bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of erector spinae plane block on perioperative hemodynamic stability, blood loss, and postoperative pain in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion
Authors: Chen Wei-Cheng , Tsai Hsin-I , Kao Fu-Cheng , Tsai Tsung-Ting , Niu Chi-Chien , Chen Lih-Huei , Lai Po-Liang , Chiu Ping-Yeh
Published: January 2025

Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a promising technique for enhancing recovery and minimizing opioid use, but its impact on intraoperative blood pressure variability (IBPV) and perioperative outcomes in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) remains unclear. This retrospective study analyzed 60 TLIF patients (30 with ESPB, 30 without) from January 2021 to June 2023. ESPB significantly reduced IBPV, as evidenced by lower mean arterial pressure differences and coefficients of variation. The ESPB group also experienced reduced intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain, and faster nutritional recovery. While trends toward early mobility and decreased morphine consumption were observed, ESPB did not introduce additional complications. These findings suggest that ESPB is an effective strategy to optimize perioperative outcomes and enhance recovery in TLIF procedures.
Investigation of Mechanical Properties and Performance of Automotive Brake Pads
Authors: Essam Mahmoud A. , Abdeltawab Noha M. , Shash Ahmed Y. , El-Sayed Mostafa M.
Published: January 2025

In this work, three composite formulations BP1, BP2, and BP3 are developed and tested in order to examine the wear characteristics of automotive brake pads. Each composite uses powder metallurgy to combine performance optimized materials, such as graphite, and powdered materials as suitable reinforcements. Under various pressure conditions, the brake pad samples' wear rate, hardness, braking force, noise, vibration, and coefficient of friction were all examined. Particularly at high pressures, BP1 showed greater braking force and frictional effectiveness; however, this came at the expense of increased wear and noise. With moderate noise, vibration, and wear resistance, BP2 provided a well-balanced characteristic. While having less friction and braking force, BP3 demonstrated the lowest wear rate and the least amount of noise, which makes it a good choice for applications that value longevity and quieter operation. According to the results, choosing the best brake pad composition relies on the particular performance needs, with BP1 being best suited for high-force applications and BP3 with a longer lifetime and less noise.
Physiotherapy Protocol to Reduce the Evolution Time of Axillary Web Syndrome in Women Post-Breast Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Authors: Rubiño Jesús Baltasar González , Martín-Valero Rocío , Viñolo-Gil Maria Jesús
Published: January 2025

Objective: To reduce the evolution time of axillary web syndrome in women who have undergone breast cancer surgery.
Methods: A prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 46 post breast cancer surgery patients from October 2021 to September 2024, in a single university hospital with painful Axillary Web Syndrome that restricts arm mobility. The intervention consisted of stretching combined with manual therapy and scar massage to release adhesion and lymphatic cord during 15 physiotherapy sessions of 30 minutes duration each. The main outcome measures were: pain, evaluated with VAS and arm ROM, evaluated with goniometry.
Results: Significant differences were detected in pain and in range of motion. The effect of the intervention varied over time with 95% confidence interval (risk alpha 0.05) and a statistical power of 90% (risk beta 0.1). Comparisons between Control and Intervention Groups showed significant statistical and clinical differences in favour of Intervention Group after 30, 60 and 90 days of intervention at follow-ups for all measured parameters.
Conclusion: The results suggested that stretching combined with scar massage and manipulative tissue release techniques reduce the evolution time of axillary web syndrome. The physiotherapy technique described in this article could be the technique of choice for this surgical sequela.
Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NTC05115799) and the approval of the Andalucía Ethics Committee (PEIBA code 1909-N1-21, reg. number 171.21).
A Mendelian randomization study on the causal effects of dietary components on arterial stiffness
Authors: Yao Jingming , Chen Canwei , Deng Shiqu , Yang Ming , Xie Wenhui
Published: January 2025

Background
Arterial stiffness (AS) is a prevalent issue affecting the elderly population, emerges as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events (CVs), yet the impact of dietary components remains inconclusive.
Methods
This study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework to assess the causal association between specific nutrients and AS risk. Genomewide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for wheat products, pork, mutton, sugar as exposures, with the AS index as the outcome.
Results
Utilizing the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, genetically informed MR analysis reveals a noteworthy inverse correlation between wheat product consumption and AS risk (IVW, β: -2.043, 95% confidence interval(CI): [-2.724; -1.364], P = 3.87×109). Conversely, there exists a positive correlation between the intake of pork and mutton and the risk of AS. No significant links are observed for sugar consumption.
Conclusions
Increased wheat product intake reduces AS risk, while heightened pork and mutton intake elevates it, offering critical insights for AS prevention.
Effects of pH, Chloride, and Temperature on Copper Corrosion in an Aerobic Deep Geological Repository through Regression and Simulation Analysis
Authors: Lee Yun-Ho , Kim Yong-Won , Lim Jung-Min , Kang Un-Su , Kim Jung-Gu
Published: January 2025

