bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
External Debt and Economic Growth in Central Africa: Does the Profile of the Leader Matter?
Authors: Nguepi Nelson Derrick , Ngouhouo Ibrahim
Published: December 2024

This study highlights the role of political leadership in external debt management by translating its effectiveness into economic growth. We use data from World Development Indicators (2018), Archigos (version 4.1) for Goemans et al. (2009) and Scartascini et al. (2021) from 1975 to 2019. The estimation using the Driscoll–Kraay method gives us three good results: First, the analysis shows that external debt significantly slows growth in Central Africa. Second, there is a positive relationship between the age of political leaders and economic growth, as well as between the level of education of political leaders and economic growth. This means that there is a minimum age for good external debt management by political development leaders, just as there is a minimum level of education for political development leaders that increases the effectiveness of debt management external debt and thus promotes economic growth. On the other hand, this study concludes that the place of education of political leaders has a significant impact on debt management. African leaders educated in Africa manage external debt effectively, while African leaders educated in the West manage it poorly. As a result, the populations of Central African countries are encouraged to elect politicians who have studied in Africa.
Review and updates of the lithosphere structure and geodynamics evolution of the Neogene Transcarpathian Basin and its substratum (Ukraine)
Authors: Murovskaya Anna , Hnylko Oleh , Makarenko Irina , Savchenko Oleksandra , Kitchka Alexander , Verpakhovska Oleksandra , Legostaeva Olga
Published: December 2024

Geological and geophysical data on the structure of Mukachevo and Solotvyno sub-basins of Transcarpathian Basin (TB), located in the hinterland of Outer Carpathians, are integrated and adapted to modern ideas about the Carpathian realm geodynamics. Analysis of published data and newly compiled geological map and cross-sections suggests: the Mukachevo sub-basin substratum can be attributed to the Alcapa terrane, and a significant portion of the Solotvyno sub-basin basement may belong to the Pieniny Klippen Belt. A model of the lithospheric structure, supported by deep seismic (PANnonian-CArpathians-Cratonic Europe or DOBRE-3 transect) PANCAKE and P-17 profiles, and density modelling identify the crustal domain beneath the Mukachevo sub-basin as a rootless fragment of the Alcapa terrane. The substratum of the Solotvyno sub-basin is interpreted as thrust-sheets of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, Czorsztyn continental block, Monastyrets nappe and Tisza–Dacia terrane at their base. Paleostress reconstruction identified four evolutionary phases: (1) opening of the TB as dextral shear pull-apart (earliest Middle Miocene), (2) rapid subsidence of the TB (Badenian), (3) inversion of Solotvyno and slow subsidence in the Mukachevo sub-basins (Sarmatian–Pliocene) and (4) inversion of the TB (Quaternary). The lithosphere of the TB is significantly thermally reworked and is characterized by (1) a thinned crust with zones of reduced velocity and density, (2) astenospheric uplift, (3) absence of residual slab and (4) presence of a reflector in the upper mantle descending under the Carpathians.
Global Burden of Disease from Environmental Factors
Authors: Clark Sierra N. , Anenberg Susan C. , Brauer Michael
Published: December 2024

Estimation of the disease burden attributable to environmental factors is a powerful tool for prioritizing environmental and pollution management and public health actions around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been estimating the environmental disease burden since 2000, which has formed the basis for the modern estimation approach conducted in the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor (GBD) study. In 2021, environmental and occupational risk factors in the GBD were responsible for 18.9% (12.8 million) of global deaths and 14.4% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), led by ambient PM2.5 air pollution (4.2% DALYs, 4.7 million deaths) and household air pollution (3.9% DALYs, 3.1 million deaths). Climate change exacerbates many environmental hazards, leading to increased disease burdens from heat, air pollution, vector-borne diseases, storms, and flooding. Other environmental risk factors not included in the GBD, such as poor indoor air quality, various chemical exposures, and environmental noise pollution, also significantly contribute to disease burden in many countries, though more efforts are needed to generate and integrate data resources for inclusion in global estimations.
Review—Research Progress on P2/O3-Composite Layer Metal Oxide Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Weiwei , Zhou Jiakun , Zhang Yanli , Wang Naixin , Liu Mengmeng , Li Xiaoning , Zhou Wenzhang , Xie Yanting , Dai Kehua
Published: December 2024

The high cost and uneven distribution of lithium resources have prompted searches for alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Among various alternatives, the sodium layered oxide cathode materials, have shown significant research potential due to their low cost. Layered oxide materials can be categorized into sodium-rich O3 types and sodium-deficient P2 types, which have different structural features. O3 type materials offer high specific capacities but suffer from complex pathways for Na+ de-intercalation, slow Na+ diffusion, and poor air stability. P2 type materials are limited in full cell applications due to their lower practical specific capacities. Therefore, researchers conceived the idea of combining the advantages of both to construct P2/O3 composite structure cathode materials (CSMs), utilizing the synergistic effects of the CSMs to overcome the limitations of single structure material, and successfully synthesized CSMs with appropriate specific capacities. These materials effectively suppress unfavorable phase transitions and enhance Na+ diffusion coefficient, thereby improving electrochemical performance. This paper reviews the recent advancements in CSMs for sodium-ion batteries, highlighting synthesis strategies that incorporate “cationic potential” theory, element substitution, sodium content adjustment, and control of calcination processes to synthesize diverse CSMs.
Stability of Alizarin as a Low-Cost Anthraquinone for Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries
Authors: Maleki Meysam , Imhanria Sarah , Duguet Lisa , Goulet Marc-Antoni
Published: December 2024

