bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Narrative in Dialect Discourse
Authors:   Saratov State University, Goldin V.E.
Published: February 2025

Eventfulness, presence of imagery, anthropocentrism, egocentrism and speech typologization are
shown to be specific features of dialectal narrative, based on the most important categories of
consciousness – event and man in event.
Development and Application of Language Law and Language Rights in Switzerland
Authors:   Saratov State University, Klokov V.T.
Published: February 2025

The article discusses the problems of language law and language
rights in multinational and multilingual Swiss society. Special attention
is drawn to the practice of reconciling the disputes arising from
conflicting interests of different social groups.
Nicholai Chernyshevsky: Towards 180-th Anniversary
Authors:   Saratov State University, Demchenko A.A.
Published: February 2025

The article offers a contemporary view of Chernyshevsky’s biography and work, bringing in some
understudied materials.
N.A. Polevoy in «My Literary and Moral Wanderings» by A.A. Grigoryev
Authors:   Saratov State University, Gusakova O. Ya.
Published: February 2025

The article belongs to a series of articles entitled «The portrait of
N.A. Polevoy in literary memoirs of the 1850-s – early 1860-s», already
published by different scholarly publications. Well-known memoirs
from the period, together with criticism by Gerzen, Chernyshevsky,
and Druzhinin, constitute a new literary-historical context which enabled a mid-XIX-th century reassessment of the previous thirty years
of Russian literary history.
«Earthly Paradise» in American XIX Century Prose (Thoreau, Irving, Hawthorne)
Authors:   Saratov State University, Petrushina A.A.
Published: February 2025

The article deals with the concept pf America as earthly paradise in the
texts by H.D. Thoreau, Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Short stories by Irving and Hawthorn are compared with Thoreau’s
novel «Walden: or, Life in the Woods», leading to conclusion about the
similarities in interpreting the concept by the three authors.
Tolerant and Intolerant Behavior in Mass Media
Authors:   Saratov State University, Shur А.M.
Published: February 2025

The article considers the problems of tolerant and intolerant behavior in Russian and American
mass media.
BELOVA N.M. PUSHKIN AND HIS GREAT PRECEDENTS
Authors:   Saratov State University, Bitkinova V.V.
Published: February 2025

The monograph offers a new perspective on the problem of “Pushkin and his literary predecessors”.
Addressing Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals in Emergency Situations: Causes, Impacts, and Advanced Prevention Strategies
Authors: Arefin Sabira , Global Health Institute Research Team
Published: February 2025

Burnout among healthcare professionals (HCPs) during emergencies such as pandemics or wars is a significant concern, driven by excessive workloads, resource limitations, and psychological distress. While staffing shortages make it impossible to increase personnel in these situations, innovative solutions like AI assistants, stress and symptom trackers, mindfulness tools, and volunteer-based support systems can alleviate stress and improve outcomes. This article explores the causes and impacts of burnout, evidence-based prevention strategies, and the role of technology and supportive policies in fostering resilience among HCPs.
Processing Raw Rice Bran to Potential Functional Food for Human Consumption
Authors: Baruah Darshana , Das Priyanka , Nath Tankeswar , Neog Borsha , Barooah Manas Jyoti
Published: February 2025

Background: Rice bran despite its nutritious value is largely underutilized. It is partly used for edible oil extraction and as animal feed or discarded as garbage. The present study was carried out with the objective of developing rice bran into a functional food ingredient for human consumption. Methods: The collected rice bran was exposed to four different treatments that included application of edible acid for activation of phytase, followed by drying at different temperatures to inactivate lipase. Standard biochemical methods were used to analyze the nutrients, anti nutrients and acid value. Result: Processing led to the reduction of phytic acid up to 43.6% and acid value up to 85.2% in comparison to raw rice bran (control) together with observation of absence of microbial load. Moreover, the processing led to the development of potential functional product with the better retention of ash, fiber, phenolic compound and crude protein content of the raw rice bran. The organoleptic evaluation revealed that the processed product can be utilized as ready-to-cook food ingredient, which might help to improve nutrition.
The Effect of Cannabidiol on Myokine, Cerebral and Cardiac Response in Rats with Sepsis Induced by Cecal Ligation and Punture Method
Authors: Erkiliç T. Orkun , Bayraktar B.
Published: February 2025

