bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activating PKC-ε induces HIV expression with improved tolerability
Authors: Irrinki Alivelu M. , Kaur Jasmine , Randhawa Bally , McFadden Ryan , Snyder Chelsea , Truong Hoa , Soohoo Daniel , Hu Eric , Yu Helen , Murray Bernard P. , Lu Bing , Kornyeyev Dmytro , Irwan Ishak Darryl , Nguyen Lan , Yang Yu-San , Belzile Jean-Philippe , Schmitz Uli , Appleby Todd C. , Schultz Brian , Lalezari Jay , Deeks Steven , Cihlar Tomas , Murry Jeffrey P.
Published: February 2025

Despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1 persists in latent reservoirs that seed new HIV infections if ART is interrupted, necessitating lifelong therapy for people with HIV. Activation of latent HIV during ART could improve recognition and elimination of infected cells by the immune system. Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes increase HIV transcription and hence are potential latency reversal agents. However, the clinical utility of PKCs for this application is limited due to toxicity, which is poorly understood. Our studies showed that PKC activation with multiple classes of agonists leads to widespread platelet activation, consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation, at concentrations that were similar to those required for T-cell activation. Differential expression analysis indicated that PKC-ε and PKC-η isoforms are expressed at high levels in human CD4+ T cells but not in platelets. Using structure-based drug design, we developed a novel PKC agonist, C-233, with increased selectivity for PKC-ε. C-233 increased both supernatant HIV RNA and p24 expression ex vivo after treatment of CD4+ T cells from ART-suppressed people with HIV. C-233 was 5-fold more potent for T-cell activation relative to platelet activation. Our studies support the use of structure-based drug design to create selective novel PKC agonists for the safe activation of HIV reservoirs and improved tolerability.
The BAME awarding gap: understanding student perspectives
Authors: Sappor Gideon , Franks Josh
Published: February 2025

A gap exists between the proportion of White British students receiving top degree classifications (first and 2:1) and students from minority ethnic groups. In the literature this gap is called the ‘BAME awarding gap’ or the ‘awarding gap’. The awarding gap has a deleterious effect on students from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) because there is a market premium on ‘good grades’. This research is aimed at generating knowledge about the issues and factors that impact the awarding gap between BAME students and White students of a module at a UK university. One risk factor that the research hypothesises is the relative reluctance of BAME students to seek help and support from the tutoring team when faced with academic challenges. A sample was drawn from a master’s level module using a convenience sampling strategy. In total, 10 students volunteered for the study. Focus group interviews were used to frame the perspectives of participants relating to the academic space, and their attitudes towards help seeking and factors that influence their decision whether to seek help or not. The results showed a complexity of factors, including heightened impostor syndrome in the academic space, allied to an unfavourable sense of belonging and stigma in relation to help seeking. To better understand the issues faced by BAME students, it is essential to actively seek their perspectives within the academic environment. BAME students must be involved in designing interventions and support systems. The study makes a valuable contribution to knowledge about some factors that impact the awarding gap and how they might be mitigated.
Kajian Islam Tentang Sifat Boros dan Implementasinya Pada Pembuatan Sistem Pemantauan serta Pengendalian Bahan Baku di Gudang
Authors: Tungga Dewi Imelda Zahra , Azizah Siti Nur , Rakhmadi Frida Agung , Cahyadi Imam
Published: February 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menerapkan wawasan Islam tentang menghindari pemborosan dalam merancang sistem pemantauan dan pengendalian gudang. Islam menekankan pentingnya menghindari perilaku pemborosan, khususnya dalam penggunaan sumber daya seperti bahan baku, energi, tenaga kerja, dan waktu. Penelitian ini dilakukan di PT. Citra Sarungtangan Indonesia yang menghadapi masalah kerusakan bahan baku akibat kondisi penyimpanan yang tidak tepat. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan mixed-method, termasuk tinjauan pustaka dan pengembangan sistem berbasis Internet of Things (IoT) yang memanfaatkan sensor DHT22 dan NodeMCU ESP8266. Hasilnya adalah sistem otomatis yang memantau dan mengontrol suhu dan kelembaban gudang, yang dapat diakses melalui aplikasi IoT MQTT Panel. Implementasi sistem ini berhasil meningkatkan efisiensi penyimpanan dan mengurangi pemborosan bahan baku, sejalan dengan prinsip-prinsip Islam tentang menghindari pemborosan.
Guest Editorial: Thank You, Dr. David Goss
Authors: Vogl Lilien , Reilly Jennifer , Myers Raymond
Published: February 2025

Guest Editorial: Thank You, Dr. David Goss
Optometric Inventors
Authors: Vandyk Julia
Published: February 2025

