bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology on Sleeping Patterns of Youths
Authors: Kushwaha Ujjwal , Khadgi Sushmita , Kafle Sneha , Khadgi Soniya
Published: January 2025

The increasing use of technology among youths has raised concerns about its impact on sleep patterns. This qualitative study explores how screen time affects sleep through in-depth interviews with young participants. Respondents shared that excessive use of technology, particularly before bedtime, made it harder to fall asleep and reduced the overall quality of their sleep. Engaging with social media, video games, or watching videos late at night heightened mental stimulation, making it difficult to relax and prepare for sleep. Additionally, prolonged screen time led to shorter sleep duration, leaving many feeling tired upon waking. These findings highlight the negative effects of excessive technology use on sleep, particularly when used close to bedtime. The study emphasizes the importance of creating strategies to reduce screen time before sleep, helping youths develop healthier sleep habits that are essential for their well-being and daily functioning. Promoting these habits is crucial for improving both mental and physical health.
ОЦІНЮВАННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ РОБОТИ ДРЕНАЖУ ОСУШУВАЛЬНИХ СИСТЕМ ЯК ФУНКЦІЇ ВИПАДКОВИХ ВЕЛИЧИН
Authors: Токар Л. О. , Мельничук І. М.
Published: January 2025

Проаналізовано вплив рівнів ґрунтових вод (РГВ) осушувальних систем на урожайність сільськогосподарських культур. Здійснено імовірнісне оцінювання відстаней між дренами і проаналізовано їх влив на середній за вегетаційний період РГВ та на зміну часу зниження РГВ.
Principles of assessment and integration of historical and cultural heritage Chernivtsi region into a receptive tourist product
Authors: Ivanunik Vitalii , Bryk Stepan , Korol Oleksandr
Published: January 2025

The current state of attraction of attractive historical and cultural heritage in the tourism sphere of the region is studied. The paper offers and presents an informative evaluation of the attractiveness of the historical and cultural heritage of the Chernivtsi region as a tourist resource. The dynamics of the development of the main attractions of the region and their presentation in receptive market offers are analyzed. The attractiveness of the territory of Chernivtsi region was determined based on cognitive and receptive characteristics.

It should be noted that the historical and cultural tourist resources evaluated by the method of attractiveness provide an opportunity to understand the level of quality of the historical and cultural heritage. This situation suggests that the evaluation results should be used mainly for the development of the cognitive potential of tourism. The volume of visits to the main attraction of the region allows us to assume that the potential of the receptive tourist product today is approximately 100 000 visitors per year. tourists per year.

Of course, the combination of the high cognitive value of the historical and cultural heritage with the natural resources of the region strengthens the prospects for the development of all types of tourism. But the limitation in this situation is the low infrastructure provision of the city. Chernivtsi hotels with a capacity of 100 beds or more. Although the number of accommodation facilities is sufficient, their capacity does not allow large groups to be accommodated in one place, which leads tour operators and agencies to search for alternatives. Such a problem is covered by the city. Yaremche and Kamianets-Podilskyi, forming from the city Chernivtsi is a transit tourist destination, and its heritage can be recognized by the residual principle. The lack of large hotels with classic TWIN double rooms deprives the city of large organized groups and corporate tourists, which results in limited receptive offers from tourism enterprises.

The potential for adapting the market to a receptive tourist exists within the unique historical and cultural heritage. The city of Chernivtsi is a real reserve of Austrian architecture in Ukraine, which should be attracted to the wider opportunities of the tourist market. Maybe then local tour operators will be able to offer a more durable tourist product based on historical and cultural heritage.

Keywords: historical and cultural heritage, tourist resources; receptive tour product, coefficient of cognitive value; market attractiveness.
Design of the Shcherbovets ecological hiking trail based on remote sensing data
Authors: Ostapchuk Serhii , Prokopchuk Andrii
Published: January 2025

One of the important initial tasks for the proper development of tourism, and ecotourism in particular, is the high-quality design of the relevant routes. Assessment of terrain features, determination of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of routes and viewpoints (e.g., length, complexity, visibility, etc.) is quite difficult without the use of appropriate remote sensing materials. The article discusses the procedure for designing the Shcherbovets ecological hiking trail (Nadsluchany Regional Landscape Park, Rivne region) based on radar and multispectral scanning of the Earth's surface (Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2, respectively). The ecological trail runs along the left bank of the Sluch River near the village of Marynyn in the Sosnivska territorial community and got its name from the eponymous tract, which has long been chosen by tourists and locals to organise their holidays here. The process of performing the task can be divided into several stages: analysis of available cartographic materials; study of the complex geographical characteristics of the territory; setting up and testing of software and hardware for track recording; laying and coordinating the route and selected viewpoints; analysis and filtering of points recorded in the track; processing of the received photographic materials; construction of a digital terrain model; construction of thematic and index maps; use of composite images creation of vector maps of the route, viewpoints and georeferenced points. Specialised ArcGIS software was used to perform the modelling.

