bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction of frequency and inflectional status: An approach from discriminative learning
Authors: Saito Motoki , Tomaschek Fabian , Baayen Harald
Published: January 2025

Abstract: High frequency of occurrences has been associated with phonetic reduction on one hand and phonetic enhancement on the other hand. The present study first looks into the possibility that these opposite frequency effects are at least partially due to different inflectional status of the items being investigated. Based on tongue position data from a spontaneous speech corpus of German, we found that stem vowels in inflected words tended to be hyper-articulated (i.e., phonetic enhancement), while those in non-inflected words tended to be articulated with more centralized tongue positions (i.e., phonetic reduction). This observed modulation by inflectional status is subsequently investigated from the perspective of distributional semantics. Using Linear Discriminative Learning to study relations between word embeddings and word forms, we observed that word-final triphones of inflected words received more support from their embeddings (i.e., meanings) compared to non-inflected words. Furthermore, replacement of the two-level factorial predictor of inflectional status with the amount of semantic support led to substantial improvement in model fit. These results suggest direct relationships between word forms and meanings and imply the necessity of such a structure being considered for speech production models.
Mr Predator and Mrs Prey: Gender stereotypes in children’s films correlate with explicit and implicit gender stereotyping
Authors: Wood Lara
Published: January 2025

Children acquire gender stereotypes at a young age and these subsequently influence cognition and behavior. Although some stereotypes may be learned through a child’s direct observation of gender differences, many are perpetuated by inaccurate cultural depictions. Children’s mass media, a cultural product, may be a powerful source of gender stereotype perpetuation. This research investigated the presence and impact of an arbitrary and inaccurate gender stereotypic association of predator animals as male and prey animals as female. Study 1 investigated predator-male and prey-female stereotypes in children’s films featuring anthropomorphized animal characters (N = 1892). After accounting for a 75% male character bias, there was a disproportionately high number of predators assigned male and prey assigned female. Study 2 created explicit and implicit predator-male and prey-female association measures and tested these on children (N = 132, aged 4-14-years) and adults (N = 99, aged 18-65 years). Both groups showed a male character bias, along with strong explicit and implicit predator-male and prey-female associations. Children had higher explicit scores than adults, whereas adults had higher implicit scores than children. Inaccurate gender stereotypes in children’s media correlate with explicit and implicit gender stereotyping. This suggests that children can acquire stereotypes indirectly through exposure to cultural products alone and implies a bi-directional relationship between individual cognition and cultural level gender stereotyping.
Unconscious processing of real-life scenes revealed by eye movement dynamics
Authors: Lublinsky Shaked , Yuval-Greenberg Shlomit , Mudrik Liad
Published: January 2025

When viewing scenes, the eyes are consistently attracted to meaningful and visually salient areas. Does this occur also when scenes are rendered invisible? This is unknown, as free viewing of invisible scenes has never been documented. In two preregistered experiments, fifty-two participants freely viewed scenes presented consciously or unconsciously using Continuous Flash Suppression. Despite being unaware of the scenes, participants gazed more, but not longer, on objects, and were attracted to both semantically and visually salient areas. Comparison of gaze patterns to a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) mimicking the human visual ventral pathway revealed that unconscious gaze patterns correlated only with layers corresponding with early visual processes. Our results provide first evidence for meaningful gazing on invisible scenes, while highlighting the limitations of such processing.
A case study of establishing a foundation year engineering and physical science journal club as a means for developing confidence in academic skills and socialisation to academia
Authors: Baker Lewis A.
Published: January 2025

An implementation of the journal club model to develop confidence in academic skills across speaking, writing and integrity domains, as well as socialising journal club members to academia, is reported. A journal club was established in a Foundation Year (Pre-undergraduate) context for ten physical scientists. A mixed-methods approach was used to measure self-reported confidence upon entering the university, which was contrasted after attending three, one-hour, journal club meetings, where contemporary literature across diverse subjects was discussed through the lens of ‘academic themes’ to scaffold discussions and support specific skill development. The self-reported confidence was captured through questionnaires and unpacked through semi-structured interviews, the themes of which were generated through qualitative reflexive analysis. Increased confidence in academic speaking was a notable result; journal club members valued the opportunity to present in small, regular, and informal meetings where discussions were appreciated between members. Exposure to subject domains outside of physical sciences where members were confronted with topics for which there is no clear answer, was uncovered as the impetus to disrupt members’ thinking, facilitated by the conversational medium of the journal club. The implementation reported here likely represents the scenario many professionals will find themselves in when considering establishing a journal club.
Fabrication of Cu: ZnO thin film sensor for ethanol vapor detection
Authors: Simkhada Robin , Gibbs Dalton R. , Dhakal Soma , Oli Dipak , Ghimire Rishi Ram , Mulmi Deependra Das , Pradhan Joshi Leela
Published: January 2025

