bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical study of 20 cases of refractory Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease treated with amikacin liposomal inhalation suspension
Authors: Kaneko Taichi , Hagiwara Eri , Moriuchi Asami , Tagami Yoichi , Okuda Ryo , BaBa Tomohisa , Komatsu Shigeru , Ogura Takashi
Published: January 2025

Backgrounds:
Several guidelines have recently indicated amikacin liposome inhalation suspension (ALIS) as a new treatment option for refractory Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). There are a few reports on the efficacy of ALIS in clinical settings. We investigated adverse events and outcomes of patients who were treated with ALIS at our hospital.
Methods
The subjects were 20 patients with refractory MAC-PD observed for over six months after the introduction of ALIS treatment at our hospital from August 2021 to June 2024. Medical records of these patients were retrospectively investigated for patient background, culture conversion rate and adverse events.
Results
The median age of the patients was 71.0 years, with 16 (80%) female. Eighteen patients had Mycobacterium avium and two had Mycobacterium intracellulare. Fourteen patients were able to continue treatment over six months, while six patients discontinued treatment. The most common reasons for discontinuation were stomatitis, rash, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In the six-month continuation group, eight patients achieved culture conversion and six did not. One patient with systemic skin rash was successfully treated with desensitization therapy. The culture conversion rate was 57.1%, which was higher than previously reported. Among patients upto 70 years old, the rate was as high as 75.0%. Although the differences were not statistically significant, the culture conversion group tended to be younger and have a higher BMI.
Conclusions
ALIS treatment is an effective treatment that has the potential to achieve high rates of culture conversion, especially in younger patients. It is important to manage adverse events.
Alpine grassland degradation alters soil fungal communities and increases the potential risk of disease
Authors: Han Fuyao , Zhao Junsong , Liu Yutong , Yang Siwei , Liu Gang , He Xin
Published: January 2025

Background
Alpine grassland degradation on the Tibetan Plateau has become an important ecological and environmental problem in recent years, and grassland degradation has changed the diversity of aboveground plants and the ecology of underground soil. As an important part of the soil ecosystem, soil fungi play a positive role in soil health and plant growth by decomposing organic matter, constructing mycorrhizal symbiosis system and secreting antibiotics.
Results
In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to compare soil fungal communities in natural, degraded and desertified grasslands, and to explore the effects of alpine grassland degradation on soil fungal communities and the adaptation mechanism of soil fungi to grassland degradation.
Conclusions
The study found that alpine grassland degradation altered soil fungal communities and increased the risk of potential disease.
A Rare Case of Aspergillosis Complicated by Endocarditis, Arterial Thrombosis, and Stroke in an Immunocompetent Patient: Successful Treatment with Early Intervention and Antifungal Therapy
Authors: Liu Lin-feng , Xiang Jian-wen , Pan Chen-wei , Zhou Lingli , Wang Sheng , Zhao Qi-feng , Ai Peng , Hao Yu , Gong Yu-qiang
Published: January 2025

Disseminated aspergillosis is a rare but highly lethal condition in immunocompetent patients. This report describes a patient's rapid progression from primary lumbar infection to infective endocarditis, arterial thrombosis, and stroke in just two days. Successful early intervention with lesion clearance and antifungal therapy highlights the importance of prompt and comprehensive treatment.
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Children and Adolescents, 1990-2021, and Projections to 2050: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Tu Mengyun , Zhu Jieyang , Weng Jie , Wang Zhiyi , Hu Sipin
Published: January 2025

Background
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in children and adolescents is a significant global health challenge, leading to a range of severe medical complications and an increased risk of premature death. In this study, we assessed the trends and cross-country disparities in the burden of PAH among children and adolescents from 1990 to 2021, and further predicted its changes to 2050.
Results
GBD 2021 estimated 5,049 incident cases, 1,972 deaths, and 170,371 DALYs of PAH in children and adolescents globally in 2021. South Asia reported the highest numbers of incident, death, and DALYs cases, while Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), and the Caribbean recorded the highest age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR). Between 1990 and 2021, the ASIR in this population showed an overall increasing trend, whereas the ASMR and ASDR demonstrated a consistent decline. The ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR were found to decrease exponentially with rising SDI levels. DALYs were disproportionately concentrated in countries with lower sociodemographic development levels. The ASIR is projected to remain globally stable, while both the ASMR and ASDR are expected to decline annually through 2050.
Conclusions
The burden of PAH in children and adolescents is concentrated in low-SDI countries. While ASIR has increased, ASMR and ASDR have steadily declined and are projected to continue decreasing through 2050. Strengthening international collaboration, improving healthcare, and targeting high-risk regions are crucial to reducing the disease burden and promoting global health equity.
Macular segmentation using an automatic deep learning and graph cut strategy
Authors: Abril-Daza J. S. , Rodriguez-Garavito C. H. , Alfonso-Vargas D. F. , Tenjo-Morales A. I. , Cuesta-Redondo J. C.
Published: January 2025