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cannabidiol on myokine (Irisin), cerebral (BDNF) and cardiac (cTnI) responses in sepsis-induced rats by Cecal Ligation Perforation (CLP) method. Methods: In this study, 40 adult male Wistar albino rats, aged between 8-10 weeks, were used. 5 groups were created, with 8 rats in each group: Control (C), Sham (S), CLP, CLP+CBD 2.5 mg/kg, CLP+CBD 5 mg/kg group. Rats in groups C and Sham were sacrificed at the end of the 10th hour and intracardiac blood was taken immediately afterwards. In groups CLP, CLP+2.5 mg/kg, CLP+5 mg/kg, intra-abdominal sepsis was induced and at the end of the 10th hour after sepsis occurred with CLP application, rats were sacrificed and intracardiac blood was taken immediately afterwards. Irisin, BDNF and cTnI levels in the serum samples were measured by ELISA method. Result: In the present study, mean serum irisin, BDNF and levels were determined to be at the lowest level in the CLP group, while cTnI levels were at the highest level (p less than 0.01). In CLP groups, serum irisin and BDNF levels increased due to CBD addition and the most significant decrease in cTnI levels occurred in 5 mg/kg CBD groups. As a result, it was concluded that CLP may be safe and beneficial when administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg in sepsis-induced rats.
Official Food Safety Control Organization and Enforcement in Barcelona City
Authors: Grau-Noguer Eduard
Published: February 2025

Official food safety control seeks to protect consumers’ health from suffering any damage caused by food hazards along the food chain. This study describes the organization and implementation of official food safety control in Barcelona city through the FAO/WHO’s framework on food control systems. Since the Municipality of Barcelona has more official competences of control than the rest of Catalonia and most of the Spanish municipalities, this administration is in a unique position compared to the rest of Catalonia and most of the Spanish local authorities. Food control is implemented and enforced based on nine action lines, which include control, surveillance and audit programs, management of food-borne outbreaks, alerts, denunciations, complaints and irregularities, sanitary authorizations and registries, and official certificates. This administration owns its official laboratory, which supports all control and surveillance activities. Moreover, communication and information activities are performed and addressed to food business operators and consumers. This is the first time this model has been employed to describe a local food control system. This paper lays the groundwork for improving Barcelona’s food control system and enables the latter’s comparison to other municipal systems.
El Rāmāyaṇa en México: el despertar y ocaso de una fascinación (1870-1940)
Authors:   Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Figueroa Óscar
Published: February 2025

El Rāmāyaṇa fue una de las primeras obras de la literatura clásica de India que llamó la atención del orientalismo europeo. En la década de 1870, este interés alcanzó a los círculos culturales mexicanos, como dan cuenta traducciones, notas periodísticas, expresiones artísticas y otros testimonios. Este artículo examina esos testimonios, en especial los del intelectual José González de la Torre, y con base en ellos reconstruye la recepción, divulgación y representación del Rāmāyaṇa en México en las últimas décadas del siglo XIX. La investigación devela un episodio fundamental del orientalismo mexicano, pues fue a través del Rāmāyaṇa que India adquirió un perfil simbólico bien delineado en el imaginario cultural nacional. En torno a dicho simbolismo convergieron anhelos cosmopolitas, pero asimismo un ímpetu patriótico. Sin embargo, con el debut del siglo XX se produjo un súbito ocaso, sugerente de un cambio de paradigma, también esbozado en el artículo
Nellie Campobello: Intimidad de la voz y reescritura de la Historia
Authors:   Universidad Veracruzana, García de la Sienra Rodrigo
Published: February 2025

Este ensayo plantea una indagación acer[1]a del lugar que tiene la intimidad dentro de la obra narrativa de Nellie Campobello, en particular cuando entra en resonancia con las pautas marcadas por la voz materna y el eco ancestral que la acompaña. Ello, como parte de una empresa literaria destinada a confrontar el discurso hegemónico del régimen postrevolucionario a través de una lucha por la forma y de la construcción poética de una verdad que aspira a reescribir la historia. A través de los cinco apartados que lo conforman, y con el apoyo de diversas fuentes críticas, el artículo aborda problemáticas como la adjudicación de la narrativa de Campobello al corpus de la “novela de la Revolución” o bien aquella relacionada con el carácter intermedial de la narrativa de la escritora duranguense. También se dedica un apartado a comentar puntualmente “Nacha Ceniceros”, uno de los relatos que forman parte de Cartucho.
Adhémar Barré de Saint Venant (1797-1886) est-il le père de la défense et restauration des sols (DRS) ?
Authors: Groéné D.
Published: February 2025

Un ingénieur civil, M. Barré de Saint Venant, a peut-être été le précurseur de la défense et de la mise en valeur des sols. Dans un rapport publié en 1846, il décrit en détail le procédé de dérivation des eaux qu'il préconise pour les pentes et qui consiste à modérer la descente des eaux pluviales dans les plaines en les détournant constamment des thalwegs ou plis de terrain dans lesquels elles tendent à se réunir. Adhémar Barré de Saint Venant ne croit pas à la nécessité d'un reboisement systématiques.
BCG Vaccination and Spinal Tuberculosis in Non-Malnourished and/or Non-HIV Infected Children at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya
Authors: Albarok Muhammad Abdir Rahman , Faris Muhammad , Endaryanto Anang , Setyoningrum Retno Asih
Published: February 2025

Highlights:

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been widely implemented in Indonesia, but cases of spinal tuberculosis (TB) in children can still be found.

There are significant and moderate relationships between BCG vaccination and the occurrence of spinal TB in children.

