bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalytic Degradation Performance of Manganese-Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Coated With Eggshell-Derived Calcium Oxide For Rhodamine B Removal
Authors:   Department of Chemistry, Science and Arts College, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia, Alharbi Walaa , Alharbi Khadija ,   Department of Chemistry, Science and Arts College, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia, Alotaibi Abdullah ,   Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, 11911, AdDawadimi, Saudi Arabia, Azeem Sami Abdel ,   Chemistry Department, Al-Quwayiyah Applied College, 11971, Shaqra University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,   Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Egypt
Published: January 2025

Low-cost natural materials-mediated adsorbents for the removal
of dye pollutants from water are gaining popularity over chemical
adsorbents due to their eco-friendliness, widespread availability, and
ease of manufacture. A CaO-derived from eggshell was used to alter
the surface of zinc-manganese-ferrite (Zn0.6Mn0.4Fe2O4) nanoparticles by
the post-precipitation method. The CaO/Zn0.6Mn0.4Fe2O4 nanocomposite
was studied using FT-IR , XRD and SEM, and utilized for the removal of
Rhodamine B dye. The adsorption efficiency of 10 mg L-1 RhB reached 75%
at pH 4.0, 60 min of shaking, and 2.0 g L-1 of adsorbent. The intra-particle
diffusion process was a rate-limiting phase, and the results matched the
pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Adsorption data were well-fitting
by the Langmuir isotherm model, with R2=0.989, KL =0.232, and maximal
monolayer capacity (qmax) of 30.7mg.g-1.The Tempkin isotherm revealed
that the lateral repulsive forces are non-significant. The D-R model
revealed positive adsorption-free energy confirming an endothermic
chemical adsorption process. The Fenton-like catalytic degradation
showed a removal of 98% at 80 min and increased by increasing the
TDS of the medium.
The diffusion of agricultural groundwater extraction in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Morales Martínez Daniel , Gori Maia Alexandre , Ruiz Garcia Junior
Published: January 2025

Agricultural production in Brazil has increasingly relied on groundwater extraction, raising concerns about the sustainability of underground reservoirs. This paper compares the diffusion of the two most common types of wells used to extract groundwater for agriculture in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: conventional (low depth) and tubular (high depth). We use longitudinal municipal-level information and spatial panel models to analyze the two main drivers of groundwater extractions: climate variability (aridity) and environmental conservation (conservation agriculture and native forest conservation). Our results highlight how increasing aridification in the dry season (winter) has reduced the diffusion of conventional wells and increased the diffusion of less sustainable tubular wells. We also highlight that soil conservation and native forest preservation practices reduce the need for deep underground water extraction.
Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment: A Ten- and Six-Story Shake-Table Test Building Case Study
Authors: Kontra Steven , Barbosa Andre R. , Sinha Arijit , Mishra Prashanna , McBain Morgan , Pei Shiling , van de Lindt John W. , Simpson Barbara G.
Published: January 2025

The utilization of mass timber engineered wood products has increased for new buildings aiming to reduce environmental impacts. Whole-building life-cycle assessment (WBLCA) has been used to quantify the environmental impacts for a building’s lifespan. While mechanisms for calculating the cradle-to-grave impacts of a single building are well established, there are few examples of WBLCA applied for buildings in their first and second life that can be used to inform perspectives and pathways related to the circular economy and lead to informed decision making. This work presents a case study WBLCA to examine the effect of overlapping system boundaries and alternative end-of-life pathways for a building structure in its first and second life. This case study analyzed a ten-story mass timber shake-table specimen that was partially deconstructed and reused as a six-story shake-table building structure. Environmental impacts were analyzed in terms of global warming potential (GWP) calculated as the sum of fossil carbon, biogenic carbon, and avoided impacts. When examining reuse and landfill pathway alternatives using current standards and practices, results show that reusing material causes a positive GWP trend in the first system boundary and negative GWP trend in the second boundary. These results could indicate that it is not advantageous to reuse the ten-story building structure, running against principles of waste hierarchy, although the interpretation should be considered with caution. Future analyses could be improved by considering additional criteria such as demand on forest stocks, economic incentives, and even social impacts for a more complete representation of sustainability.
Mechanism for Achieving Balance between Ecological Conservation and Community Forest Products Benefits: A Case Study of a Typical National Park in China
Authors: Luo Yixuan , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: January 2025

