bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of moisture in fire hoods and gloves on residual heat accumulation during repeated rest–work cycles at a fire scene
Authors: Kim Tae-Sun , Yang Ji-Hyun , Park Tae-Hee , Kwon Jin-Suk
Published: January 2025

Firefighters are exposed to the risk of burns at fire scenes. In 2020, the National Fire Agency of the Republic of Korea surveyed 50,527 firefighters and identified 242 burn-related incidents. The body parts affected by these burns were the hands (28.51%), ears (10.74%), and neck (10.33%), with hands and facial areas accounting for ∼50% of all burns. This trend implies that gloves and hoods do not provide sufficient protection against burns. Firefighters alternate between activity and rest during firefighting operations to enhance mission efficiency. However, the accumulated heat in their hood and gloves from these repeated cycles has not been considered thus far. This study investigated thermal accumulation patterns based on the moisture content of hoods and gloves, reflecting repeated cycles of work and rest for firefighters. Consequently, heat accumulation occurred in a dry state in both the hood and gloves, and the degree of heat storage was higher in the hood. The glove stored heat even when wet because of its multilayer structural characteristics. These results suggest that repeated activities (work–rest) with gloves and hoods under dry/wet conditions can generate residual heat and heat accumulation, causing burns on the hand and face. This study clearly demonstrated the impact of the moisture conditions of gloves and hoods in repetitive situations where they are exposed to relatively low levels of heat radiation and are then subject to rest periods. The results of this study are expected to be valuable in designing new protective gear to prevent burn injuries and developing efficient firefighting tactics.
Reply to Moehler
Authors: Nieswandt Katharina
Published: January 2025

Recently and in this journal, I published a paper titled “Instrumental Rationality in the Social Sciences,” which offered a new argument against the equation of practical rationality with sound means-end reasoning. My paper attracted a critical commentary by Michael Moehler to which I reply here, without presupposing familiarity with my paper or Moehler’s comments. The critique is shown to rest on misunderstandings. Neither does my argument require that means-end reasoning always be egoistic nor can opponents, such as rational choice theorists, avoid it by re-categorizing sound means-end inferences as only one rational kind of practical inference among many.
Innovating Wellness: Police Personnel Perspectives on Strategies to Improve Access and Engagement
Authors: Smith Hayden P. , Fix Rebecca L. , Ferdik Frank
Published: January 2025

Police personnel face numerous occupational hazards that can severely compromise their physical and mental health. Despite decades of scholarship on the subject, little is known about how best to deliver wellness knowledge and interventions to this workgroup. To address this research void, semistructured interviews were conducted with ( n = 17) sworn and ( n = 9) civilian police personnel from a large metropolitan law enforcement agency in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Participants offered insight regarding the stigmatization associated with help-seeking behaviors and best practices for treatment delivery, while also providing their opinions on eight innovative health strategies. Respondents voiced support for wellness apps, written toolkits, and group games, while therapeutic support groups were valued if led by credible messengers. Comic books, virtual reality, and card games generated considerable curiosity, whereas video clips were viewed negatively. Findings are used to strategize effective ways of delivering wellness programs to police personnel.
Regional Economic Communities and Attitudes Toward Free Cross-Border Movement in Africa
Authors: Zimbalist Zack
Published: January 2025

Contrary to narratives in the media, most African migrants move across borders within the continent, and most often to other countries in their immediate region. Drawing on a sample of roughly 43,000 people from 36 African countries, this article uses multilevel models to investigate the factors influencing support for either free cross-border movement or government restrictions on immigration. In contrast to previous studies, this article illuminates the substantial importance of regional economic communities within Africa and associated policies around mobility and labor market integration. Empirically, the quantitative results demonstrate that individual support for open borders is significantly higher in regional blocs with well-established free movement protocols and supportive policies, compared to those residing in blocs with more restrictive mobility and labor market integration policies. To better understand the country-level variation within these blocs, I draw on secondary literature to highlight the importance of certain economic, demographic, and security considerations, which likely both shape and reflect citizens’ attitudes toward open borders. This is a novel contribution to the public attitudes toward immigration policy literature, which has neglected the importance of regional frameworks even though they are a crucial instrument in determining national-level migration and integration policy within Africa and beyond.
The Lifelong Learner’s Compass: Cultivating Attitudes With Self-Reflection, Openness, Curiosity and Motivation
Authors: Åström Elisabeth , Eriksson Sörman Daniel , Sörqvist Patrik , Ljungberg Jessica K.
Published: January 2025

