bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Psychometric Properties of a Tool Related to the Adoption of Desirable Behaviors in the Consumption of Sugar-sweetened Beverages in Children Based on the Social Cognitive Theory
Authors: Mostafavi Firoozeh , Heidari Zahra , Paknahad Zamzam , Sharafkhani Naser
Published: January 2025

Background

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders and other severe negative health consequences and is one of the challenging issues in the field of nutrition in today's societies. This study was conducted with the aim of designing a psychometric questionnaire in relation to the consumption behavior of sugar-sweetened drinks in children.

Methods

In this cross-sectional research, 607 students were selected and included in the study by multi-stage cluster sampling from the first-year secondary schools covered by the Urmia Department of Education. Waltz's method was used to design the questionnaire, and based on a targeted review of the literature and questionnaires related to nutrition behavior, an initial questionnaire with 51 items was designed. After confirming the face and content validity of the questionnaire by 15 members of the expert panel, construct validity steps were performed using exploratory factor analysis. Finally, the internal reliability of the questionnaire was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha.

Results

The first version of the questionnaire was designed with 51 items and all the items were retained in the psychometric process during content validity. The content validity index and ratio were calculated to be higher than 0.79 and 0.6, respectively. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, the number of items in the questionnaire remained at 51, and the dimensions of the questionnaire were categorized into 6 factors: perceived barriers, self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, preventive behaviors, and reinforcing behaviors, with a predictive power of 56,261 and in repeating the exploratory factor analysis for items with a different nature from other factors, 3 separate factors were identified: the physical health dimension of outcome expectations, negative outcome expectations, and positive outcome expectations with a predictive power of 54.667. The internal reliability of the questionnaire items was accepted and confirmed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient above 0.70.

Conclusion

The final questionnaire with 51 items has the ability to be used by various researchers due to the strength of the factorial structure and suitable psychometric properties.
Firmware Over the Air for Securely Updating ECUs of the Vehicle
Authors: Mudhivarthi Bhavesh Raju , Thakur Prabhat , Kumar Alok , Anturkar Sagar , Singh G
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

An automobile is a software-defined machine on top of the wheels including
more than 100 electronic control units (ECU) with million lines of code. The integration of ECU
in the automobile ensures the customer’s needs by providing safety, security, entertainment, and
comfort features.

Method:

The firmware integrated into the ECU should be updated to avoid latency in operation and
bugs, and to add new features. The traditional update process of ECU holds loopholes like more waiting
time, unavailability of service centers, and security threats. To overcome this, over-the-air (OTA)
updates are introduced in the vehicle, but security is the major concern while transmitting firmware
over the air.

Result:

The proposed system ensures the wireless firmware update with the uptane framework with
background Timestamp Update Framework (TUF) ensures the security. The timestamp generated is
valid for 86400 seconds to validate the freshness. In addition, security assessment and reverse engineering
are performed on the designed system to check for security breaches.

Conclusion:

The system secures the firmware over arbitrary and replay attacks on the Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) server.
Epidemiologic Investigation of Eye Symptoms Related to COVID-19 among Outpatient Population
Authors: Eslami Fatemeh , Khazaei Salman , Eslamighayour Anahita , Mohammadi Tahere
Published: January 2025

Background:

Since 2019, with the spread of coronavirus and the emergence of new strains worldwide, various studies have identified the effects of this virus on multiple organs of the body.

Objective:

Individuals with COVID-19 experience various symptoms in their body systems. Some of these symptoms can affect the visual system and lead to blurry vision, dry eyes, foreign body sensations, tearing, etc. These symptoms can cause early eye fatigue and re-duce the quality of academic and occupational performance.

Method:

This study aimed to investigate the ocular symptoms and treatments in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at the Vali-e-asr Clinic in Hamadan City. The study was cross-sectional with the ethics code IR.UMSHA.REC.1401.913, and was conducted from April, 2021, until the required sample size was achieved. Patients were selected using an available non-probability sampling method.

Results:

The findings indicated that the pandemic had a significant impact on the employ-ment status of individuals, particularly full-time and part-time employees or workers, as well as university students. Additionally, in our study, significant increases in various eye symptoms, including blurred vision, fluctuating vision, the need to increase text size while reading, and eye irritation, were reported.

Conclusion:

Based on our study on the impact of COVID-19 on dry eye, we found a sig-nificant increase in dry eye symptoms among patients with a history of COVID-19. It is essential to raise awareness among individuals, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the possible consequences of the pandemic on eye health and to implement appropri-ate measures to mitigate these effects.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Brain Cancer from Diagnosis to Treatment
Authors: Mathure Dyandevi , Bhandare Sejal , Karati Dipanjan , Adnan Mohammad , Kumar Dileep
Published: January 2025

