bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Varicose Veins Among Security Guards - A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Chaya A. M. , Sharma Shree Hari , Vinayaka A. M.
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Varicose veins, a prevalent vascular disorder characterized by enlarged and twisted veins, primarily occur in the legs and can cause discomfort, pain, and complications if untreated. Occupations involving prolonged standing or sitting, such as security guards, heighten the risk of developing varicose veins. This study investigates the prevalence of varicose veins among security guards and examines contributing factors such as age, sex, years of experience, and jobrelated activities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified random sampling to select security guards across various age and experience groups. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and clinical examinations. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including chi-square tests and logistic regression, were performed using SPSS software to explore associations between demographic/job-related factors and varicose vein prevalence. Results: The study included 100 security guards (81 males, and 19 females). The prevalence of varicose veins was approximately 15%. The age distribution was relatively even, with the majority aged 41-50 years. Experience levels varied, with most guards having 1-5 years of experience. Factors significantly associated with varicose vein prevalence included prolonged standing and sitting, with males showing a slightly higher prevalence than females. Discussion: The findings highlight a notable prevalence of varicose veins among security guards, emphasizing the role of occupational factors. Comparisons with existing literature reveal that while varicose veins are generally more common in women, the higher prevalence in male security guards underscores the need for targeted occupational health strategies. Interventions such as regular breaks, ergonomic adjustments, and compression stockings are recommended to mitigate risks. Conclusion: Varicose veins are prevalent among security guards, influenced by occupational factors like prolonged static postures. Addressing these risks through targeted interventions can improve vascular health and overall well-being in this highrisk occupational group. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to establish causality and explore gender differences in greater detail.
Comportamento sedentário e fatores associados em adolescentes do sul do Brasil
Authors: Stangherlin Luana , Schäfer Antônio Augusto , Quadra Micaela Rabelo , Meller Fernanda de Oliveira
Published: October 2024

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o comportamento sedentário e seus fatores associados em adolescentes. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado com adolescentes escolares de Criciúma, Santa Catarina. O comportamento sedentário foi avaliado através do tempo de tela, onde aqueles com tempo de tela maior que duas horas por dia foram classificados como tendo comportamento sedentário. Para avaliar a associação entre as variáveis independentes (sexo, idade, cor da pele, série escolar, excesso de peso e atividade física) e o comportamento sedentário foi utilizado os testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson e Exato de Fisher, com nível de significância de 5%. Participaram do estudo 77 escolares e 61% apresentou comportamento sedentário. A maioria era do sexo feminino (51,9%), possuía cor da pele branca (72,7%), tinha entre 10 e 12 anos (66,2%) e estava no 8º ano escolar (33,7%). A grande maioria (93,5%) não praticava atividade física e 46,7% estava acima do peso. Maior prevalência de comportamento sedentário foi encontrada entre os adolescentes com excesso de peso (p=0,003) e entre os adolescentes que cursavam os anos escolares mais avançados (8º e 9º ano) (p=0,017). As demais variáveis não demonstraram associação. A elevada prevalência de comportamento sedentário entre os escolares estudados e as associações encontradas, enfatizam a necessidade de ações e estratégias de promoção de saúde voltadas ao público adolescente, passíveis de serem realizadas no próprio ambiente escolar.
Wprowadzenie. Rodzina w perspektywie badań biograficznych
Authors: Wąsiński Arkadiusz , Sztobryn-Bochomulska Justyna
Published: October 2024

Badania biograficzne w naukach społecznych zyskały w ostatnich dekadach istotne znaczenie w analizie przemian struktury i funkcjonowania współczesnej rodziny. Badania te pozwalają na głębsze zrozumienie, jak indywidualne historie życia członków rodziny splatają się, tworząc wspólną narrację, która kształtuje tożsamość wspólnoty rodzinnej oraz jakość doświadczania współobecności jej członków. W Polsce takie podejście badawcze jest intensywnie rozwijane przez różne ośrodki naukowe. W tekście poddaliśmy analizie zakres tematyczny tomu, który ogniskuje się wokół problematyki rodziny jako dynamicznego systemu społeczno-kulturowego, gdzie codzienne doświadczenia członków tworzą unikalną wspólnotę. Zwróciliśmy uwagę na wielokontekstowość ujęć przedmiotowej problematyki w zaprezentowanych artykułach, takich jak przekaz międzypokoleniowy, doświadczenia rodzicielstwa oraz rola komunikacji w rodzinie. Odnoszą się one do różnych doświadczeń wpływających na kształtowanie tożsamości członków rodziny.
Storytelling o rodzinie w polskim rapie
Authors: Pryszmont Martyna
Published: October 2024

