bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A synergistic approach to material analysis and power source engineering in ultrasonic welding of polymers
Authors: Vendan Subbiah Arungalai , Chaturvedi Mukti , KA Ramesh Kumar , Radder Sharanabasavaraj , Hammoodi Karrar , Elsheikh Ammar
Published: February 2025

Ultrasonic welding is an energy-efficient and effective technique for joining thermoplastic polymers and composites. It utilizes ultrasonic frequency vibrations to generate frictional and viscous heating, facilitating molecular diffusion bonding between surfaces. Key controlled parameters in this process include supply frequency and amplitude, weld time, hold time and static clamp pressure. This study presents experimental trials, governing process equations, simulation studies, and image processing results for ultrasonic welding of 150 × 50 mm polymer materials with a thickness of 5 mm. The investigation explored the impact of energy director configurations and process parameters on weld quality. Findings highlighted the dependency of ultrasonic weld quality on these controlled parameters, underscoring the importance of optimizing static clamp pressure and offering new insights into energy director usage. Additionally, the study used image processing for weld defect identification and compared image processing algorithms—Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) and Otsu. FCM algorithm was found effective in the comparative study. Simulation of the piezoelectric converter system illustrated how vibrational amplitude is influenced by power supply and frequency. The conceptual exploration of temperature gradients, along with simulation analyses and experimental observations, lays the groundwork for advanced research in ultrasonic welding. This study provides interdisciplinary insights into polymer thermal gradient behavior and outlines further research needs for designing an efficient ultrasonic polymer welding machine.
Shock wave and microjet produced by bubble collapse in cavitation ultrasonic surface rolling
Authors: Li Junhua , Zheng Jianxin , Shang Yingju , Deng Hanlin , Jia Liuyin
Published: February 2025

The introduction of the cavitation effect in ultrasonic surface rolling can further improve the strengthening effect. However, the mechanism of the time-space bubble collapse in cavitation ultrasonic surface rolling on the material wall is still uncertain. Therefore, in this study, both the shock wave produced by spherical bubble collapse and the microjet generated by non-spherical bubble collapse in cavitation ultrasonic surface rolling were investigated. A dynamic model of spherical bubble collapse in the ultrasonic surface rolling area was established, and the shock wave pressure on the wall surface produced by the collapse was analyzed numerically. The numerical results reveal that the shock wave pressure is significantly influenced by the ultrasonic amplitude. As the ultrasonic amplitude increased from 2 to 5 μm, the maximum collapse pressure of the bubble rose from 4700 to 38690 MPa, while the wall pressure increased from 75.07 to 416.07 MPa. Additionally, the pressure distribution on the wall surface caused by near-wall non-spherical bubble collapse was determined using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis method. The wall pressure generated by microjets peaked with a slight delay compared to that generated by shock waves, reaching a maximum value of 20.25 MPa when the normalized standoff distance was 0.6. Finally, cavitation erosion experiments were conducted. The results showed that the wall pressure was approximately between 340 and 382 MPa when the amplitude was 5 μm, which is generally consistent with previous numerical calculation results. This indicates that the shock wave generated by the collapse of the spherical bubble plays a dominant role in cavitation ultrasonic surface rolling. These research findings are crucial for further studies on the formation of residual stresses and microstructure evolution in cavitation ultrasonic surface rolling.
Prediction and analysis of thermal state of timely transfer case in no-load mode
Authors: Jin Jiaxi , Li Xueliang , Yang Shujun , Sun Haodong , Yi Haidi , Hao Wenqi
Published: February 2025

The thermal state of timely transfer case in no-load mode is an important factor affecting its performance in on-load mode. At the same time, it also reflects the temperature evolution of each component of transfer case during vehicle driving. In this paper, based on the structural and operating characteristics of transfer case, the viscous friction model of oil and the contact friction model of bearing and chain drive mechanism are established according to friction law. A calculation model of heat generation power is formed. Combined with the principle of heat transfer, the flow characteristics of internal oil and external air about house are analyzed. The convective heat transfer model of the inner and outer surfaces of regional house and the heat conduction and convective heat transfer model of rotating components are established. The heat transfer power among components can be characterized by thermal resistance. Each component of transfer case is regarded as an isothermal node. The lumped parameter method is used to construct thermal resistance network and corresponding thermal equilibrium equations to solve the thermal state of transfer case. The real vehicle test under random conditions is carried out to verify the accuracy of model. The temperature of internal oil and the outer surface of house changes synchronously, and the estimated deviation is maintained within 6°C. Under the continuous operating conditions of decreasing initial temperature or increasing vehicle speed, oil can have a larger temperature rise range and less temperature rise time.
Impact of driving style on rear-end crash risk in leading vehicle emergency braking situations
Authors: Wei Tianzheng , Zhu Tong , Zhang Meng
Published: February 2025

