bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two-Hemisphere Model Transformation- Based Generation of Web Application User Interface Prototype
Authors:   , Babris Kristaps
Published: December 2024

The PhD Thesis proposes a solution for generating a source code of a Web application user interface prototype from a two-hemisphere model using model-driven software engineering principles. The development of a set of model transformation rules is based on the metamodel of the two-hemisphere model as a source model and the metamodel of the expected elements defined for the user interface, which include all user interface layers: concept, navigation, and presentation.
The Emergence and Main Trends in the Activities of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in the Sphere of Organizing Pilgrimages (1882-1905)
Authors: Bliznyakov Roman Aleksandrovich , Pashkovsky Petr Igorevich , Kryzhko Evgeniy Vladimirovich , Astapov Aleksei Anatol'evich
Published: December 2024

The article considers the problem of the emergence and main trends of the pilgrimage activity of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society in 1882-1905. It is established that during this period there was an actualization of the Eastern issue and increased competition between the leading states in the Middle East, who covered their geopolitical goals with religious arguments. This posed an imperative for the Russian Empire, a world power that traditionally defended Orthodoxy in the Holy Land and had its own interests in the region, to respond. After the Crimean War, the idea of forming a sphere of Russian presence in Palestine was put forward at the state level. There has been an increase in Russia's diplomatic and spiritual influence in the Holy Land, which has manifested itself in the functioning of a number of relevant representative offices here, the creation of infrastructure and the activation of the Orthodox pilgrimage movement. Subsequently, in order to systematize and increase the effectiveness of efforts, the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society was founded, an organization with a special status, state and church support, which became the main coordinator of the humanitarian presence of the Russian Empire in the Middle East region.  The methodological basis of the research is the synthesis of systemic and geopolitical campaigns, the expediency of which interaction is justified by modern trends in the development of the methodology of social sciences and humanities. This led to the use of research methods. The historical and genetic method made it possible to study the peculiarities of origin, establishing appropriate cause-and-effect relationships. The application of the institutional method helped to determine the importance of various institutions in the process of functioning of Society. Based on the analysis of a wide source base and numerous studies, it was revealed that during the period under review, along with charity, education, scientific and publishing activities aimed at maintaining and developing Orthodoxy in Palestine, one of the main tasks of the Society was the organization of a Russian pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was characterized by the following manifestations: dissemination of information about pilgrimage trips; reduction of tariffs for participants of pilgrimage trips; establishment of transport links between Russia and Palestine; publication of relevant auxiliary, educational and scientific literature; acquisition of new land plots in the region; repair of existing and construction of new infrastructure and religious buildings in Palestine; systematization and improvement of pilgrimage routes; conducting special educational events by the Society.
Runaways in the State Labor Reserve System: Toward a Characteristic of the “Informal” Portrait of Students
Authors: Larionova Marina Barievna , Razinkov Sergey Lvovich , Zaglodina Tat'yana Alekseevna
Published: December 2024

The article presents the characteristics of the "non-ceremonial" portrait of students in the state labor reserve system, associated with the spread of unauthorized absences and non-attendance of classes as everyday behavioral practices among student working youth. The purpose of the article is to present unauthorized absences and non-attendance of classes as common behavioral practices that underlie the identification of social types of the "non-ceremonial" portrait of students in the state labor reserve system ("truant" and "deserter"). The methodology of the work is based on the subcultural approach. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the identification of social types of the "non-ceremonial" portrait of students in the state labor reserve system - "deserter" and "truant" - based on behavioral practices associated with unauthorized absences and non-attendance of classes. Research results: 1) it was proven that unauthorized absences and non-attendance of classes were widespread in the socio-cultural environment of students in the state labor reserve system; 2) several forms of unauthorized absences and non-attendance of classes were identified: these are escapes, considered as desertion, temporary unauthorized absences with return back at the will of the student himself, truancy from classes and industrial practices, which could be both episodic and systematic in nature and, finally, lateness for events planned by the rules of the daily routine, including classes, physical exercises, walks, etc.; 3) such social types as "deserter" and "truant" were identified, which formed the basis of one of the vectors of the "non-ceremonial" portrait of students of the state labor reserves system. The results of the study can be used in studying the history of the formation of the vocational education system in the USSR, as well as in studying the socio-cultural appearance of working youth in the 1940-1950s.
Inflammasomes primarily restrict cytosolic Salmonella replication within human macrophages
Authors: Egan Marisa S , O’Rourke Emily A , Mageswaran Shrawan Kumar , Zuo Biao , Martynyuk Inna , Demissie Tabitha , Hunter Emma N , Bass Antonia R , Chang Yi-Wei , Brodsky Igor E , Shin Sunny
Published: December 2024

Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium is a facultative intracellular pathogen that utilizes its type III secretion systems (T3SSs) to inject virulence factors into host cells and colonize the host. In turn, a subset of cytosolic immune receptors respond to T3SS ligands by forming multimeric signaling complexes called inflammasomes, which activate caspases that induce interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokine release and an inflammatory form of cell death called pyroptosis. Human macrophages mount a multifaceted inflammasome response to
Salmonella
infection that ultimately restricts intracellular bacterial replication. However, how inflammasomes restrict
Salmonella
replication remains unknown. We find that caspase-1 is essential for mediating inflammasome responses to
Salmonella
and restricting bacterial replication within human macrophages, with caspase-4 contributing as well. We also demonstrate that the downstream pore-forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD) and Ninjurin-1 (NINJ1), a mediator of terminal cell lysis, play a role in controlling
Salmonella
replication in human macrophages. Notably, in the absence of inflammasome responses, we observed hyperreplication of
Salmonella
within the cytosol of infected cells as well as increased bacterial replication within vacuoles, suggesting that inflammasomes control
Salmonella
replication primarily within the cytosol and also within vacuoles. These findings reveal that inflammatory caspases and pyroptotic factors mediate inflammasome responses that restrict the subcellular localization of intracellular
Salmonella
replication within human macrophages.
Encoding of cerebellar dentate neuron activity during visual attention in rhesus macaques
Authors: Flierman Nico A , Koay Sue Ann , van Hoogstraten Willem S , Ruigrok Tom JH , Roelfsema Pieter R , Badura Aleksandra , De Zeeuw Chris I
Published: December 2024

The role of cerebellum in controlling eye movements is well established, but its contribution to more complex forms of visual behavior has remained elusive. To study cerebellar activity during visual attention we recorded extracellular activity of dentate nucleus (DN) neurons in two non-human primates (NHPs). NHPs were trained to read the direction indicated by a peripheral visual stimulus while maintaining fixation at the center, and report the direction of the cue by performing a saccadic eye movement into the same direction following a delay. We found that single unit DN neurons modulated spiking activity over the entire time-course of the task, and that their activity often bridged temporally separated intra-trial events, yet in a heterogeneous manner. To better understand the heterogeneous relationship between task structure, behavioral performance and neural dynamics, we constructed a behavioral, an encoding and a decoding model. Both NHPs showed different behavioral strategies, which influenced the performance. Activity of the DN neurons reflected the unique strategies, with the direction of the visual stimulus frequently being encoded long before an upcoming saccade. Moreover, the latency of the ramping activity of DN neurons following presentation of the visual stimulus was shorter in the better performing NHP. Labeling with the retrograde tracer CTB in the recording location in the DN indicated that these neurons predominantly receive inputs from Purkinje cells in the D1 and D2 zones of the lateral cerebellum as well as neurons of the principal olive and medial pons, all regions known to connect with neurons in the prefrontal cortex contributing to planning of saccades. Together, our results highlight that DN neurons can dynamically modulate their activity during a visual attention task, comprising not only sensorimotor but also cognitive attentional components.
Nurses Under Pressure: The Demands of Professional Performance and Their Management Through the Use of Medication
Authors: Raposo Hélder , Egreja Catarina , Lopes Noémia
Published: December 2024

This article discusses the relationship between the demands on nurses’ professional performance and adherence to the use of medicines and supplements for their management. This approach allows us to analyze the transformations of nursing work and how nurses use various natural and pharmaceutical resources to cope with the pressures they face in their professional activities. To understand the interconnection between the transformations in nursing work and what we refer to here as the process of pharmaceuticalisation of work contexts, we use the results of a sociological mixed methods study on the use of medicines and food supplements for managing professional performance. The results show some of the main pressure factors in nursing work and how the increase in professional pressure substantially affects performance-related medicine use, as these become more frequent when nurses perceive their work as more intense, demanding, and exposed to risks.
Advanced multiple document summarization via iterative recursive transformer networks and multimodal transformer
Authors: Ketineni Sunilkumar , Jayachandran Sheela
Published: December 2024

The proliferation of digital information necessitates advanced techniques for multiple document summarization, capable of distilling vast textual data efficiently. Traditional approaches often struggle with coherence, integration of multimodal data, and suboptimal learning strategies. To address these challenges, this work introduces novel neural architectures and methodologies. At its core is recursive transformer networks (ReTran), merging recursive neural networks with transformer architectures for superior comprehension of textual dependencies, projecting a 5–10% improvement in ROUGE scores. Cross-modal summarization employs a multimodal transformer with cross-modal attention, amalgamating text, images, and metadata for more holistic summaries, expecting an 8 to 12% enhancement in quality metrics. Actor-critic reinforcement learning refines training by optimizing summary quality, surpassing Q-learning-based strategies by 5–8%. Meta-learning for zero-shot summarization addresses summarizing unseen domains, projecting a 6–10% uptick in performance. Knowledge-enhanced transformer integrates external knowledge for improved semantic coherence, potentially boosting ROUGE scores by 7 to 12%. These advancements not only improve numerical performance but also produce more informative and coherent summaries across diverse domains and modalities. This work represents a significant stride in multiple document summarization, setting a new benchmark for future research and applications.
Pulsating stellar clocks: Mira variables on the far side of the Galactic disk
Authors:   , Albarracín Contreras Ricardo Rogelio
Published: December 2024