Even with recent advancements in surgery and multimodal adjuvant therapy, brain cancer
treatment is still difficult. The blood-brain barrier and the potentially deadly medications' nonspecificity
have made pharmacological treatment for brain cancer particularly ineffective. The nanoparticle
has surfaced as a viable brain delivery vector that can solve the issues with existing approaches.
Furthermore, it is possible to integrate many functions into a single nanoplatform to enable
tumor-specific diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up observation. Conventional technology does not
allow for such multitasking. Recent developments in brain cancer treatment and detection using nanoparticles
are discussed in this study. The benefits of delivery via nanoparticles are discussed,
along with the kinds of nanoparticle systems being studied and their potential uses.
Empowering Communities In Transformative Transport Decision-making: A Participatory Spatial Approach to Select Vulnerable Facilities for Citizen Sensing
Authors: Giuffrida Nadia , Le Pira Michela
Published: January 2025

Introduction/Background

This paper presents the first steps of the BEC2SCHOOL project, aimed at providing communities and policy-makers with methods and tools to enhance public participation in transport decision-making and foster the co-design of sustainable mobility solutions, taking advantage of smart technologies and data.

Materials and Methods

The methodology to select the most suitable facilities to be involved in the project is presented. In particular, it consists of the choice of the criteria to be selected based on different features, such as the presence of infrastructures for cycling and pedestrian mobility and users’ exposure to traffic externalities. These criteria are used for a spatial analysis aimed at identifying the priority of interventions and paving the way for the next steps of the project.

Results

The main results show that traffic is considered the most important critical issue, and many schools show a medium-high level of vulnerability according to the selected criteria.

Discussion

Results pave the way for further analyses that are needed to select the most suitable facilities where traffic and environmental sensors will be installed.

Conclusion

A bottom-up participatory approach will be set up, involving educational facilities and providing their users with tools to collect traffic and environmental-related data, analyze the relevant impacts and propose proper solutions to policy-makers in order to tackle the mobility challenges.
On the Prevalence and Distribution of Tobacco use and Evaluation of Awareness Levels Regarding its Detrimental Effects Among College Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alqahtani Mazen M
Published: January 2025

Tobacco use remains one of the most pressing public health challenges globally, and is the leading cause of preventable diseases, disabilities, and deaths, claiming more than eight million lives annually. Among these, nearly one and a half million deaths occur due to exposure to second hand smoke, highlighting the broader societal implications of tobacco use. In countries like Saudi Arabia, the youth population forms a substantial demographic, making them a critical group for public health interventions. The present questionnaire-based study attempts to analyse the prevalence and distribution of tobacco use and also has evaluated the awareness levels of the detrimental effects of smoking among college going students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This study has found that 66.6% of participants were aware of the harmful effects of tobacco, 38.8% reported using tobacco in some form.

Tobacco use was significantly higher among males, with 155 out of 289 males (53.63%) using tobacco, compared to 39 out of 149 females (26.17%). About 66.6% students demonstrated awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use, while 33.4% lacked this knowledge. Among tobacco users, 53.6% believed shisha was less harmful than cigarettes, while 38.2% believed e-cigarettes posed minimal health risks. About 31.96% expressed willingness to quit, while 68.04% were not interested in quitting. The findings of this study have important implications for public health in Saudi Arabia. By identifying the prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among college students, it will provide valuable insights into the behaviors and attitudes driving tobacco consumption. Understanding the level of awareness regarding the harmful effects of tobacco will help in designing more effective educational campaigns that resonate with young adults.
Ameliorative Effects of Banana Inflorescence Musa sp to Mitigate the Impact of CuSO4 on Channa punctatus
Authors: Arjun Jashodeb
Published: January 2025

Copper is highly toxic to fish, leading to harmful effects such as cell damage, genetic mutations, and cancer In aquatic environment it affects both human health and the aquatic ecosystem. Accumulation of copper sulphate on blood and tissue causes changes in the liver and kidney of Channa punctatus. Three sub-lethal concentrations of CuSO4 (0 .45 mg/l, 0.72 mg/l, and 1.2 mg/l) were taken, One group with pretreatment of BFE exposed to CuSO4, another group exposed to highest dose of CuSO4 were treated BFE. Changes noted at intervals of 10, 20, and 30 days of blood , and tissues samples in haematology and histological parameters.

In chemically treated groups. A decrease in RBC and Hb counts ,increase in WBC counts , and some nuclear abnormalities were observed Improvement in blood parameters noted in fish treated with BFE. Chronological histopathological damage, including swelling of hepatic cells, hepatocellular necrosis, vacuolization, inflammation, and hepatic cell damage observed in fish exposed to CuSO4. In BFE treatment, improvements of vital organs were noted, with decreased inflammation, necrosis, and vacuolation in hepatic and renal structures. The banana inflorescence extract can be used as antioxidants to counteract the damage induced by copper sulphate in C. punctatus.
An Updated Review on the Role of Certain Physicochemical Parameters in Regulating Fish Diversity of Tropical Aquatic Ecosystems
Authors: Napit Aruna
Published: January 2025

Numerous physicochemical factors found in aquatic environments have far reaching impact on fish growth and diversity. Contamination of aquatic resources has become a global environmental problem that threatens both the aquatic environment and the fishes, consequently affecting human health. Environmental stressors such as pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and climate change can also have significant negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems and can reduce the overall health and biodiversity of aquatic environments and fishes living in such environments. The present review emphasizes how crucial physicochemical factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrition levels, flow patterns, and habitat connectivity can shape fish assemblages. Predicting fish population dynamics, managing fish communities, and preserving biodiversity in the face of environmental change all depends on the better understanding of these interactions.

