bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for subclinical genital herpes in pregnant females - A neglected practice
Authors: Farrukh Kainat , Zaki Saima , Rasheed Farhan , Niaz Sumaira , Javed Maham , Naseem Nadia
Published: January 2025

Objective: The present study was aimed to screen the Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in cervical smears of clinically suspicious to asymptomatic pregnant women of local population.
Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Histopathology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Pakistan from August 2021 to September 2022. A total of N=120 cervical smears were taken from the pregnant females of gestation age 18-38 weeks, visiting the outpatient department (OPD) of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Jinnah Hospital Lahore. Endocervical smears were taken; cell block and cytospin preparations were prepared. The cytological changes were categorized according to the updated Bethesda Classification System 2014 and the samples were screened for the presence of HSV 1 & 2 through immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Immunofluorescence (IF). SPSS version 25.0 was used to analyze the data and p-Value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: Out of N=120 pregnant females, 12.5% were positive for HSV on ICC while 2.5% cases showed positive nuclear staining for HSV on cell block by IHC. On IF staining, around 7.5% samples were positive for HSV by cytospin method whereas 15% cases showed positivity for HSV on cell block method. Typical herpetic genital lesions were observed in 13% of HSV positive females (p=0.043). Pap staining of cervical smears revealed negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM) in 90% of the samples while 10% of the cases were suggestive of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). Moreover, 13% cases showed candida albicans on culture test. None of the subjects showed positive Trichomonas vaginalis on wet smears.
Conclusion: Early and effective diagnosis of sub-clinical cervico-vaginal HSV infection in pregnant females by adopting minimally invasive cytological techniques and immunofluorescent staining may lead to reduced morbidity and mortality.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.10045
How to cite this: Farrukh K, Zaki S, Rasheed F, Niaz S, Javed M, Naseem N. Screening for subclinical genital herpes in pregnant females - A neglected practice. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):443-448. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.10045
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Frequency and pattern of dyslipidemia and its association with other risk factors among Type-2 Diabetics
Authors: Muhammed Alia Ali , Afzaal Manal , Khan Mehak Joher , Baig Amena Moazzam , Aasim Muhammad
Published: January 2025

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of dyslipidemia and its association with other risk factors among Type-2 diabetics.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Diabetic Clinic of Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore from January-October 2023. Type-2 diabetics regardless of age were evaluated by fasting lipid profile and were further evaluated by BMI, HbA1c and smoking. Exclusion criteria was patients taking lipid lowering drugs and all other causes of secondary dyslipidemias other than diabetes. Data for normally distributed quantitative variables was presented by Mean±SD, and for skewed measures were presented by using median (IQR). Dyslipidemia was described for each trait by using frequency and percentages.
Results: A total of two hundred and twelve subjects were included in the study with the mean age of 53.4±9.1 years. About 96.6% patients were found to have different patterns of dyslipidemia that also showed positive association with smoking, uncontrolled HbA1c and obesity (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: There is very high prevalence of dyslipidemia among Type-2 diabetics especially those who are smokers, with poor glycemic control and overweight/obese. Early screening of patients for dyslipidemia with lifestyle modifications and treatment of dyslipidemia can reduce risk of CVD.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.10264
How to cite this: Muhammad AA, Afzaal M, Khan MK, Baig AM, Aasim M. Frequency and pattern of dyslipidemia and its association with other risk factors among Type-2 Diabetics. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):472-477. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.10264
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Mentees perception of Formal Mentorship at public sector Medical School, Pakistan
Authors: Wasim Tayyiba , Haroon Fatima , Shahid Afshan , Wasim Anaab
Published: January 2025

Objective: To evaluate medical students’ experiences with mentors along with strengths and limitations of the first formal mentorship program at Medical School.
Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Services Institute of Medical Sciences, a public sector medical college in Lahore. The mentoring program was planned and implemented for first time from January 2022 to November 2022 for MBBS students. Mentors were faculty members who received training prior to the program. Mentorship session of two hours every month was included in timetable. After the successful completion of one year of the program, the feedback questionnaire was filled by mentees about their perceptions about mentors and mentorship program and analyzed.
Results: A total of 362 students gave feedback. The findings highlight that 327/362 (90.3%) of students had positive experiences with their mentors, particularly in areas of mentor accessibility, confidence building, learning ethical behavior, how to study smart, professionalism, psychological support and communication skills. There were five key strengths identified by student responses including personal development and support 141(40%), better communication and interaction 131(35%), time and relationships management skills 22(6%) and professional guidance 10(3%). Around 107(29%) of the students did not perceive any weaknesses in the mentorship program. Half of the respondents expressed concerns about the lack of assurance regarding confidentiality. Around (15.1%) reported hesitancy in communicating within group settings and suggested individual distraction free sessions.
Conclusion: Formal mentorship program is beneficial in personal and professional development of students. A comprehensive framework that ensures confidentiality should be considered to enhance its effectiveness.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11055
How to cite this: Wasim T, Haroon F, Shahid A, Wasim A. Mentees perception of Formal Mentorship at public sector Medical School, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):488-493. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11055
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effect of ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser in the treatment of postburn hypertrophic scar
Authors: Li Lingqiao , Shen Weichang , Lyu Guozhong
Published: January 2025