La estructura y la cinemática del disco de la Vía Láctea se infieren en gran
medida a partir de la vecindad solar. Para obtener una comprensión completa, es
esencial encontrar trazadores confiables en regiones menos exploradas como el
bulbo y el lado lejano del disco. Las variables Mira, que son velas estándar
brillantes y bien estudiadas, ofrecen una excelente oportunidad para rastrear
poblaciones intermedias y antiguas en estas regiones. Nuestro objetivo es aislar
una muestra pura de variables Mira en el estudio Vista Variables en la Vía
Láctea utilizando algoritmos de procesos gaussianos. Esta muestra se utilizará
para estudiar poblaciones de edad intermedia y antigua en el bulbo galáctico y
el disco lejano. Se procesó la fotometría de series temporales en el infrarrojo
cercano y medio utilizando algoritmos de procesos gaussianos para identificar
variables Mira y modelar sus curvas de luz. Calibramos criterios de selección
con una muestra inspeccionada visualmente para crear una muestra de alta pureza
de variables Mira, integrando fotometría multibanda y datos cinemáticos de
movimientos propios. Presentamos un catálogo de 3.602 variables Mira. Al
analizar la fotometría, las clasificamos según su química superficial rica en
oxígeno o carbono y derivamos relaciones de extinción selectiva a total de
A_{K_{s}}/E(J - K_{s}) = 0.471 \pm 0.01 y A_{K_{s}}/E(H - K_{s}) = 1.320 \pm
0.020. Usando la relación período-edad de las variables Mira, encontramos
evidencia que respalda la formación de adentro hacia afuera del disco de la Vía
Láctea. La distribución de movimientos propios y distancias se alinea con la
curva de rotación galáctica y la cinemática del disco. Extendemos la curva de
rotación hasta un radio galactocéntrico de aproximadamente 17 kpc y no
encontramos evidencia fuerte del disco estelar nuclear en nuestra muestra de
variables Mira. Este estudio constituye el catálogo más grande de estrellas
variables en el lado lejano del disco galáctico hasta la fecha.
Aislamiento social juvenil y su impacto en la función del receptor del factor liberador de corticotropina del tipo 1 en el núcleo accumbens de ratas
Authors:   , Zegers Delgado Juan Andrés
Published: December 2024

El aislamiento social es un modelo de estrés crónico ampliamente utilizado para estudiar el impacto neurobiológico de circunstancias adversas en etapas tempranas de la vida. Roedores expuestos a aislamiento social prolongado (más de 4 semanas) muestran un aumento en conductas tipo ansiosas y cambios significativos en la actividad de la dopamina (DA) en el Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) durante su etapa adulta. Pocos estudios han comparado el impacto del aislamiento social durante distintas etapas de la vida y por periodos de tiempo más acotados (menos de 4 semanas). A diferencia de animales juveniles, adultos expuestos a aislamiento por periodos acotados no muestran cambios en conductas tipo ansiosas, sugiriendo una ventana de vulnerabilidad durante la adolescencia. El sistema del factor de liberación de corticotropina (CRF) participa de la respuesta al estrés. El sistema CRF está compuesto por los ligandos peptídicos CRF y urocortina 1, 2 y 3. Y dos receptores CRF-R1 y CRF-R2, ambos metabotrópicos acoplados a proteína G. Resultados de nuestro laboratorio mostraron que el aislamiento social por 10 días de ratas jóvenes indujo un incremento en las conductas tipo ansiosas y un aumento de DA frente a un estímulo despolarizante en el NAc. Además, el rol de CRF-R1 inhibitorio sobre la DA y excitatorio sobre el glutamato se perdió después del aislamiento social. Estos resultados sugirieron que el aislamiento social de las ratas jóvenes modifica el nivel y funcionalidad de CRF-R1 en NAc. El objetivo de esta tesis fue determinar el impacto del aislamiento social juvenil en la función del CRF-R1 en el NAc de ratas. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el aislamiento social invierte el rol de CRF-R1 sobre los niveles de DA, pasando de ser inhibitorio a excitatorio. Además, se observó una pérdida del efecto de CRF-R1 sobre el glutamato. Por el contrario, el rol de CRF-R1 sobre GABA no se modificó, manteniendo un tono inhibitorio después del aislamiento. El estudio de las vías de señalización involucradas indicó que el efecto de CRF-R1 es mediado por Gi en terminales dopaminérgicos y Gs en terminales glutamatérgicos. La disminución de la actividad de la vía Gs en ratas aisladas revirtió los cambios neuroquímicos inducidos por aislamiento. El aislamiento no produjo cambios en la expresión de CRF-R1, pero, indujo cambios en los niveles de las distintas isoformas de CRF-R1. En conjunto, los datos muestran que el aislamiento social de ratas juveniles altera el rol de CRF-R1 sobre la neurotransmisión en el NAc lo que podría atribuirse a una diferencia en la hetero-dimerización de sus isoformas.
Prestaciones asistenciales y solidarias, de vejez e invalidez, en el sistema de seguridad social chileno
Authors:   , Medina Olivos Leonardo
Published: December 2024