The corrosion behavior of copper in aerobic deep geological repository (DGR) environment was investigated with respect to environmental factors (pH, chloride, and temperature) using electrochemical tests, surface analyses, response surface methodology (RSM), and corrosion simulation. A regression model describing the relationships between environmental factors and copper corrosion rate was developed using RSM. The corrosion rate of copper increased with increasing temperature and chloride ion concentration. Among the environmental factors, temperature had the most significant effect on the copper corrosion rate, while pH had little effect. This is attributed to chloride ions being the main reactive species in copper corrosion, with diffusion of reactive species and reaction rates increasing with temperature. The RSM results were consistent with the initial stage results of the corrosion simulation for the DGR environment. However, as time progressed, the corrosion simulation results indicated that only the effect of temperature was significant on the copper corrosion rate. This is due to the depletion of reactive species on the copper surface caused by their slow diffusion in the DGR environment. At this stage, the depletion of the oxygen as the oxidizing agent has the most significant effect. In conclusion, the RSM results effectively predict the corrosion rate of copper based on the environmental factors in the early stage of the DGR environment. However, the corrosion simulation revealed that the influence of environmental factors on the copper corrosion rate changes with immersion time. This study provides valuable insights into predicting copper corrosion in aerobic DGR environment.
Combined Effects of Weather and Health Shocks on Consumption in Rural Uganda
Authors: Amondo Emily Injete , Kornher Lukas , Isoto Rosemary , Mirzabaev Alisher , Bashaasha Bernard , von Braun Joachim
Published: January 2025

Background
Compound and cascading shocks are common in rural areas and pose significant threats to food security and household welfare. While the importance of these combined shocks for rural communities is gaining attention, there is still very limited empirical research on the topic. This paper aims to assess the combined effects of weather and health shocks on the food, non-food, and total consumption of rural households in Uganda. Our analysis uses customized high-frequency panel household survey data collected across six waves, employing fixed effects quantile regression methods.
Results
The findings indicate that a short-term increase in temperature leads to a reduction in total consumption by 12–16%, with a more pronounced lagging effect on food consumption, which can be as high as 30%. Similarly, excessive rainfall adversely affects food consumption and diet diversity. The combined effects of health and weather shocks on consumption are negative and significant for lagged interaction terms, exhibiting varied effects across different household categories. Notably, the poorest quartile experiences the most substantial negative effects. Additionally, the findings reveal considerable consumption mobility among rural households over a 12-month period. Even households in the richest quartile may find themselves in the lowest consumption categories at certain times of the year. To manage these fluctuations in consumption, the poorest quartiles tend to rely on group networks and loans, while wealthier quartiles more frequently utilize remittances.
Conclusion and policy implications
Recognizing Uganda's vulnerability to extreme weather events and epidemics, this paper suggests key policy measures. Enhancing social protection through access to credit, social networks, safety nets, and health insurance can help households cope with climate challenges. These strategies will strengthen food system resilience and promote sustainable development.
Impact of Social Support on Self-Perceived Burden in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: The Mediating Roles of Family Care and Psychological Resilience
Authors: LI Mengjiao , Xujie ZHAO , Yan YANG , LIU Shuting , JIANG Ping
Published: January 2025

Objective To investigate the mediating effects of family care and psychological resilience in the relationship between social support and self-reported burden among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), and to establish the foundation for the development of interventions aimed at alleviating their perceived burden.
Methods A convenience sample of 539 patients PD was recruited from the nephrology departments of four hospitals in Shanghai between January and September 2024. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, which included sociodemographic information, the Family Care Index Questionnaire, the Psychological Resilience Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, and the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationships among the variables, followed by the development and validation of a multiple mediation model.
Results Among patients undergoing PD, the mean scores for family care, psychological resilience, social support, and self-perceived burden were 4.45 ± 2.93, 49.61 ± 18.07, 30.03 ± 8.54, and 33.13 ± 7.94, respectively. Negative correlations were identified between family care, psychological resilience, social support, and self-perceived burden in PD patients. The multiple mediation model revealed that family care played a significant mediating role in the relationship between social support and self-perceived burden, while the mediating effect of psychological resilience did not reach statistical significance. Regarding the impact of social support on self-perceived burden, the total effect was -1.516, with a direct effect of -1.131 and an indirect effect mediated by family care of 0.208.
Conclusion Within the cohort of patients undergoing PD, family care plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between social support and self-perceived burden. This finding suggests that interventions aimed at strengthening family care may effectively reduce patients’ perceived burden and enhance their mental well-being during the course of clinical treatment.
Risks and benefits of ChatGPT in informing patients and families with rare kidney diseases- an explorative assessment by the European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network (ERKNet)
Authors: Eerde Albertien M. van , Teixeira Ana , Galletti Flavia , Maternik Michal , Capone Valentina , Westland Rik , Mulder Jaap , Halbritter Jan Peter , Osterholt Thomas , Neukel Valentina , Weber Lutz Thorsten , Liebau Max C. Christoph , Schäfer Franz , Kohl Stefan
Published: January 2025