The establishment of national nature reserves has led to the protection of ecosystem diversity. In the context of China’s ecological protection system, controversies have arisen over the guarantee of dwellers’ well-being from forestland. This study uses Wuyi Mountain National Park (WYMNP) in China as an example to discuss the balance between ecological conservation and forest community benefits from forest products. Based on a cross-sectional survey, a logit regression method was adopted to explore factors influencing the ability of forestland holders within WYMNP to make productive financing decisions for forest production without policy intervention. Additionally, the government’s integrated management strategy that accelerates positive social externalities was explored. The results reveal that: before the establishment of WYMNP, forestland holders in this region that operated in the nontimber forest product (NTFP) industry had more incentives to make proactive productive financing decisions on forest production; second, enterprise forestland holders were more motivated to expand their forest products operations than individual forestland holders; finally, after the establishment of WYMNP, the government departments conducted adaptive policies including redemption of forestland and classifying the extent to which production activities could be performed. The government provides a compromise solution that supplies long-running payments in core ecological conservation areas to secure dwellers’ livelihoods, while in regular control areas, the opportunity to operate the NTFP industry is finitely provided with regular monitoring. This strategy provides insight that holistic optimization for the development of forest communities and dwellers could be incorporated into the mechanisms for the management of national parks globally.
Soy Flour-Modified pMDI Resin Improves Wood Panel Properties by Suppressing Steam Generation
Authors: Alawode Abiodun , Via Brian K. , Banerjee Sujit
Published: January 2025

Soy flour (SF) tends to retain water, and its inclusion in polymeric methyl diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) resin leads to the absorption of some of the water in the furnish, which effectively raises the boiling point of water and inhibits the formation of steam in the mat. The role of steam inhibition was confirmed through use of sodium polyacrylate, a polymer that can hold several hundred times its own weight of water. The reduced steam generation decreases steam leakage during pressing and raises the internal board pressure. Measurements made on partially bonded panels during the early stages of pressing show that SF increases bond strength (which could potentially reduce press time), reduces press blows, and decreases springback. The vertical density profiles of fully developed boards also improve. The warp of thin wood pieces bonded with pMDI when exposed to humidity is reduced when SF is included in the resin. These benefits augment the previously described advantages of SF substitution in pMDI resin, namely resin cost savings, increased cold tack, reduced platen sticking, and higher board strength.
Wh&wh Coordinations
Authors: Bošković Željko
Published: January 2025

abstract: The paper examines wh&wh coordinations (wh&wh), arguing that what makes them possible in a language is not the availability of multiple wh-fronting (MWF), as previously assumed, but the availability of an indeterminate system. Such coordinations are argued to involve derivational coordination formation via sideward merger where the affected elements undergo movement before coordination formation, sideward merger being disallowed from interpreted positions. The derivationally formed coordination undergoes movement upon insertion into the structure. The account captures a clause-mate requirement and ordering constraints on elements involved in wh&wh, as well as a single-pair reading restriction. A typological prediction is that since both MWF and wh&wh depend on the availability of an indeterminate system, but in different ways, there should be a good deal of overlap between MWF languages and languages allowing wh&wh but there should still be languages that allow wh&wh but not MWF, which is borne out.
Associative plurals in Slavic languages and beyond
Authors: Lewis Beccy
Published: January 2025