 
Abstract
Introduction: Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is an extrapulmonary form of TB that affects the spine. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination program, which has been implemented to prevent TB, should have prevented this type of TB. However, cases of this disease in children can still be found. This study aimed to determine whether there was a relationship between BCG vaccination and the occurrence of spinal TB in children.
Methods: This case-control analytic observational study was performed based on medical record data. The study subjects of each group, both case and control, were taken from pediatric TB patients at Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, from 2017 to 2021. Patients with malnutrition and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test.
Results: There were 9 patients in total within each group. Most were 12-17 years old, and the ratio of male by female was 1.25:1. There were 4 out of 9 (44%) spinal TB patients and 9 of 9 (100%) patients with no spinal TB who all received BCG vaccination. The statistical test indicated a significant (p=0.029) and moderate (C=0.527) relationship between BCG vaccination and the occurrence of spinal TB in children.
Conclusion: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination should be able to prevent the new occurrence of spinal TB in children.
Robotic-assisted reoperative benign foregut surgery
Authors: Rao Madhuri , Schaffer Emma
Published: February 2025

Foregut disorders including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia (HH), and achalasia are often treated operatively including anti-reflux surgery (ARS), fundoplication, and Heller myotomy (HM). Minimally invasive surgery has become the preferred technique to treat these disorders. These operations have an inherent risk of failure requiring reoperation. These redo operations are more difficult because adhesions and destruction of tissue planes impair visualization during dissection of the hiatus and the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Conventional laparoscopic techniques have been described for redo foregut surgery with good results. Surgical robotic systems provide an alternative minimally invasive approach that improves visualization, dexterity, and surgeon ergonomics in many operations. The robot can be used safely and effectively for redo foregut surgery. In this review, we discuss the robotic surgical technique for reoperative foregut surgery and discuss the approach to individual foregut diseases.
Printed graphene/CNTs/TPU-fabric wearable strain sensor for healthcare monitoring
Authors: Zhao Weikai , He Pei , Ling Kai , Gao Chen , Wang Kaifeng , Wu Lin , Yang Junliang
Published: February 2025

Wearable strain sensors hold immense promise in monitoring human motion activities due to their low cost, lightweight design, and excellent biocompatibility. For example, continuous real-time monitoring of neck activity can effectively prevent the onset of acute torticollis. However, current approaches to monitoring sleep neck posture primarily depend on technologies such as computer vision, which are characterized by limited wearability and portability issues. Herein, this work introduces a cost-effective, highly sensitive carbon-based strain sensor fabricated on a fabric substrate with a printing technique, which is eco-friendly and biocompatible. The proposed sensor displays a broad sensing range of 112%, high sensitivity (gauge factor > 210), low sensing limit (~ 0.1 ‰), and outstanding long-term stability over 3,000 cycles. The sensor’s utilization in monitoring joint motion, vocal cord activity, pulse, and electrocardiogram (ECG) is illustrated. Moreover, a portable system for monitoring neck activity and ECG signals while sleeping has been engineered, capable of detecting neck movements and ECG signals during sleeping hours. The composite materials design strategy combined with printing techniques provides a potential route for high-performance and low-cost wearable strain sensors in health monitoring.
The bioethics movement in India and the legacy of Sunil Pandya
Authors: Jesani Amar
Published: February 2025

The passing of Sunil K Pandya (SKP) on December 17, 2024, evoked memories of his remarkable life both as an individual and a medical professional in many physicians, patients and colleagues. In her tribute, Lopa Mehta has described him as “Medical Ethics personified, an astute clinician, a dexterous neurosurgeon, an ardent historian, a philosopher who stood high above worldly gains and fame” [1]. Early in January 2025, we published an anthology of SKP’s select articles in IJME as a tribute to his contribution to bioethics and to the journal. The reminiscences of his friends and colleagues in that tribute issue are vivid reflections of his genuine, multifaceted and virtuous personality [2].
Discrimination against patients from Bangladesh: striking at the heart of medical ethics
Authors: Bandewar Sunita Sheel , Timms Olinda , Karpagam Sylvia
Published: February 2025

We draw attention to the World Medical Association’s (WMA) International Code of Medical Ethics [1] as the benchmark of medical ethics, in the face of inflammatory and discriminatory statements issued by some senior Indian doctors against Bangladeshi patients. These statements followed allegations that the Indian tricolor and Hindus had been insulted in Bangladesh. The Indian mainstream media carried these statements uncritically. The Director of Jitendra Narayan Ray Hospital, Kolkata, Dr Subhrangshu Bhakta, announced that notifications had already been issued by the hospital refusing to admit Bangladeshi patients for treatment. He claimed that Bangladesh is behaving like an enemy and that we should not help the enemy. “The nation comes first. … We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps, …" [2, 3] He also said that “the country is above all else ‒ that medical service may be a noble profession, but the dignity of the country was paramount.” [4]
Care before the Primary
Authors: Sequeira Randall
Published: February 2025