Lifelong learning can be indispensable for the adaptation to continuously evolving labor markets and societal demands. In the current study, we examined psychological factors, notably aspects of personality (personality traits in the five-factor model and trait curiosity), self-reflection and motivation in relation to attitudes to lifelong learning. A specific aim was to examine the relative importance of these factors in their contribution to attitudes to lifelong learning. The study was carried out by use of a digital survey and included 717 adults ( Mage = 47.93) within working life. The results showed that self-reflection and trait curiosity were the strongest predictors of attitudes to lifelong learning but work intrinsic motivation and openness to experience (a personality trait in the five-factor model) also contributed with unique explanatory power, although to a lesser degree. The results can inform individualized accessibility strategies for lifelong learning.
Systematic Ultrasound Screening for Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis in ICU Patients with Severe COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Marrero Eligio De La Puente Carlos Ernesto , Flota Ruiz David , Besalduch Lluis Sánchez , Capó Xavier Faner , Sala Daniel Gil , Ibars Clara Palmada , Mindiolaza Ivan Bajaña , Chiscano Camon Luis Silvestre , Sanmartin Adolfo Ruiz , Ruiz-Rodríguez Juan Carlos , Ferrer Ricard , Montoya Sergi Bellmunt
Published: January 2025

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), whether pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is common in patients with COVID-19. Recommendations on systematic screening in the intensive care unit (ICU) are lacking.

Research question

Is there any clinical benefit of systematic screening for DVT in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19?

Study design and methods

Single-center randomized clinical trial (RCT) of COVID-19 cases admitted to the ICU. Patients were randomized into two groups: a study group that underwent ultrasound (US) screening for DVT Mondays and Thursdays, and a control group that was treated according to the unit protocol. The primary outcome was the presence of DVT. Secondary outcomes were ICU total stay, death within 21-day follow-up and bleeding complications (minor or major). A composite outcome of poor prognosis variables was analyzed. We tested a superiority hypothesis with a confidence level of 95% and an equivalence limit of 20%.

Results

163 patients (84 screening group, 79 control group) were enrolled between April and July 2021. There were 90 men (55.2%) with a mean ± SD age of 49.8 ± 13.58 years. In screening group 16.7% developed DVT versus 3.8% in control group (p = .007), and 3.6% versus 5.1% developed PE, respectively (p = 0.7). Poor outcome variables were male sex, age, COVID-19 vaccination status, Fibrinogen, Urea, Creatinine and Interleukin 6 (IL6) levels; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scales. The superiority comparison, with a power of 95%, showed no statistically significant differences for a composite endpoint (p = .123). After adjusting by group, the OR for poor outcome is 1.966 (0.761-5.081) p = 0.163

Interpretation

Among these patients, a strategy of systematic US screening for DVT was not associated with any significant improvements to clinical outcomes compared with usual care.

Clinical Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.org registration number: NCT05028244.
UWB-IMU-leg fusion state estimation for legged robots
Authors: Liu Xu , Yin Yunpeng , Wang Zelin , Zhang Xueyi , Gao Feng
Published: January 2025

Accurate perception of a legged robot’s body states is crucial for effective motion control. However, certain states of the system cannot be directly measured, necessitating their estimation by combining available sensor data. Both methods of valuing or neglecting the interaction between the legs and the ground have achieved significant success, but it seems that these methods lack attention to absolute position and yaw. In this study, a novel multi-sensor fusion approach for legged robots is proposed, addressing the deficiency by combining Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data, and leg kinematics data. These measurement data are injected into an Error State Kalman Filter (ESKF) to achieve unbiased state estimation. The proposed approach is validated through experiments, demonstrating its effectiveness in long-term, long-distance, and uneven terrain scenarios. The contributions of this study include full dimensional unbiased estimation, a modeling approach in prediction and update steps that enhances efficiency, theoretical confirmation through observability analysis, and its application on a hexapod robot in real-world scenarios. This research provides a viable solution to the global localization problem of legged robots, paving the way for the development of intelligent and stable legged robots in the future.
Study on fluid flow as well as heat transfer characteristics of high-speed solid-rotor motor cooled by natural gas based on turbulent Taylor-Couette vortex
Authors: Qiu Hongbo , Lu Jianan , Cao Mingming , Zhao Qiang , Yang Cunxiang
Published: January 2025

