bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cranial Base Growth and Its Relation with Sagittal Skeletal Discrepancies
Authors: Fatima Samar , Qamruddin Irfan , Bokhari Samra , Siddiqui Hina , Bibi Ayesha , Ahmed Hafiz Zuhair
Published: December 2024

Context:

The maxilla is connected to the anterior part of the basicranium and the mandible is related to the posterior part of it. The cranial base growth can be a factor in sagittal discrepancies of the jaws.

Aims:

To determine mean total, anterior and posterior cranial base lengths with mean cranial base angles amongst patients undergoing orthodontic treatment and to compare the mean total, anterior and posterior cranial base lengths and mean cranial base angles in patients with different skeletal sagittal discrepancies.

Settings and Design:

This cross-sectional study was conducted after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Karachi, Pakistan. The study was carried out from June 1, 2021, to November 30, 2021, at the Department of Orthodontics, Sindh Institute of Oral Health Sciences, JSMU.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 93 cephalometric radiographs of patients presented with complaints of malaligned teeth from both genders aged between 13 and 30 years with class I, class II and class III maloccusions who underwent orthodontic treatment were included in the study. Measurements of anterior cranial base length, posterior cranial base length, total cranial base length and cranial base angles were taken. Articulare, basion, nasion, sella, point A and point B were the cephalometric landmarks used in the study.

Statistical Analysis:

Analysis of variance was used to compare mean differences, keeping a P value of ≤0.05 as statistically significant.

Results:

About 40.9% as class I, 53.8% were classified as class II and 5.4% with class III. Mean posterior, anterior and total cranial base lengths were 46.10 ± 5.42, 65.69 ± 4.36 and 102.74 ± 7.84 mm, respectively. Mean nasion–sella–articulare and nasion–sella–basion cranial base angles were 127.25 ± 5.97° and 133.45 ± 6.34°, whereas mean SNA, SNB and ANB were 82.41 ± 4.11, 100.97 ± 116.87 and 4.69 ± 2.80.

Conclusions:

There was no significant difference between mean values for cranial base angle and length between class I, class II and class III discrepancies.
Dental Caries in the Elderly with Diabetes Mellitus and the Use of Metagenomic Sequencing for Oral Microbiome Analysis
Authors: Osman Bibi Aisiah Babu , Zohdi Noorharliana Mohamed , Jaapar Mustaffa , Ahmad Rohana , Yusof Eleena Mohd
Published: December 2024

Dental caries amongst the elderly is on the rise due to increased life expectancy and the trend that older adults are retaining their teeth for longer. Diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with an increased risk of periodontal disease. However, the relationship between diabetes and dental caries amongst the elderly has received far less attention. Dental caries is a polymicrobial disease, where the eubiosis and dysbiosis of the oral microbiota are key in determining the strategies of diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiota, for example in the presence of systemic diseases, plays a role in the pathogenesis of dental caries. The advancement of genomic techniques provides a greater understanding of how the oral microbiome is associated with oral and systemic health. Next-generation sequencing using targeted 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing allows analysis of the oral microbiota with a relatively lower cost and eliminating the need for culture or polymerase chain reaction amplification to study the broad genomic group of the oral microbiome in health and disease. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an understanding on the use of metagenomic sequencing in the prediction and control of dental caries.
Sound and Alzheimer’s Disease—From Harmful Noise to Beneficial Soundscape Augmentation and Music Therapy
Authors: Belojević Goran
Published: December 2024

Exposure to sound energy may be a risk factor or a therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). On one hand, noise has a harmful effect on people with AD by contributing to hearing loss, sleep disturbance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and excitotoxicity. But on the other hand, clinical trials and nursing home interventions with soundscape augmentation involving natural sounds have shown promising results in alleviating psychophysiological symptoms in people with AD. Music therapy, an emerging non-pharmacological treatment, can improve cognition, reduce anxiety and depression, and enhance self-awareness in patients with AD. To ensure that music does not become noise in clinical trials, only favorite music at levels safe for hearing should be used. From a public health standpoint, noise countermeasures, soundscape augmentation with natural sounds, and active or passive engagement with music may be regarded as potentially powerful strategies for the prevention of AD.
Kurtosis Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Caused by Complex Noise in Coal Mines
Authors: Du Yuanzhen , Tao Xinrong , Chu Fengjen , Zou Yuanjie , Wang Jia , Ding Yu , Mu Min
Published: December 2024

