bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic purity identification of wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) hybrids through InDel markers linked to seed size and shape genes
Authors: Deng Yan , Wang Peng , Bai Wenhui , Chen Zhihao , Cheng Zhikui , Su Liwen , Chen Xianglei , Li Shuting , Su Weiwei , Liu Zhengguo
Published: May 2024

Wax gourd holds significant economic value, and accurate and rapid identification of seed purity is becoming increasingly essential. Although genes regulating wax gourd seed shape and size have been reported, the development of InDel markers tightly linked to these genes for hybrid
seed purity identification remains unexplored. To address this need, we resequenced four high-generation inbred lines (bilateral-seeded inbred line KF43, unilateral-seeded inbred line A-1, large-seeded inbred line MY-1 and small-seeded inbred line GX71) and identified InDel marker pairs, Mc10-8
(tightly linked to seed size genes) and Mc04-13 (tightly linked to seed shape genes), situated 0.1 Mb and 0.3 Mb downstream of genes Bch10G006400 and Bch04G005460, respectively. The purity of hybrids ‘Yinyuan 4’, ‘A45’ and ‘Fenxianzi 3’ was determined using
the InDel marker Mc10-8 and for ‘Xiaozi 1’, ‘Xiaozi 2’ and ‘HF-1’ using the InDel marker Mc04-13. The six hybrids with InDel markers were grow-out tested for purity identification, showed highly consistent results, establishing these markers as stable, accurate
and efficient tools for determining the genetic purity of wax gourd hybrids. Collectively, our findings could help optimise agricultural practices, thereby ensuring the sustained production of high-quality and genetically pure wax gourd hybrids.
NPWT – podciśnieniowa terapia leczenia ran: mechanizm działania i zalety metody. Praca przeglądowa
Authors: Janeczko Julia M. , Zając Marta , Słowiński Rafał , Bryś Katarzyna E. , Maroz Viktoria , Karoń Maria
Published: May 2024

Podciśnieniowa terapia leczenia ran (NPWT) to innowacyjna metoda leczenia, zdobywająca uznanie w ochronie zdrowia. Jej początki sięgają XIX wieku, kiedy niemiecki chirurg Friedrich von Esmarch wprowadził podciśnienie do chirurgicznych opatrunków. W latach 90. XX wieku rozwój technologiczny umożliwił komercjalizację urządzeń NPWT, skutecznych w leczeniu oparzeń, ran przewlekłych i uszkodzeń skóry. Terapia opiera się na tworzeniu podciśnienia za pomocą specjalnych opatrunków, poprawiając mikrokrążenie, dostarczając tlen i składniki odżywcze, usuwając płyny i toksyny, stymulując fibroblasty i syntezę kolagenu, przyspieszając gojenie się tkanek. Badania potwierdzają, że NPWT skraca czas gojenia, redukuje ryzyko infekcji i obniża koszty leczenia. Metoda wykorzystuje mechanizmy pierwotne, takie jak makrodeformacja i mikrodeformacja powierzchni rany, usuwanie płynów i stabilizacja środowiska rany. Szczególne miejsce w medycynie, także w Polsce, coraz częściej zajmuje ekonomia, a konkretnie redukcja kosztów leczenia. NPWT to nie tylko skuteczna terapia, ale także oszczędność ekonomiczna, skracająca czas hospitalizacji i redukująca powikłania. Analizy sugerują nawet 50% oszczędności w porównaniu z tradycyjnymi opatrunkami. Terapia może ograniczyć blizny przerostowe i poprawić jakość życia pacjentów. NPWT rozwija się technologicznie i ma potencjał zrewolucjonizowania dziedziny gojenia ran.
Medycyna biblijna i talmudyczna
Authors: Spyrka Kinga , Brela Jakub , Sieradzka Katarzyna , Krukowska Marta
Published: May 2024

Na terenie Izraela rośnie ponad 6000 gatunków roślin, a różnorodność tej flory wynika z położenia kraju na styku Europy, Azji i Afryki. Rośliny w Biblii są wymieniane wielokrotnie w trakcie różnych wydarzeń biblijnych oraz zajmują ważne miejsce w literaturze talmudycznej. W pracy omówiono rolę medycyny biblijnej i talmudycznej, uwzględniając priorytetowo leczenie ran i choroby skóry.
An analytical study of the critical values of response rate in single-arm phase II clinical trial designs
Authors: Liu Yi , Jung Sin-Ho
Published: May 2024