For a long time, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) based gas sensors have been widely used in domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors to detect harmful gases. The performance of such sensors is significantly enhanced by appropriate doping of suitable materials into MOS such as ZnO and SnO2. This work showcases the design, analysis, and use of a Cu-doped ZnO (Cu: ZnO) film tailored for detecting traces of ethanol vapor at lower temperatures. Herein, various Cu: ZnO films have been fabricated on glass substrates using a spin coater followed by annealing at 600  for 1 hour in a muffle furnace. So-prepared samples have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, Energy Dispersive Analysis X-ray (EDAX), UV-visible spectrophotometer, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The XRD analysis showed a polycrystalline nature with preferred orientation along (100) and (002) crystal planes. The morphology study showed their porous and granular surface structure. These films' elemental analysis demonstrated the good incorporation of Cu into the ZnO matrix. The UV-visible results showed a significant decrease in the band gap from 3.28 eV for undoped ZnO to 3.20 eV for Cu: ZnO films. Ultimately, as-prepared Cu: ZnO thin films were used for sensing ethanol vapor at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 . The result showed a maximum sensitivity of 70.60  at a reduced temperature of 140  at 4% Cu: ZnO thin, which implies that Cu: ZnO is suitable for developing the gas sensors for upcoming future generations.
Evaluation of Botanical and Chemical Treatments an Growth and Productivity af Potato
Authors: Bohora Anisha , Rai Supana , Poudel Pratikshya , Shah Nitesh Kumar
Published: January 2025

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most significant Solanaceous vegetable crops throughout the world, and a food and cash crop in many parts of the world. A field experiment was carried out in Jorayal Rural Municipality- 2, Budar, Doti from late winter to early summer season. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of botanicals and chemicals on the growth and yield of potatoes in Budar- 02, Doti, Nepal, with an emphasis on the need for environmentally sustainable farming practices. Five treatment comprising chemical fungicides, botanicals and a bio-control agents i.e. Mancozeb, Syzygium cumini L.(Jamun), Allium sativum L (Garlic), Eupatorium adenophorum Spring (Banmara) were arranged in a randomized block design and replicated six times. The result showed that botanical treatments positively influenced plant growth. It indicated a consistent increase in plant height throughout the crop growth period, with Mancozeb and Banmara treatments exhibiting the highest heights i.e 35 and 34.33 cm respectively. Compared to control, yield was also increased by 36.16% in Mancozeb and 30% in Jamun respectively. These findings imply that botanicals holds immense potential as a non-toxic, environmentally friendly and at the same time sustainable alternative to chemicals, contributing to agricultural productivity and environmental preservation.
Analysis of Marketing System for Sweet Orange in Darchula District, Nepal
Authors: Joshi Naresh , Bhatta Kiran Prasad
Published: January 2025

Sweet orange is one of the major fruits grown in the mid-hills of Nepal. It ranks second among the citrus fruits in terms of area and production but farmers have yet to receive potential benefit from this enterprise, mostly due to market issues. This study analyzed different aspects of sweet orange marketing to support overcome these problems. The research was conducted in the two Palikas (Mahakali municipality and Lekam rural municipality) of Darchula district. Altogether 50 samples each were selected randomly from these two Palikas, totaling 100 samples. The collected data were processed and analyzed using MS Excel and STATA. Sweet orange was found to be highly profitable enterprises with high Benefit-Cost (BC) ratio but marketing is crucial for this. Four major marketing channels from producers to (i) Consumers; (ii) Retailers; (iii) Wholesalers and; (iv) Preharvest Contractors were observed. Among these, Producers-Consumers was the most common as well as profitable, Looking at the marketing margin (Rs. 6.81) and Producer’s Share (83.49%), sales to Retailers is profitable. However, for commercial scale production role of wholesalers (only 18% of total sales volume) is found to be of utmost importance. The major problem in marketing sweet oranges is the lack of transportation and storage, which also contributes to higher level of local sales. It should be improved before promoting this enterprise and increasing acreage. Development of appropriate infrastructures for facilitating sweet orange marketing is the most for improving the performance of this sub-sector. Cooperative marketing could also be another quick alternative to bring about desirable changes.
Effect of Different Plant Extracts on Post-Harvest Quality and Shelf Life pf Banana (Musa acuminata CV. Grand Naine)
Authors: Ghimire Nabin , Subedi Badad , Upreti Ramesh
Published: January 2025

