bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regime Change: The Need for Scientific Critical Consciousness
Authors: Mirza Usama Javed
Published: February 2025

Concerns about nuclear technology or global warming are among myriad socio-scientific issues in the world that students are given very poor preparation with which to engage critically. By not tackling them head-on, curricula risk dangerously misleading students about the nature of science, its legacy and place in the world; aggravating socio-economic inequality perpetuated by centuries of European colonialism of the Global South. These misleading ideas include Eurocentrism, viewing religion as irrational and Western science as superior to indigenous knowledge systems.

In an effort to identify how to inculcate the dispositions in students to counter oppressive ideas taught under the guise of science, this paper presents a theoretical framework and curriculum for inculcating a scientific critical consciousness (SCC). SCC is presented as the ability to perceive these oppressive ideas relating to science, and to take action to counter them. The theoretical framework is developed by adapting ideas from and critiques of Freire (2017), Greene (2011), Boler and Zembylas (2002), Anyon (2009) and Biesta (1998).

This article outlines how the curriculum, teaching and assessment methodologies of traditional science classes can be enhanced to inculcate SCC. This is illustrated by presenting a “revamped” curriculum of the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) O’ level physics, complete with a learning outcomes and assessment framework. Parts of this curriculum were informally pre-piloted at a private school in Islamabad, Pakistan, and at a public school in Harlem, New York. These pre-pilot experiences confirm the challenges predicted by research in implementing emancipatory curricula, e.g. that social taboos prevent open discussion of sensitive socio-scientific social justice issues. They also indicate much promise from even partial inclusion; students demonstrated changing perspectives and motivation to tackle social justice issues, and there was significantly increased student engagement—including by those who were previously disinterested in science.
Book Review: Decolonizing the Mind (by Sandew Hira)
Authors: Delices Patrick
Published: February 2025

Although the dominant narratives in the world of academia are from the vantage points of primarily white males from the West (Europe and the United States), there is an alternative narrative that is being discussed in many parts of the world that is challenging the colonial perspectives of the West. This non-Westernised narrative is deeply discussed in Decolonizing the Mind: A Guide to Decolonial Theory and Practice by decolonial scholar, economist, historian and activist Sandew Hira. The aim of Hira’s Decolonizing the Mind is to deeply engage decolonial theory and practice as an alternative to the prominent thinking of the West as illuminated in liberalism and Marxism. As such, Hira’s Decolonizing the Mind serves as a major opposition to the massive production of Westernised knowledge. By methodically considering Hira’s alternative narrative to dominant Western thoughts and practices, this review will serve as a critical appraisal of his decolonial theory and practice. Thus, Hira’s Decolonizing the Mind is a scholarly and timely attempt at the production of knowledge and other ways of knowing.
Varieties of populism in 21st-century Latin America and their manifestations in regional integration
Authors: Garcés-Velástegui Pablo , Garrido-Salas Valeria
Published: February 2025

“Populism” is a contested term, receiving multiple qualifications in the historical record. From classic to radical populism, the scholarship on Latin America’s experience is no exception. While such efforts to grasp the phenomenon underscore its inherent plurality, they fail to recognize its limited diversity, leading to questions about their analytical validity. To address this situation, we analyze a sample of speeches of six presidents in 21st-century Latin America related, to different extents, to regional integration. This topic is particularly relevant given the growing attention to specific issues in the literature, where foreign policy stands out, and the contested nature of regionalism itself. We employ sociocultural viability theory’s typology, which depicts four ideal-typical ways of perceiving, ordering, and justifying social arrangements: individualism, hierarchy, egalitarianism (which are all active), and fatalism (which is passive). The results show that the three active worldviews account for all varieties of populism. By so doing, this framework brings a degree of order to the debate and points to promising avenues for further research.
FKA twigs and the Impossibly Sonorous Body
Authors: Fecu Yanie
Published: February 2025

abstract: This article examines how FKA twigs's audiovisual staging of Black masochistic desire transforms Pierre Schaeffer's concept of the acousmatic—sound heard in the absence of a corresponding visual source. Within her music videos, the singer/choreographer experiments with what I call the impossibly sonorous , a paradoxical form of sensory entanglement that insists upon the incongruity of visible source and audible sound. I argue that, taken together, her album art, videos, lyrics, and vocal delivery reveal ongoing developments in how contemporary Black diasporic musicians challenge the visual and sonic color line with new erotic scripts.
Going to the Video Hall: A Sensory Encounter with a New Urban Space in Post-Mao China
Authors: Hou Yiyang
Published: February 2025