An affordable and sustainable redox-active compound with suitable electrochemical properties is the key for commercializing redox flow batteries. Herein, the stability of the flow battery negolyte, alizarin (1,2- dihydroxyanthraquinone), is studied under different cycling conditions with a ferro/ferricyanide posolyte. The developed cell exhibits an open circuit potential of 1.12 V at 50% state-of-charge and capacity fade rate of 0.73% per day with full state-of-charge window (∼0%–99%) cycling. Three capacity fade mechanisms are identified: dimerization of reduced alizarin and a decrease in concentration of alizarin due to precipitation and crossover. Capacity recovery via oxidation of formed dimers is implemented with some success, while leaving precipitation as the dominant capacity fade mechanism.
Anodic Hydrogen Generation from Benzaldehyde on Au, Ag, and Cu: Rotating Ring-Disk Electrode Studies
Authors: Ramos Nathanael C. , Neyer Hudson , Medlin J. Will , Holewinski Adam
Published: December 2024

Aldehydes are selectively oxidized to carboxylates on group 11 metals at low potentials (<0.4 V vs. RHE) in alkaline media. This process can occur by a pathway that generates H2 gas from the aldehyde, known as electro-oxidative dehydrogenation (EOD) or anodic hydrogen production. The EOD process occurs with transfer of only one electron per aldehyde, whereas typical oxidation with discharge of hydrogen to form water is a two-electron process. Here, we study the catalytic activity and selectivity toward H2 of Au, Ag, and Cu electrodes using benzaldehyde with rotating disk and ring-disk electrode (RDE/RRDE) techniques. The average number of electrons per benzaldehyde molecule obtained via H2 detection by RRDE agrees with that obtained via Koutecký-Levich analysis conducted at various rotation rates. We find that Au and Ag have much higher H2 and benzoate formation rates than Cu, but that Cu can perform the reaction at about 0.2 V lower overpotentials. On all three materials, benzaldehyde oxidation has high selectivity to anodic H2 (one-electron pathway) below ∼0.5 V vs. RHE, but, with increasing potential, the selectivity shifts to H-oxidation forming water (two-electron pathway).
Non-enzymatic Electrochemical Sensor Behaviors of Polyaniline: Silicene Nanocomposite-A Study on Sensitive and Selective Sensor Design against Glucose
Authors: Baytemir Gülsen , Akay Özge , Konuk Ege Gözde , Taşaltın Nevin
Published: December 2024

This study represents a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on a Polyaniline: Silicene nanocomposite for the detection of glucose. A simple, clean and a low-cost sonication technique was used to prepare silicene nanosheets. XRD, FFT, SAED, HRTEM and FT-IR tecniques were used for characterization and CV for the detection of glucose. Current-voltage measurements were taken at various scanning rates (10–100 mV s−1). The active surface areas of PANI and PANI: Silicene nanocomposite based sensors were determined as 0.122 cm2 and 0.179 cm2, respectively. The nanocomposite material presented large peak currents, indicating that the nanocomposite elicited enhanced electrochemical activity with the presence of silicene for glucose detection in the concentration range of 0.75–12 mM. At a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, PANI-based sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 6.51 μAmM−1 cm−2 with detection limit of 5.52 μM, while the PANI: Silicene nanocomposite-based sensor exhibited a sensitivity of 20.93 μAmM−1 cm−2 with 0.43 μM detection limit. The selectivity of the sensors to measure glucose was also explored by characterizing their electrochemical performances in the presence of fructose and lactose. Due to these enhanced electrochemical performance, PANI: Silicene nanocomposite could be a promising biosensor material for glucose analysis for biomedical applications.
Optimizing Disorder: Pretreatment Strategies for Saccharide-Based Hard Carbon Anodes in Na-Ion Batteries
Authors: Sultanova Yana V. , Apostolova Maria O. , Maidan Mikhail T. , Zybina Aleksandra I. , Fefelov Mikhail A. , Safiullina Alina R. , Kubarkov Aleksei V. , Sobolev Nikita A. , Ryazantsev Sergey V. , Alekseeva Anastasia M. , Bobyleva Zoya V. , Drozhzhin Oleg A. , Antipov Evgeny V.
Published: December 2024