A single-arm phase II clinical trial is usually conducted for finding an appropriate dose-level and testing toxicity for an experimental cancer therapy in comparison to some historical controls, and is usually the most doable trial type due to the feasibility under limited budget, patient pool and medical conditions that can be met. We considered the standard setting of a single-arm two-stage phase II clinical trial, and investigated the patterns of critical values and sample sizes at both two stages of minimax and optimal designs under different design parameters, i.e., under different response rates of control and treatment, significant level of the test, and statistical power. We provided analytic derivations to the patterns we are interested under large sample approximation, and investigated them under finite ans small sample via a numerical study by considering extensively possible design parameters over a fine grid. We finally concluded that the critical values at different stages of the test are related to the sample sizes at different stages in a similar way for both optimal and minimax designs, but they also reveal some differences and reflected the nature of these two types of design.
DoE-empowered development and validation of an environmentally sustainable RP-HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of antihypertensive drugs: AQbD perspective
Authors: Gopalaiah Sinchana B , Jayaseelan Kavitha
Published: May 2024

The primary objective of the present inquiry is to formulate a sustainable method employing Reverse Phase-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) for determination of Amlodipine (AM) and Irbesartan (IRB) simultaneously, compounds commonly prescribed for hypertension treatment. Existing literature underscores the absence of a comprehensive method in this regard. This research endeavors to align with the tenets of green chemistry by seamlessly integrating Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) with RP-HPLC, replacing environmentally hazardous chemical modifiers with eco-friendly solvents. Identifying the critical variables as the 70% ethanol level and flow rate, a central composite design is applied for optimization. The separation is achieved utilizing a Phenomenex Luna column (C18, 250 mm × 4.6 mm i.d, 5 μm) with a mobile phase comprising ethanol and 0.1 % o-phosphoric acid in a 70:30 v/v ratio, flowing at 0.8 mL min−1, and detection wavelength of 242 nm. Green assessment methodologies are implemented to gauge the adherence of the proposed RP-HPLC method to eco-friendly principles while ensuring efficiency in chromatographic performance. The current developed method is rapid with retention time of 2.3 and 3.3 min for AM and IRB respectively and having a wide linear range from 55 to 130 μg mL−1, which makes the suitable for the accurate quantification of AM and IRB simultaneously in bulk and tablet dosage form, there by minimize environmental impact by providing a conscientious choice for the routine analysis which is achieved through the amalgamation of AQbD with a sustainable approach.
Hydrochemical and isotopic methods of identifying the impact of irrigation on the quality of groundwater: a case study from the guelma-bouchegouf region, ne Algeria
Authors: Soltani Akram , Djabri Larbi , Fehdi Chemseddine , Bouguerra Hamza , Salah Eddine Tachi , Hamed Younes
Published: May 2024

The Guelma-Bouchegouf irrigated perimeter uses water from the Bouhamdane dam between May and the end of October. It should be noted that the water is channelled to the perimeter via Seybouse Wadi, which serves as a water collector. The water is supplied during the dry season, which causes water pollution due to strong evaporation and industrial discharges. Moreover, during the summer period irrigation increases since the crops grown are industrial tomatoes, melon, watermelon and beans, requiring intense and sustained watering. The measurement of the conductivity of the water flow shows a clear increase from 3000 μs/cm to 6000 μs/cm. This increase is connected to interactions between water and rock, compounded by the adverse impact of climate change. It should be noted that during this period the average temperature is 26°C and sometimes temperature values exceeding 40°C are recorded. In addition, industrial discharges into the Seybouse Wadi occur without pre-treatment, leading to water pollution by heavy metals. The results of the analyzes of the Seybouse Wadi waters show the presence of pollutants such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper and nutrients in the upstream zone (Guelma region). In the downstream area (Annaba) we notice the presence of pollutants such as chromium, lithium, iron, manganese and nutrients.
Assessing the surface corrosion of a steel railway bridge using an active short-range remote sensing system
Authors: Gawronek Pelagia
Published: May 2024

The concept of assessing surface corrosion of a steel railway bridge was born as a response to the industry need for quick and non-manual assessment of the progress of surface damage of monochromatic bridges. The fourth coordinate of the point cloud, through imaging algorithms, can indicate homogeneous surfaces of the bridge, and therefore subject to corrosion processes or not. The intensity of the object's point cloud, through the use of unsupervised classification tools, ensures the detection of changes in the surface properties of a mono-colored railway bridge. The classification method of unsupervised raster representation of grayscale reflectance intensity (generated from TLS data), as in the case of classical remote sensing, produces classes of pixels with similar reflectance properties. The concept of scientific research on the detection of corrosion progress on a steel railway bridge using an active short-range remote sensing system assumed the development of algorithmic advances allowing for the comparison of periodic classifications of rasters from point clouds. Thanks to the differentiation of images, it is possible to determine changes in the location and extent of corrosion, the rate of its progress in the case of aged steel objects, and the detection of scratches and cracks as critical points of the structure, proving the fulfillment of the operational capabilities of the object, as provided for in the technical documentation. The study indicated the empirical basis for conducting research on automatic corrosion detection.
Land, Property, Asatru
Authors: Calico Jefferson
Published: May 2024