Rodzina jest jednym z ważniejszych tematów obecnych w muzyce rap. Odnoszenie się do niej jest istotnym elementem melorecytowanych przez raperów historii, często inspirowanych własnym doświadczeniem życiowym. W swojej analizie autorka skoncentrowała się na poszukiwaniu odpowiedzi na następujące pytania: Jaki obraz rodziny przywołują raperzy odnosząc się do: nawiązywanych przez członków relacji, obecności rodziców/opiekunów, wartości i trudności rodzinnych? Jakie jest znaczenie refleksji raperów nad rodziną w perspektywie teorii biograficznego uczenia się? W jakim sensie opowiadane przez raperów historie wpisują się w storytelling? Wnioski i refleksje z badań ukazują, iż przywoływany przez raperów obraz rodziny posiada dwa różne oblicza: 1) dotyczący przeszłości – odnosi się do okresu dzieciństwa i dojrzewania, jest przepełniony samotnością, bólem z powodu braku prawidłowo funkcjonującej rodziny, w której cytowani artyści mogliby znaleźć wparcie i miłość; 2) teraźniejszy – to rodzina, którą budują samodzielnie z wiarą i nadzieją w przyszłość, doświadczają bliskości, bezpieczeństwa, oparcia budowanych na tych fundamentach zdrowych relacji.
The Bulgarian State in 927-969. The Epoch of Tsar Peter I
Authors: Brzozowska Zofia A. , Hrissimov Nikolay , Nikolov Georgi N. , Wolski Jan M. , Nikolov Angel , Kaymakamova Miliana
Published: October 2024

Tsar Peter (927-969), the book’s protagonist, is all too frequently presented in modern scholarship as a weak ruler, devoid of any grander political aspirations, focused on religious matters, indeed – pious, but neglecting the vital interests of his subjects. It was said that during his reign both his court and state became Byzantinised, that the central authority was completely helpless in the face of Hungarian raids, and saw the spread of the Bogomilist heresy. According to the Tsar’s critics, it was as a result of his ineffectual rule that Boris II, his son and successor, was unable to defend Bulgaria’s sovereignty in 971.
This book – the first monograph in world literature devoted to Peter – was written by Bulgarian (Miliana Kaymakamova, Georgi N. Nikolov, Angel Nikolov, Nikolay Hrissimov) and Polish medievalists (Miroslaw J. Leszka, Kirił Marinow, Zofia A. Brzozowska Jan M. Wolski). Thanks to a thorough analysis of the sources and an in-depth knowledge of the literature of the subject, they constructed a comprehensive and balanced image of the reign of their protagonist, and of the role he played in the history of mediaeval Bulgaria.
 
The research project financed by the National Science Centre. Decision number: DEC-2014/14/M/HS3/00758
The Potential Impacts of Assisted Reproductive Techniques in Camel Development and Future Prospects: A Review
Authors: Mohammed A.A. , Alshaibani N.
Published: October 2024

Dromedaries can be integrated efficiently into an extensive and intensive management systems for producing meat and milk, which necessitates application of assisted reproductive techniques for productive improvement. Different assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) were applied in camels including artificial insemination (AI), in vitro embryo production, oocytes and embryo cryopreservation, embryo transfer and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) as well. The articles concerning ARTs application in camels were used for writing the manuscript and they were collected from google scholar, ScienceDirect, elsevier databases. The success of assisted reproductive techniques in camel species is limited compared to ruminants. The success of AI in camel is low due to differences in superovulation protocols and thick viscous consistency of seminal plasma, which immobilizes the sperm. The superovulation protocols were given variable results according to species and nutritive regimes. The oocyte maturation lasts 44-48 hours, which compromises the developmental competence of the resulting embryos. The resulting embryos were transferred to recipient females or cryopreserved. Furthermore, the germinal vesicle or MII matured oocytes could be used for camel somatic cell nuclear transfer and stem production. It could be concluded that ARTs protocols could be used for improvement of productive and reproductive performances.
Teleology and Self-Regulation of Law
Authors: Shigabutdinova A. L.
Published: October 2024

The paper discusses the self-regulation of law as one of its systemic inherent manifestations. Such problem statement enables the researcher to explain the mechanism that ensures the specific quality of objective law. Studying the self–regulation of law involves identifying what the inherent qualitative state of law dwells on – whether it is spontaneous or controlled from the outside.

   The purpose of the study is to view the methodological possibility of applying a synergetic model of self-regulation to law.

   This model describes spontaneous formation or change of structure in open, unstable and nonlinear systems. The Author associates the specifics of self-regulation of law with its teleological nature. The paper highlights the two aspects of teleological character of law: the purpose of its emergence and the purpose of its qualitative variety. On the one hand, law, emerging to serve a specific purpose, does not exist as an independent and self-sufficient entity, but as a specialized means of a particular purpose. On the other hand, law is a functioning system based on purpose and expediency. The quality of the system is always specific and adapts in order to achieve the set social goals. The paper proves that the teleological nature of law excludes self-regulation properties viewed synergetically, which implies the spontaneous activity of the system. The study shows that the processes taking place in law are characterized not by internal, spontaneous, but by external determination. The sequence and content of these processes is controlled from the outside by the purposeful activity of the law-creating subject and is subject to the general logic of the purpose of law. Considering law as a human-organized and controlled system; nevertheless, the Author proves that it has selfregulation properties. The self-regulation of law in the paper is viewed as one of the specific ways of preserving and reproducing its integral characteristics. According to the Author, the self-regulatory properties of law are reduced to its “self-adjustment”, which is not spontaneous, but deliberately set by a human to achieve appropriate goals. The mechanism of such “self-adjustment” is based on a set of adaptive legal means and specific connections that provide integrity, quality and functionality of law regardless of external conditions.
Mediation as a Form of Restorative Justice
Authors: Galennikov L. S. , Derishev Yu. V.
Published: October 2024

