bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientific relevance and affinity in the declarations of the groups and academic disciplines in physical exercise and sport sciences
Authors: Raiola Gaetano , Esposito Giovanni , Aliberti Sara , Ceruso Rosario , D’Elia Francesca
Published: February 2025

Purpose

In Italy, following the definition of scientific-disciplinary groups (SDG) and the update of academic disciplines (AD) with their respective declarations, a significant legislative change occurred. This led to the merging of the two ADs of Physical Training Sciences and Methodology (code M-EDF/01) and Sport Sciences and Methodology (code M-EDF/02) into a single SDG called Physical Exercise and Sport Sciences. Consequently, there should be full scientific autonomy for this new SDG. However, residual interference from the former related ADs persists, which is now redundant, since the new SDG encompasses all relevant affinities. Therefore, other ADs and SDGs should not reference the SDG and ADs titles of Physical Exercise and Sport Sciences in their declarations. The study aimed to verify if there were any duplications compared to the previous university body, to what extent these duplications existed, and to identify the specific instances of duplication.

Methods

A textual analysis of the scientific declarations of the 190 SDGs and 383 ADs was conducted in comparison with the corresponding previous declarations of the academic recruitment fields (ARF) and ADs. The analysis was conducted using specific keywords.

Results

The analysis of Ministerial Decree (DM) n. 639 of 2024 found that the keyword “Sport” is present in 21 SDGs and 23 ADs, ranging from zoology and physiology to aerospace engineering and law. For “Physical training or education or exercise”, 7 SDGs and 6 ADs were identified, including musculoskeletal system diseases, cellular biology, and special education. Compared with the DM n. 885 of 2000, the keyword “Sport” appears in 15 ARFs and 10 ADs, while “Physical training or education or exercise” appears in 13 ARFs and 9 ADs, in similar areas.

Conclusions

The overlaps in the scientific declarations of the 180 SDGs and the 383 ADs were supposed to decrease due to their unique scientific, cultural, and educational relevance and affinity; instead, they have increased. Similarly, this occurred with the updated declarations of the ADs. An even more concerning aspect is that the declaration of SDG in Area 11 of Historical, Philosophical, Pedagogical and Psychological Sciences contains a significant overlap between the SDG of Educational research, teaching, special pedagogy, and experimental pedagogy (code 11/PAED-02) and the SDG of Physical Exercise and Sport Sciences (code 06/MEDF-01), perpetuating the current confusion.
Emotions in mathematics learning: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Schoenherr Johanna , Schukajlow Stanislaw , Pekrun Reinhard
Published: February 2025

Academic emotions play a crucial role in mathematics learning, significantly influencing motivation, academic achievement, and career aspirations in mathematics. With the notable increase in research on emotions in recent years, our review uses Pekrun’s control-value theory with two primary objectives: to systematically describe the characteristics of emotions in recent research through a systematic review, and to synthesize evidence on the relationships between specific emotions, control-value antecedents, and mathematics achievement via a meta-analysis. The systematic review of 112 studies revealed that more than 100 specific emotions have been addressed in recent research, which we analyzed based on key emotion characteristics: valence and activation, type of object, temporal stability, and social context. The findings from the systematic review provide an overview of mathematics-specific objects that emotions have referred to in the most recent research. The subsequent meta-analysis demonstrated that mathematics achievement (e.g., test scores and grades) was positively related to enjoyment, hope, and pride (

$$\overline{r}$$

r
¯

 = .247, .224, and .344, respectively) but negatively related to anger, boredom, frustration, hopelessness, and shame (

$$\overline{r}$$

r
¯

= − .322, − .187, − .207, − .378, and − .291, respectively). Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
UV-C Disinfection and Impact on the Quality of Black, White, Green, and Pink Peppercorns Using a Scalable Reactor
Authors: Arcos-Limiñana Víctor , Brunet Carlotta , Prats-Moya Maria Soledad , Maestre-Pérez Salvador
Published: February 2025

The spice industry faces significant challenges in ensuring the safety and quality of its products, mainly since they are commonly consumed raw. Whilst effective in inactivating pathogens, thermal treatments often degrade the sensory quality of spices, making them unfeasible. This study explores the potential of short wavelength ultraviolet (UV) disinfection as a non-thermal alternative, focusing on its disinfection efficacy and impact on the quality of black, white, green, and pink peppercorns from various geographical sources. A substantial reduction in Escherichia coli was demonstrated using an industrially scalable rotary reactor, with the highest reductions observed in green and black peppercorns. The use of the reactor proved to be more effective than a static treatment, highlighting the importance of uniform distribution of the UV light exposure. The results demonstrated that the antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and piperine content remained unaltered following UV-C treatment in most of the samples. This finding indicates that the sensory characteristics of the peppers were not significantly altered, whilst food safety was enhanced. Nevertheless, additional research on sensory analysis is necessary to understand the impact on sensory perception and the potential of LED-based UV lamps as an effective and efficient method for ensuring food safety in the spice industry.
Happy-productive worker hypothesis in the context of education: the role of work engagement and its dimensions
Authors: Arhin Vera , Ampofo Samuel Yaw , Minadzi Vincent Mensah , DeSouza Mercy , Swanzy Erasmus Keli
Published: February 2025

