bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy variation in stochastically driven light walks
Authors: Yu Letian , Zhang Baile
Published: February 2025

The nature of the medium strongly influences the spreading behavior of a traveling wavepacket, which can range from ballistic and diffusive to fully localized. A classic example of complete localization is Anderson localization, where all transport within a crystal halts due to scattering from disorder, often caused by scale or positional perturbations that conserve energy. In this study, we demonstrate through simulations that photons traveling through a one-dimensional uniform lattice subjected to stochastic drivings can exhibit analogous spreading effects in terms of photon intensity within the energy parameter space. In particular, while both the average intensity and variance grow exponentially for all disorder configurations, three distinctive regimes are identified by examining the ratio between the variance and mean, which exhibits different trends against evolution time and disorder strength. The simulations are conducted using photonic synthetic lattices, implemented via coupled fiber loops. We expect that our findings will contribute to the exploration of spatiotemporal topology and advance the development of future high-power lasing devices.
Gap junctions allow transfer of metabolites between germ cells and somatic cells to promote germ cell growth in the Drosophila ovary
Authors: Vachias Caroline , Tourlonias Camille , Grelée Louis , Gueguen Nathalie , Renaud Yoan , Venugopal Parvathy , Richard Graziella , Pouchin Pierre , Brasset Emilie , Mirouse Vincent
Published: February 2025

Gap junctions allow the exchange of small molecules between cells. How this function could be used to promote cell growth is not yet fully understood. During Drosophila ovarian follicle development, germ cells, which are surrounded by epithelial somatic cells, undergo massive growth. We found that this growth depends on gap junctions between these cell populations, with a requirement for Innexin4 and Innexin2, in the germ cells and the somatic cells, respectively. Translatomic analyses revealed that somatic cells express enzymes and transporters involved in amino acid metabolism that are absent in germ cells. Among them, we identified a putative amino acid transporter required for germline growth. Its ectopic expression in the germline can partially compensate for its absence or the one of Innexin2 in somatic cells. Moreover, affecting either gap junctions or the import of some amino acids in somatic cells induces P-bodies in the germ cells, a feature usually associated with an arrest of translation. Finally, in somatic cells, innexin2 expression and gap junction assembly are regulated by the insulin receptor/PI3K kinase pathway, linking the growth of the two tissues. Overall, these results support the view that metabolic transfer through gap junction promotes cell growth and illustrate how such a mechanism can be integrated into a developmental program, coupling growth control by extrinsic systemic signals with the intrinsic coordination between cell populations.
Optimal control prevents itself from eradicating stochastic disease epidemics
Authors: Russell Rachel , Cunniffe Nik J
Published: February 2025

The resources available for managing disease epidemics – whether in animals, plants or humans – are limited by a range of practical and financial constraints. Optimal control has been widely explored for optimising allocation of these resources to maximise their impact. The most common approach assumes a deterministic, continuous model to approximate the epidemic dynamics. However, real systems are stochastic and so a range of outcomes are possible for any given epidemic situation. The deterministic models are also known to be poor approximations in cases where the number of infected hosts is low – either globally or within a subset of the population – and these cases are highly relevant in the context of control. Hence, this work explores the effectiveness of disease management strategies derived using optimal control theory when applied to a more realistic, stochastic form of disease model. We demonstrate that the deterministic optimal control solutions are not optimal in cases where the disease is eradicated or close to eradication. The range of potential outcomes in the stochastic models means that optimising the deterministic case will not reliably eradicate disease – the required rate of control is higher than the deterministic optimal control would predict. Using Model Predictive Control, in which the optimisation is performed repeatedly as the system evolves to correct for deviations from the optimal control predictions, improves performance but the level of control calculated at each repeated optimisation is still insufficient. To demonstrate this, we present several simple heuristics to allocate control resources across different locations which can outperform the strategies calculated by MPC when the control budget is sufficient for eradication. Our illustration uses examples based on simulation of the spatial spread of plant disease but similar issues would be expected in any deterministic model where infection is driven close to zero.
Estimating Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in a South African clinic: Spatiotemporal model based on person movements
Authors: Banholzer Nicolas , Middelkoop Keren , Leukes Juane , Weingartner Ernest , Schmutz Remo , Zürcher Kathrin , Egger Matthias , Wood Robin , Fenner Lukas
Published: February 2025

The risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) transmission can be high in crowded clinics. We developed a spatiotemporal model of airborne Mtb transmission based on the Wells-Riley equation. We collected environmental, clinical and person-tracking data in a South African clinic during COVID-19, when community or surgical masks were compulsory and ventilation was increased. We matched person movements with clinical records to identify the spatiotemporal location of infectious TB patients. We modeled the concentration of infectious doses (quanta) and estimated the individual risk of infection. Over five days, video sensors tracked 1,438 clinic attendees. CO2 levels were low (median 431 ppm, IQR 406 ppm–458 ppm); the quanta concentration was higher in the morning than in the afternoon, and highest in the waiting room. The estimated risk of infection per clinic attendee was 0.05% (80%-credible interval (CrI) 0.01%–0.06%). It increased with the number of close contacts with infectious patients and the time spent in the clinic, and was 1.3-fold (95%-CrI 1.2–1.4) higher in scenarios without mask use and 2.1-fold (95%-CrI 0.9–5.0) higher with pre-pandemic ventilation rates, emphasizing the importance of ventilation. Spatiotemporal modeling can identify high-risk areas and evaluate the impact of infection control measures in clinics.
Debio 1562M | Drug Description
Authors:   Sunvalley Communication, LLC / ADC Review, Hofland Peter
Published: February 2025

Debio 1562M is a next-generation investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) consisting of a humanized monoclonal antibody (K7153B[huCD37-3] or naratuximab) directed against CD37 and conjugated to a peptidic cleavable linker (Multilink™)* bearing a maytansinoid cytotoxic payload (DM1).
Axisymmetric Jet under Active Control by Coaxial Synthetic Jet
Authors: Antošová Z. , Arhens B. , Pech J.
Published: February 2025

Axisymmetric continuous air jet issuing from a long straight pipe nozzle was actively controlled using coaxially placed annular synthetic jet. The Reynolds numbers of the main and control jets were kept constant, 5000 and 750, respectively. The topic was studied experimentally using PIV technique and numerically using commercial software FLUENT. It was shown that active control induces large-scale stream-wise velocity fluctuation, increases axial velocity and prolongs the potential core of the main jet.
CFD Simulation Methodology for Stirred Vessels Validated by Particle Tracking Velocimetry
Authors: Bílek V. , Gebouský O. , Haidl J. , Pivokonský M.
Published: February 2025

Stirred vessels are an integral part of many industrial processes. Their design is often based on only experimental data which are limited by available experimental techniques; therefore, their optimisation is usually conducted via a trial-error approach. This study offers a validated CFD simulation methodology that could be used for optimisation and design of industrially relevant stirred vessels. The methodology is based on the RANS model employing the standard k − ϵ turbulence model and the multiple reference frame approach. The methodology is validated in a vessel that mimics the geometry of a flocculation tank, for which experimental data were also measured using particle tracking velocity and tracer tracking techniques. While the experimental and calculated flow fields show high agreement, simulations of tracer transport within the vessel indicate limitations in the standard approach to the turbulent transport modelling, specifically in the constant value of turbulent Schmidt number.
Visualization of Dantec 55P11 Hot-Wire Probes under an Electron Microscope
Authors: Flídr E. , Flídrová A.
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the geometry of hot-wire anemometers using electron microscopy to establish the dimensions of six Dantec single-wire probes (55P11). Measurements were conducted on photographs using a simple in house Python script. The obtained dimensions were then applied in theoretical calculations of the temperature distribution along the wires to demonstrate the significance of accurate probe geometry determination.
3D Unsteady Motion and Deformation of a Gas Bubble in Vibrating Liquid under Zero Gravity
Authors: Galusinski C. , Lyubimova T. P. , Meradji S.
Published: February 2025

Numerical investigation of a bubble immersed in a liquid of different density inside a container subjected to translational oscillations under weightlessness reveals the following scenario: the bubble, initially centered, moves toward the container wall due to a non-viscous attraction mechanism. This motion is accompanied by small-amplitude oscillations at the forcing frequency and long-period eigen-oscillations induced by the initial acceleration. Concurrently, the bubble shape deforms, averaging over the forcing period, with flattening along the vibration axis and, under certain conditions, exhibiting parametric oscillations. A notable deceleration occurs as the bubble approaches the wall, stopping at a finite distance from the wall, without making contact.
Simulations Suggest a Strong Impact of Soot Stickiness on Catalytic Filter Performance
Authors: Isoz M. , Studeník O. , Plachá M. , Hlavatý T.
Published: February 2025

Increasingly stringent emission regulations combined with economic impracticality of electrical drives in cargo transport enforce the development of new emission control devices. The development is heavily dependent on modeling and simulation, the accuracy of which is sensitive to the estimated properties of the exhaust gases’ components. In the present contribution, we investigate the sensitivity of a complex CFD-based model of a catalytic filter, that is, a device that combines particulate filters with catalytic converters. In particular, we varied the properties of the trapped particulate matter (soot) and observed its effect on the catalytic filter performance. The critical parameter of interest was the ”stickiness” of the soot, i.e., the resistance of the soot deposits to shear. This stickiness is almost impossible to measure, but affects the spatial distribution of the trapped soot, which, in turn, affects both the catalytic filter filtration efficiency and conversion of gaseous pollutants.
Molten Salt Freeze Valve Operation: Experimental Study
Authors: Kořínek T. , Kahraman M. C. , Škarohlíd J. , Škoda R.
Published: February 2025