The driving style and skill of drivers have a significant impact on traffic safety, and the crash urgency level of the situation can affect drivers’ behavior. To investigate the differences in evasion behavior among drivers with different driving styles in rear-end crash urgency scenarios, this study classified drivers into aggressive and conservative types based on risk tendencies obtained from the Iowa Gambling Task. Using simulated driving equipment, rear-end crash risk scenarios were classified based on time to collision (TTC) thresholds and drivers’ reaction behavior characteristics in emergency braking situations were collected. Comparative analysis of evasion behavior characteristics among drivers with different styles was conducted, and the influence trends of various factors on the risk of vehicle crash events were explored using binary logistic regression. The results showed that with increasing crash urgency, drivers’ braking reaction time (BRT) decreased, while vehicle speed and jerk increased. Novice drivers exhibited longer BRT, larger vehicle spacing, higher maximum braking deceleration, jerk, and TTC−1 compared to experienced drivers. Aggressive drivers had significantly longer BRT than conservative drivers, while maximum braking deceleration and jerk were significantly lower. Vehicle spacing, maximum braking deceleration, and jerk were negatively correlated with crash risk. This study provides important references for the analysis of evasion behavior among different driving styles in crash urgency scenarios and the design of active safety intervention methods.
A new cure model accounting for longitudinal data and flexible patterns of hazard ratios over time
Authors: Xie Can , Huang Xuelin , Li Ruosha , Shen Yu , Short Nicholas J , Bhalla Kapil N
Published: February 2025

With the advancement of medical treatments, many historically incurable diseases have become curable. An accurate estimation of the cure rates is of great interest. When there are no clear biomarker indicators for cure, the estimation of cure rate is intertwined with and influenced by the specification of hazard functions for uncured patients. Consequently, the commonly used proportional hazards (PH) assumption, when violated, may lead to biased cure rate estimation. Meanwhile, longitudinal biomarker measurements for individual patients are usually available. To accommodate non-PH functions and incorporate individual longitudinal biomarker trajectories, we propose a new joint model for cure, survival, and longitudinal data, with hazard ratios between different covariate subgroups flexibly varying over time. The proposed joint model has individual random effects shared between its longitudinal and cure-survival submodels. The regression parameters are estimated by maximization of the non-parametric likelihood via the Monte Carlo expectation-maximization algorithm. The standard error estimation applies a jackknife resampling method. In simulation studies, we consider crossing and non-crossing survival curves, and the proposed model provides unbiased estimates for the cure rates. Our proposed joint cure model is illustrated via a study of chronic myeloid leukemia.
Successful Structural Social Work: Strategies for Modern Day Practice
Authors: Greason Michelle , Plourde G. Zoe
Published: February 2025

Social workers often report challenges associated with trying to maintain structural social work (SSW) amid conventional settings. Although there is some literature on practical applications of SSW, the literature is outdated. Consequently, this research was inspired by, and derived from, Bachelor of Social Work students who consistently sought practical wisdom and stories to gain insight into how to successfully maintain and practice SSW in modern conventional settings. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 structural social workers. Five key themes were identified regarding how one might successfully embody SSW: (a) adopting a strategic approach; (b) gaining credibility and competency; (c) building relationships and rapport; (d) navigating risk, and (e) recognizing barriers and being inventive. The findings are explored, implications for practice and knowledge dissemination discussed, and future research considered.
The Brain Lesion Affecting Dysphagia in Patient with Supratentorial Stroke
Authors: Kang Jeon-Woong , Lim Seong-Hoon , Jang Dae-Hyun , Kim Min-Wook , Kim Jaewon
Published: February 2025

Background

Dysphagia is a common sequela of stroke. However, specific swallowing impairments associated with brain lesions at different sites are not well characterized.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the location of supratentorial brain lesions and the features of dysphagia.

Methods

Medical records of patients with first-ever supratentorial stroke who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing studies within 4 weeks of onset were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

A total of 158 patients (92 men and 66 women) were included. The lesions in internal capsule were associated with prolonged pharyngeal delay time (odds ratio [OR] 4.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–14.28) and were inversely associated with post-swallowing vallecular residue (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32–0.95). The lesions in the insular cortex were associated with premature spillage and prolonged pharyngeal delay time (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.08–4.76; OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.05–4.99, respectively). The lesions in the frontal lobe were associated with oral residue, vallecular residue, and pyriformis residue (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.63–6.10; OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.55–6.02; OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.28–5.15, respectively).

Conclusions

This study revealed specific patterns of swallowing associated with specific brain lesions. Our findings may help elucidate the correlation between dysphagia patterns and the sites of brain lesions.
The Effects of 8-week Dance and Tai Chi Randomized Controlled Trial on Balance, Wellbeing and Moods Among Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 60: A Study Protocol
Authors: Lu Jie , Ngo Jake K. , Devonport Tracey J. , Wyon Matthew A.
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

The aim of the proposed randomized controlled study is to compare the effects and efficacy of a dance, a Tai Chi and a waiting list control group intervention over an 8-week period on physical functions and mental benefits among non-clinical adults aged between 18 and 60.