The happy-productive worker hypothesis, considered a significant concept in management research, continues to generate debate and lacks conclusive evidence. In this study, two dimensions of wellbeing: Wellbeing as context-free (psychological wellbeing), and Work-related wellbeing (job satisfaction), were examined on the performance of distance education facilitators in Ghana. In addition, work engagement and its dimensions were introduced as mediators in explaining why happy workers are more productive. A three-wave time-lagged data was collected from 431 facilitators working in two distance education institutions in Ghana. The results revealed that wellbeing as context-free did not have a direct impact on performance but rather an indirect impact on performance via work engagement and two of its dimensions (vigor and absorption). However, work-related wellbeing had both direct and indirect effects on performance via work engagement and one of its dimensions (absorption). In light of the study’s findings, the happy-productive worker hypothesis was generally supported, but the study concluded that the hypothesis is more nuanced than initially perceived. Therefore, organizational management, including educational management, should develop and implement effective interventions to promote their employees’ wellbeing.
Exploring the relationship between learning climate in schools and agile leadership using multi-group path analysis: does “Willingness to work” have a mediating role?
Authors: Sözer Boz Esra , Tabak Hasan
Published: February 2025

The learning climate in schools is significantly influenced by relationships among teachers, students, and school administration. Despite its importance, relatively few studies have explored the relationship between learning climate and principal characteristics from teachers’ perspectives. This study aims to examine the mediating role of teachers’ willingness to work in the relationship between the learning climate in schools and agile leadership. The participants consist of 630 teachers from various educational levels, ranging from preschool to high school. Data were collected using the Agile Leadership Scale, the Learning Climate Scale, and an item assessing teachers’ willingness to work. Mediation analysis was employed to examine the impact of teachers’ willingness to work on the relationship between agile leadership and the learning climate in schools. The findings revealed that willingness to work serves as a mediator in the relationship between the learning climate in schools and agile leadership. Multi-group path analysis indicated that this mediation effect was significant among male teachers, whereas they were not observed among female teachers. The overall results demonstrate that the learning climate in schools is affected by the agile leadership of the principals, and the willingness to work of teachers partially mediated this relationship. These findings underscore the importance of agile leadership behaviors in fostering a conducive learning climate and suggest that supporting teachers’ professional and personal development can further enhance this environment.
Evidence-based Lead Indicators to Drive Equitable Early Years Services: Findings from the Restacking the Odds Study
Authors: Molloy Carly , Perini Nick , Harrop Chris , Goldfeld Sharon
Published: February 2025

Children living in adversity are disproportionately affected by inequities in early childhood health and education service delivery, leading to differential outcomes that track into adulthood. Previous research has demonstrated the inconsistency, lack of effectiveness, and harm that human services can cause across the social sector when service delivery is poor. A significant factor preventing equitable responses to performance challenges is the lack of relevant data. In both health and education sectors there is an over-reliance on outcome or lag indicators; necessary but not sufficient to drive change. Evidence-based process or lead indicators can provide a standardised approach to service improvement that allow communities, health and education professionals, governments, and policymakers to create sustainable systems change, reduce unjust equity gaps and reduce the costs associated with poor service provision. The Restacking the Odds (RSTO) ‘proof of concept’ project aimed to address some of the data limitations practitioners and policy-makers face as they make decisions affecting early years services in Australia. An actionable, evidence-based framework of lead indicators for quality, quantity, and participation across five early years services was derived from the literature. These are summarised in this paper together with the subsequent data collected and analysed against these indicators in seven Australian communities.
Integrating simulation and machine learning for accurate preform charge prediction in Sheet Molding Compound manufacturing
Authors: Tannous Mikhael , Rodriguez Sebastian , Ghnatios Chady , Chinesta Francisco
Published: February 2025

The Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) process is essential in high-volume manufacturing of composite structures due to its scalability and efficiency. A primary challenge, however, lies in determining the initial charge shape that ensures complete mold filling without excessive overflow, typically resolved through labor-intensive trial and error. While simulations can anticipate the mold filling outcome, they often lack the capability to fine-tune the initial preform configuration, leading to inefficiencies in both time and material. This study presents an innovative, simulation-driven approach for accurately predicting initial charge shapes for two-dimensional (2D) mold designs. By employing Darcy’s Law and a fixed mesh grid framework, the methodology simulates a reverse material flow to trace the optimal preform shape. A complementary machine learning (ML) model was then developed to predict the preform shapes based on mold geometry, final thickness, and initial charge thickness. Serving as a digital twin of the SMC process, this ML model delivers results with comparable accuracy to simulations, significantly enhancing computational efficiency and avoiding common convergence issues in traditional simulations. This ML-driven digital twin approach also provides a robust proof of concept for addressing initial charge shapes in complex three-dimensional (3D) molds, where the computational demands of reverse flow simulations may present challenges. This combined simulation and ML framework equips manufacturers with a more precise and efficient tool for optimizing SMC processes, minimizing material waste, and reducing production time.
A proposed integrated methodology for evaluation and adjustment of Balance of Performance (BoP) schemes in Grand Touring (GT) racecar championships
Authors: Kottas Angelos T. , Bozoudis Michail N. , Madas Michael A.
Published: February 2025