abstract: Against the rising tide of marketization sweeping across China in the 1980s and 1990s, many people sought profitability by opening up private video exhibition sites to showcase bootleg videotapes. By drawing on a wide range of written sources and material artifacts—including interviews, fictional works, and photographs—this article pays special attention to how the experience of going to the video hall was remembered by the video-goers. Through an investigation into Chinese people's multisensory encounters with the video hall, this article calls for a contextualized reevaluation of such a prominent urban space against post-Mao China's turn to market reform.
Speculating in Latent Space: Visibility Politics and the Impasse of Representation in Generative AI
Authors: Kafer Gary
Published: February 2025

abstract: This article examines how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is used in speculative media making practices to foster a marginalized visibility politics in digital culture. Through a close reading of the computational processes in text-to-image programs, This article shows how generative AI operates upon a gap between human and machinic modes of perception that forecloses practices of speculation grounded within representational politics of identity. At the same time, through glitch, This article demonstrates how generative AI might foster a revised framework of speculation for a marginalized political imagination that attends to the nonvisual forms of minoritarian experience that subtend the digital image.
Set-Going Chronicles: Rethinking Turkish Cinema through the Lens of New Cinema History
Authors: Şavk Serkan , Çam Aydin , Şanlıer İlke
Published: February 2025

abstract: In this article, we propose set-going as a novel concept for studying the experience of visiting filming locations to watch the making of a film. This experience creates a field of interaction between movie enthusiasts and movie professionals. We argue that set-going should be considered as a new trajectory for studying the cultural and social history of cinema. Theoretically, we benefit from the New Cinema History paradigm. Departing from a case study of the Yeşilçam era of Turkish cinema (1950s–1980s), we discuss the practice of set-going as embracing a wide range of social and cultural contexts surrounding the production process.
How Did Unionism Recover Its Lead over Nationalism? The Impact of the Plurality Voting Electoral System on Electoral Change in Northern Ireland between the 2023 Local Elections and the 2024 Westminster Election
Authors: McGuinness Philip
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT: Electoral systems in ethnically divided democracies can accentuate or moderate political disagreement. In Northern Ireland, the Westminster electoral system is non-proportional, whereas local elections use a proportional system. Parties and voters must think strategically in Westminster elections to achieve their desired result. Prudent party withdrawals, strategic voting and differential bloc-identity turnout had significant impacts on the 2024 Westminster election result compared to the 2023 local elections. Notional Westminster constituency results were estimated for the 2023 local elections (which used different electoral contest areas) to enable comparison. Turnout increases occurred where there were close unionist–Alliance or intra-unionist battles. Republican-dominated constituencies saw turnout decrease. Most constituency results were impacted by an idiosyncratic blend of external political issues, prudent party withdrawal and strategic voting. The implications of unionist electoral reinvigoration and republican electoral stasis are discussed, in the context of likely increasing input by the next Irish government into the reunification debate.
Telehospitality
Authors: Spigel Lynn
Published: February 2025

abstract: This essay explores computer profiling and surveillance systems developed by the hospitality industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Hotels and motels partnered with computer corporations and were among the first industries to create computer networks and management systems, using them for practical applications like reservations as well as to police guests and monitor hotel labor. However, there is no sustained history of the hospitality industry's role in computer research and design. Drawing on archival documents, trade journals, architectural literature, and hotel ephemera, this article shows how hospitality venues made computer profiling and surveillance seem welcoming, convenient, and user-friendly. The computer systems developed for hotels helped acclimate publics to the networked environments of contemporary everyday life, where digital devices and services ambiguously care for and surveil consumers, even in their own homes.
Dynamics of Doubt: How ASHRAE Engineers Became Ozone Skeptics, 1974–89
Authors: Saha Abeer
Published: February 2025

abstract: This article examines the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and its response to the ozone crisis in the 1970s, highlighting the science-skepticism that hindered responses to environmental issues in the twentieth century. Although well-positioned to address ozone depletion by developing safer chemical alternatives, ASHRAE resisted regulatory changes, framing concerns over CFC emissions as an attack on engineering and American technological dominance. Their rhetoric of doubt persisted for over a decade, even after corporations like DuPont acknowledged environmental harm and adopted chlorofluorocarbon controls. This study reveals how skepticism within scientifically literate communities can complicate environmental responses and explores the role of professional identity in shaping environmental and technical policy decisions.
Enduring Struggles and Protracted War: Hatred as a Multi-Faceted Construct
Authors: Abuelaish Izzeldin , J. Yousufzai Susan , Sanchos Marcos , Oliver Amalya
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the concept of conflict- and war-related hatred as a multifaceted construct. Drawing upon various theoretical frameworks, we hypothesized that hatred in the context of conflict and war would encompass five distinct dimensions: Groupthink (Contagious Hatred), Destructiveness, Exposure, Chronicity, and Extreme-Severe Affect. To empirically validate this conceptual framework, we conducted a second-order factor analysis using data from 709 questionnaire responses collected from citizens in the Gaza Strip. The findings revealed that the optimal model comprises three primary constructs: Contagious Hatred, Chronicity, and Extreme- Severe Affect. Based on these results, we argue that collective existential threats in contexts of protracted conflict and war amplify groupthink, foster a sense of chronicity, and evoke intense negative affect. These findings underscore the complexity of hatred as a psychological and social phenomenon in conflict zones.
An optimization model for the distribution of perishable products with consideration of road roughness conditions
Authors: Ounsé Éric-Noël Gueu , Kpinna Tiekoura Coulibaly , Bi Kouaï Bertin Kayé , Souleymane Oumtanaga
Published: February 2025

