, financial savings and greater quality and reliability of inspections and gains in HSE were generated. Consequently, this work brought solutions, knowledge and perspectives to the practices of this segment for the energy industry.
Um caminho para a gestão de ativos na área submarina conformeISO 55000
Authors: Carvalho Lucas Augusto Penna de , Marques Wendell Ribeiro , Alves André Luiz Rocha , Borda Fatima Leonor Guzman
Published: February 2025

The objective of the work is to present the concepts of Asset Management for the Subsea area and a possible path on how to implement it in its processes, in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 55000 standard. This is an international standard published in 2011 and which covers requirements on how extract more value from an organization's physical assets by managing performance, cost and risk. According to IAM (Institute of Asset Management) and GFMAN (Global Forum for Asset Management), organizations have been increasing recognition of Asset Management as a discipline that has great relevance and significant potential for increasing the performance of the management system, increasing the guarantee of achieving organizational objectives. The introduction of this work will address the origin of the Asset Management topic and how it has been growing in organizations. A brief history of the evolution of the Subsea area in Integrity Management and similarities of this topic in Asset Management will also be presented. Next, the main concepts of Asset Management will be described, going through the ISO 55000 standards. Finally, a possible path for implementing asset management in the subsea area will be described, through a model for preparing a SAMP (Strategic Asset Management Plan), this being one of the main requirements of ISO 55000.
Îles et Insulaires (XVIe-XVIIIe siècle)
Authors: Lestringant Frank , Tarrête Alexandre
Published: February 2025

Depuis l’Antiquité, les îles ont été abondamment décrites et cartographiées. Au XVe siècle, grâce au Liber Insularum Arcipelagi de Christophe Buondelmonti, les îles de l’archipel grec deviennent le modèle que l’on retrouve plus tard chez François Rabelais, et deux siècles après encore chez Jonathan Swift. À partir de cet ouvrage, maintes fois recopié, varié, glosé, se développe un genre, l’Isolario, ou « Insulaire », c’est-à-dire la collection d’îles, ou l’atlas d’îles, dont les exemples se multiplient jusqu’au xviiie siècle, tantôt manuscrits et tantôt imprimés, en Italie d’abord, puis dans tous les pays d’Europe, de l’Espagne à la Hollande.

L’un des Insulaires les plus connus est celui du cosmographe André Thevet, élaboré vers 1586 et demeuré inachevé, riche de quelque trois cents cartes d’îles et étendu à toutes les mers du globe. Parallèlement, l’attention continue de se porter sur Lucien de Samosate dont l’Histoire vraie n’en finit pas d’être relue, pour alimenter les voyages de Pantagruel, puis ceux de Gulliver.

Ces études sur l’Insulaire, autrement dit les divers avatars d’un archipel universel en constante expansion, esquissent une réflexion sur la diversité non seulement des formes du savoir géographique, mais plus généralement des formes littéraires, histoire, encyclopédies, dictionnaires, récits de voyage, fictions viatiques ou poésie.
Soluciones Analíticas y Numéricas para un Problema de Transferencia de Calor en Materiales Bicapa
Authors: Tarzia Domingo A. , Umbricht Guillermo F. , Rubio Diana
Published: February 2025

Este artículo presenta un análisis teórico de un problema de transferencia de calor unidimensional en un material bicapa con difusión, advección, generación o pérdida de calor interna linealmente dependiente de la temperatura en cada capa, y generación de calor debido a fuentes externas. Además, se considera la resistencia térmica ofrecida por la interfaz entre los materiales. La situación de interés se modela matemáticamente, se encuentran soluciones analíticas explícitas utilizando técnicas de Fourier, y se formula un esquema de diferencias finitas convergente para simular casos particulares. La solución es coherente con resultados previos. Se incluye un ejemplo numérico que muestra coherencia entre los resultados obtenidos y la física del problema. Las conclusiones extraídas en este trabajo amplían la comprensión teórica de la transferencia de calor en materiales bicapa y también pueden contribuir a mejorar el diseño térmico de sistemas de ingeniería multicapa.
La justice comme principe de la paix chez Platon
Authors:   École Normale Supérieure d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), KOSSI Jean Foly Koblan
Published: February 2025

La justice, selon le commun des mortels, consiste à rendre à chacun ce qui lui est dû ; pour les plus téméraires, elle traduit l’avantage des plus forts. Platon rejette ces conceptions, et admet que la justice consiste, pour chaque citoyen, à accomplir uniquement la fonction pour laquelle il est naturellement fait. La justice est ainsi le principe assurant l’harmonie et la paix du citoyen et de la cité tandis que l’injustice ruine l’individu et détruit le corps politique et social.
EU - Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA): Impact on exporting agricultural products from Vietnam to EU and some policy recommendations
Authors: Bui Duy Linh
Published: February 2025