The relevance of the proposed study is due to the existing problems of the institution of conciliation in the criminal proceedings of the Russian Federation.

   At the same time, no detailed legal regulation of the conciliation mechanism in the CPC of the Russian Federation significantly reduces the effectiveness of law enforcement through using alternatives to criminal prosecution. As a result, there is a need to find new effective ways to resolve criminal law disputes allowing for the full restoration of the rights of victims of crime. One of these methods is mediation procedure, which contributes to resolving criminal law conflicts in an extremely constructive and mutually beneficial way for both sides of the dispute with the help of an independent third party (mediator). This procedure is reflected in the concept of restorative justice.

   The purpose of the study is to determine the theoretical background of the institution of conciliation in criminal proceedings on the basis of a historical, legal and comparative analysis of its procedures, as well as to identify the issues related to law enforcement. In this regard, the proposed paper examines a well-established mechanism for the settlement of criminal law conflicts in western legal systems.

   This mechanism provides for a special subject of conciliation – a mediator possessing professionalism, independence and impartiality. The paper substantiates the reason of introducing the institution of mediation into domestic criminal proceedings, proposes its functional and legal model providing for a range of crimes with possible conciliation, the stages of its implementation, as well as requirements for mediators as candidates. The paper extensively uses comparative legal method helping to determine the prerequisites for introducing the institute of mediation in the Russian criminal procedure legislation as an independent form of resolution of criminal law conflicts. The Authors come to the following conclusions: It is advisable to update the provision of Article 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation and codify the concept of mediation as “a way to resolve a criminal conflict used with the voluntary consent of the victim and the offender with the help of an impartial third party” and the conditions for its application. It is necessary to legislate a new impartial and independent party in criminal proceedings – a mediator who will act as a third party in the mediation, exclusively on a professional basis. Moreover, the Federal Law “On Alternative Dispute Settlement with the Help of Mediator (Mediation)” dated July 27, 2010 No. 193-FZ needs to be edited in terms of extending mediation to criminal law relations, which will allow conflicting parties to resort to this procedure. In particular, amendments to this law should concern the requirements of a professional mediator, including those involved in criminal proceedings.
Optimasi Gliserin dan Propilen Glikol dalam Sediaan Antioksidan Essence Ekstrak Kayu Secang (Caesalpinia sappan L.)
Authors: Ameliana Lidya , Winarti Lina , Roja Talidah Alqibtiyah
Published: October 2024

Facial skin problems are often caused by skin frequently exposed to free radicals, causing damage to skin cells. Usually, skin damage is characterized by a non-smooth skin structure, the appearance of dark spots, wrinkled skin, and dull skin. Antioxidants are one of the compounds that can protect cells from the influence of free radicals and slow down or prevent the oxidation process. To help reduce, stop, and slow down the adverse effects of free radical exposure, antioxidant essence preparations are used. In this study, glycerin and propylene glycol have been optimized in the preparation of sappan wood extract essence as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimum concentration of glycerin and propylene glycol as a humectant in the essence preparation of sappan wood extract. In this study, the evaluation carried out includes pH tests, viscosity, and IC 50 antioxidant activity. In this study, essence characterization tests were also carried out including organoleptics, homogeneity, and dispersibility. From the results of the pH test, it was found that all essence formulas had a pH in the range of 5.5-6.0; viscosity in the range of 1.0-2.0 dPa.s; and IC50 test of antioxidant activity in the range of 100-125 μg/mL. The optimum essence formula has a propylene glycol concentration of 10% with a desirability of 0.871, with a predicted pH value of 5.658, a viscosity value of 1.256 dPa.s, and an IC50 value of 106.473 (μg/mL).
Baricitinib for the treatment of COVID-19
Authors: Firdha Aprillia Wardhani  , Syafika Devina Sarah , Kusumaningrum Yunita Dyah , Adelia Firandi
Published: October 2024

Baricitinib which is one of the therapies for rheumatoid arthritis is a JAK inhibitor. WHO recommended therapy with the combination of baricitinib and corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients with severe or critical condition. Effectivity and safety assessment of Baricitinib use were carried out by reviewing the literature published between December 2019 – February 2022, and showed that the use of Baricitinib in COVID-19 patients resulted in an improvement of lung function, improvement of oxygen saturation, higher recovery rate, and lower mortality, with similar adverse event incidence. A loading dose or a higher dose can be recommended for patient with caution and consideration of higher possibility in the incidence of adverse events
Stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators for skin therapeutics and beyond
Authors: Du Ningjie , Fan Yunlong , Huang Hao , Guan Yixin , Nan Kewang
Published: October 2024

