bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Further Study of Starspot Activity and Measurement of Differential Rotation for SZ Piscium
Authors: Xiang Yue , Gu Shenghong , Collier Cameron A. , Barnes J. R. , Cao Dongtao
Published: November 2024

We present a series of nine Doppler images of the magnetically active K component of the RS CVn-type binary SZ Piscium (SZ Psc), based on high-resolution spectroscopic data collected from 2014 to 2018. We apply least-squares deconvolution (LSD) to all spectra to extract the average profiles with high signal-to-noise ratios for Doppler imaging. The surface maps of the K subgiant show starspots widely distributed along its latitude and longitude. A prominent, nonaxisymmetric polar spot around phase 0 is revealed by all images with sufficient phase coverage, which may be a stable feature on the K component. The starspots evolve over a timescale of 1 month. We have determined the surface shear rate of the K component from starspot maps reconstructed 10 days apart in 2017 November–December through the cross-correlation method. The surface differential rotation parameters are Ωeq = 1.591 ± 0.002 rad day−1 and ΔΩ = 0.035 ± 0.003 rad day−1. The absorption lines contributed from the tertiary component of SZ Psc are detected in all LSD profiles, and we measure the radial velocity of the binary system and the tertiary component to derive an elliptical orbit with a period of 1530 ± 3 days and a mass of 0.75 ± 0.06 M
⊙ for the tertiary component.
Radio Continuum Halos of Seven Nearby Large Galaxies Using uGMRT
Authors: Manna Souvik , Roy Subhashis , Baug Tapas
Published: November 2024

We present the results of deep radio observations of seven nearby large galaxies observed using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) 0.3–0.5 GHz receivers with an angular resolution of ∼10″. The achieved sensitivities of these observations range from ≈15 to 50 μJy beam−1, which is a factor of ≈3–4 lower than the previous observations at these frequencies. For two galaxies (NGC 3344 and NGC 3627) with moderate inclination angles, significant diffuse emissions are seen for the first time. The detected radio halos in the vertical direction are significantly larger in our 0.4 GHz maps compared to the observations at ∼1.5 GHz for four nearly edge-on galaxies—NGC 3623, NGC 4096, NGC 4594, and NGC 4631. For these four galaxies, significantly larger halos are also detected along the galaxy disk. For NGC 3623 and NGC 4594, we could detect elongated radio disks that were not seen before. We also present new uGMRT images of NGC 3344 and NGC 3623 at 1.3 GHz and a new VLA image of NGC 3627 at 1.5 GHz. We fitted an exponential function to the flux densities along different cross-cuts and found a significantly wider distribution at the 0.4 GHz uGMRT images compared to the high-frequency images at ∼1.5 GHz. Using maps at 0.144, 0.4, and ∼1.5 GHz, we made spectral index maps of the seven sample galaxies and found a steepening of the spectrum up to a value of ∼−1.5 in the halo regions of the galaxies.
Orbital-period Changes of Low-mass X-Ray Binaries Driven by Magnetic Braking
Authors: Fan Yun-Ning , Shao Yong , Chen Wen-Cong
Published: November 2024

Magnetic braking (MB) plays an important role in driving the evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). The modified MB prescription, the convection and rotation boosted (CARB) model, is very successful in reproducing the detected mass-transfer rates of persistent neutron star (NS) LMXBs. In this work, we investigate whether the CARB MB prescription could account for the formation and evolution of some NS and black hole (BH) LMXBs with an observed orbital-period derivative. Using the MESA code, we perform a detailed binary evolution model for six NS and three BH LMXBs. Our simulations find that the CARB MB prescription can successfully reproduce the observed donor-star masses, orbital periods, and period derivatives of four NS LMXBs and one BH LMXB. Our calculated effective temperatures are in good agreement with the detected spectral types of two NS LMXBs and one BH LMXB. However, the standard MB model makes it difficult to produce the observed period derivatives of those LMXBs experiencing a rapid orbital shrinkage or expansion.
Mitochondrial genomes from fungal the entomopathogenic Moelleriella genus reveals evolutionary history, intron dynamics and phylogeny
Authors: Xiong Xiong Chengjie , Lin Yongsheng , Keyhani Nemat O. , Shang Junya , Mao Yuchen , Yang Jiao , Zheng Minhai , Yang Lixia , Pu Huili , Lin Longbing , Mu Taicang , Zhu Mengjia , Wu Ziyi , Qiu Zhenxing , Xiong Wen , Guan Xiayu , Qiu Junzhi
Published: November 2024

