bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) responses to human impact in Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: KODOH JULIUS , ADROS CARMEN , SHAIRI NURASYIQIN AWANG , BESAR NORMAH AWANG , ABDULLAH MOHD TAJUDDIN , SOMPUD JEPHTE
Published: February 2025

Abstract. Kodoh J, Adros C, Shairi NA, Besar NA, Abdullah MT, Sompud J. 2024. Sunda pangolin responses to human impact in Sabah, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 25: 4233-4243. The Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822), categorized as Critically Endangered, faces significant challenges due to human-driven threats, including poaching, habitat destruction, and illegal trade. The comprehensive impact of these factors remains underexplored, especially in specific locales such as the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) campus, Malaysia. This study, conducted from June to December 2023 within the Sustainable Forest Education Research Area (SFERA@UMS), evaluated the species' response to human disturbance through camera trap surveys. The investigation focused on how proximity to human settlements and noise pollution influence the distribution and behavior of M. javanica. Results from 1,647 camera-trap nights revealed that M. javanica demonstrated a preference for areas with reduced anthropogenic interference, shown by a weak yet significant positive correlation between greater distance from human settlements and pangolin presence (rs = 0.071**, p<0.001). Additionally, mean noise levels negatively impacted visitation frequency (rs = -0.075**, p<0.001), suggesting that noise pollution disrupts natural behaviors critical for survival, such as foraging. These results align with findings that wildlife, particularly species with secretive and nocturnal habits, tend to avoid regions with substantial human activity. The uneven spatial distribution of pangolins underscores the need for conservation initiatives that mitigate the adverse effects of human encroachment and noise pollution. Recommended actions include establishing buffer zones around critical habitats, enhancing public awareness, and employing technology for continuous monitoring. Integrating conservation strategies that address habitat quality, community involvement, and technological advancements is crucial for protecting M. javanica and supporting broader biodiversity efforts. These findings contribute to understanding the localized impacts of human activities on endangered species and highlight the importance of comprehensive, multi-faceted approaches for their conservation and habitat management.
Combined Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Distal Femoral Osteotomy in a Patient of Bilateral Genu Valgum – A Rare Case Report
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Sadguru Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India,, Das Parthasarathi , Sibananda Das Soumitesh ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Srirama Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha, India.
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sometimes is associated with genu valgum. Valgus malalignment poses concerns due to its potential to increase strain on the ACL, thereby elevating the risk of osteoarthritis in the lateral compartment of the knee. However, lacune still exists regarding the concomitant reconstruction of ACL and distal femoral osteotomy in ACL-deficit knee with genu valgum. The present case report aims to fill this gap by presenting a rare case of a young patient with a symptomatic ACL deficit knee and femur-originated genu valgum.

Case Report: A young male presented with bilateral genu valgum at our clinic with pain and instability of the right knee following a sports injury for 1 year. The anterior drawer, Lachman, pivot shift, and McMurray test were positive in physical examination. The surgical intervention comprised lateral open wedge osteotomy of the distal femur, all-inside reconstruction of the ACL, and partial meniscectomy for the meniscal tear.

Conclusion: Simultaneous ACL reconstruction with femur osteotomy offers favorable outcomes in patients presenting with genu valgum. This integrated approach minimizes hospitalization and rehabilitation periods. Meticulous planning and surgical techniques, including careful femoral tunnel placement, can mitigate potential complications like plate interference.

Keywords: Osteotomy, anterior cruciate ligament, genu valgum.
Chronic Midfoot Pain Due to Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of Tarsal Navicular Bone in Adult – Mueller–Weiss Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Madhusudhan Sai Institute of Medical sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India,, Adithya N , Kumar P Sunil ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Ballari Medical College and Research Center, Ballari, Karnataka, India., Narendra B S ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Madhusudhan Sai Institute of Medical sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India,, Varun V ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Madhusudhan Sai Institute of Medical sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, India,
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Mueller–Weiss syndrome is a rare condition seen in adults due to spontaneous osteonecrosis of tarsal navicular bone unlike Koehler’s disease which is quite common in paediatric population.

Case Report: We report a single case of Mueller–Weiss syndrome in an adult female. After a trail of conservative treatment, operative management was done with excision of necrotic fragment and arthrodesis of mid-foot joints augmented with tricortical iliac crest graft. Good fusion and significant reduction of pain on weight-bearing was observed after a duration of 6 weeks.

Conclusion: Mueller–Weiss syndrome is relatively rare differential for mid-foot pain in adult population. Early recognition and management of the condition prevents arthritic changes and disability.

Keywords: Mueller–Weiss syndrome, mid-foot pain, adult population, arthrodesis of mid-foot joints.
The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Open Foot Injuries: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, AIIMS Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India,, Sahoo Samrat Smrutiranjan , Roy Mainak ,   Department of Orthopedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India,, Biswas Mridul ,   Department of Orthopaedics, AIIMS Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India,, Mandal Srirupa ,   Department of Anesthesiology, AIIMS Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India, Bhaumik Debraj ,   Department of Anesthesiology, AIIMS Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India, Sharma Ashutosh ,   Department of Orthopaedics, AIIMS Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India,
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Open injuries of the foot pose considerable treatment challenges due to the intricate anatomy of the area and the elevated risk of complications, including infection, delayed wound healing, and chronic pain. Traditional management typically involves irrigation, debridement, and surgical techniques such as skin grafts or flaps. Despite these interventions, achieving optimal healing remains difficult, with many cases suffering from prolonged recovery and complications. As such, alternative treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have gained attention for their potential to enhance healing outcomes.