The need for an alternative to lithium-ion batteries motivates the development of sodium-ion batteries, specifically focusing on biomass-derived hard carbon (HC) as anode material. However, the compositional variability in biomass leads to a lack of correlation between the microstructure and properties of HC. In this study, we used four simple carbohydrates present in all biomass-derived precursors as model objects to establish a reliable relationship between pretreatment temperature, the carbonization mechanism, defectiveness, and the electrochemical characteristics of HCs. The statistical analysis of Raman spectra from 25 HC samples enabled us not only to determine the degree of defectiveness in HCs but also, for the first time, to compare materials based on their inhomogeneity—that is, the variation in defectiveness within each HC material. The initial Coulombic efficiency of hard carbons was improved by 40%, reaching 89%, through the simultaneous reduction of surface area, defectiveness, and inhomogeneity. Additionally, the full cell with the HC and Na3V2(PO4)3/С cathode material demonstrated 80% capacity retention after 300 cycles.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass alleviates kidney inflammation and improves kidney function in db/db mice by activating TLCA/TGR5 pathway
Authors: Lang Hongmei , Xiang Jie , Chen Xiaorong , Tong Dan , Wang Lijuan , Mou Aidi , Liu Daoyan , Gao Peng , Lu Zongshi , Zhu Zhiming
Published: December 2024

This study determined that the renal protective effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) in db/db mice was associated with elevated serum TLCA. Notably, TLCA supplementation improved renal function and alleviated podocyte inflammatory injury in db/db mice, which was associated with the TGR5/NF-κB pathway.
Impact of body posture on pulmonary diffusing capacity at rest and during exercise in endurance-trained and untrained individuals
Authors: Brotto Andrew R. , de Waal Stephanie , D’Souza Andrew W. , Beaudry Rhys I. , Ehnes Cameron M. , Collins Sophie É. , Fuhr Desi P. , van Diepen Sean , Stickland Michael K.
Published: December 2024

We demonstrate that the supine position increases resting DLCO significantly more in endurance-trained individuals as compared with untrained individuals. Furthermore, the supine position increases pulmonary capillary blood volume, but not diffusing capacity during exercise. Lastly, there was an apparent plateau in DLCO and VC in the Trained group suggesting the pulmonary microvasculature may reach a morphological limit.
Application of the Left Ventricular Pressure–Strain Loop Technique in Monitoring Improvement Factors of Patients With Heart Failure Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Li Qing , Guo Yaolei , Tang Xiaomin , Liu Chang , Wang Zhidong , Gao Qianping , Li Yuanshi , Cao Junxian
Published: December 2024

The left ventricular pressure–strain loop (PSL) is a new technique based on ultrasound for noninvasive quantitative evaluation of global and local myocardial work (MW). This study is aimed at evaluating improvement factors of patients with heart failure (HF) reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) using the PSL technique. A total of 88 patients with HF were enrolled in this study, which had ≤ 40% left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The EchoPAC workstation was used to obtain the global longitudinal strain (GLS) and MW parameters of the left ventricle. All patients have taken medicines for HF treatments for 6–12 months. The improvements of HF after therapies were evaluated according to the following recommended criteria. The clinical characteristics of patients with improved and nonimproved groups were stratified via univariate or multivariate logistic regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and the area under ROC (area under the curve (AUC)). There were no significant differences in general medical information, the underlying diseases, laboratory findings, myocardial enzyme activities, and taking medicines between the improved and nonimproved LVEF patients (p > 0.05). There were significant differences in LVEF of patients at admission, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (LVEDD), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), early diastolic mitral flow peak velocity E (E peak), GLS, global myocardial work index (GWI), global myocardial constructive work (GCW), and global myocardial work efficiency (GWE) between the two groups (p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses confirmed that GWI and GCW were critical predictive factors for LVEF improvement in patients with HF. ROC curve showed that the AUC of GWI and GCW were 0.796 and 0.779 at the cut‐off of 741 mmHg% for GWI and 973.5 mmHg% for GCW, respectively. The sensitivities of GWI and GCW were 65% and 75%, and the specificities of GWI and GCW were 83.3% and 79.2% at given cut‐off values. These results revealed that GWI and GCW were independent predictors of improvement of LVEF in patients with HFrEF.
Working in Europe with a Single Permit: a Golden Ticket or Pie in the Sky?
Authors: Weatherburn Amy
Published: December 2024

The single permit regime is hailed as a key feature of the European Union (EU) legal migration package as its main purpose is to expedite access to the EU labour market for third-country workers with the skills and professional experience to address labour market needs. Following the adoption of the recast Single Permit Directive in May 2024, this article uses empirical findings drawn from the lived experiences of single permit holders in Belgium, Czechia and Spain to evaluate whether the legislative reform goes far enough to improve the administrative and procedural deficiencies which have emerged since the inception of the single permit regime in 2011 and can exacerbate the risk of exploitation. Such an examination is particularly timely, as the new European rules give Member States the opportunity to re-design their national mechanisms with a view to frontloading procedural and administrative guarantees that are cognisant of the lived experiences of single permit holders and grounded in a rights-based approach.
Viola imbricata (Violaceae) a newly discovered local endemic of subgenus Neoandinium from the Andes of Maule and Ñuble Regions, central Chile
Authors: MENEGOZ KORA , WATSON JOHN M. , FLORES ANA R. , COFRÉ-VALENZUELA PEDRO E. , ORTÚZAR-SIMONETTI MARCELO A. , CELIS-DIEZ JUAN L.
Published: December 2024