abstract: This paper examines the associative plural construction in languages that use the multiplicative plural marker to derive the associative plural (henceforth plural pattern languages) and establishes a novel typological generalization about such languages: all plural pattern languages are either articleless or have affixal articles. To account for this previously unnoticed property of plural pattern languages, a new analysis is presented in which the plural pattern involves incorporation of Num0 to the head of a functional projection AssociativeP. It is then argued that associative plurals in South Slavic—which involve plural possessives —also show the plural pattern (i.e., also involve incorporation of the Num head), showing that the current approach can unify cross-linguistically dissimilar associative plurals under one analysis.
A Moving Carriage of Similes: Robert Musil and The Perfecting of a Love
Authors: Turner Zeynep Talay , Turner Charles
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT: Robert Musil described his novella The Perfecting of a Love as a failure. In this paper it is suggested why he might have judged it so. The failure, if that is what it is, is attributed to an undisciplined use of simile. To that end the paper constructs a spectrum of imaginative license, defined through four points or waystations. The first three are: i) metaphors we live by; ii) relative metaphors social scientists live by; and iii) absolute metaphors poets and philosophers live by. These correspond to three ways in which thinking subjects itself to a communal discipline: the discipline of a community in everyday life, the discipline of a social science, and the discipline of poetry and philosophy. A fourth stage is then identified, called here: iv) simile running wild. It was here that Musil's striving for "precision in matters of the soul" resulted in something more akin to an individual's private counter-discipline.
The Possibility of Convergence: A Study of Narrative Structure in Don DeLillo's Fiction
Authors: Martín-Salván Paula
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT: This essay seeks to identify and discuss a recurrent narrative pattern in Don DeLillo's middle period novels, namely Libra, Underworld, Cosmopolis , and Falling Man . The pattern can be tentatively described as a multiplotted narrative structure, combining several sequences of events of varying duration and order. I propose the category "converging narratives" to depict it, drawing on the ambivalent meaning of "convergence" itself and referring to both the tendency converge and its fulfilment. I will argue that DeLillo's converging narratives work as sophisticated creative interrogations of the ideas of sequence and causality, which are insufficiently described through existing terminology. I draw on unnatural narratology and poststructuralist theory in order to formally describe and discuss the implications of DeLillo's converging narratives, identifying the ways in which narrative convergence fails to produce a sense of totality in them. My reading of these texts tries to move beyond the critical tendency to inscribe them within binary systems of aesthetic classification around realism, postmodernism, and post-postmodernism, which concentrate on the relation of fiction to the representation of totalities or closed systems. My conclusion points to how DeLillo creatively articulates an irresoluble tension between opposing forces at work within the very concept of "convergence."
Analyzing Narrative Empathy in Readers' Responses to Literature: A Taxonomy of Linguistic Evidence of Empathetic Responses
Authors: Fernandez-Quintanilla Carolina
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT: The study of narrative empathy (i.e., readers' sharing of characters' perspectives and mental states) is getting increasing attention from theoretical and empirical perspectives. Recently, a number of empirical quantitative and qualitative studies have been conducted on empathy in literary reading. However, in qualitative studies where participants are not directly prompted to comment on empathy, the analysis of empathetic responses raises an important methodological problem; namely, determining whether and how there is evidence of empathy in readers' verbal responses. This article proposes a way to operationalize, or make workable, what counts as evidence of narrative empathy by developing a taxonomy of linguistic evidence of empathetic responses that ranges from explicit to implicit evidence. The taxonomy is illustrated with data from a focus group study of readers' responses to two short stories by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano. This research makes a methodological contribution by outlining a framework for the qualitative analysis of empathetic responses. At the same time, the article considers some caveats in the analysis of readers' responses which may be valuable for those conducting empirical reader research in general because these issues ultimately influence the analysis and interpretation of the data, and thus, the results obtained. I argue for a shift in current scholarly discussion toward the issues that concern the actual analysis of reader responses without shying away from acknowledging the problems that arise in the process of analysis. This discussion should be of interest to scholars working in empirical narratology, empirical stylistics, and empirical literary studies.
Organizing the New World of Print: Library Management and Cultural Business at the Commercial Press, ca. 1900 to ca. 1940
Authors: Zhang Mindi
Published: January 2025

Abstract: New fields of learning, new print genres, and new technologies prompted an unprecedented proliferation of printed information in early twentieth-century China. This article examines a response to the resulting information management challenge at the Commercial Press's in-house library, the Hanfenlou. Classification and indexing systems implemented at the library exemplify two cultural transformations during the early decades of the twentieth century: a shift of the knowledge-classification paradigm toward Euro-American disciplinary systems and a quest for efficient knowledge retrieval that inspired experimentations in the indexing of Chinese characters. Furthermore, the Hanfenlou reform was broadly integrated into the press's editorial, publishing, and marketing operations, including the popularization of a purchasable model "library." The case of this library shows that a transformation of modern Chinese consciousness was concurrent with a change in the practices for management of information in printed form. Conjoined with private profit-making ventures, these new practices could, in turn, be mobilized in further efforts to disseminate knowledge to the public.
Dependence of brightness induction on the contrast polarity of a disk–annulus stimulus
Authors: Kavcar Osman , Rudd Michael E. , Crognale Michael A.
Published: January 2025

Classical theories of brightness and lightness induction have largely been stated in terms of two opposing influences from the surround: contrast and assimilation. In fact, these two effects are part of a more complex but reproducible and mathematically well-defined statistical process in which both low-level neural constraints and top-down cognitive judgments contribute to the measured percept. Here we test a particular model of this process based on edge integration theory with contrast gain control. We employed a brightness matching technique based on disk–annulus stimuli and showed that we can account for our results with a quantitative model in which the contrast polarity of the stimulus plays a critical role.
Performance evaluation of free space optical communication terminal with local weather considerations
Authors: Song Hajun , Kim Dongju , Jang Hansol
Published: January 2025

Terrestrial free space optical communication (FSOC) has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its numerous advantages. However, its performance is highly susceptible to environmental conditions. This paper introduces a methodology for evaluating the performance of the FSOC terminal with consideration of local weather conditions and validates this approach using a developed FSOC terminal. By leveraging meteorological data to estimate the refractive index structure constant (C
n
2) for specific regions and applying a gamma-gamma channel model, turbulence-induced fading is assessed. The suitability of these models is confirmed through measurements of the received signal strength indicator at the FSOC terminal developed by us, which enables an estimation of the outage probability of the FSOC link. Additionally, through experimental verification of the terminal under domestic weather conditions, the impact of turbulence-induced fading on single-channel transmission according to the 2.5 GBASE-T Ethernet standard is demonstrated on a free-space optical link of over 5.8 km.
Ultrasensitive self-filtering visible-light phototransistor using InGaN/GaN single-carrier superlattices and polarization depletion
Authors: Lv Zesehng , Xu Haoming , Peng Zhuoya , Peng Tianzhi , Wang Gang , Jiang Hao
Published: January 2025