Objective: To investigate the effect of ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser (AFCO2L) combined with 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser in treating hypertrophic scars (HTS) in burn patients.
Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 119 patients with postburn HTS admitted to The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou from March 2021 to October 2023. According to the treatment method, patients who received 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser treatment were included in the YAG group, while patients who were treated by a combination of 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser and AFCO2L comprised the combined group. Treatment effects, skin properties, and patients’ satisfaction with aesthetics were compared between the two groups.
Results: The total efficacy of the combination group was significantly higher than that of the YAG group (P<0.05). After the treatment, skin elasticity, skin moisture, and pigmentation scores of the combined group were significantly higher than those of the YAG group (P<0.05). The level of satisfaction with the aesthetics was significantly higher in patients who received the combined treatment than those treated with YAG alone (P<0.05).
Conclusions: A combination of AFCO2L and 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser in the treatment of HTS is associated with a more significant effect, more significant improvement of skin properties, less pigmentation, and overall increased patient satisfaction with the aesthetics compared to the treatment with 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser alone.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11088
How to cite this: Li L, Shen W, Lyu G. Effect of ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with 1064 nm-Nd: YAG laser in the treatment of postburn hypertrophic scar. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):536-541. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11088
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Efficacy of an emotion and stress management program based on empowerment theory on family caregivers of stroke survivors
Authors: Liu Tengteng , Zhang Runhong , Yao Hongying , Que Lan , Bai Weiwei
Published: January 2025

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of an emotion and stress management program based on empowerment theory on family caregivers of stroke survivors.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Linping Campus, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, and included 130 family caregivers of stroke survivors from October 2022 to May 2024. The caregivers were given emotion and stress management program based on empowerment theory (Empowerment group, n=65) or given traditional management program (Traditional group, n=65). Caregiver burden inventory (CBI), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) were used for analysis.
Results: After intervention, CBI, SDS, SAS, and CPSS in both groups decreased significantly compared to before intervention and were significantly lower in the Empowerment group compared to the Traditional group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Compared with traditional management, emotional and stress management plans based on empowerment theory can reduce caregiving burden, alleviate negative emotions, and improve perceived stress in family caregivers of stroke survivors.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11350
How to cite this: Liu T, Zhang R, Yao H, Que L, Bai W. Efficacy of an emotion and stress management program based on empowerment theory on family caregivers of stroke survivors. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):494-500. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11350
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine sequential therapy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zhang Li , Qian Yuanfang , Wu Hongdi , Xu Hongyan
Published: January 2025

Objective: Sequential therapy in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) refers to a combination of internal and external treatment methods in a certain order based on syndrome differentiation and therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TCM sequential therapy that is given on the basis of conventional management in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Methods: Medical records of one hundred NAFLD patients who received treatment at Zhejiang Provincial Tongde Hospital between February 2023 and April 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 48 patients received routine intervention (Control group), and 52 patients were additionally treated by sequential TCM therapy (TCM group). The levels of blood lipid indicators, liver function indicators, TCM syndrome efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) scores were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.
Results: After the intervention, the levels of blood lipid and liver function indicators in both groups were significantly improved compared to preintervention and were considerably better in the TCM compared to the Control group (P<0.05). The overall efficacy was higher in the TCM group (94.23%) compared to the Control group (79.17%) (P<0.05). After the intervention, the QOL scores of both groups increased and were significantly higher in the TCM group than in the Control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: For NAFLD patients, adopting TCM sequential therapy in addition to the routine disease management strategies can effectively regulate patients’ blood lipid levels, restore liver function, improve disease treatment effectiveness, and improve the quality of life.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11352
How to cite this: Zhang L, Qian Y, Wu H, Xu H. The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine sequential therapy in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):512-518. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.11352
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Could serum Vitamin-D be an indicator of the onset of membrane rupture?
Authors: Gurkan Naziye , Unluguzel Ustun Goksenin
Published: January 2025