A new species of Viola from the Andes of central Chile is described. The new species is assigned to the Sempervivum section of Neoandinum subgenus, supported by morphological characters. Besides the detailed description of the species, a distribution map, insights about its ecology, conservation status and a key to distinguish Viola imbricata among the southern South American species of Sempervivum section are provided. The taxonomy and morphological similarities of V. imbricata regarding its estimated nearest related species V. abbreviata and V. auricolor are discussed. As most high elevation Andean Viola, V. imbricata is a microendemic species threatened by land use and climate changes.
Five new species in the Afrotropical genus Gnathodes Whalley (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae, Siculodinae) with the description of the female of Gnathodes fiscinella Whalley
Authors: ELLIOTT IMOGEN R.
Published: December 2024

An examination of the Thyrididae material housed in the collections of the African Natural History Research Trust (ANHRT) has resulted in the discovery of five new species of Gnathodes Whalley, 1971 which are described in this paper: Gnathodes parallela sp. nov. (Cameroon), G. pallida sp. nov. (Liberia), G. ndoki sp. nov. (Republic of Congo), G. smithi sp. nov. (Liberia) and G. whalleyi sp. nov. (Liberia). The hitherto unknown female of G. fiscinella Whalley, 1971 is also illustrated and its genitalia described here for the first time.
A framework for optimal agent deployment and opportunistic routing in flying Ad-Hoc networks for precision weather forecasting
Authors: Pal Madhumita , Panja Ayan Kumar , Mukherjee Amartya , Mondal Sanjoy , Basu Arnab
Published: December 2024

Drone based precision weather prediction and forecasting is a prevailing area of research in recent times. Modern flying ad-hoc network (FANET) leverages advanced low latency communication protocol between small flying drones and base stations. In this work, a FANET framework for efficient and precision weather prediction and forecasting that leverages ultra low latency opportunistic message transfer protocol (MTP) is proposed. An, edge empowered intelligent computing quasi-stationary sink nodes are employed to develop the FANET ecosystem further. Flying sensor nodes and edge computing quasi-stationary sink nodes are deployed in the target area in order to achieve optimal sensor coverage minimizing the cost of data transmission power thus ensuring long endurance operation of drones. An ensemble model is deployed in edge level for localized weather prediction. Opportunistic routing strategies are utilized for converge casting. The experimental results show the maximum of 0.98 message delivery ratio and a minimum of 820 ms latency is achieved through opportunistic MTP. An accuracy of 96.5% is achieved in predicting the temperature and humidity data metric.
Straightforward predictive direct power control for grid-connected ANPC inverter with flying capacitor voltage self-balancing
Authors: Quang Nguyen Khanh , Anh Nguyen Kim , Binh Ngo Van Quang
Published: December 2024

Improving control quality in inverter systems has attracted considerable attention, particularly in multilevel inverters for high-power applications. This study suggests a straightforward predictive direct power control system for a five-level Active Neutral Point Clamped inverter connected to the grid. The proposed method offers the benefit of reducing the heavy computational load by implementing a two-stage optimization process for the objective function. In contrast to the conventional finite control set model predictive control which involves comprehensive searches for all possible switching configurations within the iterative optimization process, the suggested approach focuses only on potential voltage vectors based on the desired inverter voltage’s location at the initial stage. Second, the self-balancing flying capacitor voltages are guaranteed by employing the duplicative switching states. Another advantage of the presented algorithm is an obviation of numerous selecting weighting factors. The effectiveness of the advanced strategy is confirmed through extensive comparative simulation and hardware-in-the-loop studies conducted in both conditions during stable states and transitions. Contrasted to the previous technique, this innovative method demonstrates an improvement in the grid’s power ripple and total harmonic distortion of the current by 14.66% and 19.58%. Furthermore, the computational time required for this method is significantly reduced by 64.58%, and 61.36% correlate to the traditional and other approaches, respectively. These results may facilitate the implementation of an effective control approach for multilevel inverters, employing a cost-effective control platform by a limited sampling interval.
A low-cost IoT-based real-time pollution monitoring system using ESP8266 NodeMCU
Authors: Gueye Ahmed , Drame Mamadou Simina , Niang Serigne Abdoul Aziz
Published: December 2024

Air quality in Africa has become a major public health issue. Initial assessments conducted in large African cities show that fine particle concentrations exceed the thresholds recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We have developed a mobile device using the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor particulate pollution levels (PM10, PM2.5), as well as other indicators. The key innovation of this project lies in the integration of a microcontroller (ESP8266 nodeMCU) that not only collects the data measured by the sensors but also transmits them to a server in real-time via Wi-Fi connectivity and the HTTP protocol. This device was installed on a vehicle for 1 month as part of an intensive measurement campaign conducted in the Dakar region of Senegal. The results obtained made it possible to identify the most polluted areas of the city (hot spots) and the peak pollution hours during the day.
State of Emergency and Democratic Backsliding: The Case of Turkey (2016–2018)
Authors: Tortolini Alessia
Published: December 2024