The High-speed Solid-rotor Induction Motor Cooled by Natural Gas (HSIMCNG), is suitable for integrated compressors in natural gas pipeline transportation due to its high mechanical strength. In order to further improve the cooling effect of the motor and lighten the motor weight, it is of great significance to research on the natural gas flow, heat transfer characteristics and motor structure optimization. Firstly, the natural gas flow state characteristics in the 160 kW HSIMCNG are investigated in this article. The natural gas Taylor vortex distribution in the air gap is analyzed, and the natural gas flow as well as heat transfer characteristics are obtained. Secondly, in the cooling structure of the motor with slotted rotor, the impact of the slot on the natural gas flow state is further explored in detail by combining the mechanism of the Taylor vortex on the natural gas turbulent kinetic energy, and the natural gas heat transfer effect is clarified. Finally, the variation characteristics of the natural gas radial and tangential velocities with the spatial position in the motor with different ventilation cooling structures are compared and analyzed in depth, and the key factors affecting the natural gas Taylor vortex flow and heat transfer effect are determined.
Enhanced detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis using nanogold-based silver staining enhancement
Authors: Quan Lili , Yang Qianrong , Jin Zhu , Li Rong , Xiao Han , Wang Lu
Published: January 2025

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health challenge from a single infectious agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), and it demands improved diagnostics and therapies.

Objective

This work explored a novel method for detecting MTB by combining nanogold labeling (NGL) technology with silver staining to enhance sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

Nanogold particles (NGPs) were characterized using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (UVAS), and their morphology was observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The silver staining enhancement (SSE) system was optimized for a reaction time of 11 min. Fifty drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRT) patients were randomly assigned to a control (Ctrl) group receiving conventional nursing and an experimental (Exp) group treated with continuous nursing intervention (CNI). Quality of Life Instrument for Tuberculosis Patients (QLI-TB) scores were compared over 6 months.

Results

Unmarked NGPs were evenly distributed, while labeled NGPs maintained complete morphology with a gray halo. The detection limit was established at 0.582, reaching as low as 1 pmol/L. For sputum specimens, detection rates were 38.7% for culture, 41.94% for PCR, and 43.54% for nanogold SSE, with no significant differences ( P > 0.05). However, patients in the Exp group exhibited significant improvements in physical, psychological, and social functions, as well as the tuberculosis-specific module (TSM) compared to the Ctrl group ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

We demonstrated an innovative method for detecting MTB, demonstrating promising results through method optimization and analysis.
Self-Derivation Through Memory Integration: A Mechanism for Building Semantic Memory
Authors: Bauer Patricia J.
Published: January 2025

A rich storehouse of semantic or world knowledge is a critical developmental and educational achievement. This article summarizes a research program that elucidates a productive or self-generative means of building this knowledge base, namely, self-derivation of knowledge through the integration of separate yet related episodes of new learning. The article highlights features of the research that lend authenticity to the findings, including focus on an important topic, samples that represent relevant target populations, stimuli that reflect the richness of the phenomenon, and descriptions and explanations of individual variability. The authenticity of the research stands to increase its impact and facilitates application of the results beyond the laboratory.
Qualitative Analysis of Symptoms from the Central Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Trial for Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Gerber Linda M , Shulman Kaiulani S , Wright Megan S , Schiff Nicholas D , Fins Joseph J
Published: January 2025

Background

Studies of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) report persistent clinical impairment post-injury. In the CENTURY-S study of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in chronic TBI, Schiff et al.‘s paper, “Thalamic deep brain stimulation in traumatic brain injury: a phase 1, randomized feasibility study” demonstrated improvements in executive control. A companion narrative analysis by Fins et al., “Subject and Family Perspectives from the Central Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Trial for Traumatic Brain Injury” Parts I and II described improvements in cognitive, behavioral, and emotional capabilities.

Objective

The present study provides an aggregate symptom assessment utilizing pre- and post-DBS narratives from subjects and their family members.

Methods

Drawing upon participants from the CENTURY-S study, Fins et al. conducted semi-structured interviews with five subjects with moderate-to-severe TBI and their family members. Transcripts were subsequently coded deductively and inductively in Dedoose by two independent investigators.

Results

Subjects and families frequently volunteered memory and cognitive symptoms as well as difficulties with self-regulation, frustration, and irritability pre-DBS. Following stimulation, four subjects and four families noted improvement in memory and attention and focus, while three subjects and five families volunteered improvements in self-regulation. Fatigue improved in three subjects who previously reported this symptom and in one who did not.

Conclusions

Secondary qualitative analysis of narrative data of DBS trial participants supports the incorporation of qualitative data as additional outcome measures in studies of DBS in TBI.
Development of the Foot and Ankle Activity Level Scale (FAALS) Instrument
Authors: Matheny Lauren M. , Clanton Thomas O. , Backus Jonathon D. , Waldrop Norman E. , Briggs Karen K. , Horan Marilee P. , Robinson Anastasia
Published: January 2025

Background:

Activity level is a benchmark to document patient recovery; however, there is a lack of instrumentation to measure activity level specific to the foot and ankle. The purpose of this study was to develop a foot and ankle activity level scale (FAALS) instrument that will serve as an effective clinical tool for practitioners by assigning an activity level to patients.