It provides a general description, map, profile of the ecological trail, coordinates of viewpoints and resting places, their brief description, and photos of different locations along the route. The total length of the route was 6.7 km, the number of viewpoints was 9 (Ethnosettlement; Marynin ravines; Alder swamp; Radon spring; Transfiguration Church in Marynin village; Staroruske settlement; Castle mountain; Variety of ferns; Shcherbovets tract).

Since the ecological tourism network in Ukraine is still in its infancy, the approach under consideration can be implemented at other sites of environmental significance. This will contribute to a more effective solution of health and educational, patriotic, economic and other important tasks. Provided that the proposed routes are presented on the Internet on resources with open information databases and taking into account the current level of navigation and technical equipment of the population, those wishing to make such trips are given the opportunity to do so not only as part of organised groups, but also on their own.

Keywords: ecological tourism, ecological trail, route, remote sensing, software, modelling.
Management in telecom environments that are based on active networks
Authors: Brunner Marcus , Stadler Rolf
Published: January 2025

The paper addresses the question how the benefits of active networking, such as customized packet processing in the data path and flexible service management, can be achieved in a telecom environment. More precisely, we ask: How can a network provider, whose infrastructure is based on active networking technology, support a large number of customers, all of which independently install, run, and manage their own active services in the provider's domain? We propose a framework that defines the interactions between customer and network provider for the purpose of service provisioning and service management. The key concept in this framework is a generic active service, called the Virtual Active Network (VAN) service, which is offered by the provider to its customers. The goal of the paper is to demonstrate that our framework can be realized in an active telecom environment with considerable benefits for both customers and providers. To prove this point, we discuss the realization of a VAN provisioning and management architecture on ANET, an active networking platform we have developed, and we show how a customer installs and manages active services on this platform.
Measuring Australia's human capital development: The role of post-school education and the impact of population ageing
Authors: Wei Hui
Published: January 2025

In this paper I discuss measurement issues of human capital from a national accounting perspective and present experimental estimates of human capital stocks and flows in Australia. The measurement framework draws on the Jorgenson and Fraumeni approach (1989, 1992) with a few modifications. Based on the concept of human capital measured as lifetime labour incomes, investment in post-school education and working experience are measured by the additions to lifetime labour incomes accrued to those who have obtained additional post-school qualifications and those with additional years in the labour market. This measurement framework is used to quantify the contribution of post-school education to human capital growth and the impact of population ageing on human capital development in Australia. The experimental estimates for this study show that: (1) There has been a significant increase in the stock of human capital in Australia during the period 1981–2001 and this increase is largely due to increased proportions of more educated workers; (2) Due to the population ageing, the existing human capital stock has also depreciated at a faster rate and hence the growth of net human capital formation has slowed down significantly.
The Australian 2006 Census and the Internet
Authors: Williams Paul
Published: January 2025

The role of the Australian Census of Population and Housing is to accurately measure the characteristics of all people in Australian territories on Census night. The Census aims to provide high quality data for small geographic areas and for small population groups.

This paper briefly outlines the processes that were put in place to provide an Internet option to the Australian public at the 2006 Census, the experience with the solution and the range of issues and risks that needed to be managed.
Record matching for Census purposes in the Netherlands
Authors: Nordholt Eric Schulte , Linder Frank
Published: January 2025

In the Netherlands, data from many different sources were combined to produce the Census tables of 2001. Since the last Census based on a complete enumeration was held in 1971, the willingness of the population to participate has fallen sharply. Statistics Netherlands found an alternative in the Virtual Census, using available registers and surveys. The table results are not only comparable with the earlier Dutch Censuses but also with those of the other countries in the 2000 Census Round.

For the 2001 Census, more detailed information was required than was the case for earlier Census Rounds. The acquired experience in dealing with data of various administrative registers for statistical use enabled Statistics Netherlands to develop a Social Statistical Database (SSD), which contains coherent and detailed demographic and socio-economic statistical information on persons and households. The Population Register forms the backbone of the SSD. The SSD is constructed by micro linking several administrative registers and sample surveys. A micro integration process ensures coherence, consistency and completeness of the SSD data. Sample surveys are still needed for information that is not available from registers.
Estimating the pay distribution in the new earnings survey using missing data methods
Authors: Martın Romero Begoña
Published: January 2025