This study examines how Turkey’s use of the state of emergency following the 2016 coup attempt contributed to the democratic backsliding process already undergoing in the country since 2011, employing meta-constitutional analysis as the methodological framework. The enforcement of emergency rule allowed the executive to expand its authority, leading to significant institutional changes. This paper investigates how the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) exploited specific emergency protocols, that is, emergency decrees, to enforce the 2017 constitutional amendment and to consolidate presidentialism. Ultimately, this study aims to contribute to the discourse on risks related to the erosion of the rule of law in SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) countries.
Emotional and Cognitive Processes Underlying Persuasion, Moderating Factors, and Physiological Reactions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rodríguez-Hernández Valerie , Hidalgo Vanesa , Salvador Alicia
Published: December 2024

Persuasion is a type of social influence aiming to produce changes in others’ attitudes or behaviors. This study explores the relationship between emotions and persuasion, principal moderating factors, and physiological reactions during persuasive attempts. Following PRISMA guidelines, 28 empirical articles were analyzed, addressing emotions, affective/cognitive orientations, framing effects, and psychophysiological reactions. Mixed findings emerged regarding emotions, with fear appeals being effective in health education, while more recent studies favor the use of positive persuasive messages to increase behavior intention. Principal moderating factors included personal relevance, need for cognition (NFC) and need for affect (NFA), thought confidence, vulnerability, and efficacy beliefs. Psychophysiological studies revealed distinct physiological arousal during persuasion processing compared to a rest state. In addition, a greater misalignment between current behavior and the persuasive attempt led to perceived freedom threat and psychological reactance. These insights enhance persuasive effectiveness and deepen understanding of persuasion processes, guiding future research directions.
Stretchable thermoplastic polyurethane/single-walled carbon nanotube masterbatch nanocomposites with enhanced electrical conductivity and thermal properties
Authors: Zhu Ping , Chow Wen Shyang , Rusli Arjulizan
Published: December 2024

A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) nanocomposite was developed using a twin-screw extrusion process followed by injection molding. This study aimed to enhance the properties of TPU by incorporating a SWCNT masterbatch, with a polyol ester serving as the carrier resin. The electrical conductivity, rheological behavior, mechanical performance, and thermal properties of the TPU/SWCNT nanocomposites were systematically evaluated. The incorporation of the SWCNT masterbatch significantly improved the electrical conductivity of the TPU nanocomposites. With SWCNT loading levels below 0.6 wt%, the viscosity and processability of the nanocomposites were maintained. However, a noticeable decrease in viscosity was observed when the SWCNT content exceeded 0.6 wt%. The tensile and storage modulus of the nanocomposites increased, attributed to the stiffness and reinforcing effects of SWCNTs. Despite a slight reduction in tensile strength and elongation at break upon SWCNT addition, the tensile properties of the TPU/SWCNT nanocomposites at a loading of 0.4 wt% remained well-suited for strain sensor applications. The polyol ester in the SWCNT masterbatch facilitated the uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes within the TPU matrix and enhanced the nucleation ability of SWCNTs, contributing to improved performance characteristics.
Low Self-Concept Clarity Induces Scarcity Perceptions: The Subsequent Effects on Prosocial Behavior
Authors: Sun Yujia , Wang Xue , Su Song , Chen Wei-Fen , Jiang Tonglin
Published: December 2024

We explore the relationship between self-concept clarity (SCC), scarcity perceptions, and the associated behavioral consequences. While scarcity perceptions are often linked to experiences and considerations of resource constraints, our research suggests that low SCC can induce such perceptions and decrease prosocial behavior. With six studies, we demonstrated that low SCC triggers scarcity perceptions (Studies 1A to 4B), which is mediated by increased social comparison orientation (Studies 2 to 4B). Furthermore, we found that the scarcity perceptions increased by low SCC further predict individuals’ low inclination to engage in prosocial behaviors (Studies 3 to 4B). By establishing a link between SCC and scarcity perceptions, our research departs from the traditional focus on resource constraints, broadens the factors that induce scarcity perceptions, and extends our understanding of the societal implications of low SCC.
Exploring Nurses’ Personal and Professional Values and Care Quality: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Analysis
Authors: Hlebichuk Jeanne , Lancaster Rachelle , Tuzik Micek Wendy , Perusich Susan , Fick Kerry , Perumalswamy Kanagavalli
Published: December 2024

Background:

Professional standards and the Codes of Ethics from the International Council of Nurses and American Nurses Association are frameworks driving professional practice and are linked to positive patient and nursing outcomes.

Objective:

To describe qualitative themes extracted from narrative responses on how nurses’ personal values influence nursing care and converge with quantitative results assessing personal values, professional values, and the practice environment, a key component of nurse satisfaction and subsequent care quality.

Methods:

A convenience sample of nurses across 19 sites within a large nonprofit healthcare system was surveyed. Quantitative measures included the Short Schwartz’s Value Survey for personal values, the Nurses Professional Values Scale-3 for professional values, and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, assessing practice settings. Concurrently, nurses were asked, “How do your values influence the care you provide?” Responses were examined using a descriptive qualitative method for thematic analysis.

