bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors determining primary or delayed surgery for unilateral, non-metastatic Wilms tumor: a multicentric Egyptian study
Authors: Elgendy Ahmed , AbouZeid Amr Abdelhamid , El-Debeiky Mohamed , Mohammad Shaimaa Abdelsattar , Romeih Marwa , Ebeed Ahmed , Abouheba Mohamed , Takrouney Mohammed Hamada , Mostafa Mahmoud , Khairi Ahmed , El-Naggar Osama , Shehata Sameh
Published: February 2025

Background

There is no consensus on the initial treatment modality for unilateral Wilms tumor (WT) in Egypt. This multicenter study investigates the factors guiding the decision-making between primary surgery and delayed resection for this tumor in our clinical practice. A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients with unilateral, non-metastatic WT treated at four major Egyptian institutions from January 2019 to January 2024. Clinical characteristics, management details, and outcomes were reviewed. Timing of nephrectomy was analyzed in relation to tumor characteristics such as size, midline crossing, suspicion of perinephric spread, intravascular extension, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy.

Results

The study included 112 patients with a median age of 2.8 years. The median largest tumor diameter was 12 cm (range, 7–16 cm). Primary nephrectomy was performed in 62 patients (55.4%), while 50 (44.6%) underwent delayed resection after biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumors larger than 12 cm and tumors crossing the midline were reported in 38.5% and 35% of all patients, respectively. Suspicion of perinephric spread was noted in 31% of patients, and significant lymphadenopathy in 13.5%. Intravascular tumor thrombus was detected in 7 patients (6.25%) at various locations. Statistically significant differences were observed between the primary surgery and delayed resection groups regarding suspicion of perinephric spread, intravascular thrombus, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy (p-value < 0.001, 0.002, and < 0.001, respectively). However, tumor diameter and midline crossing showed no significant differences (p-value = 0.137 and 0.152, respectively). At a median follow-up of 37 months, seven patients experienced relapses, and six died. The 3-year overall and event-free survival for all patients were 91% and 89%, respectively.

Conclusions

In our study, tumors larger than 12 cm and/or crossing the midline, if without other risk factors, did not significantly influence the decision for primary nephrectomy in unilateral, non-metastatic WT. However, suspicion of perinephric spread, intravascular thrombus (even at the level of renal veins), and evident retroperitoneal adenopathy were crucial factors in choosing delayed resection.
The additive diagnostic value of ultrasonic strain elastography in characterizing BI-RADS 4 breast lesions
Authors: Bayoumi Dalia , Shokeir Farah Ahmed , Karam Rasha , Elraouf Ghada Hassan Abd , Ibrahim Dina Abdallah , Elboghdady Aya
Published: February 2025

Background

Breast cancer is a significant global health issue and is a leading cause of female deaths worldwide. Ultrasonography (US) is an adjunct technique for early diagnosis of breast cancer but has low specificity. So, researchers have suggested using US elastography to distinguish between benign and malignant breast lesions, which may lead to a decrease in unnecessary biopsy rates. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of strain elastography and if there was an increase in the diagnostic accuracy after adding it to conventional US results in BI-RADS 4 category breast lesions.

Results

This cross-sectional study was carried out from June 2022 to June 2024 on 240 patients with 240 breast lesions that were diagnosed as BI-RADS 4 category by conventional US. All the cases were examined using conventional US and strain elastography. Out of the 240 lesions, 107 were benign (44.6%) and 133 were malignant (55.4%). There was a significant statistical difference in the mean age of patients with benign breast lesions (37.89 ± 13.42 years) than those with malignant lesions (48.83 ± 13.65 years) (p < 0.001). Lesions’ imaging characteristics detected by conventional US as shape, margin, aspect ratio, vascularity, and calcification all showed significant differences between benign and malignant breast lesions (p < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of conventional US alone was 73.3% and increased to 95.3% after combining it with strain elastography. The strain elastography score has a cutoff value of 4 in discriminating malignant from benign lesions (AUC = 0.9).

Conclusions

Strain elastography provides an added diagnostic value in discriminating malignant breast lesions from benign lesions. The combination of strain elastography with US BI-RADS increases the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of malignant breast lesions which will decrease the need for unnecessary biopsy.
Flooding, Sociospatial Risk, and Population Health
Authors: Raker Ethan J.
Published: February 2025

