bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pergantian Antar Waktu Calon Legislatif Terpilih Yang Meninggal Dunia Dalam Pelaksanaan Pemilihan Umum
Authors: Widiananto Nanda Prasetya  , Mohammad Syaiful Aris
Published: December 2024

Recall right of political parties is a process of recalling or replacing members of The House of Representatives carried out by the carrying political parties as a form of controlling the legislative members who represent their parties, which in practice often occur in disputes or legal problems. This thesis aims to find out how the Inter-Time Alternation arrangements in the laws and regulations and what authorities are possessed by the relevant parties in the Inter-Time Alternation mechanism. In this thesis the author uses a normative juridical research method which is carried out by collecting primary legal materials, namely related legislation and literature related to the discussion material in this study and the author uses a statute approach to approach the problem. From the legal research that has been carried out using the research mentioned above, the writer concludes that the regulation of recall in the legislation is regulated in Law Number 17 of 2014 concerning People’s Consultative Assembly, The House of Representatives, Regional Representatives Council and Regional Legislative Council, Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections and Law Number 2 of 2008 concerning Political Parties which explains that political parties may apply for Inter-time dismissal of The House of Representatives members and the General Elections Commission is authorized to determine Inter-time Substitute candidates.
BATI ETKİSİNDE OSMANLI SARAY MOBİLYASININ BİÇİMSEL ÖZELLİKLERİ, RENK VE DOKUSU HAKKINDA BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: Tosun Önder , Küreli İhsan
Published: December 2024

Bu çalışmada gerek ithal edilerek gerekse yurt içinden satın alınarak Osmanlı saraylarında kullanılmaya başlanan mobilyaların biçim, renk ve doku özelliklerinin neler olduğunun ortaya çıkarılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Ankara ve İstanbul’daki ilgili akademisyenlerin, öğretmenlerin ve sektör çalışanların görüşlerini belirlemek hedeflenmiştir. Nitel araştırma yöntemi ile yürütülen çalışmaya her şehirden 15’er kişi, her meslekten 10’ar kişi olmak üzere toplam 30 kişi katılmış, elde edilen sonuçlar içerik analizi ile çözümlenmiştir. Katılımcıların görüşlerine göre; Osmanlı’da mobilyanın Saraydan başlanarak halka yayıldığı, genel olarak mobilya kültürünün Batıdan geldiği belirlenmiştir. Osmanlı Saray mobilyalarında en fazla Fransız Barok, Ampir ve Rokokonun etkisi olduğu, bazı işlemelerde ve süslemelerde kendi kültürümüzün etkilerinin görüldüğü, en fazla kırmızı ve yeşil renkler olmakla birlikte altın yaldız, canlı renkler, turkuaz, mavi, turuncu, mor, sarı ve bordo renklerinin kullanıldığı, mobilyalarda kullanılan kumaş tarzlarında ise en fazla kadife, ipek, parlak simli kumaşlar ve saten kumaşların kullanıldığı belirlenmiştir. Bu tür çalışmaların Osmanlı Saray mobilyasının özelliklerinin ortaya çıkarılmasına katkısı olacağı düşünülmektedir.
PERFIL EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DAS INTOXICAÇÕES MEDICAMENTOSAS NOTIFICADAS AO SUS, NO ESTADO DO TOCANTINS, REFERENTES AO BIÊNIO 2021-2022.
Authors: Pereira Castro Camilo Ana Beatriz , Alves de Castro Neto Antônio
Published: December 2024

INTRODUÇÃO: Define-se intoxicação medicamentosa como uma síndrome tóxica provocada por dose de medicamento acima da terapêutica, seja por meio da injeção, inalação, ingestão ou contato com a pele e mucosas. É um efeito medicamentoso dose-dependente, que varia conforme a predisposição individual do usuário e com as várias interações enzimáticas de indução ou inibição metabólica da droga. Os envenenamentos não intencionais resultam, principalmente, da inadequação do uso, automedicação, rotulagem incorreta do fármaco, desatenção à bula e erros de posologia por profissionais. Já os intencionais têm como causa primordial o suicídio. METODOLOGIA: Estudo documental retrospectivo, com abordagens quantitativas e descritivas, realizado por meio da análise secundária do banco de dados do DATASUS e do SINITOX, sendo a população delimitada pelas intoxicações medicamentosas no biênio 2021-2022, no Estado do Tocantins, notificadas ao Sistema Nacional de Informações Tóxico-Farmacológicas – SINITOX. RESULTADOS: Durante esse período, 3601 casos de intoxicação exógena foram registrados, sendo mais prevalente a medicamentosa, responsável por, aproximadamente, 46,1%. Destes registros, 2250 ocorreram no sexo feminino, correspondendo a 62,5%. CONCLUSÃO: Dos 1662 casos totais de intoxicação medicamentosa, 760 ocorreram com a combinação das variáveis: sexo feminino, faixas etárias de 15 a 19 e 20 a 39 anos, e motivadas por tentativa de suicídio. Vale ressaltar a dificuldade em notificar e intervir nas intoxicações, devido uma facilidade de acesso aos fármacos e falha perante as políticas de vigilância sanitária e ao uso racional de medicamentos.
Concentração sérica de ureia no pré- parto e o efeito no metabolismo mineral de vacas leiteiras no pós- parto imediato
Authors: Schimitti K. , Moreira F. , Barth A.L. , Palmeira R. , Peripolli V. , Bianchi I. , Santos J. , Fernandes L. , Schwegler E. , Ziegler M.
Published: December 2024