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between noise kurtosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk while exploring the potential of kurtosis assessment in evaluating CVD risk associated with complex noise exposure in coal mines. Methods: This cross-sectional study started in April 2021 and ended in November 2022. It involved 705 coal miners selected from 1045 participants. The participants underwent questionnaire surveys, physical examinations and assessment of individual noise exposure levels in the form of L
Aeq.8h. Individual CVD risk was evaluated by employing the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR). Logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the effect of noise kurtosis on the risk of developing CVD and adjust for confounders to determine independent effects. Stratified analyses were applied to examine the effect of different noise characteristics on risk. Results: In cardiovascular risk assessment using China-PAR, 637 and 68 individuals were classified as low and high risk, respectively. Notably, the group exposed to noise levels of 85–100 dB(A) exhibited a significantly higher risk than those exposed to noise levels of <85 dB(A). Regarding kurtosis (β), individuals with β < 3 had low cardiovascular risk, whereas those with β > 5 had high risk, with risk increasing alongside kurtosis. Correlation analysis indicated a strong association amongst noise kurtosis, cumulative noise exposure (CNE) and CVD risk after accounting for individual age and service duration. Logistic regression analysis identified kurtosis as the primary influencing factor for CVD risk (odds ratio = 3.46, 95% confidence interval: 1.68–7.13). Conclusions: Given the pervasive presence of complex noise in the coal mining industry, kurtosis can serve as a valuable supplementary parameter for adjusting CNE, thus facilitating the assessment of CVD risk associated with complex noise exposure in coal mines.
Effect of Medial Olivocochlear Efferents on Speech Discrimination in Noise in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Küçüköner Asuman , Küçüköner Ömer , Özgür Abdulkadir , Terzi Murat
Published: December 2024

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience difficulties in understanding speech in noise despite having normal hearing. Aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between speech discrimination in noise (SDN) and medial olivocochlear reflex levels and to compare MS patients with a control group. Material and methods: Sixty participants with normal hearing, comprising 30 MS patients and 30 healthy controls, were included. For both groups, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were recorded at frequencies of 1000, 1400, 2000, 2800, 4000, 5600 and 8000 in the presence and absence of contralateral white sound at 65 dB SPL. Speech discrimination tests in the presence and absence of noise, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale were applied to all participants to evaluate their cognitive skills. Results: In age- and sex-matched groups, the DPOAE signal-to-noise ratio value was 6.50 ± 1.30 in the right ear at a frequency of 8000 Hz in the control group and 2.40 ± 1.75 in the MS group (P < 0.05). In the comparison of suppression between ears, lower suppression was found at 1400 and 2000 Hz in the left ear and 1000 Hz in the right ear in the MS group (P < 0.05). In the control group, a moderately significant positive correlation existed between right ear SDN scores and left ear suppression values (P < 0.05). The cognitive functions of the MS group were lower in MoCA and SDMT (P < 0.05). Patients who scored less than 21 points in MoCA also had low suppression results (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Comprehensive evaluations are necessary to uncover the presence of auditory perception disorders, such as noise sensitivity or speech disorders in noise, amongst MS patients.
Three Faith-based Factors in Healing – A Need to Relook in Modern Medicine
Authors: Sethuraman K. R.
Published: December 2024

In the era of rational and evidence-based medicine, three belief or faith-based healing factors, namely placebo effect, Hawthorne factor, and spiritual beliefs, have been sidelined from mainstream medical practice. However, in the past four decades, these faith-based forces of healing are being studied using modern scientific tools to unravel how they promote positive healing responses and how these endogenous healing factors could be incorporated into scientific medical practice.
Comparison of intubating conditions in two different head elevations for direct laryngoscopy in stretcher – A prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Ketireddy Tejasri , Jayaram Kavitha , Geetha Singam , Pathy Archana , Durga Padmaja
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims:

Sniffing position for laryngoscopy is considered the gold standard for better glottic visualization. However, there are no studies regarding ideal positioning of head and neck for patients intubated in stretcher either in the operating room or in the emergency area. The aim of the study was to compare the glottic visualization and intubating conditions during direct laryngoscopy using conventional head cushion or Popitz Pillow for patients intubated in stretcher.

Methods:

This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on patients with the age of 18 and 60 years, of any gender undergoing elective spine surgery in prone position. Study participants were divided into two groups (Group S – Conventional head cushion, Group P – Popitz Pillow). After induction of anesthesia in stretcher, they were positioned for direct laryngoscopy with either of the pillows as per the group. Preoperative airway parameters, intubation difficulty score (IDS), time taken for intubation were measured.

Results:

Hundred and fifty-six patients enrolled for the study were randomized into two groups. Almost 82.1% of the patients in Group P had Cormack–Lehane grading 1 when compared to 53.8% in Group S. Time taken for intubation was statistically significant between the two groups with P = 0.0001. In Group P, 64 (82.1%) patients had easy IDS, whereas only 43 (55.1%) patients had easy IDS in Group S.

Conclusion:

Popitz Pillow provided better intubating conditions, improved laryngeal view in patients intubated on stretcher for prone position surgeries when compared to conventional head cushion.
Impressions of acute pain services in a tertiary care center in India – Enhancing perioperative outcomes beyond pain
Authors: Agarwal Jyotsna , Khanuja Samiksha , Gupta Mahima , Panjiar Pratibha , Wadhwani Megha , Jain Mansi
Published: December 2024

Background and Objective:

Acute pain services (APSs) in schema to its name primarily aim to manage acute postoperative pain. A meticulous and comprehensive APS leads to the prevention of acute pain developing into persistent chronic postsurgical pain. Good post operative pain relief helps in reduction of postoperative pulmonary complications. While a meaningful communication with the patient, assessment of general well being, facilitates eary discharge and functional recovery, thereby significantly contributing to the overall quality of recovery of the patient in the perioperative period.

Methodology:

An Anesthesia Consultant led APS team in our institute is responsible for daily clinical rounds. Effective communication with the patients facilitated early detection of detection of additional complaints such as restlessness, throat pain, nausea, vomiting, shoulder tip pain, increased drain output, urine retention, wound soakage and constipation to name a few. We could look beyond acute pain management.