Members of the Moelleriella (Hypocreales, Clavicipitaceae) genera are insect pathogens with specificity for scale insects and whiteflies. However, no mitochondrial genomes are available for these fungi. Here, we assembled seven mitogenomes from M. zhongdongii, M. libera, M. raciborskii, M. gracilispora, M. oxystoma, Moelleriella sp. CGMCC 3.18909 and Moelleriella sp. CGMCC 3.18913, which varied from 40.8 to 95.7 Kb. Synteny and codon usage bias was relatively conserved; with the mitochondrial gene arrangement completely homologous to the gene order of 16 other species within the Hypocreales. However, extensive intron polymorphism exists between Moelleriella species. Evolutionary analyses revealed that all 15 core protein coding genes had ka/ks < 1, indicating purifying selection pressure. Sequence variation within the mitochondrial ribosome protein S3 (rps3) gene showed the largest genetic distance with the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L (nad4L) showing the smallest. Comparative mitogenomic analyses showed that introns were the main factor contributing to the size variation of Moelleriella and more widely in Hypocreales mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the seven Moelleriella species examined form a well-supported clade, most closely related to Hypocrella. These data present the first mitogenome from Moelleriella and further advance research into the taxonomy, origin, evolution, and genomics of Moelleriella.
First record of leucism in the Spix’s Disc-winged Bat Thyroptera tricolor (Chiroptera: Thyropteridae) in Belize
Authors: Martin Vanessa , Kilburn Vanessa L , Charette Mathieu , Miller Bruce W
Published: November 2024

Although chromatic disorders are widely reported in the animal kingdom, few reports of true leucism have been published in Neotropical bats. In this note we report our observations of a leucistic Thyroptera tricolor Spix (Spix’s Disc-winged Bat) in the Maya Mountains of the Stann Creek District of Belize. Observations made between March 2023 and April 2024 at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S) research station recorded a group of Thyroptera tricolor with one leucistic male identified on three separate occasions. Our observations are the first documented account of leucism for this species and the Thyropteridae family.
Map of livestock density in Central Appenines: a standardised protocol
Authors: Dragonetti Chiara , Masiello Giacomo , Villa Federica , Von Kempis Stefan Rodrigo , Cipollone Mario , Di Marco Moreno
Published: November 2024

Effective ecosystem management requires a deep understanding of how human activities, such as livestock farming, impact ecological dynamics. Livestock farming influences vegetation structure, nutrient cycling, and wildlife behaviour, yet there are limited standardised methods for estimating livestock grazing pressure. Here we developed a standardised protocol for mapping livestock density at cadastral sheet resolution, and tested it in a mid-mountain area of Central Apennines, Italy. The protocol combines municipal grazing data related to seasonal high-altitude pasture with interviews and geospatial mapping to create fine-scale livestock distribution maps. We focused on different livestock species and produced a separate map for each: cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Our protocol addressed a critical gap in conservation research by providing a robust framework for quantifying grazing pressure. These data are crucial for understanding livestock-wildlife interactions and informing ecosystem management strategies on local territory.
Novel analytical superposed nonlinear wave structures for the eighth-order (3+1)-dimensional Kac-Wakimoto equation using improved modified extended tanh function method
Authors: Rabie Wafaa B. , Ahmed Hamdy M. , Nofal Taher A. , Mohamed E. M.
Published: November 2024

Higher-order nonlinear partial differential equations, such as the eighth-order Kac-Wakimoto model, are useful for studying wave turbulence in fluids, where energy transfers across a range of wave numbers. This phenomenon is observed in oceanographic research involving sea surface and internal waves, where intricate multi-dimensional interactions play a crucial role. In this work, we use the improved modified extended tanh function method for the first time to extract the exact solutions of the eighth-order (3+1)-dimensional Kac-Wakimoto equation, which describes the dynamics of fields and the structure of solutions in various physical and mathematical contexts. The proposed method is simple and quick to execute, and it offers more innovative solutions than other methods. As a consequence, through the donation of suitable assumptions for the parameters, some new solutions for dark and singular soliton, as well as Jacobi elliptic, exponential, hyperbolic, and singular periodic forms, are developed. Furthermore, to enhance understanding, graphical representations of certain solutions are included.
Smoothing gradient descent algorithm for the composite sparse optimization
Authors: Yang Wei , Pan Lili , Wan Jinhui
Published: November 2024

Composite sparsity generalizes the standard sparsity that considers the sparsity on a linear transformation of the variables. In this paper, we study the composite sparse optimization problem consisting of minimizing the sum of a nondifferentiable loss function and the $ {\mathcal{\ell}_0} $ penalty term of a matrix times the coefficient vector. First, we consider an exact continuous relaxation problem with a capped-$ {\mathcal{\ell}_1} $ penalty that has the same optimal solution as the primal problem. Specifically, we propose the lifted stationary point of the relaxation problem and then establish the equivalence of the original and relaxation problems. Second, we propose a smoothing gradient descent (SGD) algorithm for the continuous relaxation problem, which solves the subproblem inexactly since the objective function is inseparable. We show that if the sequence generated by the SGD algorithm has an accumulation point, then it is a lifted stationary point. At last, we present several computational examples to illustrate the efficiency of the algorithm.
Adolfo Suárez, ministro-secretario general del Movimiento. Inmovilismo y reforma
Authors: Ponce Alberca Julio
Published: November 2024