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se as concentrações
séricas de ureia no pré-parto de vacas leiteiras, influenciaram no metabolismo
mineral do magnésio (Mg) e do cálcio (Ca). Foram selecionadas 27 vacas multíparas da
raça Holandês oriunda de duas propriedades. Foi realizada aferição do pH urinário e
coleta sanguínea 7 dias antes da data prevista do parto, e no pós-parto imediato
coleta de sangue nas 24, 48 e 72 horas. No sangue foi determinado a concentração
sérica de ureia, Ca e Mg. Os dados foram submetidos análise de variância e
correlação, sendo categorizados de acordo com a mediana da concentração de ureia
pré- parto em grupo de ureia alta (GUA) e grupo de ureia baixa (GUB). Houve
correlação positiva entre o Ca e Mg pré-parto (r= 0,85; P
Problematizando la «mermelada»: la publicidad estatal y su influencia en la agenda de los medios en el Perú
Authors: Cordero Cabrera Jaime
Published: December 2024

This article examines the influence of state advertising on the media in Peru, focusing on the concept of «mermelada», a term used to describe the exchange of economic or advertising favors between the state and the media in return for favorable coverage. Through a review of the literature on media capture and a quantitative analysis of historical data on state advertising investment, the study concludes that, while the narrative of «mermelada» has gained strength in political discourse, the state's actual ability to capture major media outlets is in decline.
La guerra de la Independencia en la dramaturgia chilena del siglo XIX
Authors: Faúndez Carreño Tania
Published: December 2024

War has become a constant theme in Chilean drama, which in turn has been closely linked to national identity. The pulsion of war, with its institutional discursive mechanisms (historical, political, cultural, military, national), its undulations, and the difficulty of representing it on stage have resonated in Chilean dramaturgy since the consolidation of the Republic in the nineteenth century (1817) until the tremendous celebration of the national Bicentennial (2010). Our study examines how war impulse (during the pre-war, war and post-war periods) have been embedded in the war drama of the XIX century. For this, we will analyze three texts: La Camila o La patriota de Sud-América (1817), by Camilo Henríquez, La hija del Sur o La Independencia (1823), by Manuel Magallanes and Ernesto (1842), by Rafael Minvielle. In these dramas, we will observe the relationship between war and theater, and how the warlike pretext appears (action, historical context, background, or political, economic, and social dimension) in works with some representative importance in the national theater scene.
Completion and Stimulation Design Evolution in Tight Chalk Formations in Offshore Norway
Authors: Nozaki M. , Zwarich N. R. , Burton R. C. , Prosvirnov M. , Ruysschaert R. , Habib M. A. , Johnson L. A.
Published: December 2024

Lower completion and acid stimulation designs for low-permeability chalk formations in a series of North Sea fields were modified from historical/legacy approaches to improve well performance for both production and injection purposes. The modifications included (1) a stimulation change from high-rate matrix acidizing to acid fracturing and (2) optimization of ball-activated sliding sleeve designs. The improvement in well performance was validated by actual productivity comparisons to offset wells. Further improvements are being developed for future extended reach wells.

A ball-activated sliding sleeve completion was chosen for a new series of improved horizontal well completions. Sleeve spacing, the number of sleeves, and port sizes were subsequently optimized for targeted stimulated lateral lengths by pipe flow modeling and limited-entry design methods. Optimization of acid fracturing designs was achieved after incorporating critical findings from various laboratory tests including rotating disk tests, acid-etched fracture conductivity tests, and gel shear history simulator tests. The new acid fracturing treatment designs were generated with the help of numerical simulations that were continuously fine-tuned based on new observations made during treatments and rigorous analysis of bottomhole injection pressures during the treatment.