Optometric Inventors
Book Review: From Spectacle Making Trade To Scholarly Profession, A History Of Optometry In The United States
Authors: Gaiser Hilary
Published: February 2025

From Spectacle Making Trade to Scholarly Profession, a History of Optometry in the United States. David A. Goss. Forest Grove, OR: Pacific University Press, 2022. ISBN-13: 978-1945398063. 368 pages. Paperback.
Rice yield predictions using remote sensing and machine learning algorithms: A review
Authors: Ajay P M , Ragunath K P , Pazhanivelan S , Muthumanickam D , Sivamurugan A P , Vanitha G
Published: February 2025

Crop yield prediction is becoming increasingly crucial due to global food security concerns, as highlighted by recent reports from the World Health Organization. Accurate early predictions can mitigate famine risks by estimating food supply, which is essential for 820 million people facing hunger globally. Rice is the primary staple food consumed worldwide; therefore, global rice yield and rice area are monitored using emerging technologies such as remote sensing (RS) and machine learning (ML). These technologies provide valuable tools for enhancing rice yield predictions. RS includes critical information on crop health, soil conditions and weather patterns. In contrast, ML algorithms analyze these datasets to identify patterns and relationships that affect yield. Integrating these technologies offers promising improvements in yield forecasting accuracy, with applications showing successful yield predictions 1-3 months before harvest. Various ML techniques, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machines and deep learning models such as LSTM (Long-Short Term Memory), have been employed, often in combination with RS data. However, these models face challenges, such as data quality, managing high-dimensional RS data and accounting for spatial and temporal variability. Despite these challenges, integrating RS and ML has significant potential for advancing precision agriculture and achieving sustainable food production. This study explores the advancements, practical applications and challenges associated with using RS and ML for rice yield prediction, emphasizing the importance of these technologies in addressing global food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Three-Dimensional Printed Flow Phantom Model of the Carotid Artery in Preterm Infants: Vessel Lumen Diameter Measurements Using Different Printing Materials
Authors:   Neonatal Unit, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK, Pereira Sujith S.
Published: February 2025

Background: Diameter forms an integral part of blood flow measurement. This study aimed to explore different three-dimensional (3D) printed materials to develop flow phantom models of the carotid artery in preterm newborn infants and to investigate best materials for diameter measurement validation. Methods: We produced a 3D printed Doppler flow phantom model with vessel lumen diameter of 2.0 mm with varying vessel characteristics using data from 21 preterm infants (right carotid vessel lumen diameter, wall thickness, blood flow measurements using Doppler ultrasound and distance of the carotid artery from skin surface) examined for research or clinical purposes. Flow phantom vessel lumen diameters were measured by a single operator blinded to flow phantom diameter. Results: 15 diameter measurements were performed. Ultrasound measured vessel lumen diameter measurements resulted in underestimation of the true lumen diameter. The measured mean (SD, range) diameter was 0.163 (0.105, 0-0.420) mm. This study found that difference in vessel lumen diameter measurements were least with the hybrid material (FLXA9895-DM) with shore value of 95 in matte finish. Vessel wall thickness was systematically overestimated in the majority of the measurements {Anterior wall thickness, mean(SD, range) 0.145(0.081, 0.020–0.300) mm and posterior wall thickness, mean(SD, range) 0.103(0.117, minus 0.100–0.370) mm}. Conclusion: We successfully produced a 3D printed flow phantom model of the carotid artery in preterm infants with varying vessel characteristics and identified flow phantoms that produced the least difference in ultrasound measured vessel lumen diameter measurements. Researchers and clinicians can use this information for further studies involving ultrasound diameter measurements.
Gallbladder Fossa Abscess Rare Complication Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Case Report
Authors:   King Salman Specialty Hospital/ hail/KSA, Mohamed Abbas
Published: February 2025

Gallbladder fossa abscesses are a rare serious complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We present a 62-year-old male patient who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequently developed a gallbladder fossa abscess. The diagnosis was confirmed by ultrasound and computed tomography (CT), and it was successfully treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and antimicrobial therapy.
Early stages of periphrastic passive formation in Old Swedish
Authors: Skrzypek Dominika
Published: February 2025

This article discusses the construction [SBJ varda PTCP], which is considered an early example of a periphrastic passive, in the extant Old Swedish legal texts. It has been argued that it is a nascent passive construction, different from the fully-fledged passive in Present Day Swedish. Based on a corpus study of all occurrences of the construction across Swedish provincial laws I argue that it bears all the hallmarks of a grammaticalized passive construction, with two exceptions. Firstly, it allows a wider choice of thematic roles of the subject, secondly, its main pragmatic function is inactivization in the sense of Haspelmath (1990). The study is grounded in Diachronic Construction Grammar and utilizes the typology of thematic roles proposed by Van Valin and LaPolla (1997).
Effect of spermidine intake on overload‐induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy in male mice
Authors: Iwata Tomohiro , Shirai Takanaga , Tanimura Riku , Iwai Ryoto , Takemasa Tohru
Published: February 2025