The research focuses on analyzing the impact of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on agricultural exports from Vietnam to the European Union. The agreement is assessed as having a positive effect on Vietnam, especially in terms of the export advantages for agricultural products. The study applies a quantitative analysis method using the SMART model, incorporating data on import-export turnover of 24 agricultural product categories (HS 2-digit codes) under a scenario of 0% tariff reduction once the EVFTA takes effect, along with other essential parameters. The results show an increase in Vietnamese agricultural exports to the EU market following the implementation of the EVFTA. Based on the findings, the authors suggest several policy recommendations to further promote the export of agricultural products from Vietnam to the European Union in the future.
Vietnam's commodity exports: Current situation and recommendations
Authors: Ha Thi Vu Ha
Published: February 2025

Exports have played an important role in promoting economic growth. In recent years, Vietnam's exports have grown strongly. In 2024, Vietnam continued to record many important achievements in export activities, including stable growth in export turnover, making good use of free trade agreements and maintaining a surplus trade balance. According to the Strategy for Import and Export of Goods to 2030, Vietnam aims for an average export growth rate of 6-7%/year in the period 2021-2030, of which the average export growth rate in the period 2021-2025 is 8-9%/year; the average growth rate in the period 2026-2030 is 5-6%/year. The paper assesses the current situation of Vietnam's goods exports in recent times and proposes a number of recommendations to further increase Vietnam's goods export turnover in the coming time.
Các nhân tố ảnh hưởng tới hiệu quả sử dụng vốn của doanh nghiệp xây dựng niêm yết tại Việt Nam
Authors: Nguyễn Thành Công
Published: February 2025

Mục đích của nghiên cứu nhằm tìm ra các nhân tố ảnh hưởng tới hiệu quả sử dụng vốn của doanh nghiệp xây dựng niêm yết tại Việt Nam. Bằng các phương pháp phân tích định lượng trên phần mềm SPSS26. Kết quả cho thấy 8 yếu tố gồm Chính sách quản lý; Cơ cấu và nhu cầu vốn; Khả năng cạnh tranh; Mức độ hiện đại của công nghệ; Môi trường kinh tế vĩ mô; Rủi ro kinh doanh; Nhân lực và đối tác, khách hàng; Đặc điểm ngành. Dựa vào kết quả nghiên cứu, tác giả đề xuất các hàm ý quản trị nhằm nâng cao hiệu quả sử dụng vốn của các doanh nghiệp xây dựng niêm yết tại Việt Nam.
Rủi ro tác nghiệp tại Ngân hàng thương mại cổ phần Ngoại thương Việt Nam
Authors: Nguyễn Quốc Tùng , Hồ Hồng Phúc , Hoàng Hồng Hạnh , Bùi Thị Vân Anh
Published: February 2025

Rủi ro tác nghiệp tại các ngân hàng thương mại (NHTM) luôn là mối quan tâm hàng đầu của các nhà quản lý ngân hàng và các cơ quan giám sát tài chính. Đối với Ngân hàng thương mại cổ phần Ngoại thương Việt Nam (VCB), việc nhận diện và quản lý rủi ro tác nghiệp không chỉ đảm bảo hoạt động hiệu quả mà còn góp phần duy trì uy tín và niềm tin của khách hàng. Bài báo này tập trung phân tích chi tiết thực trạng rủi ro tác nghiệp tại VCB, từ các sai sót trong quy trình vận hành, lỗ hổng trong hệ thống kiểm soát nội bộ đến các tác động ngoại cảnh và hành vi con người. Đồng thời, bài báo cũng đưa ra những biện pháp quản lý và giảm thiểu rủi ro tác nghiệp để giúp VCB hoạt động hiệu quả và an toàn hơn, nhằm giảm thiểu và kiểm soát rủi ro, như cải tiến quy trình quản lý, nâng cao năng lực nhân sự và ứng dụng công nghệ hiện đại...
Os Desafios encontrados por mulheres em contextos profissionais contranormativos: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Santana Santos Erica Karine , Dias Guimarães Dantas Maria Clara , Oliveira da Conceição Larissa , Cerqueira-Santos Elder
Published: February 2025

Este estudo apresenta uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre a realidade de mulheres em contextos acadêmicos e profissionais contranormativos no Brasil, utilizando o método PRISMA. A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO) e Periódico Eletrônico de Psicologia (PePSIC) e foram incluídas produções, em português, publicadas entre os anos de 2012 e 2022. Os resultados evidenciaram os desafios enfrentados pelas mulheres nesses cenários, como o assédio sexual e moral, a disparidade salarial, a descredibilização de suas capacidades e a dificuldade para alcançar os cargos de maior status econômicos e sociais. Concluiu-se que, apesar da inserção feminina crescente em espaços masculinizados, ainda persistem entraves diretamente relacionados ao gênero.
Aplicativos de prevenção ao suicídio
Authors: Oliveira Silva de Macedo Etiene , Donard Veroniquè , De Aquino Veloso Grazielli , Mello Facciolli Maria Eduarda , De Aquino Veloso Michele
Published: February 2025