Background:
Rare diseases affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 individuals, but approximately 150 rare kidney diseases account for about 10% of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, impacting millions across Europe and globally. The scarcity of medical experts for these conditions results in an unmet need for accurate and helpful patient information. Large language models like ChatGPT may offer a technological solution to assist medical professionals in educating patients and improving doctor-patient communication. We hypothesized that ChatGPT could provide accurate responses to frequently asked basic questions from patients with rare kidney diseases.
Methods:
Medical professionals and members of European Patient Advocacy Groups (ePAGs) affiliated with the European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network (ERKNet) simulated patient-ChatGPT interactions using a Microsoft forms questionnaire and ChatGPT 3.5 and 4.0. Participants selected any rare kidney disease for a structured conversation with ChatGPT-3.5 or 4.0. Responses were evaluated for accuracy and helpfulness.
Results:
46 ERKNet experts and 12 ePAGs from 13 European countries participated in this study. ChatGPT provided scientifically accurate and helpful information on 28 randomly selected rare kidney diseases, including prognostic information and genetic testing guidance. Participants expressed neutral positions regarding ChatGPT's recommendations on alternative treatments, second opinions, and other information sources. While ChatGPT generally was perceived as helpful and empathetic, concerns about patient safety persisted.
Conclusions:
ChatGPT exhibited substantial potential in addressing patient inquiries regarding rare kidney diseases in a real-world context. While it demonstrated resilience against misinformation in this application, careful human oversight remains essential and indispensable.
Real-world epidemiology of Uveitis: a retrospective three-tier healthcare facility-based comparison of its causes and visual outcome in Ube-City, Japan
Authors: Yanai Ryoji , Uchi Sho-Hei , Kondo Yukiko , Fujitsu Youichiro , Suzuki Katsuyoshi , Yoshimura Keiko , Kumagai Naoki , Egawa Mariko , Mitamura Yoshinori
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to conduct a comparative epidemiological survey of uveitis across various healthcare settings and elucidate the clinical characteristics. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in the Ube-City medical region in Yamaguchi prefecture and recruited 268 patients from a university hospital (151 patients), municipal hospitals (51 patients), and private eye clinics (58 patients). Medical records of patients who were newly diagnosed with uveitis between January 2018 and December 2019 in the institutes were included, reviewed, and compared; main outcomes were number of uveitis causes and visual acuity. Panuveitis, which is associated with systemic diseases, such as Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease and sarcoidosis, was more prominent in university hospital patients. Conversely, anterior uveitis including traumatic iritis was prominently detected in general hospitals and private eye clinics. The best-corrected visual acuity improved to 1.0 (logMAR = 0); an improvement of 74%, 61%, and 54% was observed in private eye clinic, general hospital, and university hospital patients, respectively. This study identified differences in uveitis presentation and treatment across diverse clinical settings. The results of this study provide valuable real-world data for differentiating the causes of uveitis at university hospitals, general hospitals, and private eye clinics.
Eruptive history of the Mt Huangzuei, Eastern Tatun Volcano Group, Taiwan, resolved by 40Ar-39Ar and zircon double-dating (ZDD) of lava flows
Authors: Pi Julien , Lee Yuan Hsi , Jabagat Karl D. , Miggins Daniel P. , Danišík Martin , Chu Mei Fei , Lai Yu Ming , Lo Yun Chieh , Lee Po Tsun , Lin Cheng Horng
Published: January 2025

The Tatun Volcano Group (TVG) in northern Taiwan is part of the Northern Taiwan Volcanic Zone (NTVZ), formed in an extensional back-arc setting at the western end of the Ryukyu subduction system. Recent studies have shown that the TVG is much younger than previously thought, though reliable eruption ages are still scarce, complicating the reconstruction of its eruptive history. In this study, we used high-precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of plagioclase and groundmass, along with U-Th disequilibrium and U-Th/He dating of zircons (Zircon Double Dating, or ZDD), from andesitic lava flows to constrain eruption ages at Mt. Huangzuei in the eastern TVG. Our results, combined with previous data, propose five eruptive phases at Mt. Huangzuei: Stage I (~380 ka), Stage II (~141ka), Stage III (~107 ka), Stage IV (~90 ka), and Stage V (less than ~70 ka). Additionally, zircon U-Th crystallization age populations that overlap with eruption stages suggest a common magma source and reveal possible undocumented stages. These findings provide new insights into the volcanic history of the TVG, refining the eruptive timeline and offering constraints for future volcanic models in the region.
Effect of chlormethine hydrochloride combined with corticosteroids therapy in IgA Nephropathy: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Li Xiang , Huang Hongen , Xu Gaosi
Published: January 2025