Methods:

This was a 4-phase study with 3 rounds of data collection (n = 1432). Phase 1 was item generation using an expert panel to determine content validity (101 items). In phase 2, all items from phase 1 were piloted (n = 100) to remove poorly performing items (77 items). In phase 3 (n = 505), item reduction, reliability, and validity Rasch analyses were conducted, leaving a total of 22 items. Validity was assessed using outfit mean-square (MNSQ) and infit MNSQ statistics, with acceptable values between 0.5 and 1.5. An additional round of data collection was completed to serve as a validation data set to confirm FAALS instrument structure and psychometric analytics (n = 827). Correlation analysis was performed to assess convergent and divergent validity. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine whether the FAALS could detect differences in scores between groups with previously proven factors that affect functional status.

Results:

Person reliability was 0.92 and item reliability was 1.00, demonstrating excellent reliability. There was excellent evidence of validity, with mean-square values between 0.5 and 1.5. The 22 FAALS items are summed for a total score that corresponds to one of 4 activity levels. The FAALS instrument demonstrated sensitivity in the ability to discern between groups with expected foot and ankle functional differences for previous ankle surgery status, t(502) = –7.69, P < .001, and body mass index, t(502) = −3.41, P < .001.

Conclusion:

The FAALS instrument is a short, clinically useful tool to measure activity level specific to the foot and ankle. FAALS normative values provide valuable information for physician-patient communication, which may serve to facilitate shared decision-making, improve postoperative care, and allow physicians to track recovery progress.
Evaluation and comparison of infusion reactions related to prophylactic medication timing for taxane administration
Authors: Noble Jacob , Irvine Clay , Tevaarwerk Amy , Cole Kristin , Shah Vishal , Gander Kathleen , Soefje Scott A.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Taxane medications, paclitaxel, and docetaxel, are chemotherapy agents that have a higher incidence of reported hypersensitivity and infusion reactions. To help classify these reactions, the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) is utilized. Prophylactic medications have been used to decrease the incidence and severity of these events. At our institution, medications that patients can receive prior to the initiation of a taxane infusion are a histamine 1 receptor antagonist (H1RA), histamine 2 receptor antagonist (H2RA), a steroid or a combination of these medications. The purpose of this retrospective review was to compare the rates and severity of infusion reactions based on the timing of prophylactic medication administration in the first and second doses of taxane infusions.

Methods

Patients who received paclitaxel or docetaxel from January 30th, 2022, through January 30th, 2023, were included in the analysis. To assist in the identification of a reaction, taxane administrations were flagged for review if a rescue medication was administered after the start of a paclitaxel or docetaxel infusion. The rates and severity of infusion reactions were analyzed based on the timing of prophylactic medication administration. A sub-group analysis comparing infusion reaction characteristics between taxanes given, was performed.

Results

Of the 1486 taxane infusions that were completed within the year, 249 infusion reactions were confirmed and graded utilizing the NCI CTCAE. When examining the first and second doses of a taxane (N = 536), we identified 222 infusions reactions. The odds of a patient having an infusion reaction, during the first and second doses, was found to be less likely for patients given a prophylactic medication 30 min prior to receiving a taxane compared to those who did not receive a pre-medication (p = 0.037).

Conclusion

This multisite retrospective study showed that administration of prophylactic medications 30 to 80 min prior to the first and second infusion of a taxane was the optimal timing to decrease the likelihood of patients having an infusion reaction. No difference in the severity of the reaction was seen. Most patients were able to complete the entire infusion, regardless of what rescue medications were used following the infusion reaction.
Addressing the Treatment-as-Assigned Assumption in Field Experiments: Lessons Learned From the Birmingham South Saturated Problem-Oriented Policing Hot Spots Experiment
Authors: Itskovich Eran , Buchnik Esther , Ariel Barak , Wain Neil , Weinborn Cristóbal
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the effectiveness of increasing police presence in hot spots typically managed with problem-oriented policing (POP) compared to using POP alone. Our block-randomized controlled trial reveals that overall, “saturated POP” does not significantly reduce crime compared to a POP-only approach. However, a more complex pattern emerged across different blocks, namely, an inverse relationship between the level of police presence and the level of recorded crime, regardless of the random assignment. Crime rates decreased in the experimental arm within two statistical blocks, where the assigned dosage of saturated POP was greater than in the control arm. However, in one block, the assigned control hot spots received a higher dosage of police presence than the assigned treatment hot spots, resulting in significantly lower crime rates in the control hot spots. These findings underscore the necessity of reporting field experiment results based on both treatment-as-assigned and some form of treatment-as-delivered models.
Zâr: Cultural beliefs, symptoms, and healing ritual anthropological study of a cultural mental disorder
Authors: Saki Fatemeh
Published: January 2025