O comportamento suicida entre adolescentes é um grave problema de saúde pública que afeta milhões de jovens no mundo todo. Com fatores de risco multidimensionais que incluem aspectos psicossociais, econômicos e individuais, a ampliação da socialização para o ambiente digital oferece novas oportunidades para intervenções em saúde mental. Esta revisão integrativa teve como objetivo identificar os conceitos de usabilidade e aceitabilidade de aplicativos voltados para a prevenção do suicídio em adolescentes. A revisão abrangeu artigos publicados entre 2013 e 2023 divulgados nas bases Scielo, BVS, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus e PubMed. Foram incluídos estudos empíricos e revisões sistemáticas que abordassem intervenções mediadas por tecnologias digitais para adolescentes de 12 a 24 anos de idade. A análise focou em critérios como simplicidade, acessibilidade e a capacidade das ferramentas em prevenir comportamentos suicidas. Os resultados sugerem embora seja precoce falar em eficácia, os melhores desfechos dessas tecnologias, depende de sua usabilidade e da aceitação pelo público-alvo, bem como de sua adaptação cultural. Aplicativos como iBobbly, SafePlan e dispositivos vestíveis mostraram-se promissores, mas destacam-se as necessidades de pesquisas adicionais e avaliações contínuas para garantir a segurança e eficácia das intervenções. A integração das tecnologias como complemento ao tratamento tradicional, sob supervisão de profissionais de saúde, é crucial para promover suporte eficaz e seguro aos adolescentes em risco de suicídio.
Theorizing media art in light of STS: Factura of ephemeralities
Authors: Fedorova Ksenia , Casini Silvia
Published: February 2025

Throughout history, and particularly in recent decades, art has developed unique media-specific characteristics to address the impact of the techno-scientific paradigm on culture and society. Parallel reflections have occurred in the social sciences, especially within science and technology studies (STS). Some of its most influential methodological insights and concepts – such as actor-network theory, nonhuman agency, boundary objects, trading zones, and material heterogeneities of knowledge – share a focus on the performative rather than representational aspects of scientific practice, on the epistemology of networks and actions rather than on the ontology of substances. The performative aspect of science, for instance, comes to the forefront with Andrew Pickering’s concept of “mangle of practice” (1995), characterized by ongoing interactions between machines, instruments, people, facts and theories that are “mangled” together, shaped by the contingencies of time, space, and culture. The movement between these agents consists of continuous observations, adjustments, and gestures; it is a “dance of agency” (1995, 21) – iterative and recursive, occurring between humans and nonhumans. Although these interactions take place in the laboratory, where phenomena are displaced from the world into the lab with the aim of producing knowledge, the dance of agency anchors scientific practice to the world.
The development of the Arab-Muslim direction of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy after 1979
Authors: Ostanin-Golovnya Vasily Dmitrievich
Published: February 2025

The subject of the study is the transformation of the Arab-Muslim direction of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy after the key events of 1979, which significantly influenced the political development of the country and the region as a whole. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the main factors that determined the change in the kingdom's political course, such as the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the seizure of the al-Haram Mosque in Mecca and the outbreak of the Afghan War. The article examines two main vectors of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy development: regional, related to the creation of the GCC in 1981, and religious, aimed at strengthening the country's role in the Muslim world. The mechanisms of implementation of these directions are considered. The article analyzes the impact of the events of the post-Soviet period and the Cold War on the formation of new strategic priorities of Riyadh, as well as its response to the challenges of global terrorism after September 11, 2001. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive analysis of historical events, official documents and expert assessments. The methods of comparative analysis, chronological periodization and a systematic approach to the study of the transformation of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy are used. Special attention is paid to sources, including the work of leading experts in the region. The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of Saudi Arabia's foreign policy after 1979, with an emphasis on the interrelationship of regional and religious vectors of its development. For the first time, the author examines the impact of the key events of this period — the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the seizure of the al-Haram Mosque and the outbreak of the Afghan War — on the formation of Riyadh's strategic priorities. The study reveals the mechanism of "securitization of religion" as the main tool for strengthening the internal stability and international influence of the kingdom. The conclusions of the work demonstrate how Saudi Arabia, using its economic and religious advantages, has successfully adapted to changing geopolitical realities, turning from a regional player into one of the main centers of power in the Muslim world. The study also highlights the dual role of the religious factor in the kingdom's foreign policy, where support for traditional Islamic values was combined with the risks of spreading extremist ideologies, which became an important lesson for modern diplomacy.
Pengaruh Customer Engagement di Media Sosial terhadap Brand Intimacy pada Produk Fashion Lokal Indonesia
Authors:   Departemen Manajemen, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia, Nawastha Classica Harsya , Alversia Yeshika ,   Departemen Manajemen, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia
Published: February 2025

