bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expert-Based Ten-Year Forecast for Logging Machines and Systems in Sweden
Authors: Lundqvist Rikard , Lindroos Ola , Blagojević Boško
Published: January 2025

The forest sector is a significant contributor to Swedish society but requires continuous improvements in logging operations. Implementing innovations in operations is dependent on advances in other sectors, since forest machine manufacturers have only a fraction of the development capacity of, e.g., car or truck manufacturers. The aim of this study was to identify the most promising logging-machine systems, with different innovations, for implementation within ten years. The Delphi method was used to gather expert views on the importance of criteria in their decision making, their expectations regarding developments in external factors, and the most promising machine systems. Environmental and social criteria were ranked higher than economic criteria, but the rankings were relatively close. A future with greater and more stringent regulation was expected, but with scope to improve operations through technological developments such as automation and remote control. There was interest in new machine systems, but the established system dominated. Of the expected innovations, renewable energy sources were ranked highly, along with the automation of the work elements that are easiest to automate. The study provides stakeholders with a basis for decision making regarding which technologies to evaluate and test in the future.
Optimization of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors by a Structure-Based Multilevel Virtual Screening Method
Authors: Jing Lanlan , Zhao Fabao , Zheng Lin , Meng Bairu , Gao Shenghua , Laporte Manon , Jochmans Dirk , De Jonghe Steven , Neyts Johan , Zhan Peng , Kang Dongwei , Liu Xinyong
Published: January 2025

With the aim of developing novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs to address the ongoing evolution and emergence of drug-resistant strains, the reported SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor WU-04 was selected as a lead to find novel, highly potent, and broad-spectrum inhibitors. Using a fragment-based multilevel virtual screening strategy, 15 hit compounds were identified and subsequently synthesized. Among them, A5 (IC50 = 1.05 μM), A6 (IC50 = 1.08 μM), and A9 (IC50 = 0.154 μM) demonstrated potent SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibition comparable to or slightly weaker than WU-04. Antiviral activity evaluations revealed that compound A9 exhibited the strongest antiviral activity with an EC50 value of 0.18 μM, quite comparable to the marketed drug Nirmatrelvir (EC50 = 0.123 μM) and inferior to WU-04 (EC50 = 0.042 μM). Molecular dynamics simulations elucidated the key interactions between compounds A5, A6, A9, and the binding pocket of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, providing valuable insights into their mechanisms of action. These findings identify compound A9 as a promising lead for anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
Secukinumab for Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis in Real-World Clinical Practice in Spain: A Literature Review
Authors: Daudén Esteban , Ortiz-Salvador José María , Notario Jaime , Puig Lluís , Santos-Juanes Jorge , Herrera-Acosta Enrique , Gómez-Labrador Lara , Ruiz-Villaverde Ricardo
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Secukinumab was shown to be effective in treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients ≥6 years. Methods: A literature review was conducted to identify studies published in the preceding 5 years assessing the effectiveness and/or survival (safety in the second instance) associated with secukinumab treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with/without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in real-world clinical practice in Spain. Results: 11 references were included, corresponding to seven studies (six retrospective and one prospective) (n = 1050). Baseline characteristics were mean age 46.5–53.0 years; 28.7–55.0% women; 30.0–53.1% patients with PsA; 27.9–47.4% naïve to biologic treatments; mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score 12.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 6.9)–18.1 (SD: 10.3). PASI 90 response rates were 54–65% at Week 24 and 46–63% at Week 52; 43–47% of patients showed PASI ≤ 1 at Week 12 and 47–56% at Week 52. Treatment persistence at Week 52 was 72–89%, being 74.5% in the larger cohort series (n = 384) at 2 years. Adverse-event-related treatment discontinuation was rare. Conclusions: Secukinumab demonstrated long-term safety and efficacy in treating adult patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in actual clinical practice, with survival rates of up to two years and consistent efficacy in Spain.
Effect of Load Vector Orientation on Uniaxial Compressive Strength of 3D Photoresin
Authors: Kozhevnikov Evgenii , Turbakov Mikhail , Riabokon Evgenii , Ivanov Zakhar , Golosov Andrei , Panteleeva Arina , Savitsky Yan
Published: January 2025