Cuando Adolfo Suárez fue nombrado presidente del Gobierno, a comienzos de julio de 1976, era un gran desconocido del gran público. Durante los seis meses anteriores ocupó el cargo de ministro-secretario general del Movimiento en el tercer Gobierno de Carlos Arias Navarro. En ese período mantuvo una posición ortodoxa con respecto a la vigencia del Movimiento, a la vez que apoyaba en público las reformas planteadas por el vicepresidente y ministro de la Gobernación Manuel Fraga Iribarne. Desplegó esa doble faceta dentro de parámetros de prudencia y discreción, bajo el apoyo del presidente de las Cortes, Torcuato Fernández-Miranda y del propio monarca Juan Carlos I. Sin embargo, también contribuyó a obstaculizar las reformas de Fraga favoreciendo, de paso, la erosión política del Gobierno de Arias Navarro. Este artículo desgrana las acciones que llevó a cabo Adolfo Suárez entre enero y junio de 1976 y cómo puso en marcha una estrategia que le favorecería para lograr sus ambiciones políticas.
The Pre-Euro-American Vegetation Cover Surrounding Wisconsin's Deepest Inland Natural lake
Authors: Eddy Thomas L.
Published: November 2024

The interior section lines from the early land survey records c. 1830 were examined to identify and quantify the pre-Euro-American settlement vegetation cover in the four survey townships surrounding Green Lake, Wisconsin. A main emphasis of this paper is on the presence of oak savanna communities prior to early settlement. In addition to the field notes data, historical narratives that include eyewitness accounts characterize the vegetation cover as oak savanna, with open woodlands and oak openings as prevalent communities surrounding Green Lake.
“Generalis hypotheca est modici praeiudicii”: The adaptation of late medieval ius commune doctrine on the enforcement of obligations to contemporary legal practice
Authors: A. Kotlyar Ilya
Published: November 2024

Debt enforcement is always an area of law of great practical importance, and the European Middle Ages were not an exception in this regard. A lot of attention has been dedicated to the technicalities of debt enforcement in France, Italy, the Low Countries, etc. And yet, not enough attention has been paid to the ways in which the medieval learned doctrine was being adapted to the legal practice. Executive pacts, non-alienation clauses, excussio bonorum, constitutum possessionis – these topics were seen as a “matter of everyday importance”. This article explores how the juxtaposition of general and special hypothec arose in the works of medieval learned jurists and argues that it was inspired by the legal practice of contemporary Italy and France.
F. Calasso’s concept of ius commune, the Romanist tradition, and the problem of historical representation
Authors: Giuliani Adolfo
Published: November 2024

On 16th January 1933 the young Francesco Calasso (1904-1965) delivered a prolusion on a subject that was to take the new generation of legal historians by storm: “The concept of the ius commune”. His prolusion not only changed the image of the legal past but also gave a new impetus to legal history placing it at the heart of legal science. Today we need to go back in time and look closely at what he said, because the ius commune, which in the following decades became a major key to understanding the legal past, is now unclear.
Epilogue
Authors: Wijffels Alain
Published: November 2024

The dossier of Clio@Themis on ius commune reflects how current historiography on ius commune has moved on since the late-twentieth century tendency of identifying the pre-codification civil law tradition as a blueprint for a possibly codified system of private law in the European Union. Civil law studies initiated in the medieval universities were intended to provide a science of the art of good government. Graduates from the law faculties were expected to have an expertise for counselling public governance, to ensure that it was perceived to be a just and legitimate exercise of political power. To achieve that purpose, public governance was supposed to remain within the rule of law, but that essential vocation of medieval jurisprudence was increasingly weakened from the early modern times onwards.
Qui veut des petit·es à l’école maternelle ?
Authors: Imbert Arthur
Published: November 2024

La scolarisation des élèves de deux et trois ans – « les petit·es » – a fait l’objet de nombreuses controverses juridictionnelles depuis une soixantaine d’années. Chaque fois, les enseignantes, par leurs syndicats, ont montré leur attachement à la scolarisation de ces élèves. Pourtant, l’observation du travail montre qu’en pratique, elles en délèguent une majeure partie à des personnels subalternes, les ATSEM (Agentes Territoriales Spécialisées des Écoles Maternelles). Pour ces enseignantes, ces « petit·es » représentent un « sale boulot ». Pourtant, ce sale boulot n’est que « relatif » pour les ATSEM qui se réapproprient la prise en charge de ces élèves pour en faire un vecteur de valorisation professionnelle.
Modal scenarios, topoi and incongruity in expressive constructions
Authors: Legallois Dominique
Published: November 2024

This paper is a contribution to the reflection on the semantic and pragmatic interface in Construction Grammar. Using the example of a particular construction, the Incongruous Sanction Construction, it shows the role played by the notions of modal scenario and topos in qualifying the incongruity present in this construction. This qualification (in this case, axiological) is decisive insofar as it constitutes the necessary condition for the conventionalisation of the expressive value. Constructions that do not meet this condition have expressive values that must be determined from the context.
Can context undo constructional meaning? A Construction Grammar study of French en situation de + NOUN
Authors: Raineri Sophie
Published: November 2024