The fashion industry is one of the industries that is constantly expanding and Indonesia is the ninth largest contributor globally. Domestic growth of the fashion industry is supported by the campaign to love local products. Local fashion brands utilize the social media as a channel to communicate directly with their customers to develop a strong customer engagement. Therefore, it is important to know which factors influenced customer engagement, such as advice seeking, self image expression, and fashion involvement. Moreover, customer engagement also plays a role in the formation of brand intimacy. This study develops customer engagement as a second-order construct which consists of consumption, contribution, and creation. The survey was conducted online with 262 respondents which was then analyzed using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings show that advice seeking, self-image expression, and fashion involvement infuences customer engagement. Subsequently, customer engagement influences brand intimacy.
Analisis Pengaruh Cues Terhadap Trust, Attitude, dan Online Shopping Intention di Instagram
Authors:   Departemen Manajemen, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia, Purnamaningrum Larasati Chandra Githa , Alversia Yeshika ,   Departemen Manajemen, Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this research is to determine the cues (signals/clues) in Instagram posts which are attractiveness, popularity and argument quality that can affect trust which will affect attitudes towards shopping using Instagram, and thus affect purchase intentions of Indonesian local beauty products through Instagram. The sample used in this study are active Instagram users aged 17 years and over who follow one of Indonesia’s local beauty brands in Instagram, and have not made purchases from the local beauty brand that they are followed. There were 226 respondents in this study and used pur- posive sampling. The research questionnaire was distributed online and used Partial Least Square- Structured Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyzed the data. The results of this study indicate that post popularity and argument quality can build trust in local beauty brand Instagram posts which then lead to attitude towards shopping using Instagram and purchase intention through Instagram. Meanwhile, post attractiveness does not affect trust in local beauty brand Instagram posts. Thus in this study it shows that consumers are more rely on cues from popularity and argument quality of Instagram posts to reduce uncertainty in shopping for local beauty products on Instagram.
Faktor-Faktor yang Memengaruhi Niat Masyarakat dalam Menggunakan dan Mengadopsi e-Wallet: Studi Kasus Layanan Syariah LinkAja
Authors:   Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia, Jannah Siti Miftahul , Hananto Arga ,   Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia
Published: February 2025

Perkembangan teknologi membuat masyarakat beralih dari transaksi dengan cash menjadi tran- saksi tanpa cash karena diyakini lebih efisien dan cepat dalam melakukan transaksi salah satunya dengan menggunakan dompet digital. Layanan Syariah LinkAja sebagai dompet digital bersertifikasi syariah MUI memiliki perkembangan pengguna yang cukup pesat sejak awal diluncurkan pada April 2020. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh dari perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, facilitating conditions, lifestyle compatibility, dan perceived trust ter- hadap intention to use dan adopsi e-wallet Layanan Syariah LinkAja dengan menggunakan model unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Penelitian ini menggunakan desain riset kuantitatif dengan metode survei secara daring. Menggunakan metode pengambilan sampel non-probability (judgmental sampling), peneliti mendapatkan 212 responden masyarakat Indone- sia beragama Islam yang telah menggunakan Layanan Syariah LinkAja setidaknya dalam tiga bu- lan terakhir. Analisis data pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) dengan SmartPLS 3.0. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa perceived use- fulness, perceived ease of use, social influence, lifestyle compatibility, dan perceived trust berpen- garuh positif pada intention to use dan adopsi e-wallet. Facilitating conditions berpengaruh negatif pada intention to use dan adopsi e-wallet. Kemudian, penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa intention to use berhasil memediasi hubungan antara faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi niat masyarakat dan adopsi e-wallet . Peneliti memberikan beberapa implikasi manajerial, seperti perlunya menekankan pada aspek fungsional dan kemudahan penggunaan, serta perlunya meningkatkan akses pembayaran ke produk dan layanan yang menunjang gaya hidup penggunanya.
Analisis Pengaruh Corporate Governance dan Risk Management Committee Terhadap Financial Performance Pada Perusahaan Manufaktur yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Tahun 2016-2020
Authors:   Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia, Tasya Dhea Saummi , Gandakusuma Imo ,   Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis, Universitas Indonesia
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of corporate governance and risk management committee of manufacturing firms at the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2016 – 2020. In 2016-2020, manufacturing companies were the highest contributors to national income, and financial performance fluctuated. Manufacturing companies do not yet have specific regulations governing corporate governance mechanisms, so this research is needed. The results of this study find that the existence of a risk management committee has insignificant on financial performance. The auditor reputation and the independence of the audit committee has insignificant on financial performance through the existence of a risk management committee. The size of the board of commissioners, the frequency of board meetings, and the risk of financial reporting has positively significant on financial performance through the existence of a risk management committee.
Evaluasi Kebijakan Adopsi IPSAS di Indonesia: Sebuah Kajian Empirisme
Authors:   Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, Sari Nia Pramita
Published: February 2025

The Indonesian government's policy to reform state financial administration through the adoption of IPSAS in Indonesia has drawn controversy among accounting academics. This study evaluates the policy from an empiricist perspective in the epistemology of the philosophy of science at the stages of formulation, evaluation, and consequences of the policy. The results of the analysis show that the formulation and evaluation stages that are not based on the principle of empiricism that emphasizes observable evidence in the formation of ideas and scientific studies cause various obstacles in the implementation process and ultimately have negative consequences for society. This article presents recommendations that can be made to improve future policies.
Fibonacci Numbers that Are $$\eta$$-concatenations of Leonardo and Lucas Numbers
Authors: Taher Hunar , Dash Saroj
Published: February 2025

