bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case report: Successful treatment of renal-limited thrombotic microangiopathy secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Nasr Kristina , Karam Sabine , Mazepa Marshall , Czyzyk Jan , Klomjit Nattawat
Published: August 2024

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare renal complication of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and is often associated with peripheral features. We present the first case of CLL patients with renal-limited TMA. A 70-year-old female patient with a history of well-controlled type 2 diabetes and baseline albuminuria of 87.2 mg/g 1 year prior and CLL was on active surveillance only. Her baseline white blood cell (WBC) was 202.6 x 103/µl. She presented with nephrotic syndrome with proteinuria of 10 g/g and a subsequent unremarkable serologic work-up. A kidney biopsy revealed diabetic glomerulosclerosis and chronic TMA. Initially, she was treated conservatively with angiotensin receptor blockade and sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibition but progressed with increased proteinuria of 17 g/g. Complement functional panel testing was pursued and showed dysregulation of the classical and alternative complement pathways. We decided to treat CLL which was suspected to be the culprit. At 9 months post-ibrutinib initiation, there was a 90% reduction in the WBC as well as a 94% reduction in proteinuria (17 g/g to 0.97 g/g). This case emphasizes the role of complement dysregulation in the pathogenesis of TMA in CLL patients. Treatment of CLL can restore complement dysregulation and improve renal outcomes.
Intravaginal electrical stimulation for the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Rongrong , Wang Rui , Yu Yanmei , Zhao Kun , Li Juebao
Published: August 2024

Background

Intravaginal electrical stimulation (IVES) has been explored as a potential treatment for pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), although its efficacy remains a subject of debate. We aim to conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of relevant trials.

Methods

This meta-analysis was performed under the PRISMA 2020 guideline. We meticulously searched for randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies in various databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov, spanning from inception to March 6, 2023. All studies included one treatment group of intravaginal electrical stimulation and the diseases spectrum of the studies involved different kinds of PFDs, including urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, etc. Risk of bias charts were used to assess the risk of bias in the studies and forest plots were used the demonstrate the overall effects.

Results

Our analysis encompassed a total of 13 RCT studies. In most of the assessed PFD cure outcomes, the results demonstrated positive effects of IVES therapy, as indicated by the following findings: daily voiding frequency (MD = −1.57, 95% CI = −3.08 to −0.06, I2 = 68%,), nocturia (MD = −1.07, 95% CI = −2.01 to −0.13, I2 = 71%), Pad test, and Urinary incontinence. Nevertheless, the data concerning the impact of IVES therapy on the quality of life of individuals with PFDs did not confirm these positive results.

Discussion

In light of the insufficiency in both the quality and quantity of the included studies, it is premature to draw a definitive conclusion regarding the efficacy of IVES therapy for treating PFDs. Nonetheless, our study does provide several pieces of evidence in support of the potential therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation therapy in this context. We recommend that further research in this area be conducted to provide more conclusive insights into the efficacy of IVES therapy for PFDs.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42023442171.
“We need to talk about it, test it, prevent it, and that is our job”: qualitative report on the awareness of primary care physicians regarding HIV in Ukraine
Authors: Kvasnevska Yulia , Faustova Mariia , Voronova Kseniia , Basarab Yaroslav , Lopatina Yaroslava
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Approximately 240,000 people in Ukraine are living with HIV. Recent changes in medical legislation have significantly strengthened the role of family doctors and primary care pediatricians in the prevention, early detection and follow-up of patients with HIV. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine the experience of primary care physicians in testing and providing care to patients with HIV.

Methods

Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews with typical representatives of the target audience from different regions of Ukraine were conducted. Inductive thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data upon standardized research protocols using the Theoretical Domain System.

Results

The results identify knowledge, skills, motivation, barriers, and opportunities in the context of HIV testing among family doctors in Ukraine. Primary health care providers consider HIV testing of patients to be an important part of their professional activities. In most cases, HIV testing is initiated upon detection of clinical indicators or when a person is identified as a key population. Preventive testing at the request of the patient is less common. Although most family doctors believe that they are sufficiently informed to conduct testing, there is a certain knowledge gap regarding communication with the patient and further treatment in case of a positive HIV result. The main obstacle to regular HIV testing is the reluctance and resistance of patients, as well as in some cases insufficient or non-existent tests in primary health care facilities. In order to improve the situation with HIV testing among the population, family doctors believe that it is necessary to organize regular trainings and courses to improve the skills of doctors on HIV, provide primary health care facilities with sufficient tests and establish high-quality information support.