Banana is a valuable agricultural product with rising demand over time. However, managing post-harvest losses is a significant challenge due to the highly perishable nature of bananas, which makes them prone to rapid deterioration. An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Laboratory of the School of Agriculture, Far-Western University during March, 2023 to assess the effect of various plant extracts on quality and shelf life of banana. The experiment used a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments: guava leaf (T1), lemon juice (T2), neem leaf (T3), eucalyptus leaf (T4), and a non-treated control (T5), each with four replications. Data were collected from 6 destructive and 6 non-destructive banana samples at 3-day intervals, and analyzed using R studio V 1.1. The study revealed that the plant extracts did not affect banana quality parameters on 3 days but showed significant influence after extended storage. Among the different post-harvest treatments, eucalyptus showed the lowest physiological loss in weight (17.44% ), least total soluble solid (16.25),highest tritratable acidity (0.66), highest firmness at (3.02 kg/cm2) until 15 days and declined slightly to (2.75 kg/cm2) at 18 days, highest (24.60 ) shelf life, long (16.0 ) days of ripening. While the highest physiological loss in weight (21.14%) and least shelf life (14) was recorded in control. As a result, plants extracts, especially eucalyptus can be utilized to increase the storage life of banana. Hence the study clearly depicted that post-harvest treatments using different plant extracts could be beneficial to prolong the shelf life of banana.
Factors Affecting the Formal Agriculture Credit Access in Kailali District, Nepal
Authors: Pandey Prem , Timilsina Ram Hari
Published: January 2025

Nepal relies heavily on agriculture for economic growth. The availability of agricultural loans is crucial for promoting the growth and advancement of Nepal's agricultural sector. Although the number of formal financial institutions is increasing in Nepal, access to credit among the majority of agricultural households remains limited. Getting credit from banks and other financial institutions was a challenging process. This study aimed to identify the factors affecting formal agriculture credit access among the farmers of the Kailali district of Nepal. Ward number one of Janaki Rural Municipality, Lamkichuwa, and Tikapur Municipalities of the Kailali district were purposively selected for the study. The primary data were collected through a household survey focus group discussion (FGD) and key informants interview (KII) whereas secondary data were obtained through a review of relevant literatures and publications like books, journals, articles. A random sampling technique was used to select 120 sample respondents, and a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondent. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results of the logistic regression model revealed that cultivated land area, extension contact, membership of a farm-based organization, and training had a significant positive influence on farmers’ access to formal credit. Whereas, agriculture credit access was negatively and significantly influenced by the age of the household head.
Status of Improved Fish Production Technology Adoption in Dhanusha District, Nepal
Authors: Paudel Subodh , Chaulagain Denisa , Chaudhary Bijay Kumar , Shrestha Susma , Chaulagain Supriya , Singh Abhishek , Kushwaha Bijay Kumar , Gharti Kamala
Published: January 2025

The study was conducted in Dhanusha district of Madhesh province of Nepal to find out the social and demographic characteristics of farmers, available technologies for fish production, identification and adoption of available technologies, and major problems faced by farmers in the adoption of improved fish production technologies. 64 respondents were selected by simple random sampling method. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and MS-Excel. Various factors affecting the adoption of improved fish production technology were assessed using the chi-square test. It was found that fish farming was male-dominated in the area, and the mean family size was 5.88. Additionally, the majority of respondents (60.9%) had a pond size greater than 1 ha with a mean pond size of 1.33 ha. Farmers' mean age was 45.67 years. The major sources of information on fish farming were fellow fish farmers and training. The chi-square test showed a significant association between adoption level with educational level, fish farming experience, pond size, and fish farming training received. Technologies like stocking of ponds (89.1%), fish harvesting (87.5%), fish feeding (79.7%), maintenance of ponds (78.1%), site selection for ponds (75%), and pond construction (64.1%) were highly adopted by farmers. However, they had low adoption in post-harvest preservation and storage (4.7%). High feed costs, inadequate capital, and lack of technical knowledge were major problems in adopting improved fish production technologies.
The TRAIL map
Authors: Sandler Jan-Peter , Nieboer Maryvonne , Anđić Branko , Corazzini Luca , Cosmovici Idsøe Ella , Troelsgard Jensen Nina , McGeever James , Wolfensberger Marca , Vandamme Anne-Mieke
Published: January 2025