In 2015, the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), the flag-carrier of folkish Heathenry around the world, purchased a property in California to establish its first temple, Odinshof. Since that time, it has purchased additional properties across the United States and established hofs on those properties. As a result, there has arisen some controversy and opposition to the AFA’s presence, even making international news. Critics fear the spread of hate and racism under the guise of religion, while the AFA sees property ownership as protecting its religious freedom. This raises questions about the role of property in Pagan and Heathen religion and for minority religions more broadly. Who belongs? Who gets marginalized? And to whom does religious freedom extend? In the American context, property ownership is fundamental to social belonging. By purchasing property, the AFA is making a claim to belonging and establishing itself as part of the American society.
Fastest-Growing Religion? Reflections on Contemporary Paganism’s Rapid Growth and How Scholars Describe That Which They Study
Authors: Miller Chris
Published: May 2024

Starting around the early 2000s, many scholars declared that contemporary Paganism was the “fastest-growing religion” either worldwide, or in specific locales. This claim was most often based on data from the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, which found a dramatic rise in Pagans compared to a similar study conducted ten years earlier. Although Paganism most certainly witnessed explosive growth around this time, there are many reasons to question Paganism’s status as the fastest-growing religion, including social factors that shape data collection and the interpretations that scholars applied to the data. This article analyzes the data that Pagan studies scholars used to proclaim Paganism’s growth, and suggests that the claim represents a legitimation tactic. By suggesting that a group is growing quickly, a fairly meagre population is given increased importance. This enhances the perceived significance of both the community in question and any scholars who specialize in studying that community. Although Paganism is not the only religion to assert this claim, and this statement is no longer as prominent as it once was, publications from Pagan studies that make this proclamation offer case studies which demonstrate how scholars manipulate data to legitimize the topics about which they write.
Hardware Compression Method for On-Chip and Interprocessor Networks with Wide Channels and Wormhole Flow Control Policy
Authors: Surchenko Alexander , Nedbailo Yuri
Published: May 2024

Increasing the number of processing cores is currently a common way to boost processor performance. However, the load on the memory subsystem consequently increases as the number of its agents grows. Hardware data compression is an unconventional approach to improving memory subsystem performance by reducing, firstly, the main memory access rate by increasing the cache capacity and, secondly, data traffic by packing the data more densely. The paper describes the implementation of hardware data compression in the on-chip network and interprocessor links of a configuration with wide data transmission channels and a wormhole flow control policy. The existing solutions cannot be applied to such configurations because they are essentially based on using narrow data channels and flow control policies implying uninterrupted packet transmission, which is not maintained with the wormhole flow control. The method proposed in this paper enables the use of hardware compression in the aforementioned configuration by moving data compression and decompression from networks to the connected devices, as well as by using a number of optimizations to hide the data processing delays. Optimizations of some specific cases, such as the transmission of large data packets with several cache lines or the transmission of zero data, are considered. Special attention is given to data transmission via interprocessor links, where, due to their lower bandwidth compared to the on-chip network, data compression can be the most beneficial. The increase in memory subsystem bandwidth from using hardware data compression was confirmed in the experiments showing the relative IPC increase in SPEC CPU2017 benchmarks up to 14 percent.
Real Estate Research Trends and Directions in Africa:
Authors: AYODELE Timothy Oluwafemi, , Oladeji Jonathan , Olaleye Abel
Published: May 2024

This study explores the nature of research contributions to the African Real Estate Society (AfRES) conferences and establishes the emerging trends across African real estate markets. The study employed a desktop-review of 500 abstracts published in the AfRES Conference proceedings from 2011-2022. A descriptive quantitative content analysis in addition to line charts and other descriptive analyses were employed. The study finds that top research themes are Housing/Markets Analysis (19.32%), Finance/Investment (17.69%), Appraisal/Valuation (15.75%), Institutions (11.04%), and Policy issues (10.39%). The country-focused contributions showed the predominance of Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. Furthermore, the study finds that the practice of alternating the location of the annual conferences across regions is valuable for attracting diverse contributions across regional markets while also fostering inclusivity. The results show a significant preference for quantitative (43.20%) and qualitative (26.80%) analyses by authors. The study highlights research gaps that real estate academics, the AfRES and international research groups should consider in developing their research agenda for the continent. While the study has not explored the full complement of real estate research outlets on the African continent, the study’s findings could help in understanding how the African market and her research directions compare with other continental peers.
How to Unleash the Economy of General Intellect to Build a Post-Capitalist World
Authors: Mączyńska Elżbieta
Published: May 2024

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FIRE DANGER IN THE SUPPLY AREAS OF HYDROELECTRIC RESERVOIRS UNDER THE RESTORATION PROCESS IN THE SOUTH OF MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL
Authors: Torres Fillipe Tamiozzo Pereira , Pancieri Shauanne Dias , Santana Neto Vicente Paulo , Rodrigues Vinicius Barros
Published: May 2024