As a result of the lower completion design optimization process, different-size nozzles were introduced into the sliding sleeves to treat up to five sleeves per stimulation stage with effective, limited-entry, fluid diversion. This allowed (1) use of available pumping weather windows effectively in the often-challenging North Sea offshore environment, (2) reducing or eliminating time-consuming wireline perforation runs, and (3) limiting acid exposure to mitigate ball/seat zonal isolation loss events (i.e., dissolvable balls were not always compatible with acid). The new and improved acid fracturing design enabled a reduction of the number of gel/acid cycles from five to three, which reduced stimulation cost without losing stimulation effectiveness. The new design also resulted in productivity enhancements depending on the well location within the structure. The largest performance improvement was observed in wells that were placed farther downflank, where stronger reservoir rock and lower permeabilities were found. These wells required a more intensive acid fracturing treatment to generate economical and sustainable production rates. Finally, wells that used the new stimulation techniques also tended to require a lower restimulation frequency.

This type of analysis work has not been presented previously and it optimizes lower completion for acid fracturing stimulation on a well-by-well basis. Further improvement is expected as stimulation designs and completion technology continue to evolve.
Optimizing Well Trajectories for Enhanced Oil Production in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs: Integrating Particle Swarm Optimization with an Innovative Semi-Analytical Model Framework
Authors: Shu Jin , Han Guoqing , Yue Zhenduo , Cheng Lei , Dong Ya , Liang Xingyuan
Published: December 2024

Well trajectory optimization is a crucial component in the drilling engineering of naturally fractured reservoirs. The complex heterogeneity and anisotropy of such reservoirs significantly affect the pressure drop distribution within the well and, consequently, the oil well’s output, impacting the economic benefits of the well. Therefore, optimizing the well segment trajectory is key to efficient reservoir development. However, traditional well trajectory optimization methods primarily focus on geological structures and drilling engineering costs, often overlooking future production benefits of the oil well. This paper proposes a new method that first establishes a semi-analytical production prediction model capable of describing complex well trajectories. Although the semi-analytical model has unique advantages in well trajectory description, it typically treats the reservoir as a homogeneous entity, which complicates handling complex reservoir characteristics. To overcome this limitation, we combined optimization algorithms and neural networks to construct a framework for addressing reservoir heterogeneity (Semianalytical Model Framework for Unconventional Wells in Heterogeneous Reservoirs, USAMF-HR), enhancing the semi-analytical model’s ability to describe reservoir heterogeneity. Building on this framework, we applied the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and introduced constraints on the rationalization of initial well trajectories, as well as limits on particle movement speed and displacement, with the maximization of net present value (NPV) as the objective function, to optimize well trajectory coordinates. Through specific case analysis, the reasonableness and practicality of this method have been verified. The results show that this method can quickly and effectively plan the optimal well trajectory, significantly increasing productivity while reducing costs.
Study of Sand Transport in a Horizontal Pipeline Using Validated Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations with Experimental Fiber-Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing Data
Authors: Shetty R. , Tyagi M. , Sharma J.
Published: December 2024

Sand management in wellbores is a significant challenge in the industry, notably impacting equipment integrity and operational safety—particularly in offshore oil and gas operations affected by the onset of sand production along with hydrocarbons. Recent advancements in fiber-optic sensing, especially through distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) experimental data, have enabled the continuous monitoring of sand ingress and migration. In this study, we use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to accurately model sand transport by validating the simulations against the DAS data in a 40-ft-long, 2-in.-diameter experimental flow loop. The validation and verification (V&V) process demonstrates the CFD model’s accuracy in both steady-state and transient conditions, through predictions of key flow parameters such as sand slip velocity, sand concentration profiles, and sand arrival times against published experimental data, as well as verification of CFD methodology against similar simulation studies. Next, we used the CFD model to simulate the fiber-optic experimental DAS data for sand slurry transport in a pipe through an injection port with conditions of carrier fluid velocity = 0.93 m/s and dispersed phase (sand) particle diameter of 300 µm at a concentration of 0.001 v/v. To address uncertainties during sand production, a parametric study under transient conditions was conducted with varying boundary conditions in the CFD model. It examined fluid flow velocities at both 0.53 m/s and 0.93 m/s, below and above the critical settling velocity of the sand respectively, and the effects of varying sand particle diameters (125 µm and 600 µm).

Our research represents a significant advancement in sand management strategies, offering a robust and cost-effective tool for simulating real-world scenarios to improve operational efficiency. By providing detailed insights into flow dynamics and enabling robust predictions across various conditions, this study contributes substantially to advancing sand management strategies that could effectively mitigate operational risks and optimize sand transport in real time.
Effect of Atriplex halimus Leaf as Ecofriendly Surfactant for Demulsification of Water in Crude Oil Emulsion
Authors: Djemiat Djamal Eddine , Bouleghlem Hocine , Djemli Amar , Zoukel Abdelhalim , Ait Merzeg Farid , Berini Mohamed Rafik , Benmounah Abdelbaki
Published: December 2024

