bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer Learning‐Based Fault Diagnosis of Internal Combustion (IC) Engine Gearbox Using Radar Plots
Authors: Naveen Venkatesh S. , Srivatsan B. , Sugumaran V. , Ravikumar K. N. , Kumar Hemantha , Mahamuni Vetri Selvi
Published: December 2024

Due to constant loads, gear wear, and harsh working conditions, gearboxes are subject to fault occurrences. Faults in the gearbox can cause damage to the engine components, create unnecessary noise, degrade efficiency, and impact power transfer. Hence, the detection of faults at an early stage is highly necessary. In this work, an effort was made to use transfer learning to identify gear failures under five gear conditions—healthy condition, 25% defect, 50% defect, 75% defect, and 100% defect—and three load conditions—no load, T1 = 9.6, and T2 = 13.3 Nm. Vibration signals were collected for various gear and load conditions using an accelerometer mounted on the casing of the gearbox. The load was applied using an eddy current dynamometer on the output shaft of the engine. The obtained vibration signals were processed and stored as vibration radar plots. Residual network (ResNet)‐50, GoogLenet, Visual Geometry Group 16 (VGG‐16), and AlexNet were the network models used for transfer learning in this study. Hyperparameters, including learning rate, optimizer, train‐test split ratio, batch size, and epochs, were varied in order to achieve the highest classification accuracy for each pretrained network. From the results obtained, VGG‐16 pretrained network outperformed all other networks with a classification accuracy of 100%.
Time-kill curve analysis of fucoidan combination with conventional antibiotics against
biofilms formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii
clinical isolates
Authors: Nazari Mohsen , Taheri Mohammad , Nouri Fatemeh , Bahmanzadeh Maryam , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef
Published: December 2024

Introduction
This study investigates the efficacy of fucoidan, both alone and in combination with antibiotics, against single-species biofilms and mixed-species, individual planktonic, and co-culture planktonic conditions of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Materials and Methods
Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, USA. Clinical isolates of MRSA and A. baumannii were obtained from diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), and single-species biofilms and mixed-species biofilms were developed to assess susceptibility to the treatments using MIC, MBC, MBIC, MBEC, and time-kill kinetics assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays on human skin fibroblast cells (HSF-PI 16).
Results
The study determined the geometric mean MIC and MBC values for gentamicin, imipenem, and fucoidan in MRSA and A. baumannii cultures, both individually and in co-culture. The MIC and MBC values were significantly lower under co-culture conditions, indicating enhanced antimicrobial efficacy. Synergy between fucoidan, gentamicin, and imipenem was confirmed through time-kill assays, which showed complete inhibition of bacterial growth and effective biofilm eradication, particularly in mixed-species biofilms. Fucoidan demonstrated low cytotoxicity at optimal concentrations, highlighting their potential as a therapeutic strategy against biofilm-associated infections in diabetic foot ulcers.
Conclusion
The study concludes that fucoidan, in combination with gentamicin and imipenem, effectively disrupts mixed-species biofilms of MRSA and A. baumannii, suggesting fucoidan-based therapies could improve outcomes for DFU patients, warranting further clinical investigation.
Pricing Strategies and Customer Satisfaction in Coffee Shops: A Case Study in Camarines Norte, Philippines
Authors: Mabeza Ma. Reina A.
Published: December 2024

This study examines the impact of pricing strategies on customer sat-isfaction, aiming to improve customer experiences and foster long term loyalty within the coffee shops business in Camarines Norte, Philippines for the year 2022. Utilizing a descriptive correlational research design, data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 150 respondents selected via purposive sampling. The findings reveal that the majority of respondents were females aged 15-30, vis-ited coffee shops weekly. Sixty-two (62) percent of the respondents describe that coffee shops establishments used competitive-based pricing. Among various pricing strategies, value-based pricing was perceived as the most effective, with an average rating of 4.60. Re-spondents strongly agreed that service quality aligned with pricing strategies significantly influences customer satisfaction, scoring an average of 4.26. A test of significant relationship using Biserial corre-lation coefficient between competitive pricing, value-based pricing, and product bundle pricing regarding the impact on customer satis-faction cues indicate a statistically significant relationship at p<0.05, denoting a positive relationship between the pricing strategies and customer satisfaction. The study concludes that pricing strategies is a crucial element of the marketing mix that directly affects customer satisfaction and business profitability. Although, no universal pricing strategy may exist, understanding customer satisfaction is essential for identifying effective pricing policies. Therefore, it is recommended that coffee shops need to develop comprehensive business models to enhance pricing strategies aimed at increasing market share and sus-taining growth in the coffee shop sector.
Assessing The Impact of ISO 9001:2015 Implementation on the Service Delivery of The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Regional Office VIII
Authors: Pascua Alejandrino B. , Mades Karen C. , Basquez Sarah Jane B. , Funes Maria Tacianne L. , Malang Bernandino P. , Malang Jocelyn DS.
Published: December 2024