Skeletal muscles exhibit high plasticity, such as overload‐induced hypertrophy or immobilization‐induced atrophy. During sports, skeletal muscle hypertrophy is induced by training to improve performance. Spermidine is a type of polyamine and oral intake of spermidine exerts many beneficial effects on health through various mechanisms, such as promoting autophagy and improving mitochondrial function. In a recent study, we showed that spermidine intake activates mTOR signaling and significantly increases the mean fiber cross‐sectional area (CSA) 14 days after injury. This suggests that spermidine promotes the anabolic growth of differentiated muscle (i.e., muscle hypertrophy); however, calorie restriction, which has been reported to have effects on the same molecular mechanisms as spermidine (promoting autophagy and improving mitochondrial function), promotes skeletal muscle regeneration, while inhibiting skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of spermidine intake on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in mice using a synergistic ablation‐induced muscle hypertrophy model. Our results showed that spermidine intake significantly decreased mean myofiber of CSA, but this was not consistent with the change in skeletal muscle wet weight. We also analyzed autophagy, mTOR signaling, inflammation, and mitochondria, but no significant effects of spermidine intake were observed at most protein expression levels. Therefore, spermidine intake does not affect overload‐induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy, and even if it does, the effect is suppressive.
Early Permian to Middle Triassic Formation petroleum potentials of Sydney Basin, Australia: A geochemical analysis
Authors: Garba Terfa Elijah , Mustapha Khairul Azlan , Asiwaju Lanre , Mutari Lawal
Published: February 2025

The organic geochemical and petrological analyses of calculated vitrinite reflectance of the Early Permian to Middle Triassic Formation section of the Sydney Basin in Australia have revealed the source for the widely distributed oil and gas shows in the basin. The coal formations of the Permian in the Sydney Basin have a higher hydrogen index with much higher TOC extracts than the non-coal formations of the Permian in the same basin. Some source-specific parameters attained from biomarkers, such as n-alkanes, regular isoprenoids, terpanes, diasteranes, and steranes, show that oil was generated and expelled mainly from organic matter derivatives of higher plants deposited in the oxic environment. The biomarkers associated with maturity, source, and aromatic hydrocarbon are mostly from coal core samples. However, extracts from non-coal samples have an organic geochemical signature, indicative of mixed terrestrial and prokaryotic organic matter deposited in a suboxic environment. Significantly, it is different from the coal extracts. Still, the molecular signature of some of the coal samples shows prokaryotic organic matter present in the extracts, indicating a thin section of possibly a calcareous lithology interbedded within the coal measure formation. Genetically, the coal extracts of the Permian in the Sydney Basin, Australia, provide a new insight into the generation and expulsion of oil from coal, which might be responsible for the widespread oil and gas shows in the basin. This raises the possibility of commercial oil accumulation in the early Permian coals to Middle Triassic sandstones, perhaps in the deeper part of the offshore basin.
Teaching design for chapter “primary liver cancer” in surgery course based on the clinical theory and clerkship synchronization model in the era of New Medicine
Authors: Ye Feng , Cai Qiang , Gong Xiaoyong , Ren Jiajun , Sun Ruixin , Liu Chang , Wang Xiaoli , Qiao Yuan
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The chapter on primary liver cancer in the surgery course is designed to align with the New Medicine paradigm, emphasizing the integration of clinical theory with clerkship experiences to foster a comprehensive understanding of the disease.

Methods

The teaching design incorporates innovative strategies such as outcome-based objectives, interactive learning activities, and the clinical theory and clerkship synchronization teaching model. The learning objectives are defined to balance technical proficiency with interdisciplinary knowledge and humanistic qualities. The curriculum content is restructured to include advanced topics and case studies that reflect the latest advancements in liver cancer management. A blended teaching model is employed, utilizing online platforms and in-class discussions to enhance student engagement and critical thinking.

Results

With regard to the acquisition of the fundamental knowledge of primary liver cancer, the class that employed the novel teaching model demonstrated significantly higher scores than the class that did not. Based on the results of students’ feedback questionnaire, the self-improvement ratings were found to be significantly higher in classes that employed the synchronization model.