Climate change and population settlement patterns are altering the severity and spatial dimensions of flooding. Despite associational evidence linking flood exposure to population health in the United States, few studies have used counterfactual strategies to address confounding or examined how sociospatial determinations of risk, such as floodplain delineation, affect well-being. Using the case of Hurricane Harvey, I leverage novel, repeated cross-sectional health survey data from Houston immediately predisaster (N = 2,540) and six to nine months postdisaster (N = 2,798), linked to local flood inundation and floodplain data. Difference-in-differences models show that the probability of psychological distress and fair/poor health increased significantly in the flooded treatment group, with mixed evidence on unhealthy mental health days and no change in unhealthy physical health days. Triple-difference estimators further reveal buffered mental health adversity for those in flooded areas with high floodplain areal coverage relative to little or no floodplains. Descriptive analyses of mechanisms suggest that floodplain coverage did not differentiate individual-level disaster exposure but increased the likelihood of disaster preparedness and evacuation. This article offers insights into the climate–health nexus empirically by using a causal framework to improve credibility and conceptually by demonstrating how an underexamined dimension of vulnerability—sociospatial risk determinations—can stratify population health.
Epidemiological profiles and causes of sudden deaths of various ages in Ethiopia: an autopsy-based study
Authors: Lema Alemayehu Shiferaw , Tekle Sesen Tsegaye
Published: February 2025

Background Sudden death is an important global public health issue. An autopsy is an important source of epidemiological data, as the considerable causes of sudden death remain hermetic until postmortem examination. This study is devoted to evaluating the sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical and pathological characteristics of sudden deaths of various ages in Ethiopia. Methods This is an observational, prospective, descriptive study that included all sudden deaths observed over 1 year at St. Paul’s Hospital and Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Results Sudden death (n = 568) accounted for 11.5% (95% CI: 10.6-12.4) of all autopsied cases. There were 482 males and 86 females (M:F ratio of 5.6:1) and a mean age of 44.8±17.349. The peak age group was the fourth and fifth decades, accounting for 43.9% of the cases. Chronic substance abuse and a history of prior illness were declared in 40.1% and 38% of cases of sudden death, respectively. Cardiovascular (36.1%), respiratory (32.6%), and gastrointestinal system (19.5%) pathologies were the most common causes. The leading underlying causes of sudden death were ischemic heart disease and pneumonia. Most (86.6%) sudden deaths occurred outside of a hospital setting. Conclusions Most of the causes of sudden death in Ethiopia can be prevented and treated. The majority of sudden deaths are silent without preexisting symptoms. Therefore, it is vital to develop public health measures that will help educate the community about the importance of recognizing the manifestation of various clinical conditions and the need to seek immediate clinical help. Furthermore, efforts should be made to make healthcare facilities accessible and affordable with adequate diagnostic and management capacity. Documentation of autopsy-based data could provide important epidemiological information to guide medical services, prevention efforts, and control measures.
The reproducibility of cervical vertebrae maturation: A cross-sectional comparative study between two methods
Authors: Pratiwi Dwita , Kusumadewy Widya , Adiatman Melissa , Suniarti Dewi Fatma , Soedarsono Nurtami , Soegiharto Benny M
Published: February 2025

Abstract Background The cervical vertebral maturation method serves as a predictive tool for assessing growth status through the analysis of cervical vertebrae morphology. Prior to initiating treatment, it is crucial to ascertain the maturation stage to identify the optimal timing for intervention. In the context of cervical vertebral maturation assessment, two predominant methodologies are commonly employed, the Cervical Vertebrae Maturation (CVM) and the Cervical Stage (CS). This study aims to evaluate the reproducibility of these two methods. Methods Ninety cephalometric radiographs that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Two orthodontists classified the cervical vertebrae using the Baccetti, Franchi and McNamara method published in 2002 (CVM) and 2005 (CS) through manual tracing. Intra- and interexaminer reliability were analyzed using Weighted Kappa values. Results The intraexaminer reliability for CVM method in both examiners were described as almost perfect agreement. (κw = 0.86 and κw = 0.87). Intraexaminer reliability for CS method in both examiners were almost perfect agreement (κw = 0.95 and κw = 0.88). Agreement between examiners in the CVM method was moderate (κw = 0.66), and in the CS method, it was substantial (κw = 0.82). Conclusions The CS method showed superior reproducibility compared to the CVM method as a result of its more straightforward assessment approach. When assessing growth status using the cervical vertebrae analysis method, the CS method is more reliable than CVM method.
Recombinant expression of receptor binding domains of all eight subtypes of botulinum neurotoxin type A for generation of antitoxins with broad reactivity
Authors: Quynh Pham Nga , Mai Tam Trang , Dang Tran Bao Anh , Huong Tran Ly , Mai Vu Quynh , Trong Nguyen Chien , Thi Phuong Tran Anh , Dang Tran Nhat Minh , Tran Van Anh , Huy Tran Thinh , Tran Van Khanh , Quang Le Hoa
Published: February 2025