Visible-light bandpass field effect phototransistors (FEPTs) with ultrahigh sensitivity and strong wavelength selectivity are fabricated using InGaN/GaN single-carrier superlattices (SCSLs) and polarization-induced depletion. The pure polarization electric field generated at the heterointerface is utilized to deplete the SCSLs, achieving the low dark current leakage with a float photogate. Meanwhile, the SCSLs with well-designed barrier thickness are introduced as the absorber and the channel, which can effectively separate the photoexcited carriers and suppress carrier recombination, thereby contributing to the ultrahigh photocurrent gain. With back illumination, the device achieves an ultrahigh shot noise limited detectivity of 1.8 × 1018 Jones and an extremely strong narrowband selectivity with spectral rejection ratios above 108. Moreover, the FEPT demonstrates pretty good long-term stability and adaptability to complex illumination conditions. Compared with traditional Si photodetectors, these superior performance metrics provide a practical and convenient option for various applications requiring weak light detection and color distinguishing.
High-precision wavefront shaping based on high-pass filtering
Authors: Liu Linxian , Li Qiuyuan , Ding Chunxu , Gao Jia , Feng Jiangtao , Zhao Yaozong , Yang Jiamiao
Published: January 2025

Digital micromirror devices (DMDs) provide high refresh rates for fast light modulation in wavefront shaping. However, the binarized modulation of the optical field by the DMDs introduces a constant direct current (DC) optical field, which causes non-negligible background noise. This limits the modulation accuracy in DMD-based wavefront shaping. To address this, we propose a high-precision wavefront shaping method based on high-pass filtering, which eliminates the DC optical field and improves the anti-scattering focusing by filtering out the low-frequency spatial components. The experimental results show that this method significantly reduces the speckle similarity of optical fields modulated by different DMD patterns through the same scattering medium. Compared with the conventional method, this method can improve the anti-scattering focusing contrast by 1.7 times.
Linking citation and retraction data reveals the demographics of scientific retractions among highly cited authors
Authors: Ioannidis John P. A. , Pezzullo Angelo Maria , Cristiano Antonio , Boccia Stefania , Baas Jeroen
Published: January 2025

Retractions are becoming increasingly common but still account for a small minority of published papers. It would be useful to generate databases where the presence of retractions can be linked to impact metrics of each scientist. We have thus incorporated retraction data in an updated Scopus-based database of highly cited scientists (top 2% in each scientific subfield according to a composite citation indicator). Using data from the Retraction Watch database (RWDB), retraction records were linked to Scopus citation data. Of 55,237 items in RWDB as of August 15, 2024, we excluded non-retractions, retractions clearly not due to any author error, retractions where the paper had been republished, and items not linkable to Scopus records. Eventually, 39,468 eligible retractions were linked to Scopus. Among 217,097 top-cited scientists in career-long impact and 223,152 in single recent year (2023) impact, 7,083 (3.3%) and 8,747 (4.0%), respectively, had at least 1 retraction. Scientists with retracted publications had younger publication age, higher self-citation rates, and larger publication volume than those without any retracted publications. Retractions were more common in the life sciences and rare or nonexistent in several other disciplines. In several developing countries, very high proportions of top-cited scientists had retractions (highest in Senegal (66.7%), Ecuador (28.6%), and Pakistan (27.8%) in career-long citation impact lists). Variability in retraction rates across fields and countries suggests differences in research practices, scrutiny, and ease of retraction. Addition of retraction data enhances the granularity of top-cited scientists’ profiles, aiding in responsible research evaluation. However, caution is needed when interpreting retractions, as they do not always signify misconduct; further analysis on a case-by-case basis is essential. The database should hopefully provide a resource for meta-research and deeper insights into scientific practices.
Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis (PDKA) among newly diagnosed diabetic patients at Dilla University Hospital, Dilla, Ethiopia: Prevalence and predictors
Authors: Oromo Dinberu Oyamo
Published: January 2025

Background

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a morbid complication of Type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM), and its occurrence at diagnosis has rarely been studied in Ethiopia, despite the many cases seen in the pediatric population.

Objective

The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of DKA among patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and identify avoidable risk factors.

Method

This institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2018 to December1, 2022. Newly diagnosed T1DM under 15 years were included in the study. DKA and the new diagnosis of type 1 DM were defined based on the 2022 ISPAD and other international guidelines. A data collection form was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors.