Objective: Although Vitamin-D (VD) deficiency in pregnancy continues to be an important public health problem, the effects of VD on fetal outcomes are not clear. VD can show its effects at the feto-maternal junction via nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB). This study was planned to determine the effect of changes in serum VD levels on amniotic fluid NF-kB levels.
Methods: Participants were selected among patients who applied to Samsun Medikalpark Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic between November 1, 2022 and November 1, 2023. Sixty patients whose serum VD measurements were performed at 24 weeks of gestation were included in the study. The pregnant women were divided into two equal groups according to their serum VD levels (n=30). The patients in Group-1 consisted of 30 patients with a VD level less than 20 ng/ml (VD deficienct group) and Group-2 consisted of 30 patients with a VD level higher than 20 ng/ml (VD sufficienct group). NF-kB levels were measured by ELISA in amniotic fluid samples taken during cesarean section from patients in both groups.
Results: The amniotic fluid NF-kB concentration of the VD sufficient group was found to be significantly lower than the VD deficient group. The amniotic fluid NF-kB levels of the VD deficient group were approximately two times higher than the VD sufficient group (6.36±2.12 ng/mL vs. 3.95±1.49 ng/mL, p< 0.01). After adjusting for gestational age, fetal birth weight, and parity, significant associations were found between VD and amniotic fluid NF-kB. The mean gestational ages at the time of cesarean section were similar in both groups.
Conclusion: Although VD insufficiency causes early inflammatory changes in fetal membranes by increasing amniotic fluid NF-kB levels, it does not lead to preterm delivery.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.8930
How to cite this: Gurkan N, Ustun GU. Could serum Vitamin-D be an indicator of the onset of membrane rupture? Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):466-471. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.8930
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Unveiling gender disparities among medical faculty in a developing country: A case study of a public sector teaching hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan
Authors: Khan Mudir , Jamil Brekhna , Mehboob Bushra , Bibi Uzma
Published: January 2025

Objective: To explore the gendered experiences of medical faculty in tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan.
Method: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide in Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from 1st April to 30th September 2023. A purposive sampling technique was employed, and data was interpreted using Ackers’s theory of Gendered Organization. Two Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and six interviews were conducted and transcribed for data analysis. Braun and Clark’s thematic analysis was used for data analysis.
Results: Five themes and twelve sub-themes emerged after data analysis. Most male faculty accepted that gender disparity exists in medical institutions and found an element of ignorance in their responses. On the other hand, most females declared the existence of gender bias in administration, career opportunities, working environment, and basic facilities. Findings revealed the dependency of females on males. A huge gap was also found in policy regarding gender disparity.
Conclusion: Gender disparity exists everywhere because of patriarchal structures. Study unmasked the workplace realities of both genders within medical institutes. Mainly found that females become more victims of this issue. Women lag behind due to the disparity prevalent among both genders.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9616
How to cite this: Khan M, Jamil B, Mehboob B, Bibi U. Unveiling gender disparities among medical faculty in a developing country: A case study of a public sector teaching hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):548-553. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9616
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Late Preterm Infants
Authors: Zhu Hongbin , Wang Yueyi , Wei Xuexu , Shi Wei , Yin Haiwei , Gao Caiyun
Published: January 2025

Objective: To find out the risk factors for respiratory distress syndrome in late preterm infants.
Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 1605 premature infants born in Maternity & Child Care Center of Qinhuangdao from January 2020 to June 2023 were selected as the research subjects. They were divided into RDS group and non RDS group based on the presence or absence of respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). The clinical pathological characteristics of the two groups of patients were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for respiratory distress syndrome in late stage premature infants.
Results: The results of univariate analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in neonatal weight, placental abnormalities, gestational hypertension, and maternal age between the RDS group and the non RDS group(P>0.05). There were significant differences in gender, whether premature rupture of membranes, whether cesarean section, and diabetes during pregnancy(P<0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that gender(male), cesarean section(yes) and diabetes in pregnancy(yes) were all risk factors for RDS in preterm infants (P<0.05). Premature rupture of membranes is a protective factor for RDS in premature infants (P<0.05). Gender (male), cesarean section(yes), and diabetes in pregnancy(yes) were all risk factors for poor prognosis of RDS children(P<0.05). Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a protective factor for poor prognosis in premature infants (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Male sex, cesarean section, and diabetes in pregnancy may be the risk factors for RDS and poor prognosis of premature infants.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9796
How to cite this: Zhu H, Wang Y, Wei X, Shi W, Yin H, Gao C. Logistic regression analysis of risk factors for Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Late Preterm Infants. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):461-465. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9796
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Helicobacter pylori infection, clarithromycin-resistant genes and CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in asymptomatic school-age children in Baigou New Town, Baoding City, Hebei Province
Authors: Zhang Jie , Yuan Weicheng , Xing Yutong , Ma Xinyu , Xuan Fan
Published: January 2025