Conclusions

The implementation of the clinical theory and clerkship synchronization teaching model has been effective in enhancing students’ knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes towards primary liver cancer management.
Protein kinase CK2 contributes to glucose homeostasis
Authors: Götz Claudia , Montenarh Mathias
Published: February 2025

In the early days of CK2 research, it was already published that the affinity of CK2 for its substrate casein was affected by insulin. Subsequent to the discovery of inhibitors of CK2 kinase activity, it was shown that CK2 has an influence on hormones that regulate glucose homeostasis and on enzymes that influence glucose metabolism in pancreatic islet cells as well as in hormone-sensitive target cells. This regulation includes the influence on transcription factors and thereby, gene expression, as well as direct modulation of the catalytic activity. The used CK2 inhibitors, especially the older ones, show a broad range of specificity, selectivity and off-target effects. Recently applied methods to down-regulate the expression of individual CK2 subunits using siRNA or CRISPR/Cas9 technology have contributed to the improvement of specificity. It was shown that inhibition of CK2 kinase activity or knock-down or knock-out of CK2α leads to an elevated synthesis and secretion of insulin in pancreatic β-cells and a down-regulation of the synthesis and secretion of glucagon from pancreatic α-cells. In the present review CK2-dependent molecular mechanisms will be addressed which contribute to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.
Coupled analysis of ocean-atmosphere interaction using A2CDOSE and SCHISM for radioactive dispersion following a north pacific nuclear incident
Authors: Chiang Yu , Huang Pei-Chieh , Yang Zi-Yi
Published: February 2025

The Fukushima disaster highlighted the critical importance of a comprehensive emergency response plan for severe nuclear power plant (NPP) accidents. In response to this need, Taiwan’s National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) collaborated with the Central Weather Administration (CWA) to develop an urgent radiological dose evaluation system known as “A2CDOSE.” This system is designed to assess projected radiation doses over eight days following a nuclear incident, aiding in informed decision-making. Considering enhancing the multi-consequence analysis via nuclear material transport, this study connects the settings of ocean radiation contribution in series to develop a multi-sequence, multi-batch method called the ocean-atmosphere coupled analysis of radioactive substances with ocean dispersion code SCHISM. This Year’s (2024) hypothetical cesium-137 release case from the nuclear power plant was used to conduct a technical feasibility test. This method can serve as a reference for evaluating the optimal radiation detection routes for the affected maritime areas during future nuclear safety events, simulating the short-to mid-term effects of radioactive substance releases.
Blow-up of solutions for Euler-Bernoulli equation with nonlinear time delay
Authors: Lin Rongrui , Gao Yunlong , She Lianbing
Published: February 2025

We study the Euler-Bernoulli equations with time delay:

u

t
t

+

Δ

2

u
−

g

1

∗

Δ

2

u
+

g

2

∗
Δ
u
+

μ

1

u

t

(

x
,
t

)

∣

u

t

(

x
,
t

)

∣

m
−
2

+

μ

2

u

t

(

x
,
t
−
τ

)

∣

u

t

(

x
,
t
−
τ

)

∣

m
−
2

=
f

(

u

)

,

{u}_{tt}+{\Delta }^{2}u-{g}_{1}\ast {\Delta }^{2}u+{g}_{2}\ast \Delta u+{\mu }_{1}{u}_{t}\left(x,t){| {u}_{t}\left(x,t)| }^{m-2}+{\mu }_{2}{u}_{t}\left(x,t-\tau ){| {u}_{t}\left(x,t-\tau )| }^{m-2}=f\left(u),

where

τ

\tau

represents the time delay. We exhibit the blow-up behavior of solutions with both positive and nonpositive initial energy for the Euler-Bernoulli equations involving time delay.
Freeform thin-film lithium niobate mode converter for photon-pair generation
Authors: Kim Changhyun , Bae Munseong , Choi Minho , Lee Sangbin , Lee Myunghoo , Kim Chihyeon , Jung Hojoong , Chung Haejun , Kwon Hyounghan
Published: February 2025

Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) has emerged as a promising platform for integrated photonics due to its exceptional material properties. The application of freeform topology optimization to TFLN devices enables the realization of compact designs with complex functionalities and high efficiency. However, the stringent fabrication constraints of TFLN present significant challenges for optimization, particularly in nonlinear photonic devices. In this work, we propose an inverse design methodology that successfully addresses these challenges and demonstrates the development of an efficient freeform TFLN mode converter. The numerically optimized mode converter achieves a transmission efficiency of 67.60 % and a mode purity of 84.58 %. Experimental validation through nonlinear processes, including second harmonic generation and spontaneous parametric down-conversion, shows that the fabricated devices improve the efficiency of these processes by factors of two and three, respectively, compared to devices without freeform designs. The proposed inverse design framework provides a powerful tool for advancing the development of TFLN-based devices, with broad applicability to nonlinear and quantum photonics.
Spectral Hadamard microscopy with metasurface-based patterned illumination
Authors: Jo Yongjae , Park Hyemi , Lee Seho , Kim Inki
Published: February 2025