Human development has spurred hypercomplex issues like pandemics and climate change, unmanageable through STEM-alone approaches. Addressing these demands collaboration across academic (including non-STEM disciplines) and non-academic fields, necessitating a transdisciplinary approach. Higher education should cultivate 21st-century skills, like those in TRAnsdisciplinary Innovation Labs (TRAIL), enabling adept collaboration on multifaceted problems within diverse groups.
The Erasmus+ funded STEAM+ project birthed the TRAIL map, aiding teachers, students, institutes, and policymakers in designing TRAILs via talent program experimentation. This article details the TRAIL map's genesis, drawing from existing TRAILs and constructing three. Addressing stakeholder needs for closer collaborations, clearer examples, and actionable steps, the map serves as a repository of STEAM+ project insights, guiding universities across Europe in initiating their TRAILs and offering structured knowledge and experiences.
“End-stage” Constrictive Pericarditis- Stem cell Therapy
Authors: Muthiah Ramachandran
Published: January 2025

Aim: To present a case of ‘end-stage’ constrictive pericarditis with clinical manifestations such as ascites mimicking as cirrhosis of liver.

Introduction: ‘End-stage’ constrictive pericarditis has been readily confused with cirrhosis of liver in which there may be ascites, but venous pressure is normal and the neck veins are not engorged. There may be cardiac enlargement in other causes of heart failure. Etiology remains unknown in majority of case and inflammatory process play a central role in its development.

Case Report: A 67-year old male presented with sudden onset of tachycardia. Clinical examination revealed right-sided heart failure, ‘Egg-shell’ calcification in Chest X-ray and a characteristic echocardiographicfeatures of pericardial constriction such as septal bounce and dynamic respiratory changes in mitral inflow velocity. The patient was advised medical measures since it is in advanced stage.

Conclusion: When clinical signs of right heart failure become unresponsive to increased doses of diuretics, constrictive pericarditis is more likely the underlying disease since severe, right-sided failure develops in very advanced, the end-stage of the disease.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: Experience of the Mohamed VI University Hospital
Authors: Malhabi Noussaiba
Published: January 2025

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), one of the most prevalent autonomic disorders, presents with a variety of clinical symptoms, including postural tachycardia, dizziness, orthostatic intolerance, syncope, and exercise intolerance. It often develops following viral or bacterial infections.

Aims: we aim to study the Epidemiological, Diagnostic, Etiological Profile, and therapeutic approaches in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and to study the potential association with other dysautonomias in the same patients.

Materiel and methods: This is a prospective, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional study. The patients were collected over one year, counting 53 patients included in our autonomic nervous unit diagnosed with POTS.

Results: we found an average age of 25 years, with more female then male, diagnostic wandering took from 3 months to 6 years as a cut-off in our study. Dysautonomias risqué factors found are COVID-19 infection and stressful lifestyle, main symptom is orthostatic intolerance. For our population the therapeutic approach was based on symptomatic treatment initially in particular; abundant drinks, lower limb muscle building, high salt diet, our results are that a check-up will be proposed in 6 months to see the evolution under treatment

Conclusions: Management of POTS focuses on educating patients and implementing non-pharmacological strategies to combat orthostatic intolerance, our aim is to improve the quality of life of our patients.
Coronary Ectasia: Prevalence, Angiographic Characteristics and Clinical Outcome
Authors: Ztati Mohamed
Published: January 2025

Background/Aim: Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as diffuse dilation of the coronary arteries and differs from coronary aneurysms by being non-localized. The condition is rare, often associated with atherosclerosis, and poses significant management challenges due to its unclear pathophysiology and varied clinical presentations. The study aims to provide insights into the hospital's experience with CAE and evaluate its prognostic factors.

Materiels and methods: This retrospective study evaluated 28 patients with CAE from 1692 individuals who underwent coronary angiography between January 2021 and January 2024. Patients with other heart conditions were excluded. CAE diagnosis was based on coronary artery dilation ≥1.5 times the adjacent normal segment. Data on clinical characteristics, myocardial perfusion, and stenosis were collected, and coronary lesions were classified using the Markis classification system.

Results: CAE was observed in 1.65% of the study population, with most patients being male smokers, averaging 55 years of age. Of the CAE patients, 74% had significant lesions, 59% had multi-vessel involvement, and 25% presented with spontaneous thrombosis. Left ventricular dysfunction was noted in 60% of patients. Pharmacologic treatments included aspirin for all, while 9 patients also received anticoagulation therapy. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was conducted in select cases with thrombus formation or significant stenosis.