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) was first introduced in Great Britain in April 1999. Measuring the impact of the NMW on levels of pay, and informing policy makers on how to set and change NMW levels require estimation of hourly pay distributions, especially at lower levels of the wage spectrum. Up to now, the hourly pay distribution was estimated using the hourly pay rate, which is derived from total earnings and hours worked. A major problem in producing reliable estimates is the difficulty in obtaining an accurate derived hourly pay, as the component variables are often prone to errors. The manual editing of all records potentially in error will be very costly. In the context of the introduction of the NMW, an alternative measure of hourly pay was introduced into the New Earnings Survey (NES), measuring the hourly pay rate directly. This direct variable appears to give a more accurate measure of hourly pay at the lower end of the distribution than the derived variable. Because the lower end is the main area of interest, we propose to estimate the hourly pay distribution on the basis of the direct hourly pay rate. However, the direct variable is subject to a high amount of missing data since it only applies to employees paid on an hourly basis. In this paper, using data from the 2002 NES, we evaluate alternative methods for imputing the true hourly rate for those employees who do not return a direct hourly pay. It is found that deterministic imputation methods and in particular, predictive regression imputation for hourly rates above £4, show advantages in terms of bias and root mean squared error at the lower end of the distribution.
Economic theory as it applies to official statistics
Authors: Nilsen Kirsti
Published: January 2025

This article focuses on the economic theory regarding public sector information and, in particular, the arguments for free vs. priced distribution of official statistics. It is based on a review of the literature conducted under contract to Statistics Canada in 2007, which is available online [1]. That review examined economics literature and the economic arguments put forward in government studies and policy documents, with a particular emphasis on the literature on the economics of information.
Official Statistics and statistical literacy: They need each other
Authors: Forbes Sharleen , Camden Mike , Pihama Nathaniel , Bucknall Paul , Pfannkuch Maxine
Published: January 2025

Statistical literacy involves products that use words, numbers and graphs together to communicate messages. It includes skills in making and using these products. The focus for National Statistics Offices (NSOs) is on making data products, including statistical indicators. Such products are becoming more numerous, more detailed, more diverse, and more readily available. Students, in learning to make their own data products, can use Official Statistics as models of good practice, giving them a ready-made and large resource to draw on. Statistics New Zealand, like some other NSOs, has a number of products designed specifically to support school statistics learning and a larger number designed for public and/or professional audiences. We outline some established and new products of both forms including Synthetic Unit Record Files (SURFs) for schools and the educational use of [free] public releases including Hot Off The Presses, Infoshare (time-series data sets), Table Builder, and QuickStats about places and subjects. There are fun challenges for both official statistics agencies and statistical literacy educators here. We discuss how both groups can work together to ensure that the education community knows about these products and knows how to use them effectively. We need to ensure that these data products are accessible, interesting, valued and engaged with.

The Certificate in Official Statistics aims to advance the practice of statistical literacy in the Official Statistics sector. We outline our four years of experience with this qualification.
Statistical literacy: A new mission for data producers
Authors: Schield Milo
Published: January 2025

Statistical literacy is a new goal for statistical educators. A core element of statistical literacy for consumers is the ability to read and interpret data in the tables and graphs published by national statistical offices. A core element for producers is the ability to create tables, graphs and reports that are unambiguous and comprehensible. It appears that comprehensibility is not considered part of the mission for many national statistical offices (NSOs). Yet can the staff or users read the data generated by these agencies? The 2002 W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy survey indicates that professional data analysts, college students and school mathematics teachers and even college professors have difficulties reading such data. A common reason is confusing captions. Other reasons include user difficulties in decoding tables and in using ordinary English to describe part-whole relations. Recommendations include vetting agency tables and graphs for comprehensibility, assessing the statistical literacy of staff and users, and developing objective standard standards for using ordinary English to describe rates and percentages and for titling such tables. Establishing these standards can help teachers improve the statistical literacy of students and future leaders so they can use agency-generated data to make better decisions.
Developments of AtSchool projects for improving collaborative teaching and learning in statistics
Authors: Davies Neville
Published: January 2025

In this paper I suggest ways in which data from two projects, CensusAtSchool and ExperimentsAtSchool, could be used to further improve collaborative teaching and learning, statistical thinking and literacy for learners and teachers. I propose that existing databases and resources should be used in more productive ways by coupling suggestions for accelerated experiential learning in statistics with developments in IT that enable many people to share and contribute to large electronic environments of material.

First I review experience with setting up, running and maintaining CensusAtSchool within the UK since 1999. In that time it has become established as a useful way to enrich the statistical experience of learners and teachers in schools. The sister project, ExperimentsAtSchool, is less well developed but also collects data that are created by learners. Whereas CensusAtSchool produces data about the participating learners, in ExperimentsAtSchool the data are produced from experiments the learners carry out in a designed environment.