Results:

One-year data from March 2023 to March 2024 were audited and subsequently findings were noted.

Conclusion:

APSs are an integral part of anesthesia management, primarily aiming at the management of perioperative pain in the best possible way. However, our study revealed other important aspects of this service, which could aid us in improving our perioperative outcomes.
Reversible renal dysfunction in hypothyroidism - A study on change in glomerular filtration rate and creatine phosphokinase with correction of hypothyroidism
Authors: Podimon Jasmine , Shallam Sharon , Rahim Surumi A , Philip Rajeev , Dev D Amal , Khadir CA Abdul
Published: December 2024

Background:

Thyroid and kidney is known to have interelated functions. Hypothyroidism can cause renal dysfunction by altering renal hemodynamics. Hypothyroidism still remains an underrecognised cause of kidney dysfunction which is often overlooked. Most studies are looking at the prevalence of hypothyroidism patients with kidney disease than the prevalence of kidney disease in hypothyroid patients as done in our study.

Aims:

To evaluate changes in serum creatinine, estimated GFR and creatine phosphokinase in hypothyroid patients before and 6 weeks after treatment with levothyroxine.

Materials and Methods:

This prospective study was conducted over 6 months in the outpatient department of general medicine and endocrinology in pushpagiri medical college hospital, Thiruvalla. Patients with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism with TSH more than 10 and age more than 18 years were included. Patients with previous renal disease, on newly initiated RAAS inhibitor therapy and SGLT2 inhibitors were excluded.

Results:

Out of 147 newly diagnosed treatment naïve patients, mean age of our study population was 34.2 years (range: 18–72 years) with females predominant (70.2%). The mean TSH at diagnosis was 40.72 ± 9.8 mIU/L, and the mean free T4 value was 0.67 ± 0.24 ng/dl. The mean serum creatinine on the first consultation was 1.01±.21 mg/dl. The mean eGFR at diagnosis was 80.14 ± 19.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 and mean CPK at presentation was 243.75 ± 38.1 IU/L. There was a significant difference in TSH levels after treating hypothyroidism for 6 weeks, TSH value falling to 4.5+/- 1.8. Pearson correlation tests are done to explore the correlation between TSH, free T4, serum creatinine and eGFR. Serum creatinine and serum CPK had a positive correlation with serum TSH value among patients with primary hypothyroidism (P < 0.05). Free T4 and serum creatinine values had a strong negative correlation. The eGFR at diagnosis had a negative correlation with the initial TSH values (P < 0.01) and CPK (P = 0.021).

Conclusion:

There is indeed an improvement in the renal function when we treat hypothyroidism. Although the changes may be subtle, they are important for individual patients especially those who are on concomitant treatment with drugs associated with narrow therapeutic range. The improvement of the renal function was most apparent in the young adult age group perhaps reflecting their increased lean muscle mass, thus requiring a more careful assessment of thyroid function in this group. In addition, mild increase in GFR may lead to unnecessary investigations. Therefore, it is better to reassess the renal function in hypothyroid patients following restoration of euthyroidism. we can conclude that hypothyroidism can be a reversible cause of renal dysfunction.
Impact of setting distinct target blood glucose levels on endogenous insulin suppression and pharmacodynamics of insulin preparations
Authors: Liu Hui , Li Ting , Chen Xin-Lei , Yu Hong-Ling , Yu Ye-Rong
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Insulin therapy plays a crucial role in managing diabetes. Regulatory guidelines mandate assessing the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of new insulin formulations with euglycemic clamp techniques before entry into the market. Typically, blood glucose (BG) levels are maintained at 5% below baseline to suppress endogenous insulin secretion in healthy volunteers. However, in scenarios where BG baseline is relatively low, maintaining it at 5% below baseline can increase hypoglycemic risk. Consequently, we adjusted to maintain it at 2.5% below a baseline of < 4.00 mmol/L. It remains uncertain whether this adjustment impacts endogenous insulin inhibition or the PD of study insulin.

AIM

To evaluate and compare the PD and C-peptide status using two different target BG setting methods.

METHODS

Data came from euglycemic clamp trials assessing the PK/PD of insulin aspart (IAsp) in healthy participants. Target BG was set at 2.5% below baseline for those with a basal BG of < 4.00 mmol/L (group A), and at 5% below baseline for others (group B). The area under the curve (AUC) of IAsp (AUCIAsp, 0-8 h) and GIR from 0 to 8 hours (AUCGIR, 0-8 h) was used to characterize the PK and PD of IAsp, respectively. The C-peptide reduction and PK/PD of IAsp were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Out of 135 subjects, 15 were assigned to group A and 120 to group B; however, group B exhibited higher basal C-peptide (1.59 ± 0.36 vs 1.32 ± 0.42 ng/mL, P = 0.006). Following propensity score matching to adjust for basal C-peptide differences, 71 subjects (15 in group A and 56 in group B) were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in demographics, IAsp dosage, or clamp quality. Group B showed significantly higher baseline (4.35 ± 0.21 vs 3.91 ± 0.09 mmol/L, P < 0.001), target (4.13 ± 0.20 vs 3.81 ± 0.08 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and clamped (4.10 ± 0.17 vs 3.80 ± 0.06 mmol/L, P < 0.001) BG levels. Both groups exhibited comparable C-peptide suppression (32.5% ± 10.0% vs 35.6% ± 12.1%, P = 0.370) and similar IAsp activity (AUCGIR, 0-8 h: 1433 ± 400 vs 1440 ± 397 mg/kg, P = 0.952) under nearly equivalent IAsp exposure (AUCIAsp, 0-8 h: 566 ± 51 vs 571 ± 85 ng/mL × h, P = 0.840).