Rapid prototyping has a wide range of applications across various fields, both in industry and for private use. It enables the production of individual parts in a short time, independent of supply chains, which is particularly important in remote locations. Among all 3D printing technologies, stereolithography using photo resins is the most accessible and offers the highest printing quality. However, the strength properties of parts made from photo resins remain a critical concern. In this study, we conducted experimental research to investigate the effect of load vector orientation under uniaxial compression on the elastic and mechanical properties of 3D-printed cylindrical samples. The results revealed that samples with layers oriented at 60° to the load vector exhibited the highest strength, while those with layers at 30° to the load vector showed the lowest strength. Samples with layers aligned parallel or perpendicular to the load vector demonstrated similar strength properties. Under quasi-elastic loading, samples with layers parallel to the load vector exhibited the highest Young’s modulus and the lowest Poisson’s ratio. Conversely, samples with layers oriented at 30° to the load vector displayed the highest Poisson’s ratio. Microstructural analysis revealed that the anisotropy in the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed samples is attributed to the layered, heterogeneous structure of the photoresin, which exhibits varying degrees of polymerization along the printing axes. The upper part of each layer, with a lower degree of polymerization, contributes to the ductile behavior of the samples under shear stresses. In contrast, the lower part of the layer, with a higher degree of polymerization, leads to brittle behavior in the samples.
An Analysis of the Effect of Cavitation on Rotor–Stator Interaction in a Bidirectional Bulb Tubular Pump
Authors: Zhou Yucheng , Duan Wenyong , Liu Haiyu , Yang Xiaodong , Hu Jing , Sun Dawang , Yan Shikai
Published: January 2025

This study delves into rotor–stator interaction within a bidirectional bulb tubular pump under cavitation conditions. Using pressure pulsation tests on a model pump and numerical simulations performed with ANSYS CFX software, we analyzed pressure pulsation and flow field data across three distinct flow rates and multiple cavitation numbers. Both time-domain and frequency-domain analyses were conducted to examine the patterns of pressure pulsation influenced by flow rates and cavitation numbers at various monitoring locations. A numerical flow field analysis further validated the findings. The results reveal that rotor–stator interaction manifests in the vaneless spaces of the pump during cavitation. The onset of cavitation alters the amplitudes of dominant frequencies at different flow rates. Near the guide vane and impeller, the dominant frequencies shift toward the impeller frequency and guide vane frequency, respectively. Under low-flow conditions, the rotor–stator interaction effect is more conspicuous due to the deteriorated flow pattern. Pressure pulsations are more strongly influenced in the front vaneless space (FVP) than in the rear vaneless space (RVP). This difference arises because the front guide vane destabilizes rather than stabilizes the flow pattern, worsening the rotor–stator interaction. Additionally, the FVP is less affected by the impeller than the RVP, further amplifying the influence of rotor–stator interaction on pressure pulsation. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for mitigating the effects of rotor–stator interaction on the operational stability and efficiency of bidirectional bulb tubular pumps.
ESG Performance and Corporate Governance—The Moderating Role of the Big Four Auditors
Authors: Handayati Puji , Tham Yeut Hong , Yuningsih Yuni , Sun Zhiyue , Nugroho Tatas Ridho , Rochayatun Sulis
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of corporate governance on ESG performance in large publicly listed firms in Indonesia from 2016 to 2023. The study adopts both stakeholder-agency theory and resource dependency theory to explore the relationship between sustainability assurance, board governance characteristics, and the extent of ESG performance. Fixed effects regression controlling both industry and year fixed effects is used to measure the relationship between sustainability assurance, corporate governance characteristics, and ESG performance. We find a positive significant relationship between assurance sustainability reports and ESG performance. Additionally, we also document a positive association between sustainability committees and ESG performance. Adopting the Big Four auditors as a moderating variable, we find a positive relationship between gender-diverse boards and firms audited by the Big Four auditors and sustainability performance. This result suggests that firms with gender-diverse boards audited by the Big Four auditors enhance sustainability performance. Additional robustness tests using GMM estimation, conducted to address endogeneity concerns, corroborated the main test results.
Cross-Provincial City-Regionalism in China: Evidence from Smart Planning and Integrated Governance of the Yangtze River Delta
Authors: Ge Tianren , Yu Yang , Zhong Xiaohua , Jiao Yongli
Published: January 2025

Taking the Demonstration Zone of Green and Integrated Ecological Development of the Yangtze River Delta as a case study, we find that city-regional development of the Yangtze River Delta has advanced to the fifth stage, so-called cross-provincial city-regional integrated development. The ongoing reform experiment in China presents a new model of city-regional development, which distinguishes itself from previous approaches used in both China and Europe/America. We propose a theoretical framework of cross-provincial city-regionalism from the two dimensions of smart planning and integrated governance. Based on the new framework, this article reveals how the top-down intervention of the central government has helped local governments break down the administrative barriers at the provincial level and stimulated them to participate in the cross-provincial coordinated development from the bottom up. The new framework alters the assumption and institutional logic of the traditional city-regionalism theory and extends its explanatory scope.
Physical Activity Types Among School-Aged Children During COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alghadier Mshari , Basuodan Reem M. , Gmmash Afnan , Albesher Reem A.
Published: January 2025