A freeze valve is a unique device for pipe sealing in molten salt applications. The present study focuses on the experimental investigation of freeze valve operations, with particular interest in opening time for different variations in the geometry of the freeze valve. The geometry of the freeze valve was based on the design used in the Oak Ridge Molten Salt Reactor Experiment. The tested freeze valves varied on the thickness of the flattened part. An experimental apparatus was built to test the freeze valves. Good repeatability of experimental tests was achieved with a standard deviation less than 5 % of the opening time. Results from experiments indicated that a decrease in the flattened part thickness led to an increase in opening time.
Determination of Opening and Closing Times of a Pilot Operated Hung-Type Diaphragm Valve Based on Pressure Difference: Combining Experimental Results and Mathematical Model
Authors: Meriç M. , Hrubý J.
Published: February 2025

In this study, we investigated the dynamic behavior of a pilot-operated hanging solenoid valve, with particular emphasis on the operating principles of its constituent components. Solenoid valves are crucial for controlling fluid flow in high-speed systems, making it important to understand their response for the proper functioning of the system. The research focuses on the opening response (tor) and closing response (tcr), along with key timing parameters: opening delay (tod), opening time (tot), closing delay (tcd), and closing time (tct). An experimental setup was employed to measure pressure changes across a range of differential pressures from 69 to 487 kPa. This research also uses mathematical modeling to simulate time-dependent changes in pressure and flow area, integrating experimental data with model predictions to accurately determine timing values through an optimization algorithm. The fastest opening response was recorded at 29.2 ms under a pressure difference of 82.5 kPa, while the slowest response occurred at 46.1 ms under a pressure difference of 486.1 kPa. In regard to the closing response, the fastest recorded time was 26.8 ms at 281.8 kPa, while the slowest was 37 ms at 22.6 kPa. These results demonstrate a distinct behavior: while the closing response improves with increasing pressure, the opening response declines. Overall, the findings highlight the valve’s suitability for applications requiring rapid response and lower pressure differentials, underscoring the critical importance of precise knowledge of operational parameters.
Differential diagnosis of gout and tenosynovial giant cell tumor, a case report
Authors: Pyatnitskaya P. I. , Otteva E. N. , Polukhina E. V.
Published: February 2025

Gout is the most common inflammatory joint disease, related to microcrystalline arthritis. With improper or inadequate treatment, gout can lead to disability.

A patient with a misdiagnosis of tophaceous gout is described in whom a differential diagnosis with a neoplasm was performed. As a result of the additional examination, a giant cell tenosynovial tumor of the second finger of the right hand was discovered.
Experience of using the interleukin-6 inhibitor olokizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in real-life clinical practice (based on data from Tyumen Regional Rheumatology Center)
Authors: Patrikeeva I. M. , Lushpaeva Yu. A. , Knaub N. V. , Ustinova E. A. , Belikov O. A. , Dolgikh M. B. , Malysheva T. Yu.
Published: February 2025

The Tyumen Regional Rheumatology Center has gained experience in the use of the interleukin-6 inhibitor olokizumab (OKZ) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OKZ therapy in patients with RA in real-life clinical practice.

Material and methods. The analysis included 75 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RA who were prescribed OKZ at a dose of 64 mg every 4 weeks. All patients underwent a standard clinical and laboratory examination and concomitant diseases were recorded. The results were evaluated after 1, 6 and 12 months of therapy. A retrospective evaluation of radiological outcomes was performed in 20 patients who had received OKZ for at least 1 year.

Results and discussion. After only one month of OKZ treatment, the proportion of patients with high RA activity according to DAS28-CRP decreased statistically significantly from 81% to 53.3%. After 6 months, 55 (73.33%) of 75 patients continued OKZ therapy, and most of them (74.55%) achieved the stage of drug remission, while high RA activity was not detected. After 12 months, 43 (57.33%) of the 75 patients continued OKZ therapy, with low activity and remission observed in 16.2 and 69.8% of them, respectively. During these periods, there was no radiological progression of RA against the background of OKZ therapy. Ten patients (13.33%) discontinued OKZ therapy due to insufficient efficacy, 2 (2.67%) due to pregnancy, 14 (18.67%) due to adverse events and 6 (8%) for other reasons.

Conclusion. In real-world clinical practice, OKZ showed significant therapeutic potential and a favorable safety profile in patients with RA.
Chronic pain and group B vitamins
Authors: Zonova E. V. , Alekseeva L. I. , Lila A. M.
Published: February 2025

Chronic pain (CP) impairs quality of life and increases the risk of non-communicable diseases and mortality. Pain is variable, and different mechanisms of its development determine the tactics of patient treatment. Researching pathogenesis of different types of pain can serve as a prerequisite for the development of more effective treatment approaches. The introduction of drug combinations into clinical practice enables a better response to treatment with lower doses, thereby reducing drug burden and potential toxicity.