Results:

The sample included qualitative (n = 408) and quantitative (n = 671) responses. Six qualitative themes emerged: patient-centered care, professionalism/integrity of practice, advocacy, dissonance, golden rule/ethics of reciprocity (religiosity), and perseverance. Themes converged with the mean personal values of achievement, self-direction, universalism, benevolence, tradition, and conformity, and diverged with hedonism, security, and stimulation. All professional values factor means and work environment subscale means converged.

Conclusions:

Findings highlight convergence and divergence between qualitative and quantitative responses from nurses, offering new insights into the themes of dissonance, perseverance, and religiosity. The findings present valuable opportunities to enhance recruitment and retention strategies.
Recovery model for minimally invasive central cannulation, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cardioplegic arrest in quadrupeds
Authors: Johnson Matthew D. , Tchouta Lise , Spencer Brianna L. , Langley Mark W. , Urrea Kristopher A. , Toomasian John M. , Niman Joseph B. , Bartlett Robert H. , Rojas-Peña Alvaro , Drake Daniel H.
Published: December 2024

Objectives: Sternotomy is rarely performed for veterinary therapeutic or recovery models in quadrupeds because of difficulties with breathing, ambulation, and pain control. Central cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is infrequent and typically performed through full thoracotomies. Experienced clinical surgeons and perfusionists should provide guidance for new therapeutic interventions and translational research. We sought to develop, validate, and detail a contemporary model for minimally-invasive central cannulation, CPB, and cardioplegic arrest.

Methods: After induction of anesthesia and sterile preparation, a right second-interspace parasternal mini-thoracotomy was performed, the ascending aorta was cannulated using Seldinger technique, and a cardioplegia needle was placed. A dual-stage cannula was introduced through the right atrial appendage and CPB commenced. The aorta was clamped and Buckberg 4:1 induction cardioplegia was administered. Arrest was maintained for 30 minutes. CPB was discontinued after 2 hours and the great vessels were decannulated. Hemostasis was achieved and the wound was closed. Initial recovery was accomplished in intensive care with subsequent transfer to the vivarium.

Results: Ten consecutive Yorkshire swine (45 ± 5 kg) were minimally invasively placed on CPB including cardioplegic arrest using central cannulation through a right parasternal mini-thoracotomy. There was no operative or late mortality. Morbidity appeared minimal. Planned euthanasia and scheduled necropsy were performed to exclude clinically-occult major complications. None were identified. Following initial supervision, veterinary and resident surgeons completed the procedures autonomously with excellent results.

Conclusion: The described protocols should facilitate safe veterinary cardiac surgical care and humane translational research.
YOLOv8 algorithm-aided detection of patellar instability or dislocation on knee joint MRI images
Authors: Li Ting , Gharaibeh Nadeer M , Jia Shanru , Qinaer Zierdi , Aihemaiti Saidaitiguli , HaNaTe AiShengBaTi , Wu Gang
Published: December 2024

Background

Patellar instability (PI) or patellar dislocation (PD) is challenging to diagnose accurately based on medical history and clinical manifestations alone. While X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are commonly employed for detecting PI or PD, computer vision has not yet been widely utilized for this purpose.

Purpose

To explore the feasibility of computer vision, specifically the You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm, in identifying patellar instability or dislocation.

Material and Methods

A total of 550 patients (190 diagnosed with patellar instability or dislocation) were divided into a training set (n = 360), validation set (n = 90), and external test set (n = 100). Four indicators were measured on transverse knee MRI scans to determine the presence of patellar instability, and 450 images were labeled using Labelme software. YOLO version 8 (YOLOv8) was refined using these labeled images and validated on 100 unlabeled images. The diagnostic accuracy of YOLOv8 was compared with that of a junior radiologist.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the refined YOLO model and the junior radiologist were 62%, 97%, and 83%, and 62%, 82%, and 74%, respectively. Although the YOLO model demonstrated slightly higher accuracy, the difference did not reach statistical significance ( P = 0.093). The YOLO model required approximately 14.01 ± 10.34 ms to interpret each image, significantly shorter than the 9.55 ± 2.39 s required by the radiologist ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The refined YOLOv8 model is not inferior to junior radiologists in identifying patellar instability or dislocation and offers a significantly faster interpretation time.
End-point carbon content correction in converter steelmaking based on the Kalman filter and CBR model
Authors: Kang Yi , Tan Yong-guang , Zhao Jun-xue , Yang Kai , Liu Wen-wen , Yue Shen
Published: December 2024

End-point carbon content at converter is one of significant indicators of end point control. While the bomb-dropping measurement technology can realise quick and effective measurement of end-point carbon content, it is difficult to achieve accurate end-point control due to its lower detection accuracy compared to other methods. Herein, a method was established for correcting the bomb-dropping measurement of end-point carbon content in converter steelmaking to improve its measurement accuracy, thus further achieve cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in converter production. Historical production data and Case-based Reasoning (CBR) model were adopted to establish the prediction model of end-point carbon content and Kalman filtering (KF) was used to fuse CBR model prediction and bomb-dropping measurement to get more accurate end-point carbon content of converter. Through data analysis and on-site tracking and sampling, the validity of correction was thus verified. Experiments showed that: the optimal ratio of the size of training set to test set of CBR prediction model was 95:5 and the optimal Weighting Number was 9; CBR model's average prediction error was 0.019%, bomb-dropping measurement's average error was 0.029% and the average error after KF fusion was 0.014%. The carbon content accuracy was improved by KF fusion by 51.7% compared with that of the original bomb-dropping measurement. Corrected end-point carbon content presented a more typical normal distribution. This method could reduce the measurement error in bomb-dropping.
Standing in the spotlight: The interplay of music performance anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of negative evaluation in conservatory musicians
Authors: Gök B. Göktürk , Yalçınkaya-Alkar Özden
Published: December 2024