Primary care with indigenous communities, just as with any other community, needs compassionate perseverance in individual cases but also touches on a communitarian value- system that can truly give insights into the community’s self-determined idea of health and wellbeing. It would also need a compassionate exploration of a community’s history and positioning of an individual-household contextual situation in the present-day political economy that values the individual over a more eco-centric idea of community. This commentary explores the contextual ideas and possibilities to take into account before a compassionate and technically sound primary care intervention within a continuum of care.
Implementation of policies regarding zakat as a deduction of taxable income: A case study in regencies and city in southern Tapanuli
Authors: Ahmad Faisal , Hsb Zuhdi , Kholijah Siti
Published: February 2025

IntroductionZakat plays a crucial role in improving the welfare of the Muslim community in Indonesia. However, Indonesian Muslims face a dual obligation: to pay both zakat and taxes. To alleviate this burden, the government implemented a policy that allows zakat to be deducted from taxable income. This policy aims to encourage zakat payers (muzakki) to distribute their zakat through official institutions such as BAZNAS. Nevertheless, zakat collection by BAZNAS in southern Tapanuli remains relatively low, necessitating an examination of the policy’s effectiveness. ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the zakat as a deduction of taxable income in southern Tapanuli and identify the factors affecting zakat collection through official institutions. MethodThis study employed a qualitative descriptive approach using empirical methods. Data were gathered from regulations related to zakat as a deduction of taxable income, and from observations of the performance of institutions managing zakat and taxes.ResultsThis study shows that while zakat can be applied as a deduction of taxable income, its implementation has not yet been optimal. Factors impacting the ineffectiveness of this policy include limited legal impact on payment obligations, administrative complexity, insufficient synergy between zakat and tax offices, lack of public outreach, and societal preference for directly paying zakat to recipients (mustahiq).ImplicationsThe study suggests the need to increase public outreach and synergy among institutions and simplify administrative processes to optimize zakat collection as a tax deduction. These improvements are expected to encourage broader participation in zakat distribution through official channels.Originality/NoveltyThis study contributes to the literature on the effectiveness of zakat as a tax deduction in Indonesia, particularly in southern Tapanuli. It offers insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing this policy at the regional level.
Customer Churn Prediction in Telecommunication Industry: A Literature Review
Authors: Imani Mehdi
Published: February 2025

In the dynamic landscape of the telecommunications industry, understanding and mitigating customer churn is paramount for maintaining competitive advantage and sustaining revenue streams. This comprehensive literature review delves into the intricacies of customer churn prediction, a crucial aspect in fortifying the bond between telecom businesses and their customers. The review methodically analyzes 11 articles published between 2000 and March 2024, spotlighting the strategic role of Customer Relationship Management and the prevalence of high churn rates that necessitate a shift from customer acquisition to retention strategies. Furthermore, the review navigates through the challenges inherent in churn prediction, including the complexities of managing large, imbalanced, and noisy datasets and the intricacies involved in model selection and optimization. Despite these challenges, the paper highlights the superior capability of machine learning techniques in handling complex datasets to provide accurate predictions, albeit acknowledging their practical complexities. The main aim of the study is to provide an overview, serving as a knowledge base for researchers interested in machine learning techniques within the realm of telecommunications.
Full Parameter Identification of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on Signal Injection
Authors: Sun Qingguo , Zhang Yanhui
Published: February 2025

Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are playing an increasing crucial role in industrial applications, where inaccurate system parameters can affect control performance and even threaten system stability. This paper aims to tackle the complex and cumbersome recognition algorithms for electrical and mechanical parameters of the PMSMs, which often result in long identification duration and low precision. We propose a full-parameter identification algorithm for PMSMs based on signal injection. This algorithm is simple and effective, easy to deploy, has a short identification duration, and high precision. It can achieve full parameter identification of resistance Rs, d-axis inductance Ld, q-axis inductance Lq, permanent magnet flux ψf, moment of inertia J, viscous damping coefficient Bm, and Coulomb friction coefficient Cm, contributing to the design and development of a high-performance PMSM servo control system. Firstly, this paper presents the identification algorithms for electrical and mechanical parameters. Then a simulation model is built using Maltab/Simulink. Finally, experiments are conducted on a 1.5kW built-in PMSM experimental platform. Both the simulation and experiments have verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Investigation of B-Carboline Alkaloid Harmaline Against Cy-Prinid Herpesvirus 3 Infection In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Manes Clement , Larson Kristen , Matsuoka Shelby , Wang Xisheng , Milston-Clements Ruth , Jin Ling
Published: February 2025

Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) is a common pathogen of koi and common carp (Cy-prinus carpio). Infection of CyHV-3 can lead to high mortality in fry under 4 months of age. CyHV-3 can become latent in recovered fish, and latent CyHV-3 can reactivate under stress conditions and spread the virus. Reactivation of CyHV-3 can also lead to mortality and diseases in latently infected fish. No vaccine or drugs are available to prevent CyHV-3 infection or reactivation from latency. There is a need for the discovery of anti-CyHV-3 drugs. Harmine (HAR) and Harmaline (HAL) are β-carboline alkaloids found in the medicinal plant Peganum harmala with antiviral activities against many viruses, including HSV. Here, HAL was evaluated against CyHV-3 infection in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Immediately after a one-hour infection exposure, cells treated with 5, 10, and 20µM HAL for 2h can block nearly 90% plaque formation in vitro. Only Around 50% inhibition was observed in cells treated with ACV at 10 or 20 µM for 2h following 1h post-infection. Cells treated with 10µM HAL for 30min, 60 min, 2h, and 6h can reduce 60%, 65%, 85.5%, and 85% CyHV-3 replication in vitro, respectively. HAL at 20µM can reduce about 1 log of KHV DNA replication when the treatment started at 3 and 5 days post-infection for 1 or 2h, respectively. HAL under 50µM has little toxicity to cells treated for 24h. Immersion treatment with 10µM HAL for 3-4h daily within the first 5 days post-infection can increase the survival of fry by 60%. In addition, IM injection of HAL at 20µM can reduce the rate of KHV reactivation induced by heat stress in latently infected koi. This study demonstrated that HAL could potentially be used to prevent CyHV-3 infection or reactivation from latency.
Transformer-Based Models for Probabilistic Time Series Forecasting with Explanatory Variables
Authors: Caetano Ricardo , Oliveira José Manuel , Ramos Patrícia
Published: February 2025

Accurate retail demand forecasting is essential for optimizing operations, improving customer satisfaction, and enhancing financial performance. Traditional statistical models often struggle to handle the complexities of retail time series data, which include hierarchical structures, irregular patterns, and external influencing factors. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of various Transformer-based models for probabilistic time series forecasting in retail, leveraging the rich explanatory variables provided by the M5 dataset. The models incorporate diverse features, including calendar-related information, selling prices, and socio-economic indicators such as SNAP activities, to capture the temporal, promotional, and socio-economic dynamics influencing sales. Our results demonstrate that Transformer-based models augmented with explanatory variables outperform their counterparts, providing more accurate and reliable forecasts across different horizons. We show that these models can effectively leverage context to improve forecast accuracy and capture uncertainty through probabilistic forecasting methods. This study highlights the potential of deep learning models in retail demand forecasting and underscores the importance of integrating domain-specific variables to achieve robust, context-aware predictions in dynamic retail environments.
Enhanced Luminescence and Thermal Stability in High Gd3+/Eu3+ Co-Doped Ba3Y4O9 Phosphors via Co-Precipitation Method
Authors: Zhu Dong , Wang Chunfeng , Wang Xiaohuai , Han Shun , Cao Peijiang , Zeng Yuxiang , Fang Ming , Liu Wenjun , Zhu Deliang , Lu Youming
Published: February 2025

The co-precipitation method was successfully used to synthesize BYGO: Eu3+ phosphors with high Gd3+ doping, resulting in significantly enhanced thermal stability and luminescence performance. Structural analyses confirm that Gd3+ and Eu3+ ions substitute Y3+ in the lattice, causing lattice expansion and improving crystal asymmetry, which enhances Eu3+ emission. The incorporation of Gd3+ creates efficient energy transfer pathways to Eu3+ while suppressing non-radiative relaxation, leading to stable fluorescence lifetimes even at elevated temperatures. With a thermal activation energy of ~0.3051 eV, the BYGO: Eu3+ system exhibits superior resistance to thermal quenching compared to BYO: Eu3+ and many conventional red phosphors. Furthermore, the reduced color temperature and stable emission spectra across a wide temperature range highlight its potential for advanced lighting and display technologies in high-temperature environments.
Analysis of the Influence of the Driving Modes in a Hybrid Vehicle During Urban Trips to Determine the Fuel Consumption Rate per Kilometer Driven
Authors: Lopez-Chila Roberto , Abad-Correa Anderson , De La Cruz-Zavala Héctor
Published: February 2025

Due to the growth of pollutant emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels (CO2) produced by internal combustion vehicles, the automotive industry aims to increasingly reduce fuel consumption in vehicles. In the present investigation, we analyzed how the different driving modes of an HEV influence the rate of fuel consumption per kilometer traveled during urban trips in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. A 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid vehicle was used for the study and the SAE J1321:2012 Standard was used, which provides a standardized method for fuel consumption evaluation. Using the OBDLINKMX+ device for real-time data collection during the trip with the help of the GPS Speedometer application. We took into consideration the routes and hours where there is the highest vehicle demand within the city of Guayaquil (North, Center and West). The driving modes analyzed were (Normal, Eco, Power), the results were processed in the Minitab statistical software, showing that the fuel consumption rates during the established tests were: 0.013536 Gal/km (Normal), 0.012472 Gal/km (Eco), 0.014658 Gal/km (Power), providing information on how the factors: travel time, average speed, travel distance, as well as traffic conditions and the usual behavior of a driver, affect fuel consumption.
Municipal Fiscal Sustainability in the Face of Climate Disasters: An Analysis of the 2024 Floods in Southern Brazil
Authors: Tonetto Jorge Luis , Pique Josep Miquel , Rapetti Carina , Fochezatto Adelar
Published: February 2025

Natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, as evidenced by the catastrophic floods in 2024, which marked the worst disaster in the history of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This article explores fiscal sustainability through the budgetary capacity of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul within the framework of Brazilian fiscal federalism. To assess this capacity, an indicator was employed to measure the proportion of current revenues allocated to current expenses and investments, alongside the degree of autonomy in resource transfers. The findings reveal significantly constrained fiscal sustainability among municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul, hindering their ability to respond to climate events in the region. Of the 453 municipalities analyzed, only 19% demonstrated sufficient budgetary space. Among those officially declared in a state of calamity, a mere 10% were eligible for a budgetary response. The economic losses associated with the disaster are estimated at BRL 88.9 billion, while collectively the municipalities of RS dedicated BRL 5.6 billion to investments in 2023. Given limited fiscal capacity and the enormous scale of losses from natural disasters, this article argues for financial solutions aimed at prevention and mitigation, involving federal cooperation and greater budgetary and financial commitments at the national level.
Efficacy Study: Comparison of an Insomnia Therapy Developed for Shift Workers with the Standard Treatment (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) in an Online Group Setting. RCT With an Active Control Group, Completer Analysis
Authors: Grünberger Tanja , Höhn Christopher , Schabus Manuel , Pletzer Belinda Angela , Laireiter Anton-Rupert
Published: February 2025

Background. Shift workers are at increased risk for insomnia or shift work disorder. The standard treatment (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) is challenging for this group. Although there are new promising approaches, they are still considered inadequate. Aims and objectives. For this study, a tailored treatment was developed that replaces regularity interventions with methods from other disorders such as anxiety or depression. This approach is also intended to shift the focus away from disturbed sleep. Methods. A randomized controlled trial (RCT, completer analysis) was conducted. Therefore, linear mixed models were utilized to compare two active conditions (treatment as usual vs. tailored therapy) at three measurement points (pre-, post-treatment, 3-month follow-up). Primary outcomes are sleep quality, insomnia severity, sleep onset latency, and total sleep time. Secondary outcomes are anxiety, depression, tension, concern, emotional instability. Non-inferiority or equivalence tests were also performed. Results. The newly developed treatment approach is equivalent to standard care. Both resulted in significant and stable improvements in all variables. Thus, only the main effect across measurement points is significant, not the group or the interaction. Outlook. Attrition rates and compliance should be considered in further studies and the treatment should be revised according to these results. The approach of improving sleep with implicit interventions should be pursued further, as it seems well suited to shift workers and their specific needs.
The Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Short Course of Sauerkraut Supplementation on the Gut Microbiota of Active Athletes: A Follow-Up Study
Authors: Zonjić Jadran , Karačić Andrija , Brodić Ivona , Antonio Starcevic Antonio Starcevic , Renko Ira , Krznarić Željko , Ivančić Matija , Liberati Pršo Ana-Marija , Šatalić Zvonimir
Published: February 2025

Objectives: The application of whole fermented foods in sports nutrition for gut microbiota personalization is a promising area of investigation. Sauerkraut, a traditional fermented food, has not been extensively studied in this context. This study aimed to replicate earlier findings of a proof-of-concept study on the potential of sauerkraut for gut microbiota personalization in active athletes. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted on active recreational athletes who consumed 250 g of organic pasteurized sauerkraut daily for 10 days. Changes in gut microbiota composition and functionality were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolic pathway analysis across three time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month post-intervention. Laboratory parameters, bowel function, and side effects were monitored throughout the study. Results: The follow-up study did not replicate the original study's findings on sauerkraut's short-term effects on β-diversity and taxonomic and functional groups. However, long-term effects of sauerkraut supplementation were demonstrated, including a significant reduction in α-diversity variance and increased gut microbiota composition similarity (β-diversity), as well as several significant changes in bacterial taxa and metabolic pathways after a wash-out period. The intervention also induced a transient decrease in B12 vitamin levels and a short- and long-term increase in leukocyte concentrations. The probability for physiological types of stools increased after one week of sauerkraut supplementation, as well as the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, such as bloating, diarrhea, pain, nausea and constipation. Conclusions: This study suggests that the short-term effects on the gut microbiota of sauerkraut supplementation depend on its baseline status, but that it can induce long-term effects. Sauerkraut supplementation requires a seven-day adaptation period. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind the short- and long-term effects of sauerkraut supplementation.
A Review of Optimal Power Flow in Integrated Energy Systems: Methodologies, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: Wang Shan
Published: February 2025