Hadamard matrices, composed of mutually orthogonal vectors, are widely used in various applications due to their orthogonality. In optical imaging, Hadamard microscopy has been applied to achieve optical sectioning by separating scattering and background noise from desired signals. This method involves sequential illumination using Hadamard patterns and subsequent image processing. However, it typically requires costly light modulation devices, such as digital micromirror devices (DMDs) or spatial light modulators (SLMs), to generate multiple illumination patterns. In this study, we present spectral Hadamard microscopy based on a holographic matasurface. We noticed that certain patterns repeat within other Hadamard patterns under specific condition, allowing the entire set to be reproduced from a single pattern. This finding suggests that generating a single pattern is sufficient to implement Hadamard microscopy. To demonstrate this, we designed a metasurface to generate an illumination pattern and conducted imaging simulations. Results showed that holographic metasurface-based Hadamard microscopy effectively suppressed scattering signals, resulting in clear fluorescent images. Furthermore, we demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging can be achieved with Hadamard microscopy using dispersive optical elements, as the orthogonality of the Hadamard pattern enables to resolve spectral information. The reconstructed hyperspectral images displayed a color distribution closely matching the synthetic hyperspectral images used as ground truth. Our findings suggest that optical sectioning and hyperspectral imaging can be accomplished without light modulation devices, a capability typically unattainable with standard wide-field microscopes. We showed that sophisticated metasurfaces have the potential to replace and enhance conventional optical components, and we anticipate that this study will contribute to advancements in metasurface-based optical microscopy.
Temporal and spatiotemporal soliton molecules in ultrafast fibre lasers
Authors: Mao Ding , Yuan Zichuan , Dai Ke , Chen Yue , Ma Huihui , Ling Qiang , Zheng Jiancheng , Zhang Yusheng , Chen Daru , Cui Yudong , Sun Zhipei , Malomed Boris A.
Published: February 2025

Ultrafast fibre lasers, characterized by ultrashort pulse duration and broad spectral bandwidth, have drawn significant attention due to their vast potential across a wide range of applications, from fundamental scientific to industrial processing and beyond. As dissipative nonlinear systems, ultrafast fibre lasers not only generate single solitons, but also exhibit various forms of spatiotemporal soliton bunching. Analogous to molecules composed of multiple atoms in chemistry, soliton molecules (SMs) – alias bound states – in ultrafast fibre lasers are a key concept for gaining a deeper understanding of nonlinear interaction and hold a promise for advancing high-capacity fibre-optic communications. SMs are particularly notable for their high degree of controllability, including their internal temporal separation, and relative phase differences, thereby suggesting new possibilities for manipulating multi-pulse systems. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the studies of SMs with the multidimensional parameter space in ultrafast fibre lasers. Owing to the flexibility afforded by mode-locking techniques and dispersion management, various types of SMs – with diverse values of the soliton number, relative phase, pulse separation, carrier frequencies, and even modal dispersion – have been experimentally demonstrated. We also discuss other basic nonlinear optical phenomena observed in fibre lasers, including the formation, spatiotemporal pulsations, and interaction dynamics of SMs. Furthermore, we explore the multidimensional control of SMs through approaches such as gain modulation, polarization control, dispersion management, and photomechanical effects, along with their applications to optical data encoding. Finally, we discuss challenges and future development of multidimensional technologies for the manipulation of SMs.
Performing positive politeness: political rhetoric in state dinner speeches by US-American presidents
Authors: Schubert Christoph
Published: February 2025

In state dinner speeches, US-American presidents address international partners with the communicative goal of consolidating and improving bilateral political relations. The present paper aims to investigate the ways in which positive politeness strategies are employed in this epideictic genre to establish a good rapport with other heads of state. The study is based on a dataset of 32 dinner speeches covering a period of 32 years from George H. W. Bush to Joseph R. Biden. It adopts a qualitative approach that combines politeness theory with move structure analysis, identifying characteristic rhetorical moves that create familiarity by referring to common past events, shared values, and joint activities. As is shown, politeness in dinner speeches relies on recurring discursive techniques such as displaying strong interest in the international partner, seeking agreement regarding political agendas, paying compliments, and conveying optimism about the bilateral alliance. These politeness strategies are realized by a variety of linguistic devices such as inclusive first-person pronouns, illustrative metaphors, positively connoted stance markers, superlatives, adverbial amplifiers, and quotations from eminent writers of the partner country. Such genre-dependent positive politeness dominantly fulfils a face-enhancing function and helps the orators to construct engaging identities of the interactants.
Spectral deviations of graphs
Authors: Stanić Zoran
Published: February 2025

For the graphs

G

G

and

H

H

, the spectral deviation of

H

H

from

G

G

is defined as

ϱ

G

(

H

)