In this article, we discuss a vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPTW) for the transport of perishable products with considera-‎tion of road roughness constraints. The proposed model includes simultaneous pickup and delivery operations. Unlike almost all previous ‎studies, which mainly consider travel distance and temperature as factors in product deterioration, we take into account the roughness condi-‎tions of the roads in order to preserve their quality during transport. The objective is therefore to satisfy a set of customers, while respecting ‎the constraints related to multi-product transport, simultaneous pickup and delivery operations, time windows and roughness conditions of ‎the roads. We express the problem in the form of a mixed linear integer program. The model is solved with CPLEX's traditional Branch & ‎Cut (B&C) and a two-phase decomposition heuristic (TPDH). The test results show that TPDH produces satisfactory solutions in a short ‎time for all instances studied, with an average time of 290,19 seconds compared to 2941,61 seconds for B&C. In addition, TPDH has an ‎average deviation of +18,3 % from the total cost of the objective compared to B&C, making it a relevant option for applications that require ‎fast computation.
Development of the “KARUNI” (young adolescents community) model to prevent stunting: a phenomenological study on adolescents in Gunungkidul regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Karuniawati Benny , Respati Supriyadi Hari , Urrahman Dhiya , Baiquni Fahmi , Mulyani Sri
Published: February 2025

Background

Stunting is a major health problem in developing countries due to chronic malnutrition that impacts physical growth, cognitive ability, and long-term productivity. The focus of stunting prevention is generally aimed at pregnant women and toddlers, while adolescents, especially adolescent girls, are often neglected. In fact, they will be the future mothers who determine the quality of the next generation. Malnutrition and anemia in adolescents increase the risk of giving birth to stunted children. Innovative nutritional intervention programs, such as nutrition education and iron supplements, are needed to break the cycle of stunting, involving adolescents as important targets in prevention. Karuni is a program specifically designed for teenagers aged 12–15 years with the main focus being on empowering teenagers through nutrition education, reproductive health and clean and healthy living behavior as well as involving parents to optimize the program.

Methods

This study used a phenomenological approach to explore the understanding of adolescent girls aged 12–15 years about the stunting prevention program in Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and FGDs with adolescents, officials running the Adolescent Health Care (PKPR) program, and related agencies. Data validity was guaranteed by triangulation of sources and NVivo was used for analysis.

Results

The identified five themes related to the adolescent intervention program for stunting prevention: program implementation, achievements, barriers, needs, and KARUNI model design. Program monitoring is important, but faces barriers such as the lack of prioritization and motivation. Cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation, and appropriate media are needed in the implementation of the KARUNI model to increase the effectiveness of the stunting prevention program for adolescents.

Conclusions

The importance of the role of adolescents in efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting, especially through collaboration between health centers (Puskesmas) and schools in implementing the PKPR program, providing iron tablets, and health screening.
Effect of Zr content on strain-induced precipitation behavior of Ti–Zr microalloyed low-carbon steel
Authors: Luo Hanyu , Xiong Xuegang , Lai Yiyue , Cao Jianchun , Yang Lisheng , Zhang Jinchang
Published: February 2025

With two different Zr content Ti–Zr microalloyed low-carbon steels, isothermal relaxation tests at 875–950 °C were conducted using a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulation testing machine. Based on the Avrami equation, the thermodynamic and kinetic model for the precipitation of

Ti

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${\text{Ti}}_{\left({k}_{1}+{m}_{1}\right)}{\text{Zr}}_{\left({k}_{2}+{m}_{2}\right)}{\mathrm{C}}_{\left({k}_{1}+{k}_{2}\right)}{\mathrm{N}}_{\left({m}_{1}+{m}_{2}\right)}$

in austenite was established. The results indicate that the microalloyed elements in Ti–Zr microalloyed low-carbon steel will form composite precipitates through replacement and heterogeneous mechanisms, and nucleate and precipitate at grain boundaries and dislocations in the form of (Ti, Zr) (C, N). For the nucleation and precipitation of carbonitrides at dislocations in 0.035Zr steel and 0.091Zr steel, their nucleation rate–temperature curves (NrT) and Precipitation–time–temperature (PTT) curves intersect at a certain point. The increase in Zr content suppresses the precipitation of carbonitrides from austenite, reducing the strain-induced precipitation in Ti–Zr microalloyed low-carbon steel during rolling process.
Unlocking treasure from fish bones: bioinspired hydroxyapatite synthesis from Catla catla fish for sustainable waste-to-wealth
Authors: Deb Payel , Das Lala Sumit , Sarkar Paramita , Nath Amitabha , Barua Emon
Published: February 2025