This study assesses the impact of ISO 9001:2015 implementation on service delivery and operational efficiency at the National Irriga-tion Administration (NIA) Regional Office VIII. A descriptive research design was employed, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected from 312 internal and external stakeholders through stratified sampling. Descriptive Statistics, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) evaluated operational efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction. Key findings show that 65% of respondents reported improvements in operational efficiency, particularly through standardized processes that streamlined workflows. However, 48% indicated that additional documentation requirements slowed down operations. In terms of service delivery, 35% of respondents observed greater consistency and reliability, while 31% experi-enced delays due to the time-consuming nature of compliance procedures. Despite these gains, challenges such as resource con-straints and resistance to change limited full adoption, particularly among senior management. The study highlights that while ISO 9001:2015 enhanced both op-erational efficiency and service delivery, the increased documentation burden and procedural complexity introduced operational slow-downs. These findings offer valuable insights into the dual impact of ISO 9001:2015 in public sector organizations, illustrating its potential for improving service delivery while underscoring the challenges of maintaining efficiency amid compliance demands.
Enhancing Operational Performance and Decision-Making through a Digital Data Tracking System
Authors: Seraspe Jerald Ramos , Salamat Franz , Malang Bernandino P. , Malang Jocelyn DS.
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness and im-pact of a digital office data tracking system in the performance and deci-sion-making of the selected employees. While manual tracking systems remain functional, their drawbacks, including inefficiency and potential for errors, make them less desirable compared to the modern and con-venient digital office tracking system. These reasons prompted the re-searcher to delve into the advantages and benefits this digital tracking system will provide the Department of Agrarian Reform. A survey research design was utilized to carry out this study. Find-ings indicate the majority of the fourteen (14) respondents were either satisfied or extremely satisfied with the current office data tracking sys-tem in place.
Iridescence the Powerful Impact of Accreditation to Osias Colleges, Inc.
Authors: Salagan Aurea C.
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the transformative effects of accreditation on an educational institution, focusing on various areas including philosophy and objectives, faculty, curriculum, laboratory facilities, research, library services, student services, social orientation, community involvement, physical plant, and administration. Utilizing a phenomenological historical research design, the research examines the institution's status before and after its voluntary accreditation by PACUCOA, highlighting significant changes such as the alignment of the Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives (VMGO) with academic programs, enhanced faculty engagement in research, and improved infrastructure, including the establishment of a new six-story building. The findings reveal that accreditation not only facilitated substantial improvements in institutional quality and student services but also fostered a culture of continuous growth and development, ultimately positioning the institution as a more competitive and respected educational provider in the region.
Exploring The Impact of Motivation on Job Performance: A Study of Government Personnel in Public Sector Organizations
Authors: Fabre John Alvin H. , Liban-Benemerito Dyan Krysza Janine G. , Alejandro Jonafe I. , Malang Bernandino P. , Malang Jocelyn DS.
Published: December 2024

The study aims to explore the relationship between motivation and job performance among government personnel in public sector organ-izations. Specifically, it seeks to understand how various motivational factors influence employee productivity and overall performance in the context of public sector work environments. Motivation theories like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (1943) which are composed of five levels of human needs for survival, an individual’s lower-level needs must be satisfied before they can address their higher-level needs. In-trinsic motivation engages a person in an activity for self-satisfaction while extrinsic motivation drives a person to function due to rewards or punishment. This allows us to foresee the incoming demotivator for the personnel and how it affects the performance of the agency where they work. The study used a quantitative research design through a Likert scale questionnaire research instrument. Descriptive statistics and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied to ana-lyze the data, acknowledging potential biases from personal beliefs, professional background, and participant interaction to enhance the study's reliability. The survey results indicated a balanced gender dis-tribution among respondents, falling in the 26 to 35 age group, and most were identified as permanent government personnel. The overall sentiment toward intrinsic motivation and recognition in the work-place was positive, suggesting a healthy organizational climate and a need for improved recognition practices. Additionally, significant dif-ferences in job motivation were noted based on age and length of ser-vice, particularly in the areas of career advancement opportunities and job security. Furthermore, the study reveals that career advancement opportunities are the main motivator for government personnel's job performance, with intrinsic motivation recognized as important, while training programs, performance-based bonuses, and team-building activities are effective strategies for enhancing motivation across diverse demographic profiles.
Assessing the Impact of Laboratory Information System on Clinical Workflow and Patient Outcomes
Authors: Antonio Stephanie M. , Dancel May B. , Lim Celestine N. , Roberto Juan Rodrigo A. , Malang Bernandino P. , Malang Jocelyn DS.
Published: December 2024