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is an age-old phenomenon well known to musicians. It is a feeling of unease and apprehension that can manifest itself in various forms – from mild discomfort to intense anxiety – when musicians are preparing to perform or are actively performing. MPA can arise from many different sources, including perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Drawing upon a sample of 144 musicians, this research explores the mediating (cross-sectional) and moderating roles of FNE in the relationship between perfectionism and MPA. We found that the indirect effect of perfectionism on MPA through FNE is significant. This result suggests that the influence of perfectionism on MPA is, at least partially, transmitted through heightened FNE. However, the moderating role of FNE in the relationship between perfectionism and MPA was not found to be significant. This implies that while FNE might not exacerbate or attenuate the effects of perfectionism on MPA, it nonetheless acts as a significant intermediary mechanism through which perfectionism exerts its influence on MPA. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed, and potential avenues for interventions aimed at alleviating MPA are suggested.
Early career occupational therapists’ perceptions of occupational justice in practice in Singapore
Authors: Tay Valenie , Chua Philiana , Gnoh Nathaniel , Goh Kaylynn , Dancza Karina M.
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Occupational justice addresses social, political and economic factors influencing occupational participation as a human right. Implementing occupational justice is challenging due to institutional, personal, environmental and cultural barriers, and may be further complicated in non-Western contexts. Early career occupational therapists often struggle to apply these principles while transitioning from education to practice, despite their desire to advocate for justice-focused practices.

Methods:

This qualitative descriptive study, grounded in social constructivism, explored the experiences of early career occupational therapists applying occupational justice in Singapore. Using snowball sampling of 2020 and 2021 graduates, participants engaged in one-time semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Findings:

Of 140 potential participants, 10 responded and completed the study. Four themes were developed: (1) Feeling uncertain about occupational justice, (2) Perceived relevance in the Singaporean context, (3) Early career challenges and (4) Aspiration to be agents of change.

Conclusion:

Early career occupational therapists expressed uncertainty in applying occupational justice concepts, often confusing them with occupation-centred practice. Despite recognising individual influences, they felt ill-prepared to tackle systemic barriers and advocate for broader social change. However, participants were aware and willing to support occupational justice ideals, suggesting a need for more guidance to integrate individual therapeutic goals with societal advocacy.
Detection of Helmet Violations among Electric Bicycle Riders Through Multi-Network
Authors: Huang Shize , Zhang Yi , Li Xingying , Qin Jinzhe , Fan Qianhui , Xia Guoqiang
Published: December 2024

The use of helmets plays a crucial role in mitigating head injuries resulting from traffic accidents. However, manual supervision of helmet usage is both costly and prone to missing target objects. With the advancement of technology and widespread use of surveillance cameras, it has become technically feasible to automatically detect riders’ helmet wearing based on roadside videos. This capability holds significant potential in effectively guiding riders to wear helmets and enhancing driving safety. This paper presents a multi-network-based approach for automated detection of helmet wearing among electric bicycle riders. The object detection model is employed to detect electric bicycles and helmets. Additionally, the overall approach utilizes a human pose estimator to detect keypoints of human skeletons for selecting the region of interest (RoI) corresponding to the head region location. We propose location rules to extract the rider region within the electric bicycle box for distinguishing riders and locate the head region based on human skeleton keypoints for helmet wearing matching. The mean average precision (mAP) of the detection model trained on public datasets reaches 91.8%. To evaluate matching accuracy, we randomly selected 150 correctly detected images from the open-sourced two-wheeler helmet dataset (TWHD), achieving a matching accuracy of 95.6%. The detection model is trained and tested on public datasets which effectively facilitates the processes of data collection and annotation. Based on multi-network information fusion, we can accurately detect helmet violations among electric bicycle riders in multi-person interaction scenarios.
Calcitriol ameliorates cisplatin-induced hepatorenal toxicity via regulation of Nrf2-Mrp2/p38 MAPK signaling in mice
Authors: Morsy Mohamed A , Abdel-Latif Rania , Ibrahim Manar FG , Marey Heba , Abdel-Gaber Seham A
Published: December 2024