Method:

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial will be adopted to evaluate the effects and efficacy of an 8-week dance intervention compared with Tai Chi and a control group on physical and mental benefits. Participants will be randomly assigned to 3 groups, dance, Tai Chi, and Control group, using stratified random sampling based on sex. Isometric Mid-thigh Pull (IMTP), Y-Balance test (YBT), Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and The Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) are utilized for collecting physical and mental data. All measurements will be conducted by research assistants blinded to participants’ group allocation and analysis will be carried out by statistician blinded to the group and test parameters.

Expected result:

Mental wellbeing parameters are predicted to be increasing during the learning phase and the physical parameters are predicted to have an improvement in the practising phase.
A “Dock-Work” Orange: A Dual-Receptor Biochemical Theory on the Deterrence Induced by Citrusy Aroma on Elephant Traffic Central to a Conservation Effort
Authors: Gunawardana Dilantha
Published: February 2025

Conservation of elephants requires physical, chemical, and biological approaches to ensure the protection of these gargantuan pachyderms. One such approach is using orange plants (as biofencing) for the repellence of elephants, which precludes catastrophic events related to the encroachment of elephants into human habitats. Elephants have sensitive olfactory discrimination of plant volatile compounds for foraging and other behavior using G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, 2 such receptors are the A2A and A2B receptors mediating olfaction elicited by a host of ligands, including limonene, the main volatile compound in citrus plants, which is hypothesized to be the chief repelling agent. Bioinformatics at the protein and mRNA levels (BLAST/Multiple Sequence Alignments) were employed to explore the multiple expression products of A2B receptors, namely full-length and truncated proteins produced by isoform mRNAs translated from multiple methionines, while the comparison of the limonene-binding pockets of human and elephant A2B receptors and prediction servers [Netphos 3.1; Protter] was used to focus, respectively, on the contacts limonene binding entails and the post-translational modifications that are involved in cell signaling. Finally, the link between limonene and antifeedant activity was explored by considering limonene content on trees that are preferentially foraged or avoided as part of the feeding behavior by elephants. The African bush elephant ( Loxodonta africana) possesses a full-length A2A receptor but unlike most mammals, expresses a highly truncated A2B receptor isoform possessing only transmembrane helices 5, 6, and 7. Truncation may lead to higher traffic and expression of the A2B receptor in olfactory interfaces/pathways and aid stronger activation. In addition, all residues in the putative limonene-binding cleft are perfectly conserved between the human and African bush elephant A2B receptors, both full length and truncated. Shallow activation sites require micromolar affinity and fewer side-chain interactions, which is speculated to be the case for the truncated A2B receptor. An N-terminal extremity N-glycosylation motif is indicative of membrane localization of the truncated A2B receptor following accurate folding. A combination of truncation, indels, substitutions, and transcript isoforms are the attributed roles in the evolution of the L. africana A2B receptor, out of which limonene receptivity may be the key. It is also inferred how limonene may act as a dietary repellent/antifeedant to a generalist herbivore, with the documented limonene content being absent in some dietary favorites including the iconic Sclerocarya birrea.
Effect of water vapor on tribological performance of Inconel 718 at different conditions for next-generation gas turbine engine
Authors: Saikat Istiak Mahmud , Roy Amit , Mayer Andre , Moreau Christian , Hazlett Melanie , Stoyanov Pantcho
Published: February 2025

Nickel-based superalloys (e.g., Inconel 718) are widely used in the aerospace industry due to their high temperature constancy in terms of mechanical properties and chemical stability. With the recent advances in sustainable aviation, there is a strong desire to better understand their compatibility with hydrogen combustion or water vapor in gas turbine engines. Therefore, this study investigated the tribological behavior of Inconel 718 under dry and water vapor conditions at various temperatures. The reciprocating ball on flat type tribometer was used to perform friction tests on Inconel 718 against alumina and Inconel 718 counterballs in the absence or presence of water vapor at room and elevated temperatures. The results showed that water vapor caused a reduction in the friction and wear at room and elevated temperatures against the Alumina mating surface, when compared to the tests performed under dry conditions. The low friction and wear in water vapor was attributed to the formation of an aluminum trihydroxide (bayerite—Al(OH)3) tribofilm. On the other hand, Inconel 718 vs. Inconel 718 showed higher wear in the presence of water vapor at RT compared to that in dry conditions. Conversely, water vapor decreased wear at HT compared to HT dry. The higher wear was attributed to the lack of sufficient lubricious oxides formation on the wear tracks for Inconel 718 vs. Inconel 718 at HT.
Does self-compassion buffer the impact of fear of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life for people living with HIV?
Authors: Ozor Okechukwu Timothy , Ifeagwazi Chuka Mike , Chukwuorji JohnBosco Chika , Obi-keguna Christy Ngozi , Igwe Elisha John , Onu Desmond Uchechukwu
Published: February 2025