The partial or complete loss of vegetation cover triggers an increase in surface runoff, erosion, and sedimentation of water bodies, including reservoirs for hydroelectric power generation, reducing their life expectancy. To control or mitigate this issue, ecological restoration interventions should prioritize the recovery of areas most vulnerable to these processes, such as springs. Conversely, wildfires cause damage to vegetation cover and hinder ecological restoration and/or natural regeneration processes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify - with the aid of Geographic Information Systems - the temporal and spatial likelihood of fire occurrences in spring recharge areas undergoing ecological restoration and contributing to hydroelectric reservoirs in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The findings indicated that the months with the highest probability of wildfire occurrences were August and September (accounting for 66% of cases), requiring increased attention to prevention efforts. Furthermore, locations most susceptible to fires (steeper slopes, more flammable vegetation, and higher anthropogenic use) should be treated as priorities for both prevention and ecological restoration actions
Implicaciones del derecho regulativo en la conciliación : retos desde la inteligencia artificial y la ingeniería para la paz
Authors:   Corporación  Universitaria  Rafael Núñez, Montes Alvarino Ingrid
Published: May 2024

El derecho no es estático, evoluciona con las transformaciones de la sociedad y del Estado regulador. En la búsqueda del control de los riesgos sociales, el sistema jurídico interviene hasta el punto de legalizar las relaciones sociales, dando paso al derecho regulativo o derecho útil. Las nuevas tecnologías han irrumpido en esta sociedad red, impulsada por el advenimiento del internet. En esta evolución, la inteligencia artificial se ha abierto espacios “para manipular conocimiento como si fueran humanos”, y abre nuevos caminos e impactos para la resolución de conflictos. Ante la variedad de conflictos a los que se enfrentan los ciudadanos en el intercambio de bienes y servicios, el Estado no alcanza a resolver la alta carga de conflictividad social, lo cual hace necesario introducir dinámicas de desregulación y deslegalización, y otras formas de justicia no estatales. Los mecanismos alternativos de solución de conflictos se presentan como una respuesta a las diversas crisis de la justicia en Colombia, ante las necesidades jurídicas insatisfechas en resolución de conflictos y las rutas de inacción de los colombianos. Se aborda esta problemática para responder el objetivo de analizar las implicaciones del derecho regulativo en la conciliación desde la inteligencia artificial y la ingeniería para la paz. Esto, desde las aristas de la investigación sociojurídica con un enfoque de diseño mixto dimix para encontrar que las dinámicas regulativas en el ámbito de la conciliación en derecho aún no están fortalecidas y persisten diversas barreras de acceso que no garantizan el acceso a la justicia, a pesar de las intenciones de la Ley 2220 de 2022. Se concluye que la ingeniería para la paz puede ser una apuesta para la construcción de nuevas dinámicas regulatorias sociales en la solución de conflictos.
Protocol PROCI v2
Authors: Parravicini Chiara , Spedicati Daniele , Guenci Matteo , Liggeri Nicole
Published: May 2024

We present a step-by-step methodology for the systematic extraction, alignment, and analysis of peer review data from Crossref to enhance the OpenCitations Index. The protocol delineates four key phases: data gathering, data processing, post-processing, data analysis and data visualization. The first two research questions were addressed during the data processing and post-processing phases, while the answers to the third, fourth, and fifth questions were found during the data analysis phase. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to create a citation index that includes typed citations where a peer review (citing entity) reviews a publication (cited entity). Study Design and Methodology: The study involves analyzing and manipulating the 2023 Crossref data dump. Crossref is a non-profit organization that facilitates the exchange of scholarly metadata. The outcome of the study is the development of a software capable of extracting typed entities identified as peer reviews from Crossref dataset and integrating additional information about the reviewed entities from the same dataset. This software generates CSVs and a Turtle file that conform to the OpenCitations Data Model. Findings: Based on Crossref data, it is determined that the journal receiving the most peer reviews is PeerJ. Furthermore, it is found that approximately 5689 out of 348463 of Crossref’s peer reviews are present in Meta (1.6% ); 70260 are the Publications in Meta over the 77660 found in Crossref ( 90,5%). Originality: This study enhances scholarly metadata and deepens the understanding of research impact by proposing a novel citation index that captures peer review interactions.
Case Series and Review Article: Perfluorocarbon Heavy Liquid as a Short-Term Tamponade after Vitrectomy for Inferior Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Published: May 2024

This is to report outcomes of three cases with inferior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) which were treated with vitrectomy and perfluorocarbon heavy liquid (PFCHL) insertion as short-term tamponade. We also aim to summarise the surgical outcomes and complications from the recent studies in PFCHL usage in vitrectomy surgeries. The mean tamponade period for our case series was 11 days. Two patients developed ocular hypertension, while another developed hypotony with subsequent retinal redetachment. Migration to the anterior chamber causing pupillary block glaucoma also occurred in one patient, requiring laser peripheral iridotomy. Previous studies reported that PFCHL is particularly useful for more complex cases of retinal detachment including giant retinal tears, inferior retinal tears, chronic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), inferior RRD and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) due to its unique physical properties. However, it is not recommended as tamponade for long duration due to possible retinal toxicity. Otherwise, most of the complications due to PFCHL can be managed either medically or surgically. PFCHL can be a useful post-operative tamponade agent in vitreoretinal surgeries. Close post-operative monitoring is crucial for the potential complications from PFCHL.
Blackmailing and Identity Profiling? The Behaviour of Populist Radical Right Governments in EU Development Policy
Authors: Bergmann Julian , Keijzer Niels , Hackenesch Christine
Published: May 2024