The concept of Balance of Performance (BoP) has been extensively applied to various forms of motorsports, and especially championships involving Grand Touring (GT) racecars. The organizing bodies of these championships have devised schemes restricting various technical features of the participating racecars, in order to achieve competition parity and subsequently avoid dominance of certain racecars. BoP schemes mainly focus on adjusting engine horsepower and racecar weight, additionally including provisions for restrictions pertinent to aerodynamics, suspension, fuel tank capacity, etc. However, the methodology used by the organizing bodies of motorsports championships in order to evaluate and adjust the BoP schemes is not so transparent to competitors and other interested parts (e.g., racecar manufacturers). In fact, no motorsports organizing body applying the BoP concept to GT racecars, has disclosed details associated with imposing, evaluating, and adjusting the BoP scheme for each championship season. In the current paper, an integrated methodology deploying statistical analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is proposed, for the purpose of evaluating and adjusting BoP schemes in any motorsports championship, primarily focused on GT racecars. The scientifically justified framework along with the simulated application resulting in a performance differentiation range of around 0.40 to 0.45%, comprise strong arguments for the validity and effectiveness of the proposed methodology. In this context, implementation of the proposed methodology by motorsports organizing bodies could potentially render the process of evaluating and adjusting BoP schemes more objective and consequently transparent.
Polishing Performance of Muğla White Marble with Different Abrasives
Authors: Çetintaş Sevgi
Published: February 2025

Abrasives play a critical role in the polish process of natural stone. Therefore, they can significantly affect the performance of polishing. In the thematic literature, there is no detailed study investigating the effect of abrasives from two different manufacturers in the same form on the natural stone polishing performance and wear characteristics of abrasive grain. The current study aims to fill this gap. Two abrasives are used on natural stone polishing process. Marble samples are polished in the same abrasive series, at constant belt and head pressure. Polishing performances of the abrasives are investigated based on surface roughness, surface gloss and the wear mechanism of abrasive grain. The study revealed that the Abrasive B present higher polishing performances in terms of the surface roughness and gloss on marble sample. The SEM analysis presented that the wear mechanisms of SiC grain are mainly attributed to abrasive wear, fracture wear and plucked out of abrasive. Additionally, it is concluded that polishing performance of the natural stone is highly affected by abrasive grain shape and grain distribution.
Past and present marine citizen science around the globe: A cumulative inventory of initiatives and data produced
Authors: Wehn Uta , Bilbao Erezkano Ane , Somerwill Luke , Linders Torsten , Maso Joan , Parkinson Stephen , Semasingha Christina , Woods Sasha
Published: February 2025

The marine environment is facing serious changes. This requires scientific understanding of the ocean’s responses to pressures and management actions to provide the foundation for sustainable development. At the same time, the production of knowledge for a more sustainable world is undergoing rapid change with the uptake of citizen science as means of opening up science. While there is increasing interest in marine citizen science, it is also often conceived as lagging behind citizen science in other areas, such as biodiversity related citizen science on land. This paper analyses empirical evidence collected >1260 past and present marine citizen science initiatives, substantiating the pervasiveness of marine citizen science around the globe. In doing so, it provides the basis for a cumulative inventory of MArine Citizen Science Initiatives (MARCSI) that can inform and shape both the growing community of marine citizen science practitioners and the science of citizen science.
Usual suspects meet mission impossible: Nutrient losses and effects of mitigation measures on a coastal catchment in the Baltic Sea region
Authors: Djodjic Faruk , Golovko Oksana , Kumblad Linda , Rydin Emil , Sandström Sara , Widén-Nilsson Elin
Published: February 2025

Eutrophication of coastal areas is a global problem. A full-scale coastal remediation project was initiated in Björnöfjärden bay in the Stockholm archipelago in 2011. Measures to reduce external nutrient inputs from the surrounding catchment (15 km2) targeted agriculture, on-site wastewater treatment facilities, and horse keeping. The effects were evaluated at 22 water quality monitoring stations over 11 years (2012–2022) to determine temporal trends in nutrient concentrations, spatial correlations within and between monitored sub-catchments, and effects of individual mitigation measures at local and catchment scale. The effect of individual measures varied from no significant effect to significant nutrient decreases (21% reduction in dissolved P concentrations in one lime filter) or increases (11% higher concentrations in total P in one constructed wetland). However, few significant trends were detected at sub-catchment outlet stations. Tailored placement, design, dimensioning, and maintenance of implemented mitigation measures are needed to improve their nutrient retention effect.
Catalytic oxidation potential of graphene encapsulated iron-based nanocatalysts synthesized via chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Mertdinç-Ülküseven S. , Dilsizoğlu N. , Akarsu C. , Özyıldız G. , Savacı U. , Ağaoğulları D. , Ölmez-Hancı T.
Published: February 2025