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the main diseases affectingvisual health in the world, since it causes severe and irreversible vision loss inelderly people. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blind-ness (IAPB), by the year 2040, 288 million people are expected to be affectedworldwide, while in Colombia for the year 2020, approximately 234,200 caseswere estimated. With the improvement of computer vision techniques, automaticdiagnosis has become a reliable tool for screening and determining the degree ofthe disease. Many strategies have been proposed in the last decade, from the firstbased on manual characterization of the disease to current ones based on modeltraining using large databases of images annotated by specialists, with very highcomputational costs and data collection time. The present article proposes a novelmethod based on combining the two trends, using the best of each one. The dis-ease is characterized by segmenting its two fundamental features in cascade: theocular vascular network is segmented with a pre-trained deep learning model andtransformed into a graph for extraction of terminal nodes (which are known todelimit the macular zone); and the macula is segmented through a semi-automatic algorithm called graph cut that requires initial background and foreground infor-mation (which corresponds to the terminal nodes already obtained) to become anautomatic method. Finally, we present a comparison between macular segmen-tation using the proposed algorithm with parametric changes in its architectureand a deep learning model for macular segmentation with a reduced set of aug-mented images. It is confirmed that, with a limited database, the proposed graphcut-deep learning strategy is a viable way to obtain a method to extract the mainfeatures of the disease and generate a subsequent diagnosis.
A New Approach to Automatic Epilepsy Detection from EEG Signals Using Archimedean Spiral and Swin Transformer
Authors: ÜZEN Hüseyin , FIRAT Hüseyin , Alperen Salih Taha , Guldemir Hanifi , Demir Fatih , Koundal Deepika , SENGUR Abdulkadir
Published: January 2025

Epilepsy, a neurological disorder marked by recurrent and unpredictable seizures due to abnormal brain electrical activity, is studied using electroencephalography (EEG) which measures brain activity. The EEG signals are commonly employed to diagnose and monitor conditions like epilepsy, sleep disorders, and brain injuries. This research work introduces an effective hybrid approach based on Archimedean spiral coding (ASC) and a swin transformer-based convolutional neural network (CNN) techniques to detect epilepsy automatically using EEG signals. This proposed ASC method transforms EEG signals into a visually informative 3D matrix and employs swin transformer-based CNN architecture for classification. It yields an accuracy of 97.98% and 88.22% for sample- and subject-based ten-fold cross-validation, respectively using the public epilepsy database of 121 populations. The developed system is ready to be tested with more epilepsy patients from different races to validate the performance. It produced a better accuracy score as compared to the existing results.
Socio-Cultural Status of the Matua Community in Barisal District,Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Ayrin
Published: January 2025

The Matua community, a historically marginalized Hindu sect from the Barisal district of Bangladesh, continues to confront numerous socio-economic and cultural challenges rooted in long-standing caste- based discrimination. This study aims to examine the socio-cultural standing of the Matua people by conducting a descriptive analysis of 31 participants, with attention to factors such as education, income, cultural traditions, and political participation. The results show a notable improvement in education, as 32% of respondents have reached higher education levels. However, income inequality remains pronounced, with over 60% of the community earning less than the national average. Caste-based prejudices still obstruct social inclusion and economic progress, disproportionately impacting those with lower education and income levels. Additionally, the absence of political representation hampers the community’s efforts to address their socio-economic issues effectively. Gender inequality is another significant challenge, as Matua women face difficulties in securing professional opportunities, despite advancements in education. The study underscores the necessity for targeted strategies in education, political participation, and economic growth, along with addressing broader issues like caste discrimination and gender inequality.
Enhancing Arecanut Quality Grading: A Comparison of Custom CNNs and Transfer Learning Models
Authors: D Dhanush Ghate , Hegde Pramukh S , H Saishma , N Pallavi K , Ghate Sudeep D
Published: January 2025

Effective grading of arecanut is essential for ensuring product quality, maximizing market competitiveness, and satisfying consumer preferences. However, traditional methods of arecanut grading are challenging due to variations in arecanut size, shape, and appearance, resulting in subjective and inconsistent evaluations. Deep learning can enhance this process by automating grading and using sophisticated algorithms to assess both visual and non-visual attributes, thereby increasing efficiency, accuracy, and consistency. This study presents two standalone CNN-based methodologies for automated arecanut quality grading, leveraging DenseNet121 and InceptionV3 with custom layers tailored for arecanut classification. A dataset of 2,000 high-resolution images, manually curated from farms and augmented for diversity, was used for training and validation. Eight CNN architectures - DenseNet121, EfficientNetB4, InceptionResNetV2, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, ResNet50, VGG16, and VGG19 were evaluated. Experimental findings showed DenseNet121 and InceptionV3 achieved the highest accuracy (95.67%) and strong precision/recall scores (96%), making them the most promising models. Meanwhile, MobileNetV2 was identified as the fastest model in terms of classification speed; however, its relatively low accuracy limits its practical application in grading tasks. DenseNet121 and InceptionV3, while marginally slower at 0.015 and 0.011 seconds per image, respectively, offered a good balance between computational cost and elevated accuracy. DenseNet121 excels in feature reuse through its dense connectivity, reducing redundancy and improving performance on smaller datasets, while InceptionV3 utilizes multi-scale feature extraction to capture intricate patterns effectively. Both models demonstrate robustness under varying conditions, ensuring reliability in practical deployment scenarios. This study highlights the potential of CNNs to provide a reliable, and scalable solution for arecanut grading, benefiting farmers by expanding market opportunities.
Synergetic influence of different additives on hydrogen and methane generation from food waste
Authors: Deheri Chinmay , Jena Shakti P. , Acharya Saroj Kumar , Mishra Sarita
Published: January 2025