This study presents an innovative and sustainable method for synthesizing hydroxyapatite (HA) from Catla catla fish bones, addressing the need for environmentally friendly materials in biomedical applications. Fish bone waste is transformed into high-performance HA through acid pre-treatment, oven drying, and calcination at 900 °C. Characterization via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of HA with particle sizes ranging from 0.3–0.8 µm, which is ideal for enhancing surface area in biomedical contexts. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveal a highly porous structure and a Ca/P ratio of 1.68, closely resembling natural bone composition. The bioactivity of HA was evaluated using simulated body fluid over 7 and 28 days, with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses confirming hydroxycarbonate apatite layer formation, indicated by increased Ca and P content. X-ray diffraction further validates the bioactive nature of HA. In-vitro degradability testing demonstrated controlled degradation over 28 days, alongside pH changes in the SBF solution. Cytotoxicity analysis using human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells confirmed the non-toxic nature of HA, showing a cell viability rate of 89.7 ± 3.1 % after 48 h. These findings emphasize the potential of fish bone-derived HA to be used in coating orthopedic and dental implants, creating porous bone scaffolds, and formulating bone cement, establishing it as a highly promising material for diverse biomedical applications.
Passage- and serum-dependent changes of adipose-derived stromal cells in vitro: a discrepancy of stemness factors regarding mesenchymal surface markers and expression of stemness-related genes
Authors: Sonnenfeld Renata , Vogt Peter M. , Kuhbier Jörn W. , Strauss Sarah
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Autologous fat transplantation is a promising source for cell therapy and tissue engineering. However, the physiological function and regulatory mechanisms of in vitro cell culture remain largely unexplored. Furthermore, no standard protocol for cell culture of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) has been described. Previous studies have reported the impact of media supplementation on the loss of stemness capacity.

Methods

In this study, we compared the expression of stemness-defining surface markers according to the minimal criteria definition (CD 11b⁻, CD 31⁻, CD 34⁻, CD 45⁻, CD 73⁺, CD 90⁺, and CD 105⁻) by flow cytometry analysis with the expression of stemness-related genes such as MCAM, OCT4, MYC, and cKit in hASCs cultured in either fetal calf serum (FCS) or human serum (HS) supplemented medium from passage 0 to 5.

Results

As expected, we found that hASCs in both groups retained their typical mesenchymal surface marker profile CD 73 and CD 90 (>95 %) in flow cytometry analysis, as well as the absence of CD 11b, CD 31, CD 34, and CD 45 (<5 %) until passage 5. However, in contrast to that, RT-PCR indicated a passage-dependent decline and medium-dependent changes in the transcriptome, in particular the loss of the stemness-related genes cKit and MCAM in both groups, while MYC and OCT4 showed unpredictable expression.

Conclusions

Summarized, these results indicate the need for standardized cell culture protocol, as the transcriptome seems to change during in vitro cultivation, although an ASC-typical pattern of surface markers remains. In this regard, our study aims to contribute to the establishment of a standard protocol to achieve reliability, validity, and objectivity for future cell therapy or clinical applications.
Rectangle-free four-colored square grids realized by cyclic-rotated reusable patterns
Authors: Steinbach Bernd
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the very hard problem of grid coloring that has been specified more than 10 years ago in S. Fenner et al., Rectangle Free Coloring of Grids, 2009. Available at: http://www.cs.umd.edu/∼gasarch/papers/grid.pdf. It was unknown whether rectangle-free completely four-colored square grids of sizes 17 × 17 and 18 × 18 exist. As result of an extensive research I computed commonly with Christian Posthoff a rectangle-free pattern that can be reused cyclic-rotated by 90° for the four colors of the grid of size 18 × 18 (B. Steinbach and C. Posthoff, “Extremely complex 4-colored rectangle-free grids: solution of open multiple-valued problems,” in Proceedings of the IEEE 42nd International Symposium on Multiple-Valued Logic, Victoria, BC, Canada, ISMVL, 2012, pp. 37–44, B. Steinbach and C. Posthoff, “Rectangle-free colorings of extremely complex grids using 4 colors,” J. Mult.-Valued Log. Soft Comput., vol. 21, nos. 5–6, pp. 609–625, 2013). A similar solution for the grid of size 17 × 17 has not been found so far. We explore in this paper for which sizes of square grids rectangle-free four-colored patterns exist, at which the pattern of one color can be reused for another color after a rotation by 90°.
Structural bias in synthesis of sparsely-specified functions
Authors: Fišer Petr , Schmidt Jan
Published: February 2025