Background Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) represents a major threat to global public health because of its most potent toxicity with the longest persistence. Several camelid single-domain antibodies (or VHHs) have been reported to exhibit high neutralizing activity against the receptor binding domain (HC) of the BoNT/A subtype used to generate them. However, it remains unclear if these VHHs can neutralize effectively HC of other BoNT/A subtypes. This study aimed to generate HC domains of all eight BoNT/A subtypes and to screen for VHHs with broad reactivity against these domains. Methods HC domains of BoNT/A1-A8 were recombinantly produced in Escherichia coli. The bont/HCA1 fragment was amplified from sludge sample and cloned into pET45b vector by Gibson assembly. Expression vectors for HC domains of BoNT/A2-A8 were derived from pET45b-HCA1 by site-directed mutagenesis and/or in-house gene synthesis. Similarly, VHHs were synthesized and cloned into pET22b vector. Recombinant protein were purified by Ni-NTA spin columns and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. ELISA was used to confirm the antigenicity of HC domains and to evaluate the reactivity of VHHs to these domains. Results SDS-PAGE analysis and ELISA results with commercial polyclonal antibody demonstrated the HC domains of all eight BoNT/A subtypes were correctly produced. ELISA results using a VHH panel indicated that, apart from ciA-C2, a well-characterized VHH specific for HC of BoNT/A1, two new VHHs were found to recognize the HC domains of all BoNT/A subtypes, of which VHH-A3 displayed EC50 values for these domains close to those of ciA-C2. Conclusion This study provided a resource to comprehensively identify antitoxins conferring broad protection against BoNT/A.
DYNAMIC MODEL OF THE BUDGET OF AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Authors: Ganicheva Antonina V. , Ganichev Aleksey V.
Published: February 2025

For the study of complex socio-economic systems in a number of cases the method of mathematical modeling is the most acceptable. One of the most famous models in economics is the Keynes model.  This model is most widely used in macroeconomic research to regulate the state budget. An important problem is to expand the scope of application of Keynes model by modifying it for budget management in other systems (educational organizations, family). The introduction of digitalization in the management of educational institutions necessitates new approaches to modeling the problem of calculating and optimizing the budget of an educational organization. The problem of developing a modified Keynes model for the university budget is new, important and relevant. The solution to this problem will improve the efficiency of financial management of educational institutions.
Purpose: to develop a dynamic model for distributing the budget of a university based on the modified Keynesian model.
Methodology: modeling, theory of solving differential equations.
Results: a modified Keynes model has been developed, allowing for the calculation and optimization of the budget of educational organizations.
Practical implications: the obtained results can be applied to calculate and optimize the budget of an educational institution, in the management of financial resources of organizations and enterprises.
PROBLEMS OF MUNICIPAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KARELIA
Authors: Fedotkina Lyubov S. , Levkin Nikolay V.
Published: February 2025

Public finances are represented by two constituent elements - state and municipal finances. Modern scientific research actively studies the first element, while municipal finance is given optional importance. At the same time, the activity of local self-government bodies affects directly the provision of vital resources for the population of municipalities. This indicates the theoretical and applied significance of studying not only the municipal finances themselves, but also the study of issues of their management, as well as assessing the quality of this management.
Purpose. To formulate recommendations for improving the efficiency of municipal finance management in municipalities of the Republic of Karelia.
Materials and methods. General scientific and special methods of cognition (scientific-theoretical and scientific-practical analysis, method of legal and comparative-legal characterization, method of research and comparison, method of generalization, division of selection, method of synthesis and analysis, method of critical analysis).
Results. Municipal finance management is one of the main functions of local self-government and consists in the distribution of budgetary funds optimally and expediently, observing the targeted use, while increasing the revenue part of the budget.
For municipalities, it is now an important task to form financial management systems in action at their municipal level.
The conclusions of the study can be a basis for decision-making in planning, the activity itself and assessment of the quality of municipal financial management.
The assessment of the quality of municipal financial management carried out by the financial authorities at the regional level plays a key role in identifying the financial capacity of municipalities. This process includes a detailed analysis of both the best and worst indicators of the quality of financial management.
Implementation of the necessary measures to eliminate problems in the implementation of the assessment of the quality of municipal finance management will result in the provision of reliable, complete and accurate information by municipal bodies.
Perceptions of bibliotherapy sessions participation: a qualitative focus group study with insider approach
Authors: Gašpert Tihana , Bašić Ivana , Šišak Iva , Vrbnjak Dominika
Published: February 2025

Aim. To explore and understand perceptions of participating in bibliotherapy sessions.
Material and methods. In a qualitative focus group study using an insider approach, focus group interviews with eight participants taking part in bibliotherapy sessions in Croatia were conducted. All focus group interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results. We identifi ed three themes: (i) resonance and empathy, (ii) personal growth and acceptance, and (iii) bibliotherapy in healthcare. The participants perceived that bibliotherapy demonstrates the power of storytelling to evoke emotions, promote personal growth, create empathetic connections among individuals, and can be implemented in the healthcare setting. The participants had favorable experiences and believed that bibliotherapy is a valuable tool for introducing clinical and developmental concepts, promoting eff ective communication, and supporting the secure exploration of emotions and personal experiences. Texts can eff ectively convey challenging and distressing subjects about the emotional responses experienced by patients regarding diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcomes.
Conclusions. The participants highlighted the benefi ts of bibliotherapy, suggesting it is benefi cial for individuals across various age groups and medical conditions, from children to elderly patients in long-term care.