Result

Among the 61 newly diagnosed T1DM pediatric patients admitted, DKA was the initial presentation in 37 patients, accounting for 60.7% of the cases. The mean age at diagnosis was 8 (±3.85) years, with females being more affected. Clinical presentation revealed vomiting accompanied by signs of dehydration (32.4%), with polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss (26.2%) being the most common symptoms. The presence of adequate knowledge of signs and symptoms of DM (AOR = 0.07, 95%CI 0.019–0.0897, P value 0.017) and a family history of DM (AOR = 0.129 95%CI 0.019–0.897, P value 0.039) were protective factors against DKA as the initial diagnosis of DM. Moreover, new-onset type 1 DM without DKA was 1.5 times higher in children from families with a high monthly income (AOR = 1.473, 95% CI 0.679–3.195 p value 0.000) compared to those from families with low income. The presence of an infection prior to DKA (AOR = 11.69,95%CI 1.34–10.1,P value 0.026) was associated with the diagnosis of DKA at the initial presentation of DM.

Conclusion

A high number of children present with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the initial diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM), which is associated with inadequate knowledge of the signs and symptoms of DM as well as the masking effect of concomitant infections in these children. Healthcare professionals should endeavor to suspect and screen children. Continuous awareness creation of DM is encouraged to diagnose diabetes mellitus earlier and to decrease the prevalence of DKA as an initial presentation.
Abnormalities in male gametophytes development responsible for low seed set of Peudosasa subsolida
Authors: Jiang Bonan , Cao Zhihua , Yang Dejia , Wang Yongmei , Ma Yingchun , Zhang Shiqi , Zhan Hui , Yu Lixia , Wang Shuguang , Li Juan
Published: January 2025

Pseudosasa subsolida belongs to the Pseudosasa genus within the Poaceae family. Due to its unique flowering cycle and the physiological traits associated with asexual reproduction, acquiring floral material from P. subsolida is particularly challenging. To investigate the causes of the low seed set rate in P. subsolida, floral organs and the development of male and female gametes were examined using conventional paraffin sectioning. The results revealed that the spikelet of P. subsolida exhibited the characteristics of a pseudospikelet with a latent bud, while the inflorescence displayed traits of an infinite inflorescence. Each spikelet contained approximately 10–16 florets and was accompanied by two bracts at its base. The fundamental structure of the florets comprised one lemma, one palea, three lodicules, three stamens, and one pistil. At the later stages of anther development, some abnormalities were observed, including the failure of pollen grains to form, deformation and shrinkage of the cells in the anther sac and tapetum, loss of the cells in the middle layer, cavitation of the microspores, and no identifiable contents The study concluded that the primary factor contributing to the low seed setting rate of P. subsolida was the aberrant development of male gametophytes. The significance of this study lay in its pioneering exploration of the reproductive structure of P. subsolida, and provide a theoretical reference for the fundamental examination of flower structure.
Laboratory risk assessment of Beauveria bassiana AAD16 on two species of ladybird beetle
Authors: Hasan Md. Rajib , Raju Md. Rasel , Lim Un Taek
Published: January 2025

Beauveria bassiana AAD16, isolated from Allomyrina dichotoma, shows promise as a mycoinsecticide against various coleopterans. However, assessing non-target impacts on beneficial beetles like ladybirds is crucial before commercialization. Here we assessed the compatibility between ladybird beetles and B. bassiana AAD16. The virulence of the AAD16 strain was compared with that of an available commercial strain, B. bassiana GHA, for two developmental stages (adults and 3rd instar larvae) of two coccinellids, Harmonia axyridis Pallas and Chilocorus spp. Say using the topical (1μl) application method. The ST50 for the two life stages of the two ladybird beetles were not different between the two tested fungal strains. Mycosis rates recorded from the dead bodies were also not significant except in the 3rd instar which showed 36 and 63% from AAD16 and GHA strains in H. axyridis, while those of Chilocorus spp. were 40 and 63%, respectively. In adult stage, the mycosis rates of H. axyridis (males and females tested separately) were (20–23) % and (26–30) % from the AAD16 and GHA strains, while those of Chilocorus spp. (unsexed) were 23 and 30%, respectively. AAD16 caused similar rates of mortality in the adult stages of both species. Therefore, we conclude that B. bassiana AAD16 would not increase risk to these beneficial insects compared to a similar pathogen commercialized.
Penehyclidine for postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients receiving general anesthesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Yuan Ye , Zhou Junhui , Zhang Yanjiao , Zhong Wei , Xi Gaoyuan , Ma Hongxia , Wang Xiaojing
Published: January 2025

Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication of general anesthesia. This affects 30–80% of patients, and leads to discomfort and extended hospital stays. The effectiveness of penehyclidine for preventing PONV remains a subject of debate in the literature. Therefore, the present systematic review and meta-analysis will evaluate the efficacy of penehyclidine in preventing PONV in patients who received general anesthesia.