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, clarithromycin (CAM)-resistant genes and CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in asymptomatic school-age children in Baigou New Town, Baoding City, Hebei Province, China.
Methods: This retrospective study recruited 1,068 primary school students from Baigou New Town, Baoding City, Hebei Province, China, in November 2023 to screen for Hp infection and detect clarithromycin-resistant genes using stool samples. Additionally, blood samples were collected for CYP2C19 gene polymorphism analysis.
Results: The stool antigen test for Hp yielded a positive rate of 18.4% (197/1,068). Among the 197 Hp-positive patients, 36.5% were resistant to CAM. The polymorphism analysis revealed that, in the 23S rRNA V region, the overall mutation rate was 62.5% for the A2143G site, 77.7% for T2182C, 50% for A2143G and T2182C, 2.7% for A2142C and 1.3% for A2142G. Moreover, the analysis classified the study participants into three CYP2C19 phenotypes (i.e., extensive, intermediate and poor metabolisers; extensive metabolisers (EM), intermediate metabolisers (IM) and poor metabolisers (PM), respectively), and the prevalence was 45.6%, 44.6% and 9.6% for EM, IM and PM, respectively.
Conclusion: The local area showed a high CAM resistance, indicating that CAM is not preferred for Hp eradication. CYP2C19 gene polymorphism analysis revealed that the EM phenotype was highly prevalent. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms is recommended to identify ideal proton-pump inhibitors for Hp eradication.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9838
How to cite this: Zhang J, Yuan W, Xing Y, Ma X, Xuan F. Helicobacter pylori infection, clarithromycin-resistant genes and CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in asymptomatic school-age children in Baigou New Town, Baoding City, Hebei Province. Pak J Med Sci. 2025;41(2):484-487.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.2.9838
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Ολοκληρωμένο μεθοδολογικό πλαίσιο αντιμετώπισης της ενεργειακής φτώχειας για οργανισμούς τοπικής αυτοδιοίκησης
Authors: Κανέλλου Ελένη
Published: January 2025

Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας διδακτορικής διατριβής, παρουσιάζεται ένα αρθρωτό πλαίσιο υποστήριξης των προμηθευτών ενέργειας, με διπλό σκοπό: την αναγνώριση και καταπολέμηση της ενεργειακής φτώχειας. Η συμβολή της διδακτορικής διατριβής μπορεί να διαχωριστεί σε τρία επιμέρους επίπεδα συμβολής τα οποία και συνοψίζονται ως εξής: 1) Ανάπτυξη ολοκληρωμένης και πολυδιάστατης μεθοδολογίας μέτρησης και συγκριτικής αξιολόγησης της ενεργειακής φτώχειας, 2) Συσχέτιση υφιστάμενων τεχνικών και επιστημονικών μεθοδολογιών με το πρόβλημα της ενεργειακής φτώχειας, και 3) Ανάπτυξη εργαλειοθήκης για την υποστήριξη των προμηθευτών ενέργειας στην καταπολέμηση της ενεργειακής φτώχειας. Το προτεινόμενο μεθοδολογικό πλαίσιο αποτελείται από δύο διακριτές μεθοδολογικές συνιστώσες: (α) συγκριτικό πλαίσιο πολλαπλών πηγών που επιτρέπει στους προμηθευτές ενέργειας να εντοπίζουν ενεργειακά φτωχά νοικοκυριά μεταξύ των πελατών τους, μέσω της κοινής ενσωμάτωσης διαφορετικών δεικτών μέτρησης ενεργειακής φτώχειας. Αυτοί περιλαμβάνουν ένα συνδυασμό δεικτών που παρουσιάζονται στο Ευρωπαϊκό Παρατηρητήριο Ενεργειακής Φτώχειας, και «παραδοσιακές» προσεγγίσεις, από κοινού με έναν νέο δείκτη, που αναπτύχθηκε για να παρέχει πιο ακριβή αποτελέσματα. Το προτεινόμενο πλαίσιο απαιτεί απλά δεδομένα εισοδήματος και ενέργειας για τον υπολογισμό όσο το δυνατόν ακριβέστερων και αντικειμενικών αποτελεσμάτων. και (β) ένα πλαίσιο υποστήριξης αποφάσεων που θα βοηθήσει τους προμηθευτές ενέργειας να αξιολογήσουν αποτελεσματικά διαφορετικά σχήματα δράσεων ενεργειακής φτώχειας όσον αφορά το κόστος, το ρίσκο και την εξοικονόμηση ενέργειας, και να επιλέξουν το(α) βέλτιστο(α) προς υλοποίηση. Ο τελικός συνδυασμός σχημάτων δράσεων, πληροί ένα σύνολο συγκεκριμένων στόχων και περιορισμών, και προκύπτει υπό το πρίσμα της ελαχιστοποίησης τόσο του κόστους όσο και του ρίσκου που απορρέει από την υλοποίηση αυτών των δράσεων για τους προμηθευτές ενέργειας. Η εν λόγω μεθοδολογική συνιστώσα διαμορφώνεται με βάση τις αρχές του Πολυστοχικού Μαθηματικού Προγραμματισμού. Οι δύο μεθοδολογικές συνιστώσες εφαρμόζονται τελικά σε επτά πραγματικές μελέτες περίπτωσης μέσω αντίστοιχων πληροφοριακών εργαλείων που αναπτύχθηκαν για το σκοπό αυτό, με τη συμμετοχή προμηθευτών ενέργειας, ηλεκτρισμού ή/και φυσικού αερίου, από διάφορες χώρες της Ευρώπης (Ρουμανία, Ελλάδα, Ισπανία, Ιταλία, Λετονία, Κροατία και Ιρλανδία), με στόχο να αναδειχθούν οι δυνατότητες της προτεινόμενης μεθοδολογίας στο σύνολό της, αποκαλύπτοντας επίσης ορισμένους από τους περιορισμούς της.
Επισιτιστική ασφάλεια και διαιτητική ενσωμάτωση
Authors: Σφενδουράκης Ιωάννης
Published: January 2025