EU development policy has in recent years become more contested and politicised. One key factor driving this trend is the increasing influence of populist radical right parties (PRRPs). Previous studies have focused on PRRPs as opposition parties. This contribution breaks new ground by exploring the behaviour of PRRP-led governments in EU development policy. More specifically, the article analyses how and to what extent this behaviour is characterised by “unpolitics,” an approach to undermining EU policymaking. We define “cross-policy blackmailing” and “identity profiling” as two potential strategies of unpolitics in EU development policy and probe these in two case studies. The first case concerns the New European Consensus on Development and the second is the EU’s positioning in the negotiations and signing of the Samoa Agreement. In the first case, we find that PRRP-led governments fundamentally rejected the decision-making rules as well as the norms on migration, gender, and sexual and reproductive health rights, using a strategy of identity profiling. In the second case, PRRP-led governments significantly stalled the conclusion of the agreement by combining cross-policy blackmailing and identity profiling. Based on this analysis, we generalise on the scope conditions of unpolitics in EU development policy.
Multiscalar Governance of Shrinkage in the Netherlands: Past, Present… Future?
Authors: Bontje Marco
Published: May 2024

The extent of shrinkage in the Netherlands is rather limited so far. Still, the Netherlands was one of the first European countries that introduced a national-level policy for regions facing structural population decline and shrinkage in 2009: the Population Decline Action Plan. This happened in response to local and regional policy initiatives and a lobby of local and regional governments, but also because the Minister of the Interior perceived shrinkage as a national policy challenge. This action plan was an attempt to arrange a multiscalar governance of shrinkage at national, regional, and local scales. However, this policy ended in 2019, and its last remaining element, a targeted subsidy for regions facing structural population decline, ended in 2022. This article will discuss (a) how and why the policy was introduced and how its governance was arranged, (b) how the policy changed between 2009 and 2022, (c) why it ended, (d) which new regional policies have been developed recently instead, and (e) what this could mean for the governance of shrinkage in the Netherlands.
PRINCIPLE OF JUDICIAL SPECIALIZATION THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE CONCEPT OF THE NATURAL COURT
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Prylutskyi Serhii
Published: May 2024

In the current conditions of intensive development of public relations and the complication of their legal regulation more and more states are turning to the institute of specialization of the judiciary organization and judiciary exercise. Thus, in Ukraine, it is established at the constitutional level that the judicial system of Ukraine is built on the principles of territoriality and specialization, additionally, higher specialized courts may operate in accordance with the law. Moreover, the Constitution of Ukraine states that the establishment of extraordinary and special courts is not allowed. In Art. 31 of the Law of Ukraine "On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges" (2016) it is stated that in the judicial system the higher specialized courts function as first instance courts for certain categories of cases. This category of courts currently includes the High Court of Intellectual Property and the High Anti-Corruption Court. However, a fierce debate evolved in Ukrainian political circles concerning the constitutionality of the anti-corruption court, and, accordingly, the subject of the constitutional petition questioned the number of provisions of the Law on the High Anti-Corruption Court and referred to the Constitutional Court to declare the law unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has initiated the constitutional proceedings on this issue. The familiarization with the legal position of the subject of the constitutional petition indicates that the key issue of this constitutional proceeding concerns the presence of signs of a "special court" (within the meaning of Part 6 of Article 125 of the Constitution of Ukraine) in the mechanism of legislative regulation of the High Anti-Corruption Court. In order to find an objective answer to the existing conflict, there appeared a necessity to clarify the legal nature of judicial specialization and to identify key features of the "special court". To solve such an applied issue, the author turned to the theoretical and applied provisions of the principle of natural court, that provided the grounds for the subject of this work.
ISRAELI-SAUDI PARTNERSHIP: REALITIES AND PROSPECTS
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Perepelytsia Hryhorii , Rohulia Karyna ,   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: May 2024

In this scientific article, we examine today’s realities and future prospects of the Israeli-Saudi partnership in the context of dynamically evolving Middle Eastern geopolitics. Exploring the multifaceted dimensions of this strategic cooperation, the study delves into the diplomatic relations, security considerations, and economic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Using a comprehensive analytical framework, the study sheds light on the motivations behind this unprecedented regional alliance and examines its implications for the broader Middle East security paradigm. By revealing the intricacies of this diplomatic rapprochement, the article aims to provide valuable information to scholars, politicians and observers interested in the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East.
Metahypermnesia: The Effects of Incentives and Item Types (Image vs. Word)
Authors: Kose O. , Aytimur Ch.
Published: May 2024

