bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antidepressant and anxiolytic efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine in the treatment of depression after COVID-19 in daily clinical practice (non-interventional study TELESPHOR)
Authors: Medvedev V. E. , Bogolepova A. N. , Morozov D. P. , Kvasnikov B. B.
Published: December 2024

Depression and anxiety are among the most common disorders observed in patients after COVID-19 coronavirus infection.

Objective: to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine in patients with a depressive episode (DE) after COVID-19 infection in everyday clinical practice.

Material and methods. The multicenter observational study TELESPHOR included outpatients aged 18 to 65 years who developed DE (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score of 8–24) within 3 months of the resolution of a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and started monotherapy with agomelatine. Patients were assessed at enrolment and subsequently at weeks 2, 4 and 8 of the observation period. The primary endpoint was the change in HAMD-17 scores by week 8 of the observation in patients taking agomelatine as an antidepressant. The main secondary outcome variables were the dynamics of scores for items 10 (psychic anxiety) and 11 (somatic anxiety) of the HAMD-17 scale, the proportion of responders and remitters (according to the HAMD-17 scale) and the impact on quality of life (QOL) according to the SF-36 questionnaire. The tolerability of agomelatine was assessed at each visit. Data from all patients who participated in the study and took agomelatine at least once were included in the efficacy and safety analysis. The final analysis included data from 103 patients, including 73 women (70.9%).

Results. Treatment with agomelatine was associated with a significant improvement in depression severity: the mean HAMD-17 total score decreased statistically significantly at weeks 2, 4 and 8 from 16.3±4.7 at study inclusion to 13.7±4.5, 9.5±4.9 and 5.4±3.6 points – by 2.6±3.3, 6.7±5.3 and 10.9±4.9 points, respectively, compared to baseline (p<0.0001 for all time points). The average score for item 10 (psychic anxiety) and item 11 (somatic anxiety) of the HAMD-17 scale also decreased significantly from 1.4±0.9 and 1.3±0.8 at baseline to 0.5±0.6 and 0.6±0.6 points by the eighth week of observation (p<0.0001). The indicators of the scales for physical functioning and mental health of the SF-36 questionnaire improved significantly compared to the initial values – from 39.7±8.4 to 50.5±5.7 points (p<0.0001) and from 37.3±8.6 to 58.7±6.9 points (p<0.0001) respectively, by the eighth week. The proportion of responders was 81.4 %, the proportion of remitters was 71.6%. Agomelatine was well tolerated during the entire observation period. No adverse events were recorded that led to discontinuation of the drug. One patient showed inefficacy of the treatment, so he discontinued participation in the study.

Conclusion. The treatment of patients with DE after COVID-19 with agomelatine is characterized by significant antidepressant and anxiolytic efficacy, improved QOL and good tolerability.
Adoption of Integrated Micro Banking Systems in Microfinance Institutions: An Analysis Using the Theory Acceptance Model
Authors: Kusmiati Eti , Wulantika Lita , Gumilar Irfan Rizki , Yuliana Eka , Januarta Prima Satriya
Published: December 2024

This study examines the adoption of Integrated Micro Banking System technology using the Theory Acceptance Model in PT Lembaga Keuangan Mikro (MFI). Employing quantitative research methods with descriptive and associative approaches, the study focused on users of the Integrated Micro Banking System at PT LKM Garut Regency. A total of 83 individuals were sampled using a census sampling technique. Data was analysed using the Structural Equation Method – Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). The findings showed that all six hypotheses developed supported the researchers' initial guesses. Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Trust, and Attitude, directly or indirectly, can explain and predict users' adoption of Integrated Micro Banking System technology. Therefore, these results serve as a valuable reference, especially for the management team of Microfinance Institutions in adopting technology and formulating relevant policies.
The Mediating Roles of Customer Trust and Satisfaction in E-Service Quality and the Repurchase Intention Relationship
Authors: Iffan Muhammad , Syafei M. Yani , Cuong Nguyen Duy
Published: December 2024

The rapid growth of information technology and the internet has changed how the company runs its business. In an increasingly competitive business environment, gaining and increasing market share is a priority for companies in the E-Commerce industry. The study aims to determine the impact of E-Service Quality on Repurchase Intention, mediated by Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction on E-Commerce users. The data is processed using a quantitative approach using the SEM-PLS method. The validity and reliability tests are first performed to determine the validity of the data, followed by the analysis of Structural Equation Modelling to determine the direct and indirect effect between research variables. Research results show that E-Service Quality significantly affects Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction. In addition, Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction significantly affect Repurchase Intention. Furthermore, E-Service Quality does not directly have a significant effect on Repurchase Intention. However, E-Service Quality indirectly affects Repurchase Intention through Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction. Based on the research results, E-Commerce users make online repurchases not only based on the quality of the service received but also on the consumer's trust and satisfaction generated by the product or brand offered, which can significantly increase consumer repurchasing.
Digital Printing Knitted Fabrics made of Polyamide, Cotton and Blends thereof
Authors: Forte Tavčer Petra
Published: December 2024