The review presents studies that address the question of how the efficacy of chronic pain therapy can be increased by including adjuvants in the treatment regimen, particularly a vitamin B complex.
Adjuvant therapy of osteoarthritis with bioregulatory drugs
Authors: Zotkin E. G. , Shkireeva S. Yu.
Published: February 2025

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive joint disease that ranks first in the frequency of all musculoskeletal diseases. OA is a serious general medical and social problem associated with a steady increase in prevalence. Reducing the pain in OA, maintaining active daily activity and preserving social functioning are the main goals of treatment for almost all patients suffering from this disease. In addition to the well-known traditional methods of treatment of OA, there are adjuvant therapies. Complex bioregulatory drugs are drugs whose composition is put together empirically and which contain only ingredients of natural origin. Drugs of this group have anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects, and their efficacy and safety have been proven in large-scale clinical trials.
Health, food security and livelihood diversification in rural Odisha: A review
Authors: Rout D S , Deb A , Bhadra P , Nandy A
Published: February 2025

Shifting the livelihood is a genuine reason for maintaining family and grasping opportunity for the sake of development. In rural areas, the cause is intended for the ambition/hope of getting good remuneration which helps to revive the condition of health as well as diet. Due to the livelihood of rural people being mainly agriculture, the diversification of farmers from farming to other livelihoods warns us to be cautious and take necessary steps towards sustainability. This review study was meant to find out the reasons and challenges behind livelihood diversification and its impact on health and food security through a thorough observation of earlier research. After encountering the findings, the positive impacts of the OFFDI and Odisha Reform Programme are appreciated and those plans of work could be suggested to the developmental sectors whether there is a requirement for policy modification and close supervision of the administration of PDS. Nutritional status, health condition, as well as accessibility to medical facilities, are yet far behind the national average and seek more focus. Joint initiatives by the public and government, are suggested for fruitful inclusion of schemes along with health and food security. The goal of promoting climate-smart agriculture is to help primitive people become self-sufficient in terms of food security by producing food grains under difficult agroclimatic conditions at high altitudes. More no. of projects having development aspects can be proposed by NGOs which in turn will help in the reduction of diversification of livelihoods.
Numerical investigation of inlet pressure effects on condensation flow regime in a supersonic nozzle
Authors: Qian Yu
Published: February 2025

Non-equilibrium condensation (NEC) is a prevalent phenomenon in various industrial equipment, and it can substantially affect their operational efficiency and overall performance. Droplet nucleation and growth is one of the important aspects of NEC and needs to be investigated and studied, whatever affects these parameters. On the other hand, NEC has a considerable impact on the flow pattern and condensation shock causes a sudden change in flow parameters. This study has been conducted with the aim of investigating the impact of inlet pressure (IP) on the flow pattern and two-phase flow parameters. The values of 90 kPa, 95 kPa, 99.98 kPa, 105 kPa, and 110 kPa are considered as the nozzle IP for this investigation, and its impact on the parameters of pressure, temperature, speed, density, droplet radius, liquid mass fraction (LMF), nucleation rate, Number of drops and condensed mass rate. According to the results, as the IP increases, the condensation shock occurs earlier and the LMF in the nozzle increases. As the pressure increases from 90 kPa to 110 kPa, the amount of LMF increases by about 5.7 %, and more LMF is produced in the nozzle. This study provides a good understanding of the impact of IP on NEC.
Traditional Metaphors of Indonesian Women’s Beauty
Authors: Saidi Acep Iwan , Puspitasari Dyah Gayatri , Parung Christabel Annora Paramita , Luzar Laura Christina
Published: February 2025

The aim of this article is to elaborate on the problem of traditional metaphors used to describe the beauty of Indonesian women. The traditional metaphors used to describe the beauty of Indonesian women originate from nature and show specific aspects of beauty, both physically and non-physically. Also, under the modern Western-dominated global beauty discourse and concepts, traditional forms and concepts of beauty are re-elevated and given new value to enrich global knowledge and culture. Through the ethno-semiotic method, the study shows that the traditional forms and concepts of beauty regarding Indonesian women cannot be separated from natural occurrences. Description based on natural objects and phenomena is not just a matter of metaphorical language as a rhetorical means to describe beauty but forms a significant relationship with the natural and cultural characteristics of body beauty. The union of the body and nature creates a powerful energy that positions women as subjects of nature, culture, and social life. This finding allowed for the development of a new discipline – the ecology of beauty.
Computational modelling in liver system and liver disease
Authors: Liao Yunjie , Davies Nathan A. , Bogle I. David L.
Published: February 2025