Conclusions

The obtained results clearly outline the main problems that concern family doctors in Ukraine regarding work with key vulnerable groups and persons living with HIV.
Autonomous navigation and control of magnetic microcarriers using potential field algorithm and adaptive non-linear PID
Authors: Sallam Mohamed , Shamseldin Mohamed A. , Ficuciello Fanny
Published: August 2024

Microparticles are increasingly employed as drug carriers inside the human body. To avoid collision with environment, they reach their destination following a predefined trajectory. However, due to the various disturbances, tracking control of microparticles is still a challenge. In this work, we propose to use an Adaptive Nonlinear PID (A-NPID) controller for trajectory tracking of microparticles. A-NPID allows the gains to be continuously adjusted to satisfy the performance requirements at different operating conditions. An in-vitro study is conducted to verify the proposed controller where a microparticle of 100μm diameter is put to navigate through an open fluidic reservoir with virtual obstacles. Firstly, a collision-free trajectory is generated using a path-planning algorithm. Secondly, the microparticle dynamic model, when moving under the influence of external forces, is derived, and employed to design the A-NPID control law. The proposed controller successfully allowed the particle to navigate autonomously following the reference collision-free trajectory in presence of varying environmental conditions. Moreover, the particle could reach its targeted position with a minimal steady-state error of 4μm. A degradation in the performance was observed when only a PID controller was used in the absence of adaptive terms. The results have been verified by simulation and experimentally.
Damage Identification of Plate Structures Based on a Non-Convex Approximate Robust Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Liang Dong , Zhang Yarong , Jiang Xueping , Yin Li , Li Ang , Shen Guanyu
Published: August 2024

Structural damage identification has been one of the key applications in the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). With the development of technology and the growth of demand, the method of identifying damage anomalies in plate structures is increasingly being developed in pursuit of accuracy and high efficiency. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has always been effective in damage identification in SHM, but because of its sensitivity to outliers and low robustness, it does not work well for complex damage or data. The effect is not satisfactory. This paper introduces the Robust Principal Component Analysis (RPCA) model framework for the characteristics of PCA that are too sensitive to the outliers or noise in the data and combines it with Lamb to achieve the damage recognition of wavefield images, which greatly improves the robustness and reliability. To further improve the real-time monitoring efficiency and reduce the error, this paper proposes a non-convex approximate RPCA (NCA-RPCA) algorithm model. The algorithm uses a non-convex rank approximation function to approximate the rank of the matrix, a non-convex penalty function to approximate the norm to ensure the uniqueness of the sparse solution, and an alternating direction multiplier method to solve the problem, which is more efficient. Comparison and analysis with various algorithms through simulation and experiments show that the algorithm in this paper improves the real-time monitoring efficiency by about ten times, the error is also greatly reduced, and it can restore the original data at a lower rank level to achieve more effective damage identification in the field of SHM.
Development and Investigation of a Smart Impact Detector for Monitoring the Shipment Transport Process
Authors: Kavaliauskas Žydrūnas , Šajev Igor , Blažiūnas Giedrius , Gecevičius Giedrius , Kazlauskas Saulius
Published: August 2024

This study introduces an innovative smart impact detection system designed for real-time monitoring of shipment status and path integrity. Leveraging the advanced capabilities of the ESPRESSIF ESP32-S3-MINI-1U-N8 microcontroller, which integrates Wi-Fi, a display, a memory card slot, and accelerometers, this detector represents a significant advancement in shipment tracking technology. The device is engineered to continuously measure impact magnitudes in terms of g-force, and records data when predefined impact thresholds are exceeded. These data are then wirelessly transmitted to a remote server, providing users with the ability to track shipment status and path via a dedicated application. The performance testing revealed impact measurements ranging from −0.5 to 2 g, with occasional peaks reaching approximately 4.5 g, demonstrating the system’s sensitivity and reliability in diverse conditions. This smart impact detector not only facilitates continuous monitoring, but also enhances the ability to respond swiftly to potential shipment violations, thus providing a novel solution for ensuring shipment integrity. This research contributes to the field by presenting a comprehensive real-time impact detection system that integrates modern microcontroller technology with effective monitoring capabilities, setting a new benchmark for shipment tracking systems.
Reliability Evaluation and Reliability-Based Sensitivity for Transposition System in Power Servo Tool Holder
Authors: Zhou Di , Guo Yonglin , Gu Guojun , Man Qixiang , Zhang Yimin
Published: August 2024

Tool holders are one of the most important structures in transferring machine tools and energy for manufacturing in CNC lathe. Power servo tool holders influence kinematic accuracy and machining accuracy and so are vital to the transposition system. Reliability evaluation is also critical to guaranteeing and maintaining the accuracy of the transposition system. The first four statistical moments are derived to depict the transmission error and system characteristics. Considering the Edgeworth expansion with higher terms, reliability and reliability-based sensitivity evaluations using moments are proposed to assess system accuracy. Compared with different methods, the proposed method can represent higher statistical characteristics, helping to avoid underestimations of system reliability. Also, results calculated with the proposed method for the transposition system are in agreement with the results from the Monte Carlo simulation with 107 samples. The relative error of failure probability is 4.32%. Considering the plus–minus sign and values of results, reliability-based sensitivity represents the effects of the parameters’ dispersions on system reliability. The reliability-based sensitivity indices can be utilized to optimize the system structure and to improve system accuracy, which can increase the system reliability from 98.34% to 99.99% in the transposition system of the power servo tool holder.
MiRNAs as Regulators of Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Wilczyński Miłosz , Wilczyński Jacek , Nowak Marek
Published: August 2024