Case Report: This case series presents the outcomes of several patients with open foot injuries treated with PRP as an adjunct to conventional wound care methods. In these cases, PRP was applied after standard debridement and wound-cleaning protocols. The application of PRP was associated with accelerated wound healing, a notable reduction in infection rates, and an improvement in patient-reported outcomes, including reduced pain and enhanced functional recovery when compared to traditional management alone.

Conclusion: The findings from this case series suggest that PRP may offer significant benefits in the treatment of open foot injuries, particularly in terms of faster healing and reduced risk of complications. While the results are promising, larger, controlled studies are necessary to confirm the efficacy of PRP and to develop standardized treatment protocols for its use in managing such complex injuries.

Keywords: Platelet-rich plasma, open foot injuries, wound healing, infection, regenerative medicine.
Clay-shoveler’s Fracture in a 13-year-old Child – Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedic, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece,, Antzoulas Panagiotis , Giakoumakis Savvas ,   Department of Orthopaedic, Fachklinikfuer Orthopaedische Rehabilitation, Schwangau, Germany,, Sperelakis Ioannis ,   Department of Orthopaedic, KAT Hospital, Athens, Greece., Giannatos Vasileios ,   Department of Orthopaedic, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece,, Panagopoulos Andreas ,   Department of Orthopaedic, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece,
Published: February 2025

Introduction: A clay-shoveler’s fracture is a relatively uncommon stress-type avulsion fracture typically affecting the lower cervical or upper thoracic spinous processes. Historically named after clay shovelers due to their predisposition to such injuries, this type of fracture is now more frequently observed in individuals participating in sports activities that entail rotational movements of the upper spine.

Case Report: A 13-year-old patient, while performing agricultural work and using a manual shovel to excavate an area, experienced cramping in the cervical spine, neck pain, and a significant limitation in the range of motion. The patient presented with a history and physical examination suggestive of a clay-shoveler’s fracture. Subsequent X-ray images demonstrated an acute soft-tissue avulsion of the spinous process at C7. With non-operative therapy, the patient returned to work within 2 months, experiencing occasional, intermittent discomfort 6 months after the injury, which did not limit any activities. After 2 years of follow-up, the patient reported no pain.

Conclusion: A clay-shoveler’s fracture is a rare stress-type avulsion fracture, particularly in children. Diagnosis necessitates clinical suspicion, a targeted history, and a thorough physical examination. Radiographs play a crucial role, and in challenging cases, magnetic resonance imaging may be warranted to detect soft-tissue avulsions. Treatment typically involves cervical immobilization of the cervical spine for 4–6 weeks.

Keywords: Cervical spine fracture, spinous process, spine, clay-shoveler’s fracture, children
Granulomatous Tenosynovitis of the Volar Wrist from Mycobacterium Avium Complex – A Case Report
Authors:   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA,, Taris Eric , Guerra Christopher ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA., Goenka Parth A ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA,, Marchessault Jeffrey A ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA,
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) musculoskeletal (MSK) involvement is a rare clinical presentation of the upper extremity. When MSK involvement does occur, hand and wrist involvement are the most often reported due to the rich synovial fluid environment in these regions. This report describes an unusual case of tenosynovitis of the hand, in which a patient presented with a prolonged course of wrist pain due to MAC.

Case Report: An 87-year-old Caucasian, right-handed female presented with a 2-year history of right wrist pain and swelling. There had been no previous trauma or immunocompromised state. The patient was hospitalized for severe pneumonia 2 years ago, with wrist pain developing in the months after discharge. The treatment course included radical synovectomy and subsequent triple antibiotic therapy upon confirmation of MAC rice bodies. Due to advanced age and worsening dementia, the patient did not follow-up until 2 years post-operatively. Upon return at 2 years postoperatively, the patient had concerns of recurrent tenosynovitis. Treatment was declined by the family at this time and the patient did not return again until 5 years postoperatively with continued worsening tenosynovitis. Repeat synovectomy was suggested; however, additional treatment was held by the family due to the patient’s cognitive decline.

Conclusion: The aim of this report is to describe an atypical presentation of MAC-induced tenosynovitis. Patients diagnosed with a MAC infection should be treated promptly and informed of the possibility of recurrence. The goal of this report is to encourage practitioners to keep MAC infection on their list of differentials when evaluating abnormal wrist swelling.