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic may have had long-lasting detrimental effects on children’s physical health. Previous studies have shown that children’s participation in physical activity (PA) declined during the pandemic. This study examined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA type selection and the influence of gender, number of siblings, residence type, and caregiver education level on PA. Methods: Parents of Saudi children (ages 6–9 years) were recruited through convenience sampling and completed an online survey between July and August 2020. The parent-reported survey included demographics and PA types across three time periods (pre-, during, and post-lockdown). Chi-squared tests and logistic regression with pairwise comparisons were used to analyze the differences. Results: Parents reported that children (n = 361, mean age 7.7 ± 1.1 years) selected different PA types pre-COVID-19 pandemic more often than during the COVID-19 lockdown, such as swimming (16.9% vs. 12.8%), high-intensity jumping (9.8% vs. 6.6%), cycling (12.8% vs. 9.6%), football (14.3% vs. 6.1%), running (9.3% vs. 5.5%), virtual gaming exercise (5% vs. 3.2%), and playground activity (11.3% vs. 5.8%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, PA type was shown to be influenced by gender and residence type, with girls being 55% more likely to be physically active during COVID-19 compared to boys, and participants living in houses without private yards being less physically active compared to those who lived in houses with private yards. Conclusions: Children’s gender (boy vs. girl) and residence type (with private yards vs. without private yards) affected their PA level during the COVID-19 lockdown. These findings suggest that more effort should be directed toward understanding the influence of gender and house types in the selection of PA types.
Textronic Sensors of Hazardous Gaseous Substances
Authors: Skrzetuska Ewa , Rzeźniczak Paulina , Błaszkowska Zuzanna , Ciszek Hubert , Kowalczyk Olga , Olecki Michał
Published: January 2025

Toxic materials are a threat in workplaces and the environment, as well as households. In them, gaseous substances are included, especially ones without any colour or fragrance, due to their non-detectability with the human senses. In this article, an attempt was made to find a solution for its detection in various conditions with the use of intelligent textiles. The approach was to perform modification on fifteen materials by screen printing using carbon nanotubes paste with expanded graphite and embroidery with stainless steel thread and then investigate their reaction with risky gases such as acetone, methanol and toluene. Four combinations of samples were tested: before tests, after the washing test and after the alkaline and acidic sweat contact test. Three materials can be highlighted. Para-aramid knitwear which reacted well to all tested gases. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was 144%. Screen-printed linen knitwear showed properly detecting skills after washing test for toluene. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was noted at 186%. The third most promising material was low surface mass cotton knitwear with embroidery which had a visible response at every stage of testing for acetone. The biggest value of sensory percentage response was 94% and the smallest one was 27%. For these three materials, repeated contact with harmful gases was tested. Simulations showed also repeated responses expressed in changes in surface resistance under changed conditions. After analysis, there is a possibility to create textile sensors for the detection of hazardous substances.
Application of Soft Grippers in the Field of Agricultural Harvesting: A Review
Authors: Zhang Daode , Zhang Wei , Yang Hualin , Yang Haibing
Published: January 2025

This review summarizes the important properties required for applying soft grippers to agricultural harvesting, focusing on their actuation methods and structural types. The purpose of the review is to address the challenges of limited load capacity and stiffness, which significantly hinder the broader application of soft grippers in agriculture. This paper examines the research progress on variable stiffness methods for soft grippers over the past five years. We categorize various variable stiffness techniques and analyze their advantages and disadvantages in enhancing load capacity, stiffness, dexterity, degree of integration, responsiveness, and energy consumption of soft grippers. The applicability and limitations of these techniques in the context of agricultural harvesting are also discussed. This paper concludes that combined material variable stiffness technology with a motor actuation claw structure in soft grippers is better suited for agricultural harvesting operations of woody crops (e.g., apples, citrus) and herbaceous crops (e.g., tomatoes, cucumbers) in unstructured environments.
Tracing the Origin of Oxide Inclusions in Vacuum Arc Remelted Steel Ingots Using Trace Element Profiles and Strontium Isotope Ratios
Authors: Walkner Christoph , Mukhametzianova Gulnaz , Wagner Stefan , Korp Jörg C. , Graf Andreas , Irrgeher Johanna , Meisel Thomas C. , Prohaska Thomas
Published: January 2025