CONCLUSION

Maintaining BG at 2.5% below a baseline of < 4.00 mmol/L did not compromise the endogenous insulin suppression nor alter the observed pharmacodynamic effects of the study insulin.
Associations between food insecurity with gestational diabetes mellitus and maternal outcomes mediated by dietary diversity: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Hou Hong-Li , Sun Gui-Xia
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Food insecurity (FI) during pregnancy negatively impacts maternal health and raises the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), resulting in adverse outcomes for both mother and baby.

AIM

To investigate the relationships between FI and pregnancy outcomes, particularly GDM and PIH, while also examining the mediating role of the dietary diversity score (DDS).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine this relationship, involving 600 pregnant women. Participants were women aged 18 years or older who provided complete data on FI and pregnancy outcomes. The FI was measured via the Household Food Security Survey Module, with GDM defined as fasting plasma glucose levels of ≥ 5.1 mmol/L or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test value of ≥ 8.5 mmol/L. The DDS is determined by evaluating one's food consumption based on nine distinct food groups. A logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between FI and PIH, and GDM.

RESULTS

Seventeen percent of participants reported experiencing FI during pregnancy. The study found a significant association between FI and an elevated risk of GDM [odds ratio (OR) = 3.32, 95%CI: 1.2-5.4]. Once more, food-insecure pregnant women had higher rates of PIH (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.02-0.45) and they also faced a higher likelihood of neonatal complications, such as neonatal intensive care unit’s admissions and the birth of infants with extremely low birth weight. The FI was further linked to metabolic disruptions, such as elevated fasting blood sugar (FBS), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Our results indicate that the DDS acts as a significant mediator in the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM. In particular, the mediation analysis showed that approximately 65% of the effect was mediated through DDS (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the serious challenges that FI presents during pregnancy and its effects on maternal and infant health. Additionally, the study explored how DDS mediates the relationship between FI and the incidence of GDM.
Evaluating the effectiveness of ultrasound-assisted wound debridement in managing diabetic foot ulcers: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Rui , Chen Geng , Pan Qing-Yun , Yao Yao , Li Yan-Fen , Chen Hai-Ting , Lei Chang-Jiang , Liang Xia
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) present a significant clinical challenge due to their high prevalence and profound impact on morbidity. Ultrasound-assisted wound debridement (UAWD) has emerged as a potential therapeutic modality to improve healing outcomes in DFU management.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of UAWD in treating DFUs on wound closure rates, treatment duration, and quality of life outcomes.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines, systematically searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library with no date restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of UAWD in DFU treatment were included. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through consensus or third-party consultation. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. χ 2 and I 2 statistics assessed heterogeneity, informing the use of fixed or random-effects models for meta-analysis, supplemented by sensitivity analysis and publication bias assessment through funnel plots and Egger's test.

RESULTS

From 1255 articles, seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The studies demonstrated that UAWD significantly reduced DFU healing time (standardized mean difference = -0.78, 95%CI: -0.97 to -0.60, P < 0.001) and increased healing rates (odds ratio = 9.96, 95%CI: 5.99 to 16.56, P < 0.001) compared to standard care. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of these results, and no significant publication bias was detected.

CONCLUSION

UAWD is a promising adjunctive treatment for DFUs, significantly reducing healing times and increasing healing rates. These findings advocate for the integration of UAWD into standard DFU care protocols.
Ojnona, Paris, Helena
Authors: Zupančič Polonca
Published: December 2024

Ovidijeve Junakinje so hvaležno delo za interpretacijo, saj omogočajo primerjavo tako s kanoničnimi deli kakor med posameznimi pesmimi znotraj zbirke – v nekaterih pismih se namreč pojavlja ista zgodba oziroma lik: mednje sodijo podeželska nimfa Ojnona (Her. 5), trojanski princ Paris (Her. 16) in lepa Helena (Her. 17). Za modernega bralca je zanimivo zlasti pismo Ojnone, ki je v primerjavi z ostalimi junakinjami pisem danes razmeroma nepoznan lik, ki so ga v splošno znani zgodbi o trojanski vojni pogosto izpustili. V svojem prispevku se zato osredotočam predvsem na zasnovo, vsebino in pomen njenega pisma, kot ga je oblikoval Ovidij, pri tem pa želim izpostaviti posamezne pasuse, ki so jim komentatorji pripisovali posebni pomen – zlasti so zanimivi prizori, ki se pojavijo v vseh treh pismih, a jih vsak lik predstavi s svojega zornega kota in na način, ki mu najbolj služi. V zadnjem delu prispevka navajam nekaj možnih interpretacij, kako je mogoče brati Ojnonino pismo kot celoto in interpretirati vlogo Ojnone znotraj samega mita, pisemske zbirke in žanra. S tem želim potrditi pomembnost njene zgodbe za Parisa, za samega Ovidija in za širši kontekst Junakinj ter ji povrniti nekaj teže, ki ji jo številni komentatorji (po krivici) odvzemajo.
Granice jurysdykcji parafii Żurawica na przestrzeni wiekówc
Authors: Hofman Marian
Published: December 2024