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are innovative soft materials that have garnered significant attention in recent years. These hydrogels can undergo phase transitions or structural changes in response to external stimuli, offering considerable potential for use as actuators. They can effectively be used for drug delivery and disease treatment by responding flexibly to a variety of stimuli. This paper first categorizes the types of external stimuli that hydrogel actuators respond to and outlines their applications in skin therapeutics. It then reviews therapeutic potentials of hydrogel actuators beyond the skin, and discusses the challenges and future prospects for the development of stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators.
IoT-Based Door Security System as A Countermeasure and Theft Prevention
Authors: Raditya Koesyan Dipo Pramukti  , Pradana Afu Ichsan , Susanto Rudi
Published: October 2024

A security system is very necessary when creating a system. One of them is a door lock system. There are several security systems that can be used when creating an automatic door locking system, namely using alarms and application notifications. A good security system also requires how quickly the tool or system works to give signs that someone is breaking in. By applying IoT (Internet of Things) and also the ESP32 microcontroller, we can monitor an event in real-time. With IoT-based security systems, the system can continuously operate with just stable internet and electricity. The ESP32 microcontroller is also widely used in IoT projects due to its ease of operation and affordable price. An alarm that is responsive can help us prevent criminal activities. An alarm functions to alert us of something or a situation. By combining the concepts of the ESP32 microcontroller and alarm notifications in the form of messages on Telegram, we can create a reliable system. This becomes an effective solution for securing properties and the safety of its occupants.
Mapping of Food Crop Commodity Production Areas in Indonesia Using The Average Linkage Method
Authors: Priandoko Hery , Alva Hendi Muhammad  , Anggit Dwi Hartanto
Published: October 2024

Indonesia consists of several regions that have the potential to meet food needs. One of the main sectors that meet food needs is the agricultural sector. The agricultural sector is a sector that needs significant attention from the central and regional governments in meeting national food needs. Food needs are currently often scarce so people find it difficult to obtain these food needs. The problem of dependence on food needs can endanger the availability of the country's food supply. Importing food crop commodities is one solution to maintaining food availability in Indonesia. Imports of food crop commodities carried out by Indonesia show that the amount of food commodity availability cannot meet national food needs. In Indonesia, some regions have food crop commodity production so that they can help in the availability of these food needs. From the existing problems, researchers tried to conduct research by mapping the regions or areas in Indonesia to find out which regions have food crop commodity production. In this study, the mapping that will be used is using the hierarchical cluster method. The hierarchical cluster method that will be used is the agglomerative hierarchical cluster method with the average linkage method. The results of this study will be formed into 3 clusters with the following details: high cluster, medium cluster, and low cluster. The highest cluster obtained 2 members, namely the Provinces of East Java and Central Java. The Medium Cluster obtained 1 member, namely the Province of West Java. The Low Cluster obtained 31 members, namely the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, DKI Jakarta, DI. Yogyakarta, Banten, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, West Papua, and Papua.
Classification of Mental Disorders Using Modified Balanced Random Forest And Feature Selection
Authors: Arsad  , Muhammad Alva Hendi , Hidayat Tonny
Published: October 2024

This study employs the Modified Balanced Random Forest (MBRF) algorithm and Correlation-based Feature Selector (CfsSubsetEval) for mental disorder classification. The "Mental Disorder Classification" dataset from Kaggle was used with the aim of improving accuracy, evaluating feature selection, and assessing MBRF's performance in handling data imbalance. The study compares the performance of Random Forest (RF) and MBRF, and examines the impact of feature selection using CFS on mental disorder classification. The results indicate that MBRF outperforms RF with an 8.33% improvement in accuracy, 8.61% in precision, 8.33% in recall, and 9.08% in F1-Score. Additionally, the comparison between MBRF and MBRF with CFS reveals that while accuracy and recall remain the same, MBRF achieves 0.23% higher precision and 0.81% higher F1-Score than MBRF with CFS. In conclusion, the use of MBRF proves to be superior to the standard RF in addressing data imbalance for mental disorder classification, significantly improving accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score. However, feature selection with CFS does not significantly enhance performance. While accuracy and recall remain unchanged, MBRF without CFS demonstrates higher precision and F1-Score, indicating that the model performs better without feature selection in maintaining the balance between precision and recall.
Usability Evaluation of i-Saku Mobile Application Using Usability Testing Method With PACMAD Model
Authors: Wijaya Charvia Cipta
Published: October 2024