Then I propose some new directions for the development of these projects that could form the basis of an open-source environment for collaborative teaching, learning, assessment and professional development activities in statistics.
Detecting Turbulent Patterns in Particulate Pipe Flow by Streak Angle Visualization
Authors: Raj Rishav , Thiruthummal Abhiram , Pothérat Alban
Published: January 2025

Detecting the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in particulate pipe systems remains a complex issue in fluid dynamics, often requiring sophisticated and costly experimental apparatus. This research presents an innovative streak visualization method designed to offer a simple and robust approach to identify transitional turbulent patterns in particulate pipe flows with neutrally buoyant particles. The technique employs a laser arrangement and a low-cost camera setup to capture particle-generated streaks within the fluid, enabling real-time observation of flow patterns. Validation of the proposed method was conducted through comparison with established techniques like Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and pressure drop measurements, confirming its accuracy and reliability. Experiments demonstrate the streak visualization method’s capacity to differentiate between laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow regimes by analyzing the standard deviation of streak angles. The method is especially efficient at low particle concentration, ie precisely where other more established methods become less effective. Furthermore, this technique enables us to identify a critical Reynolds number using Kullback-Leibler divergence built on the statistical distribution of streak angles, which is consistent with previous studies. Because of it is effective at low concentrations and robust, this streak visualization technique opens new perspectives for the characterization of particulate pipe flows not only in the confines of the laboratory, but also in less controlled industrial multi-phase flows where determining the laminar or turbulent nature of the flow is a prerequisite for flowmeter calibration.
ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНІ ЗАСАДИ ФОРМУВАННЯ ЕНЕРГОЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ОБ’ЄКТІВ ЖИТЛОВОГО БУДІВНИЦТВА
Authors: Козик Василь , Марко Олександр
Published: January 2025

Розглянуто сутність поняття енергоефективності будівлі, вимоги законодавства стосовно енергоефективності об’єктів житлового будівництва. Встановлено, що методологія проектування енергоефективних будівель передбачає розгляд будівлі як єдиної енергетичної системи, яку утворюють дві незалежні підсистеми – зовнішнього клімату та комплексу інженерних підсистем, енергетично пов’язаних між собою, що не враховує енергоефективність на усіх стадіях її життєвого циклу. Для досягнення мети дослідження обґрунтована доцільність та запропоновано організаційні засади систематичного підходу до формування системи оцінювання енергоефективності з урахуванням енерговитрат на усіх стадіях життєвого циклу об’єктів житлового будівництва. Запропоновано у життєвому циклі об’єкту житлового будівництва виділяти три складові – інвестиційно-будівельний цикл, експлуатаційний цикл та демонтаж, а при розгляді його як системи розглядати три підсистеми – будівництва, експлуатації та демонтажу, які разом формують цілісну картину усіх процесів і енергоефективності зокрема.
The Eczema Bathing Study: Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema? Protocol of an online, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Fong Wei Chern Gavin , Howells Laura , Muller Ingrid , Mitchell Eleanor J , Baker Arabella , Thuma Leila , Harrison Eleanor , Bradshaw Lucy , Jiang Yimin , Cowdel Fiona , Leighton Paul , Montgomery Alan , Ravenscroft Jane , Ridd Matthew J , Santer Miriam , Tanaka Reiko J , Hilken Nicholas , Swinden Richard , Dooley Richard , Layfield Carron , Upton Clare , Collins Sophia , Davies Firoza , Owen Tracy , Eddis-Finbow Mars , Patel Devin , Putrym Goldie , Williams Hywel C , Roberts Amanda , Thomas Kim S
Published: January 2025

Background A priority setting partnership for eczema (syn atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis) has identified that bathing frequency is a key area of patient interest. However, there are nolarge, high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating this. The Rapid Eczema Trials project is a novel programme of research that aims to deliver multiple online RCTs, using a citizen science approach. This project involves working with members of the public to co-design and conduct studies that answer questions of importance to them. The first trial to be conducted through this project is assessing the impact of bathing frequency on eczema. Methods This is an online, two-arm, parallel-group superiority RCT with internal pilot phase. People aged ≥1 year with eczemaliving in the United Kingdom are eligible. Exclusion criteria are: people with other types of eczema such as venous eczema, hand eczema and contact eczema; recently started a new eczema treatment; taking part in another eczema trial; Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) ≤2; planning to swim more than twice a week; unable/unwilling to change bathing practices. Participants are allocated 1:1 to either the weekly bathing group (bathe 1 or 2 times a week) or the daily bathing group (bathe 6 or more times a week) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is POEM, assessed weekly over 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include skin specific quality of life, eczema control, itch severity, use of usual eczema treatments, proportion who achieve an improvement in POEM of ≥3 points, global change in eczema and safety outcomes. A sample of participants will also be invited to a semi-structured interview to discuss their experience. The primary comparative analysis will be according to randomised allocation regardless of actual frequency of bathing. The trial will be reported in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. The study has received ethical approval by the London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom) on 11/10/2023 ( approval number: 23/PR/0899). Trial registration ISRCTN12016473, 22/11/2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12016473
S. A. Tokarev about Religion: The Celestial and the Terrestrial in the Soviet Context
Authors: Kazmina Olga E.
Published: January 2025