Cet article se propose d’étudier dans quelle mesure le contexte dans lequel une construction est employée en affecte le sens. Il prend pour objet l’expression française en situation de + NOM, dont le sens fait débat chez les locuteurs dès lors qu’elle est appliquée à des référents humains (ex. en situation de handicap, en situation de pauvreté). Sur la base de données de corpus, l’expression est analysée en tant qu’idiome constructionnel associant à une forme des propriétés sémantiques et pragmatiques. En dépit du conflit régulièrement observé entre le sens de caractérisation circonstancielle émergeant des éléments constitutifs de la construction et le sens de caractérisation inhérente qu’elle prend en contexte, l’étude montre que la pression contextuelle n’a pas oblitéré le sens constructionnel de en situation de + NOM. La construction conserve en effet ses propriétés sémantiques et pragmatiques, qui la distinguent d’expressions référentiellement équivalentes et lui assurent longévité. Outre sa contribution à la recherche sur l’euphémisme et le langage dit « politiquement correct », cet article démontre la nécessité de maintenir la distinction entre sémantique et pragmatique dans les études menées sur le langage et le changement linguistique dans le cadre d’une grammaire des constructions (CxG) basée sur l’usage.
Co(n)texts in Grammatical Paradigms
Authors: Politt Katja
Published: November 2024

This paper discusses the role of different kinds of contexts for grammatical paradigms. These paradigms are understood as functional sets that consist of a structured inventory of oppositions and relations between their members (e.g. Diewald 2009, Diewald & Politt 2021, Politt 2022). As a usage-based concept, describing grammatical paradigms necessarily relies on real usage contexts. Three types of co(n)text(s) are deemed relevant to paradigms: (i) the intraparadigmatic context, (ii) co-text features (Catford 1965) co-occurring with paradigm members in discourse, and (iii) the communicative context. The relevance of each kind of co(n)text is illustrated by different studies, each showing how a co(n)text-based analysis and description of grammatical structures can enhance the understanding of functional distinctions from a usage-based point of view. Together, the three co(n)text types shape the internal structure of the paradigm, the functional niches of their members, and the choice of paradigm members in communicative situations.
Semantics and Pragmatics of Spanish Verb-Particle Constructions formed with para atrás ‘back(wards)’
Authors: Wiesinger Evelyn
Published: November 2024

Bien que les verbes à particule aient été largement étudiés sous différents angles théoriques, les recherches précédentes se sont fortement concentrées sur la sémantique de la particule (et éventuellement du verbe), tandis que l’interaction avec le co(n)texte n’a suscité que peu d’intérêt. En revanche, cet article adopte une approche en cadres sémantiques plus dynamique et montre, sur la base d’exemples tirés de corpus, que les verbes à particule espagnols formés avec para atrás lit. ‘(en) arrière’ sont sujets à des interprétations spatio-aspectuelles variables. De plus, l’interprétation de ces résultats sera discutée à la lumière de l’intérêt croissant des grammaires de construction pour l’impact sémantique et pragmatique des éléments co(n)textuels et la représentation de la signification des constructions.
Let’s drop the object : An experimental study of the implicit object construction in American English
Authors: Gavruseva Elena
Published: November 2024

The topic of transitive structures with implicit (phonologically null) objects has received much attention in Construction Grammar (CxG). Among natural languages, English is characterized by allowing mainly non-referential implicit objects (‘They build _ for a living’), whereas referential implicit objects are highly constrained and/or require conversational implicatures (Fillmore 1986 ; Cummins & Roberge 2004 ; Goldberg 2001). Using the CxG framework, this article investigates discourse-based acceptability of the Implicit Object Construction (IOC) in two context types: Generic (no antecedent for an implicit object) and Definite/Indefinite (+antecedent for an implicit object). One of the hypotheses explored is that English allows implicature-based referential construals for implicit objects (Cummins & Roberge 2004). Two online experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 included 31 native speakers of American English (AE) who provided acceptability rankings for the IOC in three experimental conditions (Generic, Indefinite, Definite). Experiment 2 included a different group of 24 AE native speakers and used the same materials as in Experiment 1; however, the ranking component of the task was replaced with a multiple-choice format. Experimental results converge on two findings: an IOC is clearly favored in the [-antecedent] contexts, whereas overt object counterparts of an IOC are preferred in [+antecedent] contexts. However, implicit objects, when used with some verbs, are ranked as quite acceptable with a [+specific] antecedent, which attests to the role of individual verbs in speakers' judgments.1
Organisation périodique, narrativité et topologie de l’énoncé en germanique à la fin du xvie siècle
Authors: MODICOM Pierre-Yves
Published: November 2024

L’objet de cet article est de caractériser l’état de la période dans un corpus parallèle haut-allemand/ danois de prose narrative de la fin des années 1580. D’une part, la question de la période n’a pas encore été envisagée du point de vue du danois moderne précoce ; d’autre part, la prose narrative du XVIe siècle est parfois réputée rétive à la période, qui à cette époque serait encore une caractéristique des genres oratoires. La prose narrative, en français de la Renaissance, se caractériserait plutôt par un autre type de syntaxe, la « phrase liée », qui ne présente ni la même composition binaire, ni la même clôture, ni les mêmes stratégies formelles de liaison transphrastique. L’étude du corpus conduit à distinguer deux niveaux d’organisation périodique : un niveau discursif, relevant de la dispositio des côla, et un niveau grammatical reposant sur le recours à un arsenal formel restreint, où la corrélation occupe une place centrale. La comparaison des deux langues montre l’équivalence fonctionnelle entre le marquage corrélatif en danois et des stratégies essentiellement topologiques en allemand : l’ordre des constituants et le jeu sur la place du verbe agissent comme des signaux de clôture susceptible de marquer une composition périodique des côla, même là où les marques formelles sont celles de la phrase liée. Les deux notions ne sont donc pas strictement antithétiques dans une langue comme l’allemand. Dans un dernier temps, on étend l’analyse aux phénomènes d’ellipse et d’anaphore pour montrer en quoi eux aussi participent d’une organisation périodique des ruptures et des continuités discursives.
Premières réalisations de la période dans le roman de chevalerie : Amadis en français et en allemand
Authors: MOUNIER Pascale , PASQUES Delphine
Published: November 2024