Knitted fabrics with different compositions, i.e. 100% cotton (CO), 100% polyamide (PA), and a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyamide (CO/PA), were digitally printed with reactive dyes. The cotton fabric was pretreated with a conventional alkaline solution of alginate thickener, sodium carbonate and urea (A). The polyamide fabric was pretreated with an acidic solution of galactomannan thickener (GM). The CO/PA blend was pretreated once with the alginate and once with the galactomannan preparation. The aim of the study was to determine whether the proposed preparation is suitable for printing polyamide with reactive dyes and which preparation is more suitable for printing the cotton-polyamide blend. The CIE L*a*b* colour values, the colour depth (K/S) and the dye penetration of the printed samples were compared. It was determined that under the same printing conditions, the highest colour depth was achieved on cotton, while a lower depth was recorded on polyamide. The colour depth on the cotton-polyamide blend was lower than on the two pure fabrics. For some colours, the colour depth was higher with the alginate thickener preparation, for others with the galactomannan thickener, so that no definitive preference for one preparation over the other can be given for printing blends. The colour fastness of the prints to dry rubbing (crock test), light and washing at 40 °C was acceptable for all samples.
The Commissive Speech Acts Performed by Alma and Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto Movie (2021)
Authors: Azka Mazida Izzatul , Candria Mytha
Published: December 2024

This study examines the use of commissive speech acts in the Disney animated film Encanto (2021), specifically by the characters Alma and Mirabel Madrigal. This study aims to find out the type of commisive speech act used by Alma and Mirabel in the Encanto (2021) movie. This study also explains the reasons for a certain type of commissive and the language features in the commissive speech acts. Based on the analysis of 16 commissive acts, including guarantee, promising, refusing, volunteering, threatening, and offering, the study finds that guarantee acts are the most frequently used commissive types by the characters, indicating their commitment to future actions. Mirabel performs all of the commissive speech acts to demonstrate her importance and value in the Madrigal family and her ability to stand up for what she believes in. The reasons for these commissive speech acts are mostly to assert the presence of the character or commit to future actions. The language features in commissive speech acts are mostly to make their statement stronger and clearer.Keywords: Characterization; directive speech act; illocutionary act; Sense and Sensibility
Language Features Used by Main Female Character in the Movie Redeeming Love (2022)
Authors: Amar Rizki Oktavianti , Wulandari Dwi
Published: December 2024

The research an titled "Language Features Used by Main Female Character in the Movie Redeeming Love (2022) focuses on identifying and describing specific women’s language features utilized by Angel as the main female character in the movie Redeeming Love. The research also aims to examine the functions of these language features employed Angel with theories of Coates and Holmes were used for these purposes. This descriptive qualitative research utilized purposive sampling to collect data from the Redeeming Love (2022) movie and Redeeming Love movie script. Then, the data were examined by determining and classifying the types of women's language defined by Coates and supported by using Holmes’s theory as a social factor that influences language. The results of the analysis revealed that the main female characters uses all variety of women's language features, including minimal responses, lexical hedges, tag questions, questions, commands and directives, swearing and taboo language, and compliments. Additionally, Angel utterances are mainly used for expressive functions among other. The study also shows social factor that Angel mostly used is participant.
Exploring The Impact of Kinesthetic Learning Strategies on Speaking Ability: A Study for Integrating Movement and English Language
Authors: Usuluddin Usuluddin , Fikni Zahratul , Husnu Muhammad , Nadia Riza
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this research was to investigates the effect of kinesthetic learning strategies on the speaking abilities of English learner. Employing a pre-experimental research design, the study involved 20 students from an FLC (Foreign Language Course) program. The research utilized quantitative methods, specifically oral tests, to measure the effectiveness of kinesthetic learning strategies. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests and analyzed using SPSS 22. The findings reveal a significant improvement in the speaking abilities of students who engaged in kinesthetic learning activities. The results of hypothesis testing showed a t-test value of 8.519 at p < 0.01, indicating that the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. This suggests that kinesthetic learning strategies are effective in enhancing English speaking skills. The study concludes that integrating movement-based activities into language learning curricula can significantly benefit students' speaking proficiency. These findings support the adoption of kinesthetic learning strategies in language education, advocating for more dynamic and engaging instructional methods that cater to various learning styles.
Analysis on the Acculturation of English to Sasak among Sasak Native Speakers
Authors: Khairunnasri Muhammad
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe purpose of this research is to investigate the acculturation between Sasak language and English among Sasak native speakers, and to identify which words or phrases have been absorbed and used in Sasak daily communication. This research was conducted in Selakerat, Perian Village, Montong Gading District, Lombok Timur Regency. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. The researcher employed observation, interview, and field note for data collection. The subjects of this study were nine native speakers of Sasak language of various ages residing in Selakerat. The results of this study indicate that language acculturation has occurred between Sasak language and English among Sasak native speakers in Selakerat, Perian Village in their daily communication. Some English words that have been absorbed and are frequently used in daily language include download, transfer, live, loading, log-in, by one, kill, like, top-up, reload, ID (identity), pet, peach, emote, skill, bot, gold, platinum, eyeliner, rank, map, lobby, account, make-up, cream, skincare, SIM (subscriber identity module), content, creator, skin, match, event, diamond,  cream, viral, and  pink, and several phrases like fake account (account fake), eye shadow, triple kill and trial emote (emote trial).
The Language Production Strategy by the Indonesian Government: A Crucial Effort to Prevent Social Disorders and Control Community Behavior During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Analyzed through Roger Fowler's Critical Discourse Analysis
Authors: Ekaristianto Felix Brian Hari , Sulistyowati Ririn
Published: December 2024