People sometimes make predictions about life events. These often include monitoring and control processes. Metacognition, which is subfield of cognition, has these processes. Metacognition research includes memory, attention, and comprehension studies. Hypermnesia is one of the topics relating to memory, simply meaning level of recall with regard to a repeated task. Thus, metahypermnesia is thoughts and judgements about hypermnesia. The aim of the present study was to find out whether people would overestimate or underestimate their performance on a given hypermnesia task that used images and words. Additionally, the effect of monetary incentives on the image and word test were investigated. Thus, it was hypothesised that people would overestimate their performance compared to their actual performance in the tasks. 134 participants were recruited for the study. The results illustrated that participants’ performance affected by monetary incentives and recall type. Importantly, giving incentives enhanced participants’ performance on image test but not word test. Participants also overestimated their performance on both the image and word tests, regardless of whether they received monetary incentives. However, participants overestimated their performance when they were incentivized more than they were not.
Illness Representations and Treatment Adherence in Patients with Acute Leukemia and Lymphoma
Authors: Esina L.V. , Vybornykh D.E. , Rasskazova E.I. , Gemdzhian E.G. , Zvonkov E.E. , Lukyanova I.A. , Moiseeva T.N. , Magomedova A.U.
Published: May 2024

This study aims to investigate the relationship between of perceptions of illness and its causes, body and health, and illness behavior in relation to treatment adherence in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma. We present one empirical study involving lymphoma patients (N=58) aged 19 to 64 years (M=41.22; SD=11.17), of whom 70.7% were female, and acute leukemia patients (N=51) aged 18 to 64 years (M=35.12; SD=12.90), of whom 54.9% were female. Participants completed the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), the Cognitions about body and health questionnaire (CABAH), the Scale for the Assessment of Illness Behavior (SAIB) and 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. The results suggest that patients with lymphoma are at risk for decreased treatment adherence compared to patients with acute leukemia. In acute leukemia, the targets of psychological work aimed at preventing reduced adherence to treatment are patients' perceptions of the psychological causes of the disease and their belief that healthy habits are not important for maintaining health, while in patients with lymphomas — uncertainty that immune problems could provoke the disease.
How the Medical Director Should Use Data Sources
Authors: Fix Jean-Marc
Published: May 2024

The life insurance industry is transitioning towards precision underwriting driven by increased data availability and access to advanced analytical tools. Effectively utilizing diverse data sources in life insurance underwriting presents an opportunity for medical directors to fully leverage their skillset in this evolving environment. By navigating these changes, balancing the value of data against its limitations, and fostering collaborative approaches to enhance risk assessment and underwriting processes, medical directors can maintain a pivotal role in the life insurance companies of tomorrow.
Basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Modeling
Authors: Richie Rodney C.
Published: May 2024

AI with machine learning and its subset deep learning are revolutionizing research into the morbidity and mortality of diseases and conditions. The major models of AI are discussed, with an attempt to simplify what many acknowledge as agnostic processing of vast amounts of data to arrive at a conclusion or diagnosis. Such models include convolutional neural networks, artificial neural networks, recurrent neural networks, generative adversarial networks, local interpretable model-agnostic explanations, shapley additive explanations, counterfactual explanations, multi-armed bandit models, deep-Q-learning models, fusion models, federated learning, predictive modeling, and disease outbreak prediction. Topics are well-referenced for further research.

Methodology

A key-word search of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence in medicine, and artificial intelligence models was done in PubMed and Google Scholar yielded more than 100 articles that were reviewed for summation in this article.
CUTTING TOOL DESIGN FOR MILLING OF THIN-WALLED INCONEL 718 COMPONENTS MADE BY WAAM
Authors:   Institute of Production Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, VOZAR MAREK , JURINA FRANTISEK ,   Institute of Production Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, VOPAT TOMAS ,   Institute of Production Technologies, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Published: May 2024

The paper deals with the issue of chatter reduction by modification of both the cutting tool geometry and the machining strategy. Tool wear, cutting forces, surface roughness, and flatness of milled thin-walled parts produced by WAAM (Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing) technology are evaluated. The machining strategy and parameters of the cutting tool macrogeometry were designed on the basis of experimental machining. Due to the combination of custom geometry of the cutting tool and adapted machining strategy, it is possible to significantly reduce chatter during milling and thereby reduce the roughness of the machined surface, as well as improve machining precision. The experimental results contribute to the effort to expand the knowledge in the field of machining thin-walled parts.
DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBOTIC FABRICATION SYSTEM FOR CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
Authors:   Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, MELTER OTO , CITEK DAVID ,   Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, HVIZDAL ALES ,   Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, GABRIEL MICHAEL ,   Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, KOLISKO JIRI ,   Klokner Institute, CTU in Prague, KOTES PETER ,   University of Zilina
Published: May 2024