=

∑

μ
∈
H

min

λ
∈
G

∣
λ
−
μ
∣
,

{\varrho }_{G}\left(H)=\sum _{\mu \in H}\mathop{\min }\limits_{\lambda \in G}| \lambda -\mu | ,

where

∈

\in

designates that the given number is an eigenvalue of the adjacency matrix of the corresponding graph. In this study, we consider the problem of existence of a proper induced subgraph

H

H

of a prescribed graph

G

G

such that

ϱ

G

(

H

)

=
0

{\varrho }_{G}\left(H)=0

, and the problem of determination of all such subgraphs. We investigate these problems in the framework of Smith graphs and their induced subgraphs, graphs with small second largest eigenvalue, graphs with small number of either positive or distinct eigenvalues, integral graphs, and chain graphs. Our results can be interesting in the context of graphs with a fixed number of distinct eigenvalues, eigenvalue distribution, or spectral distances of graphs.
Beyond the Fields: Solidarity Narratives and Coalition Building in the Fair Food Movement
Authors: Hough Phillip , López Lucas , De Becze Vanessa , Ramanujam Karthik , Burggraff Charles
Published: February 2025

This paper extends scholarship on emerging sources of worker power in the 21st century through an examination of the solidarity activism of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), an agricultural worker-led human rights organisation that advocates for Fair Food policies. The successes of the CIW are unexpected, since Florida’s migrant workers lack the traditional sources of worker power that bolstered the labour struggles of the 20th century. Through in-depth interviews and a survey of student-farmworker activists, we extend scholarship rooted in the power resources approach to analyse the societal forms of power – both discursive and coalitional – that the CIW has developed in their efforts to harness broad social support from actors beyond the fields. We demonstrate how CIW coalitions are sustained through solidarity narratives that clarify the stakes for student allies and the discursive frames that motivate their activism.
The Gig Economy and Its Impact on Women in Iraq
Authors: Milani Hawra , Shah Zahra , Bjerg Jensen Rikke
Published: February 2025

The gig economy has significantly transformed Iraq’s labour market, creating new opportunities for women while also exposing persistent inequalities. This paper traces the experiences of Iraqi women in the gig economy, drawing on both individual and collective insights grounded in the authors’ work in this context. These experiences reveal the dual nature of the gig economy: providing flexible work options while perpetuating vulnerabilities such as discrimination and economic insecurity. By situating our analysis within Iraq’s unique socio-economic conditions, including women’s low workforce engagement and infrastructural challenges, we contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping women’s participation in this emerging labour market. The paper explores the types of gig work available to Iraqi women, alongside the structural barriers they face, such as limited digital infrastructure and inadequate legal protections. We conclude by highlighting actionable pathways for improving economic outcomes for women and fostering inclusive growth in the gig economy.
Driving Gigs in Oman: Women and Techno-Fixes in the Platform Economy
Authors: Ennis Crystal A.
Published: February 2025

Digital platforms mediating work between customers and service providers have expanded exponentially in the past decade, driving a growing research agenda on the impact of platform capitalism, AI and the gig economy on labour around the world. This paper is interested in understanding the platform economy at the intersection of gender with the political economy of labour. Focusing on the Omani case of a new women’s taxi service (OFemale) through the digital platform OTaxi, it asks how ride-hailing platforms are impacting women’s employment futures. Using rapid ethnography, elite interviews and a survey, the article examines both the launch and expansion of the business alongside the experiences of Omani women as taxi drivers. The article excavates three gendered discourses of freedom, protection and job creation around platform labour and female labour market participation in the region. It argues that digital platforms such as OTaxi offer techno-fixes to fill gaps in the market and respond to the need to generate job opportunities for female citizens in the country. At the same time, women make use of these opportunities and interpret their experience in diverse ways that problematise the neo-liberal promises of innovative technologies, job flexibility and autonomy embodied in platform capitalism.
Guest Editorial: The Gig Economy and Women Workers in the Middle East
Authors: Morgana Stella
Published: February 2025