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εξετάζει σε βάθος την επισιτιστική ασφάλεια και τη διαιτητική ενσωμάτωση των μεταναστών στην Κρήτη, αναλύοντας τις εμπειρίες τους σχετικά με την πρόσβαση, διαθεσιμότητα και χρήση τροφίμων, καθώς και την προσαρμογή τους στις τοπικές διατροφικές συνήθειες. Μέσω μιας μεικτής μεθοδολογικής προσέγγισης, που συνδυάζει ποσοτική και ποιοτική έρευνα, η μελέτη συλλέγει δεδομένα από μετανάστες με τουλάχιστον πενταετή διαμονή στην Κρήτη, χρησιμοποιώντας ερωτηματολόγια και συνεντεύξεις. Τα ευρήματα της έρευνας αποκαλύπτουν ένα πολύπλοκο πλέγμα προκλήσεων και προσαρμογών που βιώνουν οι μετανάστες στην προσπάθειά τους να επιτύχουν επισιτιστική ασφάλεια και να ενσωματωθούν στην τοπική γαστρονομική κουλτούρα. Η μελέτη εμβαθύνει στην αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ διατροφής και πολιτισμικής ταυτότητας, αναδεικνύοντας τον καίριο ρόλο των διατροφικών συνηθειών στη διαδικασία κοινωνικής ένταξης των μεταναστών. Παράλληλα, εξετάζει τις επιπτώσεις των διατροφικών αλλαγών στην υγεία και την ευημερία τους. Τα κύρια αποτελέσματα της έρευνας καταδεικνύουν ότι, ενώ η πλειοψηφία των μεταναστών απολαμβάνει επαρκή πρόσβαση σε τρόφιμα, ένα μικρό ποσοστό αντιμετωπίζει προκλήσεις. Οι περισσότεροι έχουν ενσωματώσει σημαντικά στοιχεία της κρητικής διατροφής στην καθημερινότητά τους, διατηρώντας παράλληλα πτυχές της διατροφικής τους κληρονομιάς. Παράγοντες όπως η διάρκεια παραμονής, το εκπαιδευτικό επίπεδο και η οικονομική κατάσταση επηρεάζουν σημαντικά το βαθμό διαιτητικής ενσωμάτωσης, ενώ παρατηρούνται διαφοροποιήσεις ανάλογα με τη χώρα προέλευσης. Η έρευνα υπογραμμίζει τη θετική αξιολόγηση της κρητικής διατροφής από τους μετανάστες και την αναγνώριση των οφελών της για την υγεία. Ταυτόχρονα, αναδεικνύει τη σημασία της διατήρησης παραδοσιακών διατροφικών συνηθειών ως μέσου διαφύλαξης της πολιτισμικής ταυτότητας. Η γλωσσική επάρκεια και η κοινωνική ένταξη αναδεικνύονται ως καταλυτικοί παράγοντες για την επιτυχή διαιτητική ενσωμάτωση. Συμπερασματικά, η διατριβή φωτίζει την πολυδιάστατη φύση της διαιτητικής ενσωμάτωσης των μεταναστών, υπογραμμίζοντας τη σημασία της για την ευρύτερη κοινωνική τους ένταξη στην Κρήτη. Τα ευρήματα αυτά προσφέρουν πολύτιμες γνώσεις για τη χάραξη στοχευμένων πολιτικών και την ανάπτυξη προγραμμάτων που θα ενισχύσουν την επισιτιστική ασφάλεια και θα διευκολύνουν την ομαλή ενσωμάτωση των μεταναστών στον κοινωνικό ιστό της Κρήτης.
Artful Pathways to Interreligious Understanding: Student Responses on STE(Arts)M Integration Through Maker Education in Interreligious Learning
Authors: Hosic Rusmir , Abrori Fadhlan Muchlas , Lavicza Zsolt , Anđić Branko , Kreis Yves
Published: January 2025

Religious diversity in Austria, particularly between Muslims and Catholics, is currently receiving significant attention, especially in primary schools. As a result, we are conducting interreligious learning activities to assist students in comprehending and appreciating the teachings of different religions. To enhance the appeal of interreligious learning, we integrated it with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and maker education. The study contributes to the existing body of research on interreligious learning and maker education, emphasizing the suitability of these approaches in promoting interreligious understanding, critical thinking, artistic expression, and meaningful learning.
Student Carers in Higher Education Institutions: A Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: Pierce Maria , Darley Andrew , Lafferty Attracta
Published: January 2025