This study looks at how Valenzuela Medical Center's (VMC) clinical workflow efficiency and patient outcomes are influenced by the installa-tion of a Laboratory Information System (LIS). Due to time constraints, convenience sampling was used to collect data from sixty-three (63) medical professionals in the clinical and diagnostic laboratory depart-ments using a descriptive study design and a mixed-methods technique. To measure participant responses, descriptive statistics such as means, standard deviations, and frequency distributions were used. Using paired sample t-tests, inferential analysis was carried out to compare metrics before and after LIS adoption, with an emphasis on factors like error rates, turnaround times, and specimen handling accuracy.Key findings showed that LIS adoption improved data accessibility across departments, lowered transcription errors by about 28%, and cut specimen processing turnaround times by an average of 35%, all of which contributed to improved interdepartmental communication. Further-more, 90% of respondents expressed more confidence in the accuracy of laboratory results following LIS integration, and 85% of respondents re-ported higher satisfaction with data processing procedures. Significant improvements were also shown in patient outcomes, with quicker diag-nostic processing leading to earlier treatment commencement and, in some situations, shorter hospital stays overall. In addition to demon-strating the wider advantages of incorporating cutting-edge information systems in healthcare settings, this study emphasizes the critical role that LIS plays in improving laboratory operations, cutting down on diag-nostic delays, and improving the quality of patient care at VMC.
Schools’ Research Operations, Planning and Development: Bases for Policy Enhancement
Authors: Pabiona Dayle P.
Published: December 2024

This study was conducted to determine the schools’ research operations, planning, and development as bases for policy enhancement in the Schools Division of Iloilo for school year 2023-2024. The independent variables included age, sex, length of service, educational attainment, and congressional district, while the dependent variables were schools’ operations, planning, and research development. A total of 385 elementary teachers were selected using Slovin’s formula, and data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including frequency count, percentage, mean, t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s r, were employed to interpret the results. Findings indicated that most respondents were young, predominantly female, with substantial lengths of service. Most had a bachelor's degree and across various congressional districts, with the Second Congressional District having the highest representation. The study revealed that teachers rated the level of schools’ research operations as high, research planning as very high, and research development as high. No significant differences were found in assessments based on the teachers' profiles. However, a strong positive correlation was noted between research operations and planning, as well as between planning and development, while the relationship between operations and development was weak and non-significant. These findings underscore the need for policy enhancements that foster collaboration and resource allocation in educational research, ultimately contributing to more effective teaching practices and improved learner outcomes. Implementing targeted policies that address identified gaps can empower teachers and strengthen the overall research framework within schools.
Public Awareness, Perceptions, and Attitudes Toward Renewable Energy Adoption in the Philippines: Insights for Strategic Policy Development
Authors: Catubay Arvin T. , Cristobal Jomel R. , Malang Bernandino P. , Malang Jocelyn DS.
Published: December 2024

The Philippines currently depends heavily on fossil fuels, which are vulnerable to price fluctuations. In response, the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan sets ambitious targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the capacity mix: 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. Achieving these targets require more than just policy—it needs public understanding and support. This study examines public awareness, perceptions, and attitudes toward renewable energy in the Philippines, specifically among respondents from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna. Through a structured survey of 386 participants, we assessed familiarity with renewable sources like biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, ocean and wind, finding that while 70% are generally aware of these sources, only 30% know about local projects or government initiatives. The survey results show strong support for renewable energy’s environmental benefits, with 67% of respondents in favor, though 69% express concerns about high initial costs, and 57% are wary of reliability issues. Using statistical analysis, we found that age significantly affects awareness levels (p < 0.001), while gender, income, and location have minimal influence. These insights underline the need for public engagement to support the goals of the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan. Our findings suggest that more targeted education, financial incentives, and community involvement could boost public support and address perceived barriers, providing valuable direction for policymakers to enhance renewable energy adoption across the Philippines.
In Search of the Persianate Tradition of Taking Minutes, or How to Transfer Words to Paper
Authors: Jaśkowski Stanisław Adam
Published: December 2024

The present paper investigates the development of taking minutes and record-keeping in Mughal India and Safavid Iran from the early modern period, including protocols taken as the part of legal processes, diplomatic discussions, government administration, and leisurely gatherings, through an analysis of administrative manuals, stylized literary letters (monshaʾāt), narrative sources, and documents. This study also addresses the relationship between official writings and Sufi literature. Even prior to the import of European bureaucratic practices, the tradition of writing reports of assemblies was well established in the Persian language, though the research here demonstrates how some passages found in the chronicles are probably an embellishment of official records. The practices discussed show a commitment to keeping the account of meetings and oral exchanges in the Persianate world.
Patriotic Humanitarianism: Toward an Emotional and Experiential History of Children’s Actions During the First World War
Authors: Olsen Stephanie
Published: December 2024

Children throughout the British Empire were encouraged by schools, organisations and communities to participate in the First World War as future citizens and humanitarians. Their emotions, and their experiences, were cultivated collectively. This broad understanding of humanitarianism was sometimes tied to peace activism, but was more often tied to militarism for the majority of children in the British Empire. Children raised money by holding events and selling handmade things. They visited soldiers in hospital and brought them presents. They collected for the Red Cross, the Belgian and Serbian Relief funds and other causes. In Star City, Saskatchewan, and Mitta Mitta, Victoria, and in villages, towns and cities in between, children wrote essays, drew pictures, and composed letters to officials detailing their thoughts and efforts.