Water-crude oil emulsion causes challenges, which the petrochemical sector solves using efficient, ecologically friendly, and cost-effective demulsifying chemicals. With this work, we aim to solve the problem of the presence of water in Algerian oil after it has left the producing well by adding a natural material, widely used in the country, as an environmentally friendly demulsifier. Atriplex halimus L. leaf ATP powder (ATP-P) and leaf extract (E-ATP) were studied. We first characterized the two biosurfactants ATP-P and E-ATP by attenuated total reflectance (ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The effect of ATP-P and E-ATP on the emulsion (water/oil) was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, microscopic, rheological behavior, interfacial tension (IFT), and bottle tests. The results obtained show the ability of the two biosurfactants E-ATP and ATP-P to separate water, with water separation reaching 99% in 30 minutes with 500 ppm of E-ATP, while ATP-P separates 98% in 92 minutes. The mechanism of action of the two compounds as biodemulsifiers can be traced back to the rheological study, which showed a 33% reduction in emulsion viscosity at 500 ppm; ATR-FTIR analysis also shows the disappearance of carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen bonds, responsible for the reduction in oil viscosity. A decrease in surface tension by 41.48% by adding P-ATP and 57.95% by adding E-ATP contributed to the integration of water molecules and increased separation speed. Microscopic analysis shows an increase in the volume diameter of the water droplets, more than threefold when E-ATP is added and more than twofold when ATP-P is added.
An Evaluation of the Combination of Fibers and Granules for Lost Circulation Material Applications
Authors: Henriques Cassian , Dahi Taleghani Arash
Published: December 2024

To counter the issue of lost circulation, several types of lost circulation materials (LCMs), such as granules, fibers, and flakes, have been developed and tested in the laboratory and field. Ample research has suggested that the combination of two or more different LCMs instead of a single type leads to a better overall fracture-plugging capability. However, the design of these LCM combinations is more often aligned toward trial and error in an attempt to discover the best LCM properties rather than an in-depth and systematic engineering design that appropriately captures the physics of the problem. In this paper, a novel coupled computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method (CFD-DEM) numerical model is developed to closely assess the effect of the combination of granules and fiber LCMs for fracture plugging applications. For an effective LCM design, it is vital to take into consideration the innate particle properties of the fibers and granules as they are among the most important parameters in determining if the combination yields an improved plugging effect than if used separately. For this reason, the effects of important LCM properties such as fiber stiffness, granular particle-size distribution, and the concentration of each LCM type in the blend are investigated in a systematic parametric study. Often, due to a lack of information on the loss zone, the extent of the fracture sizes being dealt with remains unclear, and although granular LCMs by themselves portray good plugging capability in small fractures, due to size limitations, they fail to plug the wide fractures. Thus, the focus of this study is on the scenario when the fiber LCMs are the main drivers of the fracture bridging process. With the help of this study, we attempt to demystify the essential fiber and granular particle properties that in synergy would lead to the best fracture-plugging capability.
Back to the future: primitivization, barbarization, or new scenarios of human development?
Authors: Iakovleva E. L. , Grigoryev R. A.
Published: December 2024

Objective: to analyze the current digital stage of development from the viewpoint of the social structure and manifestations of an individual in it, as the latter has acquired a new form of identity – digital nomadism.

   Methods: dialectical and phenomenological methods using comparative analysis. The ideas of A. A. Dydrov and R. V. Penner, G. L. Tulchinsky, M. Shpitzer, and E. L. Yakovleva served as material for theoretical understanding of the problem.

   Results: the analysis made it possible to identify the features of primitivization and barbarization in the modern existence of society and the electronic nomad, which began to function in the coordinate system of the two worlds. Their modus appears to be digital. At the same time, primitivization is associated with the intellectual manifestations of the electronic nomad, and barbarization is associated with their actions in the virtual space. The intersection of elements of primitivization and barbarization leads to some immoral manifestations of the electronic nomad, who allow themselves indecent deeds in the digital environment. Trying to predict the future, the authors point to the best development option associated with the cooperation of electronic nomads and robots, and the worst one, determined by the introduction of implants into the human brain. The latter scenario will make the electronic nomad fully manageable, which will be beneficial for owners of corporations and digital platforms. But there is always hope to avoid the negative option. In the situation of the electronic nomad, their gradual adaptation to the digital environment and the launch of the rationalization process will allow them to follow an optimistic path of development.

   Scientific novelty: due to advances in science and technology, the digitalization process is ambiguous. Despite the high level of comfort of modern civilization, the features of primitivization and barbarization appear in the existence of the electronic nomad. The authors emphasize that these characteristics are temporary in nature, associated with the society transition to a new stage of development; hence, the electronic nomad will gradually learn to function competently, work and express themselves in the digital environment. But a different outcome is also possible. In the context of the development of brain modification technologies, the electronic nomad can be integrated into a new economy, which will not allow for their development and will lead to complete isolation from the meaningfulness, awareness and reflection inherent in a self-sufficient personality.