Keywords: Mycobacterium avium Complex, granulomatous tenosynovitis, volar wrist.
femoral Neuropathy Secondary to a Spontaneous Iliac Hematoma
Authors:   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,, Sousa Rui , Resende Ana Flávia ,   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,, Pinto Luís Barbosa ,   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,, Lages Marta ,   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,, Negrão Luísa ,   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,, Simões Nuno ,   Viseu Dão-Lafões Local Health Unit – Av. Rei Dom Duarte, 3504-509 Viseu,
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Femoral neuropathy is a rare condition typically resulting from compression of the femoral nerve. While it is commonly associated with anticoagulated patients due to psoas hematomas, spontaneous iliacus muscle hematomas without any evident trauma or coagulation disorders are exceedingly uncommon. This case report details the occurrence and management of a spontaneous iliacus muscle hematoma in an adolescent patient. Such cases have been scarcely reported, making this documentation critical for enhancing clinical understanding and management strategies.

Case Report: A 16-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, with no significant medical history, presented with thigh muscle atrophy, decreased strength in the left lower limb, and progressive loss of weight-bearing capacity over a month. The patient reported no history of trauma. Clinical examination revealed hypoesthesia in the femoral nerve territory and significantly reduced quadriceps muscle strength. Imaging studies, including magnetic resonance imaging, identified a fusiform mass deep to the left iliac muscle, consistent with an encapsulated hematoma. The patient was treated conservatively with rest and analgesics, followed by physical rehabilitation. Follow-up assessments showed progressive improvement in muscle trophism and weight-bearing capacity, with complete recovery of femoral nerve conduction at 1 year.

Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of considering spontaneous iliacus muscle hematomas in the differential diagnosis of femoral neuropathy, even in the absence of trauma or anticoagulation therapy. The report highlights the necessity for thorough clinical evaluation and imaging to ensure accurate diagnosis. It adds valuable information to the orthopedic literature, particularly in managing rare presentations of femoral neuropathy, emphasizing the need for vigilance in monitoring and follow-up to prevent long-term complications. By detailing this unusual presentation, the report aims to enhance the understanding and treatment strategies for similar cases.

Keywords: Femoral neuropathy, Iliac hematoma, conservative management, adolescent
Research on fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perots bending sensor based on principal component analysis
Authors: Xia Qi , Zhang Xiaotong , Zhang Kai , Wang Hongye , Yuan Libo , Yuan Tingting
Published: February 2025

Optical fiber sensors have advantages such as small size and good biocompatibility, leading to widespread interest in the field of hand motion tracking. In this work, we designed a multi-core fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perots (FBG-FPs) sensor based on FP interference theory. We inscribed short FBGs with different wavelengths in different fiber cores to form the FP, and then employed thermal diffusion technology for single-channel acquisition of the multi-core fiber FBG-FPs sensor. We also proposed a signal demodulation method for the FBG-FPs sensor based on the principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm and conducted experiments on strain, temperature, and bending sensing. The results indicate that the bending sensitivities of the three external cores exhibit strong dependence on bending, with a maximum sensitivity of 52.8 pm/m−1. The direction and curvature of bending can be reconstructed using the wavelength shifts obtained from the PCA algorithm. This sensor features a compact structure, flexible fabrication, and low cost, improving the adaptability to individual differences in optical fiber smart gloves and enhancing multiplexing sensing capabilities, thus providing broad prospects for the development of human-machine interfaces and medical health monitoring.
FPGA-based adaptive rate-reduced visible light Ethernet communication system
Authors: Jin Jianli , Shang Qianlong , Zhang Hailong , Lu Huimin
Published: February 2025

Visible light communication (VLC) integrates with Ethernet technology as a next-generation wireless access solution for the "last mile," offering vast potential for short-range indoor communications. This paper designs a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based visible light Ethernet communication system that converts Ethernet signals into visible light signals. The system dynamically reduces the signal rate to maintain network efficiency through functional modules, including network interface design, flow control, rate adaptation with a peak rate of 100 Mbps, and VLC transmission/reception control logic. Simulation and experimental results show that the system can support Ethernet connections at rates below 100 Mbps and effectively adapts to deteriorating optical channel conditions, ensuring stable communication in real-world environments.
Improved Algorithm for 3D Point Cloud Registration Based on the 3DSC
Authors: Changwen Liu , Li Bo , Pu Gong , Wenjie Fu
Published: February 2025