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. There is an ongoing need to develop new biomarkers and targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes. One of the most critical research areas in ovarian cancer is identifying tumor microenvironment (TME) functions. TME consists of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, matrix, endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and other stromal cells. Tumor invasion and growth depend on the multifactorial crosstalk between tumor cells and immune cells belonging to the TME. MiRNAs, which belong to non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally control the expression of target genes, regulate immune responses within the TME, shaping the landscape of the intrinsic environment of tumor cells. Aberrant expression of miRNAs may lead to the pathological dysfunction of signaling pathways or cancer cell-regulatory factors. Cell-to-cell communication between infiltrating immune cells and the tumor may depend on exosomes containing multiple miRNAs. MiRNAs may exert both immunosuppressive and immunoreactive responses, which may cause cancer cell elimination or survival. In this review, we highlighted recent advances in the field of miRNAs shaping the landscape of immune cells in the TME.
LSTM Networks for Home Energy Efficiency
Authors: Severiche-Maury Zurisaddai , Arrubla-Hoyos Wilson , Ramirez-Velarde Raul , Cama-Pinto Dora , Holgado-Terriza Juan Antonio , Damas-Hermoso Miguel , Cama-Pinto Alejandro
Published: August 2024

This study aims to develop and evaluate an LSTM neural network for predicting household energy consumption. To conduct the experiment, a testbed was created consisting of five common appliances, namely, a TV, air conditioner, fan, computer, and lamp, each connected to individual smart meters within a Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Additionally, a meter was installed on the distribution board to measure total consumption. Real-time data were collected at 15-min intervals for 30 days in a residence that represented urban energy consumption in Sincelejo, Sucre, inhabited by four people. This setup enabled the capture of detailed and specific energy consumption data, facilitating data analysis and validating the system before large-scale implementation. Using the detailed power consumption information of these devices, an LSTM model was trained to identify temporal connections in power usage. Proper data preparation, including normalisation and feature selection, was essential for the success of the model. The results showed that the LSTM model was effective in predicting energy consumption, achieving a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0169. This study emphasises the importance of continued research on preferred predictive models and identifies areas for future research, such as the integration of additional contextual data and the development of practical applications for residential energy management. Additionally, it demonstrates the potential of LSTM models in smart-home energy management and serves as a solid foundation for future research in this field.
Dynamic Error Estimation in Higher-Order Finite Elements
Authors: Karpik Anna , Cosco Francesco , Mundo Domenico
Published: August 2024

The Finite Element Method (FEM) has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting the behavior of industrial products, including those with complex geometries or uncommon materials. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is widely used to study structural vibration-related aspects such as stress, displacement, and velocity. Modal analysis, a standard technique for characterizing the vibrational behavior of structures, is essential for identifying resonance frequencies, optimizing component design, and assessing structural integrity. Finite Elements (FE) modal analysis enables engineers to evaluate numerically the modal parameters, whereas model order reduction (MOR) schemes are exploited to achieve a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy, enabling a more efficient solution for computing transient dynamic analysis. Assessing the accuracy and reliability of FE solutions is a crucial aspect of the design cycle, and model-updating procedures are commonly employed to maximize the correlation between measured and predicted dynamic behavior. This study investigated the accuracy and computational efficiency of linear, quadratic, and cubic hexahedral FE formulations for modal analysis and transient dynamic solutions. More specifically, the documented results demonstrate the profitable use of the eigenenergy norm obtained in eigen solutions as a valid predictor of the accuracy reported using either the time response assurance criterion (TRAC) or the frequency response assurance criterion (FRAC), measured in transient dynamic cases. Moreover, our results also highlight the superior computational efficiency of higher-order formulations for both the eigen and transient dynamic solutions.
Mathematical Inequalities in Fractional Calculus and Applications
Authors: Kermausuor Seth , Nwaeze Eze R.
Published: August 2024

All types of inequalities play a very important role in various aspects of mathematical analysis, such as approximation theory and differential equation theory [...]
High-Order Numerical Approximation for 2D Time-Fractional Advection–Diffusion Equation under Caputo Derivative
Authors: Zhang Xindong , Chen Yan , Wei Leilei
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we propose a novel approach for solving two-dimensional time-fractional advection–diffusion equations, where the fractional derivative is described in the Caputo sense. The discrete scheme is constructed based on the barycentric rational interpolation collocation method and the Gauss–Legendre quadrature rule. We employ the barycentric rational interpolation collocation method to approximate the unknown function involved in the equation. Through theoretical analysis, we establish the convergence rate of the discrete scheme and show its remarkable accuracy. In addition, we give some numerical examples, to illustrate the proposed method. All the numerical results show the flexible application ability and reliability of the present method.
Understanding Kinesiophobia: Predictors and Influence on Early Functional Outcomes in Patients with Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Aleksić Milica , Selaković Ivan , Tomanović Vujadinović Sanja , Kadija Marko , Milovanović Darko , Meissner Winfried , Zaslansky Ruth , Srećković Svetlana , Dubljanin-Raspopović Emilija
Published: August 2024