En Chile, las prestaciones solidarias por vejez e invalidez (también llamado Pilar Solidario) tienen su origen en las prestaciones asistenciales surgidas en la segunda mitad del siglo XX. A pesar de ser un beneficio relativamente contemporáneo, hoy en día nuestro país goza de un robusto Pilar Solidario, que incluye a la Pensión Garantizada Universal (PGU), a la Pensión Básica Solidaria de Invalidez (PBSI) y al Aporte Previsional Solidario de Invalidez (APSI), debido al aumento que ha tenido la cobertura de estas prestaciones en los últimos años. La investigación analiza la evolución que ha tenido el pilar solidario de vejez e invalidez y su antecedente, el régimen de pensiones asistenciales, describiendo el progreso que ha tenido la cobertura de estas prestaciones, desde las primeras pensiones asistenciales consagradas en el artículo 245 de la Ley 16.464 de 1966 hasta la actual Pensión Garantizada Universal, vigente desde 2022.
Planning and operations of water and energy networks
Authors:   , Cariaga Sandoval Denise Carolina
Published: December 2024

Esta tesis se centra en la planificación y operación óptimas de redes de agua y energía, con el objetivo de mejorar la eficiencia, reducir costos y abordar los desafíos asociados con los sistemas de suministro de agua de gran tamaño y ubicados a gran altura. El primer artículo introduce el método de expansión binaria para resolver el problema de planificación de bombas de agua, caracterizado por un alto consumo de energía y dinámicas complejas, lo que resulta en un modelo de optimización no lineal entero mixto. Al emplear el enfoque de expansión binaria, se reduce la complejidad computacional manteniendo una alta precisión, como se demuestra a través de experimentos computacionales en varias topologías de red, incluyendo el caso de estudio de la red de agua de una mina de cobre chilena. El segundo artículo amplía este problema incorporando la respuesta a la demanda y abordando las incertidumbres en los precios spot de electricidad y la demanda de agua. Un modelo de optimización estocástica de dos pasos integra una optimización robusta del perfil de agua con una optimización estocástica del perfil de potencia, equilibrando efectivamente las no linealidades y las incertidumbres para optimizar la planificación de las bombas de agua y proporcionar servicios complementarios de respuesta a la demanda a la red eléctrica en el mercado de capacidad. Los estudios de disitntos casos destacan el impacto de diferentes estaciones del año, las políticas energéticas en los costos totales y la provisión de respuesta a la demanda, proporcionando información científica para los legisladores de políticas energéticas. El tercer artículo explora la planificación a largo plazo de la expansión de capacidad en generación y transmisión eléctrica mediante la integración de la flexibilidad de la desalación dentro del sistema eléctrico chileno. Subraya el papel significativo de la desalación por osmosis inversa en abordar la escasez de agua e influir en las dinámicas del sistema eléctrico. Al co-optimizar las operaciones de desalación con la planificación de la generación y transmisión eléctrica, el modelo mejora el rendimiento del sistema y revela las sinergias entre los sistemas de energía solar, almacenamiento de energía en baterías y agua desalada. Estos hallazgos guían las decisiones de inversión, las políticas de descarbonización y la integración sostenible de los sistemas de agua y energía. Finalmente, estos estudios contribuyen a una comprensión integral de la optimización de las redes de agua y energía, permitiendo la maximización de los beneficios mutuos mientras se minimizan los costos totales. Se proponen soluciones prácticas y efectivas para mejorar la eficiencia de ambas redes, y se recomiendan políticas operacionales y energéticas para su futura implementación, asegurando así el logro de los objetivos energéticos y de sostenibilidad para el año 2050.
Prognostic Significance and Therapeutic Implications of CD34, an Angiogenic Marker, in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mahapatra Niva , Nithya S , Uppala Divya , Srinivasan Soundarya , Doss Daffney Mano
Published: December 2024

Head and neck cancer is the 7th most common malignancy worldwide. Few decades earlier, there has been an enormous rise in genetic events as the source in the development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and metastasis to various organs. The seeding of neoplastic cells occurs via blood vessels (haematogenous spread), lymphatics (lymphogenous spread), or invasion into body cavities (transcoelomic spread). Neoangiogenesis results in haematogenous spread from the site of the primary tumour. Various angiogenic markers have been recognised, like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, Cluster of Differentiation (CD34), in head and neck neoplasms. The specificity and sensitivity of CD34 helps in vascular endothelial cell staining. CD34 is a type I transmembrane molecule of 110 kDa that is heavily glycosylated and expressed on haematopoietic progenitor cells selectively. The quantification of new blood vessels using CD34 antibody by Microvessel Density (MVD) can be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic indicator in many solid malignancies, like OSCC. Increased expression of positive CD34 antibody induces neoangiogenesis in neoplasms, upsurges the stemness of cancer and boosts its potential to metastasise. In this context, the present review focuses on use of CD34 antibody as a potential angiogenic marker that can be used to determine the the aggressiveness and potential outcome of the tumour based on the literature overview.
Aberrant Origin of Splenic Artery Detected by Computed Tomography Abdominal Angiogram: A Case Report
Authors: Aparna Mohan Shobana , Perumal Sundara Raja
Published: December 2024