The liver, our body’s chemical factory, is central to metabolism, homeostasis, and detoxification. The advent of systems biology and computational modelling has revolutionised our understanding of the liver system and its diseases. This chapter focuses on the application of computational modelling, specifically a kinetic model of fructose metabolism, to explore the relationship between fructose and liver disease progression. We begin by reviewing the fundamental aspects of liver anatomy and physiology, setting the stage for an in-depth discussion on the alarming crisis of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Through a specific case study, we provide insights into the metabolic events triggered by fructose intake and illustrate how computational models can predict disease progression and identify potential therapeutic targets, paving the way for personalised treatment plans. The chapter concludes by discussing the challenges and future directions in the field, emphasising the transformative potential of engineering principles in medicine.
Macroscopic transport models for drugs and vehicles in cancer tissues
Authors: González-Garcinuño Álvaro , Tabernero Antonio , Martín del Valle Eva
Published: February 2025

Modeling drug release in solid tumors is a convergence point between chemical engineering and medicine. Consequently, many studies have been conducted to unravel the mechanisms behind drug distribution after administration. In addition, several approaches have been explored, ranging from pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models to microscopic transport models through macroscopic transport models. This chapter focuses on the latter, macroscopic transport models, and discusses how these models can predict the processes involved in drug delivery, in free form or vehicle transported. We start by presenting some of the differentiating physiological parameters in cancer tissues and then the main equations used for modeling, including fluid flow, mass transport, and cell uptake. Also, the use of some dimensionless parameters explaining the processes that control transportation will be examined. Lastly, the final section will explore the process employed for building geometries to simulate solid tumors, as well as current research being conducted on patient-specific simulations made using medical images.
In the Majesty of the Law? Jewish Residents of Warsaw in the Faceof German Occupation Ordinances and Activities of Sondergericht Warschau – Part II
Authors:   Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, Bartnicka Alicja , Graczyk Konrad ,   Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
Published: February 2025

The article focuses on the attitude of the Warsaw’s Jewish population toward selected, most significant anti-Jewish laws passed in the General Government during World War II. Due to the breadth of this topic, the text is divided into two main parts. The first part presents ordinances on forced labor for Jews and on the ban on ritual slaughter. The second part focuses on the ordinance of November 23, 1939 on making Jews wear an armband with the Star of David, and the ordinance on residence restrictions, with special attention to its third version of October 15, 1941, which stipulated the death penalty for unauthorized departure from the ghetto. The first ordinance led to stigmatization and the second led to the isolation of Jews. The authors discuss their content, reception among Jews, and the practice of application by the German Special Court in Warsaw (Sondergericht Warschau). Indeed, the German Special Court in Warsaw considered cases involving violations of individual ordinances in the Warsaw District. To prepare the text, the Authors read and analyzed the literature on the subject, including memoirs, press articles, as well as archival sources of judicial provenance. Historical and formal-dogmatic methods were used during the research. The article not only indicates the reception of the anti-Jewish laws themselves by the population they targeted. The Authors took particular interest not just in the trials and the enforcement of the imposed sentences, but also in the strategies pursued by the Warsaw’s Jews to better cope with the new legislation that came into force under the German occupation. The research made it possible to show German legislative policy in the context of the measures aimed to exploit, discriminate, stigmatize, and isolate Jews.
ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ ГОРОДСКОГО ПРОСТРАНСТВА ИРКУТСКА В КОНТЕКСТЕ СОВРЕМЕННЫХ УРБАНИЗАЦИОННЫХ ПРОЦЕССОВ
Authors: ВОРОБЬЕВ А.Н. , ОПЕКУНОВА М.Ю.
Published: February 2025

Представлены результаты комплексного анализа динамики рельефа и населения ключевого участка - Академгородка г. Иркутска - в нижнем бьефе Иркутской ГЭС за последние пять лет. Использованы разновременные геоизображения, включая аэрофотосъемку, космические снимки и топографические карты, базы данных свободного доступа OSM, кадастровые базы, а также маршрутные наблюдения. Анализ таких данных позволяет оперативно оценить динамику морфологии рельефа и изменения структуры проявления экзогенных процессов, плотности населения. На основе полученных данных было отмечено изменение застройки территории исследования, потенциальное изменение плотности населения. Результаты исследования показывают изменения морфотипов застройки, связанные с увеличением плотности населения, нагрузки на объекты инфраструктуры, дорожную сеть и сети инженерно-технического обеспечения способствуют развитию негативных и опасных геологических процессов, что повышает эколого-геоморфологическую напряженность в данном конкретном месте. Очевидно, что в результате неграмотного планирования городской среды, без расчета антропогенной нагрузки могут возникнуть неблагоприятные условия, влияющие на устойчивость геоморфосистемы.