Non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) in steel have a detrimental effect on the processing, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance of the finished product. This is particularly evident in the case of macroscopic inclusions (>100 µm), which are rarely observed in steel castings produced using state-of-the-art technologies, whereby casting parameters are optimized towards steel cleanliness, and post-treatment steps such as vacuum arc remelting (VAR) are used, but frequently result in the rejection of the affected product. To improve production processes and develop effective countermeasures, it is essential to gain a deeper understanding of the origin and formation of NMIs. In this study, the potential of elemental and isotopic fingerprinting to trace the sources of macroscopic oxide NMIs found in VAR-treated steel ingots using SEM-EDX, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS), and laser ablation multicollector ICP-MS (LA-MC-ICP-MS) were exploited. Following this approach, main and trace element content and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios were determined in two specimens of macroscopic NMIs, as well as in samples of potential source materials. The combination of the data allowed the drawing of conclusions about the processes leading to the formation of these inclusions. For both specimens, very similar results were obtained, indicating a common mechanism of formation. The inclusions were likely exogenous in origin and were primarily composed of calcium–aluminum oxides. They appeared to have undergone chemical modification during the casting and remelting process. The results indicate that particles from the refractory lining of the casting system most likely formed the macroscopic inclusions, possibly in conjunction with a second, calcium-rich material.
Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Profiles and Antioxidant Activity in the Leaves of Invasive Amelanchier × spicata (Lam.) K. Koch in Lithuania
Authors: Saunoriūtė Sandra , Zymonė Kristina , Marksa Mindaugas , Raudonė Lina
Published: January 2025

The environmental impact of invasive species necessitates creating a strategy for managing their spread by utilising them as a source of potentially high-value raw materials. Amelanchier × spicata (Lam.) K. Koch (dwarf serviceberry) is a shrub species in the Rosaceae Juss. family. The evaluation of different populations of plants that accumulate great amounts of biologically active compounds is requisite for the quality determination of plant materials and medicinal and nutritional products. The assessment of natural resources from a phytogeographic point of view is relevant. Phytochemical analysis of A. spicata leaf samples was carried out using spectrophotometric methods, HPLC-PDA, and HPLC-MS techniques, while antioxidant activity was determined using ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. A significant diversification of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity was determined in the A. spicata leaf samples collected in different habitats. Due to their characteristic chemical heterogeneity, natural habitats lead to the diversity of indicators characterising the quality of plant raw materials. Chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid, as well as quercitrin, rutin, and hyperoside, were found to be predominant among the phenolic compounds. Thus, these compounds can be considered phytochemical markers, characteristic of the A. spicata leaf material from northern Europe.
Superhydrophobic Coatings Based on PMMA-Siloxane-Silica and Modified Silica Nanoparticles Deposited on AA2024-T3
Authors: Kovač Nina , Kapun Barbara , Može Matic , Golobič Iztok , Kralj Slavko , Milošev Ingrid , Rodič Peter
Published: January 2025

The study aimed to develop a superhydrophobic coating on the aluminium alloy 2024-T3 surface. The desired surface roughness and low surface energy were achieved with SiO2 nanoparticles, synthesised via the Stöber method and modified with alkyl silane (AS) or perfluoroalkyl silane (FAS). To enhance particle adhesion to the alloy substrate, nanoparticles were incorporated into a hybrid sol–gel coating composed of tetraethyl orthosilicate, methyl methacrylate, and 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane. The coated substrates were characterised using field emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy for surface topography, nanoparticle size distribution, composition, and coating thickness. The corrosion resistance of the coatings on AA2024-T3 was evaluated in a 0.1 M NaCl solution using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The synthesised SiO2 nanoparticles had an average size between 25 and 35 nm. The water contact angles on coated aluminium surfaces reached 135° for SiO2 + AS and 151° for SiO2 + FAS. SiO2 + FAS, indicating superhydrophobic properties, showed the most uniform surface with the most consistent size distribution of the SiO2 nanoparticles. Incorporation of nanoparticles into the hybrid sol–gel coating further improved particle adhesion. The ~2 µm-thick coating also demonstrated efficient barrier properties, significantly enhancing corrosion resistance for over two months under the test conditions.
Expert Comment Generation Considering Sports Skill Level Using a Large Multimodal Model with Video and Spatial-Temporal Motion Features
Authors: Seino Tatsuki , Saito Naoki , Ogawa Takahiro , Asamizu Satoshi , Haseyama Miki
Published: January 2025