Background
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most prevalent primary glomerulonephritis in adults, with up to 45% of patients progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) during their disease course. The optimal therapeutic approach for IgAN remains a subject of ongoing investigation. This study reports findings from a single-center retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with IgAN.
Methods
This retrospective study evaluated the treatment strategies and outcomes of biopsy-confirmed IgAN patients managed at our center between 2017 and 2022, with a specific focus on the efficacy of intravenous chlormethine hydrochloride combined with methylprednisolone (referred to as the "immunosuppressive treatment group"). A control group receiving standard supportive care was included for comparison.
Results
At baseline, the immunosuppressive treatment group exhibited poorer renal function and a higher body mass index. Other baseline parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups. Treatment with chlormethine hydrochloride combined with methylprednisolone led to significant renal function improvement, evidenced by a marked increase in eGFR during the observation period. Both groups demonstrated reductions in proteinuria over the follow-up period, with the immunosuppressive treatment group showing a greater reduction; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The remission rate of proteinuria was significantly higher in the immunosuppressive treatment group compared to the control group.
Conclusion
This study suggests that immunosuppressive therapy with chlormethine hydrochloride combined with methylprednisolone may improve renal function and proteinuria in IgAN patients. Although the role of immunosuppressive treatment in IgAN remains controversial, our findings suggest that a subset of patients may derive benefit from more intensive therapeutic strategies.
Analysis on Non-Preemptive Rate-Monotonic Schedulability
Authors: Park Moonju
Published: January 2025

This paper addresses the problem of finding utilization bounds for non-preemptive Rate Monotonic (RM) scheduling, providing a comprehensive analysis of the non-preemptive RM schedulability. There have been attempts to find the utilization bounds for non-preemptive RM; some have only applicability to restricted task sets, and others have found utilization bounds that can be applied to all task sets but are pessimistic. It has been found that the blocking factor, which is the ratio of the maximum blocking time divided by the execution time, is closely related to the utilization bound for non-preemptive RM scheduling. In this paper, new utilization bounds for non-preemptive RM scheduling are introduced spanning the entire spectrum of the blocking factor, and enhance the utilization bound to be less pessimistic.
The study reveals that the ratio between task periods plays a pivotal role in determining the utilization bounds. For blocking factors less than 1 and maximum periods not exceeding double the minimum periods, the presented utilization bounds approach the utilization bounds for preemptive RM scheduling under specific conditions.
DPCRec-Dual Preferences Learning with Capsule Network for Next POI Recommendation
Authors: Song Yitong
Published: January 2025

The goal of the next Point-of-Interest (POI) recommendation task is to predict a list of POIs that a user might visit next, based on their check-in history, including the locations and times of their check-ins. This list includes the probability of visiting each POI. Clearly, the performance of this task is closely related to how well the user's interests could be extracted. Previous research has made significant progress in this area, but there are still some challenges: 1) Current methods cannot fully extract user interests from different perspectives. 2) They struggle to effectively combine multiple or diverse user interests for prediction. In this paper, a Dual Interest Capsule Recommendation (DPCRec) is proposed to address these two issues. For the first problem, user interests are divided into long-term and short-term interests and introduce Advanced Long-Term Interest Feature Extractor(ALE) and Advanced Short-Term Interest Feature Extractor(ASE) to extract these interests separately. Among them, ALE uses a multi-head attention mechanism with deep attention and residual connections to capture long-term interests, while ASE employs a GRU module enhanced with attention and multi-gating techniques to capture short-term interests. For the second problem, a novel capsule network called Capsule Deep Pointer (CapsDP) is proposed by us, which effectively combines long-term and short-term interests and maps the hierarchical relationship between user interests and the POIs to be predicted. Extensive experiments on three datasets show that our model outperforms ten baseline models, achieving state-of-the-art results.
Challenges Of Managing Cancer Registry Data Quality In Head And Neck Cancer (HNSCC) At a Lower-Middle-Income-Country (LMIC)
Authors: Rashid Yasmin Abdul , Abbas Syed Akbar , zehra Nida e , Amir Tehreem , Zafar Maham , Kumail Quratulain , Jabbar Adnan Abdul , Syed Maria , Khurshid Mohammad , Mushtaq Naureen , Fadoo Zehra , Tabassum Saba , Dawood Tasneem
Published: January 2025