Extant literature has consistently documented the adverse impact of fear of COVID-19 on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people living with HIV (PLWHIV), as they are more prone to being infected with this deadly disease than the normal population. However, studies on the mechanism that could mitigate this adverse impact are lacking. We investigated whether self-compassion could buffer the negative impact of fear of COVID-19 on HRQoL among PLWHIV. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, 241 outpatients (41.5% male, 58.5% female) from two Nigerian healthcare facilities were conveniently sampled. Results showed that heightened fear of COVID-19 was associated with poorer HRQoL across four domains. Unexpectedly, self-compassion neither predicted HRQoL nor buffered the impact of fear of COVID-19 on HRQoL. Practical interventions should prioritize reducing fear of COVID-19 and addressing broader psycho-social factors to enhance HRQoL in this vulnerable population.
Situating queerness in Filipino experience: The bakla, the parlor, and the paglaladlad
Authors: Embate John Mervin L. , Labor Jonalou S.
Published: February 2025

This paper aims to describe and understand the parloristang bakla (queer hairdresser) and their journey of becoming as told through their stories of paglaladlad, a local construct and experience that is the closest equivalent to “coming out.” Specifically, this paper aims to describe how the parloristang bakla views their identity as bakla (queer) and as hairdresser, characterize common themes or episodes in their paglaladlad, and dialogue their experiences with constructs from Filipino Psychology to surface the interpersonal values that they uphold and align themselves with in their queer-becoming. Eight parloristang bakla from different beauty parlors in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, were interviewed through pakikipagkwentuhan, an indigenous data collection method characterized by storytelling and informal conversations. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically. Results showed that the parloristang bakla tends to naturalize their queerness and penchant for hairdressing. They see their work as hairdressers not only as a destiny they have fulfilled but also as a means to prove themselves as productive, decent, and honorable members of their family and the community. We argued how paglaladlad served as a way for the parloristang bakla to share their loob (inner self) with their Others. Such acts of unfolding the loob require navigating tensions between the desire to stay true to oneself, preserve harmonious relationships with their kapwa (shared self in others), and meet societal moral standards, which are made possible through their career as parloristas.
Don’t Look Up: Satirical cli-fi movies as a catalyst for online environmental debate
Authors: Sels Amber Jenny , Kuipers Giselinde , Aupers Stef
Published: February 2025

In a post-truth context where environmental claims of scientists and politicians are increasingly contested, this article explores how satirical climate fiction facilitates the imagination of and engagement with climate change. Taking Don’t Look Up (2021) as a case study, it presents a thematic analysis of 640 Reddit contributions. The analysis reveals that the movie served as a meaningful text, decoded in various ways, and invited the audience to engage in online public environmental debate. In this ‘participatory culture of climate debate’, the movie became popular cultural capital for the readers to (1) environmentally inform each other, (2) share environmental critiques and (3) mobilize ecopolitical action. We theorize that it was exactly Don’t Look Up’s satirical ambiguity and humor, combined with its immersive fictitious nature, that made the text quintessentially participatory. Thus, we argue that the movie made an impact beyond the individual, fostering collective environmental imagination and awareness.
Towards a Roadmap for Entrepreneurs’ Career Achievement: The Role of Harmonious Passion, Entrepreneurial Persistence and Time-Based Resources
Authors: Minh Doan Duc , Ngo Liem Viet , Nguyen Mai , Duc La Anh , Nguyen Thi Nguyet Que
Published: February 2025

Only a small portion of entrepreneurs who would like to be their own bosses eventually succeed and maintain their own businesses after the initial startup phase. Building upon self-determination theory, we develop a conceptual model that examines the relationships among harmonious passion, entrepreneurial persistence, time-based resources and career achievement of entrepreneurs. In Study 1, we collected longitudinal survey data using two measurement waves and found that harmonious passion affects career achievement directly and indirectly via entrepreneurial persistence. Time-based resources were found to moderate the impact of entrepreneurial persistence on career achievement. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis results confirmed that personal resources (harmonious passion, persistence and time-based resources) are needed as prerequisites for career achievement. In Study 2, we conducted an experiment and confirmed the findings in Study 1. Our research extends the existing theory and suggests implications for entrepreneurs.
EU executives on social media: Assessing the potential and trajectories of legitimation via public communication on Twitter
Authors: Özdemir Sina F , Graneng Kristine , de Wilde Pieter
Published: February 2025

Social media offers opportunities for European Union (EU) executives to improve their precarious legitimacy. Their broad, unmediated, instant, and cheap reach allows EU executives to explain to citizens what they are doing in their own words and to learn from citizens what they want. Yet, while the potential of social media is well-known, we know very little about how EU executives use them. This study addresses this gap by analysing how EU executives legitimise themselves through strategic public communication on Twitter. Through a manual and automated content analysis of a sample of 73,413 tweets, we show how EU executives engage in ‘opinionated communication’. Appeals to output legitimacy are the single most prominent form of self-legitimation, but they are often combined with opinions, calls for input, and/or emphasis on activities. Our findings challenge the common perception that EU executives are risk-averse communicators who focus exclusively on factual output-oriented communication.
Electrosurgical In Situ Fenestration of Aortic Endograft
Authors: Bastianon Martina , Esposito Davide , Melani Caterina , Sila Endri , Baldino Giuseppe , Pratesi Giovanni
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