In sports training, personalized skill assessment and feedback are crucial for athletes to master complex movements and improve performance. However, existing research on skill transfer predominantly focuses on skill evaluation through video analysis, addressing only a single facet of the multifaceted process required for skill acquisition. Furthermore, in the limited studies that generate expert comments, the learner’s skill level is predetermined, and the spatial-temporal information of human movement is often overlooked. To address this issue, we propose a novel approach to generate skill-level-aware expert comments by leveraging a Large Multimodal Model (LMM) and spatial-temporal motion features. Our method employs a Spatial-Temporal Attention Graph Convolutional Network (STA-GCN) to extract motion features that encapsulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of human movement. The STA-GCN classifies skill levels based on these motion features. The classified skill levels, along with the extracted motion features (intermediate features from the STA-GCN) and the original sports video, are then fed into the LMM. This integration enables the generation of detailed, context-specific expert comments that offer actionable insights for performance improvement. Our contributions are twofold: (1) We incorporate skill level classification results as inputs to the LMM, ensuring that feedback is appropriately tailored to the learner’s skill level; and (2) We integrate motion features that capture spatial-temporal information into the LMM, enhancing its ability to generate feedback based on the learner’s specific actions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively generates expert comments, overcoming the limitations of existing methods and offering valuable guidance for athletes across various skill levels.
Manure Management as a Potential Mitigation Tool to Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Livestock Systems
Authors: Symeon George K. , Akamati Konstantina , Dotas Vassilios , Karatosidi Despoina , Bizelis Iosif , Laliotis George P.
Published: January 2025

Climate change is a contemporary global challenge that requires comprehensive solutions to mitigate its adverse effects. All human activities contribute to climate change, mainly through atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). While most of these emissions are primarily due to fossil fuel use, agriculture and livestock production also contribute to a significant share of approximately 12% of global emissions. Most processes that are implemented within an animal husbandry unit are associated with greenhouse gas emissions, including manure management. This review explores the interconnection between climate change and manure management practices, highlighting the potential for sustainable approaches to mitigating GHG emissions. The key strategies for manure management, such as anaerobic digestion, nutrient management, composting, manure separation and treatment, and improved storage and handling, are discussed, as they are implemented in different livestock production systems (ruminants, poultry, and pigs). Despite the technological progress, there is still a place for further improving manure management approaches, especially in non-ruminant species leading to a higher mitigation potential and a reduction in greenhouse gases emissions. Moreover, policy support and incentives for sustainable practices are crucial for widespread adoption.
Assessing the Impact of China’s Industry on Health: A Dynamic Three-Stage Bootstrap Model with an Endogenous Fuzzy Directional Distance Function
Authors: Pang Qinghua , Wei Xiaopeng , Zhang Lina , Shang Yanjie
Published: January 2025

Evaluating the industrial eco-system is essential for promoting resource efficiency, environmental development, and public health protection. However, traditional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methods are prone to biases and rely on precise numerical values, which pose significant challenges when evaluating the industrial ecosystem in China, particularly given the prevalent data uncertainties and environmental complexities. Additionally, DEA models are typically static, fail to capture the long-term trends and dynamic characteristics of the industrial ecosystem. To address these issues, this study proposes a dynamic three-stage model with an endogenous fuzzy directional distance function. The model integrates the generalized smooth bootstrap method and fuzzy comparison techniques to correct errors and account for data uncertainties, improving the accuracy and scientific validity of eco-efficiency assessments. Chinese enterprises face challenges such as excessive resource consumption, environmental pollution, and health risks, necessitating a more comprehensive and flexible evaluation system to adapt to the complex and dynamic nature of the industrial ecosystem. By focusing on industrial production, environmental governance, and health threats (IPEGHT) in China, the research aims to provide a robust framework for enhancing industrial eco-efficiency in a dynamic and uncertain environment. The results show: (1) The proposed method for selecting endogenous direction vectors is applied to the industrial production stage, thereby identifying the subsequent improvement directions for industrial production in various provinces. (2) The idea of integration is adopted to introduce the generalized smooth bootstrap method and fuzzy mathematics, to conduct a precise and comprehensive evaluation of the IPEGHT industrial eco-system. (3) From 2011 to 2021, China’s IPEGHT industrial eco-system efficiency showed a step-like distribution, and attention needs to be paid to environmental governance. The proposed method’ application can facilitate the integration of DEA and fuzzy mathematics, and fosters a more sustainable industrial eco-system.
A Symmetry-Inspired Hierarchical Control Strategy for Preventing Rollover in Articulated Rollers
Authors: Xu Quanzhi , Qiang Wei , Xie Hui
Published: January 2025

In off-road environments, the lateral rollover stability of articulated unmanned rollers (URs) is critical to ensure operational safety and efficiency. This paper introduces the concept of a rollover energy barrier (REB), a symmetry-based metric that quantifies the energy margin between the current state and the critical rollover threshold of articulated rollers. URs exhibit dynamic asymmetry due to their hydraulic steering systems, which differ significantly from traditional passenger vehicles. To address these challenges, we propose a hierarchical control framework inspired by the principles of dynamic symmetry. This framework integrates Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) and Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC): NMPC is used for trajectory planning by incorporating the REB into the cost function, ensuring rollover stability, while ADRC compensates for dynamic asymmetries, model uncertainties, and external disturbances during trajectory tracking. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in enhancing the rollover stability and tracking performance of the URs under off-road conditions.
Animal Models of Non-Respiratory, Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19
Authors: Vanderheiden Abigail , Diamond Michael S.
Published: January 2025