The splenic artery is one of the terminal arteries arising from the coeliac axis, supplying the spleen, pancreas and stomach. It courses along the superior border of the pancreas and travels into the splenorenal ligament and into the hilum of the spleen, accompanied by the splenic vein. The splenic vein joins with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein. This is the most common anatomical pattern. Anatomical variations of the coeliac axis and splenic artery have been documented in the literature, but variations in the origin of the splenic artery are unusual and rare occurrences. This variation is important in the case of abdominal surgeries, like liver transplantation and pancreatic surgery. A 45-year-old male patient with cirrhosis of the liver underwent a Computed Tomography (CT) abdominal angiogram and Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) abdomen as part of the assessment for liver conditions, portal hypertension, portosystemic collaterals and to rule out any hepatic neoplastic complications, like Hepatocellular carcinoma. In this patient, the splenic artery, instead of arising from the coeliac axis, was observed to originate from the superior mesenteric artery. Knowing this variation before surgery could prevent potentially lifethreatening complications like as intraoperative or postoperative intra-abdominal bleeding.
Effects of Suryanamaskara and Sheetali Pranayama on College Students Aggression: A Prospective Interventional Study
Authors: Mehra Youganjaly , Sharma Malika , Kalpana
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Students today face a more fast-paced and demanding lifestyle due to heavy workloads and hectic schedules. By using the potential of Suryanamaskara, a dynamic sequence of yoga postures known for its energising and calming effects, along with Sheetali Pranayama, a cooling breathing technique that promotes relaxation and reduces stress, this study contributes to the growing body of research on non pharmacological interventions for emotional regulation in adults. The focus of this research is the effects of Suryanamaskara and Sheetali Pranayama on reducing aggression levels in college students.

Aim: To investigate the effects of Suryanamaskara and Sheetali Pranayama in reducing aggression levels in college students.

Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study employed a stratified purposive random sampling design to evaluate the efficacy of Suryanamaskara and Sheetali Pranayama in reducing aggression levels among college students. Voluntary participants were initially screened using the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) and those who exhibited high aggression scores were selected for the intervention training programme. A total of 54 participants were randomly assigned to two experimental groups. Group 1 underwent a Suryanamaskara intervention, while Group 2 engaged in Sheetali Pranayama, both incorporating Sukshma Vyayama and a cooling down period within the framework. Intervention sessions lasted 45 minutes, five days a week, for 10 weeks. Aggression levels were assessed preand postintervention and paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The findings of this study demonstrate a significant reduction in aggression levels among college students following a 10 week yoga intervention programme, with the mean difference in aggression scores between pre- and postintervention being 14.40 for the Suryanamaskara group and 17.29 for the Sheetali Pranayama group, indicating a decrease in aggression levels. Both the Suryanamaskara and Sheetali Pranayama groups exhibited notable improvements in aggression scores as measured by the Buss and Perry AQ. However, a comparative analysis using independent sample t-tests and effect size showed that the pretest t-statistics were -1.59 (p-value=0.11) and for the post-test t-statistics were -1.16 (p-value=0.24), revealing no significant differences between the groups for either pretest or post-test scores (p-value>0.05).

Conclusion: This experimental study demonstrated a significant reduction in aggression levels among college students following a 10-week intervention with either Suryanamaskara or Sheetali Pranayama programmes. A comparative analysis revealed equivalent changes in aggression levels between the two groups, indicating that both yogic interventions were equally effective in reducing aggression in college students.
Tackling the Burden of Substandard and Falsified Medicines and Health Technologies in Somaliland and Somalia
Authors: Ahmed Saed Nuh , Brand Angela
Published: December 2024

Background: The problem posed by the substandard and falsified (SF) medicines is a rising global challenge. WHO estimates that sales of SF medical products in low- and middle-income countries is around US$ 30 billion whereby 1 in 10 medical is substandard or falsified.
Objectives: The purpose of this article was to enlighten the actions by the Somali NRA to tackle the scourge of SF medicines in Somalia.
Methods: The literature was reviewed on the topic and evidence from other sources were incorporated including reports of post-marketing surveillance surveys, assessments at national and regional levels, as well as author’s experiences.
Findings: The medicines regulatory capacity is weak in Somaliland and Somalia, where only 16% of total indicators for the regulatory system was in place as per WHO/IGAD rapid benchmarking of the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) in 2017, increasing the risk of circulation of SF medicines in the local private sector dominated and exclusively import relied pharmaceutical supply chain. Key actions by the NRA to address this problem include: regulatory reliance mechanisms such as using the WHO PQ/EUL for emergency authorization of vaccines, i.e. COVID-19 vaccines, enhanced licensing procedures, information exchange with NRAs in the region as well as technical collaboration with WHO.
Conclusion & Recommendation: However, a lot has to be done and considering the weak laboratory capacity and the porous national borders, the risk of local circulation of SF medicines is high and swift actions are needed to ensure access to safe and quality medicines and health technologies in Somaliland and Somalia.
Sustainable EV Battery Management: Process Optimization, Recycling and Green Technologies for Retired Batteries
Authors: Mohammed Khurram Yasar , Ojoawo Babatunde Ibrahim
Published: December 2024