Methods

The present systematic review and meta-analysis is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024523798). The present study will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, and the A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) guidelines. The search will be conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and CQVIP. This will comprise articles published from the inception of the databases to April 1, 2024. Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that meet the inclusion criteria would be searched. The main outcome measure is the incidence of PONV. The secondary outcome measures include the incidence of postoperative nausea, incidence of postoperative vomiting, severity of nausea, severity of vomiting, patient satisfaction, length of hospital stay and adverse effects. Two researchers will independently evaluate the quality of the selected literature, and extract the data. The quality assessment of each RCT will be independently conducted by two researchers using the GRADE approach, as recommended in the Cochrane Handbook for Risk of Bias Assessment. The meta-analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.4.

Results

A series of studies on the use of penehyclidine to prevent PONV in patients who received general anesthesia will be included in the systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conclusion

The results of the systematic review will offer valuable insights to clinicians and researchers on the use of penehyclidine as a prophylactic intervention against PONV in patients who receive general anesthesia.
Improved GOA-based fuzzy PI speed control of PMSM with predictive current regulation
Authors: Li Taochang , Li Ang , Hou Limin
Published: January 2025

To address the susceptibility of conventional vector control systems for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) to motor parameter variations and load disturbances, a novel control method combining an improved Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (GOA) with a variable universe fuzzy Proportional-Integral (PI) controller is proposed, building upon standard fuzzy PI control. First, the diversity of the population and the global exploration capability of the algorithm are enhanced through the integration of the Cauchy mutation strategy and uniform distribution strategy. Subsequently, the fusion of Cauchy mutation and opposition-based learning, along with modifications to the optimal position, further improves the algorithm’s ability to escape local optima. The improved GOA is then employed to optimize the contraction-expansion factor of the variable universe fuzzy PI controller, achieving enhanced control performance for PMSMs. Additionally, to address the high torque and current ripple issues commonly associated with traditional PI controllers in the current loop, Model Predictive Control (MPC) is adopted to further improve control performance. Finally, experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, demonstrating precise motor speed control, rapid and stable current tracking, as well as improved system robustness.
Crimes Against Humanity: Evolution, Prosecution, and Challenges for the International Criminal Court
Authors: Pillai Aneesh Vijayan , Sharma Shilpa , Mathew Georgekutty , Challa Kaumudhi
Published: January 2025

In international law, the term crimes against humanity refers to crimes, including murder, torture, enforced disappearance, etc., committed in a large-scale manner against civilians irrespective of their nationality. The crimes against humanity, together with crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against aggression, form part of core crimes in international criminal law.  The idea of crimes against humanity traces its development to the early 1900s, and subsequently, it received serious attention during the Second World War. The Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis, adopted in 1945, has defined the term crimes against humanity for the first time in its history. Subsequently, several developments occurred, including the Nuremberg Trials, the Tokyo Trial, the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, etc. All these have significantly influenced the moulding of crimes against humanity. Finally, adopting the Statute of the International Criminal Court has given a final shape to the concept of crimes against humanity and the methods to deal with its prosecution, punishment, etc. Being one of the core international criminal law crimes, this paper examines the historical evolution, the concept of crimes against humanity and the various criticisms and challenges in prosecuting crimes against humanity under international criminal law.
Domiciano y Tritium Magallum: nueva interpretación de una banda epigráfica en un cuenco de terra sigillata de La Cereceda (Tricio, La Rioja)
Authors: Castillo Pascual María Josefa , Espinosa Ruiz Urbano
Published: January 2025

El objetivo de este artículo es proponer una nueva interpretación de la banda epigráfica circular que aparece en un fragmento de cuenco de terra sigillata hispánica procedente del centro alfarero de La Cereceda (Arenzana de Arriba, La Rioja). Entendemos que el término forma ha de interpretarse como elemento de la fórmula jurídica ex forma, que significa según decreto, ley o disposición. A partir de aquí proponemos la lectura: [--- ex] forma [ab I]mperatore Caesare Domitiano [Augusto data/iussa ---]. El texto conservado es un tercio aproximado de la inscripción originaria y en la parte que falta se detallaría el objeto concreto regulado por Domiciano; en todo caso, algún hecho jurídico de gran interés para Tritium Magallum. Se relaciona este cuenco con un ejemplar hallado en Segóbriga, cuya inscripción se podría reconstruir en el mismo sentido, teniendo ambos como antecedente directo las bandas epigráficas de Verdullus, que conmemoran importantes eventos del municipio de Calagurris. Por otra parte, contextualizamos este hallazgo en relación con otros cuencos producidos en La Cereceda, con bustos en relieve de miembros de la domus Flavia, en los que mayoritariamente aparece Domiciano. Tanto el cuenco con inscripción intradecorativa como los que portan efigies imperiales de esta dinastía parten de una iniciativa local y surgen como reconocimiento a lo dispuesto por Domiciano en favor de Tritium Magallum. En nuestra opinión, se trataría de la promoción de este enclave a municipio. Si bien bajo Vespasiano pudo haber recibido una regulación provisional, sería bajo Domiciano cuando Tritium formalizó de manera estable su estatuto municipal. A esto haría referencia la parte no conservada del cuenco de La Cereceda.
Gendered Cartographies in Melissa Scott’s Science Fiction: Queering Shadow Man (1995)
Authors: Hermida Ramos Beatriz
Published: January 2025