Our team at Klokner Institute under Czech Technical University in Prague is working in a joint effort with Technical University of Liberec and Klokner on a comprehensive 3D printing system for cementitious materials, including specially optimized robotic arm. The goal of this system is to decrease the environmental impact of construction industry by reducing the volume of materials and time required, as well as reducing need for human labor. 3D printing also makes possible to build complex functional shapes, that would be too complicated or prohibitively expensive to manufacture using standard industry methods. Combining expertise of these two institutions lead to development of a robust system, that seamlessly integrates in-house developed mechanics and print material. One of key areas of our research is also testing mechanical properties of printed parts which is essential to safely integrate this construction method in real-world use in the future.
Time-loss injuries in MotoGP championships
Authors: Roi Giulio Sergio , Zecchel Fabio , Mandini Simona , Menegatti Erica , Caruso Lorenzo , Mazzoni Gianni
Published: May 2024

Introduction: MotoGP (Moto Grand Prix) is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits over a distance between 100 and 130 kilometers. Despite its worldwide popularity, there are only few studies published in the scientific literature, thus the aim of this paper is to contribute to the discussion about epidemiological data regarding the injuries of MotoGP riders. Material and method: Riders involved in the Moto Grand Prix (MotoGP) World Championships 2019, 2020, and 2021 were studied for time-loss injuries (TLI) by searching the official websites of riders themselves, races, sports newspapers. Results: Twenty-nine riders (age 28.0±4.7 yrs; BMI 21.8±1.2 kg/m2) with 11.8±8.2 yrs of experience in MotoGP and in motor racing championships, participated in the MotoGP World Championships 2019, 2020 and 2021. They reported 26 TLI during races, without difference between race and pre-race practice. TLI prevalence tends to increase linearly as riders participate in more than one subsequent Championship (R2 = 0.998; p<0.001), with a risk of 100% through the entire career. Incidence of TLI was 21.2/1000 hours of race (CI 95%: 9.7-32.8). TLI were classified as contusions (35%), bone fractures (32%), sprains (10%), contussions (10%), compartment syndromes (6%) and reopening of surgical wound (3%). Fractures accounted for 1.5% of the falls in the 2019-2021 championships and for 59% of TLI in career, affecting the upper limb in 62% of cases of fractures. Injuries were due to lowside (46%), collisions (38%), highside (8%), speed wobble (4%) and gust of wind (4%). The median absence from trainings and competitions due to TLI was 18 days (range 1-271). Conclusions: Training sessions and testing are equally occasions for TLI and should be considered for prevention and safety promotion of MotoGP riders
The use of foot length and foot breadth in estimating standing height of adolescents in Yenagoa, Nigeria
Authors: Okumoko Maureen A. , Akinbami Felix O. , Peterside Oliemen , Orimadegun Adebola E.
Published: May 2024

Background: Previous studies have shown that when standing height is difficult to measure, the length of other body parts may be a reliable alternative. However, there is limited information about the use of foot length (FL) and foot breadth (FB) in estimating standing height in the African population.  The objective of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of foot length and foot breadth in estimating standing height of adolescents in Yenagoa.
Methods: Using a multistage sampling technique, 1222 adolescents were recruited from secondary schools in the Yenagoa local government area. Height, foot length, and foot breadth were measured using standard techniques. Data was analysed and equations for prediction of standing height from foot length and foot breadth, were derived.  
Results: The mean standing height of the females was significantly lower than that of males (p<0.001). The mean foot length and mean foot breath for males were significantly higher than those for females. The mean foot length and mean foot breadth were found to increase across all the stages of adolescence. There was a significant positive correlation between standing height and foot length (r=0.700; p<0.001), foot breadth (r=0.543; p<0.001), and age (r=0.369; p<0.001). Multiple linear regression was used to derive equations for the estimation of FL and FB.
Conclusions: This study found that FL and FB can be used in the estimation of standing height. For adolescents in Yenagoa, the equations derived are recommended for predicting the standing height of those who have difficulty standing upright.
Study of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents of children with bronchial asthma in a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad
Authors: Menon Kavya , Vora Hetal D. , Patel Snehal V. , Desai Nirali P. , Pandya Palak D. , Vasavada Halak J.
Published: May 2024

Background: Asthma is common chronic diseases among children. The impact of asthma in children depends on complex interactions between disease severity, reaction of children towards disease, treatment efficiency, social roles, and social environment. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge, the common misconceptions and the common attitudes and practices prevalent among parents of asthmatic children, which can help paediatricians in educating parents and the public about the disease.
Methods: It was hospital based cross sectional study. Parents with bronchial asthmatic children between 3 and 12 years of age were interviewed based on predefined criteria. A proforma was used to collect data of parents and disease history of children. The 45-item questionnaire with three domains: knowledge, attitude, practice of bronchial asthma was scored. Higher scores indicated better KAP.
Results: Out of 90 respondents, 64.4% had poor knowledge and 35.6% had good knowledge. About 44.4% respondents had negative attitude and 81.1% had poor practice.
There was a poor attitude on the usage of asthma controller medication and the time of stoppage of the medicines. Overall, the attitude was on an average scale in more than 50.0% of the respondents.
Conclusions: Around 2/3rd parents had poor knowledge and negative attitude and ⅘ had poor practice. There was a significant association for the severity and duration of the disease with the knowledge and practice There was a significant conversion of good knowledge to practice.
Effectiveness of balloon therapy versus incentive spirometry in promotion of respiratory function in children with lower respiratory tract diseases in selected hospitals Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Tiwari Sukriti , Yadav Jyoti , Das Sebi
Published: May 2024