Conclusion: CAE remains a poorly understood condition with a significant thrombotic risk. Atherosclerosis was the predominant cause, and management strategies, especially for thrombosis, remain individualized. Optimal treatment is still unclear, and large multicenter studies are needed to develop better treatment guidelines for CAE patients.
Evaluation of the Effects of a Cardiac Rehabilitation program with Combined Training on Left Ventricular mass in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Jorge A Lara-Vargas
Published: January 2025

Background and Aim: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, multisystemic, heterogeneous, and progressive syndrome where sustained activation of compensatory neurohormonal mechanisms leads to maladaptive left ventricular remodeling. There is evidence that regular exercise stimulates physiological cardiac growth, increases mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and improves mitochondrial dynamics in healthy hearts. However, its effects on left ventricular mass and the relationship with peak VO2 gains, specifically with combined training in HF patients, have not been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the study is to assess whether a cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) with combined training can increase left ventricular mass and thereby peak oxygen consumption (VO2p) in patients with HF.

Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-controlled study was conducted in chronic HF patients who completed the supervised phase 2 of the CRP. Participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography and a cardiopulmonary exercise test with gas analysis (CPET) where echocardiographic variables such as mass, end-diastolic volume, posterior wall thickness and interventricular septal thickness of the left ventricle were measured, as well as cardiopulmonary exercise variables such as VO2p, VT1, VAT, VT2, FATmax and crossover, at admission and discharge.

Results: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with HF were included, 70% men, with a mean age of 63.9 ± 11.7 years. In the inferential analysis between baseline parameters and after completing the CRP, significant differences were found in LVEF (p <0.001), end diastolic volume (p <0.001), left ventricular mass indexed to total body surface area (p <0.001), oxygen pulse (p <0.001), Mets-C (p <0.001), VT1 (p = 0.013), VAT (p = 0.002), VT2 (p <0.001), FATmax (p = 0.003), and crossover (p <0.001). VO2 peak behavior was analyzed in patients who had an increase in ventricular mass (n=17) compared to those who had a decrease in ventricular mass (n=33), finding both groups had statistically significant changes in VO2 peak (p = 0.04).

Conclusions: CRPs based on combined physical training are effective and safe in patients with chronic HF, improving peak VO2 in clinically stable patients regardless of changes in left ventricular geometry measured through left ventricular mass. While the most frequently presented adaptation at the end of the intervention was reverse remodeling, this condition does not contravene the gains in cardiorespiratory fitness, as this ventricular mass could generate greater fitness and aerobic power.
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens (Soricidae, Mammalia) in the diet of Tyto alba from the Lower Vistula Valley (north Poland).
Authors: Kasprzyk Krzysztof , Pająkowski Jarosław
Published: January 2025

The species composition of a small mammal community in the diet of the Barn Owl Tyto alba was examined at two sites near the town of Świecie nad Wisłą (northern Poland). Bones of 161 prey were extracted from T. alba pellets collected in 2021 and 2023. A total of 14 mammalian species were recorded: Soricomorpha (3) and Rodentia (11). The dominant species in the diet of T. alba at both sites was Microtus arvalis, accounting for 24–48%. The second most common species in the diet of owls was Sorex araneus. A significant difference between the sites is the ratio of Microtidae to Muridae in the food of the Barn Owl. The most interesting species was Crocidura suaveolens, whose localities are located outside the previously known north-eastern limit of its range. Possible pathways for the spread of this species beyond its current geographic range are discussed.
Типографіка і шрифти. Довідник для здобувачів за спеціальністю 014 Середня освіта (Трудове навчання та технології)
Authors:   Vinnytsia Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi State Pedagogical University, Шимкова І.
Published: January 2025

У навчальному довіднику з дисципліни "Типографіка і шрифти" систематизовано навчально-методичні матеріали, що охоплюють мету, завдання, структуру та зміст курсу. Представлено детальний опис лекційних та практичних занять з типографічного мистецтва, історії розвитку шрифтів, особливостей латинських та кириличних шрифтів, їх класифікації та практичного застосування. Довідник містить методичні рекомендації щодо виконання самостійної роботи, індивідуальних навчально-дослідних завдань та критерії оцінювання навчальних досягнень здобувачів. Видання призначене для студентів та викладачів закладів вищої освіти спеціальностей, пов'язаних з графічним дизайном та видавничою справою.
The expanding role of SGLT2 inhibitors in cardiovascular and renal protection
Authors: Singh Amandeep
Published: January 2025