Two-level logic minimization is a well-established process that efficiently minimizes functions described in the Sum-of-Products (SOP) form. Current two-level SOP minimizes, like Espresso and Boom, produce optimum or near-optimum results regarding the SOP size. However, in this article we show that an SOP minimization conducted in the standard, multi-output way, significantly worsens the result of the subsequent multi-level synthesis, especially for sparsely-specified functions, regardless of the optimization process and the tool used. In conclusion, we propose using a single-output two-level SOP minimization for sparsely specified functions. In this way, the obtained circuits are sometimes multiple times smaller, while no significant deterioration has been observed for any other functions.
Optimal design of an eddy current sensor for detecting and characterizing cracks by data inversion: parametric study
Authors: Barrarat Fatima , Helifa Bachir , Bensaid Samir , Lefkaier Ibn Khaldoun , Rayane Karim
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal parameters for the design and use of eddy current (EC) sensors for non-destructive testing (NDT), aimed at crack characterization by data inversion. A methodology has been established to evaluate the performance of these sensors in the detection of opening cracks and to compare their performances in various measurement conditions. Detection and inversion algorithms were developed and implemented in order to use the most efficient and optimal structure, to quantify the detection quality of defects and to estimate their geometric characteristics. This study has produced very encouraging results in terms of detection performance and data inversion.
Broadband perfect Littrow diffraction metasurface under large-angle incidence
Authors: Zhu Jingyuan , Zhou Siliang , He Tao , Feng Chao , Wang Zhanshan , Dong Siyu , Cheng Xinbin
Published: February 2025

Littrow diffraction devices are commonly used in the laser field (e.g., laser resonators and spectrometers), where system integration requires larger incidence angles and perfect broadband efficiency. Compared to traditional diffraction devices, which struggle to manipulate light paths under large-angle incidence, metasurfaces has the potential to enhance the broadband efficiency. Despite quasi three-dimensional metasurfaces effects, only perfect anomalous reflection under normal incidence at limited wavelengths was achieved due to energy flow mismatch in the broadband Littrow configuration. Here, we propose a supercell metasurface capable of regulating broadband non-local responses. The metasurface effectively suppresses non-local responses under Littrow mounting, while providing sufficient non-local responses through strong structural coupling effects when the incidence deviates from the Littrow mounting. A large-angle broadband Littrow diffraction metasurface in the mid-infrared spectrum (3.11 µm ∼ 3.52 µm) has been successfully realized, with 99 % efficiency at Littrow angle of 70°. Our results break through the bandwidth limitations of perfect diffraction, providing robust support for the practical applications of metasurfaces in Littrow diffraction devices.
Antidiabetic activities of aerial part of Asparagus racemosus Willd. extract: an in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approach
Authors: Das Priya , Thapa Ankrita , Mistri Suraj , Ashraf Gouhar Jahan , Sarkar Sourav , Modak Debabrata , Bhattacharjee Soumen , Singh Ravi Kumar , Dua Tarun Kumar , Paul Paramita , Nandi Gouranga , Sahu Ranabir
Published: February 2025

Asparagus racemosus Willd., a significant medicinal plant in India’s Darjeeling Himalayan region. The current study aims to assess the antidiabetic efficacy of the aerial part of Asparagus racemosus Willd. utilizing a streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rat model. The methanolic extract of plant (ARME) was evaluated for in vitro antidiabetic activity through α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzyme suppression assay and assessed in vivo in a streptozotocin-induced rat model. A 21-day chronic multiple-dose study of ARME was examined. STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with metformin (70 mg/kg) and ARME at concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/kg. It was discovered that ARME inhibited the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase and showed potent therapeutic effects on the rat’s model. ARME helps raise body weight, hemoglobin, and other blood counts and normalizes the serum parameters in the diabetic group. In addition, liver tissues’ abnormal levels of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione and lipid peroxides were returned to those of control animals. HPTLC study revealed the presence of stigmasterol, which showed a strong affinity for the proteins linked to diabetes mellitus through in silico study. As a result of these findings, ARME inhibits the activity of digestive enzymes and has antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects in STZ-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats.
Biogenic selenium nanoparticles: a comprehensive update on the multifaceted application, stability, biocompatibility, risk, and opportunity
Authors: Nagime Pooja V. , Pandey Vinay Kumar , Rajpal Charu , Jayeoye Titilope John , Kumar Ashwini , Chidrawar Vijay R. , Singh Sudarshan
Published: February 2025