Endovascular interventions have become the primary choice for treating complex aortic pathologies, particularly with the use of fenestrated and branched endografts. However, limitations, such as manufacturing time have restricted their applicability in urgent situations. This has led to explore alternative off-the-shelf solutions, including in situ fenestration. Within this technical note, we describe technical aspects of in situ fenestration using electrosurgical guidewire, in both antegrade and retrograde approaches, explaining advantages and limitation compared with other in situ fenestration techniques.

Technique:

The technique involves standard main body endograft deployment followed by targeted in situ fenestration using an electrified guidewire. Two illustrative cases are presented to demonstrate the technical aspects and clinical outcomes of this procedure.

Conclusion:

Electrosurgical in situ fenestration emerges as an effective technique for urgent treatment of complex aortic diseases. Further research is warranted to validate its safety and durability in larger patient cohorts.

Clinical Impact

Electrosurgical in situ fenestration allows to expand the feasibility of complex endovascular repairs in emegency settings. Electrosurgical in situ fenestration combines the benefits of thermal methods, offering broad availability and lower costs. Compared to other in situ fenestration techniques, the proposed technology allows for the creation of extremely small fenestrations with minimal and precise tissue disruption.
Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke performed without continuous saline flushes and using moderate sedation: The TOOFAST technique
Authors: Porto Carl M , Teshome Abigail A , Feler Joshua R , Moldovan Krisztina , Fontanez Santos Santos , Torabi Radmehr , Jayaraman Mahesh V , Wolman Dylan N
Published: February 2025

Background

Rapid reperfusion is an important predictor of neurologic recovery in acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We present a single-institution retrospective observational study of the ThrOmbectomy withOut Flushes or AnestheSia Teams (TOOFAST) technique, which eliminates continuous heparinized saline flushes and employs conscious sedation (CS) to streamline MT preparation.

Methods

Retrospective review of prospectively collected data for AIS-LVO patients at our comprehensive stroke center from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023. Patients were >18 years with premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS) <3. Cases were performed under CS without continuous pressurized heparinized saline flushes or anesthesiologist involvement. Cases were categorized as presenting to the emergency department or from inpatient units (in-house), outside hospital transfers, or those undergoing hyperacute MRI.

Results

Among 947 total cases, 638 were analyzed. 374 (58.6%) were in-house activations, 205 (32.1%) were transfers, and 59 (9.2%) underwent hyperacute MRI. Median presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 15 (interquartile range (IQR) 9–20) and 34.7% of patients received intravenous thrombolysis. Median arrival-to-access and NIR-to-access times for in-house activations were 67 (IQR 56–80) and 39 (IQR 29–48) minutes, respectively. Embolization to new territory occurred in 11 (1.7%) patients while vascular perforation occurred in 9 (1.4%). Median NIHSS shift from admission to discharge was −9 (IQR −15 to −5). At 90 days, 46.5% (106/228) remained mRS <3.

Conclusions

The TOOFAST technique may result in rapid access times with a profile of safety, procedural parameters, and neurologic outcomes comparable to published trial standards.
Teaching and Learning With Body Mapping Online Using Digital Tools: Navigating Methodological Vulnerability and Insights for Future Development
Authors: CohenMiller Anna , Rakisheva Aigul
Published: February 2025

How can body mapping—traditionally practiced with physical materials in face-to-face settings—be effectively adapted for teaching and learning in online spaces using digital tools? This question drives our exploration of body mapping as an online method within arts-based research (ABR) and pedagogy. We emphasize directions for teaching about how to use and implement this approach with the aim of creating equitable, inclusive, and justice-centered practices. This article examines our experiences designing and facilitating an online workshop that introduced participants to body mapping using digital tools, drawing on diverse contexts, including our lived experiences teaching body mapping in Kazakhstan and the United States. Through embodied critical self-reflection and poetic inquiry, we navigate the vulnerabilities and “messiness” inherent in qualitative methods, uncovering a process for adapting body mapping for online environments with open access, collaborative, digital art tools. Our exploration highlighted the challenges of transitioning from a tactile and embodied method to a virtual platform. While our process of teaching others how to use body mapping online with digital tools was imperfect and uncomfortable at times, the process offers methodological potential for continued exploration and application. As such, we offer insights into embracing discomfort and provide tangible adaptations for teaching body mapping as a participatory and emancipatory research method.
Kinetic energy recovery and reuse of traveling drive system of hybrid hydraulic electric loader
Authors: Cao Hongli
Published: February 2025