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) are a diverse set of symptoms and syndromes driven by dysfunction of multiple organ systems that can persist for years and negatively impact the quality of life for millions of individuals. We currently lack specific therapeutics for patients with PASC, due in part to an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis, especially for non-pulmonary sequelae. Here, we discuss three animal models that have been utilized to investigate PASC: non-human primates (NHPs), hamsters, and mice. We focus on neurological, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular PASC and highlight advances in mechanistic insight that have been made using these animal models, as well as discussing the sequelae that warrant continued and intensive research.
Recent Advances of Avian Viruses Research
Authors: Wang Chi-Young
Published: January 2025

The outbreaks of several epidemics caused by pathogenic avian viruses pose significant threats to the poultry industry [...]
A Survey of Wild Indigenous Cryptostylis ovata Orchid Populations in Western Australia Reveals Spillover of Exotic Viruses
Authors: Wylie Stephen , Li Hua , Koh Shu Hui
Published: January 2025

Cryptostylis ovata is a terrestrial orchid endemic to southwestern Australia. The virus status of C. ovata has not been studied. Eighty-three C. ovata samples from 16 populations were collected, and sequencing was used to identify RNA viruses from them. In one population, all tested plants were co-infected with isolates of the exotic-to-Australia viruses Ornithogalum mosaic virus (OrMV) and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). In another population, one plant was infected with BYMV. No viruses were detected in the remaining populations. The OrMV isolate shared 98–99% nucleotide identity with isolates identified from wild indigenous Lachenalia (Iridaceae) plants in South Africa. This suggests that the source of OrMV in C. ovata may be one or more bulbous iridaceous flowering plants of southern African origin that were introduced to Western Australia as ornamentals and that have since become invasive weeds. One BYMV isolate from C. ovata also exhibited 99% nucleotide identity with strains isolated from the exotic leguminous crop Lupinus angustifolius in Western Australia, suggesting possible spillover to indigenous species from this source. This study with C. ovata highlights the probable role of invasive weeds and exotic crops as sources of exotic virus spillovers to indigenous plants.
Reduction in DC-Link Capacitor Current by Phase Shifting Method for a Dual Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverters Dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors System
Authors: Şahin Deniz , Dağ Bülent
Published: January 2025

This paper presents a carrier waves phase shifting method to reduce the dc-link capacitor current for a dual three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system. Dc-link capacitors absorb the ripple current generated at the input due to the harmonics of the pulse width modulation (PWM). The size, cost, reliability, and lifetime of the dc-link capacitor are negatively affected by this ripple current flowing through it. The proposed method is especially appropriate for common dc-link capacitors for a dual inverter system driving two PMSMs. In this paper, the input current of each inverter is analyzed using Double Fourier Analysis, and the harmonic components of the dc-link capacitor current are determined. The carrier wave phase shifting method is proposed to reduce the magnitude of the harmonics and thus reduce the dc-link capacitor current. Furthermore, the optimum angle between the carrier waves for the maximum reduction in the dc-link capacitor current is analyzed and simulated for different scenarios considering the speed and load torque of the PMSMs. The proposed method is verified through experiments and PMSMs are driven by three-phase voltage source inverters (VSIs) modulated with Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM), which is the most common PWM strategy. The proposed method reduces the dc-link capacitor current by 60%, thereby significantly decreasing the required dc-link capacitance, the volume of the drive system, and its cost.
Research on Battery Electric Vehicles’ DC Fast Charging Noise Emissions: Proposals to Reduce Environmental Noise Caused by Fast Charging Stations
Authors: Clar-Garcia David , Campello-Vicente Hector , Fabra-Rodriguez Miguel , Velasco-Sanchez Emilio
Published: January 2025