   Practical significance: consists in using the research results to further study the modern stage of civilizational development associated with digitalization and the features of a new type of personality – the electronic nomad, as well as in identifying risk zones in social and individual existence in order to block or minimize them.
Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and source apportionment of biogenic elements using APCS-MLR model in the main inlet tributary of Danjiangkou Reservoir
Authors: Wu Yihang , Zhang Qianzhu , Luo Yuan , Jin Ke , He Qian , Lu Yang
Published: December 2024

Danjiangkou Reservoir has been widely concerned as the water source of the world’s longest cross basin water transfer project. Biogenic elements are the foundation of material circulation and key factors affecting water quality. However, there is no comprehensive study on the biogenic elements in tributaries of Danjiangkou Reservoir, hindering a detailed understanding of geochemical cycling characteristics of biogenic elements in this region. Guanshan River, one of the main tributaries that directly enter the Danjiangkou Reservoir, was token as the research object. Spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of basic water quality parameters and biogenic elements were studied. Water quality was comprehensively evaluated through water quality index (WQI). Absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model was adopted to explore the main sources of biogenic elements. Results showed that, in terms of season, the concentrations of TN, TP, and DOC were significantly higher in wet season than in dry season, while no significant differences were found for DIC and DSi. Spatially, the concentrations of DC, DIC, TN and TP in the middle and lower reaches were higher than that in the upstream. DOC concentration peaked in the middle reaches, while DSi showed higher concentrations in the upstream. WQI values indicated that the river water quality was between good and excellent, although the water quality in wet season was slightly worse than that in the dry season. PCA extracted five potential sources, which accounting for 84.12% of the total variance, including rock weathering, mixed source of sewage discharge and agricultural non-point source pollution, dissolved soil CO2, seasonal factor and agricultural non-point source pollution. These sources contributed 38.96%, 12.33%, 13.54%, 23.95% and 11.21% to river water quality parameters, respectively. Strengthening the monitoring of biogenic elements, controlling pollutant discharge and exploring the relationship between biogenic elements and other pollutants are important for the water environment management in this basin.
Diabe-Teach: A randomized controlled trial of a gamified approach to enhance medical undergraduates' knowledge and comprehension of diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shadan Mariam , Ismail Hiba , Naushad Fathima Hana Mohamed
Published: December 2024

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus worldwide necessitates that medical undergraduates acquire a deep understanding of the disease to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective management. Traditional teaching methods, while foundational, often lack the interactive elements that enhance student engagement and knowledge retention. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel educational board game, "Diabe-teach," in enhancing knowledge retention among medical students compared with conventional self-study methods. A randomized controlled design involving 56 preclinical medical students at Dubai Medical College for Girls was used. The participants were randomly assigned to either the game-based learning group or the control group, with both groups receiving identical instructional materials on diabetes. Knowledge retention was assessed via pre- and post-test scores, whereas student engagement and perceptions were measured via a feedback survey. The results indicated that while both groups showed significant improvement in post-test scores (p < .001), the game-based group demonstrated a notably greater frequency of correct responses and a greater tendency to recognize knowledge gaps, as evidenced by the increased "I do not know" responses compared with incorrect guesses in the control group. Feedback from the game-based learning group highlighted enhanced confidence, improved communication skills, and a preference for the gamified approach over traditional methods. The findings suggest that the "Diabe-teach" board game is an effective tool for teaching complex medical concepts, fostering both knowledge retention and critical self-assessment among students. These results contribute to the growing body of literature on game-based learning, supporting its potential as a valuable adjunct to traditional medical education methods. Further research could explore the application of this approach across other medical disciplines.
Public sector pharmaceutical distribution system and its challenges: a case of a central EPSS and selected branches
Authors: Getahun Kidus Tesfaye , Bilal Arebu Issa , Cho Denny J.
Published: December 2024

Background
The purpose of pharmaceutical distribution is to ensure a consistent supply of quality-assured pharmaceuticals to service delivery points to avoid stock outs and/or overstocks. However, choosing a resource-efficient method is difficult because of the two competing interests of lowering distribution costs and improving service level. This study aimed to assess the public sector pharmaceutical distribution system and its challenges in central EPSS and selected branches.
Methods
This study was conducted in the Central EPSS and four regional branches from December 2021 to February 2022. A concurrent parallel mixed methods design was employed. A total of 102 respondents participated in the quantitative part and were analyzed in SPSS 23 via descriptive statistics. Seventeen key informants participated in the qualitative study. Qualitative data were analyzed manually through thematic analysis using inductive approach.
Results
Warehouse management was well performed in relative to inventory management and delivery practice. The qualitative study identified insufficient stock, off-schedule delivery, providing near expiry product, and vehicle constraints as major challenges.
Conclusions
This study revealed that improving warehousing, inventory management, and delivery practice and addressing major challenges could result in effective pharmaceutical distribution.
Diagnostic accuracy of screening tests for diabetic peripheral neuropathy among outpatient attendees of follow up care for diabetes in Central India
Authors: Selvaraj Kalaiselvi , Deshmukh Pradeep R , Phatak Mrunal , Patil Ashlesh Laxman , Charlette Lena , Khot Rajeshree , Khan Mubashshera Firdous , Thanigachalam Srinivasan
Published: December 2024