During loading and unloading operations of electric loaders, the traveling system requires frequent starting and braking, a process that has high energy consumption and requires high installed power of the system drive motor. This paper proposes a hydraulic-electric hybrid loader traveling energy-saving system, describes its working principle, designs a hydraulic regenerative braking strategy and an energy-assisted starting strategy, analyzes the braking system in detail, gives a detailed analysis of the braking system, gives how to determine the parameters of the key components such as accumulators and hydraulic motors, and coordinates the powertrain of electric motors and hydraulic pumps/motors. Simulation results show that the scheme can effectively recover and reuse the kinetic energy of the loader during braking, and that it reduces the peak power of the original drive motor by about 19%, and the energy consumption of the whole machine operation by about 30%.
Joint optimization of multi-type component procurement and assignment problems with budget constraint
Authors: Qiu Siqi , Tu Danhong , Ming Xinguo
Published: February 2025

There are usually multiple types of products with similar functions available on the market, and the price of a product depends on its functionality and reliability. For some industrial systems whose components are functionally exchangeable, different component procurement plans and assignment plans lead to different system reliability and procurement cost. The objective of multi-type component assignment problem (MCAP) is to search the optimal assignment of multiple types of components to the positions of a system for maximizing the system reliability. However, in the existing studies on MCAPs, a particular position can be assigned at most two types of components and the budget constraint has not been taken into consideration. This work studies a new type of MCAPs in which a particular position can be assigned multiple types of components, develops the mathematical model of the MCAP with budget constraint, and proposes a Birnbaum importance (BI)-based two-stage heuristic to solve the budget-constrained MCAP. The proposed method is applied to a real-world fuel service system of marine engines to show its feasibility and practicability.
Adaptive financial fraud detection system using modified rain optimization algorithm
Authors: Sathe Rupali , Shinde Shilpa
Published: February 2025

This paper describes an adaptive financial fraud detection system that uses a modified rain optimization algorithm. There are three phases to the proposed approach. The first phase is data pre-processing using Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE). The second phase includes feature selection on pre-processed data using the Modified Rain Optimization Algorithm (MROA). To evaluate features based on cost functions, MROA uses a stochastic diffusion method, which allows for iterative feature merger or absorption to maximize selection. The feature selection chooses relevant features which will improve the proposed model's performance. In the third phase, the Deep Convolutional Capsule Auto Encoder is used to classify patterns from the selected features. With the advancement of deep learning and the detection capability of Capsule Auto Encoder, the model can easily detect the fraud from the data input. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated with a synthetic financial dataset available on Kaggle and compared to existing methods. In results section, the proposed model is compared with various existing models. The proposed model attained an accuracy of 97.91%, precision of 97.64%, recall of 97.93%, F1-score of 97.81%, specificity of 97.63% and geometric mean of 97.78%, respectively. The results obtained empirically demonstrate that the proposed system performs superiorly with practical implications for financial decision-making.
Correction of Distal Metatarsal Articular Angle in Hallux Valgus Surgery Utilizing a Minimally Invasive Extra-Articular Metaphyseal Distal Transverse Osteotomy
Authors: Encinas Rodrigo , Hall SarahRose , Edelman David , McMillen Tucker , Hurley Deborah , Kaplan Jonathan R. M. , Schipper Oliver N. , Jackson J. Benjamin , Gonzalez Tyler A.
Published: February 2025

Hallux valgus deformity frequently presents with an increased distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA) which may require additional correction. Minimally invasive hallux valgus surgery is often used in patients with increased DMAA. We hypothesized that the triplanar correction with the minimally invasive extra-articular metaphyseal distal transverse osteotomy (META) would improve the DMAA, in addition to the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and patient-reported outcomes. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent an META procedure for hallux valgus correction. The DMAA, HVA, IMA were measured on preoperative, 2-week postoperative, and final follow-up radiographs. Patient demographics, complications, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measure Information System (PROMIS) pain, function, and mobility scores were recorded. Univariate analysis and t-test were used to describe measurements between DMAA, HVA, and IMA. Twenty-seven META osteotomies were performed on 25 patients. At the final follow-up, mean DMAA, HVA, IMA decreased from 9.73 ± 1.96 to 4.35 ± 0.85 degrees, 30.45 ± 7.91 to 6.59 ± 2.75 degrees, and 15.37 ± 3.67 to 3.72 ± 1.84 degrees, respectively (P < .001). The PROMIS pain scores significantly improved from 58.96 ± 6.00 to 49.69 ± 9.35 at the final follow-up (P < .001). These observations imply successful resolution of hallux valgus, with a single META procedure. This approach may be an alternative to open or multiple corrections of hallux valgus, while preserving improvement in functional outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Level IV
Syndesmotic Screw Fixation Versus Suture Button Versus Tibiotalocalcaneal Nail Treatment in Syndesmotic Ankle Fractures: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cho Thomas , Yan Helen R. , Uematsu Michael , Harter Christian , Liu Jiayong
Published: February 2025

Background

Syndesmotic ankle fractures occur when damage to the syndesmosis complex is combined with a malleolar fracture. This can result in severe pain, weakness, and instability. Surgical interventions include syndesmotic screw fixation (SS), suture button fixation (SB), and tibiotalocalcaneal nail (TTC). This meta-analysis aims to compare the outcomes of these treatment methods for syndesmotic ankle fractures.