The potential of electric vehicles (EVs) to support the decarbonization of the transportation sector, crucial for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, is obvious. Despite their advantages, the adoption of electric vehicles faces limitations, particularly those related to battery range and charging times, which significantly impact the time needed for a trip compared to their combustion engine counterparts. However, recent improvements in fast charging technology have enhanced these aspects, making EVs more suitable for both daily and long-distance trips. EVs can now deal with long trips, with travel times only slightly longer than those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Fast charging capabilities and infrastructure, such as 350 kW chargers, are essential for making EV travel times comparable to ICE vehicles, with brief stops every 2–3 h. Additionally, EVs help reduce noise pollution in urban areas, especially in noise-saturated environments, contributing to an overall decrease in urban sound levels. However, this research highlights a downside of DC (Direct Current) fast charging stations: high-frequency noise emissions during fast charging, which can disturb nearby residents, especially in urban and residential areas. This noise, a result of the growing fast charging infrastructure, has led to complaints and even operational restrictions for some charging stations. Noise-related disturbances are a significant urban issue. The World Health Organization identifies noise as a key contributor to health burdens in Europe, even when noise annoyance is subjective, influenced by individual factors like sensitivity, genetics, and lifestyle, as well as by the specific environment. This paper analyzes the sound emission of a broad sample of DC fast charging stations from leading EU market brands. The goal is to provide tools that assist manufacturers, installers, and operators of rapid charging stations in mitigating the aforementioned sound emissions in order to align these infrastructures with Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 11 adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015.
An Option or Necessity: Can the ‘Informal’ and ‘Formal’ Co-Exist Within Higher Education?
Authors: Jones Ian
Published: January 2025

In further understanding the importance of the informal/formal nexus, it is posited that they can co-exist, as explained in the case description example of a Youth Professional Practitioner Network (YPPN). It posits the influence of ‘informal education’ that creates the opportunity for value-based notions such as respect in enabling individuals to form trusting relationships. Through such relationships, the possibility of a ‘community of practice’ is formed. Such notions are argued to be inherent within the YPPN. In presenting such discussions in the exploration of this question, it poses the argument that it is possible and is more of a necessity.
The Effect of Surface Machining on he Efficiency of Laser Surface Treatment
Authors: Mészáros Béla , Fábián Enikő Réka
Published: January 2025

Laser surface treatment is increasingly used for surface hardening. In this series of experiments we studied
the milling groove design effect on laser hardened surfaces at 42CrMo4 steel after corresponding laser parameters. Milled grooves of 0.25 mm, 0.50 mm and 0.75 mm depth were studied. The used diode laser and its
set parameters had the same focus distance in all cases; however, the power and travel speed of the laser light
were changed according to the previously developed experimental plan. Higher laser heat input resulted in a
deeper hardened zone. The 45° V-profile milling, and hence the 45° angles of incidence of the laser beam increased the thickness of the hardened layer. The deepest hardened layers were formed at the highest specific
heat input and at the deepest grooves.
Анализ переведенных на арабский язык западных комиксов на примере журнала «Микки»
Authors: Козлова Е.Н. , Ахматшина Э.К. , Никонов С.Б.
Published: January 2025

Комиксы как вид креолизированного текста довольно часто могут быть маркером эпохи. Отражение того или иного исторического периода может проявляться в креолизированном тексте как явно, так и более скрыто. Например, это может быть карикатура, указывающая на коррупцию в той или иной стране и тем самым демонстрирующая конкретную проблему. Наравне с этим исследователь может обратить снимание на такие детали как язык написанного на плакате или в рекламе текста, который может многое сказать о курсе проводимой властями политики внутри государства. Таким образом, в частности комиксы представляют огромный интерес для историков, так как наравне с другими видами креолизированного текста являются и в прямом, и и переносном смысле иллюстрацией того или иного периода.

Comics as a type of creolized text can often be a marker of an era. The reflection of a particular historical period can be manifested in a creolized text both explicitly and more implicitly. For example, it can be a caricature pointing to corruption in a particular country and thereby demonstrating a specific problem. Along with this, the researcher can pay attention to such details as the language of the text written on a poster or in an advertisement, which can say a lot about the course of the policy pursued by the authorities within the state. Thus, in particular, comics are of great interest to historians, since along with other types of creolized text they are both literally and figuratively an illustration of a particular period.
A Proposed Training Program to Develop Designing Skills of Presentation slides among Faculty Members at Shaqra University in Light of Quality Standards
Authors: Al- Jar Thuraya
Published: January 2025

This study aims at identifying the needs of faculty members at Shaqra University in the field of designing presentation slides for teaching purposes, creating standards for designing presentation slides, and proposing a training program to develop their skills in this field. The study sample included (142) presentations prepared and designed by faculty members at Shaqra University. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a was designed consisting of (47) paragraphs distributed on two main axes: presentation design, and design of basic presentation slides. The numerical rating scale encompassed seven domains: basic slides (6 items), content organization (12 items), backgrounds (3 items), fonts (4 items), colors (6 items), text (12 items), and audiovisual media (4 items). The results showed that faculty members need to develop their skills in the field of designing presentation slides in all areas. A training program has been proposed to meet their needs of designing presentation slides. Based on the results, the study recommends developing programs to qualify faculty members in Saudi universities in using modern educational technologies and conducting an experimental study to measure the effectiveness of the proposed program.
The Quality of Accounting Education in the Iraqi Environment – Reality and Aspirations
Authors: Suwaid Mustafa , Abdullhameed Marwan
Published: January 2025