Biogenic selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have emerged as promising area of research due to their unique properties and potential multifaceted applications. The biosynthesis of SeNPs through biological methods, such as using microorganism, plant extracts, etc., offers a safe, eco-friendly, and biocompatible approach, compared to traditional chemical synthesis. Recent several studies demonstrated that multifaceted application of SeNPs includes a broad area such as antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and excellent wound healing activity. On the other hand, SeNPs have also shown promising application in sensing of inorganic toxic metals, electrochemistry, agro-industries, aqua-cultures, and in fabrication of solar panels. Additionally, SeNPs capability to enhance the efficacy of traditional antibiotics and act as effective agents against multidrug-resistant pathogens has shown their potential in addressing critical health challenges. Although, the SeNPs exhibit wide applicability, the potential toxicity of Se, particularly in its various oxidative states, necessitates careful assessment of the environmental and health impacts associated with their use. Therefore, understanding the balance between their beneficial properties and potential risks is crucial for its safe applications. This review focuses exclusively on SeNPs synthesized via eco-friendly process, excluding research utilizing other synthesis processes. Moreover, this review aims to offer an overview of the diverse applications, potential risks, stability requirement, and cytocompatibility requirement, and multifaceted opportunities associated with SeNPs. Ultimately, the review bridges a gap in knowledge by providing an updated details of multifaceted applications of SeNPs.
Assessing the molecular interaction between a COVID-19 drug, nirmatrelvir, and human serum albumin: calorimetric, spectroscopic, and microscopic investigations
Authors: Abubakar Mujaheed , Ahmad Hidayat Ahmad Fadhlurrahman , Abd Halim Adyani Azizah , Khanna Kushagra , Zaroog Mohammed Suleiman , Rajagopal Mogana Sundari , Tayyab Saad
Published: February 2025

The research examined the molecular interaction between nirmatrelvir (NIR), a drug used to treat COVID-19, and human serum albumin (HSA) using various techniques, viz., isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), absorption, fluorescence, CD spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). ITC analysis showed that the NIR–HSA system possessed a moderate binding affinity, with a K

a
value of 6.53 ± 0.23 × 104 M−1 at a temperature of 300 K. The thermodynamic values demonstrated that the NIR–HSA complex was stabilized by hydrophobic contacts, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces. The research also discovered modifications in the UV–Vis absorption spectrum of the protein as well as swelling of the HSA molecule when exposed to NIR, based on AFM results. The three-dimensional fluorescence spectral data indicated changes in the microenvironment around HSA’s Trp and Tyr residues. Alterations in the protein structure (both secondary and tertiary structures) of HSA after NIR binding were verified using CD spectral studies in the far-UV and near-UV regions. The identification of the NIR binding site in subdomain IB (Site III) of HSA was predicted through competitive displacement experiments.
Pressure Vessels Structural Integrity Assessment Using Failure Analysis Diagrams
Authors: Rocha Pinto Juarez de Jesus , Mattar Neto Miguel
Published: February 2025

There is much discussion today about the possibility of extending the lifetime of industrial plant components due to economic factors. Pressure vessels are among the most expensive components, and their replacement can significantly impact the operation of an entire plant. In this context, several Fitness-for-Service (FFS) methodologies can be applied to assess structural integrity, addressing not only economic aspects but also enhancing safety. Failure Assessment Diagrams (FADs) are widely used in FFS methodologies to prevent future failures by analyzing crack-type defects. These diagrams establish acceptability criteria based on the material toughness ratio and loading ratio. Recommended practices utilizing the BS-7910, API-579, and R6 methodologies are addressed in this work, alongside principles from fracture mechanics, material properties, and solid mechanics. The main objective was to develop computer programs in Matlab to analyze a case study involving a pressure vessel manufactured from SA-516 Gr 70 steel, determining the critical dimensions of semi-elliptical cracks in longitudinal and circumferential orientations of a cylindrical section. Level 2 evaluation, the most commonly used in FFS methodologies, was applied to develop the programs. This study enabled the creation of tools to automate calculations and generate FAD graphs, considering the critical depth and length of cracks. These tools support decision-making in structural design requirements and provide a means of evaluating equipment in service with crack-type defects, extending its operational lifetime. The FFS methodologies studied are based on ASME Codes for pressure vessels and piping, particularly Sections III and XI. Based on the analysis of API-579, BS-7910, and R6 methodologies under the operating conditions of the case study, it is possible to conclude that, for normal evaluations, critical length (2c) = 40.64 mm and critical depth (a) = 10.16 mm are acceptable values. However, for evaluations requiring safety considerations under the R6 procedure, applicable to Class A service equipment in the nuclear sector, only critical length (l) = 5 mm and depth (a) = 2.5 mm are permissible values.
Pursuing Work-Life Balance through Life Crafting: A Qualitative Study on Muslim Women with Triple Burden
Authors: Sopian Mohamad , Hanami Yuliana
Published: February 2025