Key words: bibliotherapy, communication, empowerment, nursing
The level of satisfaction with the experience of childbirth
Authors: Dušová Bohdana , Furčak Juliana , Bužgová Radka
Published: February 2025

Aim. The aim of the research was to assess women’s satisfaction with childbirth and to determine the factors infl uencing their level of satisfaction.
Material and methods. Data were collected using the 10-item Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised supplemented with demographic and clinical data. Data collection was conducted as part of the international INTERSECT project.
Results. Half of the women perceived childbirth as an unpleasant experience, with labour pains lasting for a very long time. There were diff erences in total BSS-R scores according to mode of delivery (p<0.001). The highest scores were found in women with vaginal delivery. In addition, diff erences were found in the quality of care scores according to subjective perception of the extent of birth injury (p=0.043).
Conclusions. The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised is a useful tool for measuring overall satisfaction with childbirth.

Key words: evaluation, factors, satisfaction, woman, childbirth
The importance of patient involvement in safe medication administration in a healthcare facility
Authors: Kubešová Hana , Tóthová Valérie , Brabcová Iva , Prokešová Radka , Červený Martin , Hajduchová Hana
Published: February 2025

Aim. This study aimed to evaluate patients’ subjective perceptions of medication administration in the hospital setting and assess their involvement in the process.
Material and methods. The research data were collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of 300 respondents from four hospitals in the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, who were hospitalized in the aftercare and rehabilitation department, surgical department, and internal medicine department, were included in the research.
Results. From the patient’s perspective, there was a signifi cant improvement in the nurses’ behavior during the medication administration process. Nurses pay more attention to patient identifi cation, wait for the patient to swallow the medication, do not put the medication on the patient’s table, and realize that their concentration during medication administration is critical to making the entire process safe.
Conclusions. Key aspects of patient engagement in the process include proper patient identifi cation, identifi cation of the correct medication, and proper administration method, including documenting the process in the patient’s record and reporting any adverse events. This comprehensive approach to patient involvement in medication administration contributes to safety and quality of care.

Key words: patient, adverse event, medication error, Medication administration
OS (DES)CAMINHOS DO “DESENVOLVIMENTO” E SEUS IMPACTOS NA SOCIEDADE E NA EDUCAÇÃO DE JURUTI-PA
Authors: DA CRUZ COUTO RAIMUNDO JORGE , ALENCAR COLARES ANSELMO
Published: February 2025

Este artigo aborda como a exploração econômica da Amazônia não se reflete em benefícios para as comunidades, corrompe lideranças e dissimula intenções lucrativas de entidades chamadas de Organizações Não Governamentais (terceiro setor). Este recorte faz parte da pesquisa de doutorado sobre a atuação social e político-educacional das freiras franciscanas na cidade de Juruti, extremo oeste do estado do Pará, Mesoregião do Baixo Amazonas (1970 a 1992). No primeiro momento, tratamos sobre a exploração econômica dos recursos naturais de Juruti, fazendo um comparativo sobre a devastação da árvore pau-rosa, no início do século XX, com a extração do minério de bauxita e as consequências para a sociedade local. No segundo momento, evidenciamos as incoerências das lideranças dos movimentos de contraposição social que foram corrompidas pelo dinheiro. E a última parte contempla as disfarçadas intenções de mercado nas atividades das empresas do terceiro setor ligadas a empreendimentos de mineração. Cada parte deste artigo terá como referência uma localidade onde funciona ou funcionou uma escola de educação infantil gerida pelas freiras franciscanas. A primeira será a Escola de Educação Infantil Terra Preta (desativada), localizada na comunidade rural com o mesmo nome da escola; depois a Escola de Educação Infantil Esperança, localizada na Vila Rural de Muirapinima (em atividade); e, por fim, a Escola São Francisco, localizada no bairro Palmeiras, perímetro urbano (em atividade).
AULAS DE TRABALHO PEDAGÓGICO COLETIVO (ATPC)
Authors: Peres Bertaglia Claudinéia , Nogueira de Moraes Garcia Daniela , Alexandre Filho Paulo
Published: February 2025

O presente artigo tem por objetivo trazer à tona os principais desafios encontrados na utilização das novas tecnologias em tempos de pandemia sob a perspectiva dos professores em momentos formativos das Aulas Trabalho Pedagógico Coletivo (ATPC), tanto em sala de aula, quanto para a própria formação. Para isso, analisamos os primeiros impactos advindos do contexto da pandemia da Covid-19 relacionados ao letramento digital do professor, assim como, as estratégias utilizadas, as principais dificuldades enfrentadas e os avanços em relação ao manuseio desses recursos. Dessa forma, apoiamo-nos no aporte teórico de (Castells, 2021), (Freitas,2010) e (Pretto, Bonilla e Sena, 2020), de modo a enfocar um estudo de caso com abordagem qualitativa (Prodanov E Ernani, 2013; Ludke & André, 2018), com professores da Educação Básica (PEB II) da rede estadual de ensino de São Paulo, como participantes de pesquisa. A análise dos dados teve como instrumento de coleta um questionário virtual semiestruturado dividido em três eixos temáticos: I) formação docente; II) Uso e implementação das Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TDIC); e III) Expectativas. Os resultados apontam para a quebra de paradigmas e utilização de tecnologias digitais que, até então, a escola ainda resistia em empregar como ferramenta de formação e continuação dos estudos.
(TRANS)FORMAÇÃO DA(S) IDENTIDADE(S) INDÍGENA(S) TRANS COLOMBIANAS
Authors: Fonseca Jonathan Nascimento , Rosa Acassia dos Anjos Santos
Published: February 2025