In her 1995 novel, Shadow Man, Melissa Scott explores an alternative future where humanity’s sexual diversity has drastically increased after being exposed to the radiation and chemical drugs that surround space travel. In the text, Scott presents both a seemly all-inclusive place where different gender identities, sexual orientations and sex differences are recognized and accepted, as well as a second national space where the gender binary and heteronormativity are not only heavily endorsed but also seen as a prerequisite to belong and be recognized as human. In this article, I draw from different academic fields such as science fiction studies, space studies and feminist and queer studies to explore how the speculative elements of the novel influence the construal of gender identity, and I question whether Scott’s narrative can be interpreted as a hopeful space for queer liberation in the face of hostility. I analyse how the economic relations between both spaces, Hara and the Concord worlds, shape the understanding of gender and sexuality, and I focus on how the friction between the two systems highlights the power of the nation-state to mark certain bodies as foreign, undesirable and abjected. Finally, I conclude that Scott’s depiction of ‘the wry-abled’ and ‘the odd-bodied’ offers nuanced opportunities to interact with the sex-gender system through speculation while emphasizing how these categories are artificial social constructions.
Subhepatic Caecum and Appendix - A Case Report
Authors: Radhakrishna Shetty Kommanda  , Prakash Chandra Shetty  , Shruthi Hegde  , Muthuvel Mani  , Hazim Zulkaflee  , Francis Nanda Prakash Monteiro
Published: January 2025

Sub hepatic cecum and appendix is a rare anatomical condition with a reported incidence of 0.08%. This results from the developmental incomplete rotation or malrotation of the midgut and arrested descent of the caecum. In this position, if there occurs an inflammation, the resulting right upper abdominal pain is mistaken for acute cholecystitis, liver abscess, or perforated duodenal ulcer. Moreover, this may be missed on imaging modalities. This necessitates clinical suspicion of subhepatic appendicitis in case of undiagnosed right upper abdominal pain. Herein we report a case of caecum and appendix encountered in the right hypochondrium beneath the liver during routine anatomical dissection of a cadaver.
Caecum and appendix are the early parts of the large intestine and are situated in the lower part of the abdomen on the right side, corresponding to the iliac fossa. The appendix is a narrow muscular tube varying in length between 3 inches and 5 inches, the base of which is attached to the posterior wall of caecum just below the ileo-caecal junction.[1] The most common position of the appendix is retrocecal in position in the right iliac fossa. Acute appendicitis is not uncommon during life, normally diagnosed with a high index of clinical suspicion followed by laboratory and imaging modalities. But, when the caecum and appendix are situated in a location other than the usual right iliac fossa, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis becomes challenging and erroneous.[2] Delay in diagnosis or wrong diagnosis because of an abnormally located appendix when inflamed may lead to delay in recognizing the appendicitis, which may result in the perforation of the appendix, a surgical emergency.[3] King in 1975 was the first one to report a case of abnormally located appendicitis.[4] Ideally, the right iliac fossa is the place where the terminal segment of the ileum joins the caecum.[5] However, when the caecum is in subhepatic region, the terminal part of the ileum passes through the right iliac fossa and joins the caecum. Herein we report a case of a subhepatic caecum with an appendix encountered during routine anatomical dissection and discuss the complication resulting from such anomaly.
Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia – A Diagnostic Dilemma
Authors: Meghana D. Vijayakumar  , Madhushree V.  , Deepthi Honne  , Aparna Ganguli
Published: January 2025

PMD (Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia) is a rare, benign cystic lesion of the placental stroma generally categorized by placentomegaly and enlargement of chorionic villi. It is significantly associated with severe intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine fetal demise. We present a case of a 31-year-old gravida 2 para 1 with previous intrauterine fetal death at 28 weeks with no fetal movements. Post-fetal expulsion, the placenta was sent for histopathology, which reported placental mesenchymal dysplasia. It is imperative to do a careful examination of the placenta and exclude rare cases of placental pathologies. PMD is associated with severe IUGR with fetal demise.
PMD is a rare, benign, cystic disorder of the placenta. It is often misdiagnosed as a partial hydatidiform mole.[1] However, placental mesenchymal dysplasia is diploid in nature with normal trophoblast, while partial hydatidiform mole is triploid in nature with trophoblastic hyperplasia.
The incidence of PMD is 0.02% in pregnancies.[2] PMD is associated with severe fetal growth restriction or fetal demise.[3] In few reported cases of PMD, there is a correlation to a pathogenic heterozygous variant in one of the genes. Hence, genetic counselling is important for future pregnancy care.
Impact of Microfinance on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
Authors: Denen Mngusonun  Precious
Published: January 2025