Methods

A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Embase for comparison studies that included at least 2 surgical interventions and at least one of the relevant functional outcomes and/or complication metrics until June 2024. The Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) was used to compare functional outcomes, and it is a self-reported outcome measure that evaluates the symptoms and function of those with ankle fractures, while infections and reoperations were reported to compare complication outcomes. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4. A P-value ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. The risk of bias was assessed with Review Manager 5.4. and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Results

A total of 18 studies with a total of 1,040 patients were ultimately included in this study. The SS had a significantly higher OMAS 2-year follow-up compared to TTC. The TTC had a significantly lower infection rate compared to SS. The SB had a significantly higher OMAS at both 1-year and 2-year follow-ups than SS. The SB had a significantly lower reoperation rate compared to SS. The SB had a significantly higher OMAS at both 1-year and 2-year follow-ups than TTC. The SB had a significantly lower infection rate compared to TTC.

Conclusion

The SB emerges as the preferred treatment method for syndesmotic ankle fractures, while TTC stands as a viable alternative. The SB is recommended as the primary surgical intervention for patients with syndesmotic ankle fractures due to its superior clinical benefits when compared to TTC and SS.

Levels of Evidence:

3
Aristotle wires for cannulating target vessels in paediatric neuro-interventional procedures: A case-control study
Authors: Bhatia KD , Blane T , Giarola B , Vedamuthu J , Carraro Do Nascimento V , Kim Y-J , Olsson G , Dexter M
Published: February 2025

Background

Paediatric neuro-interventional (PNI) procedures are markedly different to adult procedures and are more likely to be complicated by vasospasm. Traversing the complex tortuous anatomy in these fragile vessels requires both torque control and distal tip softness of the microwire. The Aristotle wires (Scientia Vascular Inc) are a new family of wires with design features offering both torque control and distal tip softness. We sought to assess the ability of these wires to achieve successful target vessel cannulation in paediatric patients.

Methods

The study design was a single-centre case-control study. We compared a case cohort of PNI procedures performed using the Aristotle wires (2023–24) with a control cohort using other wires (2022–23). The primary study outcome was successful cannulation of the target vessel (Yes/No) with a microcatheter.

Results

The Aristotle wires cohort consisted of 44 targeted vessels across 40 procedures in 20 patients (F = 8; mean age 6.9, SD 6.53 years). The other wires cohort consisted of 41 targeted vessels across 41 procedures in 19 patients (F = 6; mean age 4.3, SD 4.98 years). Successful cannulation of the target vessel was achieved in 43 of 44 target vessels (97.7%) in the Aristotle wires cohort and 34 of 41 target vessels (82.9%) in the other wires cohort ( p = .020). The rate of wire-related complications was significantly lower in the Aristotle wires cohort (0 of 44 vs 6 of 41 target vessels, p = .008).

Conclusion

Aristotle wires were associated with significantly better target vessel cannulation and lower wire-related complications than other wires in PNI procedures.
A comparison of the effect of three different comorbidity indices on overall survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Yalçın Cumali , Orhan Bedrettin , Candar Ömer , Çubukçu Sinem , Güllü Koca Tuba , Hunutlu Fazıl Çağrı , Yavuz Şeyma , Akyol Merve Nur , Ersal Tuba , Özkocaman Vildan , Özkalemkaş Fahir
Published: February 2025

Aims:

It was aimed at measuring the comorbidities of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients at the time of diagnosis with different comorbidity indices and evaluating their effects on disease prognosis.

Methods:

The comorbidities of the patients were retrospectively screened and calculated in three different comorbidity indices: the ACE-27 Comorbidity Index, the Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, and the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. C-statistic was used to evaluate the ability of comorbidity indices to discriminate mortality. The relationship between the calculated scores and overall survival (OS) was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier curve. Mortality risk was analyzed with a multivariate Cox regression model.

Results:

A total of 218 CML patients were evaluated, and 211 chronic-phase patients were included in this study. The median age of the patients was 56 years (21–89), and 53% were female. As initial tyrosine kinase inhibitors, 201 (95%) patients were treated with imatinib, 10 (5%) patients with nilotinib. The median follow-up was 94.50 (9–201) months. The median OS was not reached. The most common comorbid conditions were hypertension 23% ( n = 48), weight loss 19% ( n = 40), diabetes mellitus 13% ( n = 27), and cardiovascular disease 9% ( n = 19). C-statistic values were 0.76 for ACE-27, 0.41 for ACCI, and 0.32 for ECI scores. In the Cox regression model including comorbidity scores, mortality risk was higher in patients with moderate ACE-27 score (HR: 148.05; 95% CI: 7.89–2751.53; p = 0.012), severe ACE-27 score (HR: 232.36; 95% CI: 14.20–4793.20; p = 0.001), ECOG 3 score (HR: 34.62; 95% CI: 2.67–447.36; p = 0.007), and high ELTS score (HR: 27.52; 95% CI: 1.34–543.68; p = 0.031).