Student carers in higher education institutions (HEIs) is an emerging policy issue in many countries. Researchers have sought to synthesise the literature on student carers in HEIs. Runacres et al. (2024) conducted a scoping review, which included 14 studies, and Knopf et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review of university students who are caring for an older adult, which included six studies. These reviews identified some key themes discussed in the literature. However, there are further areas of discussion that have yet to be explored in the evidence to date. This observation is in the context of a growing body of international literature published on the topic and the greater visibility of family carers post-pandemic. One key area yet to be examined is the policy and practice responses to student carers in HEIs in different countries. The scope of this review will be broader than previous reviews with a specific focus on policy and practice responses regarding this population. This scoping review will: examine definitional issues concerning student carers in HEIs; summarise studies from different countries that provide estimates of the number of student carers in HEIs; identify theoretical perspectives and concepts underpinning research on this topic; and assess the available evidence on the value and outcomes of supports. The 5-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) will be used to guide this scoping review, as described in detail in this protocol. The findings of the scoping review will be used to inform the enhancement of supports for student carers in HEIs. A range of vehicles will be used to disseminate the findings, including conference presentations, publication in an international peer-reviewed journal, and preparation of a policy brief to disseminate the findings of this scoping review to policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.
Ovarian Reserve: A Critical Indicator of Female Reproductive Health
Authors: Ufnal Julia , Wolff Anna , Morawska Maria , Lewandowska Dominika , Rosińska-Lewandoska Dominika , Szewczyk Marcelina , Kożuchowska Klaudia , Pilarz Dawid , Jarosz Kinga , Gruszka Szymon
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Ovarian reserve, defined as the quantity and quality of a woman’s remaining oocytes, is a critical determinant of fertility potential. The finite pool of oocytes established in utero declines progressively throughout life, which is a natural process but may result in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in some women. DOR can affect personal and demographic outcomes, as it is closely tied to reduced fertility potential. The global trend of delayed motherhood has further highlighted the need for accurate assessment tools and interventions to manage fertility challenges. This review aims to provide a concise overview of current knowledge on ovarian reserve, Moreover, it explores the factors affecting it to contextualize these insights within the broader challenges faced by women with diminished ovarian reserve. It also explores emerging potential interventions as well as innovative assessment tools that could enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Materials and Methods: This narrative review was conducted using PubMed and Scholar database with following search terms: “ovarian reserve”, “diminished ovarian reserve”, “ovarian aging”, "ovarian insufficiency". Relevant publications were analyzed. Only articles in english were considered.
State of Knowledge: Key markers for assessing ovarian reserve include anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B, each providing unique insights into ovarian function. AMH has emerged as a reliable marker due to its stability across the menstrual cycle, but the lack of standardization in assays limits its clinical utility. Factors such as obesity, thyroid dysfunction and endometriosis significantly impact ovarian reserve. Newly approaches, like machine learning models and AMH-based screening programs in countries like Portugal emerge. Additionally hormonal oral contraceptives affect the ovarian reserve marker values. DOR serves as an early marker for cardiovascular risk. Appropriate supplementation with folate and vitamin D may support ovarian reserve.
Conclusions: Assessing ovarian reserve is crucial for predicting pregnancy outcomes, optimizing ART protocols, and guiding reproductive decisions. The diverse influence of discussed factors on ovarian function underscores the need for individualized evaluation. Emerging interventions, such as electro-acupuncture and autologous platelet-rich plasma injections, show promise for improving fertility outcomes. Further research and widespread screening programs are essential for advancing fertility management and understanding ovarian reserve globally.
Water Birth – Benefits, Risks, and Controversies
Authors: Górny Julia , Kapciak Alicja , Naja Katarzyna , Zwardoń Jakub , Hawajski Artur , Jankowska Natalia , Kamieniecka Oliwia , Świerzyńska Adrianna , Mazur Weronika , Pawelec Natalia
Published: January 2025

Introduction: 
Water birth, involving immersion in water during childbirth, has gained popularity for its potential benefits, such as pain relief and comfort. While widely practiced in some countries, concerns regarding its safety, particularly for neonates, remain. This paper explores the maternal and fetal benefits and risks associated with water birth, as well as the epidemiological trends, medical protocols, and legal considerations.
Aim of Study: 
The aim of this study is to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes of water immersion and water birth, focusing on the safety, efficacy, and factors influencing its adoption in different populations.
Material and methods: 
A comprehensive review of the literature on water birth including its benefits, risks and controversies was performed using the PubMed database.
Results and Conclusions: 
Water immersion during labor is associated with significant maternal benefits, including reduced pain and anxiety, shorter labor, and fewer pharmacological interventions. Water birth, however, carries potential risks, such as neonatal respiratory complications and infections, although studies generally report no significant differences in neonatal outcomes compared to land birth. Epidemiological trends show higher water birth rates among women aged 30–39, while socioeconomic factors, such as deprivation, are linked to lower rates. Water birth has been shown to reduce the incidence of severe perineal tears and postpartum hemorrhage. While promising, the practice requires careful adherence to medical protocols to ensure safety, with further research needed to fully establish its long-term benefits and risks.
La influencia del pensamiento medieval en el imaginario de Juan Eduardo Cirlot: lo “historial” y el mundus imaginalis con relación a la alquimia y la caballería.
Authors: López Latorre Alicia
Published: January 2025