This research aims to evaluate the status of accounting education quality in Iraq and highlight its most prominent defects. This research also aims to introduce some suggestions that would enhance the quality of accounting education and to reduce the gap between the current status and the International Accounting Education Standards (IAES). A questionnaire was developed to achieve the objectives of this study and distributed to a sample of 114 academic staff members from accounting departments across various public and private universities. The participants provided their perspectives on the state of scientific, practical, and technical qualifications, the financial resources and equipment available in these departments, as well as their views on the recommendations proposed in this research. The research concluded that the quality of accounting education in Iraq is average at its best, as the statistical analysis revealed that the level of academic qualification for students of accounting departments was slightly higher than the arithmetic mean (3.21), while the level of practical and technical qualification as well as the financial capabilities and equipment were low, as the general arithmetic mean for these axes was 2.97 and 2.96, respectively. It also showed that the proposed suggestions can help in enhancing the quality of accounting education and preparing a generation of graduates with the required professional skills necessary to enter the labor market
Appropriate Question Patterns for Assessing Student Learning and Their Impact on The Quality Of Distance Learning
(From The Perspective of Faculty Members in Higher Education Institutions)
Authors: Aaraj Yahya
Published: January 2025

: This study examines the appropriate question patterns for evaluating student learning and their impact on the quality of distance education. The descriptive analytical method was used, and the study sample consisted of (54) faculty members in higher education institutions through the purposive sampling method on a group that has the information needed for the study. The study found that all the sub-hypotheses arising from the main hypothesis are valid and that there is a statistically significant effect on the evaluation methods consisting of (open book questions, electronic questions) on the quality of distance education from the perspective of faculty members in higher education institutions under study. The first sub-hypothesis was accepted, where 15.2% of the variations in the dependent variable (quality of distance education) were recorded, explained by the variation in the independent variable (open book questions). The second sub-hypothesis was also accepted, where 24.0% of the variations in the dependent variable (quality of distance education) were recorded, explained by the variation in the independent variable (electronic questions). The study recommended the need to emphasize the development and updating of educational curricula for academic programs that are compatible with evaluation patterns, which enhances their role in improving the quality of distance education. The study also recommended expanding the use of different evaluation patterns for student learning with a focus on electronic questions due to their ease, flexibility, and diverse options.
Language attitudes in the EFL classroom. Changing learners’ attitudes towards non-native-accented English through a teaching experiment
Authors: Püski Gyöngyi
Published: January 2025

While most language attitude studies focus on theoretical insights related to non-native speakers’ preference for native accents, the present study aims to contribute to the less widely researched field of utilizing the findings of language attitude studies in the EFL classroom. The main goal of the investigation was to change Hungarian EFL learners’ attitudes towards their own and others’ non-native accent through a teaching experiment. The participants of the investigation were twelve 10th-grade high school students (ages 15-16, eight female and four male students), and a control group of 10 tenth-grade EFL students from the same year and school (ages 15-16, six female and four male students). The target group took part in a teaching experiment focusing on the formation of more positive attitudes towards other speakers’ and their own non-native accent in English through familiarizing students with several native and non-native, dominant and non-dominant, standard and non-standard varieties of English. The 13 classes (comprising 4 introductory and 9 experimental sessions) took place through the course of two and a half months, and involved 60-minute sessions once or twice a week. The participants’ responses were collected through a pre- and a post-test to see the potential changes after the teaching experiment, and a delayed post-test three months after the end of the experiment to measure how long-lasting the potential changes are. The questionnaires contained 5-point Likert-type rating scales (and a few open-ended questions, which are beyond the scope of the present paper), and comprised three sections: ‘attitudes and motivation’, ‘perfectionism’, and ‘willingness to communicate’. While the main aim of the investigation was attitude formation, attitudes might be influenced by the participants’ predisposition to perfectionism, driving them to consider only native English as ‘perfect’, which called for testing the participants’ perfectionism, as well. The participants’ willingness to communicate was also not directly targeted by the experiment, rather, it was tested as a potential consequence of attitude change. The results show a significant increase in the participants ‘attitudes and motivation’ scores on both the post-, and the delayed post-test compared to the pre-test, suggesting that the teaching experiment achieved its main goal. However, a significant decrease was shown between the scores of the post- and the delayed post-test, indicating that longer-term results may be reached by expanding the teaching period to last a whole school-year or conducting repeated teaching periods throughout the year. The participants’ ‘perfectionism’ and ‘willingness to communicate’ scores did not show a significant change after the intervention, but the correlations between the results of the three sections of the questionnaire suggest a relationship between the three areas.