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a virus that causes a global pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 pandemic since March 11, 2020. During the pandemic, the Government needs to make efforts to prevent social disturbances from occurring, so control over people's behavior needs to be carried out. One of the efforts to control people's behavior carried out by the Indonesian Government is to produce language forms. This form of language is still used today, even though the pandemic has passed. This research will discuss these forms of language using Roger Fowler's Critical Discourse Analysis theory. The data used in this research was obtained from secondary sources from previous research regarding the lexicon that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary data was classified based on its forms; then, an in-depth analysis was carried out using Roger Fowler's Critical Discourse Analysis theory. After the analysis is carried out, conclusions are drawn inductively. The results of this research show that the Government uses several forms of language to prevent social disturbances and control the behavior of Indonesian society. These forms are abbreviations, acronyms, words, and phrases. These forms are used to prevent and overcome social disturbances that arise in Indonesian society in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Identity Negotiation and Marginalization: The Struggle for Cultural Assimilation of a Chinese-American Teenager in the Short Film “Americanized” (2021)
Authors: Pratama Rifka , Wulandari Retno
Published: December 2024

As a minority group in the United States, Chinese-Americans encounter a multitude of challenges throughout the process of integrating into the dominant societal structure. For Chinese-American adolescents, these challenges are particularly intricate, given that they are in a phase of self-discovery and face psychological issues related to maturity and existence. The short film “Americanized” (2021) portrays the phenomenon of identity negotiation experienced by the fifth generation of Chinese-Americans attempting to assimilate into both the African-American and Asian-American communities. However, due to a perceived lack of alignment with the cultural and normative expectations of both groups, the character ultimately becomes marginalized. Her efforts to negotiate her identity are evident in her use of linguistic styles, fashion, gestures, and elements of hip-hop culture that symbolize her identity, yet ultimately result in further alienation from both groups. This phenomenon illustrates the challenges Asian- American adolescents face in attempting to find a place between the two cultures, and underscores the complexity of the assimilation process that can result in identity marginalization.
Predictive Value of T-Lymphocyte Subsets in Combination with Serum Tumour Markers for Prognosis of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng
Published: December 2024

We aimed to detect the levels of T-lympho­cyte subsets and serum tumour markers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before chemotherapy, and to investigate the predictive value of their combined detection for the prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy. The clinical data of 110 NSCLC patients treated with chemotherapy from January 2019 to February 2021 were analysed retrospectively. All patients were followed up for one year and divided into good prognosis group (surviving cases) and poor prognosis group (deceased cases). The predictive value of T-lymphocyte subsets combined with serum tumour markers for prognosis was analysed. The proportions of patients with tumour-node-metastasis stages III–IV, lymph node metastasis and poor differentiation were higher in the poor prognosis group than those in the good prognosis group (P < 0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that high expression of CD4+ and CEA represented protective factors for poor prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy [odds ratio (OR) < 1, P < 0.05], while high expression of CA125 was a risk factor (OR > 1, P < 0.05). All the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of single indicator detection (CD4+, CEA and CA125 levels) and their combined detection for prediction of the poor prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy were > 0.70, which was highest in the case of combined detection. T-lymphocyte subsets and serum tumour markers are closely related to the prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing chemotherapy, and their combined detection is of high predictive value.
Effect of Cryoprotectants on Long-Term Storage of Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells: Implications for Stem Cell Preservation and Proliferation Status
Authors: Cabral Joao Victor , Smorodinová Natálie , Voukali Eleni , Balogh Lukáš , Kučera Tomáš , Kolín Vojtěch , Studený Pavel , Vacík Tomáš , Jirsová Kateřina
Published: December 2024

In this study, we tested a method for long-term storage of oral mucosal epithelial cells (OMECs) so that the cells could be expanded in vitro after cryopreservation and used for the treatment of bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. The ability of suspended primary OMECs to proliferate in vitro after cryopreservation was compared to that of OMEC cultures that had undergone the same process. Both were preserved in standard complex medium (COM) with or without cryoprotective agents (CPAs) (gly­cerol at 5 % or 10 % or dimethyl sulphoxide at 10 %). We found that after cryopreservation, primary OMECs could form a confluent cell sheet only in a few samples after 22 ± 2.9 (mean ± SD) days of cultivation with 72.4 % ± 12.9 % overall viability. Instead, all ex vivo OMEC cultures could re-expand after cryopreservation with a comparable viability of 78.6 ± 13.8 %, like primary OMECs, but with significantly faster growth rate (adj. P < 001), forming a confluent cell sheet at 13.7 ± 3.9 days. Gene expression analyses of the ex vivo expansion of OMEC cultures showed that the stemness, proliferation and differentiation-related gene expression was similar before and after cryopreservation, except for KRT13 expres­sion, which significantly decreased after the second passage (adj. P < 0.05). The addition of CPAs had no effect on these outcomes. In conclusion, the optimal strategy for OMEC preservation is to freeze the cells that have been previously cultured, in order to maintain cell viability and the capacity to create a sizable graft even without CPAs.
Reflexiones contemporáneas en derechos humanos y derecho internacional
Authors: Sierra-Zamora Paola Alexandra
Published: December 2024