This review also aims to give a comprehensive grasp of how these aspects affect fish diversity by synthesizing findings from other research projects. Although the physico-chemical properties of water play such a crucial role in determining the life history as well as the distribution range of fishes and their diversity, there is a lack of information regarding the suitable range of water quality parameters in which freshwater fishes can persist, as well as the role of the physico-chemical parameters affecting their assemblages. The observed adverse impacts of these pollutants along with external factors on aquatic ecosystems and fish growth and diversity emphasize the future needs for effective pollution control measures, proper waste management, and sustainable practices to protect and preserve the already deteriorating water quality and consequent decline in fish populations.
Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Amongst Uropathogens from Coimbatore: A Single-Centre Study
Authors: Lakshmanan Krishnavignesh
Published: January 2025

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a major threat and is increasing worldwide. The increasing prevalence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria make the empirical treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) more difficult. The aim of the study is to find the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of pathogens causing urinary tract infection and to help improve the effectiveness of empirical treatment. The pathogenic bacteria cultures were isolated from the patients with urinary tract infections in the district of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern had been examined using ten different standard antibiotic discs. The antimicrobial activity was performed using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. The results had shown a considerable increase in the resistance pattern of the uropathogens.

Around 80% of the pathogens were being highly resistant to most of the antibiotics studied. Among the antibiotics, Imipenem being most effective followed by Gentamycin. Ampicillin was found to be the least effective. Most of the pathogens are resistant to more than three different classes of antibiotics. Present data reveal a steady emergence of multidrug resistance among the uropathogens in this region. Frequent multi-centre studies are required to understand the development of antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens as well as to know the effectiveness of the antibiotics prescribed. Situation urges to develop better antimicrobial agents with minimal or no side effects.
Scientific Research and Development in Indian Higher Education: Problems and Challenges
Authors: Ali Sharique A
Published: January 2025

India one of the fastest growing economies of the world, is riding on a wave of academic revolution, amidst its population almost reaching one and a half billion. Consequently, there is a fierce competition in good and useful education. With resources becoming scarce and costly, there are few choices left to the young generation in its quest for learning. And, we are at a time when science and technology is at crossroads, making decisions difficult for students to opt basic science or plunge into the state-of-the-art industry loving technology tools, giving quick revenues. In this communication, educational pitfalls, challenges, and opportunities are discussed in order to cope up with the advancement of science and technology.

Unfortunately, one of the scariest problems is, the system of selection of highly qualified and deserving faculty in India’s most of the colleges and universities. Of late, this has become a matter of great concern and redressal at the earliest. Those who once get selected in a dubious manner, remain nothing more than, academic parasites for rest of their career. Seldom, meritorious achievements, quality publications, research and development experience are taken into consideration. This has to be eliminated at the earliest so as to preserve the sanctity and high standards of our education system, set-up so painstakingly by our earlier generations.
Avaliação Automática do Nível de Complexidade de Textos em Português Europeu
Authors: Ribeiro Eugénio , Mamede Nuno , Baptista Jorge
Published: January 2025

A avaliação da inteligibilidade de textos e a sua classificação por níveis de complexidade é essencial para o ensino de língua e para indústrias relacionadas com a linguagem que dependem de uma comunicação eficaz. O Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para as Línguas (CEFR) é uma referência amplamente reconhecida para a classificação dos níveis de proficiência linguística. Este quadro pode ser utilizado não apenas para avaliar a proficiência de aprendentes de uma língua, mas também, de uma perspetiva de inteligibilidade, como um meio de identificar a proficiência necessária para compreender um texto. O objetivo deste estudo é desenvolver e avaliar modelos automáticos capazes de classificar textos em português europeu de acordo com os níveis de complexidade definidos pelo CEFR. Para tal, exploramos o ajuste de vários modelos de base pré-treinados em dados textuais utilizados para fins de avaliação de proficiência e exploramos abordagens que tiram partido da natureza ordinal dos níveis. Realizamos ainda uma análise preliminar da capacidade de base que modelos baseados em instruções têm para desempenhar esta tarefa. Nas experiências, os melhores modelos conseguem atingir mais de 80% de taxa de acerto e 75% de medida F1 mas têm dificuldade em generalizar para diferentes tipos de texto, o que revela a necessidade de dados de treino adicionais e mais diversificados.
RoBERTaLexPT: um modelo RoBERTa jurídico pré-treinado com deduplicação para língua Portuguesa
Authors: Garcia Eduardo , Da Silva Nádia Félix Felipe , Gomes Juliana , Albuquerque Hidelberg , Souza Ellen , Siqueira Felipe , Lima Eliomar , Carvalho André
Published: January 2025