The author discusses the problem of changing jurisdictional boundaries of the parish of Żurawica across centuries – from the time of its establishment until now. The analysis conducted proves that through centuries that parish was quite extensive. In the period of its most intense territorial development it included the following villages: Żurawica, Bolestraszyce (with Wola), Buszkowice, Buszkowiczki (also featuring a village called Wielboryże), Duńkowiczki, Małkowice (with Kolonia), a part of Orły, Orzechowce, Batycze and Hnatkowice. It was only the demographic and political changes in the 20th c. that accelerated the process of new parishes emerging in order to meet the social expectations and pastoral needs.
Nanostructured NiO derived from spent nickel catalyst as an efficient photocatalyst: Characterization, performance, and kinetic study
Authors: Yudha Cornelius Satria , Putro Firman Asto , Haryadi  , Paramitha Tika , Paramitha Tifa , Jumari Arif
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to recover and regenerate nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO) from a spent nickel catalyst (SNC) using the simple and economical hydrometallurgical method. The experiment was carried out by exploring Ni leaching kinetic models, such as the shrinking-core model (SCM), logarithmic rate law, and the Avrami model. HCl was used as a lixiviant, achieving a high 99% Ni leaching efficiency (LE) at a solid/liquid ratio of 100 g/L and temperature of 70℃ The suitable mechanism for the Ni leaching from SNC using HCl solution is the Avrami model. The nanostructured NiO was successfully obtained by precipitation and sintering. Furthermore, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and surface area analysis confirmed the formation of SNC-derived nanostructured-NiO (NiO-Cat) with needle-like nanosized particle size and a surface area of 77.2 m2/g. The NiO-Cat was examined for UV-irradiated photo-Fenton-like degradation activity on synthetic cationic and anionic dyes, including rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB), acid orange 7 (AO7), and methyl orange (MO), which showed degradation efficiency of 96%, 98%, 93%, and 83%, respectively, after 120 min of reaction. The overall process is economically and environmentally attractive. Meanwhile, the leaching and photocatalysis data can be further developed in the industry for equipment design.
Characteristic and assessment of solvent and Mg/Al-LDH adsorption-based recovery of phosphorus from municipal sludge
Authors: Fan Rong , Zhang Lihui , Duan Feng
Published: December 2024

In this study, a new strategy of enriching phosphorus by degradative solvent extraction of sludge and phosphorus recovery with low-cost adsorbents was introduced. The phosphorus recovery performance of three unmodified, low-cost adsorbents was compared, and the effects of the adsorbent dosage, phosphorus concentration, and pH of the extraction solution on the adsorption efficiency of Mg/Al-LDH were studied. The adsorption mechanism of phosphorus in acid leaching environment was also discussed. Results show that phosphorus-rich extraction residue is successfully separated from sludge. Compared to other adsorbents, Mg/Al-LDH has stronger adsorption capacity, and its adsorption efficiency is 8 times and 1.7 times higher than that of activated alumina and bentonite, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium time is 90 seconds, with phosphorus concentrations ranging from 528 to 145 mg/l in an acidic environment, achieving a phosphorus recovery rate of up to 99%. The influence of the pH value is not obvious. The interface phenomenon of Mg/Al-LDH for phosphorus adsorption involves many physical and chemical processes, including physical adsorption, anion exchange and surface complexation. The results show that the scheme is economic and feasible, which can obviously reduce environmental pollution and has considerable economic and environmental benefits.
Optimization and feasibility assessment of the DPD colorimetric method with phosphate, iodide, and sulfuric acid for total residual oxidant monitoring in ballast water treatment systems
Authors: Cho Jiyoon , Kim Taewan , Kim Mun Kyu , Lee Changha
Published: December 2024

The utilization of chlorine-based ballast water treatment systems is essential for preventing the spread of invasive species, making the continuous monitoring of total residual oxidant (TRO) levels imperative for compliance with environmental regulations. This study developed and optimized a phosphate buffer-sulfuric acid-based solution (PSS) for use in the N, N‒diethyl‒p‒phenylenediamine (DPD) colorimetric method to determine TRO in ballast water. Batch experiments demonstrated that pH 6 is the optimal phosphate buffer condition. Furthermore, the addition of iodide ions promoted rapid and stable TRO measurements across various conditions including pH and ammonium concentrations, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) concentrations, temperature, suspended solids (SS), natural organic matter (NOM), and water types. The optimized PSS achieved TRO measurement accuracy within ±5% of reference values, notably surpassing the commercial citrate buffer-p‒toluenesulfonic acid-based solution (CTS), especially under challenging conditions such as low NaOCl concentrations, higher temperatures, and the presence of SS. PSS exhibited an average error rate of 3.16%, compared to 4.44% for CTS. Field tests at a ballast water treatment facility further confirmed the reliability of PSS for real-time TRO monitoring. This optimized reagent provides a practical, cost-effective solution for ballast water treatment systems, supporting environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Tác động của niềm tin tín ngưỡng tới ý định tiêu dùng xanh: Tiếp cận theo mô hình kích hoạt tiêu chuẩn
Authors: Thủy Nguyễn Thu , Trang Đinh Minh , Minh Đinh Đức
Published: December 2024