The 3D laser scanning technology has been widely adopted in the field of workshop automatic assembly. Among them, the point cloud registration is a crucial part of the 3D data processing. Among the 3D data processing steps, point cloud registration is an important one. However, existing 3D point cloud registration methods have issues such as mismatching of feature point pairs, long registration time, and poor registration accuracy. In this paper, an LM-NDT point cloud registration algorithm based on 3D shape context feature (3DSC) is proposed.Firstly, the key points of the 3D point cloud are extracted through the intrinsic shape signature (ISS) to enhance the registration efficiency. Then, the features of the key points are described by the 3D shape context feature. According to the feature points, the error pair is processed using the median distance method, and the initial transformation matrix is calculated through SVD decomposition. Finally, the alignment is accomplished by the LM-NDT algorithm. Compared with the NDT algorithm, the proposed algorithm is more accurate and robust when the initial pose transformation is more significant. The test results demonstrate that the accuracy of the algorithm in the shoe and sole can reach 0.019cm, which remarkably improves the registration efficiency of the traditional SAC-IA and LM-NDT algorithms and has certain engineering application value.
Buffer gas enhancing of power conversion efficiency of continuous-wave acetylene-filled fiber gas laser at 3 μm wavelength
Authors: Yu Fei , chen zhuo , li yunfu , zhu xinyue , Hu Lili , Wang Du , Wang Meng
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we report the use of ammonia as the buffer gas in the acetylene-filled hollow-core fiber gas laser (A-HCFGL) in which the power conversion efficiency of continuous-wave (CW) operation reaches a record of 35.74 %, the highest reported so far to the best of our knowledge. The intermolecular collision with ammonia assists the depopulation of lower laser level of acetylene which otherwise relies on the non-radiation relaxation by collision with the fiber core only. About 3.9 W CW laser output power is achieved at 3.1 μm wavelength. A numerical model illustrates the buffer gas enhancement effect and explore the optimization of A-HCFGL for high output power and slope efficiency.
Nonlinear optical refractive index measurements of pure water via Z-scan technique at 800 nm
Authors: Betka ilyes
Published: February 2025

The determination of the nonlinear optical coefficient 𝑛𝑛2 of pure water is of great interests for applications such as imaging biological systems, performing femtosecond laser surgery and underwater ablation. Traditionally, probing third-order nonlinearity while eliminating the thermo-optic effect requires high pulse energy and low repetition rates laser
sources. In this article, a low cost, simple and versatile third order nonlinear characterization technique for the Z-scan closed aperture mode has been developed to determine the nonlinear refractive index of pure water at 800 nm, with a pump duration of 140 fs and a repetition rate of 80 MHz. Experimental results reveal an 𝑛𝑛2 value of (8 ± 1.4) x10−20 m²/W. The influence of higher-order nonlinearities such as χ5 was assessed, showing no significant contribution within the examined intensity range. This work paves the way for the use of low power and high repetition rate systems for characterizing third order nonlinear optical materials.
The exocytosis regulator complexin controls spontaneous synaptic vesicle release in a CAPS-dependent manner at C. elegans excitatory synapses
Authors: Wang Ya , Chow Chun Hin , Zhang Yu , Huang Mengjia , Higazy Randa , Ramakrishnan Neeraja , Chen Lili , Chen Xuhui , Deng Yixiang , Wang Sheng , Zhang Cuntai , Ma Cong , Sugita Shuzo , Gao Shangbang
Published: February 2025

The balance between synaptic excitation and inhibition (E/I) is essential for coordinating motor behavior, yet the differential roles of exocytosis regulators in this balance are less understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of 2 conserved exocytosis regulators, complexin/CPX-1 and CAPS/UNC-31, in excitatory versus inhibitory synapses at Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junctions. cpx-1 null mutants exhibited a marked increase in spontaneous release specifically at excitatory synapses, alongside an unequal reduction in excitatory and inhibitory evoked release. A clamping-specific knockin mutant, cpx-1(Δ12), which preserved evoked release, also showed a biased enhancement in excitatory spontaneous release. Conversely, the unc-31 null mutation, while maintaining normal spontaneous release, displayed a more pronounced reduction in evoked release at excitatory synapses. Notably, we found that CPX-1’s clamping function is dependent on UNC-31 and is sensitive to external Ca2+. Pull-down experiments confirmed that CAPS/UNC-31 does not directly interact with complexin, implying an indirect regulatory mechanism. Moreover, complexin regulates activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, which is also UNC-31 dependent. The unexpected role of CAPS/UNC-31 in the absence of CPX-1 clamping function may underpin the synaptic E/I balance and coordinated behavioral outputs in different species.
The HCF101 protein is an important component of the cytosolic iron–sulfur synthesis pathway in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Renaud Eléa A. , Maupin Ambre J. M. , Berry Laurence , Bals Julie , Bordat Yann , Demolombe Vincent , Rofidal Valérie , Vignols Florence , Besteiro Sébastien
Published: February 2025

Several key cellular functions depend on proteins harboring an iron–sulfur (Fe-S) cofactor. As these Fe-S proteins localize to several subcellular compartments, they require a dedicated machinery for cofactor assembly. For instance, in plants and algae there are Fe-S cluster synthesis pathways localizing to the cytosol, but also present in the mitochondrion and in the chloroplast, 2 organelles of endosymbiotic origin. Toxoplasma gondii is a plastid-bearing parasitic protist responsible for a pathology affecting humans and other warm-blooded vertebrates. We have characterized the Toxoplasma homolog of HCF101, originally identified in plants as a protein transferring Fe-S clusters to photosystem I subunits in the chloroplast. Contrarily to plants, we have shown that HCF101 does not localize to the plastid in parasites, but instead is an important component of the cytosolic Fe-S assembly (CIA) pathway which is vital for Toxoplasma. While the CIA pathway is widely conserved in eukaryotes, it is the first time the involvement of HCF101 in this pan-eukaryotic machinery is established. Moreover, as this protein is essential for parasite viability and absent from its mammalian hosts, it constitutes a novel and promising potential drug target.
Identification of recurrent dynamics in distributed neural populations
Authors: Osuna-Orozco Rodrigo , Castillo Edward , Harris Kameron Decker , Santacruz Samantha R.
Published: February 2025