Children, through their numerous everyday humanitarian actions (often non- material and leaving no trace), contributed to the enormous emotional effort of the war. This essay examines these child-directed humanitarian efforts. Why were so many children motivated to contribute in such substantial ways to the war effort? What sort of emotional and experience formation was required in order to stir children to action? And from where was the impetus – social, school, community, family, peer and/or individual?
Recentering the Ming–Qing Transition: beyond the “Seventeenth Century Crisis,” “The Great Divergence,” and “New Qing History”
Authors: Zhao Yifeng , Broughton Michael
Published: December 2024

The Ming–Qing transition – the final dynastic change in Imperial China – followed the cyclical patterns of rise and fall that had characterized previous dynastic shifts throughout Chinese history. However, its occurrence in the mid-seventeenth century positions it within a broader context of significant transformations in Europe and the Americas. This transition’s most profound impact lay in the culmination of the long-term centralizing processes within Chinese civilization. In its aftermath, the imperial system continued, for a time, to grow stronger, while the economy experienced sustained prosperity driven by both agriculture and commerce. When viewed holistically, this period in Chinese history, while interconnected with European developments, followed a distinct trajectory. Recent scholarship, influenced by the framework of world history, has deepened our understanding of the Ming–Qing transition’s role in broader global changes. However, this approach has sometimes led to an overemphasis on international factors, potentially diminishing the transition’s significance as a particular phase in China’s long-term historical progression. Analyses that predominantly focus on ethnic Manchu–Han dynamics often fail to capture the full historical context. A more nuanced understanding emerges when we examine this period through the lens of the long-term centering process within Chinese civilization. Differences between Chinese and European civilizations extend far beyond comparisons of productive forces. Therefore, discourse around concepts like “convergence” or “divergence” can be misleading without clearly defined comparative frameworks and metrics.
Possible phylogenetic relationships of Gymnarrhena (Gymnarrheneae, Gymnarrhenoideae, Asteraceae) based on comparative carpology
Authors: KRAVTSOVA TATYANA I.
Published: December 2024

The amphicarpic annual Gymnarrhena micrantha (Asteraceae), inhabiting the deserts of North Africa to the Middle East, is interesting not only for its unusual biology, but also for its peculiar morphological structure. The monotypic genus Gymnarrhena, with uncertain position in the Asteraceae for a long time, is currently included in the tribe Gymnarrheneae and a separate subfamily Gymnarrhenoideae. The objective of the study was to examine fruit and seed structure in G. micrantha to consider possible phylogenetic relationships of the genus based on carpological characters. It was found that fruit structural organization in G. micrantha, with simply arranged pericarp and seed coat, parenchymatous and poorly differentiated on the tissue, corresponds to that of the early diverging evolutionary lines of Asteraceae, in which the states of these characters are considered to be plesiomorphic in the family. It has been suggested that taxonomically important structural features of Gymnarrhena cypsela include the structure of the apical region, pericarp and seed coat, the place of pappus attachment and its structure, the type of pappus hygroscopic tissue, and morphophysiological features of receptacular bracts surrounding the cypsela. The study did not confirm the relationship of Gymnarrhena with the tribes Corymbieae and Cichorieae, the seed coat of which differs markedly from the seed coat of Gymnarrhena in the presence of fine porosity of the exotesta cell walls. A set of the anatomical and carpological characters indicates a possible relationship of Gymnarrhena with the basal subtribes Cardopatiinae and Carlininae of the tribe Cardueae. The morphophysiological adaptation of G. micrantha and Cousiniopsis atractyloides cypselae to dissemination in desert conditions, similar in structural details, apparently suggests a close relationship between the subfamilies Gymnarrhenoideae and Carduoideae.
Craspedodidymum hunanense sp. nov. (Chaetosphaeriaceae, Chaetosphaeriales) and a new record of Aquadictyospora clematidis (Dictyosporiaceae, Pleosporales), from Hunan Province, China
Authors: LIU LILI , ZHANG QINFANG , REN YULIN , YANG QING , LI QIRUI , LIN CHUANGEN , WIJAYAWARDENE NAlIN , CHEEWANGKOON RATCHADAWAN , LIU HONGMEI , SAMARAKOON MILAN C.
Published: December 2024

Several freshwater hyphomycetous taxa were collected during a survey of freshwater fungal diversity in Hunan Province, China. Among these new collections, Craspedodidymum hunanense is introduced as a new species, distinguished from other Craspedodidymum species by its large and distinctive funnel-shaped terminal collarette and supported by ITS, LSU, and TEF1-α phylogenetic analyses. Additionally, Aquadictyospora clematidis is reported as a new geographical record in China, with a detailed morphological description and multigene phylogeny based on ITS, LSU, SSU, and TEF1-α. These findings significantly enrich our comprehension of fungal biodiversity in Hunan Province and offer valuable molecular insights.
Three new species of Scottmoria (Lecythidaceae) from northwestern South America
Authors: CORNEJO XAVIER , PRANCE GHILLEAN T.
Published: December 2024