In order to co-digest food waste along with cow dung to produce hydrogen and methane, the effects were experimentally assessed in distinct batch reactors for calcium carbonate (CaCO3), copper oxide (CuO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and calcium peroxide (CaO2) as additives in this study. The maximum hydrogen generation using CaO2 was found to be 115.59 mLg− 1 total solid (TS), which was 8.6% lead by the standard specimen with no additives. In contrast, ZnO reduced lead by 10.4%. In comparison to the control sample, the generation of methane was 161.2 and 129.06. mLg− 1TS, showing a 40 and 25% increase with CaO2 and CaCO3, whereas it dropped to 62.65 and 76.23 mLg− 1 TS, depicting a 35 and 21% decrease with CuO and ZnO respectively. The addition of CaO2 and CaCO3 increased biogas generation by 32.1 and 15.1%, respectively, while the addition of CuO and ZnO decreased it by 31.4 and 24.3%. Ultimately, the digestate's physicochemical characteristics showed an improvement in organic nutrients following co-digestion, making it a useful biofertilizer for use in agriculture.
Improving The Seismic Performance Of Steel Moment Connections Using An Interlock Mechanism As A Replaceable Fuse Element: Numerical Study
Authors: Yuana Prima Sukma , Moestopo Muslinang , Kusumastuti Dyah , Suarjana Made
Published: January 2025

Moment-resisting frame systems have been widely used in structural buildings. However, the risk of earthquakes requires a steel structure system that is tough, reliable, easy, and fast to repair after an earthquake. Recently, there has also been a paradigm shift in the design of moment-resisting connections. Research has been developed using energy-dissipating elements due to earthquakes with replaceable connections as a fuse element. The interlock mechanism has been widely developed in recent years and even was designed with the concept of replaceability. However, the research on the connections with the interlock that has been carried out is not for seismic connection. This research was conducted to understand beam-column seismic connection behavior with an interlock as a fuse element. Analysis was done through numerical studies with monotonic and cyclic loads due to earthquakes. The simulation was conducted using ABAQUS, the parameters analyzed connection failure patterns, deformability, force-displacement hysteresis, strength and stiffness, and energy dissipation. Based on monotonic loading, the strength of the interlock connection system is higher than the SSTSF. Meanwhile, based on cyclic simulation, there is no decrease in strength exceeding 20% when the rotation is 0.04 rad. Energy dissipation in the fuse components occurs only in the fuse components, and non-fuse remains elastic. These results show that the replaceable concept can be applied to interlock connection systems. The interlock connections will be quite good for use in earthquake-resistant buildings because the analysis results show that the performance of interlock connections meets the requirements of AISC 341.
Guided Synthesis of the stable sols based on nanosized titanium(IV) oxides with the predictable particle size and antimicrobial properties
Authors: Gainanova Asiya , Glushko Aleksandr , Neznanov Alexey , Kuz’micheva Galina , Yaroshenko Margarita , Lobanova Nadezhda
Published: January 2025

The article discusses the targeted synthesis of sols with nanosized titanium(IV) oxides for biological and medical applications, as well as a doping agent precursor in obtaining crystals from solutions. When preparing sols without using surfactants, the synthesis conditions were changed: temperature and duration of hydrolysis, composition and concentration of titanium-containing precursors, stabilizing acid concentration. The resulting sols have different hydrodynamic diameter of titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles (from ~2 to 2000 nm) and different stability (from 0 to 90 days). A specific set of machine learning tools was developed for well-interpretable analysis of experimental data. These tools were used in three stages of experiments to optimize three functional characteristics of the synthesized sols by varying five synthesis parameters. As a result, a universal minimalistic mechanism for the targeted synthesis of sols with the required characteristics was proposed, allowing for a reduction in the number of experiments and the study of the relationships between synthesis parameters and functional characteristics in various experiments.
Evaluating the Effects of Ozone Nanobubble Treatments on Postharvest Quality of Fresh Peaches
Authors: Giannopoulos Orestis , Corn Ramsey , Chavez Dario , Loayza Francisco , Deltsidis Angelos
Published: January 2025