Large-scale recordings of neural activity over broad anatomical areas with high spatial and temporal resolution are increasingly common in modern experimental neuroscience. Recently, recurrent switching dynamical systems have been used to tackle the scale and complexity of these data. However, an important challenge remains in providing insights into the existence and structure of recurrent linear dynamics in neural time series data. Here we test a scalable approach to time-varying autoregression with low-rank tensors to recover the recurrent dynamics in stochastic neural mass models with multiple stable attractors. We demonstrate that the parsimonious representation of time-varying system matrices in terms of temporal modes can recover the attractor structure of simple systems via clustering. We then consider simulations based on a human brain connectivity matrix in high and low global connection strength regimes, and reveal the hierarchical clustering structure of the dynamics. Finally, we explain the impact of the forecast time delay on the estimation of the underlying rank and temporal variability of the time series dynamics. This study illustrates that prediction error minimization is not sufficient to recover meaningful dynamic structure and that it is crucial to account for the three key timescales arising from dynamics, noise processes, and attractor switching.
Epidemiological situation of schistosomiasis in 16 districts of Burkina Faso after two decades of mass treatment
Authors: Zongo Dramane , Tiendrebeogo Josiane Marie Agathe , Ouedraogo Wendegoudi Mathias , Bagayan Mohamed , Ouedraogo Sidwaya Hamed , Bougouma Clarisse , Nassa Christophe , Serme Mamadou , Naré Dieudonné , Zida Adama , Sangaré Ibrahim , Ouedraogo Micheline O. , Houck Patricia , Reid Steven , Phillips Anna E. , Magalong Jennifer , Weaver Angela M. , Zhang Yaobi , Soubeiga Joseph Kouesyandé
Published: February 2025

Background

After two decades of mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis in Burkina Faso, an impact assessment was conducted in 16 health districts (HDs) between February 2023 to March 2024 to determine the epidemiological situation of schistosomiasis in school-aged children and facilitate the decision for sub-district level treatment decision.

Methodology/Principal findings

A cross-sectional cluster survey was conducted with randomly selected children aged 5–14 years. Haemastix reagent strips were used to detect microhaematuria in urine, and urine filtration was used to detect and quantify Schistosoma haematobium eggs in children with microhaematuria. The Kato-Katz was used to detect and quantify S. mansoni eggs in fecal samples. The prevalence of infection and the prevalence of heavy-intensity (HI) infections were calculated. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 2.4% (range: 0–11.1%) in 16 HDs, with the overall prevalence of HI infection of 0.9% (range: 0–4.2%). Four HDs (Tenkodogo, Batié, Sig-Nonghin, and Karangasso-Vigué) had a prevalence of HI infection from 1.3% to 4.2%. Forty-seven health areas still had an overall prevalence of 1.4–62.5%, with seven health areas in five HDs >10%, and 29 health areas had a prevalence of HI infection from 1.4% to 22.9%. Boys had a higher prevalence of HI infections than girls. The prevalence of microhaematuria at 5.8% was significantly higher than that of S. haematobium infection by urine filtration at 2.3%, and Haemastix results were significantly associated with the intensity of infection.

Conclusions/Significance

The results showed that progress has been made in eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem in the 16 HDs in Burkina Faso after two decades of mass treatment. However, hotspots of infections remain, with 29 health areas having a prevalence of HI infection above the 1% threshold. The results provide evidence for planning targeted sub-district-level treatment.
A novel inverter control strategy for maximum hosting capacity photovoltaic systems in distribution networks using power factor
Authors: Alfouly Ahmed , Ismeil Mohamed A. , Hamdan I.
Published: February 2025

The conventional inverter is undergoing a transformation into a smart inverter, driven by the expanding penetration of Photovoltaic (PV) power production in Low Voltage (LV) systems. The adoption of smart inverters is on the rise. Power companies are keen on integrating them into their networks to acquire essential frequency and voltage support as required. These inverters actively exchange actual and reactive power in connection with the grid, altering the system’s operational state. This dynamic behavior within the distribution level of power networks might give rise to unprecedented issues. This paper investigates the influence of diverse connection prerequisites that explore the methods for determining the Hosting Capacity (HC) of PV solar systems and their applicability within the low-voltage utility grid. Smart inverters provided with different Volt-VAr and Power Factor (PF) regulation capabilities are analyzed using MATLAB SIMULINK. The outcomes reveal a notable augmentation in the network’s HC. This progress improves the grid’s attributes, and the incorporation of smart inverter functionalities stands to considerably facilitate incorporating PV solar installations into electrical networks.
Influence of day and night temperature and carbon dioxide concentration on growth, yield, and quality of green butterhead and red oakleaf lettuce
Authors: Tarr Sean T. , Lopez Roberto G.
Published: February 2025