Este artículo muestra la relevancia que
adquieren diferentes aspectos de la Edad
Media en el pensamiento de Juan Eduardo Cirlot. En primer lugar, su crítica al
historicismo, en la cual defiende tanto
el arqueologismo como el concepto de
“hombre abstracto”, puede explicarse
desde dos conceptos que Henry Corbin rescata de la tradición medieval: lo
“historial” y el mundus imaginalis. En
segundo lugar, su apología del progreso
como castigo divino, que asocia a William Blake, está vinculada a la defensa
de la creación tal y como era concebida en el Medioevo. Esta rechaza el triunfo de
la cantidad en términos guenonianos y es
entendida como el proceso de sublimación espiritual de valores cualitativos. En
tercer lugar, se señala el profundo interés
por el imaginario medieval concretado
en dos aspectos de su obra. Por un lado,
en el lenguaje simbólico de la alquimia, la
cual supone una técnica de espiritualización propia de esta época. Por otro lado,
en su fijación por el ideal de la caballería, como se advierte en la influencia que
ejercen sobre el autor la figura del caballero y la película “El señor de la guerra”
(Franklin J. Schaffner, 1965), ambientada
en el siglo XI.
Multimodal Transportation Pricing Alliance Design: Large-Scale Optimization for Rapid Gains
Authors: Cummings Kayla , Vaze Vikrant , Ergun Özlem , Barnhart Cynthia
Published: January 2025

Transit agencies have the opportunity to outsource certain services to established mobility-on-demand (MOD) providers. Such alliances can improve service quality, coverage, and ridership; reduce public sector costs and vehicular emissions; and integrate the passenger experience. To amplify the effectiveness of such alliances, we develop a fare-setting model that jointly optimizes fares and discounts across a multimodal network. We capture commuters’ travel decisions with a discrete choice model, resulting in a large-scale, mixed-integer, nonconvex optimization problem. To solve this challenging problem, we develop a two-stage decomposition with the pricing decisions in the first stage and a mixed-integer linear optimization of fare discounts and passengers’ travel decisions in the second stage. To solve the decomposition, we develop a new solution approach that combines customized coordinate descent, parsimonious second-stage evaluations, and interpolations using special ordered sets. This approach, enhanced by acceleration techniques based on slanted traversal, randomization, and warm-start, significantly outperforms algorithmic benchmarks. Different alliance priorities result in qualitatively different fare designs: flat fares decrease the total vehicle-miles traveled, whereas geographically informed discounts improve passenger happiness. The model responds appropriately to equity-oriented and passenger-centric priorities, improving system utilization and lowering prices for low-income and long-distance commuters. Our profit allocation mechanism improves the outcomes for both types of operators, thus incentivizing profit-oriented MOD operators to adopt transit priorities.

Funding: This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation [Grants 1122374 and 1750587].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0009 .
Optimizing Pyramid Solar Still Performance using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: D. Godwin Immanuel  , Samson Isaac  , Amanpreet Kaur  , E. Pearlin  , Shailendra Kumar Bohidar  , Raja Manikandan
Published: January 2025

The global demand for potable water continues to rise, there is an urge to call for innovative approaches to ensure sustainable water supply. This study investigates the optimization of process parameters in Pyramid Solar Still (PSS) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and a Feedforward Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Experimental trials were conducted in Vellore, India, under a 30-day duration to evaluate the performance of PSS. By leveraging RSM and ANN, the research aimed to enhance the thermal efficiency and water yield of PSS. Key parameters solar intensity, inclination angle, and water depth were optimized, resulting in a significant improvement in both thermal efficiency and water yield. Specifically, the thermal efficiency increased by 42%, while the water yield improved by 1.8 litres per square meter. Economic analysis demonstrated a reduction in water production costs, with the cost per litre decreasing by 0.20 INR. This study proves the effectiveness of integrating RSM and ANN in optimizing solar stills, contributing to advancements in water purification technologies.
Morphological Controlled BaSO4 Nanostructures by Solvents and Molar Concentrations
Authors: B. Ananda Kumar  , S. Saravanan  , K. Ramanjaneyulu  , S. B. Ronald
Published: January 2025