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, initially designed for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus, have emerged as transformative agents in cardiovascular and renal protection. Landmark trials such as DAPA-HF, EMPA-REG OUTCOME, and DAPA-CKD have demonstrated their ability to reduce hospitalizations, cardiovascular mortality, and progression to end-stage renal disease, even in non-diabetic patients. These benefits are attributed to mechanisms beyond glucose lowering, including reducing intraglomerular pressure, promoting natriuresis, enhancing mitochondrial efficiency, and mitigating oxidative stress. SGLT2 inhibitors now offer disease-modifying effects across conditions such as heart failure and chronic kidney disease, reshaping therapeutic strategies. Despite their demonstrated efficacy, clinical adoption remains suboptimal, particularly in non-diabetic populations. Expanding awareness of their broad indications and unique mechanisms is crucial to leveraging their full potential. As ongoing research continues to uncover additional benefits, SGLT2 inhibitors are poised to play an increasingly vital role in improving cardiovascular and renal outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Nigella sativa in inflammatory disease management: A molecular biology perspective
Authors: Yadav Parvati
Published: January 2025

Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed, has been recognized for its potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties, making it a promising therapeutic agent for managing chronic inflammatory diseases. This review explores the pharmacological potential of N. sativa, focusing on its molecular mechanisms, particularly the modulation of the nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK pathways, which are central to inflammation regulation. The bioactive compounds, especially thymoquinone, alkaloids, and flavonoids, contribute to its therapeutic effects by reducing oxidative stress and regulating cytokine production. Clinical and preclinical studies highlight the efficacy of N. sativa in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, challenges related to bioavailability, standardization, and formulation need to be addressed to optimize its clinical application. This review underscores the need for further research to fully understand the molecular mechanisms of N. sativa and to enhance its integration into conventional treatment regimens for chronic inflammation.
Emerging trends in drug discovery: Harnessing artificial intelligence and machine learning for drug development
Authors: Khandagale Priya
Published: January 2025

The traditional drug discovery process is a resource-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive endeavor, often characterized by high failure rates and inefficiencies. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have introduced revolutionary tools that are transforming the pharmaceutical industry, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and precise drug development. This review examines the transformative role of AI and ML across key stages of drug discovery, including target identification, compound screening, lead optimization, and clinical trials. AI/ML technologies leverage vast biological datasets and employ advanced algorithms such as neural networks, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of drug discovery pipelines. These tools enable the identification of novel drug targets, accurate prediction of drug efficacy and safety profiles, and optimization of clinical trial designs, substantially reducing development timelines and costs. Real-world case studies highlight the success of AI/ML in delivering breakthrough therapies in areas such as oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare genetic disorders. Despite these advancements, several challenges persist, including issues related to data quality, model interpretability, algorithmic bias, and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, ethical considerations surrounding data privacy, transparency, and decision-making in AI-driven processes are critical to address. This review also explores emerging trends, such as the integration of multi-omics datasets, advancements in quantum computing, and the growing focus on personalized medicine and precision drug development. Overcoming current challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and the implementation of robust ethical frameworks will be essential for unlocking AI/ML’s full potential, ushering in a new era of patient-centric and precision-driven drug discovery and development.
SELFIEfor(STUDENT)TEACHERS? A Mixed-Methods Study on the Suitability and Validity of the Self-Reflection Tool for Student Teachers
Authors: Seyferth-Zapf Christian , Bärnreuther Cindy , Stephan Melanie , Ehmann Matthias , Seyferth-Zapf Maria
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a study focusing on the feasibility and validity of the SELFIEforTEACHERS self-assessment tool for student teachers, addressing three research questions. Using a mixed methods approach with a convergent parallel design. The study provides insights into quantitative and qualitative aspects of the self-assessment of student teachers' digital competences. Firstly, it is analyzed how student teachers assess their own media-related digital competences using SELFIEforTEACHERS. Secondly, uttered thought processes from student teachers were examined when using the self-assessment tool. Finally, the extent to which SELFIEforTEACHERS is suitable for the self-assessment of digital competences of student teachers was considered. The study was conducted at two German universities offering teacher training programmes to ensure a comprehensive survey of the target group. In the quantitative part, the SELFIEforTEACHERS instrument was used, comprising 32 items reflecting different digital competences based on the DigCompEdu framework. An overall sample of n = 127 student teachers who had completed more than three semesters of their studies was surveyed. Additionally, thoughts about the instrument were collected from the participants using the thinking aloud method (nthink = 9). The data analysis revealed that, on average, student teachers assign themselves at competence level B1. However, the validity of this assessment raises questions, particularly regarding the assumption of equidistant competence levels and their relevance for student teachers. The qualitative results revealed that student teachers encountered challenges using the self-assessment tool, including problems with the terminology used and the hierarchical structure of the competence levels. The integration of qualitative and quantitative data provided partial validation of the results and enabled a comprehensive discussion of the suitability of SELFIEforTEACHERS for student teachers' self-assessment of digital competences. The study concludes with recommendations for refining the self-assessment tool to better meet the needs of student teachers and increase its validity in the context of teacher education.
Regional Potential Optimization and Nutrition Awareness Enhancement through SEGANTING Program in Lebosari
Authors: Ahmada Wildan Afifi  , Ragil Satria Wicaksana  , Andriani Mulyono  , Aliefha Amelia  , Fatma Kurnia Sari  , Anggi Rian Al Miftah  , Sella Ayu Pratiwi  , Dian Alfianti  , Ima Imroatul Aziziah  , Rida Tiara Sari  , Risma Widiyawati  , Wa Ode Ummahatul Muminin  , M. Yusril Arif
Published: January 2025