Let $$\{F_{r}\}_{r\geq0}$$, $$\{L_{r}\}_{r\geq0}$$ and $$\{Le_{r}\}_{r\geq0}$$ be $$r$$-th terms of Fibonacci, Lucas and Leonardo sequences, respectively. In this paper, we determined the effective bounds for the solutions of the Diophantine equation $$F_{r}=\eta^{k}Le_{s}+L_{t}$$ in non-negative integers $$r$$, $$s$$, $$t$$, where $$k$$ represents the number of digits of $$L_{t}$$ in base $$\eta\geq2$$. In addition, we applied linear forms in logarithms of algebraic numbers and the reduction method based on the continued fraction. In particular, we investigated all solutions of this Diophantine equation for $$\eta\in[2,10]$$.
Multicriteria Decision-making in Wind-solar Power Plants
Authors: Borissova Daniela
Published: February 2025

By diversifying energy sources, hybrid power plants can provide a more stable and reliable supply to the grid, reducing the need for fossil fuel backup. Wind and solar energy are among the main renewable sources contributing to the global transition to clean energy. The use of wind turbines and solar panels allows energy to be generated in different weather conditions and times of the day, which contributes to the optimal use of land by integrating both technologies in one site. This, in turn, leads to a reduction of the overall footprint on the environment. Therefore, the selection of a suitable location for constructing wind and solar power plants is a challenge. In this regard, the article's goal is to formulate a suitable multicriteria model for assessing the potential of sites for the construction of wind-solar power plants. This model should be capable of integrating both quantitative and qualitative indicators organized into groups. As proof of the applicability of the described model, a numerical experiment is conducted, the results of which convincingly demonstrate its capability.
Amidase and Lysozyme Dual Functions in TseP Reveal a New Family of Chimeric Effectors in the Type VI Secretion System
Authors: Wang Zeng-Hang , An Ying , Zhao Ting , Pei Tong-Tong , Wang Dora Yuping , Liang Xiaoye , Qin Wenming , Dong Tao
Published: February 2025

Peptidoglycan (PG) serves as an essential target for antimicrobial development. An overlooked reservoir of antimicrobials lies in the form of PG-hydrolyzing enzymes naturally produced for polymicrobial competition, particularly those associated with the type VI secretion system (T6SS). Here we report that a T6SS effector TseP, from
Aeromonas dhakensis
, represents a family of effectors with dual amidase-lysozyme activities.
In vitro
PG-digestion coupled with LC-MS analysis revealed the N-domain’s amidase activity, which is neutralized by either catalytic mutations or the presence of the immunity protein TsiP. The N-domain, but not the C-domain, of TseP is sufficient to restore T6SS secretion in T6SS-defective mutants, underscoring its critical structural role. Using pull-down and secretion assays, we showed that these two domains interact directly with a carrier protein VgrG2 and can be secreted separately. Homologs in
Aeromonas hydrophila
and
Pseudomonas syringae
exhibited analogous dual functions. Additionally, N- and C-domains display distinctive GC contents, suggesting an evolutionary fusion event. By altering the surface charge through structural-guided design, we engineered the TseP
C4+
effector that successfully lyses otherwise resistant
Bacillus subtilis
cells, enabling the T6SS to inhibit
B. subtilis
in a contact-independent manner. This research uncovers TseP as a new family of bifunctional chimeric effectors targeting PG, offering a potential strategy to harness these proteins in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Structural mechanisms of PIP2 activation and SEA0400 inhibition in human cardiac sodium-calcium exchanger NCX1
Authors: Xue Jing , Zeng Weizhong , John Scott , Attiq Nicole , Ottolia Michela , Jiang Youxing
Published: February 2025

Na
+
/Ca
2+
exchangers (NCXs) transport Ca
2+
across the plasma membrane in exchange for Na
+
and play a vital role in maintaining cellular Ca
2+
homeostasis. Our previous structural study of human cardiac NCX1 (HsNCX1) reveals the overall architecture of the eukaryotic exchanger and the formation of the inactivation assembly by the intracellular regulatory domain that underlies the cytosolic Na
+
-dependent inactivation and Ca
2+
activation of NCX1. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of HsNCX1 in complex with a physiological activator phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP
2
), or pharmacological inhibitor SEA0400 that enhances the inactivation of the exchanger. We demonstrate that PIP
2
binding stimulates NCX1 activity by inducing a conformational change at the interface between the TM and cytosolic domains that destabilizes the inactivation assembly. In contrast, SEA0400 binding in the TM domain of NCX1 stabilizes the exchanger in an inward-facing conformation that facilitates the formation of the inactivation assembly, thereby promoting the Na
+
-dependent inactivation of NCX1. Thus, this study reveals the structural basis of PIP
2
activation and SEA0400 inhibition of NCX1 and provides some mechanistic understandings of cellular regulation and pharmacology of NCX family proteins.
Semantical and Geometrical Protein Encoding Toward Enhanced Bioactivity and Thermostability
Authors: Tan Yang , Zhou Bingxin , Zheng Lirong , Fan Guisheng , Hong Liang
Published: February 2025