Este trabalho investiga a aplicação do Processamento de Linguagem Natural (PLN) no contexto jurídico para a língua portuguesa, enfatizando a importância de adaptar modelos pré-treinados, como o RoBERTa, a partir de corpora especializados no domínio jurídico. Compilamos e pré-processamos um corpus jurídico em português, o corpus "LegalPT", abordando os desafios da alta duplicação de documentos em corpora jurídicos e medindo o impacto dos hiperparâmetros e da inicialização de embeddings. Experimentos revelaram que o pré-treinamento em dados jurídicos e em dados gerais resultou em modelos mais eficazes para tarefas jurídicas, com o nosso modelo, intitulado RoBERTaLexPT, superando modelos maiores treinados em corpora genéricos e outros modelos jurídicos de trabalhos relacionados. Também agregamos um benchmark jurídico, o benchmark "PortuLex". Este estudo contribui para melhorar as soluções de PLN no contexto jurídico brasileiro, fornecendo modelos aprimorados, um corpus especializado e um conjunto de dados de referência. Para fins de reprodutibilidade, disponibilizaremos o código, os dados e os modelos relacionados.
Rotulação e Caracterização de Conteúdo Tóxico de Comunidades do Reddit no Brasil
Authors: Quevedo Lima Luiz Henrique , Pagano Ana Clara Souza , Pagano Adriana Silvina , Couto da Silva Ana Paula
Published: January 2025

A ausência de dados de qualidade em idiomas com baixa disponibilidade de recursos, como o Português brasileiro, é um desafio significativo para a moderação automatizada de conteúdo online. Nos últimos anos, a proliferação de interações sociais online e o crescimento de conteúdo gerado por usuários trouxeram à tona a questão crescente da linguagem tóxica. Embora modelos automáticos de aprendizado de máquina tenham sido eficazes na moderação do vasto volume de dados nas redes sociais, ferramentas eficientes para esses idiomas ainda são escassas. Neste trabalho, tratamos essa lacuna criando um conjunto de dados de alta qualidade, coletado de algumas das comunidades brasileiras mais populares da plataforma Reddit. Para isso, rotulamos manualmente um conjunto de 2.500 comentários extraídos das comunidades com maior engajamento e número de inscritos. Realizamos uma análise exploratória para encontrar achados valiosos sobre a linguagem de conteúdo tóxico e não-tóxico. Nossos resultados mostram um nível moderado de concordância entre os anotadores, validando a relevância desse conjunto de dados para diversas tarefas de aprendizado de máquina. Esta pesquisa busca contribuir para a criação de um ambiente online mais seguro para os usuários que participam de discussões virtuais, além de abrir caminho para o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de moderação automática mais eficazes baseadas em aprendizado de máquina.
From Glibness to Aggressiveness: The Dual Facets of Sociopathic Manipulation (Preprint)
Authors: Dar Deen Mohd
Published: January 2025

UNSTRUCTURED

This study investigates the behavioral dynamics of sociopaths, focusing on their reliance on glibness (superficial charm) as a primary manipulation tactic and aggressiveness as a secondary strategy when charm fails. Sociopathy, characterized by manipulative tendencies and a lack of empathy, often manifests in adaptive yet harmful behaviors aimed at maintaining control and dominance.
Using the Deenz Antisocial Personality Scale (DAPS-24) to collect data from 34 participants, this study examines the prevalence and interplay of these dual strategies. Findings reveal that sociopaths employ glibness to disarm and manipulate, transitioning to aggressiveness in response to resistance. The implications for understanding sociopathic manipulation are discussed, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention in both clinical and social contexts.
Ultrasound diagnosis of firearm damage to major arteries of the neck
Authors: Аbdullaiev R.Ya. , Lurin I.A. , Grechanyk О.I. , Аbdullaiev R.R. , Posokhov M.F. , Ibrahimova K.N. , Kazmirchuk K.A.
Published: January 2025

Background. The presence of large vessels, many vital structures, and the lack of protection make the neck particularly vulnerable to various injuries, including gunshot wounds. The purpose was to evaluate the possibilities of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of gunshot injuries of the major arteries of the neck. Materials and methods. The analysis of the ultrasonography results in diagnosis of gunshot injuries to the large vessels of the neck in 53 injured persons was carried out. Visualization of the large vessels of the neck was carried out using linear and microconvex sensors in the frequency range of 5–10 and 4–9 MHz on the Philips HD11 device. Results. Damage to the common carotid artery was recorded in 38 cases, the internal carotid artery — in 23, the external carotid artery — in 21, the subclavian artery — in 24, the vertebral artery — in 15. The following types of damage were detected: intimal tear with flap formation in 27 cases, detachment of the intima in 45, pseudoaneurysm in 49 cases. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) was found between the number of pseudoaneurysms and intimal tear with flap formation (P < 0.01). Among injuries of the common carotid artery, pseudoaneurysm occurred significantly more often than intimal tear with flap formation (P < 0.01) and intimal detachment (P < 0.05). Damage to the common carotid artery was diagnosed statistically significantly more often than to the internal carotid artery (P < 0.05) and external carotid artery (P < 0.01), subclavian artery (P < 0.05), and vertebral artery (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Ultrasonography makes it possible to detect damage to all major arteries of the neck sustained due to combat trauma. Pseudoaneurysms statistically reliably prevail over intimal tear with flap formation and cervical artery dissection. Ultrasonography has sufficient sensitivity (87.8 %), specificity (60.9 %) and accuracy (82.6 %) in the diagnosis of gunshot injuries of the major arteries of the neck, as well as pseudoaneurysm (93, 75, 90.2 %, respectively).
Experience of surgical treatment of combat pancreatic trauma
Authors: Khoroshun E.M. , Khomenko I.P. , Shipilov S.A. , Makarov V.V. , Nehoduiko V.V. , Petiunin O.H.
Published: January 2025