The article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of the relief and population dynamics of the key site - Akademgorodok of Irkutsk - in the downstream of the Irkutskaya HPP over the past five years. We used multi-temporal geo-images, including aerial photography, space images and topographic maps, free-access OSM databases, cadastral databases, as well as route observations. The analysis of such data allows us to promptly assess the dynamics of the relief morphology and changes in the structure of manifestation of exogenous processes and population density. Based on the data obtained, a change in the built-up area of the study territory, and a potential change in population density were noted. The results of the study show that changes in the morphotypes of development associated with an increase in population density and the load on infrastructure facilities, road network and engineering networks favorably affect the development of negative and dangerous geological processes, which increases the ecological and geomorphological tension in this particular place. It is obvious that as a result of illiterate planning of urban environment, without calculation of anthropogenic load, unfavorable conditions affecting the stability of the geomorphosystem may arise.
Galectin-10 Characterization in Cleft Lip Palate – Affected Palatal Tissue
Authors: Rone Alise Elizabete , Pilmane Mara
Published: February 2025

Background. Cleft lip palate is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects in humans. Multiple defense factors have been described to have possible involvement in the failure in palatal shelve elevation, migration and fusion, most importantly, the role of chronic inflammation. A widespread presence of Gal-10 in different local inflammatory processes has been discussed before, however, knowledge of its involvement in local tissue inflammation in the postnatal cleft palate and tissue regeneration is scant. This study focuses on the detection of appearance and a possible role of Gal-10 in the cleft-affected facial tissue regarding its ontogenetical aspect.Materials and Methods. Craniofacial cleft tissue material was obtained from 21 children aged 8 months to 12.7 years undergoing veloplastic or uranoplastic procedure with non-syndromic craniofacial cleft diagnosis in milk or mixed dentition. Control groups for milk dentition were 5 subjects without orofacial defects for milk dentition and 3 subjects with plastic of superior lip frenula for mixed dentition. The number of factor positive cells in the control group and the patient group tissue was evaluated by using the semiquantitative counting method. The data were evaluated with the use of nonparametric statistical methods.Results. Elevated levels of Gal-10 were found in the epithelium in correlation with age, from milk to mixed dentition, as well as in both the control and the patient samples. Notable differences in expression can be seen by comparing the milk and the mixed dentition patient muscle tissue, where the milk dentition palate shows a more elevated factor expressed in comparison to the mixed dentition palate.Conclusions. The nearly total absence of Gal-10 in the healthy palate with an increase of its expression in the palatal epithelium from the milk to mixed dentition age of cleft-affected children suggests the possible role of this factor in providing the local defense function and the epithelium barrier function. The palatal muscles are not the main place for Gal-10 expression either in healthy or in cleft condition-affected individuals. The sporadic and insignificant appearance of Gal-10 only in the healthy milk dentition age and the mixed dentition age cleft-affected palatal connective tissue prove individual changes in the palatal tissue which does not depend on the specific disease.
From Fibroadenoma to Phyllodes Tumor: Case Analysis of Borderline and Giant Breast Tumors with Literature Review
Authors: Kazlauskaitė Justė , Schmeil Iryna
Published: February 2025

Background: Phyllodes tumors are highly uncommon fibroepithelial neoplasms of the breast, accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors. Differential diagnosis between phyllodes tumors and fibroadenomas by using imaging techniques such as ultrasound or mammography, as well as histological methods, can be challenging due to overlapping features. Phyllodes tumors are categorized into benign, borderline, and malignant types, each posing a different risk of recurrence and metastasis. Despite many advances in the imaging and biopsy techniques, diagnosing phyllodes tumors remains challenging. The purpose of this study is to review the existing literature on this topic and describe two cases of misdiagnosed phyllodes tumors.Materials and methods. A literature review was conducted by using the Medline (PubMed) database over 10 years. Information concerning the patients was sourced from the Uster Hospital database. After analyzing the cases of women with breast lumps from 2020 to 2023 in the Uster Hospital database, two cases of misdiagnosed phyllodes tumors were identified. These two cases were analyzed retrospectively.Results. A retrospective study of two cases confirms that phyllodes tumors are a rare phenomenon. A 51-year-old premenopausal woman presented with an 8 × 4 × 5 cm mass, initially diagnosed as a fibroadenoma. The final histopathology after surgical excision revealed a borderline phyllodes tumor with features overlapping those of a fibroadenoma. The second case involved a 59-year-old postmenopausal woman with a rapidly growing mass, which reached 11.9 × 11.3 cm and was initially diagnosed as a fibroadenoma but later confirmed as a borderline malignant phyllodes tumor with focal malignant components. Both cases highlight the limitations of imaging and core biopsy in accurately diagnosing phyllodes tumors and emphasize the need for comprehensive histopathological evaluation. The described clinical cases corresponded to the characteristics of phyllodes tumors indicated in the literature: they appeared in women older than 35 years, were hard to distinguish from fibroadenomas, and required surgical treatment.Conclusions. Phyllodes tumors are challenging to distinguish from fibroadenomas based on imaging and the initial biopsy results alone. Accurate diagnosis requires thorough histopathological examination following surgical excision. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for optimal management. Our cases show the complexity of phyllodes tumor diagnosis and the importance of considering phyllodes tumors in the differential diagnosis of breast masses, especially when clinical and imaging findings suggest a more aggressive pathology.
Application of Pharmacology Knowledge of General Practice Nursing Students during Clinical Nursing Practices
Authors: Klevinskytė Martyna , Galdikienė Nijolė
Published: February 2025