Zâr is one of the culture-bound syndromes mentioned for the first time in DSM-IV. Zâr is believed to be an evil spirit or wind that possesses people, causing various mental symptoms. Those affected rarely seek psychological help, believing the illness is of supernatural origin, with its cultural basis remaining largely unknown. The DSM removed this syndrome in subsequent editions, reasoning that it is only tied to cultural expressions of distress and can be classified within recognized diagnostic categories. The perspective of cultural criticism of psychological diagnostic systems highlights that the issue goes beyond simplification for diagnosis. It requires understanding syndromes within a broader framework of (1) beliefs of spirit possession, (2) distress perception and symptom expression, and (3) healing rituals. Without this, modern psychological systems cannot intervene effectively in specific cultures. This fieldwork study in southern Iran, using ethnographic methods and interpretive-thematic analysis, aims to comprehensively describe the three mentioned dimensions. It addresses questions about how beliefs about distress influence individuals' pursuit of healing and how the cultural function of these healing practices leads to recovery. Furthermore, the study assesses the need for Western diagnostic systems to effectively integrate these cultural frameworks to address such syndromes.
Sellers’ behavior and online rating bias: A sentiment analysis on airbnb reviews
Authors: Abrardi Laura , Raguseo Elisabetta , Rondi Laura
Published: January 2025

We investigate the bias of online ratings stemming from the personal interaction between sellers and buyers, and quantify its effect on ratings and consumer demand. Using data and text reviews from Airbnb in Barcelona, we develop a text analytic algorithm and semantic analysis to measure host kindness. To expose the bias, we exploit the rating of the listing’s location, which should not be influenced by host behavior. We find that kindness is positively related to the location’s rating and to the listing’s demand. Moreover, host kindness mitigates the negative impact of an inconvenient position on both the location score and the listing demand. We address endogeneity concerns by exploiting the shock to tourism caused by COVID-19.
Bringing matter, to matter: ‘Wild ideas’ about ‘readiness’ in the transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage to the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum in England
Authors: Evans Katherine
Published: January 2025

‘Readiness’ and transition are topics of ongoing debate in relation to early childhood education. Critiques of schoolification and the impact of a ‘school-readiness’ agenda on policy and practice point to a tendency for increased formalisation of learning as children progress through their early years of schooling. In England, these first years of school-based education involve a transition between different and distinct educational frameworks, from the Early Years Foundation Stage to the National Curriculum in Key Stage 1. This transition can be problematic as tensions emerge between different pedagogical traditions, thus creating a potentially challenging experience for children as they progress from one educational context to the next. In this paper I argue that post-humanism can offer a useful theoretical framing to explore and critique this transition, opening space to question the role of matter in shaping experiences of transition in early years educational spaces. The paper is inspired by diffractive approaches to scholarship that encourage creativity and experimentation, making space for the researchers own co-constituted experiences in the production of new ideas and theories. The theoretically based discussion considers the notion of a ‘problem space’ in relation to early years transitions, before exploring post-human perspectives and asking the question ‘can matter, matter differently’ in transitional experiences. The paper concludes by posing a series of questions designed to prompt further discussion and debate about ‘readiness’ and transition, putting the focus on child–matter intra-actions and their potential for supporting a more complex and nuanced understanding of transition in the early years.
Journalists’ views on the research-practice gap
Authors: Wilner Tamar , Clements-Housser Keegan , Bélair-Gagnon Valérie , Sridharan Nisha
Published: January 2025