Background. Pancreatic injuries is a complex challenge for trauma surgeons, especially if combat, due to the presence of combined injuries and complications. The aim: to provide a structure, peculiarities of diagnosis and treatment of combat pancreatic trauma. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis was done of medical records of 58 inpatients who sustained combat pancreatic trauma during the war in Ukraine. Their average age was 37.4 ± 3.6 years (range 21–60 years). The mechanism of combat injury included gunshot wounds (87.9 %), explosive (10.3 %) and closed injuries (1.7 %). All the wounded underwent laboratory and instrumental investigations. Results. According to the nature of the combat injury, pancreatic injuries were categorised into gunshot shrapnel wounds — 50 (86.2 %), gunshot bullet wounds — 1 (1.7 %), explosive trauma — 6 (10.3 %), and closed combat trauma — 1 (1.7 %) case. Distribution by location of pancreatic injury: tail — 38 (65.5 %), head — 11 (19 %), body — 5 (8.6 %), body and tail — 2 (3.4 %), head and tail — 2 (3.4 %) cases. The following methods of surgical intervention were used: damage control surgery (DCS) — 51 (87.9 %) cases, one-stage surgery — 7 (12.1 %) cases. Distribution by the type of surgical intervention for pancreatic injury: drainage of the parapancreatic space — 45 (77.6 %), pancreatorrhaphy — 4 (6.9 %), distal pancreatosplenectomy — 3 (5.2 %), removal of foreign bodies (metal fragments) — 3 (5.2 %), distal resection of the pancreas with spleen preservation — 1 (1.7 %), pancreatoduodenectomy — 1 (1.7 %), subtotal resection of the body and tail of the pancreas with splenectomy — 1 (1.7 %) case. Common complications (n = 42): peritonitis — 9 (21.4 %), acute surgical sepsis — 8 (19 %), acute renal failure — 7 (16.7 %), multiple organ failure syndrome — 7 (16.7 %), pneumonia — 6 (14.3 %), bleeding — 4 (9.5 %), pulmonary embolism — 1 (2.4 %). Organ-specific complications (n = 28) were as follows: acute pancreatitis — 21 (75 %), pancreatic fistula — 4 (14.3 %), pseudocysts — 2 (7.1 %), abscess — 1 (3.6 %) case. Treatment outcomes: 33 patients (56.9 %) were transferred to the next stage of treatment, 19 (32.8 %) died, and 6 (10.3 %) were discharged with a definite outcome. Mortality rate: 5 (26.3 %) died in the first 3 days, 14 (73.7 %) cases died in the period from 4 to 15 days. Conclusions. The incidence of combat pancreatic trauma among abdominal wounds is 8.7 %. Surgical treatment for combat pancreatic trauma using the DCS is performed in 87.9 % of cases, and in the volume of a single-stage operation, in 12.1 %. The DCS leads to a reduction in the incidence of complications. The overall complication rate for combat pancreatic trauma is 72.4 %, and the incidence of organ-specific complications is 48.3 %. Mortality from pancreatic injuries is 32.8 %. Combat trauma to the head of the pancreas was mainly treated with closed drainage. Distal injuries were treated by resection or drainage.
Use of the ESP block as a component of blended anesthesia in abdominal hysterectomy surgeries
Authors: Ryzhkovskyi A.V.
Published: January 2025

Background. Fascial plane blocks can provide effective analgesia for abdominal surgeries. The purpose of our study was to assess whether adding erector spinae plane (ESP) block preoperatively could reduce pain after abdominal hysterectomy, compared with no regional analgesia. Materials and methods. We conducted a prospective cohort observational study that included 50 patients aged 40–55 years with complicated symptomatic fibroids. They were divided into 2 groups. Both of them underwent general anesthesia, but the group II additio-nally received ESP block bilaterally. Stages of the study: intraoperative stage (h0), 30 minutes (m30), 6 (h6), 12 (h12), 24 (h24), 48 (h48), 72 hours (h72) after the surgery. We analyzed the pain level, intraoperative need for fentanyl, the daily requirement of morphine, heart rate and mean arterial pressure. Results. It was found that the level of pain according to visual analog scale in the group I reached its maximum values at the stages m30 and h6 and was 6.5 [3.0; 8.5] and 5.5 [3.0; 7.0] points, while in the II group — 4.0 [3.0; 8.5] and 3.0 [2.0; 8.0] points, respectively (p < 0.05). The daily requirement of morphine at the h24 stage was 7.5 [2.5; 7.0] mg/day in the group I, and 5.0 [2.5; 10.0] mg/day in the group II (p < 0.05). There were differences in heart rate ­between the groups I and II at m30, h6 and h24 stage of study — the values were higher in the group I (p > 0.05). ­Conclusions. Adding ESP block was associated with a lower need for fentanyl during surgery, pain level, and need for morphine after the surgery.
Intracardiac abscess in the clinical course of infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure
Authors: Sobirov Barno Bobir ugli
Published: January 2025