La presente edición de la Revista Novum Jus presenta un conjunto de trabajos sobre temas actuales en ámbitos de las relaciones internacionales, los derechos humanos y, en general, del sistema internacional. De esta manera, este número invita al debate académico y a la reflexión profunda explorando nuevas perspectivas, enfrentando desafíos sin precedentes y generando una oferta única en la intersección entre el derecho internacional, la seguridad global y el empleo de la justicia social
La justicia transicional como garantía de no repetición: el modelo colombiano puesto a prueba
Authors: Londoño Lázaro Maria Carmelina , Idárraga Martínez Ana María
Published: December 2024

El diseño de un modelo de transición a la paz requiere abordar las causas del conflicto para evitar la repetición de violaciones masivas y sistemáticas de derechos humanos. Así vista, la justicia transicional (JT) constituiría una garantía de no repetición (GNR), en la medida en que busca corregir las fallas estructurales que subyacen a tales violaciones, con el fin de prevenir ilícitos continuos o repetitivos. Esta investigación explica cómo el modelo de justicia transicional colombiano ha integrado las GNR, los aportes que ofrece este diseño para otros procesos transicionales y algunas alertas. Por su contenido y finalidad, el artículo es de interés para una amplia audiencia: para quienes están a cargo del diseño, del seguimiento y de la implementación de mecanismos de JT,  académicos y todos aquellos que desean comprender la panorámica del sistema de transición colombiano, las posibilidades y los desafíos que implica ese deseado “no volver atrás”.
La legislación de Colombia en el sector minero y la minería ilegal (2001-2011)
Authors: Mancuso Francesco
Published: December 2024

El Gobierno colombiano ha aprobado, entre 2001 y 2011, una legislación para reglamentar el sector minero y aumentar la lucha contra la minería ilegal. Entre las medidas aprobadas se destacan la creación del Código Minero y de la Agencia Nacional de Minería. El presente artículo analiza el sector extractivo legal y la minería ilegal. En la primera parte se estudian las debilidades y fortalezas de las nuevas herramientas y su efecto sobre el sector minero colombiano. En la segunda se examina el problema de la minería ilegal como una amenaza multidimensional para el Estado colombiano.
Likwidacja Wojskowych Służb Informacyjnych w świetle wprowadzenia w życie idei IV RP
Authors: Klawe Anna
Published: December 2024

W artykule przedstawiono proces, jaki doprowadził do likwidacji w 2006 roku Wojskowych Służb Informacyjnych i powstania w konsekwencji Służby Wywiadu Wojskowego i Służby Kontrwywiadu Wojskowego. Scharakteryzowano jednocześnie genezę i założenia idei IV Rzeczpospolitej. Omówiono w jaki sposób wpłynęła ona na kształt wojskowych służb specjalnych w Polsce. Przedstawiono przebieg procesu legislacyjnego zakończonego likwidacją dotychczasowych struktur wojskowych służb specjalnych i powołaniem nowych. Opisano przebieg sporu politycznego, jaki towarzyszył powyższej reformie. Na zakończenie dokonano podsumowania rozważań.
Polaryzacyjno-dyfuzyjny system funkcjonowania państwa kontra zrównoważony rozwój a koncepcje gospodarcze Platformy Obywatelskiej oraz Prawa i Sprawiedliwości
Authors: Stelmach Andrzej , Chrobak Piotr , Kurek Adam
Published: December 2024

W artykule przeanalizowano najważniejsze kwestie związane z funkcjonowaniem systemu polaryzacyjno-dyfuzyjnego rozwoju społecznego i ekonomicznego w zestawieniu z koncepcją systemu zrównoważonego rozwoju oraz ich wpływ na rozwój gospodarczy państwa. Autorzy starali się znaleźć odpowiedź, czy na tak silnie spolaryzowanej scenie politycznej, można wypracować wspólną ponadpartyjną wieloletnią koncepcję rozwoju gospodarczego państwa, tak aby jej nie zmieniać wraz ze zmieniającymi się partiami sprawującymi władzę. Jednak ze względu na fakt, że zwolennicy systemu polaryzacyjno-dyfuzyjnego dominują w większych ośrodkach zachodniej Polski i wielkich miastach, podobnie jak wyborcy PO RP, a przeciwnicy wspomnianego systemu dominują w mniejszych miejscowościach i wsiach, czyli tak jak zwolennicy PiS, to w tej sytuacji wydaje się, że skoro elektoraty dwóch największych partii opowiadają się za różnymi oraz przeciwstawnymi modelami rozwoju gospodarczego państwa, trudno będzie oczekiwać, że zarówno Platforma, jak i PiS wypracują wspólny plan rozwoju gospodarczego państwa ponad partyjnymi podziałami.
Dyplomacja diaspor i miast. Studium przypadku współpracy zainicjowanej przez Włosko-Polskie Stowarzyszenie Miasta i Prowincji Salerno oraz Bolesławiec
Authors: Raczyński Rafał , Kowalska Kamila
Published: December 2024