O presente estudo visa (re)narrar como a(s) identidade(s) de mulher(es) indígena(s) trans são retratadas no documentário Santuário, el inesperado refugio de indígenas trans en Colombia, produzido pela BBC News em 2019. Como base epistemológica, selecionou-se os estudos decoloniais (Quijano, 1992; Maldonado-Torres, 2007 e Mignolo, 2017, 2019), bem como o Feminismo Decolonial, pensado por Lugones (2008, 2014) e os diálogos com o Transfeminismo (Nascimento, 2021) e a teoria da Interseccionalidade (Akotirene, 2023). O procedimento metodológico adotado foi a pesquisa qualitativa interpretativista (Moita Lopes, 1994), situada no campo da Linguística Aplicada.  A partir das interpretações do conteúdo audiovisual, constata-se que as mulheres indígenas trans são vítimas de um processo de invisibilidade que as situam em um não-lugar, excluídas de suas comunidades de origem e da sociedade branca e cisheteropatriarcal. Destarte, as histórias dessas mulheres escancaram uma realidade invisibilizada pela modernidade/colonialidade.
EDUCAÇÃO E EMPREENDEDORISMO NA BASE DA PIRÂMIDE
Authors: Cabeia Adolfo Caiji
Published: February 2025

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar como a educação, a formação e o empreendedorismo na base de pirâmide (BoP) socioeconómico podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável em África, com base em revisão bibliográfica de fontes existentes. O tema "Educação, Formação e BoP: Impulsiona o Desenvolvimento Sustentável na África" destaca a relevância da capacitação das camadas mais vulneráveis da sociedade africana através de ações educativas, de formação profissional e de estímulo ao empreendedorismo. Ao focar na base da pirâmide socioeconômica, exploramos a possibilidade de promover um desenvolvimento local sustentável, reduzir a pobreza e criar oportunidades econômicas, permitindo que essas populações se tornem agentes ativos de mudança e crescimento.
Learning together
Authors: Barclay Meg
Published: February 2025

Meg Barclay, education consultant and early years reviewer for the School Library Association, reviews picturebooks that teach children about dinosaurs, cooking, Islamic traditions and how Muslim families mark Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Student Q&A: Developing minds
Authors: Elmi Mohamed
Published: February 2025

This month we caught up with Mohamed Elmi, who was joint winner of the Early Years Apprentice of the Year award at the Nursery World Awards 2024. He shares more about his journey into the sector and where he draws inspiration from
Identification and Analysis of Pork Freshness Quality Based on Improved MobileNetV3
Authors: Zhou Chenggang , Pi Jie , Chen Xiao , Wang Daoying , Liu Jun
Published: February 2025

Highlights

Model can perform pork freshness quality testing under complex lighting.

MobileNetV3_E outperforms other state-of-the-art models.

Model achieve an optimal balance between performance and volume.

Model supports deployment on edge devices.

Abstract. The accurate appraisal of freshness is influenced by the color of the meat, which is a critical indicator of pork’s freshness. However, lighting changes can also influence consumers’ perceptions of meat color. To address this issue, this study recommends a pork freshness detection method based on the lightweight MobileNetV3 model that can effectively handle interference from complex lighting environments. In this study, a lighting factor is introduced into the original dataset. The results are compared with experiments without lighting interference, showing that lighting interference leads to varying degrees of model performance degradation. This investigation introduces Efficient Channel Attention (ECA) into the MobileNetV3 model (MobileNetV3_E), redefines the h-sigmoid and h-swish activation functions, and fine-tunes the model training using the official pre-training weights to achieve the optimal balance between model performance and volume. Only the ECA module-related layers and custom fully connected layers are trained. The experimental results show that MobileNetV3_E is less affected by the lighting interference and still maintains exceptional performance on the test set, where the accuracy is 98.6%, the loss function value is 0.069, the precision is 98.6%, the recall is 98.5%, and the F1-Score is 98.5%. The MobileNetV3_E model achieves a compact size of 17.34 MB, making it suitable for deployment on resource-constrained devices. It indicates that the MobileNetV3_E model provides an efficient, reliable and easy-to-deploy solution for pork freshness detection under complex lighting conditions, which is of great application value. Keywords: Deep learning, MobileNetV3 network, Non-destructive testing, Pork freshness.
O CATOLICISMO HERÉTICO DE MURILO MENDES ATRAVÉS DAS CARTAS INÉDITAS (1930-1953) ESCRITAS PARA ALCEU AMOROSO LIMA
Authors: Salomão Khéde Raphael
Published: February 2025