Stunting or a condition where an individual's height is lower than the majority of their peers due to nutritional issues, poses a significant challenge in the village of Lebosari. The relatively high stunting rates indicate a lack of nutritional awareness and suboptimal utilization of local resources. To address this issue the SEGANTING program has been implemented as a holistic solution. Involving the community in the Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny phases, the program includes food innovation, the Community Nutrition Corner, and the village's UMKM bazaar. Prior to the program's commencement, the pre-test results showed an average correct answer rate of 40.33. After the program's implementation, there was a 54% increase, with an average correct answer rate reaching 88.00 in the post-test. This reflects the significant contribution of the SEGANTING program in enhancing the understanding of the Lebosari community regarding nutritional awareness and stunting prevention through the optimization of the village's potential.
Adaptive Changes of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament of Professional Baseball from Different Climates Over Multiple Seasons: An 18-Year Study
Authors: Hanna Adeeb , Fliegel Brian , Sonnier John , Sherman Matthew , Ciccotti Michael , Jack Robert , Cohen Steven
Published: January 2025

Background: The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is put under high levels of stress through the overhead throwing motion typical of professional baseball pitchers. In response to repetitive stress the UCL undergoes adaptive changes including thickening of the ligament and increased joint laxity under valgus stress. Studies examining the adaptive changes in the elbows of professional pitchers over multiple seasons are limited. Investigations such as this one offer insight into the changes in the UCL of professional pitchers over multiple years of professional play as well as the risk for injuries that may be associated with these changes.

Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare stress ultrasound findings between warm and cold climate pitchers and to assess for significant differences that may predispose players from either climate to future injury.

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Methods: Dynamic stress ultrasounds (SUS) of professional baseball pitchers were taken over an 18 year period. Player demographics were collected to determine climate of origin. SUS measurements of the same player taken 3 years apart were examined to determine changes in relative UCL thickness and laxity between the dominant and nondominant arms. The term ‘relative’ refers to (dominant – non-dominant), laxity (joint space distance under stress - joint space distance at rest). SUS were also examined at time of measurements for pathologic findings.

Results: Players from colder and warmer climates did not differ from one another in the progression of relative UCL thickness (0.72 mm vs 0.55 mm, P = .748) of relative laxity (-0.01 mm vs 0.03 mm, P = .904). Both groups did not differ in rates of pathology development including calcifications (P = .412), hypoechoic foci (P = .084), osteophyte (P = .892).

Conclusion: Adaptive changes of the UCL in professional baseball pitchers originating from colder and warmer climates did not significantly differ from one another. Although there is potential for those from warmer climates to throw year-round the effect may not be enough to cause noticeable changes over a 3 year period. Future studies should expand on this investigation with examination of injuries of players from different climates to determine if any correlation exists with UCL changes in an expanded cohort.
Modes of concept definition and varieties of vagueness
Authors: Bennett Brandon
Published: January 2025

The paper considers the problem of defining concepts within formal ontologies. A number of distinct modes of definition are identified, which represent alternative viewpoints on the classification of objects. The nature of these modes is examined and interactions and correlations between them are considered. This analysis is used to characterise a number of key problems that confront the attempt to analyse the meanings of natural language concepts by means of a precise formal ontology. Some proposals are made as to how these problems might be overcome. It is argued that specification of precise formal semantics requires clear separation between aspects of meaning that are based on different modes of classification. But, to provide an adequate ontological framework to describe the semantics of natural language terms, additional formal apparatus is required to synthesise their meaning by combining the different modes. This meta-level ontological formalism must articulate the interactions between the different modes.
Web Service Modeling Ontology
Authors: Roman Dumitru , Keller Uwe , Lausen Holger , de Bruijn Jos , Lara Rubén , Stollberg Michael , Polleres Axel , Feier Cristina , Bussler Cristoph , Fensel Dieter
Published: January 2025

The potential to achieve dynamic, scalable and cost-effective marketplaces and eCommerce solutions has driven recent research efforts towards so-called Semantic Web Services that are enriching Web services with machine-processable semantics. To this end, the Web Service Modeling Ontology (WSMO) provides the conceptual underpinning and a formal language for semantically describing all relevant aspects of Web services in order to facilitate the automatization of discovering, combining and invoking electronic services over the Web.