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are one of the most common infections that affect children’s respiratory systems it develops when the lung, specifically the lower airways become infected. The present study aims that breathing exercise helps to strengthen the children’s lungs and help to reduce the severity of respiratory sign and symptoms. So, balloon breathing exercises will be more acceptable among children.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 60 children diagnosed with LRTI at selected hospitals, Lucknow by using a convenient sampling technique. The clinical respiratory score scale (CRS), PedsQL (Multidimensional fatigue scale) was used to measure respiratory parameter and level of fatigue. Written permission was obtained from the authorities of Balrampur hospital and Vivekananda polyclinic and institute of medical sciences, Lucknow where the study was conducted.
Results: Data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. All p values less than 0.05 were treated as significant.0.83±0.61 of the children in the experimental group and 0.93±0.88 in the control group and a p=0.536. This illustrates that overall CRS had no significant difference and results of comparison of the experimental and control group -4.0625±6.86765, -4.0517±3.93027 respectively. P=0.994 which is not statistically different.
Conclusions: The study concluded that as per the present research study data, balloon therapy was found to be effective. Hence, the present research hypothesis (H1, H2, H3) is accepted.
Bacterial profiling, sensitivity and resistance pattern of neonatal sepsis in neonatal intensive care unit of tertiary care hospital
Authors: Srivastav Shaunak , Verma Manisha , Mitra Shaila , Dwivedi Gaurav
Published: May 2024

Background: This study aimed to identify the distribution of pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in the neonates admitted to the NICU of a tertiary care hospital in northern India.
Methods: After obtaining written informed consent, neonates with confirmed or suspected cases of neonatal sepsis (n=167) aged 0-28 days were included. As soon as the baby arrived, all the clothes were removed and kept in a pre-heated warmer. Before administering I/V antibiotics, all the routine and culture samples were taken. The clinical data were collected and analysed using SPSS.
Results: Most of the neonates were from lower middle class, out-born, LSCS, early preterm, and low birth weight (LBW). 167 neonates had culture-confirmed infections [blood culture positive (13.8%) and sepsis screen positive (86.2%)]. Gastric aspirate cytology was positive in 61.7% of patients. Maximum cytology-positive cases were seen in neonates with EOS. The most common risk factors were birth asphyxia. 142 individuals were discharged, with 72.5% diagnosed with EOS and 89% with LOS. There was a significant difference in gastric aspirate cytology when associated with expiry and discharge. Out of 167 neonates, 13.77% were culture-positive for neonatal sepsis. Out of 23 organisms, 82.6% were resistant, while, 17.4% were not. Staph aureus was the major causative organisms. Among the Gram Positive and Negative bacteria, the highest sensitivity was observed for imipenum. All gram-positive bacteria were resistant to cotrimazole, tobramycin, and erythromycin.
Conclusions: Implementation of effective preventive strategies to combat the emergence of antibiotic resistance is urgently needed.
Thrombocytopenia in children with acute encephalitis syndrome: a prospective observational study
Authors: Pal Mahendra , Verma Manisha , Kumar Chandrakanta , Kumar Rashmi , Jain Amita , Kushwaha Rashmi , Singh V. K.
Published: May 2024

Background: The objective of this study is to find out the proportion of children with thrombocytopenia in acute encephalitis syndrome (AES); second, to compare the aetiology of AES in thrombocytopenic cases with non-thrombocytopenic cases; and finally, to find out clinical and laboratory predictors of thrombocytopenia in AES, as well as to study platelet aggregation and compare it in both scrub positive and scrub negative AES cases.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted on 176 children with presumed viral aetiology were investigated to find out the cause of AES.
Results: The majority of patients presented with thrombocytopenia. The most common aetiologies are Japanese encephalitis (JE). No significant difference was observed in the aetiology of AES between the thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic groups. Rash, bleeding, swelling, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were significantly more common in thrombocytopenic AES cases. Among the laboratory parameters, haemoglobin, PCV, and serum protein were found to be significantly low in the thrombocytopenic group. Liver enzymes, serum AST, and serum ALT were significantly high in the thrombocytopenic group. Platelet aggregation percentage was found to be significantly high in AES children who were positive for scrub typhus in comparison to other AES cases. Eighty-seven patients were discharged from the hospital. The mortality rate was 18%. There was no significant difference in the outcome of AES cases in relation to thrombocytopenia.
Conclusions: This approach may help clinicians in the diagnosis of AES due to the scrub along with other tests available. There was no significant difference in the short-term outcome of AES cases in relation to thrombocytopenia.