Background and objectives:
Of the several screening tests used in screening for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), each one has its demerits which act a threat to reliability. There is no single optimal method for the early diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). This study was conducted to compare the diagnostic accuracy of monofilament, biothesiometer and symptom-based scoring in detecting DPN, to determine the optimal cut-off for biothesiometer score compared to Nerve conduction studies (NCS) as gold standard and to compare the time taken to screen with monofilament and biothesiometer.
Methodology: The cross-sectional comparative diagnostic accuracy study was conducted in the Medicine OPD of a tertiary care institute in Central India. Among the patients with DM, those who were advised NCS between March - October 2023 were included in the study. All patients had undergone clinical Michigan neuropathy scoring, biothesiometer and monofilament and NCS.
Results and discussion: A total of 78 limbs among 39 patients with diabetes were assessed for DPN. The sensitivity of clinical Michigan neuropathy scoring, monofilament and biothesiometer (10 cut-off) were 15.6% (5.3 to 32.8), 35.5% (23.7 to 48.7) and 71% (58.1 to 81.8) respectively. A biothesiometer score of 10 was identified as optimal with area under the curve: 0.7132 (0.56 to 0.87), and the time taken to administer the biothesiometer was about 2.5 times more compared to the monofilament assessment.
Conclusions: Biothesiometry has higher sensitivity compared to other screening methods such as monofilament and clinical symptom score. The biothesiometer cut off at 10 had higher sensitivity compared to the existing standards of 15mV. The need for lower cut-off for biothesiometry has to be established with reference to nerve conduction study standards in larger studies.
Research on the prediction of the number of scholarships won by college students based on the RF-LightGBM model
Authors: Xie Xin , Niu Yanmin , Ma Yan
Published: December 2024

With the increasing number of university graduates every year, college students are facing serious employment challenges. Good academic performance and a higher number of scholarships are conducive to enhancing students' competitiveness, however, they lack the ability to plan their academic life reasonably. In order to guide them to plan their study life reasonably and efficiently to promote better employment, this study proposes the RF-LightGBM model for predicting the number of scholarships awarded to students and analysing the important factors affecting the number of academic scholarships awarded. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the model reaches 83.1%, which is higher than other models, and can predict the number of scholarships awarded more accurately. The key features affecting the number of scholarships awarded are the grades of professional courses, and the scores assigned to the behavioural performance in school, so it is suggested that students should pay attention to the study of professional courses, and take an active part in professional competitions, volunteer activities, etc., so as to improve the comprehensive quality of the individual. This study provides a feasible reference for students on how to better obtain academic scholarships, which will help them plan their study life and enhance their competitiveness so that they can better cope with the challenges of employment.
Trends in low global warming potential inhaler prescribing: A UK-wide cohort comparison from 2018-2024
Authors: Barry Simon M , Davies Gareth R , Forton Julian , Williams Sarah , Thomas Richard , Paxton Paul , Moore Grace , Davies Chris
Published: December 2024

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis comparing trends in low global warming potential (GWP) inhaler prescribing in primary care in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2018 and 2024 using national prescribing data. There was little change in England, a reduction from 36.6–31.0% in Scotland, a reduction from 36.7–33.2% in Northern Ireland, and an increase from 30.8–41.1% in Wales. Only in Wales was there a simultaneous reduction in high GWP inhalers and an increase in low GWP inhalers. Over the time period of the study there has been a saving of 20,303 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in Wales
Treating self-harm behaviors in prisons: Effectiveness and implementation of the STEPPS program
Authors: Lorente-Català Rosa , Jaén Irene , Busca-Huertas Xavier , Framis Berta , García-Palacios Azucena
Published: December 2024