In recent years, conventional treatment methods have been reported as insufficient for effectively removing organic substances from water, emphasizing the potential of advanced oxidation processes as a promising solution. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the catalytic oxidation potential of graphene-encapsulated iron-based nanocatalysts synthesized from iron-containing salts using chemical vapor deposition combined with persulfate/UV-C for the degradation of total organic carbon in surface water. The microstructural and magnetic properties of the synthesized nanocatalysts were determined prior to their use as catalysts for advanced oxidation processes. The analysis results showed a significant total organic carbon removal ability, resulting in a reduction of up to 1.76 mg/L from an initial concentration of 4.55 mg/L under the conditions of pHo = 8.0, T = 25 °C, PS = 0.5 mM, and t = 60 min. Moreover, a decrease in UV254 during all experiments indicated that the organic matter present in the raw water, especially those with aromatic structures, underwent significant transformations during the catalytic processes.
Predictive diagnosis of El Niño based on empirical sea level anomaly forecasts
Authors: Świerczyńska-Chlaściak Małgorzata , Niedzielski Tomasz , Miziński Bartłomiej
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to present the skills of two statistical models in anticipating the development of El Niño based on sea level anomaly (SLA) forecasts with lead time up to 12 weeks. The models are: (1) the polynomial-harmonic model (PH) combined with the threshold autoregressive model (TAR), known as the PH+TAR, and (2) PH integrated with the multivariate autoregressive model (MAR), referred to as PH+MAR. Five powerful El Niño events are considered: 1997/1998, 2002/2003, 2006/2007, 2009/2010, 2015/2016. The performance of the prediction models is calculated in specific locations in the equatorial Pacific, i.e. centres of Niño 1+2, Niño 3, Niño 3.4 and Niño 4 regions. It is found that the SLA predictions hitting the El Niño peaks reveal different accuracy for dissimilar El Niño events, with the most skillful prognoses for El Niño 1997/1998. Two specific regions are identified in which the model performance fulfils the assumed accuracy limit of 5 cm, namely the Niño 1+2 and Niño 4 regions. In addition, the PH+MAR model performed better than the PH+TAR solution.
Ultrasonographic insights into the complex anatomy and biomechanical dynamics of the Achilles tendon and its fascicles: a pictorial essay
Authors: Massimo Stella Salvatore , Fabio Vita , Al Khayyat Suhel Gabriele , Danilo Donati , Barbara Ciampi , Marco Becciolini , Roberto Tedeschi , Cesare Faldini , Stefano Galletti
Published: February 2025

This pictorial essay clarifies the complex anatomical and ultrasonographic features of the Achilles tendon. Utilizing high-frequency ultrasound probes (12–18 MHz), the study visualizes the tripartite segmentation of the tendon as it relates to anatomical fascicles. Notably, there is variability in the ultrasound visibility of fascicles and this partition influences biomechanical properties and susceptibility to injury. This essay not only enhances the understanding of Achilles tendon anatomy but also underscores the importance of anatomical knowledge for comprehending associated pathologies. The findings suggest potential areas for further research into tendon pathology, facilitating the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Developing a multi-scale model for the simulation of adsorption phenomena based on MD and CA: a Li-ion battery case study
Authors: Ziaee Omid , Zolfaghari Naeem , Baghani Mostafa , Bodaghi Mahdi , Baniassadi Majid
Published: February 2025

Adsorption, an essential surface phenomenon, is involved in many industries, from water purification to energy storage and carbon capture, aiming at negative emission technologies. The need to synthesize new materials for these applications necessitates the development of new, flexible modeling tools to simulate complex conditions. This work introduces a multi-scale model to simulate various adsorption scenarios. It involves simulating the details of interatomic interactions in molecular dynamics simulations and scaling up to a laboratory scale through cellular automaton modeling. To showcase its capabilities, we utilized the simplest form of the model to simulate Li-ion adsorption on the surface of an anatase TiO2 sheet. The probability of adsorption and desorption for a Li-ion is quantitatively determined through molecular dynamics simulations and subsequently incorporated into the cellular automaton model. This secondary model simulates the kinetic process of adsorption and quantifies the equilibrium degree of surface coverage across varying concentrations, facilitating comparison with the Langmuir isotherm. An inverse relationship between surface coverage and temperature is consistent with theoretical predictions. Given the model’s computational efficiency, which complements molecular dynamics simulations, it offers extensive potential for extension across a broad spectrum of applications where adsorption, intercalation, diffusion, and other critical surface phenomena are fundamental.
Quality assurance via a cyber physical system of a PBF-LB/M machine
Authors: Poka Konstantin , Ali Sozol , Saeed Waleed , Merz Benjamin , Epperlein Martin , Hilgenberg Kai
Published: February 2025