Sanitation is a crucial postharvest operation that aims to reduce the microbiological load of harvested produce. Currently, in the southeastern United States, peach packing houses use chemical oxidizers, such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) in their hydrocooling systems to treat the fruit and suppress foodborne pathogens postharvest. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a novel sanitation technology called high-oxygen water (HOW) as an alternative to NaOCl. It is based on the generation of stable nanobubbles of oxygen (O2) in water in combination with gaseous ozone (O3) without the need for chemicals. The suspended solution has the potential to reduce microorganism loads during the exposure period and prevent the growth of microorganisms during storage. This technology could serve as an effective sanitation treatment for peaches during hydrocooling. Peaches were treated using HOW at various concentrations of dissolved oxygen (10, 20, and 30 mg·L−1) combined with saturated (approximately 8 mg·L−1) O3. These treatments were compared with a standard NaOCl treatment (50 mg·L−1 of free chlorine). Our team evaluated the effects of HOW by assessing postharvest fruit quality changes and decay incidence over time. The results indicated that while HOW treatments showed potential in maintaining postharvest quality, high concentrations of O3 were detrimental to fruit quality, causing increased decay incidence compared with the NaOCl treatment.
Celestial $w_{1+\infty}$ charges and the subleading structure of asymptotically-flat spacetimes
Authors: Geiller Marc
Published: January 2025

We study the subleading structure of asymptotically-flat spacetimes and its relationship to the w_{1+∞}w1+∞ loop algebra of higher spin charges. We do so using both the Bondi–Sachs and the Newman–Penrose formalism, via a dictionary built from a preferred choice of tetrad. This enables us to access properties of the so-called higher Bondi aspects, such as their evolution equations, their transformation laws under asymptotic symmetries, and their relationship to the Newman–Penrose and the higher spin charges. By studying the recursive Einstein evolution equations defining these higher spin charges, we derive the general form of their transformation behavior under BMSW symmetries. This leads to an immediate proof that the spin 0,1 and spin ss brackets reproduce upon linearization the structure expected from the w_{1+∞}w1+∞ algebra. We then define renormalized higher spin charges which are conserved in the radiative vacuum at quadratic order, and show that they satisfy for all spins the w_{1+∞}w1+∞ algebra at linear order in the radiative data.
Classifying the CP properties of the ggH coupling in H + 2j production
Authors: Bahl Henning , Fuchs Elina , Hannig Marc , Menen Marco
Published: January 2025

The Higgs-gluon interaction is crucial for LHC phenomenology. To improve the constraints on the \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫 structure of this coupling, we investigate Higgs production with two jets using machine learning. In particular, we exploit the \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫 sensitivity of the so far neglected phase space region that differs from the typical vector boson fusion-like kinematics. Our results indicate that further improvements in the current experimental limits could be achievable using our techniques. We also discuss the most relevant observables and how \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫 violation in the Higgs–gluon interaction can be disentangled from \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫 violation in the interaction between the Higgs boson and massive vector bosons. Assuming the absence of \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫-violating Higgs interactions with coloured beyond-the-Standard-Model states, our projected limits on a \mathcal{CP}𝒞𝒫-violating top-Yukawa coupling are competitive with more direct probes like top-associated Higgs production and limits from a global fit.
The impact of export market orientation on SME market performance: Exploring the moderating effect of government policy and the mediating effect of information access
Authors: Noya Sunday , Yufra M. Taneo Stefanus , Melany
Published: January 2025

This study addresses the relevance of export market orientation in enhancing the market performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), specifically examining the moderating role of government policy and the mediating effect of information access. The paper aims to provide insights into how these factors collectively impact SME performance. Data were collected from members of the Malang Regency SME Communication Forum, chosen for their relevance as active players in one of Indonesia’s regions with the highest SME concentration. An online questionnaire was used to gather insights directly from the business owners and managers, yielding 448 valid responses that provide a representative perspective on SME market dynamics. The collected data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The findings demonstrate that export market orientation significantly boosts SME market performance (path coefficient = 0.512, p < 0.001), highlighting its critical role in fostering customer-oriented practices and adaptive marketing strategies. Additionally, export market orientation positively influenced information access (path coefficient = 0.359, p < 0.001), facilitating timely market insights that support decision-making. However, the mediating effect of information access on the relationship between export market orientation and market performance was not statistically significant (path coefficient = 0.242, p = 0.072). Furthermore, the strengthening effects of government policy on both export market orientation and market performance and on export market orientation and information access were also insignificant (path coefficients = –0.103 and 0.053, p = 0.053 and 0.132, respectively).
AcknowledgmentWe thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia for funding this investigation through a decentralized grant for the Higher Education Fundamental Research scheme for the 2024 fiscal year.
A Spectrophotometric Study of the Interaction of Quercetin and Tannic Acid with Mimetic Systems of Cancerous and Healthy Cells
Authors: A. Oliveira Pablo , A. Mendes Leandro , O. Silva Vitor , V. Scarparo Paulo , C. Conceição Layra , I. S. Maia Pedro , A. Moreto Jéferson , B. L. Slade Natália
Published: January 2025