This article introduces a qualitative study to explore the process of life crafting to attain work-life balance (WLB) for Muslim women as academia has a triple burden in the context of career women in Indonesia. This study uses a phenomenological approach, collecting data using semi-structured in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis as a data analysis technique. Participants are full-time employed women (academics), have families, are continuing their studies, and have professional qualifications (N = 8). The findings show the dynamics of Life Crafting that underlies the work and non-work domains that affect the attainment of work-life balance in women participants working while studying. Participants were found to understand and achieve their work-life balance differently according to their personal traits. This study contributes to current knowledge about career and life issues through the perspectives and work-life experiences of professional women in Indonesia.
Psychological Well-Being Santri scale (PWBSs): Construct validity with Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Authors: Suprananto Suprananto , Samudera Arung , Hamdi M. Dudih Fadilah
Published: February 2025

The Psychological Well-Being of Santri is a measuring instrument that aims to measure the Psychological Well-Being of Santri. Therefore, this study aims to test the construct validity of this measuring instrument. PWBSs includes six subscales, each consisting of 4 items designed to measure the dimensions of the psychological well-being of santri as follows: 1) Personal, 2) Emotional, 3) Social, 4) Physical, 5) Spiritual, 6) Cognitive. The total sample in this study was 595 respondents. Consisting of 334 males and 261 females aged between 12-25 years. Samping in this study used probability sampling techniques using random sampling techniques. The analysis method used is Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the help of Lisrel 8.7 software. The test results prove that there are 43 items that are in accordance with the data and 21 items in psychological well-being instrument of santri measure more than one factor or do not match the data. The researchers suggested that these 21 items be revised from the measuring instrument because they measure more than one factor.
The Impact of Paternal and Maternal Parenting Styles on Alexithymia
Authors: Moormann Peter Paul , Bermond Bob , De Groot Manon , Syahid Achmad , Lagoudaki Kalliopi
Published: February 2025

Rogers stressed the impact of Conditional Regard (CR) towards the child in the development of neurotic anxiety. Miller noted that disorders in affect regulation relate to family atmospheres where the child is not allowed to express negative emotions. However, studies on the impact of paternal and maternal parenting styles lacking emotional warmth (EW) on the development of alexithymia in adulthood remain scarce. Therefore, The Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) and the Leiden Parent-Child Interaction Questionnaire (LPCIQ-R) were administered to 152 male and female bachelor psychology students from 18 to 60 years of age at Leiden University. The results demonstrate that: 1) Both paternal and maternal parenting styles lacking EW induced significantly higher Alexithymia Total scores; 2) Fathers lacking EW induced significantly higher scores on Cognitive Alexithymia, while mothers lacking EW induced significantly higher scores on Affective Alexithymia; 3) Both CR fathers and CR mothers induced difficulties with Identifying emotions; 4) CR fathers induced difficulties with Verbalizing emotions, while 5) Indifferent mothers induced difficulties with Emotionalizing. The results above not only support Rogers’ view on the devastating affect of CR on emotion regulation, but empasize the different impact of paternal and maternal roles on the development of alexithymia features as well. In the past mothers were seen as the primary caretakers and consequently mothers were blamed for the child’s mental health problems. However, our results show that Cognitive Alexithymia, known for its association with mental illness is induced by fathers lacking EW. In contrast Affective alexithymia, associated with on the one hand stress resistance, and on the other hand lack of empathy and creativity, turned out to be induced by mothers lacking EW. Hence, with the growing active role of fathers in child rearing it is unfair to blame mothers for the child’s mental problems without prior investigations of parenting styles lacking EW.
Religious Moderation of Indonesian Muslim Adolescents
Authors: Syukrilla Wara Alfa , Nihayah Zahrotun , Fayruz Mohammad
Published: February 2025

In Indonesia's diverse society, tensions and conflicts among various groups of religions often disrupt social harmony. Therefore, it emerges the concept of religious moderation which is currently adopted as a national policy in Indonesia to counter intolerance and radicalism. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing religious moderation in  Indonesian Muslim adolescents. The instruments used in this study are the modified Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), the Indonesian version of the Muslim Daily Religiosity Assessment Scale (MUDRAS), and the Religious Moderation Scale. The religious moderation instrument consists of three dimensions: national commitment, anti-violence, and accommodation of local culture. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was employed to test construct validity. Using multiple linear regression we evaluate the effect of religiosity and parenting style on religious moderation. The sample of this study was 339 Indonesian Muslim late adolescents aged 17-22 years old from 22 provinces in Indonesia. The results showed that parenting styles and religiosity are significant predictors that positively influence religious moderation, both simultaneously and partially. The findings of this study suggest that parenting style and religiosity are the factors influencing religious moderation of Indonesian Muslim late adolescents. The findings of this study further emphasize the importance of the family's role in shaping adolescents' attitudes toward religion.
Marital Satisfaction and Father Involvement on Company X's Employees: The Role of Workplace Flexibility
Authors: Somantri Siti Dara Futri , Riasnugrahani Missiliana , Setiawan Tery
Published: February 2025