This review examines advanced methodologies for optimal power flow (OPF) in integrated energy systems (IES), highlighting the integration of diverse energy forms like electricity, heat, and gas. It focuses on decoupled algorithms and developments for gas-electric systems and the impact of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, which introduce significant uncertainties into OPF. The paper also addresses the cybersecurity challenges, especially false data injection risks. Future directions include advancing predictive control systems, improving energy storage, and evolving regulatory frameworks to facilitate sustainable IES development. This synopsis aims to guide future research efforts in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of multi-energy systems.
The Occurrence of Micropollutants in the Aquatic Environment and their Removal Technologies
Authors: Tarigan Meilia , Raji Samir , Al-Fatesh Heyam , Czermak Peter , Ebrahimi Mehrdad
Published: February 2025

Pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environments are recognized as emerging contaminants due to their potential risks to living organisms. The growing accessibility, widespread use, and disposal of pharmaceuticals have led to a significant increase in their presence within wastewater streams. Due to their persistence and resistance to biodegradation in aquatic environments, these water-soluble and pharmacologically active organic micropollutants often evade conventional wastewater treatment processes, leading to incomplete removal and an escalating global concern. This review examines the classification, occurrence, and associated environmental and health risks of commonly detected pharmaceutical contaminants in aquatic systems. Additionally, it provides an overview of advanced treatment methods being developed to implement a fourth purification stage in wastewater treatment plants. Biological, chemical, physical, and hybrid purification technologies are critically reviewed, with a focus on their performance characteristics and potential applications.
Review of Electrohydraulic Actuators inspired by the HASEL Actuator
Authors: Tynan Levi , Gunawardana Upul , Liyanapathirana Ranjith , Perera Osura , Esposito Daniele , Centracchio Jessica , Gargiulo Gaetano
Published: February 2025

The muscle-like movement and speed of the electrohydraulic actuator have granted it much at-tention in soft robotics. Our aim is to review the advancements in electrohydraulic actuators in-spired by the Hydraulically Amplified Self-healing Electrostatic (HASEL) actuator. With this paper we focus on the performance of 21 electrohydraulic actuator designs developed across five Uni-versities, ranging from the earliest HASEL designs to the latest electrohydraulic designs. These actuators reported up to 60 N forces and contracting strains of up to 99%. The actuator with the best overall performance so far, has been the HEXEL actuator, developed at the University of Colorado Boulder. However, notable is also the HALVE actuator (produced by ETH Zürich, Switzerland), that by using a 5µm PVDF-TrFE-CTFE film with a relative permittivity 40, produced 100 times the electrostatic force of any of the electrohydraulic actuators under review. The latter shows that there is room for improvements as low force and displacement still limit the viability of the soft actuators in real-life applications.
On the Enhancement of the Long-Term Washability of E-Textile Realized with Electrically Conductive Graphene-Based Inks
Authors: Improta Ilaria , Rollo Gennaro , Buonocore Giovanna Giuliana , Ferraro Simona Del , Molinaro Vincenzo , D’Addio Gianni , Rosa Anna De , Lavorgna Marino
Published: February 2025

This research explores the development of highly durable, flexible electronic textiles (e-textiles) for wearable electronics, focusing on improving their washability and performance. A conductive graphene-based ink is screen-printed onto a polyester textile. Water-based polyurethane (PU) coatings with variable crosslinker ratios and thickener are applied to solve washability issues. The results show that PU coatings significantly enhance the electrical stability and durability of printed pathways after multiple washing cycles. The conductivity remains intact after 120 washing cycles, indicating that the final properties of the e-textile, which contains 6 wt% thickener and 3 wt% crosslinker, provide effective water protection. The results highlight the promise of these coated e-textiles for wearable electronics applications, especially in the occupational and healthcare sectors, where long-term flexibility, washability are critical.
Genetic Variation and Sex-Based Differences: Current Considerations for Anesthetic Management
Authors: DiMaria Stephen , Mangano Nicholas , Bruzzese Adam , Bartula Benjamin , Parikh Shruti , Costa Ana
Published: February 2025

Biomedical sciences have made immense progress and numerous discoveries aimed at improving quality of life and life expectancy in modern times. Anesthesiology is typically tailored to individual patients as its clinical effects depend on multiple factors, including a patient’s physiological and pathological states, age, environmental exposures and genetic variations. Sex differences are also paramount for a complete understanding of the effects of specific anesthetic medications on men and women. However, women-specific research and the inclusion of women in clinical trials, specifically during child-bearing years, remain disproportionately low compared to the general population at large. This review describes and summarizes genetic variations, including sex differences, that affect responses to common anesthetic medications such as volatile anesthetics, induction agents, neuromuscular blocking drugs, opioids and local anesthetics. It also discusses the influence of genetic variations on anesthesia outcomes such as post-operative nausea and vomiting, allergic reactions, pain, depth of anesthesia, awareness under anesthesia and recall, and post-operative delirium.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus altitudinis HH-03 Isolated from Dairy Pipeline
Authors: Lu Yan-Hong , Fan Xi-Bei , Liu Yang , Guo Zhan-Hui , Xie Rui-Long , Quan Zhe-Xue
Published: February 2025