Powder Bed Fusion with Laser Beam of Metals (PBF-LB/M) faces challenges in reproducibility and quality assurance, even for widely applied alloys like AlSi10Mg. This work introduces a digital provenance framework for PBF-LB/M, showcased through the EOS M 300–4 multi-laser machine. An Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) pipeline autonomously captures machine data, including scan vectors as well as process signals, and organizes them into a Digital Shadow (DS). The DS is further extended by external data sources, such as Melt Pool Monitoring (MPM), to enable comprehensive analysis and root cause identification. This approach ensures continuous data representation and facilitates the development of new quality metrics. Moreover, the framework enhances quality assurance and traceability, supports compliance with industry standards, and improves productivity. It also enables more precise cost calculations and predictive maintenance. By addressing these challenges, the framework is essential for advancing PBF-LB/M in industrial applications, achieving greater consistency and scalability in production.
Does Telephone Coaching Improve Farmers' Mental Health in the Long Term? Results of the 12- and 18-month Follow-Up of a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Thielecke Janika , Titzler Ingrid , Braun Lina , Ebert David Daniel , Freund Johanna , Baumeister Harald , Berking Matthias , Buntrock Claudia
Published: February 2025

Farmers and related professionals are at risk of depression due to laborious work requirements, financial challenges, seasonal working conditions, high residence in under-resourced areas, and low help-seeking behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of personalized telephone coaching in reducing depressive symptom severity and other mental health problems in farmers. Participating farmers with elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) were randomly allocated to receive up to six months of personalized telephone coaching (N = 160) or enhanced treatment-as-usual (TAU +) with psychoeducational material via mail (N = 154). The coaching was conducted by psychologists and personalized in terms of sessions frequency, duration, and content. Depressive symptom severity and other mental health and work-related outcomes were assessed at baseline, and long-term after 12 and 18 months. Group differences were determined by covariance analysis adjusting for baseline severity. Group differences were observed in favor of the telephone coaching compared to TAU + in depressive symptom severity (d
12months = -0.34, d18months = -0.31), perceived stress (d
12months = -0.41, d
18months = -0.37), emotional exhaustion (d
12months = -0.29, d
18months = -0.28), and cynicism (d
12months = -0.32, d
18months = -0.34) at both follow-ups. Group differences in anxiety (d = -0.28) and quality of life (d = 0.30) were only observed at the 12-month assessment. No group differences were observed in depression onset, insomnia severity, panic and agoraphobia symptoms, alcohol consumption, professional efficiency, or self-reported prognosis of working capacity. Personalized telephone coaching as a promising remote prevention offer can reduce depressive symptom severity, generalized anxiety, perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and cynicism, while additional support may be necessary to address aspects related to professional performance.

Clinical trial registration: DRKS00015655
Association Between the Aromatase rs2414096 Polymorphism and Prostate Cancer
Authors: Meciakova Martina , Kmetova Sivonova Monika , Vondrak Andrej , Evin Daniel , Knosko Brozova Martina , Kliment Jan , Dobrota Dusan , Jurecekova Jana
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate association between the aromatase (CYP19A1) rs2414096 polymorphism and the risk of prostate cancer development, progression and aggressiveness in the Slovak population.

Background

Aromatase catalyses the final reaction of androgens aromatization to estrogens, irreversible conversion of androstenedione to estrone and testosterone to estradiol.

Methods

The study population consisted of 721 prostate cancer patients and 660 men in the control group. Genotyping was performed via restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The expression levels of CYP19A1 in prostate cancer tissues were compared with those in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues.

Results

The CYP19A1 rs2414096 AA genotype and A allele were significantly associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer development. The significant association between this genotype and PSA level ≥ 10 ng/ml, Gleason score ≥ 7 and with the presence of metastases was observed. Significantly decreased relative expression of CYP19A1 was detected in prostate cancer tissues. Patients with the AA genotype presented higher relative CYP19A1 expression than did those with the GG genotype. Significantly lower circulating testosterone levels and higher serum PSA levels were detected in patients with the AA genotype.

Conclusion

The CYP19A1 rs2414096 polymorphism was significantly associated with prostate cancer development and aggressiveness in Slovak patients.
Pan-İmmune Inflammatory Index Predicts Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Prediabetics
Authors: Yildirim Aslihan Mete , Bayramoglu Adil
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Prediabetes is a global health problem due to its adverse effects on glucose metabolism. Prediabetes also triggers many inflammatory mechanisms that can lead to vascular and molecular damage of various systems and organs. Pan-immun inflammatory level (PIV) is a new biomarker that is considered with many ianflammatory conditions. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is also considered an endocrine organ, which has been shown in many studies to be related to inflammation. There are studies showing that inflammatory parameters and epicardial adipose tissue are affected in diabetic patients. However, no such research has been conducted on prediabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate inflammatory parameters and their relationship with epicardial adipose tissue in prediabetic patients.