This observational study aimed to identify predictors of kinesiophobia and examine its correlation with early functional outcomes in TKA recipients. On the first and fifth postoperative days (POD1 and POD5), we evaluated pain using the International Pain Outcomes Questionnaire (IPO-Q) and created multidimensional pain composite scores (PCSs). The Total Pain Composite Score (PCStotal) assesses the overall impact of pain, taking into account outcomes of pain intensity, pain-related interference with function, and emotions and side effects. Functional status on POD 5 was determined by the Barthel index, 6 min walking test, and knee range of motion. Kinesiophobia was assessed on POD5 using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Among 75 TKA patients, 27% exhibited kinesiophobia. The final regression model highlighted PCStotal on POD5 (OR = 6.2, CI = 1.9–19.9), PCStotal (OR = 2.1, CI = 1.2–3.8) on POD1, and the intensity of chronic pain before surgery (OR = 1.4, CI = 1.1–2.1) as significant kinesiophobia predictors. On POD5, those with kinesiophobia showed increased dependency, slower gait, and poorer knee extension recovery. This study emphasizes the need to identify and address kinesiophobia in TKA patients for better functional outcomes and recovery. Additionally, it is vital to assess different domains of pain, not just pain intensity, as it can lead to kinesiophobia development.
Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Superelastic Ti-Ni Lattice Structures: Process Design and Testing
Authors: Timercan Anatolie , Campion Donatien , Terriault Patrick , Brailovski Vladimir
Published: August 2024

Laser powder bed fusion allows the production of complex geometries and eases the shaping of difficult-to-transform materials, such as near-equiatomic Ti-Ni shape memory alloys. In this study, a numerical model was used to select 11 sets of printing parameters with different volumetric energy densities (VEDs) and build rates (BRs) to produce bulk Ti-50.26at%Ni alloy specimens. The manufactured specimens were studied in terms of their structural integrity, printed density, chemical composition, transformation temperatures, and crystalline phases. At high VEDs and low BRs, a significant decrease in the nickel content was observed. VED = 90 J/mm3 and BR = 10 cm3/h yielded a printed density of 99.94% and an austenite finish temperature of Af = 26.3 °C. The same printing conditions were used to produce 60% porous diamond and gyroid lattice structures. After heat treatment at 500 °C for 30 min, the diamond lattices manifested larger apparent recovery strains (7 vs. 6%), higher compliance (2.9 vs. 3.4 GPa), and similar yield stresses (~48 MPa) compared to their gyroid equivalents. The numerical model predicted that at an equivalent apparent compression strain of 6%, only a ~2% volume fraction of the diamond lattice material underwent plastic deformation as compared to ~20% for its gyroid equivalent.
Cl©Li5Cl5−: A Star-like Superhalogen Anion Featuring a Planar Pentacoordinate Chlorine at the Center
Authors: Bai Li-Xia , Gao Cai-Yue , Guo Jin-Chang , Li Si-Dian
Published: August 2024

Among the known planar pentacoordinate atoms, chlorine is missing due to its large radius and high electronegativity. Herein, we report the first star-like superhalogen anion D5h Cl©Li5Cl5− (1), which contains a planar pentacoordinate chlorine (ppCl) at the center. Computer structural searches and high-level calculations reveal that 1 is a true global minimum (GM) on the potential energy surfaces. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate it is kinetically stable against isomerization or decomposition. Although detailed chemical bonding analyses reveal one delocalized 6c-2e σ bond over the Cl©Li5 central unit and five delocalized 3c-2e σ bonds along the periphery, while aromaticity has very little beneficial effect on stability, instead, ionic interaction dominates the stability of the system. More encouragingly, with the large HOMO–LUMO energy gap of 7.66 eV and vertical detachment energy of 7.87 eV, the highly chemically inert 1 can be viewed as a typical superhalogen anion and is possible to be synthesized and characterized in future experiments.
Design of pH/Redox Co-Triggered Degradable Diselenide-Containing Polyprodrug via a Facile One-Pot Two-Step Approach for Tumor-Specific Chemotherapy
Authors: Hu Yanru , Liu Peng
Published: August 2024

The diselenide bond has attracted intense interest for drug delivery systems (DDSs) for tumor chemotherapy, owing to it possessing higher redox sensitivity than the disulfide one. Various redox-responsive diselenide-containing carriers have been developed for chemotherapeutics delivery. However, the premature drug leakage from these DDSs was significant enough to cause toxic side effects on normal cells. Here, a pH/redox co-triggered degradable polyprodrug was designed as a drug self-delivery system (DSDS) by incorporating drug molecules as structural units in the polymer main chains, using a facile one-pot two-step approach. The proposed PDOX could only degrade and release drugs by breaking both the neighboring acid-labile acylhydrazone and the redox-cleavable diselenide conjugations in the drug’s structural units, triggered by the higher acidity and glutathione (GSH) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the tumor cells. Therefore, a slow solubility-controlled drug release was achieved for tumor-specific chemotherapy, indicating promising potential as a safe and efficient long-acting DSDS for future tumor treatment.
Recent Advances in Food Waste Transformations into Essential Bioplastic Materials
Authors: Giwa Abdulmoseen Segun , Shafique Ehtisham , Ali Nasir , Vakili Mohammadtaghi
Published: August 2024