The i-saku application is a digital wallet or money app published by PT Inti Dunia Sukses and used for transactions at Indomaret. Currently, the i-saku app has a low rating and many negative user reviews on the Google Play Store. In this study, the PACMAD model was used to test seven usability attributes: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Satisfaction, Learnability, Memorability, Error, and Cognitive Load. Data was collected through three techniques: Performance Measurement, System Usability Scale (SUS), and Retrospective Think Aloud (RTA). The research findings showed an effectiveness rate of 85.33% for the i-saku app, an efficiency rate of 0.04398689 goals/second, a satisfaction rate of 43, good learnability and memorability levels, an error rate of 0.026, and 26 complaints regarding cognitive load. This study provides information on the usability evaluation of the i-saku app using the PACMAD model and offers suggestions for improvement based on the findings
Study of pesticide-use pathways during the agroecological transition of DEPHY-Vigne farms
Authors: Fouillet Esther , Delière Laurent , Chartier Nicolas , Cortel Sébastien , Flori Albert , Rapidel Bruno , Merot Anne
Published: October 2024

Created in 2010, the DEPHY-Vigne network is formed of winegrowers who are committed to reducing the use of pesticides, and thus aims to demonstrate that such a change is possible using currently available techniques. The DEPHY-Vigne network showed an average reduction in pesticide use of 32 % over 10 years, with high inter- and intra-annual variability indicating a wide range of pesticide reduction pathways (Fouillet et al., 2022).
Self-Replicating Alphaviruses: From Pathogens to Therapeutic Agents
Authors: Lundstrom Kenneth
Published: October 2024

Alphaviruses are known for being model viruses for studying cellular functions related to viral infection but also for causing epidemics in different parts of the world. More recently, alphavirus-based expression systems have demonstrated efficacy as vaccines against infectious diseases and as therapeutic applications for different cancers. The self-replicating feature of alphaviruses has provided the advantage of extremely high transgene expression of vaccine-related antigens and therapeutic anti-tumor and immunostimulatory genes, which has also permitted significantly reduced doses for prophylactic and therapeutic applications potentially reducing adverse events. Furthermore, alphaviruses have shown favorable flexibility as they can be delivered as recombinant viral particles, RNA replicons or DNA replicon-based plasmids. In the context of infectious diseases robust immune responses against the surface proteins of target agents have been observed and protection against challenges with lethal doses of infectious agents in rodents and primates. Similarly, expression of anti-tumor genes and immunostimulatory genes from alphavirus vectors has provided tumor growth inhibition, tumor regression and cure in animal cancer models. Moreover, protection against tumor challenges has been observed. In clinical settings, clinical benefits have been reported. Alphaviruses have also been considered for the treatment of neurological disorders due to their neurotrophic preference. Attention has been paid to alphavirus vector and expression system improvement. Point mutations in the non-structural alphaviral replicase genes have generated enhanced transgene expression and created temperature-sensitive expression vectors. The recently engineered trans-amplifying RNA system has facilitated vector production and enhanced the expression capacity.
Lumbar Facet Joint Disease: What, Why and When?
Authors: Van Oosterwyck Wout , Vander Cruyssen Pieter , Castille Frédéric , Van de Kelft Erik , Decaigny Veronique
Published: October 2024

Low back pain (LBP) affects over 60% of individuals in their lifetime and is a leading cause of disability and increased healthcare expenditure. Facet joint pain (FJP) occurs in 27% to 40% of LBP patients but is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Additionally, there is no clear correlation between clinical examination, radiological findings, and clinical presentation, com-plicating the diagnosis and treatment of FJP. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding facet joint pain and discusses the utility of medial branch blocks (MBBs) and intra-articular (IA) injections as diag-nostic and therapeutic tools prior to radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA is considered the gold standard for managing FJP, employing techniques that include precise needle placement and stimulation parameters to disrupt pain signals. Promising alternatives such as cooled RFA and cryodenervation require further research on their long-term efficacy and safety. Endoscopic denervation and multifidus stimulation are emerging therapies that may benefit chronic LBP patients, but additional research is needed to establish their effectiveness. When conservative management fails, RFA provides significant and lasting relief in well-selected patients and has a favourable safety profile. Current literature does not support surgical inter-ventions for LBP management.
Geometric Properties and Hand Grasping Dynamics: a Useful Approach to Bionic Hands
Authors: Koczkodaj Waldemar W. , Pigazzini Alexander , Tozzi Arturo
Published: October 2024

Physical properties such as shape, volume, and size influence the dynamics of biological systems. In this context, we focus on the geometric properties of limb movements and their physiological and biomechanical effects. Using hand grasping as a paradigmatic example, we describe how dynamic changes in geometric configuration can affect the pathophysiology of grasping. We focus on precision pinch, the simplest and most basic form of grasping, where one finger remains stable while another moves against it (Brand and Hollister, 1999). The thumb and index finger come together to grasp small objects with great precision, such as a pen. During the precision pinch, the geometric configuration of the hand changes, modifying the distribution of forces and the functional connectivity between the fingers. These changes may offer a new approach to the biomechanics of artificial arms. While current approaches consider grasps as homogeneous structures, we argue that local variations in hand geometry can lead to new biomedical effects with intriguing operational implications.
ROS 2 in a Nutshell: A Survey
Authors: Al-Batati Abdulrahman S. , Koubaa Anis , Abdelkader Mohamed
Published: October 2024