Methods

220 patients with prediabetes and 96 healthy controls were compared in the study regarding laboratory and demographic parameters and echocardiographic evaluations.

Results

There were significant differences between the groups in various parameters including epicardial adipose tissue (p < 0.001), NLR (p = 0.011); SII (p = 0.003); PIV (p < 0.001), In prediabetic patients, epicardial adipose tissue was correlated with PIV (r: 0.490; p < 0.001), SII (r: 0.248; p < 0.001), and NLR (r: 0.234; p: 0.001). PIV and presence of prediabetes were independent predictors of epicardial adipose tissue.

Conclusion

In this study, we observed that the presence of prediabetes is associated with EAT thickness. Again, in this patient group, we thought that PIV could be an easily obtainable parameter that could indicate an increase in EAT thickness.
What is the Middle East?
Authors: Lynch Marc
Published: February 2025

The Middle East has traditionally been understood as a world region by policy, political science, and the public. Its borders are highly ambiguous, however, and rarely explicitly justified or theorized. This Element examines how the current conception of the Middle East emerged from colonialism and the Cold War, placing it within both global politics and trends within American higher education. It demonstrates the strategic stakes of different possible definitions of the Middle East, as well as the internal political struggles to define and shape the identity of the region. It shows how unexamined assumptions about the region as a coherent and unified entity have distorted political science research by arbitrarily limiting the comparative universe of cases and foreclosing underlying politics. It argues for expanding our concept of the Middle East to better incorporate transregional connections within a broader appeal for comparative area studies.
‘No one cares about the animal like me.’ Indian veterinarians’ experiences of improving animal welfare through Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Rayner Emma L , Bastola Ranjita , Bedre Sumanth , Gibson Andrew D , Gamble Luke , MacKay Jill RD
Published: February 2025

Veterinarians are custodians of animal welfare, ensuring practices remain current and effective in the face of the ever-changing demands of the profession. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is essential for protecting animal welfare, however access to quality CPD is a challenge in many countries. India has one of the fastest growing veterinary industries globally, emphasising the importance of accessible CPD opportunities that are relevant to this setting. This study used focus groups to explore how Indian veterinarians identify relevant CPD, barriers they encounter, and their experiences with CPD. We describe three themes: (1) ‘career vs calling’, where veterinarians’ extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors were identified, such as their desire to protect animal welfare; (2) being ‘willing to learn but can’t’, with context-specific barriers, such as accessing reliable CPD information; and (3) ‘real interactions matter’, where participants described how pedagogical design influenced their choices, e.g. being able to observe animal welfare improvements through practical teaching. We have three recommendations: firstly, to improve CPD learning opportunities informed by evidence-based methods, to meet knowledge and skills gaps such as the high demand for practically focused training; secondly, the development of a unified accreditation and quality assurance framework to assess content, relevance and delivery standards of available CPD options to veterinarians; and, lastly, improved support from employers to address current barriers and facilitate attendance. These findings contribute to the current knowledge gap of factors that influence Indian veterinarians’ experiences of attaining relevant, accessible CPD and makes suggestions to improve standards of veterinary care and, ultimately, patient welfare.
Digital policy and Nigeria’s Platform Code of Practice: towards a radical co-regulatory turn
Authors: Obia Vincent
Published: February 2025

This study examines Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms as one of Africa’s first push towards digital and social media co-regulation. Already established as a regulatory practice in Europe, co-regulation emphasises the need to impose duties of care on platforms and hold them, instead of users, accountable for safe online experiences. It is markedly different from the prior (and existing) regulatory paradigm in Nigeria, which is based on direct user regulation. By analysing the Code of Practice, therefore, this study considers what Nigeria’s radical turn towards co-regulation means for digital policy and social media regulation in relation to standards, information-gathering, and enforcement. It further sheds light on what co-regulation entails for digital regulatory practice in the wider African context, particularly in terms of the balance of power realities between Global North platforms and Global South countries.
Lactylation and human disease
Authors: Wan Linlin , Zhang HuiJuan , Liu Jialing , He Qian , Zhao Jiumei , Pan Chenglong , Zheng Kepu , Tang Yu
Published: February 2025

Background

Lactylation, a new epigenetic modification, is an important way in which lactate exerts physiological functions. There is a close relationship between increased lactylations caused by lactate and glycolysis, which can interact and play a role in disease through lactate as an intermediate mediator. Current research on lactylations has focused on histone lactylation, but non-histone lactylation also has greater research potential. Due to the ubiquity of lactate modifications in mammalian cells, an increasing number of studies have found that lactate modifications play important roles in tumour cell metabolism, gene transcription and immunity.

Methods

A systematic literature search was carried out using search key terms and synonyms. Full-paper screening was performed based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

Many literatures have reported that the lactylation of protein plays an important role in human diseases and is involved in the occurrence and development of human diseases.