Three new species of Neotropical Lecythidaceae are formally described: Scottmoria albomarginata from western Ecuador, S. decurrens from northwestern Ecuador to western Colombia, and S. spiralocucullata from western Amazonia in eastern Ecuador to the westernmost state of Acre in Brazil. The new species are illustrated and the relationships with related species are discussed.
Three new species of Pelargonium, section Hoarea (Geraniaceae) from the Western Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: MARAIS ELIZABETH M.
Published: December 2024

Pelargonium auriculipetalum, P. leucopetalum, and P. tortandrum are described as new species. All three species are deciduous geophytes with turnip-shaped tubers belonging to section Hoarea. They differ with regard to flower colour, flower and leaf structure, and all of them occur in the winter rainfall area along the west coast of southern Africa. All three species are illustrated and distribution maps are provided for the species.
Rokohia, a replacement name for Garrettia H.R.Fletcher (Lamiaceae: Peronematoideae), and additional notes on its lectotypification
Authors: FENG ZHEN-HAO , DESHMUKH UMAKANT BHOOPATI
Published: December 2024

N/A
Revisionary notes on the genera Symplanella Fennah, 1987 and Pseudosymplanella Che, Zhang et Webb, 2009 (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Caliscelidae, Ommatidiotinae), with description of new subgenera and new species
Authors: GNEZDILOV VLADIMIR M.
Published: December 2024

The genus Symplanella Fennah, 1987 is revised, with the type species, Symplanella breviceps Fennah, 1987, is redescribed and illustrated based on new material from Thailand. A new subgenus, Bambunella subgen. nov. (type species: Symplanella zhongtua Yang et Chen, 2014), is erected in the genus Symplanella. A new species, Symplanella (Bambunella) cattiensis sp. nov., is described from southern Vietnam. The genus Pseudosymplanella Che, Zhang et Webb, 2009 is revised, with a new subgenus, Nelobamba subgen. nov. (type species: Pseudosymplanella maxima Gong, Chen et Yang, 2023), is erected. A new species, Pseudosymplanella (Nelobamba) kubani sp. nov., is described from northern Laos. Key to the subgenera and species of the genera Symplanella and Pseudosymplanella are given. Male sternal apodemes and abdominal sternites IV–VI in Augilini are briefly discussed.
Two remarkable new species of Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae, Crambinae) from the Ogasawara Islands, Japan
Authors: MATSUI YUKI , HAMAGUCHI JUNPEI , YAGI SADAHISA , HIROWATARI TOSHIYA
Published: December 2024

We describe two new species of the genus Glaucocharis from the Ogasawara Islands of Japan: G. triochellaris Matsui, Yagi & Hirowatari, sp. nov. and G. plumbofascialis Matsui, Yagi & Hirowatari, sp. nov. The new species with remarkable morphological characters are easily distinguished from congeneric species. We provide photographs of adult, male and female genitalia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed a sister relationship between the two new species and the monophyly of Glaucocharis.
A new species of the genus Liotyphlops Peters, 1881 (Serpentes: Anomalepididae) from the Caribbean coast of Honduras
Authors: ANTÚNEZ-FONSECA CRISTOPHER A. , RAMOS-GALDAMEZ JOSUE , SOLÍS JOSÉ MARIO , DIAZ-RICAURTE JUAN C. , WILSON LARRY DAVID
Published: December 2024

We describe a new species of the genus Liotyphlops from the Caribbean coast of Honduras in Nuclear Mesoamerica, a genus previously known only from Isthmian Mesoamerica and northern, central, and eastern South America. Our description is based on a single specimen found by chance. The new species differs from other congeners by unique combination of external morphological characteristics, specifically by the presence of three scales on the first vertical row of the dorsals, three supralabial scales, 425 dorsal scales, and dorsals in 22 series of uniformly pigmented scales across the body. The type locality represents the northernmost record for the genus and is located 920 km (airline) northwest of the previous record for Liotyphlops albirostris in Costa Rica. We developed an identification key for the genus and discussed natural history and biogeographical aspects of Liotyphlops, including the species described here.
Free-living marine nematodes of the genus Richtersia Steiner, 1916 (Desmodorida: Richtersiidae) from the Sea of Japan
Authors: REVKOVA TATIANA N. , SERGEEVA NELLI G.
Published: December 2024