Le roman de chevalerie est un genre plutôt rétif à la période. On repère pourtant des formes de mouvements argumentatifs complets, marqués par une complexité syntaxique et programmant la révélation de l’information dans la traduction de la série espagnole Amadís de Gaula par Des Essarts, publiée entre 1540 et 1548. Les passages plus ou moins amples en question, situés dans des prises de parole de personnages, se retrouvent dans la traduction anonyme des livres français en allemand, parue entre 1569 et 1573. Comment le moule hérité du discours oratoire latin vient-il imprégner la prose du récit chevaleresque ? Une analyse contrastive de la mise en œuvre de la liaison des membres et de la tension syntactico-logique permet de mesurer le rapport aux textes sources, les contraintes linguistiques et les préférences stylistiques de chaque traducteur.
Perioden-Karikaturen im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert
Authors: RINAS Karsten
Published: November 2024

Der Aufsatz befasst sich mit ironischen Verwendungen von Perioden-Konstruktionen in der Zeit vom ausgehenden 16. bis zum ausgehenden 18. Jahrhundert. Um diese einordnen zu können, wird die Funktion des periodischen Schreibens in der Frühen Neuzeit reflektiert, vor allem das Verhältnis von Sprachgebrauch und Habitus. An einer Untersuchung ausgewählter Beispiele wird demonstriert, dass im besagten Zeitraum die sozial-distinktive Funktion der Periodenform nicht grundsätzlich kritisiert wird. Im Zentrum der Kritik stehen vielmehr übertriebene (‚geschraubte’) Verwendungsweisen. Die karikierenden Beispiele sind zudem aus Rezeptionsperspektive interessant, denn sie zeigen, welche Merkmale der Periode man als besonders auffällig angesehen hat.
The Mediating Effect of Profitability on The Relationship Between Working Capital Management and Shareholder Wealth: Evidence from Colombo Stock Exchange
Authors: Abeysinghe A. M. N. D. , Wanigasekara W. A. D. K. J.
Published: November 2024

The management of working capital plays a crucial role in enterprises and has a substantial influence on the wealth of shareholders. Working capital management, profitability, and shareholder wealth have emerged as significant subjects of discussion in contemporary discourse, since they have been acknowledged as expansive areas of study. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the mediating role of profitability in the association between working capital management and shareholder wealth, focusing specifically on empirical data from the Colombo Stock Exchange. The working capital management was measured using Current Ratio, profitability was quantified by Return on Investment and shareholders’ wealth was measured through Tobin’s Q. Data for the research was collected by examining the annual reports of 100 non-financial firms listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. Upon conclusion of the study, it yielded findings that addressed the research inquiries, so signifying the successful attainment of the research aims. This paper examines profitability, working capital management, and shareholder wealth in Sri Lankan businesses. A weak, but significant association between working capital management and all factors was found based on the correlation analysis. It was found a significant impact of working capital management on shareholders' wealth. Further, the findings revealed a significant impact of working capital management on profitability and a significant impact of profitability on shareholders’ wealth. Finally, it was evidenced that profitability plays a partial mediation role on the relationship between working capital management and shareholders’ wealth.
Macronutrient Composition of Popular Snacks Available at Food Outlets in Sri Lanka
Authors: Induijaa S. , Chandrasekara A.
Published: November 2024

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for 75% of deaths in Sri Lanka. Most common causes for NCDs include poor diets and physical inactivity. The majority of snacks available in the food outlets are calorie-dense, thus lack of vitamins and minerals. Continued consumption of calorie-dense snacks may lead to certain NCDs. In Sri Lanka, only commercially packed foods provide information on the nutritional composition. However, foods available in sales outlets lack such nutritional information which is vital for health-conscious consumers.
Objectives: This study aimed at identifying the total energy and the macronutrient composition of popular snacks available for sale at food outlets in Sri Lanka.
Materials & Methods: Thirty (30) popular snacks were identified from 18 food outlets in Sri Lanka. The data on the recipes, raw ingredient weights and final cooked weight were collected. Energy and macronutrient compositions of one serving size of the snacks were analyzed using Food base 2000 software.
Results: The total energy supplied by one serving size of snacks ranges from 46 to 436 kcals. Mean calorie contribution by carbohydrate, protein and fat were 58.5%, 9.4% and 32.1%, respectively.
Conclusions: Most of the snacks available in the outlets were of high-calorie density and are based on carbohydrates providing more than the expected calorie contribution to the consumer.
Antioxidant Properties of Selected Underutilized Fruit Species of Sri Lanka after Simulated Oral and Gastro-Intestinal Digestion
Authors: Mallawaarachchi M.A.L.N. , Madhujith T.
Published: November 2024