Father involvement has a positive impact on children's cognitive, emotional and social development. However, the level of this involvement is low in the Asian context, particularly in Indonesia, where traditional gender roles often reduce paternal involvement. The role of fathers in children's development is increasingly recognized, but there remains a research gap in understanding how factors such as marital satisfaction and workplace flexibility jointly influence fathers' involvement. This research aims to determine the moderating role of workplace flexibility on the relationship between marital satisfaction and father involvement with surveyed fathers who work at Company"X", have children aged 1-21, live with their children and their wife. This research was conducted to 123 respondents. Measurement tools used in the research include the Father Involvement Inventory (IFI), the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale, and the Workplace Flexibility Scale. Each measurement instrument has been tested for validity and reliability. The data analysis technique used is Moderation Process Analysis: Model 1 of Hayes (2013) using the SPSS Statistics program version 29. Based on the hypothesis testing results, there is a significant role of marital satisfaction on father involvement at 33%, but workplace flexibility does not moderate the relationship between marital satisfaction and father involvement. Demographic factors in this research also do not play a role in father involvement. These findings highlight the important role of marital satisfaction in promoting fathers' active participation, suggesting that improving marital relationships may be more effective than simply increasing workplace flexibility in encouraging fathers to become involved with their children. These results could also be interesting for exploring other factors likely to predict father involvement.
Peculiarities of Seeking Psychological Help Among Students from Russia and Uganda
Authors: Nsubuga Moses
Published: February 2025

The study examines attitudes toward getting professional mental health assistance among Russian and Ugandan university students, and it finds notable disparities that are driven by developmental and cultural factors. The following instruments were used in the methodology; to measure the attitudes towards seeking psychological help, the Inventory of Attitudes toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMSH) was used; and the Carol D. Ryff psychological well-being scale was used to measure psychological wellbeing.  The results show that attitudes toward therapy, social support, psychological well-being, and emotional openness are all statistically significantly correlated with one other. Interestingly, when it comes to getting psychological assistance, Russian students are more positive than their Ugandan counterparts. Both cohorts have a low use of mental health services, frequently resorting to campus health centres for physical symptoms associated with stress. It is essential to comprehend these elements in order to improve student referral rates and counselling services.
APT Malware Targeting Critical Infrastructure: Challenges in Securing Energy and Transportation Sectors
Authors:   Sr.Cloud Infrastructure Security Engineer, Charter Communications/Cod Cores Inc., Colorado, USA, Kotha Niranjan Reddy
Published: February 2025

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) represent a significant and growing risk to critical infrastructure
sectors, particularly energy and transportation. These sophisticated cyberattacks are characterized by prolonged
duration, stealth, and complexity, often orchestrated by well-resourced adversaries such as nation-states or organized
cybercriminal groups. This research paper examines the challenges faced in securing critical infrastructure against APT
malware attacks, focusing on the energy and transportation sectors. Through an analysis of the tactics, techniques, and
procedures (TTPs) employed by APT actors, the paper highlights the vulnerabilities inherent in legacy systems, the
increasing interconnectedness of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) networks, and the
shortcomings in existing security frameworks. The methodology includes a comprehensive literature review, data
analysis of documented APT incidents, and a case study of a significant APT attack on the energy sector. The findings
underscore the need for a multi-layered security approach, enhanced threat intelligence sharing, and the implementation
of robust cybersecurity policies tailored to critical infrastructure. The paper concludes with recommendations for
policymakers and industry stakeholders to strengthen defenses against APT malware threats.
Impact of Water Deficit on Growth and Yield Performance of Two Sesame Varieties (Sesamum indicum L.) at Eastern Sudan
Authors:   Associated Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Blue Nile, Sudan, Suliman Suliman , H. Abdelshukoor ,   Associated Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Blue Nile, Sudan, Ahmed Badr ELdin Abdelgadir Mohamad ,   Associated Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Blue Nile, Sudan, Naiem Abdel Rahim Ibrahim ,   Associated Professor, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kassala University, Sudan
Published: February 2025

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2022 on Demonstration Farm of the
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kassala, New Halfa, to study the effect of water stress on the performance of two
sesame varieties namely umm shagara (V1) and Bromo(V2). The split plot experiment was carried out in a RCBD with
three replicates. The water stress treatments were: irrigation (repeated) every two weeks, skipping an irrigation at the
flowering stage, skipping an irrigation at the seed filling stage. The results showed that, water stress treatments led to a
significant decrease in leaf area, and dry weight, which was reflected in a significant decrease in productivity and its
components, and harvest index. While the (V1) was significantly superior in the leaf area, dry weight, number of pods,
seeds weight per plant, the highest weight of1000 seeds, and seed productivity compared to the (V2) which was
superior in harvest index. The W1 × V1 intervention treatment led to a significant increase in the leaf area and dry
weight of the plant. While W3 × V2 treatment recorded the highest relative moisture content(RWC). However, V1
under W1 is considered better for growing sesame in the New Halfa area, although the V2 has the ability to maintain
the RWC under the conditions of the New Halfa area.