Lignocellulose is a major biopolymer in plant biomass with a complex structure and composition. It consists of a significant amount of high molecular aromatic compounds, particularly vanillin, syringeal, ferulic acid, and muconic acid, that could be converted into intracellular metabolites such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a key component of bioplastic production. Several pre-treatment methods were utilized to release monosaccharides, which are the precursors of the relevant pathway. The consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulose-capable microbes for biomass depolymerization was discussed in this study. Carbon can be stored in a variety of forms, including PHAs, PHBs, wax esters, and triacylglycerides. From a biotechnology standpoint, these compounds are quite adaptable due to their precursors’ utilization of hydrogen energy. This study lays the groundwork for the idea of lignocellulose valorization into value-added products through several significant dominant pathways.
Effect of Substituted Pyridine Co-Ligands and (Diacetoxyiodo)benzene Oxidants on the Fe(III)-OIPh-Mediated Triphenylmethane Hydroxylation Reaction
Authors: Török Patrik , Kaizer József
Published: August 2024

Iodosilarene derivatives (PhIO, PhI(OAc)2) constitute an important class of oxygen atom transfer reagents in organic synthesis and are often used together with iron-based catalysts. Since the factors controlling the ability of iron centers to catalyze alkane hydroxylation are not yet fully understood, the aim of this report is to develop bioinspired non-heme iron catalysts in combination with PhI(OAc)2, which are suitable for performing C-H activation. Overall, this study provides insight into the iron-based ([FeII(PBI)3(CF3SO3)2] (1), where PBI = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) catalytic and stoichiometric hydroxylation of triphenylmethane using PhI(OAc)2, highlighting the importance of reaction conditions including the effect of the co-ligands (para-substituted pyridines) and oxidants (para-substituted iodosylbenzene diacetates) on product yields and reaction kinetics. A number of mechanistic studies have been carried out on the mechanism of triphenylmethane hydroxylation, including C-H activation, supporting the reactive intermediate, and investigating the effects of equatorial co-ligands and coordinated oxidants. Strong evidence for the electrophilic nature of the reaction was observed based on competitive experiments, which included a Hammett correlation between the relative reaction rate (logkrel) and the σp (4R-Py and 4R’-PhI(OAc)2) parameters in both stoichiometric (ρ = +0.87 and +0.92) and catalytic (ρ = +0.97 and +0.77) reactions. The presence of [(PBI)2(4R-Py)FeIIIOIPh-4R’]3+ intermediates, as well as the effect of co-ligands and coordinated oxidants, was supported by their spectral (UV–visible) and redox properties. It has been proven that the electrophilic nature of iron(III)-iodozilarene complexes is crucial in the oxidation reaction of triphenylmethane. The hydroxylation rates showed a linear correlation with the FeIII/FeII redox potentials (in the range of −350 mV and −524 mV), which suggests that the Lewis acidity and redox properties of the metal centers greatly influence the reactivity of the reactive intermediates.
Acyl-1,4-Dihydropyridines: Universal Acylation Reagents for Organic Synthesis
Authors: Manoharan Karthikeyan , Bieszczad Bartosz
Published: August 2024

Acyl-1,4-dihydropyridines have recently emerged as universal acylation reagents. These easy-to-make and bench-stable NADH biomimetics play the dual role of single-electron reductants and sources of acyl radicals. This review article discusses applications of acyl-1,4-dihydropyridines in organic synthesis since their introduction in 2019. Acyl-1,4-dihydropyridines, activated by photochemical, thermal or electrochemical methods, have been successfully applied as radical sources in multiple diverse organic transformations such as acyl radical addition to olefins, alkynes, imines and other acceptors, as well as in the late-stage functionalisation of natural products and APIs. Release of acyl radicals and an electron can be performed under mild conditions—in green solvents, under air and sunlight, and without the use of photocatalysts, photosensitizers or external oxidants—which makes them ideal reagents for organic chemists.
The Gift of a Penny as “Counter-Experience” in Kierkegaard’s Discourses: Humility, Detachment, and the Hidden Significance of Things
Authors: Lahaie Myka S. H.
Published: August 2024

This essay assesses the relevance of Søren Kierkegaard’s non-pseudonymous, edifying writings for considering themes of desire, detachment, and humility within the religious context of Christian spiritual formation. Building on the argument of recent scholars who identify in Kierkegaard’s writings an account of a fundamental desire for God “implanted” in the human being, I explore the influence of this vision on Kierkegaard’s depiction of desire and detachment in his “Discourses on the Lilies and the Birds”. I then turn to how this relates to the perspective of humility that emerges from Kierkegaard’s reflections on the biblical story of “the widow’s mite”. In each case, these edifying writings aim to stir the reader into a process of interrogating faulty self-perceptions based on arbitrary measures of value. I read this mode of communication as able to initiate a “counter-experience”, provoking the reader to reorient her horizon of prior self-valuations so she might come to recognize the hidden significance of things and, ultimately, achieve a more accurate sense of oneself in relation to the authentic source of the self’s desire. Insofar as this reorientation of the self informs the practice of detachment or the development of humility, people might experience this same process in diverse ways. In this respect, the relevance of Kierkegaard’s edifying writings for reflecting on Christian spirituality is not that they provide a thoroughgoing account of detachment or humility that should replace the insights of various spiritual traditions. Rather, I argue that his discourses—when read alongside these traditions—offer a supplemental resource for reflecting on how our positionalities, dispositions, and proximate contexts will inform the divergent ways we might experience the practice of detachment or the manifestation of humility in each new life circumstance.
Weed Role for Pollinator in the Agroecosystem: Plant–Insect Interactions and Agronomic Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation
Authors: Benvenuti Stefano
Published: August 2024