Protein engineering is a pivotal aspect of synthetic biology, involving the modification of amino acids within existing protein sequences to achieve novel or enhanced functionalities and physical properties. Accurate prediction of protein variant effects requires a thorough understanding of protein sequence, structure, and function. Deep learning methods have demonstrated remarkable performance in guiding protein modification for improved functionality. However, existing approaches predominantly rely on protein sequences, which face challenges in efficiently encoding the geometric aspects of amino acids’ local environment and often fall short in capturing crucial details related to protein folding stability, internal molecular interactions, and bio-functions. Furthermore, there lacks a fundamental evaluation for developed methods in predicting protein thermostability, although it is a key physical property that is frequently investigated in practice. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a novel pre-training framework that integrates sequential and geometric encoders for protein primary and tertiary structures. This framework guides mutation directions toward desired traits by simulating natural selection on wild-type proteins and evaluates variant effects based on their fitness to perform specific functions. We assess the proposed approach using three benchmarks comprising over 300 deep mutational scanning assays. The prediction results showcase exceptional performance across extensive experiments when compared to other zero-shot learning methods, all while maintaining a minimal cost in terms of trainable parameters. This study not only proposes an effective framework for more accurate and comprehensive predictions to facilitate efficient protein engineering, but also enhances the
in silico
assessment system for future deep learning models to better align with empirical requirements. The PyTorch implementation are available at https://github.com/tyang816/ProtSSN.
Diversity and efficacy of insect sampling methods in an urban tropical dry forest of the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Sarmiento-Garcés Rodrigo , Posada-Echeverría Daniel , Neme Rafik
Published: February 2025

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) are among the most threatened ecosystems in Colombia and globally. Characterized by distinct dry and wet seasons, TDFs support a rich diversity of flora and fauna and offer crucial ecosystem services, despite facing significant threats such as deforestation, urbanization and climate change. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of insect diversity within an urban TDF area in Puerto Colombia, Atlántico and in the Colombian Caribbean, by comparing three traditional sampling methods: Malaise traps, pitfall traps, and canopy fogging. In total, 3,135 insects were collected, representing 413 morphospecies across various trophic guilds. Our findings indicate that Malaise traps were the most effective in capturing a diverse range of species, followed by pitfall traps, while canopy fogging yielded the lowest species richness. Each method captured unique species, demonstrating that these methods are complementary in capturing the full spectrum of insect diversity in TDFs. Additionally, our study contributes valuable data on the taxonomic and functional diversity of insects in this continuously threatened ecosystem, underscoring the need for conservation efforts in urban and peri-urban TDFs.
Prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as an influencing factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with stroke-associated pneumonia: a retrospective study
Authors: Xie Ke , Zhang Chuan , Nie Shiyu , Kang Shengnan , Wang Zhong , Zhang Xuehe
Published: February 2025

Background

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) significantly increases patients’ risk of death after stroke. The identification of patients at high risk for SAP remains difficult. Nutritional assessment is valuable for risk identification in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) levels and in-hospital mortality in SAP patients.

Methods

A total of 336 SAP patients who visited the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu from January 2019 to December 2023 were included in this study, and PNI were calculated based on the results of admission examinations. Linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of baseline PNI in SAP patients. Logistic regression as well as restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to analyze the relationship between baseline PNI levels and hospital mortality events in SAP patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the predictive value of PNI for in-hospital mortality by area under the curve (AUC).

Results

Thirty out of 336 SAP patients presented with in-hospital mortality and these patients had significantly lower PNI levels. In our study, PNI levels were influenced by age, body mass index, and total cholesterol. Increased PNI levels are an independent protective factor for the risk of in-hospital mortality in SAP patients (OR: 0.232, 95% CI [0.096–0.561], P = 0.001). There was a nonlinear correlation between PNI and in-hospital mortality events (P for nonlinear <0.001). In terms of predictive effect, PNI levels were more efficacious in predicting in-hospital mortality in SAP patients with higher sensitivity and/or specificity compared to individual indicators (AUC = 0.750, 95% CI [0.641–0.860], P < 0.001).

Conclusion

PNI levels in SAP patients were associated with the short-term prognosis of patients, and SAP patients with elevated PNI levels had a reduced risk of in-hospital mortality.
Leveraging diverse cell-death patterns in diagnosis of sepsis by integrating bioinformatics and machine learning
Authors: Liu Mi , Gao Xingxing , Wang Hongfa , Zhang Yiping , Li Xiaojun , Zhu Renlai , Sheng Yunru
Published: February 2025

Background

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease causing millions of deaths every year. It has been reported that programmed cell death (PCD) plays a critical role in the development and progression of sepsis, which has the potential to be a diagnosis and prognosis indicator for patient with sepsis.