Quercetin (QUE) and tannic acid (TA) are among the antioxidants that have been shown
efficiency in the treatment and prevention of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these activities occur. Hereupon, this work
presents a spectrophotometric study on their interaction with mimetic systems of cancerous and
healthy cells. The objective was to evaluate the relevance of changes in pH and lipid composition
of cell membranes, triggered by cancer development, in the target-antioxidant interaction.
Therefore, intrinsic spectrophotometric properties of these compounds were monitored under
different conditions. Results showed that QUE and TA were able to partition significantly from the
aqueous medium to the model membranes. However, the partitioning was shown to be dependent
on the lipid composition and pH. Partition coefficients, partition free energy, spectral shifts and
turbidity parameters were also obtained, indicating that there is a balance between electrostatic
and non-electrostatic interactions in the system that depends on the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity
of the polyphenols and the number of groups available for hydrogen bonding. In fact, this reveals
that lipid composition and pH of the cellular microenvironment play an important role in their
activity, influencing their ability to differentiate between healthy from cancer cells.
COVID-19 and HIV: Prejudices and barriers to getting vaccinated
Authors: Serdyukov Boris V. , Yezhova Lyubov V.
Published: January 2025

The threat of HIV transmission remains high in both the Russian Federation and the world, even though global epidemiological trends have changed. The COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in 2019 and the institutional changes in the health system caused by it had a significant impact on people living with HIV and on representatives of the most vulnerable groups of the population to HIV, exacerbating the problem of unequal access to medical services. The large flow of testing for COVID-19 has reduced the number of tests for other diseases, including HIV. AIDS control centers have been redesigned exclusively to work with patients infected with COVID-19 in some regions of Russia due to a shortage of medical personnel. It led to a violation of access to dispensary monitoring of HIV-infected people. According to Charitable Foundation “Humanitarian Action”, there were barriers to vaccination among people living with HIV and those most vulnerable to HIV, mainly due to lack of information on this issue. The article presents the results of an online survey aimed at identifying barriers and biases that prevent vaccination against COVID-19 coronavirus among people living with HIV and representatives of the most vulnerable groups of the population to HIV. The online survey was conducted with the involvement of consortiums and forums working within the project “Cascade”. The study involved 324 respondents, mainly from three regions of the Russian Federation (St. Petersburg, Moscow, Chelyabinsk). As a result of the survey, the prevalence of COVID-19 coronavirus in the surveyed groups was assessed, the attitudes of respondents regarding COVID-19 vaccination were characterized, specific barriers and biases preventing COVID-19 vaccination among people living with HIV and representatives of key population groups were described, and other factors influencing the their willingness to be vaccinated.
Modification of P&O Method on MPPT with PI Controller to Reduce Power Oscillation during Steady-State Condition
Authors: Habibah Nisrina Rania , Nur Hasanah Rini , Abidin Zainul
Published: January 2025

This paper describes an improvement of the Perturb and Observe (P&O) method for maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) on a photovoltaic (PV) cell generating system. The improvement is achieved using a reference voltage () value to respond to perturbation and calculates the power change based on the response. The magnitude of  is determined using the reference voltage change . A large  will result in a faster tracking but increasing oscillations during steady-state conditions, while a small will reduce oscillations but slowing down the MPPT response. An adaptive  value is required to reduce the oscillations which have potential to degrade the efficiency of the PV cell output. A proportional-integral (PI) controller is explored in this paper in determining the most appropriate  value. The results showed that oscillations around the MPP point could be reduced by 99%.
Analysis on Leakage Inductance and Winding Resistance of High Frequency Toroidal Transformer with Interleaved Winding and Litz Wire
Authors: Siregar Dody Yunus Putra , Wijono  , Muhammad Aziz Muslim
Published: January 2025

High-frequency transformers offered numerous advantages but also presented several challenges. As frequency increased, the dimensions of the transformer decreased, making parasitic parameters more dominant and unavoidable. Leakage inductance disrupted the converter circuit by storing energy that impacted the switching devices. Additionally, increased winding resistance contributed to higher winding losses, resulting in decreased transformer efficiency. This paper proposed the use of interleaved winding and litz wire as solutions to reduce parasitic parameters, such as leakage inductance and winding resistance, in toroidal transformers. Analysis and verification were conducted using 3D finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. The results demonstrated that interleaved winding significantly reduced leakage inductance by up to 98.9% as frequency increased. The distribution of leakage magnetic fields in conventional windings was effectively minimized by altering the winding arrangement. Furthermore, winding resistance was notably reduced when using litz wire, leading to a more even distribution of current density across the conductor plane, which equivalently reduced the skin effect.
Fine-Tuning Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb) Extraction: Solvent Selection, Methodological Approaches, and Optimization on Operating Condition
Authors:   Universitas Brawijaya, Korleone Jorgi , Mufidah Elya ,   Universitas Brawijaya, Argo Bambang Dwi ,   Universitas Brawijaya, Sidauruk Jocelyn Latreia Ronauli ,   Universitas Brawijaya, Takase Hayato ,   Kagoshima University, Izza Ni'matul ,   Universitas Brawijaya
Published: January 2025

Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb) is rich in bioactive compounds: phenols and flavonoids, working as antioxidants to counteract free radicals in the human body, in which appropriate extraction methods and solvents are required to obtain the total phenol and flavonoid content from this plant. Correlating to this, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) provides an analytical framework based on mathematical models to determine the conditions of optimal temulawak extraction. The study, therefore, aims to identify the best extraction method and solvent for extracting phenolic and flavonoid compounds from temulawak, to subsequently utilize the method in determining the optimal temulawak extraction conditions based on RSM using DesignExpert12 software. The results signify the best combination of extraction method and solvent is demonstrated by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) using 70% ethanol. Additionally, the software showed that a solvent-to-material ratio of 66mL/g, with extraction power of 450 watts, and extraction time of 1 minute are required to perform the extraction under optimal conditions, resulting a total phenolic content (TPC) of 12.93±1.43 mg GAE/g dw and a total flavonoid content (TFC) of 21.79±0.98 mg QE/g dw through the verification process.
The Effect of Fine Bubbles Application and LED Irradiation on Damage and Chlorophyll Content of Cut Romaine Lettuce
Authors:   Universitas Padjadjaran, Ciptaningtyas Drupadi , Adhillah Syahla Nur ,   Universitas Padjadjaran, Pratopo Lukito Hasta ,   Universitas Padjadjaran, Thoriq Ahmad ,   Universitas Padjadjaran
Published: January 2025

The current change in society’s lifestyle reflects a tendency towards a more practical life, including food consumption. Romaine lettuce is one of the minimally processed vegetables sold in ready-to-eat packaging and is a common component in salads. However, minimal processing makes romaine lettuce more susceptible to deterioration and a decrease in chlorophyll content. Efforts was made to reduce damage and decrease chlorophyll content in romaine lettuce through fine bubbles application and blue and white LED irradiation. In this study, cut romaine lettuce was washed using fine bubbles and irradiated with blue and white LEDs with various exposure times. The results showed that fine bubbles increased dissolved oxygen and their application in washing cut romaine lettuce reduced surface damage by 20.55%. Chlorophyll content was tested by extracting the lettuce in ethanol solvent and measuring its absorbance using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The chlorophyll content test results showed that, after irradiation and six days of storage, the romaine lettuce did not show an increase in chlorophyll content. This indicates that while fine bubble washing can reduce surface damage, blue and white LED irradiation has not been able to maintain or increase chlorophyll content, as the chlorophyll degraded during the storage period.
Study of The Formulation Jicama Flour (Pachyrhizus erosus) and Wheat Flour on The Sensory Characteristics of Brownies Chips
Authors:   Universitas Lampung, Herdiana Novita , AS Suharyono ,   Universitas Lampung, Riza Samsul ,   Universitas Lampung, Salsabila Az Zahra Fithri ,   Universitas Lampung
Published: January 2025

Brownies chips is a meal made from brownies dough that is molded into thin squares and baked dry to produce chips that are easy to consume and last a long time. The aim of this research is to determine the formulation of jicama flour (Pachyrhizus erosus) and wheat flour which produces brownies chips with the best sensory properties on the attributes of color, scent, taste, texture, and overall acceptance. This research was structured in a Complete Randomized Block Design (RAKL) with six treatments and four replications. The formulation treatment of jicama flour and wheat flour consisted of 6 levels, namely T0 (0% : 100%), T1 (10% : 90%), T2 (20% : 80%), T3 (30% : 70%), T4 (40% : 60%), T5 (50% : 50%). Data were analyzed using the Bartlett test and Tukey test, followed by analysis of variance (ANARA), and the Least Significant Difference (BNT) test at the 5% level. Based on the research results, brownies chips with a formulation of jicama flour and wheat flour that produces the best sensory results is the T4 treatment which has a sweet and distinctive chocolate taste, blackish brown color, crunchy and dense texture, and aromatic. typical brownies chips. The results of the chemical analysis of the brownies chips were water content 3.76%, ash content 2.34%, protein content 13.87%, fat content 25.61%, carbohydrate content 54.42%, crude fiber content 6.01%. and calorific value are 503.65 kcal per 100 grams. The bengkuang flour can be used as a substitute up to 40% in the manufacture of brownie chips, producing products with good sensory quality and chemical content and has the potential as an alternative healthy snack.
Estimation of Nitrogen Absorption of Rice Plants Based on Remote Sensing
Authors:   Universitas Andalas, Yanti Delvi , Nurdiyanto M. Rizki Dhani ,   Universitas Andalas, Yanti Nika Rahma ,   Universitas Andalas, Syafii Habibi Ahmad ,   Universitas Andalas
Published: January 2025