Background. Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a serious condition with a high incidence rate, ranging from 2.6 to 7 cases per 100,000 people, and has been increasing over recent decades. Intracardiac abscess (ICA) is one of the most severe complications of infective endocarditis, occurring in 30–40 % of cases involving native heart valves. Heart failure, the most common complication, is observed in 19–73 % of patients and often requires urgent surgical intervention. Objective: to determine the optimal diagnostic and treatment algorithm for patients with infective endocarditis complicated by acute heart failure (AHF) and intracardiac abscess. Materials and methods. From 2010 to 2023, at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, 473 surgeries were performed for active infectious endocarditis complicated by intracardiac abscesses, accounting for 15 % of all cases of IE. A comprehensive approach was used, including autopericardial patches, abscess debridement, reconstruction of the heart chambers, fibrous ring repair, valve replacement, and methods for preventing recurrences. Results. The patients were divided into two groups: ICA with AHF (N = 135, 28.5 %) and ICA without AHF (N = 338, 71.5 %). The average age of participants was 49.2 ± 1.2 years. In the overall group, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels were evaluated to characterize the inflammatory process. The inflammatory markers included leukocyte count, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. High levels of these markers indicate signs of persistent infection syndrome, immunosuppression, and catabolism. Increased blood lactate levels suggest tissue hypoxia and organ dysfunction. Acute heart failure was characterized by elevated levels of NT-proBNP, troponin, and creatine phosphokinase-MB. One hundred and thirty-five (28.5 %) infective endocarditis patients with ICA and signs of AHF at the preoperative stage of IV FC formed the study group. Conclusions. Successful treatment of IE depends on early surgical intervention and effective antibiotic therapy. Early detection of complications such as AHF and intracardiac abscesses is critically important. Autopericardial patches and modern surgical techniques significantly improve patient outcomes. Elevated markers such as NT-proBNP, troponin, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and lactate indicate the severity of the condition.
Optimization of treatment for patients with combined unstable pelvic and thoracic injuries
Authors: Burianov O.A. , Kvasha V.Р. , Diomin V.M. , Miasnikov D.V. , Lianskorunskyi V.M.
Published: January 2025

Background. In patients with polytrauma, damage to the pelvis and chest organs occurs in 21.2–45.7 % of cases. Thoracic trauma, one of the most frequent localizations in multiple injuries, is found in 50–80 % of patients and is of significant importance for the prognosis of the victim’s life. Clinical studies indicate that an average of 20 % of all fatal outcomes in polytrauma are due to chest trauma. Isolated chest and pelvic injuries are serious injuries themselves, and their combination, taking into account the mutual aggravation symptom, is an urgent issue of modern orthopedics and traumatology. Its solution requires a multidisciplinary approach, and further study will allow to refine treatment strategies and improve outcomes. The purpose was to improve treatment outcomes in patients with combined injuries of the pelvis and chest by optimizing treatment algorithm. Materials and methods. The clinical study is based on the examination and treatment of 36 patients with combined chest and pelvic injuries from 2014 to 2023. The average age of the patients was 41.4 ± 16.3 years. Results. Combined injuries of the pelvis and chest lead to a severe condition of patients according to the Injury Severity Score and Trauma Score. Stable fixation in type B pelvic fractures is provided by an external fixation device, while in type C fractures, stabilization of the posterior pelvic ring is mandatory. Rib osteosynthesis performed by certain indications is a more effective approach compared to non-surgical treatment, which allows to reduce the frequency of acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia, the length of stay in the intensive care unit and the period of inpatient treatment. The overall mortality in the experimental group was 11.1 %. For patients who did not survive, the average Injury Severity Score was 40.3, the average Trauma Score was 5.4 ± 1.5 points. Conclusions. 1. For type B pelvic injuries, which are characterized by anterior, rotational and partially posterior instability, stabilization of the anterior part is sufficient. Type C injuries, which are characterized by anterior and posterior instability, require stabilization of the anterior and posterior pelvic rings. 2. Rib osteosynthesis performed by indications provides a lower incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia, as well as a lower need for artificial lung ventilation and a shorter stay in the intensive care unit.
Diagnosis and peculiarities of the treatment of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia
Authors: Semeniuk O.I. , Sorokivskyy M.S. , Chernyaha-Royko U.P. , Zharinov O.Y.
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this article is to analyze a clinical case of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia. It can develop only in patients with dual-chamber or biventricular pacemakers and preserved ventriculoatrial conduction. The mechanism of pacemaker-mediated tachycardia is re-entry between pacemaker and conduction system. A thorough examination of a patient, Holter ECG monitoring, and pacemaker interrogation are the main strategic approaches for correctly diagnosing PMT and differentiating it from other types of arrhythmias. To prevent the occurrence of PMT, it is necessary to be familiar with the antitachycardia algorithms of various pacemaker models. It is primarily recommended to always activate the algorithms for automatic detection and elimination of PMT, which is usually sufficient for the proper functioning of the device. If necessary, additional measures such as reprogramming the postventricular atrial refractory period and AV delay should be considered. With appropriate pacemaker programming, recurrences of PMT can mostly be avoided. The long-term prognosis for patients with PMT is favorable.
Factors Influencing Level of Job Satisfaction Among Employees in Private Secondary Educational Institutions
Authors: Diaz Irene M. , Lara Ryan John De
Published: January 2025