In this study, Bacillus altitudinis HH-03 was isolated from a dairy pipeline and its genomic information was obtained by performing sequencing. The genome size of strain HH-03 was 3.85 Mbp with a GC content of 41.2%. Based on the annotation procedure, 4,010 protein-coding genes were identified. The genomic information of strain HH-03 will be helpful for the development of clean-in-place processes.
Development of AI Model For Precision Anaesthesia Dosage Optimization
Authors: Aguda Oluwakemi E , Okodeh Samuel O , Muslehat Abdulgafaar A , Nwoye Ephraim O
Published: February 2025

This research explores the creation of an AI-driven model to improve anesthesia dosage precision, particularly for pediatric patients. Children present unique challenges in anesthesia due to their developing organs and varying metabolism. Traditional methods often rely on generalized guidelines and clinician expertise, which may not adequately address individual variability, especially in pediatrics. To overcome these limitations, this study employs advanced machine learning (ML) techniques, including supervised learning and ensemble methods, to develop predictive models tailored to each patient’s characteristics.
Existence and Uniqueness of Fixed Point Results in Non-solid C*-algebra-Valued Bipolar b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Bokodisa Annel Thembinkosi , Aphane Maggie
Published: February 2025

In this monograph, motivated by the work of Aphane, Gaba, and Xu, we explore fixed point theory within the framework of \( C*-algebra-valued bipolar b-metric spaces, characterised by a non-solid positive cone. We define and analyse (F_H- G_H)-contractions, utilising positive monotone functions to extend classical contraction principles. Key contributions include the existence and uniqueness of fixed points for mappings satisfying generalised contraction conditions. The interplay between the non-solidness of the cone, the C*-algebra structure, and the completeness of the space is central to our results. We apply our results to find uniqueness of solutions to Fredholm integral equations and differential equations, and we extend the Ulam-Hyers stability problem to non-solid cones. This work advances the theory of metric spaces over Banach algebras, providing foundational insights with applications in operator theory and quantum mechanics.
Breast Cancer in Young Women in Michoacan—A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study
Authors: Rocha-López Angélica Georgina , Gómez-García Anel , De la Paz-Ibarra Julio Alberto , Sánchez-Ceja Sandra Guadalupe , Gutiérrez-Castellanos Sergio
Published: February 2025

Background: Invasive breast cancer (IBC) is the most prevalent neoplasm and the leading cause of death in women worldwide. Young women under 40 years of age, despite their low incidence, have different clinical-pathological characteristics than older women, giving them a worse prognostic profile. Objective: To determine the association between risk factors associated with MIC in young women in Michoacan. Methods: descriptive, observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study that included 1178 patients < 40 years of age with MIC diagnosed in the period 2015-2022 in a second-level hospital of the IMSS in Michoacán. Sample size at convenience, with database registration, with the use of means, standard deviation, chi-square and Student's t-test, p ≤ 0.05 as an indicator of significance. Registration Number: R-2022-1602-025. Results: of 1178 cases, 12.1% were in young women, who had an increased risk of tumors > 2 cm (p = 0.02, 1.062–2.058), ER–/RP– (p = 0.0067, 1.158–2.501) and triple negative (p = 0.0006; 1.377–5.563). Obesity III was associated with larger tumors (P = 0.0028, 1.051–3.518), advanced TNM stages (P = 0.0445), and greater tissue involvement (T3-T4, P = 0.0301). Conclusions: Breast cancer in young women in Michoacan showed worse prognostic clinical profiles compared to older women.
A Real Data-Driven, Robust Survival Analysis on Patients who Underwent Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease by Utilizing Parametric, Non-Parametric, Semi-Parametric Approaches
Authors: Iluppangama Malinda , Abeywardana Dilmi , Tsokos Chris
Published: February 2025

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people around the globe. Many researchers are continuously working to understand PD and develop treatments to improve the condition of PD patients that affects their day-to-day lives. Since the last decades, the treatment, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has given promising results for motor symptoms by improving the quality of daily living of PD patients. In the methodology of the present study, we have utilized sophisticated statistical approaches such as Nonparametric, Semiparametric, and robust Parametric survival analysis to extract useful and important information about the long-term survival outcomes of the patients who underwent DBS for PD. Finally, we were able to conclude that the probabilistic behavior of the survival time of female patients is statistically different from that of male patients. Furthermore, we have identified that the probabilistic behavior of the survival times of Female patients is characterized by the 3-parameter Lognormal distribution while that of Male patients is characterized by the 3-parameter Weibull distribution. More importantly, we have found that the Female patients have higher survival compared to the Male patients after conducting a robust parametric survival analysis. Using the semi-parametric COX-PH, we found that the initial implant of the right side leads to a high frequency of events occurring for the female patients with a bad prognostic factor while for the male patients, a low events occurring frequency with a good prognostic factor. Furthermore, we have found an interaction term between the number of revisions and the initial size of the implant which increases the frequency of events occurring for the Male patients with a bad prognostic factor.