This study presents a comprehensive systematic review that addresses the critical transition from ROS 1 to ROS 2, spotlighting the significant enhancements and the pressing need for a detailed exploration of ROS 2 within the robotics community. Despite the extensive deployment and adaptations of ROS in varied robotics applications, literature lacks a cohesive synthesis that delineates the advancements, limitations, and broader impacts of ROS 2 compared to its predecessor, ROS 1. Our contribution bridges this gap by assembling the largest database of ROS-related research, encompassing 7,498 articles, with a focused analysis in this survey on 431 ROS2-specific publications. We categorize these into i.) articles that discuss and analyze core ROS 2 concepts, ii.) articles that propose frameworks or tools for ROS 2, and iii.) articles utilizing ROS 2. Furthermore, we summarize literature findings of ROS 2 challenges, advancements, and future direction in the fields of a.) security, b.) real-time, c.) middleware, d.) embedded and distributed systems, e.) communication reliability and QoS, and f.) multi-robot systems. The methodology involved meticulous data collection and categorization from multiple databases, facilitating an in-depth online accessible resource. Results underscore ROS2’s enhancements in modularity, real-time capabilities, and security, extending its applicability across various robotic platforms and industries. However, challenges in scalability and reliability persist, signaling avenues for future enhancements. This review not only deepens the understanding of ROS2’s contributions but also charts a path for ongoing improvements in robotic systems design. The original data presented in the study are openly available in https://www.ros.riotu-lab.org/.
A Ten-Year Experience of Transluminal Nd:Yag Laser Embolysis in Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Stanca Simona , Tăbăcaru Bogdana , Abboud George , Munteanu Mihnea , Stanca Horia Tudor
Published: October 2024

Background: Central and branch retinal artery occlusion (CRAO and BRAO) are critical causes of acute vision loss, predominantly affecting older adults with systemic vascular pathology. These occlusions typically result from embolic events, leading to partial or complete retinal ischemia; Methods: This retrospective case series report details of our ten-year experience using the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for Transluminal Nd:YAG Embolysis (TYE) in order to lyse visible emboli whitin the retinal arteries; Results: We conducted a retrospective case series involving 18 patients treated by TYE for different retinal arteries occlusions between 2014-2024. TYE effectively restored blood flow in the occluded arteries, with variable but generally favorable visual outcomes. Our article highlights significant clinical and interventional aspects of three treated patients: a BRAO case with multiple transluminal emboli, a case of double BRAO and a CRAO case. We also report the successful use of TYE for intraluminal lysing of an embolus located outside the optic disc. The procedures were well-tolerated, with minor complications such as preretinal or vitreous hemorrhages resolving spontaneously; Conclusions: TYE is a minimally invasive therapeutic option for retinal artery occlusion with visible emboli, particularly when intervention occurs shortly after the onset of symptoms. Compared to observation, TYE can improve visual outcomes and reduce the risk of permanent vision loss, presenting a significant advancement in the management of this ophthalmic emergency. The worldwide experience with TYE is continuously increasing. Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to validate these results and refine the treatment protocol.
Use of Intravascular Micro-Axial Left Ventricular Assist Devices as a Bridging Strategy for Cardiogenic Shock: Mid-Term Outcomes
Authors: Mahesh Balakrishnan , Peddayyavarla Prasanth , Nguyen Kenny , Mahesh Aditya , Hartford Corrine , Devich Robert , Dafflisio Gianna , Nair Nandini , Freundt Miriam , Dowling Robert , Soleimani Behzad
Published: October 2024