No acervo do poeta no Museu Murilo Mendes, na Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), estão preservados 50 documentos, entre os quais, 39 cartas, 3 telegramas, 4  bilhetes e  3 cartões postais escritos por Murilo Mendes para Alceu Amoroso Lima, entre 1930 e 1974. A correspondência se caracteriza por dois aspectos principais entrelaçados entre si: a complexa religiosidade do autor e o envio de poemas por parte de Murilo para aquele que, ao mesmo tempo em que foi o primeiro a escrever oficialmente sobre a sua obra, era também considerado o maior crítico literário daquele momento
LLUMS I OMBRES DE LES PRIMERES TRADUCCIONS CATALANES D’ITALO CALVINO
Authors: Gavagnin Gabriella
Published: February 2025

L’article analitza les dues primeres traduccions catalanes d’obres d’Italo Calvino, El baró rampant i El cavaller inexistent, que es van publicar respectivament el 1965 i el 1967 a la col·lecció “El Balancí” per iniciativa de Josep M. Castellet. L’una va ser encarregada a Maria Aurèlia Capmany, l’altra a Francesc Vallverdú. Després de resseguir breument el context cultural en què va madurar la iniciativa, l’article se centra en els textos des d’un punt de vista  traductològic i posa en evidència les diverses estratègies adoptades així com en fa una valoració qualitativa dels resultats que té en consideració els factors lingüístics i els socioculturals.
Henry James and Titian: A Community of Americo-Venetians
Authors: Mannan Ilona
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Throughout his career, James alluded to the works of Titian in his fiction and essays. While criticism has acknowledged that he referred to Titian more than any other painter, the fact that his portrayals were often ambivalent has not been commented on. Seeing Titian’s paintings as a means to probe what an image communicates and what it might conceal, James used the painter’s work to reflect upon the meaning of aesthetics, exploring and critiquing contemporary artistic theories, as well as analyzing the changing character of America during the Gilded Age.
It’s a Kind of Magic: Henry James’s “Covering End” and the Ghost in the Literary Machina
Authors: Vericat Fabio L.
Published: February 2025

Abstract: To make sense of what Henry James called the “divine principle of the scenario” it may be best to think of ghosts. If in Theatricals James talks of “the ghostly experience” of reading the unperformed plays he put to print, it is also worth exploring the plays James further turned into tales. It could help to better understand the unlikely tales that compose The Two Magics , where “Covering End” (1898)—an adaptation of his light comedy, Summersoft (1895)—stands uneasily next to James’s most famous gothic tale, “The Turn of the Screw.” It may be that there are more ghosts to “Covering End” than meet the eye.
Methodological Issues in Constructing a Typology of Pointing in Signed Languages
Authors: Grosso Tamara
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Pointing serves many functions both syntactically and communicatively across signed languages. This study seeks to clarify the use of pointing by surveying signed language descriptions of thirty-one languages. Languages are coded for various attributes of pointing such as anaphoric and deictic use, distance marking, eye gaze patterns, and other attributes commonly associated with pointing. The study finds that all but three signed languages in the sample utilize pointing in sign space for anaphoric reference. Methodological issues with constructing a sample as well as a lack of available descriptions prevent statistical analysis. While historical contact among many signed languages has been documented, the effects of this contact have not been evaluated in terms of establishing genealogical and areal dependencies. Thus, while the sample constructed contains a geographically diverse set of languages, it is not diverse in terms of language contact. Furthermore, a larger sample could not be constructed because descriptions of many signed languages did not contain enough information on pointing or could not be accessed. The present study underscores the urgency of addressing these issues.
Evaluation of fluorometrically-derived chlorophyll a as a satellite ocean color validation product using statistical metrics
Authors: Neeley Aimee R. , Cetinić Ivona , Thomas Crystal
Published: February 2025

The fluorescence of chlorophyll a (Chla) has long been considered a reliable estimate of phytoplankton biomass in aquatic environments. The in vitro fluorometric method for measuring Chla is a simple, fast, and cost-effective way to estimate phytoplankton biomass. High performance liquid chromatography measurements (HPLC) of Chla (HChla) have been used historically for ocean color validation. The applicability of fluorometrically-derived Chla (FChla) to satellite ocean color validation has not been fully evaluated. To this end, we developed statistical metrics to evaluate the uncertainty of fluorometric measurements of Chla by comparing them to coincident measurements made by HPLC. The distribution of uncertainties demonstrates occasional trends in the discrepancies between FChla and HChla, from which we developed a set of recommendations for future collection and validation efforts.
Alleviation of DC drift in a thin-film lithium niobate modulator utilizing Ar+ ion milling
Authors: Shi Jiakang , Ye Zhilin , Liu Zhen , Yan Zhong , Jia Kunpeng , Zhang Liqiang , Ge Daohan , Zhu Shining
Published: February 2025

The thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) modulator is among the most critical devices in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), owing to its large modulation bandwidth, low optical loss, and high extinction ratio. However, it suffers from DC drift issues at low frequencies or long timescales. Here, we have successfully alleviated the DC drift effect of the electro-optical phase shifter (EOPS) at low frequencies by employing a high-energy Ar + ion milling preprocessing. This EOPS can stably output square wave modulation signals at a frequency of 1 Hz, and the output signal exhibits no DC drift under DC voltage modulation within 1 h. Compared with the thermo-optical phase shifter (TOPS), the optimized EOPS not only has higher modulation rate but also exhibits the same stability at low frequency. Furthermore, we applied this ion milling technique to produce a TFLN modulator. At a DC bias voltage of 4.5 V, the bandwidth of the modulator is above 40 GHz and remained a stable output within 30 min.
Enhancement of responsivity and a self-powered on-chip LNOI integrated Bi2Te3 photodetector array
Authors: Dong Qiaonan , Sun Xinxing , Yuan Tingfei , Gao Lang , Zheng Yong , Wu Rongbo , Qi Hongxin , Cheng Ya
Published: February 2025

The topological insulator Bi2Te3 possesses an extraordinary optoelectronic property for wide-band optoelectronics device applications. In this study, we demonstrate a high-responsivity and self-powered on-chip lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) waveguide-integrated Bi2Te3 photodetector array operating at 1550 nm. Enhancement of responsivity is attributed to the decreased Bi2Te3/Au contact resistance, which is facilitated by electrothermal annealing. The post-electrothermal annealed on-chip photodetector was demonstrated a photocurrent response increased by four orders of magnitude, reaching as high as 5.5 µA. It features a photoresponsivity of 60 mA/W and a response time of 10 µs. The uniform performance of the fabricated Bi2Te3 photodetector arrays integrated with 4× multi-mode interference on the same LNOI photonic chips proves its potential for applications in high-efficiency optical communication, optical computing, and large-scale data processing.
Monocular line scan vision-based surface defect detection approach for highly reflective bearing balls
Authors: Wang Qing
Published: February 2025

Surface defects strongly affect the stability and service life of bearing balls. In this Letter, I present a monocular line scan vision-based detection system for detecting surface defects on bearing balls. An optical system was designed to solve the problems of nondevelopability, large spherical curvature, and high reflection of bearing ball surfaces. The principle of light illuminating bearing balls was developed. By analyzing the motion unfolding trajectory curve, I propose a line scanning unfolding process and image acquisition scheme for the whole surface of the bearing ball. According to the unfolding principle, I have established a mathematical model of the whole-surface bearing ball unfolding process and developed a simulation. Experiments were performed to capture the surface image of bearing balls. A defect detection algorithm for spatiotemporal image is developed. A subtraction operation is used to enhance the defect information. Spatial–temporal resolution normalization is developed to make the scale of spatiotemporal image uniform and extract the surface defects. The experimental results show that the detection resolution of the crack defects is approximately 0.001 mm2, and the crack defect detection rate is 100%, which demonstrates that the proposed method has high detection accuracy.
Five orbital-angular-momentum mode-group Erbium-doped fiber
amplifier with modal gain equalization
Authors: Gao She , Guo bofan , LI WENHAO , Tu Jiajing , Du Cheng , xie xiaozhen , Li Zhaohui
Published: February 2025

As the bottleneck device of a space-division multiplexing (SDM) communication system that exploits the degrees of freedom to further increase the capacity within the transmission band, the main challenge facing the integrated SDM amplifier is how to increase the number of amplified modes and reduce the difference in mode gain to increase the total transmission capacity and satisfy the performance specifications required by the system. Here, a cladding-pumped five orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode group erbium-doped fibre amplifier (5MG-EDFA) based on a centre-raised ring-core erbium-doped fibre (CRC-EDF) is demonstrated, which enables parallel amplification of 20 spatial OAM mode channels with a maximum differential mode gain below 0.8 dB. The CRC-EDF with an optimized layer erbium-ion doping distribution and a large numerical aperture has a centre-raised ring-core refractive index profile that supports amplification matching of five OAM mode groups, from 1st to 5th order, to a transmission fibre, without introducing significant crosstalk. With a single multimode pump diode, the integrated 5MG-EDFA delivers gains of more than 25 dB for each mode covering the C-band and noise figures of less than 6 dB for each mode gain. This CRC-EDF-based EDFA supporting five-mode-group amplification in a mode-division multiplexing transmission system is reported for the first time, laying a foundation for long-distance, multimode communication.
Stochastic processes govern gut bacterial community assembly in a Schistosoma mansoni-transmitting snail, Biomphalaria straminea
Authors: Yuan Zhanhong , Hong Jinni , Khan Jehangir , Lu Jinghuang , Sanogo Benjamin , Wu Zhongdao , Sun Xi , Lin Datao
Published: February 2025

Background

Studies have revealed extensive taxonomic classifications and patterns of gut microbial diversity in snails, with limited focus on community assembly processes. To better understand the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes in the snail gut microbial assembly and their associations with snail fitness, we used the freshwater snail Biomphalaria straminea as a model and analyzed the gut bacterial communities from 118 samples via high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Results