Aim: To examine the process optimization in EV battery manufacturing to improve efficiency via waste reduction.
Problem Statement: Traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines have been observed as the main influencers of greenhouse gas emissions. lithium-ion batteries elimination from electric vehicles possesses substantial safety dangers resulting from the batteries’ potential for thermal runaway and high energy content causing explosions or fires if handled wrongly.
Significance of Study: Electric vehicles are observed to be sustainable options because of zero emission of greenhouse gases during operation. The removal and safe handling of LiBs from EVs is a noteworthy trial that requires attention.
Methodology: Recent relevant published articles in the area of process optimization in EV battery manufacturing via waste reduction were consulted. A broad literature search from reliable academic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and IEEE Xplore.
Discussion: This review paper examines various kinds of management procedures which are targeted at alleviating the adverse environmental impacts. The active role of effective management in attaining carbon neutrality was identified. There is need for an economical recycling infrastructure having the capacity of transporting and collecting batteries from different locations. It is necessary to identify that during the production stage, vehicles having internal combustion engines may perform excellently than EVs despite the environmental advantages of EVs over internal combustion engine vehicles. Furthermore, the inadequate handling of EV waste can cause substantial social and environmental dangers. Thus, numerous benefits are attached to applying broad management approaches to address these worries. Various evolving techniques for recycling and reusing EV batteries were examined. Out of these methods, direct recycling exhibited encouraging environmental ability. The manuscript discusses how process optimization in EV battery manufacturing can be attained through reusing of retired batteries together with recycling of retired batteries as process optimization in EV battery manufacturing. Green leaching treatment for battery recycling, bioleaching and waste for waste were identified as the EV waste‑battery management techniques via emerging green technologies.
Conclusion: In conclusion, waste reduction is a vital procedure for process optimization in EV battery manufacturing to improve its efficiency.
Growth and Yield Performance of Strawberry Cultivars under Different Growing Conditions in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Pandey Priya , Nandre Dinesh R. , Patil Sunil D. , Patil Ravindra V. , Shirsath Rutuja
Published: December 2024

A study was conducted at the Horticulture Nursery, College of Agriculture, Dhule, during 2023–24 to evaluate the growth and yield performance of three strawberry cultivars (Florida Beauty, Winter Dawn, and Sweet Sensation) under three growing conditions: open field, shade net, and polyhouse. The factorial randomized block design experiment recorded growth and yield parameters such as plant height, leaf area, flowering time, and fruit yield. Open field condition (C1) with Sweet Sensation variety (V3) exhibited significantly maximum plant height (25.63 cm), plant spread (41.82 cm EW and 42.03 cm NS), maximum leaf area (134.33 cm2) and least number of days were taken for first flower initiation (26.67 days). Whereas, as regards to fruit and yield characters i.e. greater number of fruits per plant (21.00), the maximum weight of fruit (21.01 g), yield per plant (0.44 kg/plant) and yield per hectare (11 MT/ha) the results were significantly higher in open field condition with Sweet Sensation variety. According to the study, strawberries' vegetative development, floral characteristics, and fruit quality were all improved by open field conditions, which also increased net income returns by producing the most fruits. It was discovered that the open field environment helped strawberries' vegetative growth, blossom characteristics, and fruit quality while optimising net income returns through the largest fruit output.
Impact of Stocking Density on Welfare, Behavior, and Growth Performance of Large White Yorkshire Pigs under Indian Condition
Authors: Vanlalhmangaihsanga  , Sandhu Kulvinder , Singh Ashwani Kumar , Singh Yashpal , Chahal Udeybir , Malik D. S.
Published: December 2024

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying stocking densities on the welfare, behaviour, and production performance of growing Large White Yorkshire pigs.
Study Design: The research focused on assessing the influence of decreasing floor space allowance per pig on welfare indicators, including behavioural patterns, growth metrics, and feed efficiency. Seventy-four weaned pigs were randomly divided into four treatment groups with stocking densities ranging from 0.3 m²/pig to 0.21 m²/pig. Behavioural data were recorded using smartphone cameras and CCTV, while growth and feed metrics were systematically measured.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2023 at the Piggery Farm, Department of Livestock Production Management, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India (Latitude: 30°54' North, Longitude: 75°48' East).
Methodology: A corn-soybean meal-based diet was provided ad libitum, and body weight, feed intake, and behavioural observations were recorded weekly. Negative and positive social behaviours, exploratory activities, and lying duration were documented for each group. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test to compare treatment effects at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.
Results: Growth performance, including body weight and average daily gain (ADG), showed no significant differences between groups; however, a linear increase in body weight was observed over time. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) differed significantly, with pigs at higher stocking densities consuming more feed and displaying higher FCR values. Behavioural analysis revealed increased negative behaviours such as aggression and tail biting in higher stocking density groups, while exploratory and positive social behaviours were more frequent in these groups. Lower stocking density groups displayed more lying behaviour, particularly towards the end of the study.
Conclusion: Decreasing floor space allowance significantly impacted pig behaviour, increasing stress-related activities and negative social interactions without significantly affecting growth performance. These findings emphasize the importance of optimizing space allocation in intensive pig farming systems to balance welfare and productivity.
Correlation of Body Mass Index with Blood Pressure in Pregnant Patients with Severe Preeclampsia
Authors: Vázquez Rodríguez Juan Gustavo , Magdaleno Yolanda García
Published: December 2024