Objectives: Cardiogenic shock [CS] is associated with a high-mortality. Suitable patients maybe successfully bridged using newer intravascular micro-axial left-ventricular assist devices [M-LVAD] for recovery or determination of definitive therapy. Methods: Between January-2020 and July-2024, 107 patients underwent placement of M-LVAD for CS. The cohort was divided into 4 groups based on their destination; group-1: 34 patients [32%] receiving transplant; group-2: 25 patients [23%] receiving durable LVAD; group-3: 42 patients [39%] bridging from post-cardiotomy CS [PCCS]; and group-4: 6 patients [5.6%] bridging decision/recovery [these were excluded from analysis]. Multivariable logistic-regression [MLR] and Cox-regression [MCR] models identified predictors of early-hospital and late mortality, with data reported as odds ratios [ORs], and hazard ratios [HRs], respectively. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: Complications included device-malfunction [n=6, 6%], gastrointestinal bleed [n=9, 9%], stroke [n=11, 11%]; long-term hemodialysis [n=21, 21%]. Early-hospital mortality included 13 patients [13%]: 2 in group-1, 1 in group-2 and 10 in group-3 [p=0.02]. In the MLR model, the category of cardiogenic shock requiring M-LVAD placement was statistically significant [OR=4.7 (0.9-24), P=0.05]. Patients were followed for up to 4.5-years, and 23 deaths occurred; group-1: 3 patients, group-2: 5 patients, and group-3: 15 patients [p=0.019]. At 4.5-years, actuarial survival was 90.7±5.1% in group-1, 79.2±8.3% in group-2, and 62.8%±7.7% in group-3 [P=0.01]. In the MCR model, M-LVAD category [HR=3.63 (1.03-12.9) P=0.04], and long-term postoperative dialysis [HR=3.9 (1.6-9) P=0.002], emerged as statistically significant predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusions: In cardiogenic shock, our mid-term outcomes demonstrate good survival with M-LVADs as bridge to transplant and durable LVAD, and reasonable survival as bridge to recovery following cardiotomy, reduced ECMO usage and early ambulation/rehabilitation.
Enhancing Radiologist Efficiency with AI: A Multi-Reader Multi-Case Study on Aortic Dissection Detection and Prioritisation
Authors: PhD Martina Cotena , Ayobi Angela , Zuchowski Colin , Junn Jacqueline C. , Weinberg Brent D. , Chang Peter D. , Chow Daniel S. , Soun Jennifer E. , Roca-Sogorb Mar , Chaibi Yasmina , Quenet Sarah
Published: October 2024

Background and Objectives: Acute aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening condition and early detection can significantly improve patient outcomes and survival. This study evaluates the clinical benefits of integrating a deep-learning (DL)-based application for automated detection and prioritisation of AD on chest CT angiographies (CTAs), focusing on the reduction of scan-to-assessment (STAT) and interpretation times (IT). Materials and Methods: This retrospective Multi-Reader, Multi-Case (MRMC) study compared AD detection with and without artificial intelligence-(AI) assistance. Ground truth was established by two U.S. board-certified radiologists, while three additional expert radiologists participated as readers. All participants assessed the same CTAs without AI-assistance (pre-AI arm) and, after a 1-month washout period, with the help of the device outputs (post-AI arm). STAT and IT were compared between the two phases. Results: The study included 285 CTAs (95 per reader, per arm), with a mean patient age of 58.5 years ±14.7(SD), 52% men, 37% prevalence. AI assistance significantly reduced STAT for detecting 33 true positive AD cases, from 15.84 minutes (95% CI: 13.37–18.31min) without AI to 5.07 minutes (95% CI: 4.23–5.91min) with AI, a 68% reduction (p<0.01). IT also decreased significantly, from 21.22 seconds (95% CI: 19.87–22.58s) without AI to 14.17 seconds (95% CI: 13.39–14.95s) with AI (p<0.05). Conclusions: Integrating a DL-based algorithm for AD detection on chest CTAs significantly reduces both STAT and IT. By prioritising the most urgent cases, AI ensures faster diagnosis and improves the workflow efficiency in clinical radiology practice, compared to standard First-In First-Out (FIFO) workflow.
Radioactivity Levels and Heavy Metal Concentration in Mining Areas of the State of Zacatecas, Mexico
Authors: Escareno-Juarez Edmundo , Fernandez-Saavedra Rocio , Gómez-Mancebo María Belén , Barrado Ana I. , Cardona Ana Isabel , Rucandio Isabel
Published: October 2024

The State of Zacatecas (Mexico) is one of the places most affected by pollution from the mining industry. 21 samples from two areas have been collected (6 samples from zone A and 15 samples from zone B) to evaluate the level of radioactivity and the degree of contamination by heavy metals. The activity concentration for 238U and 232Th is within typical values, but 226Ra exceeds the value of 60 Bq kg-1 in both areas. In some places, the concentration of 40K is higher than the world average, according to UNSCEAR. The radium equivalent activity Raeq and outdoor gamma exposure dose (D) indicate that some sites present a radiological risk for the population. Excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) presents a higher risk than the world average in both sampled areas. Other parameters, such as the radiation index Ri, the external risk index Hex, and the internal risk index Hin, also indicate that there is a greater risk due to radiation exposure in these areas. In the case of heavy metals, some parameters, such as the enrichment factor (EF), the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and the contamination factor (CF), show that some places in zone A and zone B are contaminated with As and Pb. However, the concentration of selenium obtained by ICP-MS in the sampled soil is higher than the average in the Earth's crust, both in mine waste dumps and in unaltered soil, which indicates that the background concentration for selenium in these places is higher than the world average.
Interactive Coupling Relaxation of Dipoles and Wagner Charges in the Amorphous State of Polymers Induced by Thermal and Electrical Stimulations: A Dual-Phase Open Dissipative System Perspective
Authors: Ibar Jean Pierre
Published: October 2024