Nghiên cứu này dựa trên mô hình kích hoạt tiêu chuẩn để kiểm định sự tác động của các niềm tin tín ngưỡng gồm niềm tin tâm linh, niềm tin luật nhân quả tới ý định tiêu dùng xanh thông qua vai trò trung gian của nhận thức nghĩa vụ đạo đức và quan tâm về môi trường. Nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp nghiên cứu định lượng qua điều tra bảng hỏi với mẫu nghiên cứu gồm 623 người tiêu dùng. Kết quả phân tích cấu trúc tuyến tính (SEM) đã xác định niềm tin về luật nhân quả ảnh hưởng tích cực trực tiếp và gián tiếp đến ý định tiêu dùng xanh, niềm tin tâm linh không ảnh hưởng trực tiếp đến ý định tiêu dùng xanh nhưng có tác động gián tiếp đến tiêu dùng xanh qua biến trung gian là mối quan tâm về môi trường và nhận thức nghĩa vụ đạo đức. Dựa trên kết quả nghiên cứu, một số đề xuất cho doanh nghiệp được gợi ý nhằm gia tăng ý định thực hiện hành vi tiêu dùng xanh.
Các yếu tố tác động đến hành vi gửi tiền boa (tip) của khách hàng: Vai trò điều tiết của không khí nhà hàng
Authors: Bằng Nguyễn Viết , Đại Giang Châu
Published: December 2024

Thu nhập là một trong những yếu tố hàng đầu đối với người lao động, trong đó tiền boa là một yếu tố đáng được quan tâm trong bối cảnh du lịch và dịch vụ nhà hàng khách sạn 5* phát triển ở Việt Nam. Nghiên cứu khám phá các yếu tố tác động đến hành vi gửi tiền boa của khách hàng. Nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp định lượng thông qua phỏng vấn 213 đáp viên ở Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh đã gửi tiền boa khi sử dụng dịch vụ nhà hàng khách sạn 5*. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy chất lượng thức ăn và không khí nhà hàng ảnh hưởng tới hành vi gửi tiền boa thông qua vai trò trung gian là sự hài lòng của khách hàng. Kết quả nghiên cứu cũng cho thấy không khí nhà hàng, phương thức thanh toán tác động đến hành vi gửi tiền boa. Đồng thời, kết quả cũng cho thấy không khí nhà hàng có vai trò điều tiết sự tác động của chất lượng dịch vụ đến sự hài lòng khách hàng. Nghiên cứu cung cấp những hiểu biết có giá trị giúp các nhà quản lý chú trọng nâng cao sự hài lòng của khách hàng trong ngành nhà hàng khách sạn.
Avaliação da qualidade de sementes de Amendoim-bravo (Pterogyne nitens Tul.)
Authors: Melo Sthela Silva , Dos Santos Mateus Amaral , Bronstrup Lamayson Gabriel , Maas Adriano Rasia , De Souza Beatriz Freitas , Gabriel de Souza Pupim  , De Assis Maria Luisa Pagotto Costa , Aguilera Jorge González
Published: December 2024

O amendoim-bravo (Pterogyne nitens Tul.), é uma espécie arbórea que pertencente à família das Fabaceae, muito distribuída nas regiões tropicais da América do Sul, principalmente no Brasil, Bolívia, Paraguai e Argentina. Essa espécie se destaca devido a sua importância ecológica e econômica, visto que possui alto potencial de uso para recuperação de áreas degradadas e na silvicultura. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade e homogeneidade das sementes coletadas de amendoim-bravo. O experimento foi realizado no laboratório da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul – UEMS, com delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Avaliaram-se as variáveis peso das sementes, diâmetro das sementes, comprimento das sementes e comprimento da asa. Foram utilizadas 114 sementes de amendoim-bravo, as quais foram coletadas de árvores localizadas na cidade de Sud Mennuci, SP. Essas sementes foram divididas em três grupos, cada um com 38 sementes. Cada grupo foi avaliado separadamente. Quando os grupos de sementes foram avaliados verificou-se que apenas para o diâmetro das sementes manifestou diferenças significativas. Este resultado sugere que está característica pode ser sensível a diferentes condições de manejo. Dentro dos três grupos avaliados o grupo 2 mostrou-se com maior diâmetro (2.01 g), evidenciando que existe variabilidade genética para esta característica nesta espécie de planta. Por outro lado, o restante das variáveis apresenta maior estabilidade frente às condições naturais onde se desenvolvem estas plantas. Esses resultados destacam a importância de se considerar descritores morfológicos de sementes como parâmetro relevante para estudos de diversidade genéticas de espécies florestais descritas no Cerrado Brasileiro.
Civil Society in a Heterogeneous Milieu: A Case-Study of Karachi in Historical Perspective
Authors: Khan Hina
Published: December 2024