Methods

Fourteen PCD patterns were analyzed for model construction. Seven transcriptome datasets and a single cell sequencing dataset were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Results

A total of 289 PCD-related differentially expressed genes were identified between sepsis patients and healthy individuals. The machine learning algorithm screened three PCD-related genes, NLRC4, TXN and S100A9, as potential biomarkers for sepsis. The area under curve of the diagnostic model reached 100.0% in the training set and 100.0%, 99.9%, 98.9%, 99.5% and 98.6% in five validation sets. Furthermore, we verified the diagnostic genes in sepsis patients from our center via qPCR experiment. Single cell sequencing analysis revealed that NLRC4, TXN and S100A9 were mainly expressed on myeloid/monocytes and dendritic cells. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that multiple immune cells involved in the development of sepsis. Correlation and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis revealed that the three biomarkers were significantly associated with immune cells infiltration.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a diagnostic model for sepsis based on three PCD-related genes. Our study might provide potential peripheral blood diagnostic candidate biomarkers for patients with sepsis.
Successful Management of Angiodysplasia of Colon by Transarterial Embolisation: A Case Report
Authors: Sahu Ritesh Kumar , Bakare Vishal Nandkishor , Arkar Rahul Rajendra , Hiremath Aniketh Davangere , Thakur Rohan Rahul
Published: February 2025

Angiodysplasia is a common cause of lower Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, particularly in elderly patients. It can range from asymptomatic or occult bleeding to moderate or severe bleeding that leads to haemodynamic instability. The diagnosis of angiodysplasia should be considered among the differential diagnosis in cases of intermittent GI bleeding when no other significant cause is identified. Various treatment modalities are described for management; among them, endovascular management with embolisation is one of the most effective and safe approaches, especially in high surgical risk patients. Hereby, authors present present a case of splenic flexure colon angiodysplasia in 54-year-old male patient, that led to haemodynamic compromise, which was successfully treated via minimally invasive transarterial endovascular embolisation without the need for surgical intervention. In haemodynamically unstable patients, angiography is a suitable approach because it not only demonstrates bleeding points but also offers a minimally invasive therapeutic endovascular intervention in the same sitting.
A Rare Case of Artery of Percheron Infarction: Section Diagnostic Challenges and Management
Authors: Mahashabde Madhulika , Chauhan Rishikesh Sunilsingh , Reddy Saikrishna , Sriram Jugal
Published: February 2025

The Artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare anatomical variant in the posterior circulation, where a single arterial trunk supplies both the paramedian thalami and the rostral midbrain bilaterally. Infarction of the AOP can result in altered mental status, memory deficits and vertical gaze palsy. However, early diagnosis remains challenging, as initial Computed Tomography (CT) scans often fail to detect subtle ischaemic changes. This underscores the critical need for the early use of advanced imaging techniques, particularly Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to improve diagnostic accuracy and expedite management. In this case, a 66-year-old male presented with sudden-onset severe drowsiness and unresponsiveness. Initial CT imaging did not reveal abnormalities, delaying diagnosis and ruling out thrombolytic therapy, which is most effective within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Subsequent MRI identified bilateral thalamic and left midbrain infarction consistent with AOP occlusion. Management focused on supportive care, secondary stroke prevention with antiplatelet therapy, and rehabilitation. Despite the delayed intervention, the patient demonstrated gradual neurological improvement, highlighting the importance of tailored care in rare ischaemic stroke subtypes. Early identification and treatment remain essential for optimising outcomes and minimising long-term deficits. This case emphasises the importance of advanced imaging for diagnosing AOP infarction, a condition often missed on early CT scans, and highlights the challenge of timely diagnosis in ischaemic stroke management.
Разработка и создание отечественных бета-вольтаических источников электроэнергии
Authors: Baranov Nikolay
Published: February 2025

Статья посвящена проблеме формирования отечественного научно-технического направления, нацеленного на разработку миниатюрных генераторов микромощности для питания многочисленных, создаваемых в настоящее время микроэлектронных и микроэлектромеханических устройств, мини-роботов и манипуляторов, новых информационных и телекоммуникационных систем, разнообразной портативной техники индивидуального пользования (гаджеты, планшеты и др.).
Mediation Analysis in Structural Equation Modeling (Sem): Theoretical Foundations, Statistical Methods and Practical Implications
Authors: S Sathyanarayana , T Mohanasundaram
Published: February 2025