Background
Improving mental health within correctional facilities, specifically to address self-harm behaviors, is a crucial endeavor. However, significant challenges arise when implementing evidence-based programs within this complex setting. Despite these hurdles, the Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) program has garnered recognition, notably in the United States, for its efficacy in tackling such issues. This study aimed to examine inmate profiles in prisons located in Catalonia, Spain, and to investigate the STEPPS program's effectiveness and implementation process.
Method
Forty-one inmates participated in the study and completed measures covering self-harm behaviors, emotion regulation, impulsivity, mental health symptoms, and satisfaction with the intervention. Twenty-four professionals who implemented the STEPPS program completed satisfaction, normalization process, burnout, acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility measures.
Results
The results suggest that the STEPPS program significantly reduced symptoms of emotional dysregulation, motor impulsivity, and compulsive symptomatology among inmates. The intervention was well-received by professionals, and perceived as appropriate and feasible. The perception of feasibility decreased after implementation, likely due to contextual factors such as inmate and organization characteristics. Additionally, professionals remained committed to the implementation, dedicating time and effort to the process and engaging in thorough evaluations, without increasing their levels of burnout.
Conclusions
These findings deepen the understanding of self-harm behaviors in prisons and demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. However, improvements in the STEPPS program are still necessary to enhance its implementation in this setting.
Trial Registration
NCT06297460 (ClinicalTrials.gov, retrospectively registered, 2022/01/01).
Deferasirox improved iron homeostasis and hematopoiesis in ovariectomized rats with iron accumulation
Authors: Honari Niloofar , Sayadi Mahtab , Sajjadi Seyed Mehdi , Solhjoo Somayeh , Sarab Gholamreza Anani
Published: December 2024

Menopause is a natural biological aging process characterized by the loss of ovarian follicular function and decrease estrogen levels. These hormonal fluctuations are associated with increased iron levels, which ultimately lead to iron accumulation. This study aims to investigate the effects of Deferasirox on iron homeostasis and hematopoiesis in ovariectomized rats with iron accumulation. Sixty-four female Wistar rats were divided into eight groups and underwent ovariectomy surgery to simulate menopause. Iron accumulation was induced through the injection of ammonium ferric citrate. Deferasirox was administered at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. Hematological parameters, iron profile, antioxidant markers, oxidative stress indicators, histopathological evaluation of uterine, bone, bone marrow, liver, and spleen tissues, flow cytometric analysis of hematopoietic CD markers, and relative expression of Hamp, Pu.1, Gata1, and Gdf11 genes were analyzed. Deferasirox treatment improved histopathological changes in the uterine tissue of ovariectomized rats with iron accumulation, increased the number of white blood cells, and reduced serum iron levels, TIBC, ferritin, and transferrin saturation percentage. It also increased serum antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress markers. Deferasirox had a positive effect on femur bone, hematopoietic cell count, volume of hematopoietic and adipose tissues in bone marrow, extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver and spleen, and influenced the relative expression of Hamp, Pu.1, Gata1, and Gdf11 genes related to hematopoiesis and iron metabolism. In conclusion, Deferasirox effectively manages iron homeostasis and hematopoiesis in ovariectomized rats with iron accumulation and suppresses oxidative stress.
Opportunities and challenges to delivering a trial for depressive symptoms in primary care during the COVID- 19 pandemic: Insights from the Alpha-Stim-D randomised controlled trial
Authors: Patel Shireen , Patel Priya , Boutry Clement , Guo Boliang , Butler Deborah , Higton Fred , McNaughton Rebecca , Briley Paul M , Griffiths Christopher , Nixon Neil , Prasad Vibhore , Sayal Kapil , Smart David , Zafar Azhar , Kai Joe , Morriss Richard
Published: December 2024

Background: Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are widely regarded as the most powerful research design for evidence-based practice. However, recruiting to RCTs can be challenging resulting in heightened costs and delays in research completion and implementation. Enabling successful recruitment is crucial in mental health research. Despite the increase in the use of remote recruitment strategies and digital health interventions there is limited evidence on methods to improve recruitment to remotely delivered mental health trials. The paper outlines practical examples and recommendations on how to successfully recruit participants to remotely delivered mental health trials.
Methods: The Alpha Stim-D Trial was a multi-centre double-blind randomised controlled trial, for people aged 16 years upwards, addressing depressive symptoms in primary care. Despite a six-month delay in beginning recruitment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial met the recruitment target within the timeframe and achieved high retention rates. Several strategies were implemented to improve recruitment, some of these were adapted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included adapting the original in-person recruitment strategies. Subsequently, systematic recruitment using postal invitations from criteria-specific search of the sites’ electronic health records was added to opportunistic recruitment to increase referrals in response to sub-target recruitment whilst also reducing the burden on referring sites. Throughout the recruitment process, the research team collaborated with key stakeholders such as primary care clinicians and the project’s Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPI/E) representatives who gave advice on recruitment strategies. Furthermore, the study researchers played a key role in communicating with participants and building rapport from study introduction to data collection.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that trial processes can influence recruitment, therefore consideration and a regular review of the recruitment figures and strategies is important. Recruitment of participants can be maximised by utilising remote approaches, which reduce the burden and amount of time required by referring sites and allow the research team to reach more participants whilst providing participants and researchers with more flexibility. Effectively communicating and working collaboratively with key stakeholders throughout the trial process, as well as building rapport with participants may also improve recruitment rates.
γ - Competitveness. An Approach to Multi-Objective Optimization with High Computation Costs in Lipschitz Functions
Authors: Latypov Ilgam , Dorn Yuriy
Published: December 2024