What is the impact of the so-called gig economy on women workers in the Middle East? Does digitalisation represent a catalyst for female labour participation in the region or a burden leading to further financial insecurity and invisibility? How are ordinary women gig workers re-imagining their tech lives and challenging unwritten rules, patriarchy and lack of access to the labour market? Featuring articles analysing case studies in Egypt, Iraq, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, this special issue addresses the abovementioned questions, directly speaking to the academic debate on the global gig economies. Proving a regional and local perspective, it contributes to a more plural understanding of gig work in a multiplicity of contexts, practices and experiences. It investigates the relationship between the daily and the digital to explore the role of platforms in shaping female labour participation and women’s empowerment, as well as issues of precarisation and marginalisation. By proposing a collection of original and pioneering research on an understudied topic as applied to specific contexts in the Middle East, the special issue broadens the analysis of the so-called gig economy beyond a mere economic lens, bringing together multi-disciplinary insights and approaches from sociology, political economy and digital anthropology. It shows that online gig work is neither a crystallised nor monolithic dimension. Instead, platforms - in some instances - have become vectors of formalisation instead of leading only to informality, such as in the case of taxi driving app and home cooking/food delivery, where apps have enhanced more regulation as formality was not the norm before. Women gig workers are re-imagining their roles in their everyday practices of working from home, blurring the lines between the public and the private spheres. They adapt to neoliberal conditions of flexibilisation to sustain their needs in contexts where processes of labour informalisation have long permeated the development of labour relations.
FARKLI ANTİOKSİDAN KAYNAKLARININ GLUTENSİZ KRAKERİN BAZI FİZİKSEL, FONKSİYONEL VE DUYUSAL ÖZELLİKLERİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ
Authors: Arslan Bayrakcı Hilal
Published: February 2025

Bu çalışmada, glutensiz krakerlerin fonksiyonel özelliklerini geliştirmek amacıyla çörek otu, nar çekirdeği, yeşil çay ve keten tohumu gibi antioksidan kaynakları kullanılmıştır. Kontrol krakerler, 40:40:20 oranında pirinç, mısır ve nohut unundan üretilmiştir. Diğer krakerlerde bu karışım, %2, 4 ve 6 oranlarında farklı antioksidan kaynakları ile değiştirilmiştir. Fiziksel (renk, çap, kalınlık, yayılma oranı), fonksiyonel (antioksidan aktivite, serbest, bağlı ve toplam fenolik madde miktarı) ve duyusal özellikler belirlenmiştir. Yeşil çay ikameli krakerler, tüm analiz yöntemlerinde (DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC) en yüksek antioksidan aktivite değerini göstermiştir. %4 ve 6 oranında antioksidan kaynağı kullanımı, krakerlerin antioksidan aktivite miktarlarını artırmıştır. Tüm antioksidan kaynakları krakerlerin fenolik madde miktarları ve antioksidan aktivite değerlerinin artmasını sağlarken, yeşil çay fonksiyonel özelliklerin geliştirilmesinde en etkili antioksidan kaynağı olarak belirlenmiştir.
Europos švietimo erdvės strateginės programos įgyvendinimo ypatumai naujosiose ES šalyse
Authors: Stumbrienė Dovilė , Želvys Rimantas
Published: February 2025

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the European Union started to implement the Lisbon strategy (2000) and developed a common education policy for all the member states. The newest strategic document which defines the direction of education policy development is the European Education Area strategic framework (ET2030), which is to be implemented by the year 2030. In order to monitor the attainment of education policy goals, common goals are set for the member states. However, the EU member states have achieved different levels of socio-economic development and operate in different historical and cultural contexts. It is common practice to divide EU countries into old and new member states because the social and economic differences between the groups are most evident. Besides that, there are also differences within each group. Therefore, we may assume that the scope and the mode of achieving educational goals also differ. The study aims to reveal education policy differences of post-socialist EU member states. For this purpose, the most convenient strategy towards the ET2030 strategic framework has been identified for each post-socialist EU country, considering their different social, economic, and cultural situation.
Simone Weil : une lecture philosophique de l’Iliade
Authors: Minas Julie
Published: February 2025

This article analyses an article by Simone Weil written in 1937–1938 entitled 'The Iliad or the poem of force'. The aim is to show that Simone Weil's reading of the Iliad is essential for understanding the genesis of her own thought, and in particular of her concept of force, although it appears in other contexts where there is no question of Hellenism, and although other possible inspirations can be identified. On the other hand, he argues that Simone Weil's analyses are highly refined and interesting in their own right, insofar as they highlight essential points of the Homeric text, despite their partiality.
Testosterone in long-term sedentary aging males: Effect of antiaging strategies
Authors: Abdel-Sater Khaled A.
Published: February 2025

Physical activity can provide health benefits if done regularly and of sufficient duration and intensity. The World Health Organization recommends adults do 150–300 min of moderate-intensity activity per week, 75–150 min of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination.

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of early death globally, with 31% of the world's population not getting enough physical activity. Aging is defined by rapid decline in physical activity, loss of mobility, and premature morbidity.