This study offers a comprehensive investigation of mediation analysis in Structural Equation Modelling, highlighting its theoretical basics, statistical practices, and real-world applications. It differentiates mediation from moderation, explaining how mediation helps in understanding indirect relationships between latent variables. Various proposed mediation models, including simple mediation, multiple mediation, and moderated mediation, are discussed in detail. The study also analyses statistical methods such as the Causal Steps Approach (Baron & Kenny, 1986), the Product-of-Coefficients Method (Sobel Test), Bootstrapping, the Bayesian Estimation Method, and Monte Carlo Simulation, each with its respective advantages and limitations. Additionally, advanced Structural Equation Modelling techniques, such as multigroup mediation, longitudinal mediation, and latent variable mediation, are examined to address complex research scenarios. Employing a literature review-based methodology, the study synthesizes existing knowledge on best practices for estimating mediation effects using Structural Equation Modelling. Software tools like AMOS, Mplus, LISREL, and SmartPLS are discussed in the context of model specification, estimation, and evaluation. Real-world applications in business, psychology, human resource management, and marketing are illustrated, including customer trust mediating the relationship between service quality and purchase intention, employee engagement mediating the effect of transformational leadership on job performance, and social media engagement mediating brand trust and purchase intention. Key findings highlight bootstrapping as a better method for estimating indirect effects due to its non-reliance on normality of the data assumptions and Bayesian SEM as a robust substitute for handling small sample sizes and incorporating preceding knowledge. The study also discusses crucial challenges such as measurement error, model misspecification, the need for longitudinal data to establish causal inference, and comparisons between Structural Equation Modelling-based mediation and regression-based mediation using the PROCESS macro. By presenting a structured framework for mediation analysis in Structural Equation Modelling, this current study contributes to advancing causal modelling methods across various disciplines and provides directions for future research.
Impact of Soy Flour Processing Methods on its Functional, Proximate and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Luter Leke , Kwagh-hal Ikya Julius , Stephen Ashiekaa, Aunde
Published: February 2025

This research studied the impact of selected standard processing methods on the functional, proximate and antioxidant properties of soy flours was carried out. Three soy flour samples were prepared using three processing methods (PM1 –PM3). PM1 involves soaking of clean soy bean seeds, dehulling, sundrying (2-3 days), milling, cooling and packaging; PM2 involves soaking with (0.5% NaHCO3), decanting, washing, dehulling, dehusking, sundrying (2-3 days), milling, cooling and packaging; PM3 involves soaking, blanching (100 ᵒC for 5min), draining, cooling, dehulling, sundrying (2-3 days), milling sieving and packaging. The flours were analyzed for functional, proximate and antioxidant properties. Sample means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range comparison test (DMRCT) to determine which sample differed significantly from each of the three (3) soy powder samples. The swelling power, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, bulk density, foam capacity, emulsion capacity, moisture, protein, fat, fibre, ash and carbohydrate contents ranged from 12.50-14.25%, 86.54-88.14%, 70.26-80.63%, 0.70-0.85 g/cm3, 24.50-36.12%, 19.55-24.56%, 7.15- 7.20%, 29.40-36.80%, 7.93-9.11%, 6.51-7.00%, 7.81-9.13%, 32.0-39.97 and 346.51-359.47 kcal/100 g. Soy flour from processing method one (PM1), a traditional soymilk production method modified to produce soy flour significantly affected some of the proximate parameters such as fat, carbohydrate and energy value. Interestingly, processing (modified) method three (PM3) substantially affected some of the proximate (protein, fibre, ash), antioxidant and all functional properties except for oil absorption capacity.
Process Optimization for the Development of Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense) Based Functional Greek Yoghurt Enriched with Whey Protein Concentrates and Its Influence on Sensory Attributes
Authors: Harinivenugopal  , H Arunkumar
Published: February 2025

Greek yoghurt is a popular fermented dairy product recognized for its high protein content and creamy texture. This study aimed to develop functional Greek yoghurt enriched with whey protein concentrate (WPC) and little millet (Panicum sumatrense) to enhance its nutritional and sensory properties. Fresh cow milk was pasteurized at 90°C for 5 minutes, cooled to 45°C, and inoculated with freeze-dried DVS starter culture (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) at 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30%, followed by incubation at 45°C for 4 hours. The yoghurt was de-wheyed overnight and blended with different concentrations of WPC (2, 3, and 5%) and little millet (3, 5, and 7%). Sensory evaluation using a 9-point hedonic scale revealed that the formulation containing 5% WPC and 7% little millet achieved the highest scores for color, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant improvement in sensory attributes (p<0.05). The results indicate that WPC enhances mouthfeel and texture, while little millet contributes to flavor and nutritional value. This study suggests that incorporating these functional ingredients can improve Greek yoghurt’s quality, making it a potential commercial product for health-conscious consumers.
Effect of Horse Gram Fortification on the Sensory and Functional Properties of Greek Yoghurt
Authors: Venugopal Harini , H Arunkumar
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to develop a functional Greek yogurt fortified with horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and evaluate its sensory and functional properties. Greek yogurt was prepared using fresh cow milk, heated to 90°C for 5 minutes, followed by inoculation with 0.30% freeze-dried DVS yogurt culture and incubation at 45°C for 4 hours. After de-wheying, horse gram flour was incorporated at 2%, 4%, and 6% levels. Sensory analysis was conducted using a 9-point hedonic scale by a trained panel (n=6). Results showed that the sample fortified with 4% horse gram had the highest overall acceptability (8.27), flavor (8.28), and body and texture (8.40) scores, with no significant difference in color and appearance compared to the control (p > 0.05). Higher horse gram levels (6%) negatively impacted texture and flavor scores. The findings suggest that fortifying Greek yogurt with 4% horse gram enhances its nutritional value while maintaining desirable sensory attributes. This study demonstrates the potential for utilizing underutilized legumes in functional dairy product development.