In practical engineering and optimization, solving multi-objective optimization (MOO) problems typically involves scalarization methods that convert a multiobjective problem into a single-objective one. While effective, these methods often incur significant computational costs due to iterative calculations and are further complicated by the need for hyperparameter tuning.
In this paper, we introduce an extension of the concept of competitive solutions and propose the Scalarization With Competitiveness Method (SWCM) for multicriteria problems. This method is highly interpretable and eliminates the need for hyperparameter tuning. Additionally, we offer a solution for cases where the objective functions are Lipschitz continuous and can only be computed once, termed Competitiveness Approximation on Lipschitz Functions (CAoLF). This approach is particularly useful when computational resources are limited or recomputation is not feasible.
Through computational experiments on the minimum-cost concurrent flow problem, we demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of the proposed method, underscoring its potential for addressing computational challenges in MOO across various applications.
Cov-trans: An Efficient Algorithm for Discontinuous Transcript Assembly in Coronaviruses
Authors: Guo Xiaoyu , Wu Zhenming , Zhang Shu , Zhao Jin
Published: December 2024

Background:
Discontinuous transcription allows coronaviruses to efficiently replicate and transmit within host cells, enhancing their adaptability and survival. Assembling viral transcripts is crucial for virology research and the development of antiviral strategies. However, traditional transcript assembly methods primarily designed for variable alternative splicing events in eukaryotes are not suitable for the viral transcript assembly problem. The current algorithms designed for assembling viral transcripts often struggle with low accuracy in determining the transcript boundaries. There is an urgent need to develop a highly accurate viral transcript assembly algorithm.
Results:
In this work, we propose Cov-trans, a reference-based transcript assembler specifically tailored for the discontinuous transcription of coronaviruses. Cov-trans first identifies canonical transcripts based on discontinuous transcription mechanisms, start and stop codons, as well as reads alignment information. Subsequently, it formulates the assembly of non-canonical transcripts as a path extraction problem, and introduces a mixed integer linear programming to recover these non-canonical transcripts.
Conclusion:
Experimental results show that Cov-trans outperforms other assemblers in both accuracy and recall, with a notable strength in accurately identifying the boundaries of transcripts. Cov-trans is freely available at https://github.com/computer-Bioinfo/Cov-trans.
Material Hardship, Forced Displacement, and Negative Health Outcomes Among Unhoused People Who Use Drugs in Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Goldshear Jesse Lloyd , Ganesh Siddhi S. , Borquez Annick , Gelberg Lillian , Corsi Karen F. , Bluthenthal Ricky N.
Published: December 2024

Background: Homelessness is a growing concern in the United States, especially among people who use drugs (PWUD). The degree of material hardship among this population may be linked to worse health outcomes. PWUD experiencing homelessness in urban areas are increasingly subjected to policies and social treatment, such as forced displacement, which may worsen material hardship. It is critical to describe hardship among PWUD and examine if it is linked to health outcomes.
Methods: Data were collected as part of a prospective cohort study of PWUD in Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado (n = 476). Analysis sample size was smaller (N = 395) after selecting for people experiencing homelessness and for whom data were complete. Five indicators assessing hardship (difficulty finding food, clothing, restrooms, places to wash/shower, and shelter) in the past three months were obtained from participants at baseline and were used in latent class analysis (LCA). We chose a base latent class model after examination of global fit statistics. We then built three auxiliary models using the three-step Bolck–Croon–Hagenaars (BCH) method to test the relationship of latent class membership to several hypothesized social and health variables in this same three month time period.
Results: Fit statistics, minimum classification probabilities, and ease of interpretation indicated a three-class solution for level of material difficulty. We termed these classes “High Difficulty” (n = 82), “Mixed Difficulty” (n = 215), and “Low Difficulty” (n = 98). Average classification probabilities indicated good class separability. “High Difficulty” participants had high probabilities of usually having difficulty accessing all five resources. “Mixed Difficulty” participants indicated a range of difficulty accessing all resources, with restrooms and bathing facilities being the most difficult. “Low Difficulty” participants were defined by high probabilities of never having access difficulty. In auxiliary analyses, there were significant (p < 0.05) differences in experiences of displacement, opioid withdrawal symptoms, nonfatal overdose, and violent victimization between classes.
Conclusions: This LCA indicates that among PWUD experiencing homelessness there exist distinct differences in resource access and material hardship, and that these differences are linked with political, social, substance use, and other health outcomes. We add to the literature on the relationship between poverty and health among PWUD. Policies which increase difficulty accessing necessary material resources may negatively impact health in this population.