Background: High consumption of natural antioxidants, particularly phenolic compounds found in fruits and vegetables, makes a significant contribution to plasma antioxidant capacity. The impact of plant phenolics in terms of health benefits is strongly reliant on their level of bioaccessibility and bioavailability.
Objectives: The study was conducted to determine the antioxidative properties and bioaccessibility in six underutilized fruit species, namely (Phyllanthus emblica, Elaeocarpus sirratus, Cynometra cauliflora, Aegle marmelos, Limonia acidissima and Flacoutia indica).
Materials & Methods: The total phenolic content (TPC) of fruit samples was determined after in-vitro simulated oral and gastro-intestinal digestion. The total phenolic content of dialysate and retentates were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu’s test. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pycrylehydrazyl (DPPH) and the total antioxidant activity assay (2,2'azinobis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS)) were used to assess radical scavenging activity (RSA) and total antioxidant activity (TAA), respectively.
Results: The highest TPC (110.33 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g on dry weight (DW) basis), the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity as measured by IC50 value (0.09 mg of dried fruit/mL), and the highest percentage of TAA (90%) were exhibited by P. emblica while the C. cauliflora recorded the lowest. Among the tested fruit species, P. emblica also had maximum bioaccessibility of total polyphenols (83.66 %) and C. cauliflora had the lowest (40.16%).
Conclusions: Phylanthus emblica had the highest TAA and RSA of the tested fruit species while lowest was recorded in C. cauliflora. The TPC, TAA and RSA of all fruit species increased after enzymatic digestion. Further in vitro and in vivo studies should be conducted to assess the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of individual phenolic compounds.
Effectiveness of Texture Modified Diets on Dysphagia in Older adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rathnayake R.M.P.I. , Nayomi H.M.D. , Gunasinghe K.H.N.B.M.
Published: November 2024

Dysphagia is common among older people and is associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition. Treatment options are limited, and the use of texture-modified diets is a widespread clinical practice in geriatric care. This systematic review aimed at evaluating the evidence available using keyword searches by using recognized electronic databases from 2011 to 2021. Studies were evaluated for their acceptability, then reviewed with data extracted, and grouped by types of outcome measures. A total of 136 publications were identified, and only 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were no publications examining the effectiveness of texture-modified diets for older adults (≥60 years) exclusively with dysphagia. However, many studies which had included subjects with dysphagia and texture-modified diets in managing aspiration and providing nutrition and hydration in settings like residential aged-care facilities and hospitals were reviewed in this paper. This review identified the gaps in the area and showed the strong grounds for the need of clinical trials to guide the best practices.
Correlations between Body Compositions with Subclinical Atherosclerosis as Assessed by Carotid Artery Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Single Centre Study in Southern Sri Lanka
Authors: Wickramatilake C.M. , Weerarathna T.P. , Kodikara I. , Liyanage G. , Rathnayake H.
Published: November 2024

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Subclinical atherosclerosis is identified by measuring carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) with ultrasound. This study describes selected factors associated with CAIMT and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with T2DM.
Materials and methods: Data of 212 patients registered at a diabetes center in Southern Sri Lanka was analyzed. Details on demographic characteristics, anthropometry, fat mass, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and CIMT of both common carotid arteries were collected. Association of these parameters with CIMT was elicited using appropriate statistical tests.
Results: There were 98 males and 114 females with the mean age of 58±10 years. Majority of them had overweight and obesity. Poor glycemic control (HbA1c>7%) was detected in 164 (73.3%) patients. There were 166 (78.3%) patients with increased CVD risk (≥ 75th percentile CIMT) based on age and gender specific values. Significant positive correlations were observed between mean CIMT and mean age (r=0.308, p=0.001), age of initial detection of T2DM (r=0.180, p=0.008), duration of T2DM (r=0.228, p=0.001), mean HbA1c (r=0.206, p=0.003) and visceral adiposity (r=0.239, p=0.001). Males had significantly higher mean CIMT (0.736±0.16 vs. 0.678±0.011, p=0.003) and visceral fat (12.3±5.0 vs. 9.9±3.9, p=0.001) than females.
Conclusions: This study underscores that a majority of T2DM patients demonstrated both obesity and suboptimal glycemic control, thus elevating their CVD risk. Factors including age, duration of T2DM, late age of diagnosis, elevated levels of visceral fat, and poor glycemic control were substantively correlated with increased CIMT.
The Correlation Between Electrodiagnostic Severity and Patient-Reported Disability Among Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients
Authors: Soykök Gülay , Güler Emel
Published: November 2024

Background and Objectives:

The use, easy applicability, and costs of accurate diagnostic tools and their utility for early diagnosis, efficient treatment, and follow-up are important. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how electrophysiologic data were reflected in the clinical data of the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods:

This study included 102 patients with definitive CTS based on electroneuromyography. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ), the 36-item Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire of the general quality of life, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the painDETECT (PD-Q) neuropathic pain questionnaire were administered by a clinical practitioner.