W ostatnich latach zarówno diaspory, jak i miasta zyskały miano ważnych niepaństwowych aktorów stosunków międzynarodowych. Jednym z wyrazów takiego stanu rzeczy stało się powstanie nowych subkategorii dyplomacji tj. dyplomacji diaspor oraz dyplomacji miast. Brakuje jednak badań i publikacji, które łączyłyby działania dyplomatyczne tych dwóch aktorów. Artykuł stanowi studium przypadku współpracy międzynarodowej rozwiniętej pomiędzy różnorodnymi podmiotami subpaństwowymi z Polski i Włoch, zainicjowanej i współrealizowanej przez polską organizację diasporyczną, przy wsparciu polskiego korpusu dyplomatycznego. Celem pracy jest ukazanie dynamiki działań i korzyści wynikających ze współdziałania różnych podmiotów w obszarze lokującym się na styku dyplomacji publicznej, kulturalnej i ekonomicznej. Artykuł składa się z trzech zasadniczych sekcji. W części pierwszej definiujemy pojęcia dyplomacji diaspor i dyplomacji miast. Sekcja druga stanowi opis działań podejmowanych w ramach analizowanego przedsięwzięcia. W sekcji trzeciej prezentujemy rolę i znaczenie najważniejszych podmiotów zaangażowanych w realizację inicjatywy. W tej części przedstawiamy również kluczowe efekty i korzyści wynikające z międzysektorowej współpracy.
Смех (в) „фантастической трилогии” Федорa Достоевского
Authors: Muránska Natália
Published: December 2024

Among the works included in A writer’s diary by Fyodor Dostoevsky, literary scholars point out the “fantastic trilogy” – The dream of a ridiculous man, A gentle creature, and Bobok. Three heroes of Dostoevsky, three outsiders who are in conflict with their environment – a ridiculous man, an underground man and a drunken writer – are the main characters of the “fantastic trilogy”. The article examines the poetological principle of laughter, on which the ontology of Dostoevsky’s artistic world is based. In the aforementioned three short stories three varieties of laughter are identified: 1) laughter as a result of realizing the incompatibility of the truth of the heart with the necessity to live here and now (The dream of a ridiculous man, 1877); 2) laughter as Bakhtin’s genre-forming principle: muffled laughter, that is, laughter that is not heard, which is an expression of the impossibility of resolving a dispute, the impossibility of saying the last word about a problematic world, about its dual truthfulness – the truth of the heart and the truth of the mind (A gentle creature, also titled as The meek one, 1876); 3) a type of parodic laughter, or laughter that laughs out loud (Bobok, 1873).
Знатоки души человеческой: Фeдор Достоевский и Людмила Петрушевская
Authors: Lekeš Patrik
Published: December 2024

The article deals with the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Lyudmila Petrushevskaya from the point of view of two disciplines – psychology (addictology), and literary criticism. The paper explores the authors’ description of the symptoms of addiction, which manifests itself both in the consciousness, subconsciousness and behavior of literary heroes, as well as in their relationships, and the studies are reported by specific excerpts from the literary works. Based on the primary analysis of the text, it can be argued that Dostoyevsky already in the 19th century, in his works, described symptoms that were defined by psychology as a science only in the 20th century. Petrushevskaya often enters into an intertextual dialogue with Dostoevsky, describing gloomy heroes and hopelesslife. The study analyzes specific symptoms and their application based on Dostoyevsky’s Netochka Nezvanova (1849) and Petrushevskaya’s The Glitch (1999). The purpose of the work is to draw attention to writers as psychologists, and to the skill of their artistic and psychological depiction of the external symptoms of various mental disorders through their literary heroes. This goal is achieved: 1) by identifying specific symptoms of mental disorders (addiction) of the characters; 2) a comparative analysis of scientific psychological material and literary text; 3) by comparing the artistic depiction of specific symptoms of characters in the texts of certain authors.
Мотив адюльтера в романе Анатолия Мариенгофа Циники: слом или продолжение традиций русского словесно-культурного процесса?
Authors: Shestakova Eleonora
Published: December 2024