The growing interest in safeguarding agroecosystem biodiversity has led to interest in studying ecological interactions among the various organisms present within the agroecosystem. Indeed, mutualisms between weeds and pollinators are of crucial importance as they influence the respective survival dynamics. In this review, the mutualistic role of flower visitors and the possible (often predominant) abiotic alternatives to insect pollination (self- and wind-pollination) are investigated. Mutualistic relations are discussed in terms of reward (pollen and/or nectar) and attractiveness (color, shape, scent, nectar quality and quantity), analyzing whether and to what extent typical weeds are linked to pollinators by rigid (specialization) or flexible (generalization) mutualistic relations. The entomofauna involved is composed mainly of solitary and social bees, bumblebees, Diptera, and Lepidoptera. While some of these pollinators are polylectic, others are oligolectic, depending on the shape of their mouthparts, which can be suited to explore the flower corollas as function of their depths. Consequently, the persistence dynamics of weed species show more successful survival in plants that are basically (occasional insect pollination) or totally (self and/or wind pollination) unspecialized in mutualistic relations. However, even weed species with typical abiotic pollination are at times visited during periods such as late summer, in which plants with more abundant rewards are insufficiently present or completely absent. Many typically insect-pollinated weeds can represent a valid indicator of the ecological sustainability of crop management techniques, as their survival dynamics are closely dependent on the biodiversity of the surrounding entomofauna. In particular, the presence of plant communities of species pollinated above all by butterflies (e.g., several Caryophyllaceae) gives evidence to the ecological compatibility of the previous agronomic management, in the sense that butterflies require certain weed species for oviposition and subsequent larva rearing and, therefore, provide further evidence of plant biodiversity in the environment.
Enhanced Hand Gesture Recognition with Surface Electromyogram and Machine Learning
Authors: Kadavath Mujeeb Rahman Kanhira , Nasor Mohamed , Imran Ahmed
Published: August 2024

This study delves into decoding hand gestures using surface electromyography (EMG) signals collected via a precision Myo-armband sensor, leveraging machine learning algorithms. The research entails rigorous data preprocessing to extract features and labels from raw EMG data. Following partitioning into training and testing sets, four traditional machine learning models are scrutinized for their efficacy in classifying finger movements across seven distinct gestures. The analysis includes meticulous parameter optimization and five-fold cross-validation to evaluate model performance. Among the models assessed, the Random Forest emerges as the top performer, consistently delivering superior precision, recall, and F1-score values across gesture classes, with ROC-AUC scores surpassing 99%. These findings underscore the Random Forest model as the optimal classifier for our EMG dataset, promising significant advancements in healthcare rehabilitation engineering and enhancing human–computer interaction technologies.
Performance Evaluation of UOWC Systems from an Empirical Channel Model Approach for Air Bubble-Induced Scattering
Authors: Salcedo-Serrano Pedro , Boluda-Ruiz Rubén , Garrido-Balsells José María , Castillo-Vázquez Beatriz , Puerta-Notario Antonio , García-Zambrana Antonio
Published: August 2024

Underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) systems provide the potential to establish secure high-data-rate communication links in underwater environments. The uniqueness of oceanic impairments, such as absorption, scattering, oceanic turbulence, and air bubbles demands accurate statistical channel models based on empirical measurements for the development of UOWC systems adapted to different types of water and link conditions. Recently, generalized Gamma and a mixture of two generalized Gamma probability density functions (PDF) were proposed to describe the statistical behavior of small and large air bubbles, respectively, when considering several levels of particle-induced scattering. In this paper, we derive novel closed-form analytic expressions to compute the bit error rate (BER) and outage performance using both proposed PDFs for various scattering conditions. Furthermore, simple asymptotic expressions are obtained to determine the diversity order of each scenario. Monte Carlo simulation results verify the obtained theoretical expressions. Our results also reveal that UOWC systems present lower BER and outage performance under more turbid water cases with respect to the tap water case due to the higher diversity order and despite the significant increases in pathloss at short link distances. Particle-induced scattering provides an inherent mechanism of turbid waters to mitigate air bubble-induced fluctuations and light blockages.
High Spatial Resolution Detector System Based on Reconfigurable Dual-FPGA Approach for Coincidence Measurements
Authors: Cautero Marco , Garzetti Fabio , Lusardi Nicola , Sergo Rudi , Stebel Luigi , Costa Andrea , Bonanno Gabriele , Ronconi Enrico , Geraci Angelo , Píš Igor , Magnano Elena , Pedio Maddalena , Cautero Giuseppe
Published: August 2024