The aim of the present work is to synthesize environmentally friendly nanomaterials, which are viable and better alternative method for distinct applications. The co-precipitation method is used for the preparation of BaSO4 nanostructures with the influence of Azedarach indica leaf extracts as organic stabilizing agents. For synthesizing nanostructures, two different solvents (Ethanol and deionized water) were taken along with distinct molar concentration (0.05 and 1.0 M) are investigated by various characterization techniques. Initially, the XRD pattern revealing the orthorhombic phase structure was well-matched with JCPDS file. Next, FTIR transmission spectrum confirmed the presence of Ba and SO4 stretching vibration molecules. The morphological studies of SEM evidenced at 1 and 2 µm scale level the successful preparation of rice grain (or nanorods) like nanostructures with the average diameter of ~73.5 nm (ethanol) and 222 nm (DI water). Also, the prepared sample elements were evidenced by the EDX spectra. This employed experimental study revealed that the DI water solvent with higher molar concentrations plays a crucial role in the morphology and size of BaSO4 nanostructures. In the future, these nanocrystalline materials could be find applications in antimicrobial activities.
Determination of CO2 Sequestration into Bio-Concrete Bricks Pores using Fungi
Authors: Nikita Verma  , J. Satya Eswari  , Chinmaya Mahapatra
Published: January 2025

The large amount of CO2 in the atmosphere cannot be sequestered by the technology now in use to reduce CO2 emissions. The progress of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration by its conversion into calcite was covered in the study, along with contemporary viewpoints on the subject. The process occurs in either geological or biological systems. Nevertheless, compared to bio-sequestration, geological sequestration is a more costly and slower process. Recently, research has investigated the use of microorganisms like bacteria and algae for the bio-sequestration of atmospheric CO2 into the soil. One potential future technique to lower high CO2 pollution is the inclusion of fungal species in the bio-concrete bricks and their ability to bio-sequester CO2. Fungal cells can capture CO2 by accelerating the carbonation processes, which convert carbon-dioxide into calcium carbonate (CaCO3) via carbon anhydrase and urease enzymes. It produces carbon anhydrases (CA) and urease enzymes to accelerate the sequestration process of CO2. The present paper aimed to highlight and discuss the applicability of fungi in the Bio-concrete for capturing and storing CO2. It is evident from the literature that the new trends to use bio-concrete might contribute to the reduction of CO2 by accelerating the carbonation process and strengthening the concrete.
Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Myristica fragrans Seed Filler-reinforced Biopolymer Materials
Authors: Venugopal Kuppusamy  , Santhanam Vajjiram  , Vimalanathan Palanikumar  , Giri Ragavendiran  , Saravanan Rudrakoti
Published: January 2025

The research explored the impact of blending Myristica fragrans filler with epoxy resin at varying volumes (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, biodegradability, and thermal properties. These composites were fabricated using compression molding. Results indicated that the composite containing 20% natural filler exhibited superior mechanical properties, storage modulus, and glass transition temperature, along with a reduced tan δ peak. Thermal analysis confirmed enhanced thermal stability due to the addition of natural filler. Biodegradability tests revealed that integrating bio-gum into the composite reduced its weight loss in soil burial experiments.
Wear Performance Evaluation of Nano Zirconium Diboride Developed ZK60 Nanocomposite
Authors: Srinivasan Suresh Kumar  , Vinayagam Mohanavel
Published: January 2025

This study intended to apply an artificial neural network (ANN) technique to forecast the wear rate (WR) of a ZK60- 8% ZrB2 nanocomposite. The load, sliding velocity, and sliding distance on the pin and disc were all factors included during the development of the predictive model. The wear rate from the L16 full factorial tests was used as an input in the model. According to the data, the forecast for all wear rates demonstrated a level of accuracy. Thus, ANN enables the prediction of wear performance of the composite material. Applying the ANN model to the data results in effectiveness and precision. In addition, it has the potential to assist researchers in the development and execution of their discoveries, reducing the amount of time required for lengthy experimental initiatives.
Nano Enhanced Palmyra Palm Biodiesel for Improved Performance and Emission Control
Authors: S. Govindan  , S. Padmanabhan  , M. Amala Justus Selvam  , S. Ganesan
Published: January 2025

This research article describes an experimental study on the combustion characteristics of biodiesel produced from palmyra palm with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) blended with the diesel fuel in a single cylinder, four stroke, water cooled diesel engine equipped with direct injection system which assists in measuring the performance of the engine precisely and its emissions. The work is based on palmyra palm biodiesel mixes of 20% and 40% with MWCNTs at 50 and 100 ppm at distinct engine load of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. The information highlighted the fact that brake thermal efficiency is almost similar to diesel while specific fuel consumption (SFC) reduced by about 18.46% & exhaust gases like CO, HC and smoke were also observed to have been reduced to a maximum of 25.21%, 21.62% and 19.15% respectively at the same time NOx was increased by 27.54% compared to neat diesel fuel. The results presented in this study show that the incorporation of MWCNTs in palmyra palm biodiesel increases combustion efficiency, resulting in lowered emission and increased performance.