Conclusion:

This study showed that the ACE-27 Comorbidity Index is effective in predicting prognosis in CML patients. Therefore, comorbid conditions should be used more frequently as a prognostic marker at the time of diagnosis.
Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of urinary tract infection: insights and strategies from a 5-year serial cross-sectional study in Vietnam
Authors: Que Anh Tram , Tran Anh Dao , Trang Thi Hong Nhung , Tran Thi Nhu Le , Bui Ngoc-Niem , Lai Chih-Ho
Published: February 2025

Background:

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in clinical practice. Given the rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance and the scarcity of new antibiotics, along with the absence of individual antibiogram testing in some countries, there is an urgent need for robust surveillance systems.

Objective:

This study aimed to provide evidence for the surveillance of resistance, a crucial component in developing national UTI treatment guidelines and guiding empirical therapy decisions.

Design:

This study utilized a retrospective, serial cross-sectional design.

Methods:

Antimicrobial surveillance was conducted using data collected from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. A total of 2595 patients with UTIs were recruited for this study. From these patients, 2004 bacterial isolates were identified and subjected to epidemiological and antibiotic resistance analyses.

Results:

Escherichia coli ( E. coli, 42.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa, 11.9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae, 10.9%) were identified as the predominant causes of UTIs. E. coli isolates demonstrated a high level of sensitivity (80%–90%) to carbapenems (imipenem, ertapenem, and meropenem), aminoglycosides (amikacin), piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, and fosfomycin. The antibiotic resistance rates of K. pneumoniae strains consistently exceeded 50%, except for amikacin, ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, and fosfomycin. Notably, all K. pneumoniae strains isolated from patients with UTIs were resistant to ampicillin. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, the E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates exhibited reduced antibiotic resistance compared to the pre-pandemic period. The resistance rate of P. aeruginosa isolates remained consistently high (60%–70%).

Conclusion:

Amikacin, ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, and fosfomycin are promising treatment options for enterobacterial UTIs. However, their efficacy against P. aeruginosa is limited. This study revealed alarmingly high rates of primary etiological pathogen resistance to commonly prescribed empirical therapies for UTIs. These findings provide crucial data for optimizing national guidelines and implementing personalized treatment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of UTI treatments.
Successful treatment of pediatric patient with Dravet syndrome with cenobamate: Case report
Authors: Lobanov Oleg V , Bertrand Mary
Published: February 2025

Dravet syndrome, also known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy, is an epileptic encephalopathy characterized by severe epilepsy accompanied by impaired psychomotor and neurologic development. Onset is in the first year of life in apparently healthy infants. Seizures in Dravet syndrome are highly pharmacoresistant, and the SUDEP mortality rate is high. Here, we present the first case of the successful use of cenobamate in a pediatric patient (9-year-old female) with Dravet syndrome and pharmacoresistant epilepsy despite the prior use and failure of typical medications for Dravet syndrome, including fenfluramine, valproate, and clobazam, among others. At 6-month follow-up, the frequency of generalized tonic-clonic seizures decreased from 8 per month to 1 per month upon reaching a daily dose of 50 mg (1.9 mg/kg/day), which represents an 87.5% reduction. No side effects were reported. Given the single-patient case report nature of this study, further investigations are needed to extrapolate the usefulness of cenobamate across different age groups and genetic variants.
Issues of Information Literacy in South Punjab, Pakistan: An Analysis of Women’s Inheritance Deprivation Through the Theory of Manufactured Consent
Authors: Rubab Iram , Malik Beenish , Bano Shermeen , Lyndon Novel
Published: February 2025

Inheritance plays a pivotal role in women’s economic empowerment. Following 2011′s criminal law amendment that sought to curb the denial of women’s inheritance rights in Pakistan, a trend of wilful surrender in favor of male kin, especially in south Punjab, is now becoming apparent. The study explores this trend by conceptualizing the social engineering of women’s inheritance choices through Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman’s theory of manufactured consent. The study explores the patriarchal forces which make women’s surrender an inevitable and, in many cases, an honorable choice. Through purposive sampling technique, 20 women were recruited as participants from Bahawalpur and were then interviewed following Heideggerian phenomenology. Thematic analysis was conducted to draw the findings. The findings of the study reveal that family, religion, folktales, traditional songs, school curriculum, and mainstream media play a crucial role in women’s lives and are highly influential in shaping their choices. All these variables guide women to opt for surrender as an honorable choice. The study recommends that women’s economic empowerment is needed at the grassroots level, for which the role of agents of socialization needs to be restructured rather than only law-making and awareness creation in isolation.