Production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) within vertical farms is an expanding segment of controlled environment agriculture—precise manipulation of environmental parameters including mean daily temperature (MDT) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration enables year-round production, alongside color, yield, and crop size regulation. Our objectives included 1) quantify how MDT and CO2 interact to influence lettuce growth, development, and quality; 2) model lettuce growth under several MDTs and CO2 concentrations. Green butterhead ‘Rex’ and red oakleaf ‘Rouxaï RZ’ seedlings were transplanted into hydroponic tanks under a photosynthetic photon flux density of 300 μmol·m‒2·s‒1 for 17-h·d‒1. CO2 concentrations of 500, 800, or 1200 μmol·mol−1 and day/night and MDT setpoints of 22/15°C (MDT 20°C), 25/18°C (23°C), or 28/21°C (26°C) were maintained within growth chambers. ‘Rex’ fresh mass increased linearly with MDT, increasing by 18% from 20 to 26°C. ‘Rouxaï RZ’ fresh mass increased quadratically with MDT, with a 32% increase from 20 to 23°C, then a 7% increase from 23 to 26°C. Elevating CO2 concentrations from 500 to 800 μmol·mol–1 increased ‘Rouxaï RZ’ and ‘Rex’ fresh mass by 33 and 16%, respectively, while fresh mass did not increase from 800 to 1200 μmol·mol–1. Both cultivars had the greatest dry mass at 800 μmol·mol–1 CO2 across temperatures. At a high MDT, ‘Rouxaï RZ’ foliage color became more light, vibrant, and green, while a low MDT induced darker, grayer, and redder foliage. Tipburn occurred on ‘Rex’ across treatments, while 25% of ‘Rouxaï RZ’ were afflicted at 500 μmol·mol−1 CO2 and 67% at 1200 μmol·mol−1. At the light intensity studied, we recommend growing ‘Rex’ and ‘Rouxaï RZ’ at an 800 μmol·mol−1 CO2 concentration and MDT of 23°C for greatest biomass and leaf number, and slightly redder foliage in ‘Rouxaï RZ’ than at a 26°C MDT.
Innovative approach of nomography application into an engineering educational context
Authors: Blight Trevor , Martínez-Pagán Pedro , Roschier Leif , Boulet Daniel , Yepes-Bellver Lorena , Yepes Víctor
Published: February 2025

Nomography is considered a branch of mathematics introduced by Maurice d’Ocagne in 1884 in France. The past century saw nomography grow as a graphical computing method used by scientists and engineers wishing to solve complex problems to a practical precision. Even though nomography has declined with the introduction of calculators and computers, it still offers potential in an educational setting. The recent development of open-source software is helping promote the use of nomograms among scholars in engineering courses who are aware of nomography’s capabilities. The main reason for this apparent and renewed interest in nomography is the capability of open-source software to generate customized and precise nomograms in seconds without the previously required mathematical background. In this work, we introduce Nomogen, a Python package able to build reliable and scalable 3-variable nomograms while avoiding past drawbacks such as manipulating determinants or manually drawing the scales. In this way, some nomograms generated by Nomogen have been tested on undergraduate and graduate students from different engineering backgrounds. Subsequently, a Likert scale survey was conducted, which showed that students had a great and renewed interest in nomography and found it helpful in the engineering learning process. Even though 78.4% of the respondent had never used nomograms, 86.5% believed that these analogical graphs allow a reasonable interpretation of the phenomenon when there are many variables, and, as a result, nomography with the assistance of open-source software, such as Nomogen or PyNomo, should be incorporated in the teaching process as part of their engineering education syllabus.
Chromosomal genome assembly resolves drug resistance loci in the parasitic nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta
Authors: McIntyre Jennifer , Morrison Alison , Maitland Kirsty , Berger Duncan , Price Daniel R. G. , Dougan Sam , Grigoriadis Dionysis , Tracey Alan , Holroyd Nancy , Bull Katie , Rose Vineer Hannah , Glover Mike J. , Morgan Eric R. , Nisbet Alasdair J. , McNeilly Tom N. , Bartley Yvonne , Sargison Neil , Bartley Dave , Berriman Matt , Cotton James A. , Devaney Eileen , Laing Roz , Doyle Stephen R.
Published: February 2025

The parasitic nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta is one of the most important pathogens of sheep and goats in temperate climates worldwide and can rapidly evolve resistance to drugs used to control it. To understand the genetics of drug resistance, we have generated a highly contiguous genome assembly for the UK T. circumcincta isolate, MTci2. Assembly using PacBio long-reads and Hi-C long-molecule scaffolding together with manual curation resulted in a 573 Mb assembly (N50 = 84 Mb, total scaffolds = 1,286) with five autosomal and one sex-linked chromosomal-scale scaffolds consistent with its karyotype. The genome resource was further improved via annotation of 22,948 genes, with manual curation of over 3,200 of these, resulting in a robust and near complete resource (96.3% complete protein BUSCOs) to support basic and applied research on this important veterinary pathogen. Genome-wide analyses of drug resistance, combining evidence from three distinct experiments, identified selection around known candidate genes for benzimidazole, levamisole and ivermectin resistance, as well as novel regions associated with ivermectin and moxidectin resistance. These insights into contemporary and historic genetic selection further emphasise the importance of contiguous genome assemblies in interpreting genome-wide genetic variation associated with drug resistance and identifying key loci to prioritise in developing diagnostic markers of anthelmintic resistance to support parasite control.
Estado y democracia v. X.X. Las posibilidades de un constitucionalismo digital
Authors: Bonilla Gutiérrez Julio César
Published: February 2025