This study reveals that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota dominate the gut microbiota of B. straminea. Snails from different laboratory habitats exhibit similar gut bacterial diversity but significantly different community structures. The assembly of gut bacterial communities in both laboratory and wild samples is predominantly influenced by stochastic processes rather than deterministic processes, as evidenced by the neutral community model (NCM). Furthermore, during the snail invasion and adaptation to a new environment, stochastic processes are more crucial than deterministic ones in shaping the snail gut microbiota. This indicates that the interplay between stochastic and deterministic processes in the snail gut microbial assembly is associated with host fitness during snail adaptation to a new environment. Based on the null model analysis, we also found that stochastic processes (based on dispersal limitation, homogenizing dispersal, and undominated processes) play a larger role than deterministic (based on homogeneous selection and variable selection) in driving the snail gut bacterial community assembly. Furthermore, the significant difference in the proportions of dispersal limitation and undominated processes is linked to both adaptive and non-adaptive snails.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that stochastic processes govern the assembly of the gut microbiota in B. straminea. Furthermore, snail adaptation is associated with the interplay between stochastic and deterministic processes in gut microbial composition. This study provides a better understanding of the dynamic patterns of the gut microbial community in freshwater gastropods and may contribute to the development of strategies for controlling intermediate hosts and schistosomiasis.
A reliance on human habitats is key to the success of an introduced predatory reptile
Authors: Major Tom , Jeffrey Lauren , Limia Russel Guillem , Bracegirdle Rebecca , Gandini Antonio , Morgan Rhys , Marshall Benjamin Michael , Mulley John F. , Wüster Wolfgang
Published: February 2025

Understanding the success of animals in novel environments is increasingly important as human-mediated introductions continue to move species far beyond their natural ranges. Alongside these introductions, inhabited and agricultural areas are spreading, and correspondingly most animal introductions occur in populated areas. Commensal species which can live alongside humans by making use of specific conditions, structures, or prey, have a significant advantage. Introduced mammal species often use anthropogenic features in their environment and demonstrate a higher tolerance of human disturbance, but their importance remains understudied in ectotherms. The Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus) is an ectotherm which has been introduced beyond the northern extremities of its natural range. To understand their persistence, we radio-tracked snakes daily over two active seasons, including high-frequency tracking of a subset of males. We investigated snake home range size using Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimators (AKDE). Using AKDE-weighted Habitat Selection Functions we identified preferences for habitat features in a mosaic of habitats, and we used Integrated Step Selection Functions to further explore how these features influence movement. We revealed a particular preference for buildings in male snakes, while females preferred woodland. We demonstrate that the success of this ectothermic predator is likely tied to a willingness to use human features of the landscape.
Feasting on fish. Specialized function of pre-colonial pottery of the Cerritos mound builders of southern Brazil
Authors: Admiraal Marjolein , Colonese André C. , Milheira Rafael Guedes , Di Muro Alice , Talbot Helen Marie , Lucquin Alexandre , Craig Oliver E.
Published: February 2025

Some of the oldest coastal pottery in South America is found in the Pampas region of southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. In the region’s extensive estuarine systems pre-colonial indigenous groups built earthen mounds, known as Cerritos, from ca. 4700 BP. The Cerritos have multifunctional purposes, and while pottery was widely used, its role in the economic or ritual life of the mound builders remains uncertain. Intriguingly, molecular and isotopic characterization of food residues from Cerritos ceramics shows that vessels were used for either cooking estuarine fish, or plant products. Microbial-derived lipids were predominantly associated with the latter, suggesting that plants were fermented, presumably to make alcoholic beverages. We suggest that dispersed communities were drawn to the mounds seasonally to exploit and celebrate the return of migrating fish. This finding is supported by the diversity of stable isotope values of human remains recovered from Cerritos and sheds new light on the lifeways of these pre-colonial groups.
Intercultural competence of Chinese students abroad: An investigation under Sino-foreign Cooperative Education Programs
Authors: Yang Pei , Zhao Xiangge , Zhang Xinxin , Li Anran
Published: February 2025

The rapid growth of Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Programs highlights the critical role of intercultural competence (IC) for Chinese students studying abroad. While extensive research exists on domestic contexts, empirical studies on Chinese students’ experiences at foreign partner institutions remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by examining the intercultural competence of Chinese students in these programs and identifying key factors influencing their development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study surveyed 130 Chinese students in Ireland and conducted WeChat video interviews with 16 participants. The results indicate that Chinese students generally exhibit moderately high levels of IC. Language proficiency, intercultural training, and intercultural contact experiences were significantly and positively associated with IC, while gender showed no significant correlation. These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors shaping intercultural competence in international education. The study offers valuable insights for educators and policymakers to improve intercultural training and support in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education Programs. It also fills a key research gap by providing empirical evidence on Chinese students’ intercultural experiences abroad, laying the groundwork for future research and practical improvements.