Background
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the leading cause of cancer in Pakistani males. With 17,000 new cases and 10,000 deaths caused by oral SCC annually, it is imperative to maintain an accurate record to highlight regional distribution, cause of mortality, quality of life, prevention strategies, and issues like under-reporting.
Objectives
This study aims to determine the quality of data entered at our institute’s registry (Aga Khan University Hospital; AKUH) and to identify the challenges faced while managing this registry.
Methods
The study includes all patients in our database who presented to AKUH from 2018–2020 and were diagnosed with primary oral SCC. Inclusion criteria for cancer sites was based on The International Classification of Diseases for Oncology ICD-0-3 guidelines. Variables from each patient in the CNExT database were selected and the data was analyzed for completeness, validity, and timeliness.
Results
In our study, 71% of cases were > 40 years of age with 82% being male. 59% had a history of smokeless tobacco use. Cheek mucosa was the most common site (55%) followed by the ventral surface of the tongue (19%), lower gum (7%) & others (21%). Out of the 200 cases, 59% were clinically staged as IVA, 13% as stage II, and 12.5% as stage III. 96% of patients underwent surgical excision while 63% and 57.5% received radiation and chemotherapy respectively. Disease-free survival was < 1 year for 21% of cases and 1–2 years for 25%. Recurrence was reported in 24% of cases. In addition, patients presenting with T4 disease and ENE positivity recurred earlier. 72% were lost to follow-up. The data was 100% complete with 98.5% validity but 0% timeliness, which reflected the backlog due to resource constraints.
Conclusion
Cancer registry data quality for HNSCC in LMIC can vary significantly, however, it provides a basis to quantify the cancer burden. Managing data quality has several limitations which can be addressed by capacity-building and bridging cancer registries through national and international collaborations. These initiatives can help improve data quality and enhance cancer control and healthcare planning in LMICs.
The Prevalence and Factors Influencing Scabies among Elementary School Children in Yilmana Densa District, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Solomon , Alem Mequanint , Bekele Damtew , Alemu Ashenafi
Published: January 2025

Background
Human scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by the human itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. It is a significant public health issue, affecting over 200 million people globally, primarily children. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of scabies among elementary school children in the Yilmana Densa District, northwest Ethiopia.
Methods
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023. Data was collected using a pre-tested, structured questionnaire and clinical dermatological examination. A logistic regression analysis was used using SPSS version 26.0 to assess the strength of the association between scabies positivity and risk factors.
Results
The prevalence of scabies among elementary school children in the study area was 16.1% (65/404) with 95% CI (12.7% − 19.9%). Factors such as being male (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.016; 95% CI: 1.127–3.605, P-value = 0.018), attending Koti Primary School (AOR = 2.436; 95% CI: 1.020–5.946, P-value = 0.045), having a history of contact with confirmed scabies cases (AOR = 32.654; 95% CI: 12.758–83.580, P < 0.001), infrequent washing of clothes (AOR = 9.234; 95% CI: 2.241–38.545, P = 0.002), using only water for washing hands (AOR = 5.128; 95% CI: 1.573–16.718, P = 0.007), sharing clothes with scabies-infected individuals (AOR = 12.616; 95% CI: 4.774–33.340, P < 0.001), and poor knowledge of scabies (AOR = 3.500; 95% CI: 1.442–8.493; P = 0.006) were identified as significant risk factors associated with scabies infestation.
Conclusions
The present study shows that there is a high prevalence of scabies among elementary schoolchildren. Therefore, it is crucial to provide comprehensive health education on preventing and controlling scabies. This should include a strong emphasis on good personal hygiene, avoiding sharing clothes, and thorough hand washing with soap.
Social media as a supplementary tool to teaching and learning: A case of first year students at a University of Technology
Authors: MLAMBO PHILANI
Published: January 2025

The educational sector has experienced transition from physical classes to online classes owing to COVID-19 that had the world by the scruff of its neck. After COVID-19 restrictions were lifted educational sectors had to maintain a clean transition from online classes back to physical classes hence they adopted what is known as blended learning to accommodate both admires or physical and virtual classes. This transition led to most institutions adopting social media as a supplement tool to ensure that the transition was smooth, and this gave rise to the usage of social media in teaching and learning. Consequently, this quantitative study sought to investigate the most preferred social media platforms by the students for the purpose of teaching and learning. Convenience sampling was used to administer closed ended questionnaires to 37 Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD) first-year pre-service teachers. These questionnaires will follow a 5 Likert type scale. The resulting data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.00. With the aid of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the findings show that WhatsApp and YouTube are the most preferred social media platform by students to be used for teaching and learning as they recorded a mean score of 4.54 and 4.30 respectively. The findings also revealed that smartphone is the device that most students access social media on for schooling purposes. Based on the findings, this chapter recommends that universities should adopt social media such as WhatsApp and YouTube as the official tools to be used to supplement learning management systems (LMS) as most students struggle to access such platforms and find more easier to use WhatsApp and YouTube.
Cytokinin B-Mo-based Product Influences the Source-to-sink Dynamics and Nonstructural Carbohydrate Contents in Hydroponic Lettuce Plants
Authors: Toro-Herrera Mayra A. , Raudales Rosa E.
Published: January 2025