Aims: Determine the correlation of pregestational body mass index and body mass index upon admission to the Intensive Care Unit with blood pressure in pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia.
Study Design:  Retrospective cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit of the High Specialty Medical Unit Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital No. 3 of the National Medical Center “La Raza” belonging to the Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City between January 01 and December 30, 2023.
Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a cohort of 100 pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia from the Intensive Care Unit. The correlation of pregestational body mass index and Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index with systolic and diastolic blood pressure recorded upon admission was calculated. Descriptive statistics, Student's t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used.
Results: Maternal age was 29.84±6.60 years and the mean pregnancy was 33.93±4.03 weeks. Pregestational body mass index was 28.17±5.96 (normal 29%, overweight 43%, obesity 28%). Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index was 32.90±5.95 (normal 5%, overweight 26%, obesity 69%). Systolic blood pressure was 161.92±16 and diastolic blood pressure was 101.11±9.75 mmHg. Correlations: pregestational body mass index vs systolic blood pressure was r=0.049 and diastolic blood pressure was r=0.134. Correlation of Intensive Care Unit admission body mass index vs systolic blood pressure was r=0.038 and vs diastolic blood pressure r=0.071.
Conclusion: No significant correlation of pregestational body mass index and body mass index upon admission to the Intensive Care Unit with systolic and diastolic blood pressure was found in the patients participating in the study.
Optimization of High-Density Planting Configurations for Poovan Banana (Musa spp.) in Coconut-Based Agroforestry Systems of the Cauvery Delta Zone
Authors: Selvaraj K.S.Vijai , A.Bharathi  , J.Karthikeyan  , Vethamoni P.Irene , P.Sivakumar  , A.Velayutham
Published: December 2024

Bananas (Musa spp.) are a vital global agricultural commodity and an essential crop in tropical agricultural systems. The Poovan cultivar, known for its high productivity and adaptability, is particularly effective in intercropping within coconut-based agroforestry systems. This study investigates the impact of planting geometries on crop performance in the Cauvery Delta Zone by evaluating five spatial configurations, ranging from 2.1×2.1m to 0.9×0.9m, with a focus on morphological, physiological, and economic parameters. The results indicate that wider spacing configurations, especially 2.1×2.1m, significantly improve leaf morphological traits, including maximum leaf length (148.17 cm), breadth (77.75 cm), and leaf area index (2.61m²/plant). Additionally, these configurations enhance key fruit quality characteristics, such as increased bunch weight (16kg), improved fruit dimensions (20cm length), higher sugar content (22°Brix), and greater fruit firmness (4.5kg/cm²). The economic analysis suggests that a 1.5×1.5m spacing provides the most favorable cost-benefit ratio (1.14). This study offers valuable insights into the complex relationships between planting density, resource allocation, and productivity in tropical farming systems, providing evidence-based recommendations for optimizing both agricultural performance and economic viability in integrated farming systems.
Towards Progressive Multilateralism: Decoding the Trilemma of State, Democracy, and Globalisation
Authors: Mishra Ajay Kumar , Rishi Shraddha
Published: December 2024

Institutions have long been influenced by their idiographic milieu. Western liberal institutions, grounded in liberal internationalism, often negate the institutional epistemology that advocates for diversity in the structural reform of Multilateral Institutions. Neo-liberal institutions, however, promote ontological tendencies in multilateral institutions. Decoding the functioning of the state, democracy and globalisation offers insights into restructuring the multilateral institutions (MIs). The study uses regression analysis to know the functioning of the state, democracy and globalisation in the countries of the global South and global North. Social determinism helps recognise and deconstruct ontological MIs. G-20, a conglomeration of developing and developed countries, is better positioned to make consensus through consultative, collaborative and decisive processes amid competing interests and ideologies. The study finds the variables of political trilemma vary contrary to neo-liberal prescriptions of reducing government size to encourage trade openness & liberal democracy. Moreover, the study refuted the notion that democracy leads to trade openness and the concurrent relationship between government size and democracy. These findings present a strong case to rethink and restructure multilateralism and MIs.
D
esulfocapsa
Authors: Galushko Alexander , Kuever Jan
Published: October 2019

De.sul.fo.cap'sa. L. pref.
de
, from; L. neut. n.
sulfur
, sulfur; L. fem. n.
capsa
, box; N.L. fem. n.
Desulfocapsa
, a sulfate‐reducing box.