Heterogeneity is the hall mark of Pakistan in general but its largest city Karachi in particular. Around twenty million Karachiites are profusely divided on linguistic, religious and class bases. On the other hand Karachi is also known to host a large number and variety of civil society organizations since the pre-independence period. This fact prompts the researcher to seek a theoretical relationship between the existence of heterogeneity and the size and scope of civil societyin a particular region taking into consideration the case of Karachi. This is the major purpose of present paper. In this context, the basic conceptual framework ispremised on the Heterogeneity Theory as developed by Lester M. Salamon and Helmut K. Anheier for the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit SectorProject (JHCNP) in 1996. Adapted from the classical economic theory (Weisbrod 1977) the Heterogeneity Theory tends to reconcile the existence and role of civil society with the state and the business sectors within a heterogeneous society. The paper particularly focuses on the question whether and to what extent the existing heterogeneity has influenced the prospects for civil society in Karachi. For the sake of clarity the paper is organized into three major sections: the first establishes the conceptual framework highlighting the definitional and theoretical perspectives of the topic; the second explores the extent of heterogeneity in Karachi while the third section investigates the influence of heterogeneity on the development and growth of civil society in the mega-city. The paper mainlyadopts a qualitative and explorative methodology and is completed after a broad survey of available data and interviews with the relevant governmentofficials, scholars and civil society personnel.
Study of Media Practices in Pakistan – Comparison of three Martial Law Periods in context of Baluchistan editorializing
Authors: Afzal Raana , Siddiqui Hafsa
Published: December 2024

This study is a quantitative analysis of the media practices in Pakistan. The study has compared three Martial Law Government eras in Pakistan. This includes the first period of Field Marshal Ayub Khan and Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan from 27 Oct 1958 to 20 Dec 1971. The second period of General Zia ul Haq was from 05 July 1977-17 August 1988. The third period of General Pervaiz Musharraf was from 12 October 1999-18 August 2008. The study is analyzed in the theoretical framework of press theories. The study has observed the implementation of authoritarian press indicators in the first two eras. However, the third era of General Pervaiz Musharraf practiced libertarian theory. The quantitative analysis of this study that verifies the limited communication in context to Baluchistan specifically in the eras of Field Marshal General Ayub Khan and General Zia ul Haq.
پاکستان میں ترقیاتی ابلاغ کا تحقیقی مطالعہ (سی پیک): منصوبے کی خبروں ، کالموں اور اداریوں کی روشنی میں
Authors: Sarwar Nighat , Afzal Raana
Published: December 2024

Development is a process through which human life and social system progress towards betterment. Development is a planned and continous process. Mass Media institutions play a significant role for people and government to progress development in the society. Mass Media also highlight the factors that impede or unstable the development process. Role of communication process is very important for the achievement of development targets. This research is done tostudy the CPEC development project in respect to the role of communication. The results through content analysis method are analyzed in light of agenda setting and diffusion of innovation theories.The study verifies the significance of role of communication in the development process
The Impact of foreign content on cultural and religious values of Pakistani society: A study of Turkish dubbed dramas.
Authors: Naz Fouzia , Iraqi Khalid Mehmood
Published: December 2024

This research is about the influence of foreign content in Pakistani society and on their cultural and religious values. The research focuses on the demand and perception of masses regarding the influence of these Dramas. The qualitative methodology has been used to gather data for this research including survey questionnaires filled by the hundred respondents, while the secondary sources are the scholarly books, official websites and previous studies made by researchers. The questions asked by the respondents are used to determine if the locals of Pakistan like the actors, producers, and writers of Pakistani drama industry, believe that these foreign dubbed and un-dubbed dramas should get banned as they are a threat to the religious and cultural values of Pakistan. The result shows that though people think these dramas do not represent an Islamic society, still they want the foreign content to be aired on their television sets. The research is followed by conclusions on the survey and some recommendations for the study.
Being Woman Hard: Contextualising Men’s Usage of Makeup on Vlogs
Authors: Sachedina Maheen , Mahmood Sadia
Published: December 2024

Gender roles are learned through socio-economic, political and cultural influences. In popular culture the gender roles are depicted in stereotypical ways. In the new form of media content available online, have presented different models of gender behaviour. This research has taken content on YouTube produced by a group of young men and analysed it for the content pertaining to women. The qualitatively analysed videos are produced by Buzzfeed. This study has shown that even on alternative media channels and narratives, cis-gendered men undertake feminine behaviour in the guise of humour to not to have their masculinity questioned by the society. The content analysed is mainly focused on how these men do acts which are primarily done by women but in its context, it is not a serious attempt, it is attempting to trivialise what feminine gender roles are.
ابلاغی اضطراب: روایتی ذرائع ابلاغ کے زوال کی اصل وجہ
Authors: Adil Farooq
Published: December 2024

In the present era, regular media is in decline. Newspaper circulation is declining, and the popularity of electronic media is also declining. Although this trend is global, there are other factors under discussion in Pakistan.  Among them, the government's intentions regarding freedom of the press are particularly under discussion.  Another issue in this regard is the shrinking finances of the media.  The government is also blamed for this.  These issues are important for the life of the media but modern research says something else in this regard.  According to modern research, if certain habits are ingrained in the media, then as a result such media outlets lose their credibility. Such as pushing the basic national issues of society into the background and highlighting unrealistic issues.  Making the internal politics of a political party a topic of discussion without giving importance to any political movement or election manifesto of any party or discussing the position and form of a person or his family on the position of a politician or an institution.  In the context of Pakistan, it is necessary to know through content analysis whether there is this style of reporting and commentary exists here. If so, a new point will be made to understand the reasons for the growing unpopularity of the Pakistani media.
BETWEEN MACROSOCIOLINGUISTICS AND MICROSOCIOLINGUISTICS THROUGH THE LENS OF BOOKSTORES
Authors:   Reader in Modern History University of St Andrews, KAMUSELLA Tomasz
Published: December 2024