En un ejercicio de proyección hacia 2058, este artículo académico presenta una visión sobre el impacto de la inteligencia artificial (ia) en la reconfiguración del poder, la libertad y la democracia, cuestionando la necesidad del Estado democrático constitucional en un mundo dominado por la tecnología.
Por un lado, la eficiencia y la capacidad de solución de las ia sugieren que podrían ofrecer mecanismos más efectivos para la Administración Pública, superando las limitaciones burocráticas de las estructuras humanas tradicionales. Esta postura plantea que, al depender de la ia para soluciones optimizadas, podríamos llegar a cuestionar la relevancia de los principios, los valores y las estructuras normativas e institucionales tradicionales, que han sido forjadas a través de complejos procesos histórico-políticos.
Por otro lado, el argumento contrapuesto advierte sobre los riesgos de una excesiva dependencia tecnológica. A pesar de las ventajas que la ia puede ofrecer, su dominio sin regulación o escrutinio podría amenazar las libertades y derechos humanos, generando desigualdades y afectaciones.
La principal reflexión del trabajo gira en torno al «constitucionalismo digital», una propuesta que busca equilibrar los beneficios de la ia con los valores democráticos y principios constitucionales. Este enfoque defiende la idea de que es posible, y necesario, armonizar la tecnología con el respeto y la promoción de los derechos humanos, evitando así que la eficiencia tecnológica se imponga sobre las garantías democráticas o nos lleve, necesariamente, a tener que decidir entre una u otra visión.
Single Umbilical Artery with Symmetrical IUGR and Multiple Fetal Anomalies - An Interesting Case Report
Authors: Amulya Choudary Kotapati  , Bhargavi Khandru  , Vijayasree M.
Published: February 2025

In the present-day scenario, congenital abnormalities and genetic syndromes are increasing due to conceptions in extremes of age groups (teenage pregnancy and elderly primi gravidas), which is about 0.8 to 2.9%. Since our hospital is situated in the periphery, consanguinity persists.
In our tertiary care center, we terminate many cases of abnormal fetuses. Here we are presenting one such interesting case scenario.
In today's world, where women's access to education is continuously improving, societal trends are shifting, and one notable change has been a decline in consanguineous marriages. Consanguineous marriages, or marriages between closely related individuals, have historically been more common in certain cultures, but the increasing level of female education and awareness of the potential genetic risks associated with these unions has led to a noticeable reduction in their occurrence. This is a positive shift, as consanguineous marriages have been linked to a higher risk of genetic disorders in offspring due to the increased likelihood of inheriting recessive genetic conditions.
In tandem with these social changes, advancements in medical technology have significantly improved prenatal care. Fetal medicine specialists now employ a variety of cutting-edge diagnostic tools to identify potential genetic and structural abnormalities in a fetus as early as possible. Among the most notable of these technologies are NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) and the TIFFA (Targeted Imaging for Fetal Anomalies) scan. NIPT is a blood test that analyzes small fragments of fetal DNA circulating in the mother's blood, providing a safe and highly accurate method for detecting chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy. Meanwhile, the TIFFA scan is a more advanced ultrasound technique used to identify gross anatomical abnormalities in the fetus, offering detailed insights into the fetal development during the second trimester. These technologies, along with others, have revolutionized prenatal care by enabling early intervention, counselling, and decision-making based on a more accurate understanding of potential risks.
Despite the tremendous progress made in the field of fetal medicine, the detection and prevention of genetic abnormalities are not flawless, and cases of genetic disorders continue to emerge. The present case we are discussing serves as a poignant reminder that, even with the most advanced screening methods available, some conditions may still go undetected or may not be entirely preventable. The case highlights the complexity of genetic inheritance and the limitations of current diagnostic tools, underlining the importance of continued research and development in prenatal care.
Mechanisms for anesthesia, unawareness, OIRD, sleep and memory replay:

MHb→IPN→ PAG + DRN + MRN→claustrum→ cortical slow-waves.
Authors: Vadovičová Karin
Published: February 2025