Time-resolved spectroscopic and electron–ion coincidence techniques are essential to study dynamic processes in materials or chemical compounds. For this type of analysis, it is necessary to have detectors capable of providing, in addition to image-related information, the time of arrival for each individual detected particle (“x, y, time”). The electronics capable of handling such sensors must meet requirements achievable only with time-to-digital converters (TDC) with a resolution on the order of tens of picoseconds and the use of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to manage data acquisition and transmission. This study introduces the design and implementation of an innovative TDC based on two FPGAs working symbiotically with different tasks: the first (AMD/Xilinx Artix® 7) directly implements a TDC, aiming for a temporal precision of 12 picoseconds, while the second (Intel Cyclone® 10) manages the acquisition and connectivity with the external world. The TDC has been optimized to operate on eight channels (+ sync) simultaneously but is potentially extendable to a greater number of channels, making it particularly suitable for coincidence measurements where it is necessary to temporally correlate multiple pieces of information from various measurement systems.
Energy-Efficient Clustering in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Grey Wolf Optimization and Enhanced CSMA/CA
Authors: Kaddi Mohammed , Omari Mohammed , Salameh Khouloud , Alnoman Ali
Published: August 2024

Survivability is a critical concern in WSNs, heavily influenced by energy efficiency. Addressing severe energy constraints in WSNs requires solutions that meet application goals while prolonging network life. This paper presents an Energy Optimization Approach (EOAMRCL) for WSNs, integrating the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) for enhanced performance. EOAMRCL aims to enhance energy efficiency by selecting the optimal duty-cycle schedule, transmission power, and routing paths. The proposed approach employs a centralized strategy using a hierarchical network architecture. During the cluster formation phase, an objective function, augmented with GWO, determines the ideal cluster heads (CHs). The routing protocol then selects routes with minimal energy consumption for data transmission to CHs, using transmission power as a metric. In the transmission phase, the MAC layer forms a duty-cycle schedule based on cross-layer routing information, enabling nodes to switch between active and sleep modes according to their network allocation vectors (NAVs). This process is further optimized by an enhanced CSMA/CA mechanism, which incorporates sleep/activate modes and pairing nodes to alternate between active and sleep states. This integration reduces collisions, improves channel assessment accuracy, and lowers energy consumption, thereby enhancing overall network performance. EOAMRCL was evaluated in a MATLAB environment, demonstrating superior performance compared with EEUC, DWEHC, and CGA-GWO protocols, particularly in terms of network lifetime and energy consumption. This highlights the effectiveness of integrating GWO and the updated CSMA/CA mechanism in achieving optimal energy efficiency and network performance.
Relocating the Urban Center: Lessons of Vilnius
Authors: Gabrėnienė Agnė , Gabrėnas Arnoldas , Samalavičius Almantas Liudas
Published: August 2024

The article analyzes the recent relocation of the city center to another semi-central area, formerly a historical suburb of Šnipiškės in Vilnius, Lithuania, which took place in the context of post-Soviet transformations. This article is a continuation of the authors’ work in researching the Šnipiškės territory, where the authors emphasize that an ambitious political decision, poorly supported by data and based on a questionable vision, was not successful. This study employs a concept-driven, qualitative approach to analyze the urban transformation of the territory. Grounded in architectural theories, the research examines how relocating the city center to this historic suburb has impacted its character. The findings highlight the challenges encountered and derive lessons for similar post-Soviet and post-colonial urban transformations.
Review of Subsurface Dam Technology Based on Japan’s Experience in the Ryukyu Arc
Authors: Masayuki Imaizumi
Published: August 2024

Based on the success of an irrigation project that utilized two subsurface dams as water sources on Miyako Island, ten additional subsurface dams have now been completed. The technologies that have made the giant subterranean dam possible are the integrated storage model for creating water utilization plans and the Soil Mixed Wall method for constructing cut-off walls. Although it might be tempting to assume that all subsurface dams in the Ryukyu limestone region were built under identical topographical and geological conditions, the reality is quite different. Each dam faced unique geological and construction challenges that engineers skillfully overcame during the building process. The purpose of this paper is to introduce information on the planning and construction technology of agricultural subsurface dams in the Ryukyu Arc, which has not been reported in English so far, and to clarify the characteristics of agricultural subsurface dams in the Ryukyu Arc. There is a strong correlation between the gross reservoir capacity and the active capacity of large-scale subsurface dams. Eleven percent of the construction cost was the cost of design and investigation. The water price is the same as or slightly higher than that of surface dams.
Patients’ perspectives of epilepsy care by specialists and generalists: qualitative evidence synthesis
Authors: Cotterill Charlotte L , Booth Andrew , Dickson Jon M , Hind Daniel
Published: August 2024

Background

In the UK, epilepsy care involves both specialists (for example, neurologists) and generalists (for example, GPs). Policymakers typically consider that epilepsy care should be integrated and involve both specialists and generalists. However, few understand exactly how patients view and compare specialist and generalist care.

Aim

To explore patient perspectives of specialist care and generalist care for epilepsy in a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Design & setting

A systematic review of patient perspectives of epilepsy care. A qualitative evidence synthesis was conducted using an identified framework.

Method

Systematic searches in five databases retrieved 17 eligible studies. Data were extracted and synthesised using framework analysis informed by the ‘United Model of Generalism’.