Journalism practitioners rarely apply research to their practice, and often decline to supply their time to support research. These issues indicate a research-practice gap in journalism. Yet efforts to characterize the gap are in their infancy. This study uses 16 semi-structured interviews with US journalism practitioners to understand, first, how practitioners characterize the applicability of research to their work; and second, how they describe the nature of and reasons for the research-practice gap in journalism. We applied the framework of institutional logics to understand the conflicts that might contribute to the gap at the intra-organizational and inter-organizational levels. The study found that journalists value the evidence research gives them, but do not see research as essential to their work. Participants identified three types of research-practice gaps corresponding to three stages in the research process: 1) researchers asking the wrong questions, 2) researchers communicating their findings poorly, and 3) institutional barriers keeping research from being applied in the newsroom. Participants’ statements point to the instantiation of professional, market, efficiency, and academic logics, which may affect how journalists experience the scholar-practitioner gap. Conflicting logics at the intra-organizational level limit journalists’ implementation of research findings while competing logics between organizations relate to the gaps of researchers asking the wrong questions and communicating findings poorly. While future studies should complement this work with other perspectives on the research-practice gap, this exploratory study lays the groundwork by characterizing the gap through journalists’ experiences and expertise.
Numerical analysis of a high-performance motorbike engine: from conventional to pre-chamber combustion strategy
Authors: Nodi Alessandro , Sforza Lorenzo , Lucchini Tommaso , Gianetti Giovanni Gaetano , Onorati Angelo , Buttitta Marco , Lupi Carlo , Marmorini Luca
Published: January 2025

The reduction of pollutants and CO2 emissions is a compelling topic even for small size, high-performance engines for motorbikes. The turbulent jet ignition (TJI) combustion strategy is a noteworthy solution for such powertrains, especially employing a pre-chamber in its passive configuration, thanks to the minor engine modifications needed and the low additional cost. The passive pre-chamber ignition allows to achieve a significant reduction of the combustion duration, hence opening to a possible increase of engine efficiency and performance. In this work, a 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation is carried out over an experimental configuration of a naturally aspirated spark ignition (SI) motorbike engine running at several different operating points employing both the conventional and the TJI combustion strategies. The purpose of the research is to achieve a deeper understanding of the experimental data by means of the CFD analyses, clarifying the advantages and drawbacks of the retrofit of a motorbike engine with a passive pre-chamber. The investigations on the pre-chamber scavenging show that the exhaust gas residuals (EGR) concentration inside it mainly depends on the EGR in cylinder, rather than the pre-chamber geometry. The impact of the flow field development during the pre-chamber filling process on the subsequent combustion for the various tested operating conditions is presented. The flame front propagation in both combustion chambers is differently affected, showing a greater asymmetry at higher engine speeds. The turbulence introduction in the main chamber provided by the jets ignition is demonstrated and quantified by means of the turbulent combustion regimes diagram. The wall heat transfer investigation highlights the greater heat losses experienced by the passive pre-chamber engine layout. The higher heat loss contribution for each of the combustion chambers surfaces is demonstrated and quantitatively estimated, emphasizing the differences among the various operating conditions. The impact of the increased heat losses on the engine indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) is assessed.
The prognostic value of AGTR1 A1166C gene polymorphism in all-cause mortality and heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Tran An Viet , Nguyen Anh Phuong , Tran Phat Tan , Nguyen Khue Duy , Nguyen Thuan Tuan , Tran Bao Lam Thai , Nguyen Cao Thi Tai
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The prognostic role of the AGTR1 A1166C genetic polymorphism in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is controversial and inconsistent across various study populations.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with 6 months of follow-up. All participants were identified for AGTR1 A1166C polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction method, with follow-up on survival status at 6 months from the date of admission. The Cox regression model and survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier curve and corrected with confounding factors.

Results

The proportions of AA, AC and CC genotypes were 88.1%, 10.9%, and 1%, respectively. Mortality after 6 months occurred in 31 cases (30.7%). 6-month survival analysis through Kaplan-Meier curves showed a trend with lower cumulative survival of the AC and CC genotype group with p = 0.02, and the outcomes were still significant with p = 0.05 when corrected for confounding factors. Although Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models indicated a marginally elevated incidence of heart failure within the AC and CC genotype populations following a six-month follow-up period, the statistical analysis revealed no significance.

Conclusion

AGTR1 A1166C gene polymorphisms could be an important factor in increasing all-cause mortality in patients after AMI.
Properties of reclaimed polypropylene microplastic-polylactic acid blends
Authors: Shariff Ammar Syafiq , Noh Amin Abdul Rahman Amir Muhammad , Jaafar Mariatti , Shafiq Mohamad Danial
Published: January 2025