Two new species Richtersia japonica sp. nov. and Richtersia amurica sp. nov. are described from the shallow water of the Sea of Japan. Both new species are characterized by the presence of multispiral amphidial fovea 3.5 turns in males and one turn in females; two unequal spicules and gubernaculum with anterior apophyses. R. japonica sp. nov. is most similar to R. beibuwanensis Fu, Cai, Boucher, Cao & Wu, 2013 and R. staresensis Soetaert & Vincx, 1987 in having arrangement of longitudinal rows of spines and presence of anterior apophyses on gubernaculum, but differs from them by the length of the spicules and in de Man a value in males. R. amurica sp. nov. is most similar to R. coomansi Soetaert & Vincx, 1987 and R. inaequalis Riemann, 1966 in having arrangement of longitudinal spine rows beginning at the level of the amphidial fovea and in long hairy spines on the tail of females. But it differs from them by presence of anterior apophyses on gubernaculum and length of the spicules. Data on the geographic and bathymetric distribution of all valid Richtersia species are provided.
A new genus of tribe Dikraneurini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from China based on a new species and genus checklist from China provided
Authors: JIAO MENG , YANG MAOFA , YAN BIN , YU XIAOFEI
Published: December 2024

A new leafhopper genus Sugea gen. nov. is described and illustrated here based on type species Sugea obtusangula sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, China, and placed in the tribe Dikraneurini (subfamily Typhlocybinae). Sugea is easily distinguishable from all other known dikraneurine genera based on the angulate face profile with a distinct submarginal furrow present along the anterior and lateral margins.
Workplace Spirituality and Psychosocial Safety Climate: Moderating Role of Gratitude
Authors: Pahuja Saloni , Garg Priyanka , Punia Bijender Kumar
Published: December 2024

The study examined the relationship between workplace spirituality and psychosocial safety climate among employees of Indian banks and insurance companies. It also explored the role of gratitude as a moderator in workplace spirituality and psychosocial safety climate. The empirical study measured the following three variables: workplace spirituality, psychosocial safety climate and gratitude. The sample size constituted 317 employees from the Indian banking and insurance sector. The study adopted a regression model that considered three dimensions of workplace spirituality as independent variables and psychosocial safety climate as dependent variables. The relationships between three variables are examined using correlation and multiple regression, and the moderation effect of gratitude is studied using the PROCESS macro in SPSS 21. The results revealed that three dimensions of workplace spirituality are significant predictors of psychosocial safety climate and could explain 61.2% of variations in psychosocial safety climate. It is observed that the workplace spirituality regression weight increases from 0.389 to 0.559 on interacting with gratitude; thus, there is a significant moderating effect of gratitude amid the relationships of three dimensions of workplace spirituality and psychosocial safety climate. Also, if employees display gratuitous behaviour, it will enhance the impact of workplace spirituality on the workplace’s psychosocial safety climate at Indian banking and insurance companies.
Chest Pain Risk Stratification in the Emergency Department and Prediction of Major Adverse Cardiac Events Using HEART Score
Authors: Rajesh R  , Amith Kumar CS  , Reddy Sankarapu Narendra
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should be identified from various cardiac and noncardiac causes of chest pain. Non-ST segment elevation (NSTE-ACS) diagnosis can be done immediately in the case of typical changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or increased levels of myocardial markers, the absence of such variation does not always exclude NSTE-ACS. NSTE-ACS in its early stages difficult to diagnose. To stratify the risk of chest pain, aid early diagnosis, and prediction of outcome HEART score was designed. Components of the HEART score are history, ECG, age, risk factors, and troponin. The objectives of the study are risk stratification of chest pain in ED, prediction of MACE, validate the HEART Score in risk stratification of chest pain, and deciding on the discharge of patients.

Materials and methods:

This was a hospital-based, prospective study involving 220 patients who were admitted and discharged according to risk stratification using the HEART score. Patients are followed up over six weeks for prediction of MACE. MACE includes AMI, PCI, CABG, or death. The collected data were analysed with SPSS version 26.0, IBM Corp, Chicago, Illinois, USA. P value ≤.05 is considered as significant.

Results:

Out of 220 patients, 51 reached MACE. Low-risk HEART scores were seen in 25% of patients and No MACE occurred in these patients. Intermediate risk HEART scores were seen in 53% of patients and MACE occurred in 9.3% of patients. High-risk HEART scores were seen in 22% of patients and MACE occurred in 83% of patients.

Conclusion:

HEART score is helpful in risk stratification of chest pain in our study. It also aids in early diagnosis of intermediate and high-risk groups. HEART score also helps in decision-making to discharge patients. Thus, HEART score provides a quick and reliable prediction of outcomes in chest pain and should be used in ED.
Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Patients Presenting with H1N1 Pneumonia and Respiratory Failure at a Tertiary Care Centre of Central India
Authors: Agrawal Shailesh , Bajpai Pranay , Kodape Anay , Agrawal Palash , Avashia Sanjay , Bhargava Salil , Bansal Deepak
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims:

Influenza, a lethal disease presenting with acute respiratory illness (ARI), has taken its toll on mankind through successive epidemics and pandemics. This study was conducted amidst the H1N1 influenza outbreak that struck central India in the latter half of 2022.