An understanding of how amendments influence the sink-to-source relationship in leafy crops can be used to optimize plant resource allocation for enhanced growth and quality. Variations in growth rates and carbon pools across individual leaves or groups of leaves at similar developmental stages allow us to comprehend plant strategies of carbon allocation and partitioning. We hypothesized that products enhancing the carbon source-to-sink relationship during leaf development can increase growth and dry matter accumulation. This project aimed to determine whether exogenous applications of a cytokinin-B-Mo-based product during the leaf development of lettuce plants impact the carbon source-to-sink relationship, thus influencing plant growth and quality. The experiment was a complete randomized design with two treatments: a negative control and the application of the product twice during the growing cycle. Each experimental unit consisted of a deep-water culture reservoir with three lettuce plants. Destructive sampling was conducted five times throughout the cycle. At each sampling time (n = 4 per experimental run), the phenological stage was determined, and measurements of root and shoot length, root and shoot dry matter, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, chlorophyll contents, and nonstructural carbon contents were performed. These data were used to estimate growth indices. The results indicated that the cytokinin-B-Mo-based product increased the number of true unfolded leaves by 1 ± 0.4 and the overall size of the lettuce head by 9%. The treated lettuce reached marketable size 4 days earlier than that of the control treatment. Statistically significant differences were observed in shoot and root dry matter accumulation and foliar length and width at some sampling points. Some growth indices indicate an increase in leaf surface area investment and enhanced conversion efficiency of assimilates into biomass in plants treated with the product. Plants exhibiting these alterations had higher sucrose and total soluble sugar contents. There was a noticeable pattern of higher concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates, proteins, and amino acids in the leaves compared with those in the roots across all plants and treatments. Overall, the cytokinin-B-Mo-based product appears to strengthen the source-to-sink relationship during lettuce development, resulting in a high-quality plant within a shorter timeframe.
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF RUTHENIUM NITROSYL COMPLEXES CONTAINING POLYPYRIDYL LIGANDS
Authors: P. S. Penha Dayana , M. de Sousa Thuanny , C. de Oliveira Dayane , R. H. da Silva Maria , da S. Oliveira Verônica , de L. Pontes Daniel , F. de B. Pontes Ana C. , de F. Paulo Tércio , O. N. da Silva Francisco
Published: January 2025

The ruthenium(II) complexes cis-[Ru(bpy)(phen)(ImN)(NO)](PF6)3 (I) and cis-[Ru(bpy)(phen)(SO3)(NO)](PF6) (II) (bpy = 2,2’-bipyridine, phen = 1,10’-phenanthroline and ImN = imidazole) were synthesized and characterized using UV-visible, infrared and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopies and electrochemical techniques. Infrared bands in the 1910-1950 cm–1 range are consistent with NO+ stretching, indicating the coordination of nitric oxide. The UV-Vis results allowed for the identification of intraligand bands of bipyridine and phenanthroline ligands, as well as metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) bands for both polypyridine ligands in the wavelength range of 320 to 400 nm. Additionally, an MLCT band for the nitrosyl ligand was observed at about 469 nm. The voltammogram profiles displayed a single quasi-reversible process at 219 mV (complex I) and –102 mV (complex II), with both processes being related to the NO+/0 redox pair. The photochemical behavior of these complexes was studied, and NO release was observed upon blue light irradiation. The antibacterial activity of the complexes was tested against the bacteria Staphylococus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, based on minimum inhibitory concentration measurements, in which no or moderate activity was observed against Gram-positive bacteria. However, complexes I and II showed good antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, being able to inhibit growth at low concentrations of 57.23 µmol L–1 for complex I and 200.8 µmol L–1 for complex II.
Profiles of patriotism represented in students’ consciousness in Tyumen
Authors:   Tyumen State University, Malenkov Vyacheslav V. , Maltseva Natalya V. ,   Tyumen State University
Published: January 2025