S. A. Tokarev wrote on a variety of topics, yet his primary academic interest was the study of religion. He was a scholar of his time, holding Marxist views and approaching the analysis of religion from a materialistic perspective, but he never departed from strict and consistent logic, avoiding unquestioning acceptance of the official point of view. All this was clearly manifested in his contributions to the debate on religion that unfolded on the pages of the journal Soviet Ethnography in 1979 — 1981. In the article that initiated the discussion, S.A. Tokarev offered ethnographers his own vision of the study of religion, which extended beyond the ideologized officialism, and outlined the subject matter of the ethnographic study of religion. He posed questions that were not quite typical of his time and slightly above the ideological restrictions of the period. He expanded the issues significant for the ethnographer, while not denying but rather emphasizing the importance of the study of folk forms of religiosity — the main direction in the study of religion by ethnographers at that time (along with the study of primitive beliefs). S. A. Tokarev, one of the founders of the Soviet ethnographic school and a key figure in the development of the system of higher ethnographic education in the USSR, was a scholar of his era. But the works of scholars like him facilitated the continuity with the old school and did not fatally isolate the Soviet humanities from the global academic community. In fact, the issues raised by S. A. Tokarev are also in line with the contemporary challenges facing the ethnological/anthropological study of religion: religious identity and its relationship to other forms of cultural identity, religious conversion and related shifts in identity, different manifestations and new forms of religiosity, global religious movements, the complexities of religious statistics, the religious and the secular.
Carbon storage potential and influencing factors of mangrove plantation in Kaozhouyang, Guangdong Province, South China
Authors: Kang Li , Huamei Huang , Ran Yan , Shengpeng Zhang , Di Dong , Bo Peng
Published: January 2025

Mangrove plantation is a fundamental approach for the sustainable management of tropical and subtropical coasts to capture and store atmospheric carbon. However, it is unknown whether the carbon accumulation potential of planted mangroves is as much as that of natural mangroves. Moreover, the effects of tree species, forest age, and hydrodynamic conditions on carbon storage are still unclear. This study investigated the carbon storage potential and influencing factors for planted mangroves in Kaozhouyang, Huidong County, Guangdong Province. The Vegetation carbon stock was calculated by community parameters collected from field investigation, and ecosystem carbon stock was calculated by the sum of vegetation and sediment. The results showed that mangrove plantation significantly increased the carbon stock of the vegetation and soil (vegetation carbon stock = 9.9645.06 t C/ha; soil carbon stock = 70.37-110.64 t C/ha) compared with the nonvegetation mudflat (63.73 t C/ha). However, the ecosystem carbon stock of the planting sites was still lower than that of natural Avicennia marina (282.86 t C/ha), with the significant difference mainly reflected on the soil carbon stock (p < 0.05). Further results revealed that carbon accumulation was affected by forest age, tree species, and tidal level. The vegetation biomass/carbon stock gradually increased with forest age (p < 0.05), but the difference was not significant for soil carbon stock, which indicated that the carbon accumulation was mainly concentrated on the vegetation at the early stage of mangrove restoration. In addition, suitable habitat conditions (landward) and fast-growing species (Sonneratia apetala) are more beneficial to carbon accumulation. Our results suggest that mangrove plantations can achieve carbon storage and sequestration in vegetation and soil for increasing carbon sinks with suitable species selection and management.
Impact of modulating leptin sensitivity on the transcriptomic profile of adult-derived hypothalamic mouse neurons
Authors: Ocłoń Ewa , Gurgul Artur , Szmatoła Tomasz , Jasielczuk Igor , Kucharski Miroslaw , Zubel-Łojek Joanna , Zieba Dorota Anna
Published: January 2025

The modulation of leptin sensitivity in hypothalamic neurons plays a crucial role in metabolic regulation and the development of obesity. Three distinct approaches, exposure to leptin (LEPA), administration of leptin antagonist (LANTA), and treatment with palmitate (PA), were explored in this study to assess their effects on adult-derived mHypoA-2/12 neurons and the resulting transcriptomic signatures. To this end, 3’ mRNA-Seq transcriptome analysis was employed, unexpectedly revealing downregulation of key genes associated with the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (Irf9, Mapk3, Stat2, Nfkbia, Ikbkg, Rela, Cxcl1, and Traf5), the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway (Nfkb2, Irf9, Mapk3, Stat2, Nfkbia, Ikbkg, Rela, and Ptgs2), the NF kappa B signaling pathway (Nfkbia, Ikbkg, Nfkb2, Rela, Traf5, Cxcl1, and Ptgs2), and the IL 17 signaling pathway (Nfkbia, Ikbkg, Mapk3, Rela, Traf5, Cxcl1, and Ptgs2). These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which these factors influence leptin sensitivity and provide insights into the pathways implicated in the development of leptin resistance in hypothalamic neurons. The surprising downregulation of these pathways suggests a complex interplay between leptin signaling and the cellular stress response in hypothalamic neurons. This alteration may reflect adaptive mechanisms in response to prolonged leptin or fatty acid exposure. Understanding these dynamics is essential for elucidating the role of hypothalamic inflammation in the progression of leptin resistance and associated metabolic disorders.
Implications of circular economy practices for firms in the integrated waste sector
Authors: Agyapong Daniel , Agyapong Gloria K. Q. , Ofori Daniel , Light Osman , Frimpong Stephanie Efua
Published: January 2025