Conclusions

This article summary the correlation between lactylation and glycolysis, histones and non-histone proteins; the relationship between lactonation modifications and tumour development; and the current existence of lactylation-related inhibitors, with a view to provide new basic research ideas and clinical therapeutic tools for lactylation-related diseases.
The Frontier Pushes Back: From Local Languages to Imperial Substrate(s) in Scribal Practices in 8th-century Central Asia
Authors: Garosi Eugenio
Published: February 2025

This article draws on documentary texts from multilingual archives of early Islamic Central Asia to illustrate connections between the Arabic and Middle Iranian scribal world. Here, I contend that some lesser-known evidence from Sogdia contributes new elements to current debates on the contact between Arabic and Middle Iranian scribal traditions and provides a measure of “intensity” of Arab rule in the region more generally. In particular, ostraca from various Transoxanian administrative centers provide documentary confirmation that a class of biliterate Arabic-Sogdian scribes was active in the local bureaucracy as early as the mid-8th century. When viewed in dialogue with archives from coeval Iran and Iraq, the Transoxanian evidence helps lead to a more nuanced understanding of the so-called “Pahlavi diplomatic substrate” model.
Interacting urns on directed networks with node-dependent sampling and reinforcement
Authors: Kaur Gursharn , Sahasrabudhe Neeraja
Published: February 2025

We consider interacting urns on a finite directed network, where both sampling and reinforcement processes depend on the nodes of the network. This extends previous research by incorporating node-dependent sampling and reinforcement. We classify the sampling and reinforcement schemes, as well as the networks on which the proportion of balls of either colour in each urn converges almost surely to a deterministic limit. We also investigate conditions for achieving synchronisation of the colour proportions across the urns and analyse fluctuations under specific conditions on the reinforcement scheme and network structure.
Entrevista: Fuentes Históricas del Perú
Authors: Drinot Paulo
Published: February 2025

Fuentes Históricas del Perú (FHP) se ha convertido en un recurso imprescindible para la investigación histórica en el país. Esta iniciativa, liderada por estudiantes de universidades peruanas, representa un avance significativo en el proceso más amplio de creación de recursos digitales para la investigación histórica y el desarrollo de las humanidades digitales en Perú. En esta entrevista, realizada a fines de 2023 por Paulo Drinot con Jair Miranda Tamayo, Erika Caballero Liñán y Carlos Paredes Hernández, los tres fundadores de FHP, se ofrece una perspectiva sobre los orígenes de FHP, sus características y sus objetivos.
The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS) VI: The RACS-high 1 655.5 MHz images and catalogue
Authors: Duchesne S. W. , Ross K. , Thomson A. J. M. , Lenc E. , Murphy Tara , Galvin T. J. , Hotan A. W. , Moss V. A. , Whiting Matthew T.
Published: February 2025

We have conducted a widefield, wideband, snapshot survey using the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) referred to as the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey (RACS). RACS covers ≈ 90% of the sky, with multiple observing epochs in three frequency bands sampling the ASKAP frequency range of 700–1 800 MHz. This paper describes the third major epoch at 1 655.5 MHz, RACS-high, and the subsequent imaging and catalogue data release. The RACS-high observations at 1 655.5MHz are otherwise similar to the previously released RACS-mid (at 1367.5 MHz), and were calibrated and imaged with minimal changes. From the 1 493 images covering the sky up to declination ≈ +48°, we present a catalogue of 2 677 509 radio sources. The catalogue is constructed from images with a median root-mean-square noise of ≈ 195 μJy PSF−1 (point-spread function) and a median angular resolution of 11″. 8 × 8″. 1. The overall reliability of the catalogue is estimated to be 99.18 %, and we find a decrease in reliability as angular resolution improves. We estimate the brightness scale to be accurate to 10 %, and the astrometric accuracy to be within ≈ 0″. 6 in right ascension and ≈ 0″. 7 in declination after correction of a systematic declination-dependent offset. All data products from RACS-high, including calibrated visibility datasets, images from individual observations, full-sensitivity mosaics, and the all-sky catalogue are available at the CSIRO ASKAP Science Data Archive.
ON PSEUDO-NULLITY OF THE FINE MORDELL–WEIL GROUP
Authors: LIM MENG FAI , QIN CHAO , WANG JUN
Published: February 2025

Let E be an elliptic curve defined over

$\mathbb {Q}$

with good ordinary reduction at a prime

$p\geq 5$

and let F be an imaginary quadratic field. Under appropriate assumptions, we show that the Pontryagin dual of the fine Mordell–Weil group of E over the

$\mathbb {Z}_{p}^2$

-extension of F is pseudo-null as a module over the Iwasawa algebra of the group

$\mathbb {Z}_{p}^2$

.
Association between household air pollution due to solid fuel use and sleep problems among older adults in India
Authors: Rani Ritu , Selvamani Y. , Arokiasamy Perianayagam
Published: February 2025