Medication errors cause thousands of deaths worldwide every year. Students graduating from the general practice nursing programs will be responsible for the medication administration process, which influences the quality of treatment and care process and the patients’ health. It is of importance for the academic community training nurses to constantly monitor and evaluate the general and clinical pharmacology knowledge of future nurses, strive to present the knowledge as clearly as possible during lectures, practical sessions, and clinical nursing practices, and analyze the most commonly occurring errors, along with their causes, in order to implement the latest teaching methods, and run programs to help avoid any errors. The aim of the study is to determine the application of pharmacology knowledge by general practice nursing students during clinical nursing practices. Research methods: A quantitative study was conducted using the questionnaire survey method developed by the author to collect subject-related data. 120 students of the nursing program were surveyed. Results. The knowledge of second to fourth-year students in the general practice nursing program about nursing actions in the medication administration process is deemed to be sufficient. It has been found that students are well-versed in all stages of the medication administration process. The results of the study suggest that the knowledge and practical skills of the future general practice nurses will allow for quality, professional, and safe nursing care in the future, thereby ensuring better treatment and care process outcomes.
Skirtingų kineziterapijos programų poveikis lėtine obstrukcine plaučių liga sergančių asmenų kvėpavimo funkcijai
Authors: Skirmantaitė Indre , Kupčiūnaitė Laura
Published: February 2025

The article analyzes the effects of virtual reality sessions and breathing exercises performed in a physical therapy room on the respiratory function of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The disease is often defined as progressive and causing structural and functional changes in the respiratory system, which causes shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, drowsiness, and fatigue, which negatively affects the quality of life. Physiotherapy has been found to be an effective treatment method which improves the lung function, increases the functional capacity, as well as the respiratory muscle strength, and reduces the shortness of breath. In the scientific literature, the application of virtual reality is mainly discussed in cases of neurological diseases, but there are few studies that analyze the application of this method in cases of respiratory system diseases. The study sample: purposive sampling: 10 study participants with mild to moderate disease. The following methods were used in the research: analysis of scientific information sources, testing, descriptive and comparative data analysis. After summarizing the results of the study, it was found that both applied physiotherapy programs are more effective, but greater changes in the respiratory system were recorded in the group of study participants who completed virtual reality classes.
New Genetically Confirmed Record of Myotis alcathoe (Chiroptera, Mammalia) from Ukraine
Authors: Vlaschenko A. , Yerofieiva M. , Tovstukha I. , Holovko O. , Kornieikov O. , Ruedi M. , Muzyka D.
Published: February 2025

Myotis alcathoe is one of the iconic species among cryptic European bats, described only 20 years ago. Despite research efforts, there is still limited knowledge about its distribution and ecology, leading to its Data Deficient status on the IUCN Red List. Ukraine lies on the eastern border of the species' range, with only a few known records. Here, we document a new genetically confirmed record of M. alcathoe from the Central-Western part of Ukraine (Rivne Region, in “Dermansko-Ostrozkyi” National Nature Park). Eight individuals were mist-netted in late April 2023 near a mine entrance, alongside a few Myotis nattereri and Myotis bechsteinii. This record extends the known range of M. alcathoe 30–40 km to the northeast, marking the second genetically confirmed record of this species in Ukraine. The woodlands of the National Park area, characterized by wet old-growth oak and hornbeam forests, seem to be suitable summer habitats for this species. Continued bat surveys during the breeding season are necessary in the area to better understand its habitat preferences and distribution.
Comparison of Two Non-Invasive Techniques to Monitoring Two Canids in a Peri-Urban Protected Area of South-Central Chile
Authors: Zúñiga A. H. , Encina-Montoya F. , Jiménez J. E.
Published: February 2025

Peri-urban protected areas are continually invaded by alien species, and monitoring of these populations is important for their management. To evaluate the detectability of their performance, the use of scats and traps/cameras was compared for the monitoring of two canid species, one alien, the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) & one native, the chilla fox (Lycalopex griseus), in a protected area in central-southern Chile. This comparison was carried out for one year, and seasonal variations in the records were analysed. In the case of dogs, differences were observed between techniques, with the use of camera traps being the most successful. These differences were also observed between seasons. In contrast, no differences between techniques were observed for chilly foxes, and no seasonal variations were found. Differences were also observed in the coverage associated with the detection of both species. The ecological and behavioural implications of the results obtained are discussed, which are mainly related to competitor avoidance mechanisms in the chilla fox. We recommend the combined use of both techniques, as this allows us to minimise the biases introduced by each of them separately.
Genetic Variability Analysis of Agro-Morphological Traits among Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes at Raya Valley of Southern Tigray, Ethiopia
Authors:   Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Mehoni Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, Mehoni, Ethiopia, Girma Degife , Wassu Mohammed ,   Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Haramaya, Ethiopia, Kebebew Assefa ,   Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre-Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia
Published: February 2025