This study described the factors influencing the level of job satisfaction among employees in private secondary educational institutions. An adopted questionnaire was used to gather data from 100 purposively chosen respondents. The influencing factors that were considered were pay structure, working hours, training needs, reward and promotion system. The study revealed that: the employees demonstrate a moderate satisfaction level with their pay structure. They are highly satisfied with their work hours and with the training provided by their educational institutions. Additionally, they exhibit moderate satisfaction in terms of their reward and promotion system. The findings highlight the importance of addressing job satisfaction factors in private secondary educational institutions, as they indicate that while employees are generally satisfied with their working hours and training, there remains a need for improvement in pay structure and the reward and promotion system.
SIMULATED APPELLATE PROTECTION WITHIN SERBIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Authors: Cucić Vuk , Milovanović Dobrosav
Published: January 2025

The authors conducted this empirical research to examine whether municipal/city administrations, as the first-instance authorities in administrative proceedings, are required to prepare decisions on administrative appeals against their own decisions in the place of actually competent second-instance authorities – municipal/city councils. The aim of the research was to verify the (in)existence of this issue, and its frequency, causes and potential solutions in case its existence is proven. The main findings of the research are that the problem exists, that it is widespread, and that it derives from the lack of capacities of municipal/city councils, as predominantly political bodies, to cope with this competence. The lack of capacities encompasses predominantly the lack of professional expertise and, to a lesser extent, it is a result of work overload. The authors propose the establishment of appellate commissions for one or more local government units as possible solution to the problem.
Chemistry by hands: creation of signs in libras (brazilian sign language) for Essential terms for teaching chemistry
Authors: Freitas Rita de Cássia , Mól Gerson , Pereira Joilce Karine , Porto Joel Augusto
Published: January 2025

The deaf student’s educational basis lies in Libras, a linguistic system grounded in the visual-spatial modality. Despite being legally recognized for over 20 years, this language still lacks signs for scientific terms, including essential topics in chemistry teaching, making it difficult for deaf individuals to grasp this science. According to the literature, this terminological scarcity indicates the need for studies aimed at expanding the lexical repertoire of Libras. In this direction, this research aimed to produce signs for chemical terms in Libras to contribute to the proper construction of scientific concepts for deaf high school students at the Federal Institute of Bahia Campus Guanambi. Signs were created for ten terms: Base, Hydroxyl, Covalent Bond, Heterogeneous Mixture, Homogeneous Mixture, Oxidation, Reduction, Solution, Solute, and Solvent. The methodology was based on the assumptions of action research through the extension project “Chemistry by Hands.” The procedure used for the creation and validation of the sign-terms followed the approach proposed by Nascimento in 2016, with adaptations suggested by Pizano and colleagues in 2021. The created sign lexicon is virtually available on a YouTube channel @QuimicapelasMãos and on an Instagram profile @_quimicapelasmaos. It was concluded that the created and validated signs are of utmost importance for lexical expansion and vocabulary enhancement for language users, as they allow for advancement towards more meaningful learning and provide greater inclusion of deaf students in chemistry classes.
UPI Fraud Detection Using Machine Learning
Authors: Yasir Mohammad , Reddy N Sudarshan , R Niranjan Reddy , A Nithin
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Digital transactions have been growing rapidly, leading to a parallel increase in online payment fraud. According to
the Reserve Bank of India, digital payments saw a 216% rise in volume and a 10% increase in value between March 2019 and
March 2022. As more people embrace digital payment methods, security challenges and a lack of awareness about online
payments persist. A few years ago, online payments were rare, but now UPI payment QR codes can be found at nearly every
doorstep. This has opened the door for scammers and fraudsters to exploit these systems, deceiving people and carrying out
fraudulent transactions. However, online transactions are monitored, which allows for the application of advanced tools to
analyze them. This system aims to develop a machine learning model to detect fraudulent activities within transaction datasets.
A Review on Oral Insulin Drug Delivery System
Authors: Bachhav Sanjivani , Pawar Tejal , Deore Deepali , Bachhav Prajakta
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Oral insulin drug delivery system main aim making the diabetes management less invasive and more convenient. Oral
route is the safest route for administration. It can be most preferable route. Oral insulin can directly deliver into the mouth.
Traditional insulin therapy is more painful and convenient for the patients. from this system, insulin deliver through GI tract,
which can be absorbed into bloodstream. This system enhances the absorption of insulin through insulin tract by using
absorption enhancers to improve bioavailability. Oral insulin drug delivery system includes used of liposomes, polymer-based
carriers, nanoparticles, intestinal patches and iconic liquids.Clinical trials are typically in progress for evaluate the safety and
efficacy of oral drug delivery system for providing convenient and patient friendly option for diabetes management.
Taking perspective between Indonesia and Germany: the establishment of quo vadis house of worship
Authors: Masykur Mohammad Hamidi , Lailam Tanto , Mulyono Ferio Ivan
Published: January 2025