Cynics as the poetics and worldview of imagism suggests, gives the impression of a kind of novel-rebellion against Russian literary culture that has developed since the era of Pushkin. This is despite the fact that Mariengof at the end of the 1920s, when predictably dominated by social-political issues, creates a novel about a love story, seemingly quite traditional for Russian literature. This novel is not only about a love story, however, but also about adultery, proposed almost as a norm in married life. This violates and partly as it were destroys the traditions developed by the Russian literary process in the sphere of motives. Love stories and adulteries are inscribed in the motif, gradually gaining strength, of marital unfaithfulness which increases the independent poetics in Russian literature. According to literary scholars, adultery has its origins in the prose of Pushkin, and Lermontov, and it is further developed by Leo Tolstoy. However, researchers have not paid enough attention to the genres of the romantic, secular novella of the 1820s–1840s, with Turgenev’s works as another line of adultery, largely autonomous, experiencing the natural influence of the Europeanmedieval tradition. From this angle, the motif of adultery in Cynics has an “external” dimension, correlating with historical time, a catastrophic social-political situation, and internal literary history, as Veselovsky designated it. This naturally and inextricably connects the novel with the thickness of national and Western European literary meanings, images, types of heroes, and conflicts.
Literary images of Russia in Vladimir Sorokin’s novels
Authors: Kozárová Zuzana
Published: December 2024

Vladimir Sorokin is one of the representatives of Russian postmodernism and one of the most translated contemporary Russian authors in Europe. His work reflects an alternative to the “accepted” Russian reality, focusing on its understanding and the influence it has on the Russian people. The author uses artistic means of expression without embellishment and through his works he reflects not only the political, economic and social situation, but also his views and attitudes as a resident of Russia. In our article we present the time map of Russia according to Sorokin as reflected in three novels: The queue (1985), representing the Soviet system in the country, Their four hearts (1994), depicting the collapse of the USSR, and Day of the oprichnik (2006), portraying the beginning of the XXI century. The article is devoted to the significant epochs of Russian history through the eyes of the author, who is trying to capture the mentality, beliefs and opinions of Russian people in his literary works. The analysis of the main periods of Russian history and their influence on the people, as reflected in Sorokin’s oeuvre, allows us to understand their attitude to the current situation in Russia.
Laboratory Setup and Exercise to Evaluate the Characteristics of Different Earthing Systems
Authors: Barchet Max , Biehl Volker
Published: December 2024

In the bachelor program Medical Engineering, we have introduced the elective course Safety of Medical Electrical Equipment Lab Exercises. One of the lab exercises deals with the topic characteristics of different earthing systems and electricity supply networks in medical used areas. A laboratory setup has been developed and introduced for this lab exercise. With this setup it is possible to evaluate the characteristics of different earthing systems with extra-low voltage in order to avoid hazardous situations.
Hyper-viscoelastic characterization of the urethra
Authors: Bhave Ashish , Joshi Jash , Yache Vaishnavi , Rupitsch Stefan J. , Moeller Knut
Published: December 2024

Hyper-viscoelastic models have been used to characterize large strains coupled with viscosity. In this study, we aimed to model the urethral in-vivo biomechanics through a hyper-viscoelastic implementation. First, we used isotropic 2-parameter Demiray model for identification of urethral tube inflation after refining the values of quasistatic states. Attempting the approach by Holzapfel et. al., the average ratio of the elastic and dynamic modulus was computed to determine the stress contribution of the viscoelastic branches. The values of the parameters were determined after constraining a constant Energy dissipation (generalized maxwell) over range 1s to 100s. For the hyper-viscoelastic comparison implementation, it was observed that the goodness of fit criteria performs good for half of the samples (Adjusted R2>0.95). In some samples, the model is limited to fit ‘S’ shape curves but still performed well. The above identification technique and the hyper-viscoelastic in-silico approaches show that our approach fares sufficiently for the creep response characterization of the urethra.
EMG pants for smart textile-based monitoring of the muscle activity in the pelvic floor in physical therapy
Authors: Blocher Sandra , Linti Carsten , Jachan Deborah , Metter Joachim , Eberhardt-Fonseca André , Liebeton Esther , Bartsch Valérie , Gresser Götz T.
Published: December 2024

People worldwide suffer from bladder incontinence. For patients it is difficult to train the pelvic floor without a physiotherapist. The aim of this paper is to show how smart textiles can be applied in telemedicine. Textile electrodes and conductive paths are embroidered into underwear. The electromyography (EMG) signals of the pants are sent to an app. The app visualizes the data of the muscle activity.
Estimating safety factor for femoral plates subjected to in vivo loads
Authors: Bologna Federico Andrea , Audenino Alberto Luigi , Terzini Mara
Published: December 2024

Fatigue behaviour is a crucial aspect of mandatory mechanical tests for regulatory purposes, aimed at determining the load at which the bone plate withstands under a specific number of cycles, known as the runout condition. However, current test standards, such as ASTM F382, provide setup configurations without explicit guidelines on required fatigue strength. The determination of the minimum level of in vivo performance that the plate must fulfil remains an open issue, which is frequently addressed by the direct comparison with predicate devices. To address this gap, this study proposes an in silico framework to estimate maximum stress on implanted femoral plates for comparison with four-point bending tests described in the ASTM standard, deriving appropriate safety factors. As case studies, three femoral plates were assessed, and results showed safety factors above 1.1, indicating the reliability of the implanted plates.
Investigating the bending properties of cardiovascular catheters and stents via three-point bending test setup
Authors: Brandt-Wunderlich Christoph , Lenz Christopher , Siewert Stefan , Stiehm Michael , Schmitz Klaus-Peter , Schmidt Wolfram
Published: December 2024