Assessment of genetic variability in crop species is one of the major activities of plant breeding which helps to design breeding methods and/or selection of genotypes for further evaluation to meet the diversified goals. Therefore, this field experiment was conducted to assess the genetic variability in bread wheat genotypes. The field evaluation of 32 genotypes and 4 released varieties was conducted in 6 x 6 Triple Lattice Design at Mehoni Agricultural Research Station in 2017 cropping season. Results of analysis of variance revealed the presence of significant differences among genotypes for 12 quantitative traits. The variation observed among genotypes for grain yield ranged from 2.80 to 5.33 t ha-1. The four genotypes (QAFZAH-2/FERRIUG-2, KAUZ'S'/FLORKWA1//GOUMRIA-3, ETBW5957and SERI 82/SHUHA'S'//PASTOR-2 had yield advantage of 7.58 to 12.21% over the high yielding check variety, GAMBO (4.75 t ha-1). Phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficient of variations ranged from 5.67 (plant height) to 14.74 (fertile tiller per plot) and 7.06 (days to maturity) to 19.08% (fertile tiller per plot), respectively. Heritability (H2) in broad sense and genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM) ranged between 41.46 (biomass yield) and 89.08 (days to heading) and 8.56 (plant height) and 24.09% (harvest index), respectively. High H2 estimates coupled with moderate or high GAM for plant height, days to heading, days to maturity, spike length, grain yield, spikelets per spike and harvest index suggested the higher chance of improving these traits through selection of genotypes for high mean performance.
Importance and Management of Sorghum Smuts with Special Reference To: the Covered Kernel Smut (Sphacelotheca sorghi [Link] Clinton), Loose Kernel Smut (Sphacelotheca cruenta [Kuhn] Potter) and Head Smut (Sphacelotheca reiliana [Kuhn] Clinton)
Authors:   Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Werer Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Michael Kebede Wagari
Published: February 2025

Sorghum known to be associated with one of the most important diseases of seed- and soil-borne pathogens Sphacelotheca spp. causing the smuts. Sorghum smuts remains to be an important biotic factor constraining its efficient productions in semi-arid tropics regions of the world especially Africa and Asia. The infections are entirely either through leaves, stalk, peduncle, panicle or the grain; while damages are almost entirely confined to the heads or panicles; reducing both the grain yield and forage value. The methods for controlling sorghum smuts are diverse depending on factors of the crop natures, the pathogens group, the socio­economic conditions, agricultural developments and environmental concerns. Even though; commonly various control measures like: chemical controls; cultural and traditional practices, biological controls and use of resistant varieties are practiced, the control of sorghum smut remains very challenging in many sorghum growing regions related to the pathogens infection mechanisms twinned with its severities and distributions. The controls of smuts are primarily believed possible through the use of resistant varieties and seed treatments. Direction on the use of resistant varieties, it has been difficult to find cultivars with multiple resistances against all the major diseases progress. Seed dressing with fungicide has been one of the cheapest and the most effective means of controlling seed-borne sorghum smut diseases yet lack of information, availability and cost of the chemicals were the major constraints for wider adoption by the target groups–resource poor, smallholder farmers from the developing countries. Therefore, for continued sustainable production of sorghum, the managements of these sorghum smuts are important through cultural practices, chemical control, biological control and use of resistant varieties by farmers must be emphasized. Therewith, the overall objectives of this article is to give a general overviews over the importance, occurrences, epidemiology and control measures used for the major economically important sorghum smut diseases of covered kernel smut, loos kernel smut and head smut.
Leveraging Cloud-Native Architectures for Scalable Enterprise Application Development: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors:   CMS Engineer, Lead, Department of Information Technology, Teach for America, New York, NY, USA, Kambala Gireesh
Published: February 2025

This study comprehensively examines how cloud-native designs enable scalable enterprise application
development. Research studies these architectural structures to determine their power in providing flexible, adaptable
solutions and wide-ranging scalability with dependable execution at reduced costs. This paper investigates the essential
elements of microservices alongside containerization and orchestration while providing an in-depth analysis of
continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD). The research examines the implementation hurdles companies
encounter when adopting cloud-native architectures, specifically analysing how these systems face escalating
complexity, difficulties, and organizational digital transformation requirements. Several examples from different
business sectors show how cloud-native methods provide benefits such as higher service performance alongside
happier customers. Entreprises need strategic planning, technological investments, robust security practices, and
cultural development of DevOps programs to achieve practical benefits. Future research needs to be directed toward
understanding both the extended business effects and general deployment suitability of cloud-native solutions across
multiple organizational types and locations beyond large businesses and geographic boundaries. The research
demonstrates substantial benefits of cloud-native architectures for enterprise software development but shows that
careful planning and funding remain crucial to achieve complete results.