Household air pollution (HAP) presents numerous health challenges. The association between HAP and sleep problems has not been extensively studied. This paper examined the effect of HAP due to solid fuel use on sleep problems among older adults in India. Data from the initial phase of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, which included 51,060 individuals aged 50 years and older, was utilised. Sleep problems were defined as experiencing difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, or waking up too early at least five times per week and were classified as a binary variable. Exposure to HAP was defined as the use of solid fuel for household purposes. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the association, and additionally, interaction analysis was conducted to explore the potential moderating effects of age, gender, and residence on this association. The prevalence of sleep problems among older adults was around 12.7%. Sleep problems were higher among older adults who used solid fuel for cooking (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.33) and other purposes (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.20) in the adjusted model. The place of cooking, ventilation, and type of stove played a significant role in the association between solid fuel use and sleep problems. Individuals over 65, females, and those residing in rural areas were particularly vulnerable to sleep problems due to HAP exposure. The findings highlight the importance of reducing HAP exposure by transitioning to clean fuels as a public health priority within initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging.
Non-academic writing on popular music in the Czech lands after 1945
Authors: Opekar Aleš
Published: February 2025

This article examines writing about popular music which took place outside the academic sphere in the Czech nation after 1945. This is not just the usual magazine and book journalism. Owing to the censorship of all publishing entities by the state and the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia 1948–1989, alternative publishing platforms played a very important role in mediating the professional exchange of opinions and information on topics that were not preferred or even forbidden elsewhere. These included periodicals of various social organisations and interest institutions as well as privately produced and distributed printed matter and manuscripts. The article compares how these activities have evolved over time in the context of political change and reflects on the functions they have fulfilled in society.
Entangled harms: A reparative approach to climate justice
Authors: Petersmann Marie
Published: February 2025

Transnational climate litigation has become a strategic tool to press state and non-state actors into action. An analysis of international and domestic cases shows how rights and obligations are being materially, subjectively, spatially and temporally stretched in judicial proceedings. This article focuses on three distinct grammars of climate justice activated in climate litigation. The analysis exposes a shift from a traditional to a progressive grammar that moves from actual to potential climate harms, from human to nonhuman rights, from territorial to extra-territorial obligations, and from present to future generations. Beyond a traditional liberal framing of rights-based approaches to climate justice, we witness here a progressive critical grammar that broadens the scope of who can be considered legally affected by climate change, where, and how. A more radical understanding of climate justice, however, exceeds the capacity of these registers to confer structure, order, and meaning to climate harms across matter, subjects, space and time. Against this backdrop, a reparative grammar of climate justice is envisioned, which reconfigures the material boundary from potential to entangled harms, the subjective boundary from nonhuman victims to more-than-human care, the spatial boundary from extra-territorial to terrestrial spatiality, and the temporal boundary from future to enduring temporalities. In doing so, the analysis opens up a register of political thought for climate justice that starts in the law yet vastly exceeds and disrupts it.
Predictive utility of cardiac index-systemic vascular resistance plot and perfusion pressure in late post-Fontan patients
Authors: Kawasaki Yuki , Sasaki Takeshi , Kobayashi Daisuke
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Cases of Fontan failure with normal Fontan pressure have been reported. This study aimed to identify catheterisation-derived haemodynamic predictors of heart transplantation/death, other than Fontan pressure, in late post-Fontan patients.

Methods:

This retrospective study evaluated post-Fontan patients who underwent cardiac catheterisation at age ≥10 years between 1993 and 2018. The predictive effect of cardiac index-systemic vascular resistance index plot and perfusion pressure on freedom from the primary outcome (heart transplantation/death) was evaluated. Patients were categorised into haemodynamic categories A (cardiac index ≥ 3, systemic vascular resistance index ≥ 13), B (cardiac index < 3, systemic vascular resistance index ≥ 13), C (cardiac index ≥ 3, systemic vascular resistance index < 13), and D (cardiac index < 3, systemic vascular resistance index < 13).

Results:

In total, 79 patients (median age: 15.7 [range: 10.1–50.2] years) were included; of them, the primary endpoint occurred in 10 (13%; median follow-up: 1.9 [range: 0.1–18.8] years). Category C patients had significantly shorter freedom from the endpoint than categories A and B patients. Univariate analysis identified significant haemodynamic predictors, including Fontan pressure, pulmonary/systemic vascular resistance index, pulmonary/systemic flow, systemic arterial oxygen saturation, systemic venous oxygen saturation, systemic vascular resistance index, perfusion pressure, perfusion pressure < 53 mmHg, and category C. In multivariable analysis, perfusion pressure < 53 mmHg and category C emerged as predictors of heart transplantation/death alongside Fontan pressure.

Conclusion:

Haemodynamic profiling of late post-Fontan patients using the cardiac index-systemic vascular resistance index plot can aid to comprehend the post-Fontan status and predict clinical prognosis.