Drawing on my quarter-of-a-century-long experience with interdisciplinary research on language politics and the social and political history of languages in Central and Eastern Europe, I sketch examples of macro and micro approaches of how social scientists (including historians) may fruitfully probe into matters linguistics. At the same time, these examples can be also of use to (socio)linguists, who wish to integrate their findings with rele­vant socio-political, economic and cultural developments of the present moment or from the past. I range from the rarely noticed divide in language politics between Eurasia and the ‘Rest’ of the world to the politics of the global translation market, ethnolingu­istic nationalism, Holocaust denial, and to the politics of script. As the article’s title announces, I adopted bookstores in the role of a unifying lens of observation. The physicality of bookstores constitutes a tangible ‘crystallization’ of technology and power relations in a given society or polity, as expressed through the me­dium of (or symbolized by) a language or languages.
PATHÉ FRÈRES FILM HOUSE IN CETINJE
Authors: MILUNOVIĆ I. Luka
Published: December 2024

Pointing out the importance of direct international cooperation of state archives, the paper, on the basis of new archival materials, provides information about the connections between Montenegro and the cinematographic company Pathé (Pathé Frères) at the end of 1912 and the beginning of 1913.
Design Modification and Analysis of Brushless Direct-Current Axial Fan Motor Stator Using Taguchi and One-Factor-At-A-Time Method
Authors: Ming-Hung Lin  , Cheng-Che Yang  , Bo-Wun Huang  , Jyun-Yi Lin  , Cheng-Yi Chen
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach utilizing Altair Flux software for electromagnetic finite element simulation and analyses of cogging torque and back electromotive force (BEMF) without altering the rotor conditions. This investigation aims to understand the effects on the design of brushless direct current (BLDC) axial fan motors. The Altair HyperStudy optimal software is used to conduct the Taguchi experimental method to analyze the influence of critical factors in motor stator design. Subsequently, the one-factor-at-a-time method proposed in this paper is applied to find the optimal motor geometry stator design satisfying the requirements. Eventually, an experimental motor is established and compared with a commercial 9SG5748P5G01 BLDC axial fan motor. The BEMF is resultantly smaller than the 9SG5748P5G01 motor. Furthermore, the disparity between the experimental and simulation analysis results is minimal with consistent findings. The motor stator design and simulation analysis methods can potentially support the motor design.
Pest-YOLO: A YOLOv5-Based Lightweight Crop Pest Detection Algorithm
Authors: Wanbo Luo
Published: December 2024

Traditional crop pest detection methods face the challenge of numerous parameters and computations, making it difficult to deploy on embedded devices with limited resources. Consequently, a lightweight network is an effective solution to this issue. Based on you only look once (YOLO)v5, this paper aims to design and validate a lightweight and effective pest detector called pest-YOLO. First, a random background augmentation method is proposed to reduce the prediction error rate. Furthermore, a MobileNetV3-light backbone replaces the YOLOv5n backbone to reduce parameters and computations. Finally, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is integrated into the new network to compensate for the reduction in accuracy. Compared to the YOLOv5n model, the pest-YOLO model’s Parameters and Giga Floating Point Operations (GFLOPs) decrease by about 33% and 52.5% significantly, and the Frames per Second (FPS) increase by approximately 11.1%. In contrast, the Mean Average Precision (mAP50) slightly declines by 2.4%, from 92.7% to 90.3%.
Incrustaciones dentales: una solución estética y funcional
Authors: Pesantez Coronel Amanda Isabel , Reinoso Solis Samantha Camila , Jame Avila Valery Maite , León Sacoto María Paula
Published: December 2024

Las incrustaciones dentales, conocidas también como incrustaciones intracoronarias, representan una opción ampliamente aceptada en odontología para mejorar tanto la apariencia estética como la funcionalidad de los dientes dañados, estas incrustaciones se emplean principalmente en la restauración de dientes con deterioro o caries, ofreciendo una solución duradera y estéticamente agradable, en comparación con las coronas dentales, las incrustaciones se consideran una alternativa más conservadora, ya que conservan mayor cantidad de tejido dental natural, lo que favorece la salud a largo plazo de la pieza dental, en cuanto a los materiales utilizados, las incrustaciones pueden fabricarse con diversos materiales de alta calidad como cerámica, porcelana o resina compuesta, lo que posibilita una perfecta integración con el tono de los dientes adyacentes, logrando así un resultado estético armonioso, el proceso de colocación de las incrustaciones requiere habitualmente múltiples visitas al dentista para realizar impresiones precisas y cementar las incrustaciones de forma segura con cemento dental especializado. Dentro del presente artículo se detallan los materiales a emplear presentados en la tabla 1, así como los distintos tipos de incrustaciones.