Introduction

This study examined the effects of circular economy practices on the integrated waste management industry, drawing on the stakeholder theory. This study examined how the performance of Ghanaian waste management companies is affected by circular economy strategies, particularly upcycling and was recovery.

Methods

About 7,190 firms registered with the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) formed the population of the study, out of which the sample yielded 524 valid responses, which was analysed using PLS-SEM and Partial Correlation Analysis. PLS was adopted because it integrates factor and route analyses into significantly more rigorous statistical processes. In addition, the Partial Correlation network structure was adopted to explain how the nodes or variables are related to one another.

Results

The results demonstrate that upcycling has a favorable and considerable impact on the economic performance (β = 0.475, t = 4.495, p = 0.000), social performance (β = 0.403, t = 3.132, p = 0.002), and corporate governance performance (β = 0.455, t = 3.670, p = 0.000) of the firms. Furthermore, waste recovery improved the performance of waste management companies in terms of performance, specifically economic performance (β = 0.333, t = 3.183, p = 0.001), environmental performance (β = 0.583, t = 4.641, p = 0.000), social performance (β = 0.402, t = 3.157, p = 0.000), and corporate governance performance (β = 0.250, t = 2. 024, p = 0.048) indices.

Discussion

Finally, circular economy practices have a substantial impact on firms’ financial stability and investment readiness. It was concluded that waste management companies that excel in undertaking circular economy activities such as remanufacturing, trash recycling, and refurbishing are more likely to draw clients who want green activities in addition to their current needs. Additionally, these actions increase efficiency, which lowers operational expenses and improves governance-related concerns, including management training on these procedures and implementation of policies in compliance with the law.
Control of a Mobile Line-Following Robot Using Neural Networks
Authors: Leal Hugo M. , Barbosa Ramiro S. , Jesus Isabel S.
Published: January 2025

This work aims to develop and compare the performance of a line-following robot using both neural networks and classical controllers such as Proportional–Integral–Derivative (PID). Initially, the robot’s infrared sensors were employed to follow a line using a PID controller. The data from this method were then used to train a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network, which successfully replicated the behavior of the PID controller. In a subsequent experiment, the robot’s camera was used for line-following with neural networks. Images of the track were captured, categorized, and used to train a convolutional neural network (CNN), which then controlled the robot in real time. The results showed that neural networks are effective but require more processing and calibration. On the other hand, PID controllers proved to be simpler and more efficient for the tested tracks. Although neural networks are very promising for advanced applications, they are also capable of handling simpler tasks effectively.
Characterization of Essential Oils from Seven Salvia Taxa from Greece with Chemometric Analysis
Authors: Tziakas Spyridon , Tomou Ekaterina-Michaela , Fraskou Panagiota , Goula Katerina , Dimakopoulou Konstantina , Skaltsa Helen
Published: January 2025

Over the years, several studies have investigated the essential oils (EOs) of Salvia taxa, revealing significant chemical variability in their composition. The present study focused on the characterization of the EOs of seven Salvia taxa growing wild in Greece, namely S. aethiopis L., S. argentea L., and S. sclarea L. (Aethiopis section); S. officinalis L. subsp. officinalis and S. tomentosa Mill. (Eusphace section); S. verticillata L. subsp. verticillata (Hemisphace section); and S. amplexicaulis Lam. (Plethiosphace section). Chemometric analysis, including PCA, HCA, and a clustered heat map, were applied to identify possible relationships among the samples based on their constituents, chemical groups, and thujone contents. The analysis classified the samples into two distinct groups based on their chemical classes; Group I (Svert, Sarg, Sampl, and Sath) was characterized by the highest amounts of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (42.7–88.0%), followed by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (6.7–41.6%) and monoterpenes (0–17.2%), while Group II (Soff, Stom, and SScl) showed the highest amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes (47–66.4%), followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (4.9–22.7%), sesquiterpenes (3.2–15.3%), and oxygenated diterpenes (3.5–9.0%). Regarding thujone content, two major groups were detected. The first group comprised Sscl, Svert, Sarg, Sampl, and Sath while the second group comprised Soff and Stom (Subgenus Salvia/Section Eusphace), which exhibited the highest percentages of thujones. These findings provide a basis for further investigation into taxonomic studies of the Salvia genus.
Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation on Multiparametric CT Perfusion Maps Using Deep Neural Network
Authors: Kandpal Ankit , Gupta Rakesh Kumar , Singh Anup
Published: January 2025