The bending properties of catheters and stents have a big influence on their success during clinical application. Whereas bending stiffness directly affects the trackability of catheters, stents underlie bending when used for renal, superficial femoral or femoro-popliteal arteries, respectively. A three-point bending test setup according to ASTM F2606 was implemented into a universal testing machine and was validated regarding influence parameters such as accuracy of force measurement, test speed and span length. The bending stiffness can be calculated from the initial linear portion of the force-deflection curve. Furthermore, a multi-cycle approach was developed to evaluate the bending properties at large deformations revealing the deflection depending peak load as well as deflection depending elastic recovery rate after unloading. Within this study samples with a length of 120 mm from the proximal region of a commercial coronary balloon catheter were used. Influence of test speed was not significant. However, bending stiffness increased with increasing span length. For multi-cycle measurements a constant test speed and constant span length was used. Test results showed an increasing plastic deformation and peak load as well as a decreasing elastic recovery rate as expected. The presented test method can be used for catheters as well as stents with a length diameter ratio of at least 4:1.
A Custom-Built Piezo-Optical System for Visualization and Characterization of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Authors: Brecht Luisa , Steinmeyer Florian , Bonekamp Jörg-Bernd , Partanen Ari , Grüll Holger , Lindemeyer Johannes
Published: December 2024

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a noninvasive treatment technique to induce thermal or mechanical bioeffects. Characterising the wave field is essential for reliable and reproducible transducer operation in clinical use. This paper presents a schlieren technique to visualise and quantify transducer wave fields. The technique is based on the piezo-optical effect of water, i.e. the refractive index variation caused by sound pressure. Our custom-built system equipped with a Raspberry Pi HQ camera can capture schlieren photographs of acoustic fields generated by a clinical HIFU system. Alternatively, a high-speed camera allows analysis of short burst pulses. We investigated the focal zone shape of continuously generated HIFU fields at acoustic powers of 10- 250 W. Images of the focal area at 100 W indicated dimensions comparable to the reported literature values. Notably, as power increases, we observe waveform distortion in the focal zone due to nonlinear propagation of ultrasound. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of our system in visualizing and characterizing the acoustic fields generated by a clinical HIFU device.
Core-Shell Capsule Image Segmentation through Deep Learning with Synthetic Training Data
Authors: Budde Leon , Dreger Julia , Egger Dominik , Seel Thomas
Published: December 2024

Core-shell capsules (CSC) are a promising approach for 3D cell culture because they overcome the challenges of traditional large-scale cell cultivation techniques used in tissue engineering. Currently, CSC are segmented from microscopic images in a cumbersome manual procedure to evaluate their properties, such as size or complete encapsulation of the core compartment. In this paper, we propose an automated segmentation process of CSC based on an unmodified YOLOv8 instance segmentation model.We train the model exclusively on synthetic CSC images created from 10 manually annotated real images and evaluate its performance using the common Intersection over Union (IoU) metric on a test set consisting of 181 real images. Without modifying the model or tuning the hyperparameters, we achieve a mean IoU of 0.86, underlining the potential of deep-learning-based CSC segmentation relying entirely on synthetic training data.
Proof of the effectiveness of novel bioinspired antimicrobial nanostructures
Authors: Buhl Sebastian , Stich Alexander , Bulitta Clemens , Zapata Camilo , Paniagua Sergio
Published: December 2024

Antimicrobial surfaces are a promising option for supporting hygiene measures. In addition to many different technologies, research is also ongoing into coatings that are modelled on natural surfaces. In an international project with the National Nanotechnology Laboratory in Costa Rica, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden is working on such an aluminum-based nanostructured coating, which is modelled on insect wings and has an antibacterial effect in nature. The aim is to test the effectiveness of these surfaces against bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) in a standard test procedure, as well as to investigate the resistance of the nanostructures to abrasion and reprocessing. Since the effect of such surfaces depends on the filigree nanostructure, resistance to possible abrasion or damage is a key factor here. Our results show that these coatings exhibit at least detectable activity (log 2.2) against the bacteria in the ISO 22196 test setup. Even after repeated wiping of the coatings with sterile water or reprocessing using ultrasound and wipe disinfection, no loss of effectiveness can be detected. Due to the intrinsic antimicrobial effect of the aluminum, the effectiveness of the nanostructured surface is even higher compared to a completely ineffective control surface. If further studies confirm these initial positive results, the coating we investigated could represent another effective alternative in infection control and prevention.
Patterns of pulsatile impedance change during the apnea test detected by electrical impedance tomography
Authors: Chen Rongqing , Krueger-Ziolek Sabine , Lovas András , Benyó Balázs , Bakos Péter , Chase J. Geoffrey , Rupitsch Stefan J. , Moeller Knut
Published: December 2024

The apnea test (AT) is a critical procedure in determining brain death. It temporarily disconnects the patient from the ventilator for 7 to 10 minutes. This study explores pulsatile Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) during AT in 10 patients suspected of brain death to discern physiological changes. Analysis revealed three distinct patterns of pulsatile EIT signal changes: increasing; fluctuating; and decreasing. These findings show the potential of pulsatile EIT monitoring to provide novel insight into cardio-pulmonary dynamics during AT.
The EU AI Act’s Impacts on Digital Health
Authors: Djeffal Christian , Mehl Philipp , Müller Verena
Published: December 2024