The prevalent presence of microplastics in marine environments poses major ecological risks requiring innovative approaches to their management and reduction. This study addresses a knowledge gap in biodegradable microplastic alternatives by looking at the biodegradability and properties of reclaimed microplastic polypropylene (PP) blended with polylactic acid (PLA). The study lies in the systematic exploration of various PP/PLA formulations, evaluating their potential for enhanced biodegradability without significantly compromising mechanical performance. Microplastic PP and PLA blends were prepared in various ratios using the melt blending method. The blend was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm the presence and morphology of the components. The mechanical properties were evaluated using tensile strength tests. A blend of 90% PP and 10% PLA was found to retain the highest tensile strength even after immersion in seawater. The thermal stability and degradation behavior were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This shows that increasing PLA content affects the thermal properties of the blends. Seawater immersion and soil burial tests were used to assess the biodegradability of the blends. The results showed that the blends’ biodegradation was confirmed by increases in conductivity and salinity in the seawater and weight loss in the soil burial. The major findings show that blending PP and PLA improves biodegradability while maintaining adequate mechanical properties. Tests including immersion in saltwater and soil burial were used to assess the biodegradability of the blends. The results showed that the blends’ biodegradation was confirmed by increases in conductivity and salinity in the seawater and weight loss in the soil burial. The major findings show that blending PP and PLA improves biodegradability while maintaining adequate mechanical properties. Finally, this study presents a new approach to reducing microplastic pollution through the blend of reclaimed PP with biodegradable PLA, resulting in a sustainable material with improved environmental performance. Future studies should look into new formulations, biodegradable polymers, and long-term degradation tests under a variety of environmental circumstances.
Cell-within-cell study of stray current copper corrosion: impact of soil conductivity and source distance
Authors: Ma Jing , Nairn Kate , Wade Peter , Thomas Sebastian
Published: January 2025

Underground copper (Cu)-based infrastructure, including pipelines, cables, wiring and large-scale appliances are frequently situated near electrical sources, including power sources, railway systems, cathodic protection devices and domestic circuits. Currents may ‘stray’ from electrical circuits associated with these sources into surrounding soil. Such stray currents can create voltage differences across the Cu assets, thus leading to corrosion. In this study, we aim to experimentally simulate stray current corrosion of Cu to mimic real-world conditions using a laboratory electrochemical cell with different types of soils. The stray current corrosion was achieved by applying voltages between two titanium (Ti) electrodes with Cu samples placed in between them. This cell-within-cell setup was employed to investigate the influence of soil conductivity and the distance between electrodes and the electrical source on the stray current corrosion of Cu.
Nanotechnological Advances in Burn Wound Care: Silver Sulfadiazine-Loaded Nanosuspension-Based Chitosan-Incorporated Nanogel for Partial Thickness Burns
Authors: Barkat Harshita , Barkat Md. Abul , Ali Raisuddin , Hadi Hazrina
Published: January 2025

Burn lesions damage the skin's outermost defensive layer, allowing pathogenic microbes including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli to infiltrate. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD) is an effective antibacterial agent approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) and is considered as the gold standard for burn wound treatment. Despite the high degree of efficacy of SSD in burn wound management, it possesses some drawbacks, such as poor solubility, low topical bioavailability and skin irritations. The present study endeavors to develop nanosuspension based SSD nanogel for improving the deliverability of SSD and its therapeutic outcomes for the management of partial thickness burn. The SSD nanosuspension was formulated employing controlled nanoprecipitation approach using various surfactants. The formulation was optimized utilizing one-factor-at-a-time approach and to fetch the optimized formulation of 134.6 nm size. The optimized nanosuspension was incorporated into chitosan gel that offer superior drug release potential, and also offered better spreadability (5.21 ± 0.38 g) and extrudability (152.27 ± 0.22 gm) that represents the easy application over the skin and extrusion of gel from the tube. The formulation was well tolerated as shown by skin irritation study and offered a superior burn lesion healing characteristics vis-à-vis the marketed product, even at a lower concentration. Hence, the formulation offers a huge potential in enhancing the clinical outcomes of SSD, especially in the management of partial thickness burn. The developed system with the above mentioned outcomes could be a promising delivery system for partial thickness burn wound management.
Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) and Revised Metformin Cost-Effectiveness Conclusions in the Diabetes Prevention Program/ Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study
Authors: Alolayan Sultan , Eguale Tewodros , Segal Alissa R. , Doucette Joanne , Rittenhouse Brian E.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Based on previously published US Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs), metformin continues to be promoted as “cost-effective.” We reviewed a 10-year CEA to assess this. Treatment alternatives included placebo, branded metformin and individual lifestyle modification. Following the original CEA, we added group lifestyle as a modeled alternative. Methods: Original published data were taken as given and re-analyzed according to accepted principles for calculating incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). With more than 2 treatments, these require attention to the rankings of interventions according to cost or effect prior to stipulating appropriate ICERs to calculate. Results: With appropriate ICER calculations, metformin was not cost-effective. Net Loss calculations indicated substantial costs/health losses to using metformin instead of the optimal lifestyle alternative in response to metformin having been confusingly labeled “cost-saving” in the original CEA. Conclusions: The original DPP CEA, subsequent analyses and citations of such analyses continue to conclude that both metformin and lifestyle modification are cost-effective in diabetes prevention. However, using metformin implies substantial costs and health losses compared to the cost-effective lifestyle modification. It may be that metformin has a role in cost-effective diabetes prevention, but this has yet to be shown based on DPP data.
Compound ultrasonic vibration systems with a complex disk tool: Local resonance characteristics, FEM-based modal analysis, and design method
Authors: Zhang Cunying , Bie Wenbo , Liu Yu , Chen Fan
Published: January 2025