Background: Accurate delineation of lesions in acute ischemic stroke is important for determining the extent of tissue damage and the identification of potentially salvageable brain tissues. Automatic segmentation on CT images is challenging due to the poor contrast-to-noise ratio. Quantitative CT perfusion images improve the estimation of the perfusion deficit regions; however, they are limited by a poor signal-to-noise ratio. The study aims to investigate the potential of deep learning (DL) algorithms for the improved segmentation of ischemic lesions. Methods: This study proposes a novel DL architecture, DenseResU-NetCTPSS, for stroke segmentation using multiparametric CT perfusion images. The proposed network is benchmarked against state-of-the-art DL models. Its performance is assessed using the ISLES-2018 challenge dataset, a widely recognized dataset for stroke segmentation in CT images. The proposed network was evaluated on both training and test datasets. Results: The final optimized network takes three image sequences, namely CT, cerebral blood volume (CBV), and time to max (Tmax), as input to perform segmentation. The network achieved a dice score of 0.65 ± 0.19 and 0.45 ± 0.32 on the training and testing datasets. The model demonstrated a notable improvement over existing state-of-the-art DL models. Conclusions: The optimized model combines CT, CBV, and Tmax images, enabling automatic lesion identification with reasonable accuracy and aiding radiologists in faster, more objective assessments.
Advances in Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy of Malignant Melanoma
Authors: Wang Xue , Ma Shanshan , Zhu Shuting , Zhu Liucun , Guo Wenna
Published: January 2025

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a malignant tumor, resulting from mutations in melanocytes of the skin and mucous membranes. Its mortality rate accounts for 90% of all dermatologic tumor mortality. Traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are unable to achieve the expected results due to MM’s low sensitivity, high drug resistance, and toxic side effects. As treatment advances, immunotherapy and targeted therapy have made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of MM and have demonstrated promising application prospects. However, the heterogeneity of tumor immune response causes more than half of patients to not benefit from clinical immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which delays the patient’s condition and causes them to suffer adverse immune events’ side effects. The combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy can help improve therapeutic effects, delay drug resistance, and mitigate adverse effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current development status and research progress of immune checkpoints, targeted genes, and their inhibitors, with a view to providing a reference for the clinical treatment of MM.
Segment, Compare, and Learn: Creating Movement Libraries of Complex Task for Learning from Demonstration
Authors: Prados Adrian , Espinoza Gonzalo , Moreno Luis , Barber Ramon
Published: January 2025

Motion primitives are a highly useful and widely employed tool in the field of Learning from Demonstration (LfD). However, obtaining a large number of motion primitives can be a tedious process, as they typically need to be generated individually for each task to be learned. To address this challenge, this work presents an algorithm for acquiring robotic skills through automatic and unsupervised segmentation. The algorithm divides tasks into simpler subtasks and generates motion primitive libraries that group common subtasks for use in subsequent learning processes. Our algorithm is based on an initial segmentation step using a heuristic method, followed by probabilistic clustering with Gaussian Mixture Models. Once the segments are obtained, they are grouped using Gaussian Optimal Transport on the Gaussian Processes (GPs) of each segment group, comparing their similarities through the energy cost of transforming one GP into another. This process requires no prior knowledge, it is entirely autonomous, and supports multimodal information. The algorithm enables generating trajectories suitable for robotic tasks, establishing simple primitives that encapsulate the structure of the movements to be performed. Its effectiveness has been validated in manipulation tasks with a real robot, as well as through comparisons with state-of-the-art algorithms.
Electrochemical Biosensors 3D Printed by Fused Deposition Modeling: Actualities, Trends, and Challenges
Authors: Silva Luiz Ricardo Guterres , Lopes Carlos Eduardo Costa , Tanaka Auro Atsushi , Dantas Luiza Maria Ferreira , Silva Iranaldo Santos , Stefano Jéssica Santos
Published: January 2025