Opiates are fast pain relievers that can cause respiratory arrest. I show new mechanisms how mu-opioids and high prenatal nicotine cause respiratory slowdown linked to slow wave sleep. Mu-opioids activate the medial habenula which activates the interpeduncular nucleus. The MHb-IPN system decreases respiration and alarm/arousal response to hypercapnia by projections to PAG, DRN, MRN and MRN→LPO→RMTg→vPAG. The same MHb-IPN circuit that causes respiratory slowdown, likely causes ventilatory deficits in mammalian neonates, known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), linked to high fetal nicotine intake. Natural slowdown of respiration and heart rate is caused by slow wave sleep, when body is not moving. The MHb and rostromedial tegmental nucleus are known for high amount of mu-opioid receptors. Both were claimed to be activated by the MHb→IPN→MRN circuit that activates serotonin release, promotes slow SWS, rest, immune defense, recovery, sharp wave ripples, cortical spindles, replay of temporaly, spatialy and relationally bound memories, synaptogenesis, BDNF linked growth and DG neurogenesis, but inhibits theta states, arousal, alert wakefulness, awareness and REM sleep linked circuits (Vadovičová, 2015).This updated circuit model explains role of the MHb→IPN→MRN→hippocampus + claustrum→cortical slow wave activity (SWA) in anesthesia, memory replay, loss of awareness, SWS and in theta states suppression. I proposed new mechanisms for anesthetic ketamine effect: activation of the IPN→MRN→claustrum→cortical SWA circuit by the 5-HT2a IPN and claustrum receptors. I show why are ketamine and hallucinogens anxiolytic and antidepressant, andhow activation of 5-HT2a receptors in vACC/infralimbic cortex increases the safety, well-beingsignal, and cognitive flexibility.
Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm): A Scoping Review on Institutionalization, Effectiveness, and Dismantling
Authors: Dos Reis Guilherme Dourado , Corazza Rosana Icassatti
Published: February 2025

The primary sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Brazil stem from activities associated with land use and forest changes, particularly due to the clearing of native vegetation. The agricultural sector is the second largest emitter. Geographically, the Amazon region is the focal point of these emissions, and the escalating deforestation in the area led to the creation of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm, in Portuguese) in 2004. This article presents the results of a literature mapping focused on the PPCDAm, guided by key questions regarding the institutionalization process of the plan, its effectiveness, and its recent period of dismantling, as analyzed from the perspective of specialized literature. The methodology adheres to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) standards for Scoping Reviews (ScR). This review enabled the description and analysis of the four phases of the PPCDAm, spanning from 2004 to 2019, highlighting the effectiveness of the plan’s initial phases (2004–2012), which achieved an 84% reduction in deforestation by 2012 compared to 2004. The literature mapping revealed a gap in academic studies concerning the analysis of the fourth phase (2016–2019) and the dismantling of the plan. This phase is contextualized by Brazil's focus on mitigating climate change to meet the targets of the National Climate Change Plan for 2020, the signing of the Paris Agreement—committing to zero illegal deforestation by 2030—, and the political shifts during the Temer administration and the beginning of the Bolsonaro administration, at which point the PPCDAm was discontinued.
The Analysis of Hadith Prohibition of Building Above Graves Perspective of the Community of Kampung Mahmud Bandung Selatan
Authors: Asty Oktaviani  , Hartati Hartati , Hasyim Ahmad Faqih
Published: February 2025

The Prophet forbade his ummah not to build buildings over graves because they did not want to be like the previous people, namely the ummah of Noah as who worshiped their ancestors and the ignorant Arab people who worshiped idols. However, this prohibition is realized by society today with various perspectives. This paper aims to find out the perspective of the Kampung Mahmud Community towards the hadith prohibiting building over graves through two basic questions; first, how is the concept of graves and the prohibition of building over graves in Islam?, and second, how is the understanding of the people of Kampung Mahmud in understanding the prohibition of building over graves?.. The method used is a qualitative-descriptive method by collecting all observational data, interviews and documentation were then analyzed using the sociology of knowledge approach developed by Begger and Luckmann, namely social construction theory which includes three aspects, externalization, objectivation and internalization. The results of this study indicate that the Mahmud village community allows building over graves with several conditions that have been mutually agreed upon, namely that it must be built on private land and the center of the grave must be empty. They also forbid the construction of buildings over graves if they are used for worship.
An Analysis Study on the al-Wâfi Bi Mâ Fî al-Shahihain by Shâlih Bin Ahmad Al-Syâmiy
Authors: Nurhaedi Dadi , Daib Insan Labib Muhammad Alfreda
Published: February 2025

Al-Wāfî bimā fî Shahîhain li al-Imāmaini al-Bukhārî wa Muslim by Salih bin Ahmad al-Syāmî is a secondary-contemporary hadith book that is important to study. This book is unique compared to other similar books such as 'Umdah al-Ahkām by al-Maqdisi and al-Lu'lu' wa al-Marjān by Fuad Abdul Baqi. In this article, the issues studied in al-Wāfî are their position and significance, the systematization of the arrangement of hadiths and their books, as well as the method of selecting hadiths and summarizing their books. This problem is examined by comparative-confirmative analysis and analysis of its significance-relevance in the present context. The results of the study show that the book of al-Wāfî: (1) has a very important position because the theme is relatively complete, the hadiths are concise and representative, and the presentation of the book is easy, even though the themes and hadiths are limited; (2) the hadiths are arranged thematically, with a special systematic, detailed and easily accessible. However, for the current context, many new themes do not yet exist; and (3) the method of selecting the hadiths by standard is taking the most complete and representative hadiths, even though the implementation is sometimes inconsistent.