Materials and Methods:

Records of all patients admitted from 1 August 2022 to 7 September 2022 at a tertiary care centre of central India were reviewed and all patients admitted with acute respiratory failure who were suspected and tested for H1N1 influenza were included.

Results:

Thirty-two patients with respiratory failure were included in the study. They had a median age of 46 years, among which 50% patients were males. The median duration of illness was 6.8 (+/– 4.0) days, in which majority of patients were having fever (90.62%) and dyspnoea (93.75%). The median duration of hospital stay was nine days. Overall, 37.5% of the individuals had comorbidities, with diabetes mellitus (21.87%) and systemic hypertension (18.75%) being the most common. About 28.13% patients were confirmed positive for H1N1. The median oxygen saturation (SpO2) at presentation was 83% (with 13 patients having a saturation below 80% at room air) with a median respiratory rate of 25 breaths per minute. In 31 (96.8%) patients, chest imaging revealed an involvement in at least two zones. Eighteen (56.25%) patients had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Overall mortality among the patients was 31.25%. All patients received full course oseltamivir.

Conclusion:

Our study H1N1 influenza virus-associated ARDS had a mortality rate of 31.25% with diabetes being a significant risk factor for severe disease and mortality.
Why Portable Handheld Cardiac Ultrasound Devices Ought to Incorporate 3-lead Electrocardiographs: A Mini-narrative Review
Authors: Okechukwu Chidiebere Emmanuel
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Transthoracic echocardiography is a non-invasive diagnostic test used to assess the structure and function of the heart in real-time. An examination of the heart's electrical activity is done non-invasively through electrocardiography (ECG). The ECG is primarily used during an echocardiography procedure to assess the heart's rhythm and to synchronise the cardiac cycles with echocardiographic image acquisition; this enables the echocardiographer to acquire images at specific phases of the cardiac cycle. A handheld echocardiograph is not connected to the electrocardiogram, which is a clinical limitation for the point-of-care ultrasound procedure. The objectives of this review are to highlight the reasons why 3-lead electrocardiography should be incorporated into pocket-sized handheld echocardiographs to support clinicians in conducting and reporting complete cardiac investigations.

Methods:

An in-depth search was made on the PubMed database to find experimental and review studies that assessed the importance of 3-lead ECG in the acquisition of hand-held echocardiographic data. Four related studies were selected for this review.

Results:

The study found that integrating cardiac point-of-care ultrasound into primary healthcare practices such as family medicine or general practitioners’ practices and training clinicians to accurately perform the procedure can expedite cardiovascular disease diagnosis and treatment in critical and non-critical scenarios. Secondly, recent hand-held cardiac ultrasound examination outcomes are as accurate and precise as standard transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: Furthermore, medical device companies should consider integrating and producing new hand-held echocardiographs with configured 3-lead electrocardiographs that are artificial intelligence-enhanced to assist clinicians in precise point-of-care cardiac assessments.
Between Realism and Idealism in the Politics of Development
Authors: Lyon Chris
Published: December 2024

Politically informed approaches to development assistance have become highly influential, particularly in reaction to the era of ‘Good Governance’. A notable feature of this trend has been explicit antipathy to ‘idealist’ thinking and concomitant preoccupation with being realistic, pragmatic, understanding political realities and eschewing moralism, utopianism, idealism, and the like. In other words, there has been an underlying philosophical turn towards political realism. Now, the political philosophy literature would suggest that realism typically generates questions and worries relating to normativity: how values, ethical constraints, political ideologies, visions of desired futures, and so on, might work under realism. Do corresponding concerns also attend to the realist turn in the politics of development? I argue that they do. They can be organized heuristically as a sequence of three problems: loss of critical distance, crypto-normativity and creeping return of idealism. This is the realist’s trilemma. It generates normative quandaries and an inherent logical instability that makes the realist posture a difficult one to maintain for long. I argue that it is better, when thinking about the politics of development, simply to grasp the third horn of the trilemma and let idealism back in, though tempered by the useful critical intervention of the realist turn.
Dignity in Practice: Navigating Humanitarian Response and the Right to Stay Amid Lebanon’s Multiple Migrations
Authors: Petro Michael
Published: December 2024