The technology of 3D printing, particularly fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing, has revolutionized the development of electrochemical biosensors, offering a versatile and cost-effective approach for clinical applications. This review explores the integration of FDM in fabricating biosensing platforms tailored for clinical diagnostics, emphasizing its role in detecting various biomarkers and viral pathogens. Advances in 3D printing materials, especially the emergence of bespoke conductive filaments, have allowed the production of highly customizable and efficient biosensors. A detailed discussion focuses on the design and application of these biosensors for viral detection, highlighting their potential to improve diagnostic accuracy. Furthermore, the review addresses current trends, including the push towards miniaturization and multianalyte detection, alongside challenges such as material optimization and regulatory hurdles. By providing a comprehensive overview, this work underscores the transformative impact of 3D-printed electrochemical biosensors in clinical diagnostics while also identifying critical areas for future research and development.
Numerical Simulation and Optimization of Outdoor Wind Environment in High-Rise Buildings Zone of Xuzhou City
Authors: Fang Huanhuan , Ji Xiang , Wang Jiuxin , Lu Jijun , Yang Mengcheng , Li Jiajun , Duan Zhongcheng
Published: January 2025

High-rise developments frequently exert adverse impacts on the outdoor wind environment, leading to a deterioration in the overall quality of urban surroundings and a reduction in the comfort levels of residents. This study systematically investigates typical high-rise settlements in Xuzhou City and proposes optimization strategies to address wind environment issues through an in-depth analysis of building planning parameters. Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, the research identifies key wind-related challenges associated with high-rise buildings in representative settlements. The study comprehensively examines the effects of building height, width, orientation, spacing, and layout on the outdoor wind field, progressing from individual building units to clusters. Based on these findings, optimization strategies are formulated and validated through CFD simulations conducted on a representative high-rise settlement in Xuzhou. The results reveal that typical high-rise buildings in Xuzhou exhibit a height of 54 m, a width of 48 m, and an orientation ranging from 15° to 30° southeast. The front-to-rear building spacing is approximately 1.44 times the building height, with an additional 15 m spacing from mountain walls. Optimal wind conditions are achieved with a center-vacant building layout. The optimization of building form, spacing, and orientation substantially improves the outdoor wind environment by alleviating stagnant wind zones and reducing wind pressure differentials between the building fronts and rears, thereby enhancing the comfort of residents. This study provides a valuable reference for the planning and design of high-rise settlements, contributing to an improvement in urban environmental quality and the enhancement of livability.
The New Era of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Key Highlights and Future Research Agenda on Organizational Strategy
Authors: Aldhobaib Meshal Abdulaziz
Published: January 2025

Although the Middle East is often perceived as politically, economically, and socially unstable, Saudi Arabia offers a different narrative. Inspired by the country’s vision (Vision 2030) and the growing body of research exploring its socio-economic transformation, this article examines how organizational strategy theories and practices can be advanced by inviting researchers to focus on Saudi Arabia’s evolving context. To achieve this, the article addresses three pivotal questions: (a) Why should academics consider conducting research in Saudi Arabia? (b) What research topics could significantly advance organizational strategy theories and practices? (c) What are the primary barriers to conducting research in Saudi Arabia? Using a comprehensive review of existing literature, socio-economic analysis, and an evaluation of Vision 2030 targets, the article identifies three key themes: (1) socio-cultural dynamics and their influence on organizational strategies, (2) economic diversification and its impact on strategic resilience, and (3) the strategic alignment of foreign direct investment (FDI) with expatriate mission success. These findings lead to distinct research agendas linked to relevant theoretical frameworks, including Cross-Cultural Theory, Institutional Theory, and the Resource-Based View. The article concludes by inviting scholars to explore these themes and generate findings that contribute to existing organizational strategy theories and practical solutions, fostering a deeper understanding of organizational strategy within Saudi Arabia and the broader global landscape.
Exploiting Cancer Dormancy Signaling Mechanisms in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Through Spheroid and Organoid Analysis
Authors: Tomas Emily J. , Valdes Yudith Ramos , Davis Jennifer , Kolendowski Bart , Buensuceso Adrian , DiMattia Gabriel E. , Shepherd Trevor G.
Published: January 2025

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) exhibits a unique mode of metastasis, involving spheroid formation in the peritoneum. Our research on EOC spheroid cell biology has provided valuable insights into the signaling plasticity associated with metastasis. We speculate that EOC cells modify their biology between tumour and spheroid states during cancer dormancy, although the specific mechanisms underlying this transition remain unknown. Here, we present novel findings from direct comparisons between cultured EOC spheroids and organoids. Our results indicated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity was significantly upregulated and protein kinase B (Akt) was downregulated in EOC spheroids compared to organoids, suggesting a clear differential phenotype. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we further supported these phenotypic differences and highlighted the significance of cell cycle regulation in organoids. By inhibiting the G2/M checkpoint via kinase inhibitors, we confirmed that this pathway is essential for organoids. Interestingly, our results suggest that specifically targeting aurora kinase A (AURKA) may represent a promising therapeutic strategy since our cells were equally sensitive to Alisertib treatment as both spheroids and organoids. Our findings emphasize the importance of studying cellular adaptations of EOC cells, as there may be different therapeutic targets depending on the step of EOC disease progression.