Despite being one of the most frequently used chemotherapy agents, cisplatin exhibits substantial hepatorenal injury by triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis pathways. The current investigation studied the possible protective effects of calcitriol on cisplatin-induced hepatorenal toxicity. Mice were divided randomly as follows: control group, calcitriol group (received calcitriol 5 µg/kg, p.o. for 14 days), cisplatin group (received a single i.p. injection of cisplatin 10 mg/kg on the 10th day), and calcitriol + cisplatin group (received calcitriol 5 µg/kg, p.o. for 14 days and cisplatin 10 mg/kg, i.p. on the 10th day). The possible interaction between calcitriol and cisplatin on cell viability was tested in HepG2 cells by MTT assay. Hepatorenal toxicity induced by cisplatin was reversed by calcitriol, as evidenced by improved histological examinations and liver and kidney function tests. In addition, calcitriol counteracted oxidative stress and enhanced Nrf2 and Mrp2 expression in the liver and kidney while suppressing levels of p38 MAPK in cisplatin-treated mice. Calcitriol also inhibited cisplatin-induced hepatic and renal inflammation, as determined by suppressing TNF-α and enhancing IL-10 levels. By downregulating caspase-3, calcitriol also promoted liver and kidney tissue survival in mice treated with cisplatin. Moreover, cisplatin’s cytotoxic effects were significantly potentiated when calcitriol was combined with cisplatin. The current study showed that calcitriol protects against cisplatin-induced hepatorenal injury by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, which the Nrf2-Mrp2/p38 MAPK pathway might regulate.
Correlates of Formal Service Use and Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Older Adults
Authors: Wang Xiaochuan , Wang Fei
Published: December 2024

Informal caregiving plays a critical role in affecting older adults’ quality of life. Utilizing organized and effective formal support helps mitigate caregiver burdens and meet caregiving demands. This study examined the correlates of formal service use and help-seeking in a nationally representative sample of caregivers of older adults, drawing on data from 2017 National Study of Caregiving. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate potential correlates, including predisposing (e.g., age), enabling (e.g., education), and need (e.g., care recipient’s dementia status) factors. Results showed that racial minorities, better education, caring for older adults with dementia, and more ADL and IADL limitations were associated with greater service use. Caregiver role overload was positively associated with both service use and help-seeking. Findings address the knowledge gap by identifying the risk and protective factors for both service use and help-seeking, which can help practitioners identify the at-risk caregivers and direct tailored services accordingly.
Investigation on the effect of probe stiffness on surface roughness in single crystal copper nanomachining process
Authors: Tavari Hojjatollah , Jalili Mohammad Mahdi
Published: December 2024

Surface roughness is one of the most important features in nanoscale machining. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to investigate the combination effect of the tool stiffness, machining parameters and the tool tip geometry on the surface roughness of the single-crystal copper workpiece in the nano machining process by diamond tool. To consider the effects of probe beam dynamics in calculating the workpiece surface roughness, the probe cantilever is modeled as an equivalent spring-mass system that the tip mass is added to its end. The differential equation of the probe motion is solved simultaneously with the molecular dynamics equations for the tool tip and the workpiece and the effect of probe stiffness on the surface roughness is obtained. The result shows that a higher cutting speed and depth of cut and lower tool radius lead to a larger effect of probe stiffness on the surface roughness of the workpiece. Also, for the negative rake angles, considering the tool as rigid creates a large error in determining the surface roughness.
Association Between COVID-19-Related Characteristics and Oral Health Status Among Korean Adults
Authors: Lee Ga-Young , Han Mi Ah , Park Jong , Ryu So Yeon
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the association between COVID-19-related characteristics and oral health in Korean adults. Data from the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey were used (n = 229 242). A total of 26.5% responded that their subjective oral health status was good, and 20.2% experienced chewing discomfort. People less affected by COVID-19 in their daily lives were more likely to have good subjective oral health. Subjective oral health status was more likely to be good in those who had increased physical activity, did not consume instant food, smoked less, and were vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who were concerned about being infected, concerned about being criticized, and worried about economic damage due to COVID-19 were more likely to experience chewing discomfort. People with decreased physical activity, increased instant food consumption, and increased alcohol drinking and smoking due to COVID-19 were more likely to experience chewing discomfort. Our findings suggested that COVID-19-related characteristics were associated with oral health status.
Optimal vibration control with considering non-probabilistic time-dependent reliability for hypersonic vehicles
Authors: Ou Mengqun , Wang Yuhui , Yu Wei , Ling Jiachun
Published: December 2024

Hypersonic vehicles have complex structures with multiple sources of uncertainties, and the presence of uncertainties may lead to the vehicles’ structural failure. Aiming to ensure the flight safety and structural reliability of a hypersonic vehicle, this study proposes a vibration optimization control method based on non-probabilistic time-dependent reliability. Due to the complex structure of the vehicle, its forebody and aftbody are modeled as two cantilever beams with the center of mass of the vehicle as the fixed fulcrum, respectively, and a vibration control model of cantilever is derived. Considering that the uncertainties in practical engineering are not easy to be counted, the uncertain parameters are quantified by using interval variables, and the dynamic response and time-dependent reliability of the uncertain system are analyzed based on the subinterval method and the non-probabilistic time-dependent reliability analysis method (NTRAM) designed in this paper. Further, to ensure the high reliability of the vehicle, an optimal robust linear quadratic regulator (ORLQR) method with the constraint of time-dependent reliability is proposed. The analysis of the numerical examples shows that the parameter uncertainty has a certain effect on the reliability of the vehicle, and verifies that the proposed ORLQR method can effectively control the vibration and slow down the reliability decline.