Executive Summary

This piece will examine the complexities of the “right to stay” within the overlapping and multiple migratory contexts of Lebanon. I argue that standard right to stay frameworks fall short in addressing the complex interplay of Lebanon’s local context, the role of humanitarian response, and the importance of agency and control in the lives of those affected by forced displacement. Based on the work of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Lebanon with Syrian refugees, local Lebanese residents, and diverse populations of migrant workers, I offer several lessons learned for humanitarian work on the right to stay in similar contexts. First, based on our engagement with Syrian refugees, I argue that, in practice, JRS understands the right to stay as a control right which is grounded in human dignity and the subjective importance of control of intimate space. I argue that understanding this right as continuous with the migratory vision of Pope Francis, which places free choice, control, and agency at the core of a person’s choice to migrate, offers humanitarian actors pathways for response, even in contexts of actual and ongoing displacement. Altogether, this framework enables JRS programming focused on fostering spaces of intimate control, mental health, and psychosocial support for those whose dignity has been violated, and facilitating agency within the limits of the Lebanese context. Second, based on JRS’s growing engagement with local Lebanese populations, I describe how this dignity framework requires broad inclusion in programming. At the same time, Lebanon’s overlapping migratory flows necessitate greater attention to the dynamics between ongoing displacements in Lebanon in order to navigate tensions around aid access. Finally, drawing from JRS and Jesuit work with migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, I describe how our work engages the complexity of migrants’ temporary displacements and their link with home countries, highlighting questions of agency and attention. Ultimately, I argue that humanitarian organizations need to pay closer attention to these spaces of multiple migrations, engaging the actuality of many migrants’ mobility, and grounding work for the right to stay in more expansive visions of human dignity through support for migrants’ control and agency. Governments, particularly the government of Lebanon, must reduce violations of this basic control by ceasing programs of involuntary return and long-term migrant detention.
Dalit Muslims of Barak Valley: A Socio-Historical Study
Authors: Palit Projit Kumar , Ahmed Ohi Uddin
Published: December 2024

This article is an attempt to examine the historical background of Dalit Muslim communities in the Barak Valley of southern Assam in the context of Dalit Muslims in India. The Marathi word ‘Dalit’ (broken) has been widely used in the intellectual discourses to mean the oppressed class of people among the Hindus—the untouchables and low castes. It was the outcome of age-old social inequality and discrimination prevalent in the Indian subcontinent that a large segment of the population was being pushed to the outer edge of human society. They were destined to live a life of semi-human beings. Following from this, the word ‘Dalit Muslim’ is quite new in the academic and political discourses and strongly resented by the orthodox Muslims. Theoretically, Islam does not recognize any social distinctions based on race, ethnicity, occupation and, of course, caste. However, empirical studies including censuses since the British period confirm the presence of severe social inequality and discrimination among Indian Muslims similar to the Hindu caste system. The origin of Dalit Muslims was associated with the historical expansion of Islam in India following the conversion of millions of low castes and Dalits to Islam in order to escape social discrimination. But their conversion to Islam did not mitigate caste; rather, they were simply added to the new social organization with similar class and status. They continued to pursue their hereditary occupation, being considered demeaning by their ashraf co-religionists, and branded them with derogatory terms such as ajlaf, razil, kamin, itr, arzal, or lowborn. They were treated the most contumely without having the slightest regard for the Islamic principle of social equality by the upper caste Muslims due to their association with the demeaning occupations. Therefore, they were destined to live apart from the mainstream social life and reduced to the extent of outcastes or Dalit as compared to the Hindu caste organization. This article examines the socio-historical background of different Dalit Muslim communities in the Barak Valley of southern Assam.
Therapeutic drug monitoring vs. pharmacogenetic testing in the context of elevated olanzapine concentrations and prior clozapine intolerability: a case study
Authors: Khorassani Farah , Azevedo Ricardo , Farokhpay Reza
Published: December 2024

Background

Strong evidence for therapeutic drug monitoring exists for olanzapine and clozapine, however, olanzapine therapeutic drug monitoring is often underutilized. Evidence for pharmacogenomic-guided dosing of antipsychotics is not as robust, especially for cytochrome P450 1A2 metabolized agents such as olanzapine and clozapine. Herein, we present a case involving a patient suspected of having poor CYP1A2 metabolism. Therapeutic drug monitoring of olanzapine was employed to guide the titration of clozapine following olanzapine failure. Despite pursuing pharmacogenetic testing, no meaningful results were obtained due to the omission of CYP1A2 variants associated with poor metabolism.

Case presentation

A 32-year-old Caucasian male with schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder presented with extrapyramidal symptoms due to antipsychotic polypharmacy, resulting in multiple falls. He experienced a partial response to olanzapine 40 mg, thus his dose was increased to 50 mg. Sampling an olanzapine trough revealed a supratherapeutic level of 152 ng/mL. Given his history of EPS and other reported adverse effects from antipsychotics, including clozapine, pharmacogenomic testing was pursued. The patient cross-tapered to clozapine slowly, with the knowledge that the patient would likely exhibit elevated levels of olanzapine. Clozapine was efficacious and tolerated well. As expected, the patient exhibited higher clozapine trough concentrations for someone of his age, ethnicity, and gender. Pharmacogenomic testing yielded no relevant findings relating to olanzapine or clozapine metabolism.

Conclusion

This case highlights the utility of TDM over pharmacogenetic testing for patients on these medications with a suspected alteration in CYP1A2 metabolism. therapeutic drug monitoring emerges as a more practical approach with stronger evidence for its use, particularly in cases of suspected reduced CYP1A2 activity, where suballeles resulting in decreased enzyme function are not readily detectable on standard commercial pharmacogenomic panels.