Good machining performance and high surface quality can be achieved in engineering compound materials when subjected to ultrasonic vibration machining systems. This study established an ultrasonic vibration system with a complex disk tool. The finite element simulation model of the complex disk tool was created using ANSYS software. Modal analysis was utilized to obtain the disk’s resonance frequency and other parameters. Based on the local resonance characteristics of the system and the simulation results, the horn, transducers, and other components were designed. The node position of the compound ultrasound system can be accurately determined, leading to the acquisition of a cutting disc with a disc-shaped cutting edge that exhibits equal center distance and amplitude longitudinal vibration in the ultrasonic vibration system. This vibration system conforms to the local resonance theory of slender rods. A theoretical method for calculating the nodes of the ultrasonic vibration system with a discoid non-resonant frequency was developed. A slight deviation between the measured resonance frequency of the system and the theoretical results was observed. Thus, a reliable design method for ultrasonic vibration cutting systems with complex disk tools has been provided.
The struggle of leadership work: Three interactional challenges in mobilizing actors to commit to future action
Authors: Nielsen Elisabet S , Larsson Magnus
Published: January 2025

Although it is widely recognized that leadership concerns organizing future actions and mobilizing organizational actors to pursue them, our understanding of how this is accomplished in situated work interactions is relatively limited. Recent ethnographic studies have focused on leadership work resulting in the emergence of direction. This study explores the efforts involved in attempting to mobilize actors to act in such direction. Drawing on video recordings of managerial meetings in two Danish organizations, we take an ethnomethodological approach to explore in detail what is at stake in the leadership work of mobilizing future action. Our analysis demonstrates that leadership in these meetings largely consists of what we term interactional organizing work, involving three central challenges: establishing a shared understanding of what the problem at hand is, who owns the problem and is accountable for it, and how the problem should be addressed. Rather than a smooth flow of emerging direction, we see a struggle between different interests with different implications, leading us to suggest that agency be treated as less of an either individual or relational matter and consider leadership to be a collaborative process that builds and grows from individual agencies.
Navigating the roles of primary definers in the South China Sea conflict
Authors: Wijaya Lupita
Published: January 2025

This article investigates the primary definers and competing interests in the South China Sea conflict by comparing news media coverage from three disputants: The Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines), Saigon Times Daily (Vietnam) and The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) from 2013 to 2018 ( N = 1737). Three key findings emerged from this study. First, political elites, assuming roles as ‘spatial managers’ within each respective nation, attribute significant importance to primary news sources. Second, domestic sources, while dominant, were accompanied by a noteworthy prominence of news sources from the USA. In contrast, voices from China were omitted across media from the Philippines (4.2%, n = 21), Vietnam (1.3%, n = 7) and Indonesia (3.4%, n = 23). Third, this study identified ‘strategic duality’ as a co-existence of deliberate contrasting approach. It illustrates a pragmatic and restrained approach of Vietnam's media that tends to ‘borrow’ voices from foreign news sources to convey critical appraisals of China, while its official sources prioritise national stability, unity and support for the government.
Echocardiography parameters and cardiac geometry in pregnancy by race and ethnicity
Authors: Wilkie Gianna , Essa Angela , Person Sharina D. , Kovell Lara
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters in pregnancy by race and ethnicity.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of pregnant individuals without cardiovascular disease who underwent a perinatal TTE between October 2017 and May 2022. Demographics and echocardiographic parameters were compared by race/ethnicity. Multivariate regression analysis was performed for TTE parameters after adjusting for age and hypertension.

Results

During the study period, 369 individuals had TTEs with a mean age of 31.8 ± 6.0 years old. Subjects were 55.3% White, 24.7% Hispanic, 14.1% Black, and 6.0% Asian. TTE parameters of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and LV mass index differed by race/ethnicity, though no difference was seen in cardiac geometry.

Conclusion

The differences in TTE parameters may not be clinically significant as most values fall within normal clinical ranges. Further prospective studies are needed to better evaluate cardiac outcomes by differences in echocardiographic parameters in pregnancy.