In this paper we describe the overall structure of WSMO by its four main elements: ontologies, which provide the terminology used by other WSMO elements, Web services, which provide access to services that, in turn, provide some value in some domain, goals that represent user desires, and mediators, which deal with interoperability problems between different WSMO elements. Along with introducing the main elements of WSMO, we provide a logical language for defining formal statements in WSMO together with some motivating examples from practical use cases which shall demonstrate the benefits of Semantic Web Services.
An ontological model of device function: industrial deployment and lessons learned
Authors: Kitamura Yoshinobu , Koji Yusuke , Mizoguchi Riichiro
Published: January 2025

Functionality is one of the key concepts of knowledge about artifacts. Functional knowledge shows a part of designer's intention (so-called design rationale), and thus its sharing among engineers plays a crucial role in team-activities in engineering practice. Aiming at promoting engineering knowledge management, we have developed an ontological modeling framework of functional knowledge, which includes an ontology of device and function and a controlled vocabulary. This framework has been successfully deployed in a manufacturing company in daily engineering activities. In the first part of this paper, we discuss some ontological issues concerning the functionality of artifacts, and redefine the notion of function as a role. In the second part, we discuss some lessons learned in the actual deployment of this framework and two extensions based on such experience. One extension is a lexical layer for functional terms intended to help engineers select appropriate functional concepts and to facilitate the use of domain-specific terms familiar to them. The other extension is the establishment of ontological modeling guidelines, which help engineers commit to the relevant ontologies and describe models compliant with them.
Using ontologies and STEP standards for the semantic simplification of CAD models in different engineering domains
Authors: Posada Jorge , Toro Carlos , Wundrak Stefan , Stork Andre
Published: January 2025

We present in this article a compression system that uses STEP compliant standards for the compression and design review visualization of large CAD data sets. Our approach is orthogonal to the traditional techniques applied in the field, as we complement previous works by introducing semantic criteria along with algorithms for the categorization, simplification and user-oriented adaptation of the engineering components described by domain-specific standards. As an example, we have implemented two test cases in two specific domains – ISO-STEP 13013-AP227 in the case of industrial Plant Design, and CIS/2 in the case of Steel Detailing Design (Structures Design).
Entities and relations in medical imaging: An analysis of computed tomography reporting
Authors: Marwede Dirk , Fielding James Matthew
Published: January 2025

Biomedical ontologies define entities and relations in order to represent knowledge in the biomedical domain. In addition, many ontologies further represent supplementary knowledge by linking terms from an external controlled vocabulary to the entities defined within the ontology itself. In this paper we concentrate on the domain of medical imaging, for which controlled vocabularies are emerging, but no ontology currently exists. We analyzed computed tomography reports in order to determine to which entities terms used in such reports refer and which relations are used with regard to the recently published Open Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) Relation Ontology. Our analysis revealed that the majority of entities referred to in radiological reporting practice are anatomical entities and anatomical coordinates. Based on the Open Biomedical Ontologies (OBO) Relation Ontology we provide a set of additional relations for the ontological structuring of image features such as shape, morphology, size and signal, frequently found in the reports. On the basis of these results we conclude that the construction of an imaging ontology may benefit greatly from already existing reference ontologies such as the Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA), which represent those entities to which radiological reports most frequently refer.
A common ontology of agent communication languages: Modeling mental attitudes and social commitments using roles
Authors: Boella Guido , Damiano Rossana , Hulstijn Joris , van der Torre Leendert
Published: January 2025

There are two main traditions in defining a semantics for agent communication languages, based either on mental attitudes or on social commitments. These traditions share speech acts as operators with preconditions and effects, and agents playing roles like speaker and hearer, but otherwise they rely on distinct ontologies. They refer not only to either belief and intention or various notions of social commitment, but also to distinct speech acts and distinct kinds of dialogue. In this paper, we propose a common ontology for both approaches based on public mental attitudes attributed to role instances. Public mental attitudes avoid the unverifiability problem of private mental states, while reusing the logics and implementations developed for FIPA compliant approaches. Moreover, a common ontology of communication primitives allows for the construction of agents which do not need separate reasoning modules to participate in dialogues with both mental attitudes and social commitments compliant agents. Moreover, a common ontology of communication primitives allows for the construction of agents participating in and combining the full range of dialogues covered by the individual approaches without having to redefine the existing protocols to cope with new dialog types. We illustrate how to extend the ontology to a semantics for agent communication and how to define mappings from existing semantics to the new one.