Microfinance has emerged as a crucial financial tool aimed at enhancing the economic prospects of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. This study analyzes the impact of microfinance on the growth and sustainability of SMEs, examining both the benefits and challenges associated with microcredit access. By employing a mixed-methods approach that includes qualitative interviews and quantitative analysis, we find that microfinance significantly contributes to increasing business productivity and income among SMEs in Nigeria. However, challenges such as high-interest rates and inadequate financial literacy hinder the full realization of these benefits. Recommendations for policy improvements and further research are also discussed.
Newsgames : mise en jeu(x) de l'écriture journalistique
Authors: Baur Monica , Philippette Thibault
Published: January 2025

Nous abordons dans un premier temps les caractéristiques du jeu et des serious games permettant de comprendre le phénomène des newsgames. Notre propos sera illustré par des analyses de dix jeux d’actualité sortis entre 2008 et 2017. Dans un second temps, nous détaillerons les particularités de la création de telles productions dans le domaine du journalisme. Pour ce faire, nous avons récolté l’avis de journalistes et d’experts ayant contribué à ce type de réalisation. Ce travail se termine sur quelques pistes de réflexion permettant de mieux comprendre ces formats ludiques et leur rhétorique procédurale, et ce qu’ils peuvent offrir comme « nouvelles » modalités expressives du journalisme d’opinion.
Le contrat de communication des radios pénitentiaires en France et en Espagne
Authors: Thomas Jérôme , Contreras-Pulido Paloma
Published: January 2025

Les radios pénitentiaires constituent un dispositif de communication médiatique peu étudié internationalement. Il s’agit d’émissions de radio réalisées par les détenus dans les établissements pénitentiaires et diffusées à l’extérieur de la prison sur les ondes de radios locales ou archivées sur le web sous forme de podcasts. Très développées en Espagne, elles émergent en France. Il s’agit de moments rares d’expression publique des détenus que nous analysons à travers le concept de contrat de communication. Après avoir situé les radios françaises et espagnoles par rapport aux expériences internationales similaires, et selon une méthode qualitative, nous les comparons en observant comment le dispositif est un compromis entre exercice d’une liberté d’expression de type médiatique et réponses aux attentes et normes d’expression de l’institution pénitentiaire.
Comparer les débats politiques en ligne
Authors: Li Vigni Fabrizio
Published: January 2025

Depuis une vingtaine d’années, les partis politiques, les mouvements sociaux et les institutions publiques ont tendance à numériser leurs pratiques militantes et organisationnelles afin de reconquérir ou élargir la participation citoyenne. Les plateformes mises en place dans ce contexte appellent souvent les internautes à voter et à délibérer sur des sujets établis par les porteurs des plateformes ou par les internautes eux-mêmes. Dans cet article, nous présentons un cadre analytique du débat en ligne en combinant les notions d’actes de langage, de modalités argumentatives et de types d’arguments issues des sciences du langage, afin de comparer la complexité rhétorique et dégager les régimes argumentatifs dominants au sein de deux plateformes : Idées Paris et Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe. L’article pose la question suivante : dans l’analyse de la délibération en ligne, qu’est-ce qu’il faut attribuer au design de la plateforme et qu’est-ce qu’aux autres facteurs sociopolitiques ? L’analyse des données empiriques nous porte à faire l’hypothèse selon laquelle le haut niveau de réciprocité et d’argumentation observé dans les deux plateformes peut être attribué principalement à leur design, tandis que les différences observées sont attribuables, entre autres, aux thèmes discutés, à l’échelle géographique et politique investie, ainsi qu’au degré de notoriété des plateformes.
Boosting, not replacing
Authors: Frenkiel Emilie , Delorme Chanez
Published: January 2025

This article investigates the cautious digitalization of a deliberative process that had taken place face-to-face and re-evaluates the benefits of online deliberation in the post-COVID era, where hybrid processes have multiplied. Our study focuses on how specific online deliberation tools can be used to complement offline deliberation. Certain functionalities can be combined with face-to-face deliberation to expand the range of deliberative tactics and enable deliberative processes to proceed with features that are less convenient offline. The analysis focuses on two software programmes specifically designed to facilitate high-quality online deliberation: Decidim and pol.is. The authors used these tools in the context of a university mini-public – a student citizens’ assembly at Université Paris Est Créteil – which they helped organize. These tools provided features that advanced the various stages of the deliberative process, which took place mainly offline. This study explains how these tools, based on their affordances and use of their functionalities in designing the deliberative process, boosted face-to-face deliberation by enhancing the pedagogy, inclusivity, comprehensiveness, transparency, continuity, legitimacy, and accountability of the process, without resulting in online deliberationper se.