Studying the profiles of patriotism and their representations in students’ consciousness is relevant in terms of updating patriotic education aimed at developing civic potential, sustaining civicism. The aim of the article is to describe the structure of students’ perceptions of patriotism, to identify the scale of different representations of patriotism, their correlation with civic consciousness and various forms of social and political activity. The empirical study is based the questionnaire survey carried out among university students in Tyumen in February — March 2023 (N = 554). At the first stage, the data was processed through frequency table analysis and ranking method. The obtained results were compared to those of the 2019 study (N = 577). At the second stage, clusters of respondents with different ideas about patriotism were identified through latent class analysis. The analysis of contingency tables and one-way analysis of variance found differences in the ideas of civic and patriotic consciousness, and civic engagement. The results showed a strong connection with basic socio-cultural attachments (homeland, language, traditions) as components of students’ perceptions of patriotism, and a traditional close correlation between patriotism and the nation/state. The core perceptions also included aspiration for the development of one’s country; a sense of duty, awareness of one’s civic responsibilities; a feeling of involvement in the past, the present and the future of one’s homeland; readiness to defend one’s homeland against external threats. The four content profiles of patriotism were identified: national, cultural and historical, protective, civic, and two profiles, i. e. plural and singular, characterised by broad and narrow understandings of patriotism. The article describes similarities and differences of civic and patriotic ideas and experience of civic engagement.
Engagement of Russian children in physical activity and sport: Opportunities and barriers
Authors:   HSE University, Ivanov Sergei A. , Minina Vera N. ,   HSE University, Panevina Maria V. ,   HSE University, Abalyan Avak G. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Physical Culture and Sports, Fomichenko Tatyana G. ,   Federal Scientific Center for Physical Culture and Sports
Published: January 2025

The article analyzes the factors of Russian children’s engagement in physical activity and sport. The empirical basis of the study is the results of the all-Russian representative survey of parents with children 3–5 and 6–12 years old (N = 2274, 46 subjects of the Russian Federation), as well as four focused groups with parents of children 3–5 and 6–12 years old in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Tambov. The subject field of the study covers physical activity practices of children of two age subgroups, factors of their involvement in sports, opportunities and facilities for appropriate activities in the community. The methodological basis of the study is the sociological model of children’s involvement in physical and sport activity developed by the authors. The study found that according to parents’ assessments, physical activity practices were predominant in both groups of children, with a small proportion of them practicing sports, especially in the 3–5-year-old subgroup. The authors conclude that the main factor stimulating interest in physical activity and sport, both children and their parents, is a positive emotional and rational perception of systematic physical activity. At the same time, parents are predominantly focused on general physical training of their children, while a relatively small share of parents are interested in high-performance sports. According to the results obtained, the key motivators of children’s involvement in physical activity are joint sports activities of parents and children and the father’s personal example, which is noticeably ahead of TV programs, advice from coaches, doctors and others. Parents lack the necessary knowledge to engage in physical activities with their child, as well as lack of motivation for these activities are the main barriers to the involvement of children in physical activity and sport. It was noted that despite a fairly high level of development of sports infrastructure at the place of residence of Russians, the dominant type of these facilities are still simple outdoor sports grounds, which are in a condition that does not always dispose children, especially at an early age, to practicing on them.
IoT-Based Water Quality Monitoring System for Koi Fish Quarantine
Authors: Andiyansyah Rizki Novan , Setyawati Onny , Hario Partiansyah Fakhriy
Published: January 2025

Koi fish have a prominent attraction with their uniqueness including their beautiful shape, color, and pattern, making Koi fish very popular among ornamental fish. Koi fish undergo a quarantine process before being placed in the cultivation pond. The quarantine process is necessary because Koi fish are taken from paddy field ponds, where diseases from the external environment, such as fungi, bacteria, and parasites, may still be present. This research involves four parameters that support good water quality for the life and growth of Koi fish: temperature, acidity level (pH), Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), and water turbidity. This research aims to monitor the quality of Koi fish quarantine using the four parameters above using the Internet of Things (IoT). Water quality measurement data from these four sensors can be detected in real-time via the Internet of Things (IoT) using the Blynk application as a monitoring tool and the Telegram application as a notification to Telegram if the water quality is not ideal.
The Invisible Hand of Partisan Irrationality
Authors: Licon Jimmy
Published: January 2025

Why do we vote, protest, and boycott? Economists explain partisan actions, despite their costs, by arguing political irrationality by a single partisan isn’t costly to them as an individual - they can afford the political irrationality, despite the social costs. And some philosophers worry about the moral and epistemic costs of political irrationality. Here I argue that political irrationality has some benefits: it encourages partisans to engage in virtue signaling and rationalization in politics. And while virtue signaling and rationalization are often epistemically and morally bad, they can nonetheless confer benefits too, like facilitating societal and moral progress.
BLENDER. Een onstuimige ode aan ontmoeting en experiment: 5 theaterwerkplaatsen, 5 jonge makers en 25 enthousiaste jongeren door de blender
Authors: Wittouck Rune
Published: January 2025