One of the indicators of maintaining the quality of rice plants is monitoring and managing nitrogen requirements. Nitrogen (N) absorption in rice plants can be detected by remote sensing technology using Sentinel 2-A satellite imagery data using the NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge) method. This research aims to determine a mathematical model to predict nitrogen absorption in rice plants. This study uses the NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge) index value. The image used is Sentinel 2 imagery, namely channels 4 and 8 to see the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) value. Besides, the Normalized Difference Red-Edge Index (NDRE) is channels 5 and 8. The results of spatial and tabular data processing are analyzed per pixel and time trend to obtain patterns during one phase of the planting period. Based on the analysis of the NDVI and NDRE values of rice plants in Nagari Singkarak, the NDVI index pattern is in line with the NDRE index. At the beginning of planting (age ± 1 month) and the ripening period (age > ± 90 days) the NRDE value of rice plants is dominated by the low category NDRE value (red color). While when the rice is ± 60 days old, it is dominated by the high category NDRE value (green color). The estimation model for nitrogen uptake of rice plants in Nagari Singkarak based on NDRE data is y = 141.37 X + 0.0412, with a correlation coefficient (r) value of 0.97, which indicates a high correlation between NDRE values and nitrogen uptake.
What (if anything) Is Egalitarian about Luck Egalitarianism?
Authors: Franzen Jonas
Published: January 2025

This paper offers a novel taxonomy of luck egalitarianism with reference to the specific kinds of distributive arbitrariness a luck egalitarian might object to, namely ‘arbitrary disadvantage’, ‘arbitrary advantage’, and ‘arbitrary equality’. In doing so, it provides an instance of ‘conceptual clearance’, i.e., an attempt to restructure and reduce the vast number of accounts now accumulated under the label ‘egalitarianism’. By scrutinizing the three sets of luck egalitarianism identified beforehand, i.e., ‘simple’, ‘asymmetrical’, and ‘symmetrical’, it develops a novel minimal condition for a theory to qualify as genuinely egalitarian. While ‘asymmetrical luck egalitarianism’ satisfies this condition, ‘symmetrical luck egalitarianism’ does not. Both accounts are, for that reason, affected very differently by the (in)famous levelling down objection to egalitarianism and thus face distinct argumentative challenges and justificatory burdens. Therefore, the paper identifies an important structural divide within luck egalitarian thinking. As a matter of conceptual clearance, it proposes to view symmetrical luck egalitarianism as a form of ‘responsibilitarianism’ instead.
German Theatres – Flemish Landscapes: Contextualizing Milo Rau’s NTGent Period
Authors: Climenhaga Lily
Published: January 2025

“German Theatres – Flemish Landscapes: Contextualizing Milo Rau’s NTGent Period” situates Rau’s NTG period between the unique theatre landscapes of Flanders and Germany, looking at the long history of Germany’s public theatre model alongside the comparatively more diverse Flemish cultural landscape. It explores Rau’s complex, multi-faceted relationship with these institutions, exploring how Rau builds upon pre-existing innovations visible on both sides of these geographical borders. “German Theatres – Flemish Landscapes” situates Rau’s innovations at NTG among broader shifts in the Flemish and German theatres. Introducing the director’s mission with NTG, positioning The Ghent Manifesto – one of the most important, documents to emerge from Rau’s NTG – within these broader theatrical interests. It then moves forward to situate Rau’s NTG between theatre traditions, looking at how Rau’s innovations at NTG are both inspired by prominent German artistic directors working within public theatres and understanding his success within Flanders’ cultural landscape as part of a series of innovations that have taken place within city-theatres since at least the early 2000s.
Machine Learning for the Early Prediction of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia in Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Haofuzi , Zou Peng , Luo Peng , Jiang Xiaofan
Published: January 2025

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a primary contributor to death after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), with significant incidence. Therefore, early determination of the risk of DCI is an urgent need. Machine learning (ML) has received much attention in clinical practice. Recently, some studies have attempted to apply ML models for early noninvasive prediction of DCI. However, systematic evidence for its predictive accuracy is still lacking.

Objective

The aim of this study was to synthesize the prediction accuracy of ML models for DCI to provide evidence for the development or updating of intelligent detection tools.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched up to May 18, 2023. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using PROBAST (Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool). During the analysis, we discussed the performance of different models in the training and validation sets.

Results

We finally included 48 studies containing 16,294 patients with SAH and 71 ML models with logistic regression as the main model type. In the training set, the pooled concordance index (C index), sensitivity, and specificity of all the models were 0.786 (95% CI 0.737-0.835), 0.77 (95% CI 0.69-0.84), and 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.89), respectively, while those of the logistic regression models were 0.770 (95% CI 0.724-0.817), 0.75 (95% CI 0.67-0.82), and 0.71 (95% CI 0.63-0.78), respectively. In the validation set, the pooled C index, sensitivity, and specificity of all the models were 0.767 (95% CI 0.741-0.793), 0.66 (95% CI 0.53-0.77), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.71-0.84), respectively, while those of the logistic regression models were 0.757 (95% CI 0.715-0.800), 0.59 (95% CI 0.57-0.80), and 0.80 (95% CI 0.71-0.87), respectively.