Results:

We found a moderate correlation between electrophysiologic measurements and VAS and a weak correlation between PD-Q scores. When we tested the mean scores of the SF-36 quality of life scale subscales for differences across the CTS groups, we found significant differences in the mean scores of the physical functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning subdomains by disease severity (P < 0.05 for each). While the BCTQ Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS) was predictive of the early stages of CTS, we found that both BCTQ-SSS and BCTQ-Functional Status Scale scores increased in correlation with advanced stage CTS.

Conclusion:

In addition to the electrophysiological data, self-report measures may help to pursue a multidirectional approach in patient management by acting as a reference for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of CTS. The correlation between objective data and time-saving, practical, subjective measurements can serve as markers to facilitate a diagnosis.
Skeletal and dental effects of skeletally anchored forsus fatigue resistant devices during class II malocclusion treatment: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Eissa Osama , Diar-Bakirly Samira , Saltaji Humam , El-Bialy Tarek
Published: November 2024

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate and compare the skeletal and dental treatment effects of Class II malocclusion cases using skeletally anchored Forsus (miniscrew-anchored FRD or miniplate-anchored FRD), with conventional Forsus FRD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Unrestricted electronic search of six databases and additional manual searches were performed up to July 2023. Randomized controlled trials having one treatment arm with skeletal anchored Forsus FRD in treatment of Class II malocclusion and another matched treatment group treated with conventional Forsus FRD were included in this review. Risk of bias assessment was performed using Cochrane’s Risk of Bias Tool. No restrictions were set concerning treatment duration, or the cephalometric analysis used. Skeletal and dentoalveolar outcomes data were extracted by two authors independently.

RESULTS:

Three studies using miniscrews as means of skeletal anchorage were evaluated and qualified for the final review and meta-analysis. Three other studies using miniplates were considered in the systematic review but were not qualified for a meta-analysis. The data gathered from the miniscrews anchored FRD papers included a total of 93 Class II patients (46 treated with miniscrew-anchored Forsus FRD, 47 treated with conventional Forsus FRD). The meta-analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in the SNA angle in favor of miniscrew-anchored Forsus FRD (mean difference: −0.26, CI: −0.50 to −0.02), a nonsignificant difference in the SNB (mean difference: 0.17, CI: -0.06 to 0.39), a statistically significant increase in the SN–MP angle in favor of miniscrew-anchored Forsus FRD (mean difference: 0.53, CI: 0.06–1.00)—a statistically significant reduction in the L1-MP angle in favor of miniscrew-anchored Forsus FRD (mean difference: −2.12, CI: −4.96 to −2.12). Data from miniplate-anchored FRD included 31 Class II patients treated with mini plate anchored FRD. Although meta-analysis was not applicable to these studies, lower incisor inclination was observed to be less.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on the existing evidence, the use of skeletal anchorage could not enhance forward mandibular growth. However, miniscrew-anchored Forsus FRD could minimize mandibular incisor protrusion while miniplates could even retract the mandibular incisor position with a headgear effect on the maxilla.
Exploring the association between orthodontic treatment and temporomandibular disorders in pediatric patient: A retrospective study
Authors: Pattanaik Snigdha , Veeraraghavan Vishnu P. , Dasari Arun K. , Sahoo Subhrajeet Narayan , Aileni Kaladhar Reddy , Suryawanshi Hema , Patil Santosh R.
Published: November 2024

OBJECTIVE:

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the association between orthodontic treatment and development of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in pediatric patients.

METHODS:

This study analyzed 122 pediatric patients (age 10–18 years) who underwent orthodontic treatment. The inclusion criteria included comprehensive orthodontic records and substantial clinical documentation, while the exclusion criteria targeted preexisting TMDs or syndromes affecting the temporomandibular joint. Demographic details, treatment characteristics, and radiographic analyses, including standardized cephalometric measurements, were recorded. Clinical records were systematically reviewed for signs and symptoms of TMD, with categorization based on TMD severity using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD).

RESULTS:

Demographic characteristics revealed a mean age of 14.2 years, with a sex distribution of 36.9% males and 63.1% females. Pain, clicking/popping sounds, and limited jaw movement were reported by 23.0%, 16.4%, and 12.3% of the patients, respectively. TMD severity classification showed that 73.8% had no symptoms, 20.5% had mild symptoms, 4.1% had moderate symptoms, and 1.6% had severe symptoms. Statistical analyses revealed a significant association between TMD symptoms and sex (P = 0.023). Correlations among TMD severity, treatment duration (P = 0.036), and cephalometric changes were observed. Radiographic findings showed a moderate correlation with the gonial angle (r = 0.42) and a strong correlation with the condylar position (r = 0.58).

CONCLUSION:

This study provides insights into the complex relationship between orthodontic treatment and TMD development in pediatric patients. These findings suggest potential associations between treatment characteristics, cephalometric changes, and TMD symptoms.
A cross-sectional study to correlate nasal profile and chin position with cephalometric lip profile
Authors: Siddiqui Tania A. , Sukhia Rashna H. , Irfan Sarah , Hasan Ahmad , Fida Mubassar
Published: November 2024

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effect of the nose and chin on the cephalometric lip profile.