The European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) has profound implications for technological innovation in the medical and health care sector, transcending the boundaries of existing legal frameworks such as the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This paper examines basic regulatory choices of the AI Act relevant for the field of digital health innovations by contextualizing its main goals, key obligations, and addressed actors. In light of these considerations, we present a scoping literature review that identifies potential regulatory challenges for stakeholders engaged in research, innovation and healthcare. Building on this, we point to concepts and methodologies to overcome such challenges in a way fostering innovation while realizing key constitutional and societal interests at the same time.
MR-Compatible Pump for the Validation of PC-MRI Flow Measurements
Authors: Ebers Kevin , Huber Florian , Radermacher Klaus , Benninghaus Anne
Published: December 2024

The technique of PC-MRI flow measurement offers a great opportunity to diagnose and understand the pathogenesis of various diseases and clinical pictures. Although previously criticized for its lack of accuracy, the method is now expanding the possibilities in several research areas. In this study, the design of an MR-compatible pump for the validation of PC-MRI flow measurements is presented. Initial PC-MRI measurements have demonstrated MRcompatibility and the ability to record artifact-free flows. The flow generated by the pump was further measured with an ultrasound flow sensor and compared with a physiological flow curve. The results showed that both the course and the minima and maxima match. Thus, the resulting pump generates a bidirectional, pulsatile flow within a physiological range and a variable frequency between 60-90 rpm with a stroke volume of 0.9 ml. Further flows, frequencies and stroke volumes can be adjusted. This enables the validation of PCMRI flow measurements and addresses current difficulties such as the lack of in vivo data.
Characterizing Human Walking Dynamics Across Age: A Control Engineering Approach
Authors: Feld Lea , Hellmers Sandra , Schell-Majoor Lena , Koschate Jessica , Zieschang Tania , Kollmeier Birger , Hein Andreas
Published: December 2024

Introduction While various models and studies have investigated the simulation and theoretical description of human gait, previous research has not considered irregular situations such as slipping and tripping. However, understanding these situations could be crucial and provide insight into assessing dynamic balance, a factor that is closely linked to the risk of falling. The first step is to investigate the system under normal walking using a participant group that includes people who are particularly susceptible to an increased risk of falling, such as older adults or people with certain health conditions that have so far been neglected in the literature. Methods In this study a control engineering approach was used to estimate the parameters of the human gait system. A total of 42 subjects aged 18 to 78 years, with different body masses and walking speeds, were analyzed. Measurements were conducted on a treadmill with integrated force plates, while participants wore inertial measurement units (IMUs) at lumbar level and were filmed with cameras. Results The calculated spring-mass-damping model parameters, including stiffness (k) and damping (c), varied widely among participants, with stiffness ranging from 4.45 to 45.53 kN/m and damping from 0.26 to 2.13 kNs/m. Contrary to previous findings, no linear relationships were observed between stiffness or damping and velocity, age, or mass. Outliers were identified and related in a plausible way to visual inspection. Conclusion In conclusion, our study successfully characterized human walking during periodic excitation for a diverse participant group using a simple control engineering approach, yielding comparable results to previous studies. Our results pave the way for future investigations to analyze the response of an individual participant to irregular gait perturbations.
Biomedical Entrepreneurship Initiative - a Novel Online Education Program towards a conference competition (IEEE CAS)
Authors: Friebe Michael
Published: December 2024

It is recognized that teaching and embracing entrepreneurial skillsets lead to more valuable and impactful innovations in biomedical engineering. Unfortunately only very few institutions globally have started to integrate innovation generation methods and entrepreneurial mindset development in their curricula. A novel approach was developed and tested for the IEEE CASS society. A 6 week online training program was developed (30 videos, worksheets, deliverables, and regular tests) and subsequently advertised leading the participants, accompanied by weekly personal guidance, to create a real innovation project. This was embedded in a competition to allow the best teams to receive funding to be able to attend the annual society conference and participate in a competition. The learners all reported a changed mindset towards innovation generation and the presented results were stimulating and exciting. The paper provides details on the free training program and shows some of the results. This could - and maybe should - become a standard training and program event point at future biomedical engineering conferences.
Development of an intraoperative monitoring system for microwave ablations
Authors: Gölz Oliver , Radler Philipp , Deininger Johannes , Lebhardt Philipp , Langejürgen Jens
Published: December 2024

Microwave ablation therapy is frequently used to treat liver malignancies. To ensure proper tumor treatment, intraoperative feedback regarding ablation performance and lesion size is required. By employing an electrode array around the ablation needle, changes in electrical impedance of ex vivo liver are measured in real time. Time-series trends of magnitude and phase are measured for 90 °C and 110 °C ablation temperatures. A finite element model is additionally configured to simulate the underlying biological processes. Gradients in the magnitude and phase trends can indicate the growth of the ablation zone. In combination with a preoperative simulation, impedance-based ablation monitoring can be a possible tool to improve future treatments.