Conclusions

ML models appear to have relatively desirable power for early noninvasive prediction of DCI after SAH. However, enhancing the prediction sensitivity of these models is challenging. Therefore, efficient, noninvasive, or minimally invasive low-cost predictors should be further explored in future studies to improve the prediction accuracy of ML models.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42023438399); https://tinyurl.com/yfuuudde
At-Home Immersive Virtual Reality Exergames to Reduce Cardiometabolic Risk Among Office Workers: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhao Jing , Yasunaga Akitomo , Kaczynski Andrew T , Park Hyuntae , Luo Yufeng , Li Jiuling , Shibata Ai , Ishii Kaori , Yano Shohei , Oka Koichiro , Koohsari Mohammad Javad
Published: January 2025

Background

The worldwide rise in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases has increased the recognition of the need to identify modifiable risk factors for preventing and managing these diseases. The office worker, as a representative group of physically inactive workers, is exposed to risk factors for metabolic syndrome, which is a primary driver of noncommunicable diseases. The use of virtual reality (VR) exergames may offer a potential solution to the problem of increasing noncommunicable disease prevalence, as it can help individuals increase their physical activity levels while providing a more immersive experience.

Objective

This exploratory study aims to examine the interventional efficacy of at-home immersive VR exergames on metabolic syndrome biomarkers among office workers. Additionally, it seeks to investigate the impacts of at-home immersive VR exergames on the active and sedentary behaviors of office workers.

Methods

A 3-arm, single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted to examine the therapeutic effects of at-home immersive VR exergames. A total of 120 Chinese office workers, engaging in less than 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, will be recruited via a convenience sampling method. The participants, who will be tested over a 12-week period, will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) the VR exergame intervention group, (2) the regular physical activity control group, and (3) the nonexercise control group. Throughout the 12-week trial, three categories of variables will be collected across the three groups: clinical risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, active and sedentary behaviors, and demographics. To analyze variance among the groups, a mixed linear model will be applied to assess the efficacy of each group. Differences in metabolic syndrome clinical risk factors among all groups will be used to evaluate the effects of at-home immersive VR exergames. Changes in active and sedentary behaviors will also be used to determine the impacts of VR exergames on metabolic syndrome.

Results

The ethics committee of Guangzhou University, China, approved this study on September 25, 2024. Participant recruitment will begin in early 2025 and continue for approximately 3 months. Data will be analyzed after the 12-week trial is completed, with full results expected to be presented in early 2026.

Conclusions

This study explores an emerging topic by applying an at-home immersive VR exergame intervention, potentially contributing to understanding the effects of an exergame program on metabolic syndrome risk among office workers.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06556784; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06556784

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/64560
How Authoritative Media and Personal Social Media Influence Policy Compliance Through Trust in Government and Risk Perception: Quantitative Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhang Hua , Yang Cheng , Deng Xiuxian , Luo Chunyan
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Previous studies on public compliance with policies during pandemics have primarily explained it from the perspectives of motivation theory, focusing on normative motivation (trust in policy-making institutions) and calculative motivation (fear of contracting the disease). However, the social amplification of a risk framework highlights that the media plays a key role in this process.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to integrate the motivation theory of compliance behavior and the social amplification of risk framework to uncover the “black boxes” of the mechanisms by which normative motivation and calculative motivation influence public policy compliance behavior through the use of media.

METHODS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a web-based survey of 2309 Chinese citizens from December 4, 2022, to March 21, 2023. We treated the public’s policy compliance behavior during the pandemic as the dependent variable. Media use, specifically the use of authoritative media and “we-media,” that is, personal social media accounts and media platforms operated by individuals, was set as the independent variable. Trust in government, representing normative motivation, and risk perception, representing calculative motivation, were included as mediating variables. A structural equation model was constructed and analyzed using Stata.

RESULTS

First, the mediation effect of trust in government indicates that the use of authoritative media can enhance trust in government, which significantly increases individuals’ policy compliance behavior (β coefficient=0.108, 95% CI 0.080-0.135; P<.001). Second, the mediation effect of risk perception shows that the use of we-media heightened individual risk perception, thereby significantly enhancing policy compliance behavior (β coefficient=0.012, 95% CI 0.002-0.021; P=.02). Third, the study revealed the “paradox of trust”: the chain mediation effect in which authoritative media increased trust in government and reduced risk perception, ultimately decreasing policy compliance behavior (β coefficient=–0.005, 95% CI –0.009 to –0.001; P=.008).

CONCLUSIONS

By combining the motivation theory of compliance behavior with the social amplification of risk framework in risk communication, we found that trust in government, as a normative motivation, operates through authoritative media, while risk perception, as a calculative motivation, promotes compliance behavior through we-media. In addition, in major crises, the public’s use of authoritative media can lead to the paradox of trust: on the one hand, trust in the government increases policy compliance; on the other hand, this trust reduces risk perception, thereby decreasing compliance behavior. Authoritative institutions need to balance providing authoritative information with maintaining the public’s risk perception.