Desulfobacterota / Desulfobulbia / Desulfobulbales / Desulfocapsaceae / Desulfocapsa

Cells are round‐ended or elongated rods with pointed ends, 0.8–0.9 µm × 2.0–3.5 µm. Cells are motile by means of single subpolarly inserted flagella. Gram‐stain‐negative. No spores are formed. Metabolism is strictly anaerobic chemoorganoheterotrophic and chemolithoautotrophic. Use of organic compounds limited to short organic alcohols, which are used as donor of electrons and are oxidized to their corresponding fatty acids. Sulfate is the electron acceptor and is reduced to sulfide. Inorganic sulfur compounds are disproportionated to sulfate and sulfide and support chemolithoautotrophic growth with CO
2
as carbon source. Fermentative growth with organic compounds is not possible. The optimal pH range for growth is 7.3–7.5. The optimal temperature range for growth is 20–30°C. NaCl is not required, and growth of the type strain is inhibited by NaCl concentrations higher than 15 g/l. The genus comprises only one species isolated from freshwater lake sediment. It contains cytochromes and not desulfoviridin. Occurs in sediments of freshwater lake close to the anoxic/oxic interface.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 50.7 (LC), 53.6 (genome).

Type species
:
Desulfocapsa thiozymogenes
Janssen, Schuhmann, Bak and Liesack 1997, 601
VP
(Effective publication: Janssen, Schuhmann, Bak and Liesack 1996, 190).
Methylophaga
Authors: Boden Rich
Published: October 2019

Me.thy.lo.pha'ga. N.L. neut. n.methylumthe methyl radical; N.L. pref.methylo‐pertaining to the methyl radical; Gr. v.phageîn, to eat, to devour; N.L. fem. n.Methylophaga, methyl eater.

Proteobacteria / Gammaproteobacteria / Thiotrichales / Piscirickettsiaceae / Methylophaga

Cells are short motile rods, motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Cytochromecoxidase‐ and catalase‐positive. Gram‐stain‐negative. Endospores, exospores, and cysts are not produced. Strictly halophilic. Metabolically, restricted facultative methylotrophs, with endo‐ and exochemolithoheterotrophic oxidation of reduced sulfur moieties in some species. In species using multicarbon compounds, the range is limited to fructose, substituted thiophenes, and long‐chain alkanesulfonates. Methylotrophic growth supported by methanol, and usually monomethylamine and/or dimethylsulfide. Carbon assimilated from formaldehyde via the 2‐dehydro‐3‐deoxy‐phosphogluconate (KDPG) aldolase variant of the Quayle pathway (ribulose monophosphate pathway/d‐ribulose 5‐phosphate pathway). Some strains are auxotrophic for vitamin B12. Obligately respiratory, with molecular oxygen and nitrate the only known terminal electron acceptors. Usually isolated from environments with low water activity. Some species require bicarbonate ions for growth. Most species grow in the range of 0–42°C. The major respiratory quinone is ubiquinone‐8 (UQ‐8). Dominant fatty acids in methanol‐grown cells are palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), vaccenic acid (C18:1), ω‐cyclohexylmargaric acid (C17:0cyclo), lauric acid (C12:0), myristic acid (C14:0), and sometimes 3‐hydroxycapric acid (C10:03‐OH).

DNA G+C content (mol%): 42.8–50.0.

Type species:Methylophaga marinaJanvier, Frehel, Grimont and Gasser 1985, 138VP.
D
esulfonatronospira
Authors: Galushko Alexander , Kuever Jan
Published: October 2019

De.sul.fo.na.tro.no.spi'ra. L. prep.
de
, from; N.L. pref.
sulfo
‐, prefix used for N.L. masc. n.
sulfas –atis
, sulfate; N.Gr. n.
natron
, arbitrarily derived from the Arabic n.
natrun
or
natron
, soda; L. fem. n.
spira
, a spire; N.L. fem. n.
Desulfonatronospira
, desulfurizing soda‐loving spirillum.

Desulfobacterota / Desulfovibrionia / Desulfovibrionales / Desulfonatronovibrionaceae / Desulfonatronospira

Vibrio‐ or oval‐shaped cells, 0.6 – 1.2 μm × 1.5 – 30 μm. Occur singly or in pairs. Spore formation is not observed. Gram‐stain‐negative. Motile or nonmotile. Strict anaerobe with a respiratory and sometimes fermentative type of metabolism. Chemoorganoheterotroph using simple organic compounds like lactate, pyruvate, or alcohols as electron donors and carbon source; these compounds are most likely incompletely oxidized to acetate. Chemolithoautotrophic growth on H
2
plus CO
2
(two species), and formate (all species) via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway. Sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate (two species) are used as terminal electron acceptors and are reduced to H
2
S. Fermentative growth on pyruvate might occur. All species can grow chemolithoautotrophically by disproportionation of reduced sulfur compounds like sulfite or thiosulfate. Obligately alkaliphilic and extremely salt tolerant. At optimal salinity the optimal pH range for growth is 9.7–10.0. Mesophilic. The optimal temperature is 30–33°C. The genus currently accommodates three species. Anoxic media contains a reductant (usually sulfide), and high content of sodium ions, and carbonates. Vitamins might be required. Occur in hypersaline, alkaline habitats like soda lakes.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 49.8–51.4 (
T
m
, genome).

Type species
:
Desulfonatronospira thiodismutans
Sorokin, Tourova, Henstra, Stams, Galinski and Muyzer 2008b, 1512
VP
(Effective publication: Sorokin, Tourova, Henstra, Stams, Galinski and Muyzer 2008a, 1451).