This paper discusses about licensing the establishment of houses of worship. In practice, the licensing arrangements for worship in both countries have significant differences. Indonesia has a bureaucratic approach that is formal, administrative, and social and community-based. Indonesia specifically regulates the requirements for the establishment of houses of worship in PBM 9 & 8/2006. Administrative, technical, and special requirements are required to obtain licenses. However, PBM 9&8/2006 has a loophole for the rejection of houses of worship, thus potentially inhibiting freedom of worship. On the other hand, Germany takes an ecological, spatial, and architectural approach to licensing houses of worship. Germany adheres to BauGB as a regulation related to building construction by paying attention to FNP and B-Plan as guidelines. This normative juridical research uses comparative, conceptual, and statutory approaches. The main finding of this research is that the two countries have different approaches in considering permits for the establishment of houses of worship. It is found that the difference between the two lies in the aspects of regulation, characteristics, and the approach to resolving disputes over the establishment of houses of worship.
Reflexiones Académicas Sobre la Policía Nacional: Resultados de Investigaciones
Authors: Hurtado Martínez Carlos Alberto , Molina Garzón Alba Luz , Bonilla Karen Velásquez , Flórez Rincón Oleskenyio Enrique , Vega Gómez Pedro Andrés , Giraldo López Oscar Eduardo , Sandoval Campos Julio Cesar , Barragán Galindo Francisca
Published: January 2025

El propósito de la educación superior es la solución de las problemáticas sociales; en tal sentido, la Dirección de Educación Policial se ha trazado el objetivo de desarrollar investigaciones que respondan a las necesidades propias de la institución y del servicio de policía. El presente libro refleja los resultados de las investigaciones realizadas por las Escuelas de Policía en torno a los debates actuales en términos institucionales: el primer capítulo realiza una revisión histórica documental sobre el devenir de la Policía en el ordenamiento político-administrativo, y lo sitúa en los debates que actualmente se presentan con respecto a cambiar de ministerio a la institución policial; el capítulo da cuenta de la tradición histórica del país que ha determinado, hasta la fecha, la pertenencia de la Policía Nacional al Ministerio de Defensa y presenta las consideraciones necesarias a contemplar si se decide su tránsito hacia otro ministerio. Por su parte, el capítulo dos refleja la creciente preocupación por el aprendizaje del idioma inglés en un ámbito específico: el servicio de mantenimiento aeronáutico; se considera que el idioma inglés es el dominante en la aviación mundial, tanto en los manuales de fabricantes como en las comunicaciones radiotelefónicas, y en general en todas las actividades propias de la seguridad operacional aérea; en este sentido, el capítulo presenta cómo se enseña el idioma en los programas de mantenimiento aeronáutico y propone herramientas clave para su optimización en los programas académicos.
Field experiment on the uptake of lead, strontium, cobalt, and nickel in the wood and bark of spruce (Picea abies L.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb.)
Authors: Milosevic Ivana , Zivkovic Sanja , Momcilovic Milos , Visnjic-Jeftic Zeljka , Veselinovic Milorad , Markovic Ivana , Markovic Dragan
Published: January 2025

Human activities have significantly altered the availability and circulation
of pollutants, impacting their concentrations in the environment. This
pollution notably affects trees. In this study, we conducted two separate
experiments (I and II) to investigate the uptake of lead, strontium, cobalt,
and nickel in spruce (Picea abies L.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii
Mirb.) seedlings. These seedlings were exposed to elevated levels of these
metals by adding them to the soil. Our field experiments provide insights
into metal accumulation in natural environments. We measured concentrations
of these elements, along with manganese and zinc, in the soil, wood, and
bark using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry
(ICP-OES). The results showed increased levels of the added metals in the
wood and bark of both tree species. Notably, there was a significant
increase in lead and nickel concentrations in Douglas-fir wood. The lead
concentration in Douglas-fir wood was 7 and 4 times higher in experiments I
and II, respectively, compared to the control group of seedlings, while the
nickel concentration was 18 and 10 times higher. These findings suggest that
Douglas-fir wood has potential for phytostabilization of lead and nickel
based on trace element concentrations and transfer factors.