Blender noun [C] (MACHINE) an electric machine used in the kitchen for breaking down foods or making smooth liquid substances from soft foods and liquids; blender noun [C] (CREATOR) a person or company that blends (= combines) different ingredients or types of something to make a product such as wine, tea, or perfume; blender noun [S] (PROJECT) a research process of 5 young theatre makers, who enter into a dialogue with each other and with 25 youngsters, organized and supported by 5 theatre workspaces for young people. The project ran from September 2023 to July 2024.
Language policy of Ukraine and its representation in social doctrines of the Orthodox churches
Authors: Shkriblyak Mykola
Published: January 2025

The article provides a critical analysis of the leading ideas and fundamental principles of the social doctrine (teachings) of the Orthodox churches operating in Ukraine and interprets the key dominants and the specifics of their implementation of the strategic goals of the state language policy in Ukraine. The main aim is to investigate the problems of the reception of the state language strategy by Orthodox communities with different jurisdictions and to clearly clarify and justify the risks and dangers arising from the attitude to the language policy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is under the canonical subordination of the Mosokovsky Patriarchate. As a result of the study, it was proved that the role and place of Orthodox communities in the implementation of the strategic goals of language policy in Ukraine is different. Their participation in the process of implementation of the state language policy is equally ambiguous, and even openly contradictory in terms of ideological and value orientation and methods of implementation. In the case of the activity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, it is subversive, anti-state, harmful and poses a threat to the national security of Ukraine. The material of the article has important theoretical and practical significance in view of the integral critical justification of the state language strategy of the UOC MP and OCU as dominant vector-oriented politically oriented Orthodox jurisdictions, which is actualized in the conditions of modern challenges and leading trends and, in particular, due to the need to implement the life of legal norms, defined by the Law of Ukraine "On the protection of the constitutional system in the sphere of activities of religious organizations".
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination on Road Dust: A Case Study of Khulna City
Authors: Mahmud Mamun , Hasan Md. Mujahid
Published: January 2025

The concentration of heavy metals in road dust poses significant risks to human health and the environment. This study investigates the characteristics of road dust, focusing on the contamination level of heavy metals like lead (Pb), iron (Fe), and arsenic (As). Road dust samples were collected from various locations in Khulna city. They went through acid digestion to determine the Pb, Fe, and As levels using ICP-OES, and bioavailable iron was assessed by mixing the dust samples with water. This study found no detectable levels of As in the road dust. Pb concentrations varied across different sites in the following order: Shiromoni Industrial Area > Fulbarigate > New Market > Sonadanga Residential Area. Iron concentrations followed slightly different orders: Shiromoni Industrial Area > New Market > Fulbarigate > Sonadanga Residential Area. The highest bioavailable iron was found at 2.73% in the Shiromoni Industrial Area, indicating a higher potential for iron uptake, followed by the New Market Area, Fulbarigate, and the lowest was 0.53% in the Sonadanga Residential Area, indicating a lower potential. The highest Pb, Fe, and bioavailable Fe concentrations were 62.0 µg g-1, 12450 µg g-1, and 132 µg g-1 in Shiromoni Industrial Area. Compared with other literary studies, this study concluded that the contamination levels of heavy metals in Khulna's road dust were comparatively high compared to other cities globally and within Bangladesh. The contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicated that the extent of Pb contamination ranged from moderately to heavily contaminated. In contrast, the road dust was uncontaminated by Fe. The results of this research will enhance our comprehension of heavy metal levels in road dust, supporting policymakers in making well-informed choices to reduce health risks and safeguard the environment.
A Fuel Cell Control System for Performance Improvement under Variable Atmospheric Pressure Conditions
Authors: Armenta-Déu Carlos
Published: January 2025

This work focuses on designing a control unit for improving Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) performance powering electric vehicles when operating in variable atmospheric pressure conditions, a current situation in mountainous countries with sudden changes in road altitude. The paper studies and analyzes the PEM fuel cell behavior working with hydrogen supply from a pressurized tank and oxygen input from atmospheric air supply in journeys with continuous variation of road level due to the orography. The work proposes a control unit that regulates hydrogen and oxygen partial pressure to match each other, assuring correct fuel cell operation and improving performance. A simulation for a fuel cell powering a standard electric vehicle shows that fuel cell performance improves by 8.5%, enlarging the driving range by 7.8% and prolonging the fuel cell lifespan. The control unit is adaptive to all-electric vehicles powered by a PEM fuel cell. Although the simulation test runs for altitudes between sea level and 2000 m, it is valid for any altitude variation from sea level to 6000 meters, representing the practical totality of world roads.