METHODS AND MATERIAL:

The pre-treatment lateral cephalograms of 177 adult patients with no history of orthodontic treatment were manually traced. The sample size was divided into three vertical and horizontal groups using angle ANB and MMA to assess the difference in nose and chin forms. The horizontal and vertical groups were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis. The Independent sample t-test and Mann–Whitney U were used for comparison between the two genders. The correlation of nose and chin with E, S line, and nasolabial angle was done using the Spearman correlation coefficient while the effect was assessed using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS:

Among the nasal variables, columellar length inversely affects the linear position of the upper lip and this was statistically significant. The nasolabial angle is also affected by the inclination of the nasal base and this was statistically significant. The linear distance of the soft tissue chin in relation to the maxilla has the most effect on the position of the upper lip. It is notable that all hard and soft tissue chin variables inversely affected the linear position of the upper and lower lips.

CONCLUSIONS:

The quantitative measure of the effect of the nose and chin on lips is important as it allows clinicians to determine the overall effect of adjunctive procedures at pretreatment levels. Thus, corrective procedures such as rhinoplasty or genioplasty can be done at pre-orthodontic treatment stages to create a better treatment plan for patients.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Protocols in Improving Postoperative Outcomes and Reducing Hospital Readmission Rates in Patients Undergoing abdominal Surgery
Authors: Shah Ali Akbar , Alnajib Alfatih Mohamed Ahmed , Baldaniya Lalji , Hassan Halijah , Kaur Parjinder , Sharma Rajesh , Ramzan Hafiza Sobia , Sami Waqas
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Objectives:

The main objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in improving postoperative outcomes and reducing hospital readmission rates in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Materials and Methods:

This study involves a total of 650 patients who were divided into two groups: the intervention group, which received care according to ERAS protocols, and the control group, which received standard postoperative care. Patients aged >18 years and scheduled for elective abdominal surgery were included in the study.

Results:

The mean age of patients in ERAS group were 56.4 ± 12.3 years, while in the standard care group 57.1 ± 11.8 years. Out of 650 patients, there were 339 male and 311 female. Patients were selected from different surgery departments. The ERAS group had lower 30-day readmission rates (6.2% vs. 15.4%), quicker mobilization (12.5 vs. 24.8 hours), and faster resumption of oral intake (8.6 vs. 18.2 hours). Pain levels were lower (VAS 3.1 vs. 5.8), and patient satisfaction was higher (89% vs. 74%) in the ERAS group, with all differences being statistically significant.

Conclusion:

It is concluded that ERAS protocols significantly improve postoperative outcomes, including reducing complications, shortening hospital stays, and lowering readmission rates for patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery.
Developing an AI-Powered Algorithm for Automated Detection and Classification of Dental Caries from Intraoral Radiographs: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Haider Mohammad
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

This systematic review aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) models specifically developed for detecting and classifying dental caries. A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed on the PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Embase databases. The search yielded a total of 397 results. We examined 10 articles that satisfied the selection criteria. In summary, AI-based models show high diagnostic accuracy in recognizing dental caries by analyzing dental radiography pictures.
Poncelet’s closure theorem and the embedded topology of conic-line arrangements
Authors: Bannai Shinzo , Masuya Ryosuke , Shirane Taketo , Tokunaga Hiro-o , Yorisaki Emiko
Published: November 2024

In the study of plane curves, one of the problems is to classify the embedded topology of plane curves in the complex projective plane that have a given fixed combinatorial type, where the combinatorial type of a plane curve is data equivalent to the embedded topology in its tubular neighborhood. A pair of plane curves with the same combinatorial type but distinct embedded topology is called a Zariski pair. In this paper, we consider Zariski pairs consisting of conic-line arrangements that arise from Poncelet’s closure theorem. We study unramified double covers of the union of two conics that are induced by a
$2m$
-sided Poncelet transverse. As an application, we show the existence of families of Zariski pairs of degree
$2m+6$
for
$m\geq 2$
that consist of reducible curves having two conics and
$2m+2$
lines as irreducible components.
Potential of ginsenoside Rg1 to treat aplastic anemia via mitogen activated protein kinase pathway in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression mouse model
Authors: Park See-Hyoung
Published: November 2024

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare but serious condition in which the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient new blood cells, leading to fatigue, increased susceptibility to infection, and uncontrolled bleeding. In this editorial, we review and comment on an article by Wang et al published in 2024. This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic benefits of ginsenoside Rg1 in AA, focusing on its protective effects and uncovering the underlying mechanisms. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) administration caused substantial damage to the structural integrity of the bone marrow and decreased the number of hematopoietic stem cells, thereby establishing an AA model. Compared with the AA group, ginsenoside Rg1 alleviated the effects of CTX by reducing apoptosis and inflammatory factors. Mechanistically, treatment with ginsenoside Rg1 significantly mitigated myelosuppression in mice by inhibiting the mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Thus, this study indicates that ginsenoside Rg1 could be effective in treating AA by reducing myelosuppression, primarily through its influence on the mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway. We expect that our review and comments will provide valuable insights for the scientific community related to this research and enhance the overall clarity of this article.