This paper addresses the author’s current understanding of the physics of interactions in polymers under a voltage field excitation. The effect of a voltage field coupled with temperature to induce space charges and dipolar activity in dielectric materials can be measured by very sensitive electrometers. The resulting characterization methods, Thermally Stimulated Depolarization (TSD) and Thermal-Windowing Deconvolution (TWD), provide a powerful way to study local and cooperative relaxations in the amorphous state of matter that are, arguably, essential to understand the glass transition, molecular motions in the rubbery and molten states and even the processes leading to crystallization. Specifically, the paper describes and tries to explain ‘interactive coupling’ between molecular motions in polymers by their dielectric relaxation characteristics when polymeric samples have been submitted to thermally induced polarization by a voltage field followed by its depolarization at constant heating rate. Interactive coupling results from the modulation of the local interactions by the collective aspect of those interactions, a recursive process pursuant to the dynamics of the interplay between the free volume and the conformation of dual-conformers, two fundamental basic units of the macromolecules introduced by this author in the “Dual-Phase” model of interactions. This model reconsiders the fundamentals of the TSD and TWD results in a different way: the origin of the dipoles formation, induced or permanent dipoles; the origin of the Wagner space charges and of the Tg, transition; the origin of the TLL manifestation; the origin of the Debye elementary relaxations’ compensation or parallelism in a relaxation map; finally, the Dual-Phase origin of their super-compensations. In other words, this paper is an attempt to link the fundamentals of TSD and TWD activation and deactivation of dipoles that produce a current signal with the statistical parameters of the “Dual-Phase”model of interactions underlying the Grain-Field-Statistics.
Crop-Derived Biochar for Removal of Alachlor from Water
Authors: Zawierucha Iwona , Lagiewka Jakub , Gajda Aleksandra , Kwiatkowska-Malina Jolanta , Kulawik Damian , Ciesielski Wojciech , Zarska Sandra , Girek Tomasz , Konczyk Joanna , Malina Grzegorz
Published: October 2024

The presence of various pesticides in natural streams and wastewater is a significant environmental issue due to their high toxicity, which causes harmful consequences even at low quantities. One cost-effective method to remove these pollutants from water could be through adsorption using inexpensive, easily obtained adsorbent - biochar. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using biochar produced from wheat grains to eliminate alachlor from water. The sorption properties of the biochar and the likely removal mechanisms have been defined. The study found that the biochar removed 76-94% of alachlor, depending on the initial concentration of the pesticide in water. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.999) and the Langmuir isotherm model (R² = 0.996) effectively characterized the elimination of alachlor by wheat grains biochar. The analyzed biochar, with its micropores and various surface functional groups, can effectively adsorb alachlor and trap it within its structure.
A Visualization Method of Large‐Size Vector Published Map
Authors: Meng Nina , Zhou Xiaodong
Published: October 2024

Vector published map, as a result of pre-press printing of paper map digital publishing, is a page file in line with PostScript standards. With large amount of data and a large number of map page graphics objects, the browsing speed is slow and the hardware performance is very high, which seriously affects the breadth and depth of the application of vector published map. In response to this problem, this paper proposes a visualization method of large-size vector published map. This method adopts the idea of tiling. The vector published map is physically cropped into several PDF tiles to form a map logically. Data encoding and organization are based on the GeoSOT earth division grid to realize the rapid loading, scaling, display of map data and the correlation retrieval of map product "map and spatial data integration". The experiment shows that the response time of map data loading and browsing is much less than that of professional software, and the method is insensitive to data volume and has low requirement on hardware performance. This method can not only make up the disadvantages of image tiles in the existing network map service, but also make the vector published map can be used in embedded devices, mobile terminals, network modes and other cross-media applications.
Advancing Arabic Word Embeddings: A Multi-Corpora Approach with Optimized Hyperparameters and Custom Evaluation
Authors: Allahim Azzah , Cherif Asma
Published: October 2024

The expanding Arabic user base presents a unique opportunity for researchers to tap into vast online Arabic resources. However, the lack of reliable Arabic word embedding models and limited availability of Arabic corpora pose significant challenges. This paper aims to address these gaps by conducting an experiment to train word embedding models with Arabic corpora and examine the influence of varying hyperparameter values on different NLP tasks. To gather data for training the models, we collected information from three distinct sources: Wikipedia, newspapers, and 31 Arabic books. Each corpus’s specific impact on the outcomes was analyzed. The experiment involved assessing the models across diverse NLP tasks, including sentiment analysis, similarity tests, and analogy tests. The findings revealed that both the corpus size and hyperparameter values had distinct effects on each test. In the Analogy test, employing a larger vocabulary size positively influenced the outcomes, with Fasttext models using skip-gram approaches performing well in solving Analogy Test questions. For sentiment analysis, we discovered that vocabulary size played a crucial role. In the similarity score test, Fasttext models achieved the highest scores, with lower window sizes and smaller vector sizes leading to better results. Overall, our models performed well, achieving a score of 99%, 90% accuracies for sentiment analysis and Analogy Test, respectively. Moreover, they achieved a similarity score of 8 out of 10. Our findings indicate that our models can serve as a valuable resource for Arabic NLP researchers, equipping them with a robust tool for handling Arabic text.