Results

The following three themes were developed: ‘Epilepsy care can be burdensome’ (for example, through care fragmentation); ‘Patients' experiences of care is that care is not always accessible’ (for example, lack of a continuum between standardised and interpretive care); and ‘How care could change for people with epilepsy’ (for example, clinicians currently have insufficient time to deviate from protocol-driven care to address psychosocial needs). People with epilepsy frequently observe that generalists lack expertise in epilepsy management.

Conclusion

This synthesis of patient experiences indicates recommendations should focus on improving communication and integration between specialists and generalists for epilepsy care. Patient experiences indicate specialist care risks being burdensome and generalist knowledge insufficient, requiring enhanced primary care clinician skills and improved awareness of patient psychosocial needs. The findings argue in favour of healthcare policies, materials, and tools to continually support patient perspectives in developing epilepsy services.
AS PRINCIPAIS POLÍTICAS DIRIGIDAS A SETORES VULNERABILIZADOS NA ARGENTINA
Authors: Trotta Miguel Edgardo Vicente
Published: August 2024

O artigo aborda a relação entre os contextos de produção de políticas e seu significado político, destacando a importância dos marcos teóricos na implementação governamental. Menciona três correntes predominantes para o desenho de políticas públicas: o racionalismo, o incrementalismo e as formas mistas, como o planejamento estratégico e o neoracionalismo aplicados por governos de esquerda na América Latina. O texto está organizado em três partes: primeiro, estabelece as dimensões constitutivas de cada construção de planeamento; segundo, descreve a evolução dos processos políticos e da intervenção estatal na Argentina com base nestes quadros durante o século XXI.
INFLUENCIA DEL M-LEARNING COMO HERRAMIENTA DE APRENDIZAJE EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS DURANTE LA PANDEMIA.
Authors: CHÁVEZ RAMOS LUIS ALBERTO , GARCÍA JIMÉNEZ MOISÉS GUSTAVO , PARIONA BENAVIDES MARIELA TERESA , NAVARRO CHANG JACK ALBERT
Published: August 2024

El texto aborda el impacto de la pandemia del Covid-19 en la educación, especialmente en el cambio hacia el aprendizaje virtual utilizando dispositivos móviles. Destaca la importancia del Mobile learning (M-learning) como una herramienta fundamental en la enseñanza, impulsada por características como portabilidad y rentabilidad. Se discuten modelos teóricos como TAM y UTAUT para comprender la aceptación de la tecnología por parte de los usuarios. El objetivo es identificar los factores que impulsan el uso de dispositivos móviles en estudiantes universitarios durante la pandemia, y cómo influyen en las herramientas de aprendizaje.
 
Palabras clave: Pandemia, Aprendizaje móvil, Tecnología educativa, Modelos teóricos, Factores de aceptación.
LA EDUCACIÓN E INVESTIGACIÓN ABIERTA: REFLEXIONES Y DESAFIOS PARA AMÉRICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE
Authors: SCHALK QUINTANAR ANA ELENA
Published: August 2024

Este texto aborda la importancia de fomentar la colaboración institucional y regional para promover la educación e investigación abiertas. Se destacan definiciones de educación e investigación abiertas, así como su impacto en la misión y estrategias de las instituciones de educación superior. Se enfatiza la necesidad de comprender estas prácticas en contextos específicos y se ofrece una reflexión para inspirar a investigadores y líderes institucionales a adoptarlas. Se analiza el modelo europeo en comparación con la situación en América Latina y el Caribe, y se proponen ideas y buenas prácticas para institucionalizar la educación e investigación abiertas.
أثر البراعة التسويقية في الأداء التنافسي للمنظمة: الدور المعدل لعدم التأكد البيئي (دراسة ميدانية على شركات صناعة الملابس الجاهزة بمحافظة القاهرة في مصر)
Authors: خاطر سامح أحمد
Published: August 2024

هدف الدراسة: هدفت الدراسة إلى اختبار أثر البراعة  التسويقية  في الأداء التنافسي  للمنظمة، مع تحليل الدور المعدل لعدم التأكد البيئي في هذه العلاقة.منهجية الدراسة: باستخدام قائمة الاستقصاء جمعت البيانات المتعلقة بالمتغيرات محل الدراسة، واعتمد على  أسلوب الانحدار للتوصل إلى طبيعة العلاقات بين المتغيرات واختبار الفروض.البيانات وعينة الدراسة : جمعت البيانات من 173 مديرا عاما، يمثلون عينة عشوائية بسيطة من مديري شركات صناعة الملابس الجاهزة بمحافظة القاهرة.نتائج الدراسة: أظهرت النتائج الأثر المعنوي الإيجابي للبراعة التسويقية، والأثر المعنوي السلبي لعدم التأكد البيئي في الأداء التنافسي، وكذا الدور المعدل المعنوي لعدم التاكد البيئي في العلاقة بين البراعة التسويقية و الأداء التنافسي.الخاتمة: تسهم نتائج البحث في إثراء المعرفة في المجال التسويقي، كما توجه اهتمام  المنظمات حول الآثار الإيجابية للبراعة التسويقية والآثار السلبية لعدم التأكد البيئي .