Low testosterone levels in men decline from 30 to 40 years of age, and this continues until death. Antiaging strategies, such as caloric restriction, balanced diet, regular exercise, weight management, diabetes control, and smoking cessation can prevent and treat aging-related diseases. Exercise significantly boosts testosterone production, with levels varying based on type, frequency, volume, intensity, and duration. It increases muscle steroidogenesis, total testosterone, and free testosterone in the elderly. Testosterone replacement therapy in elderly men improves physical function, strength, protein synthesis, cholesterol, bone density, sexual desire, erectile function, and overall cognition. However, some studies suggest dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation may provide health improvements without negative effects, potentially reversing arterial aging and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Senolytic therapeutics focus on cellular senescence, and stem cell transplantation investigates the therapeutic potential of older stem cells.
Archaeology of Urban Bondage: The New York African Burial Ground
Authors: Holl Augustin F.C.
Published: February 2025

The unexpected re-discovery and the ensuing excavation of the African Burial Ground – known in the 18th century as the “Negro Burial Ground” – lifted the lid on the early history of African presence in this part of the United States East Coast. The African Burial Ground Memorial is today one of the land-mark managed by the National Park Service, as a tribute to these men, women, and children, enslaved to build the wealth of that extraordinary and vibrant metropolis.

The author of Archaeology of Urban Bondage has been part of the African Burial research project from its beginning in 1993 to its end in 2006 and this volume is the only comprehensive presentation of this unique project in its multidisciplinary dimension. It looks at the enslavement of Africans in the Atlantic world from their origins in Africa, their life and death in New Amsterdam-New York in the 17th -18th East coast, relying on history, archaeology, and bio-anthropology. The argumentation is rigorously fact-based and inferences data driven.

The archaeology and history of the African presence in northeast United States are not limited to a European – African face to face. The genesis of the “Negro Burial Ground” is the result of different strands of history. Some issues, like the location of the African burial ground, generally taken for granted as starting point, are problematized in this book. Important questions as “why is the African burial ground located where it was?”, “how was the cemetery built up?”, “what are the key patterns of the buried population?”, “can agency and intentionality be discerned in the archaeological record at hand?”, are framed and addressed. Organized in two parts and framed from the “Global Africa” theoretical perspective, the book weaves data from history, archaeology, and biological anthropology to craft an integrated narrative on the deceased buried in the African Burial Ground.
РОЗРОБЛЕННЯ РЕЦЕПТУРИ СМУЗІ НА ОСНОВІ СЕЛЕРИ ТА ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ЙОГО СТІЙКОСТІ
Authors: Науменко К. І. , Кузнецова І. О. , Доценко Н. В. , Лисюк В. М.
Published: February 2025

Селера є одним із перспективних інгредієнтів для створення смузі завдяки її детоксикаційним властивостям, високому вмісту клітковини та низькій калорійності. Проте важливими аспектами при створенні таких напоїв є досягнення збалансованого смаку, текстури та тривалості зберігання, що зумовлює необхідність дослідження оптимальних співвідношень компонентів, їх фізико-хімічних властивостей та органолептичних характеристик.
У зв’язку з цим, метою кваліфікаційної роботи є розроблення рецептури смузі на основі селери, визначити оптимальні співвідношення інгредієнтів, дослідити фізико-хімічні показники та стійкість напою. У роботі проведено детальний аналіз харчових властивостей селери, яблука та банана, які були обрані основними компонентами смузі. Розроблено п'ять рецептур смузі з різними співвідношеннями інгредієнтів (селера : яблуко : банан). Найбільш збалансованим за смаковими характеристиками визначено співвідношення 2:1:1, яке забезпечує гармонійний смаковий профіль і привабливу консистенцію. Проведено фізико-хімічний аналіз, що включав визначення вмісту вітамінів, кислотності, pH, енергетичної цінності, що підтвердило збалансованість продукту. Визначено стійкість смузі за різних умов зберігання. Показано, що додавання натаміцину у концентрації 5 мг/дм³ значно подовжує термін придатності продукту: до 21 доби при температурі 0–4°C та до 14 діб за кімнатної температури.
THE USE OF MATHEMATICAL MODELLING TO ESTABLISH THE INTERCALIBRATION INTERVAL OF MEASURING LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS OF GRAIN LABORATORIES
Authors: Zhukov B. , Мakarynska A.
Published: February 2025

Calibration of measuring instruments is a critical aspect of ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and standardization of quality and safety assessments in grain laboratories. Precise measurements are essential for evaluating key agricultural product parameters, including moisture content, protein concentration, and contaminant levels, which directly influence market value, food safety, and regulatory compliance. Regular calibration of laboratory equipment is mandated by ISO/IEC 17025:2017, which establishes general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. This standard ensures measurement traceability, harmonization with international benchmarks, and reproducibility of analytical results. However, frequent calibration procedures present a significant financial burden for laboratories, particularly those operating under budget constraints. The challenge lies in balancing the need for rigorous quality control with cost-effective calibration management.
This study explores the optimization of intercalibration intervals by leveraging mathematical modelling, specifically the application of control charts and statistical regression techniques. The research analyzes calibration data from two categories of instruments: simple measuring devices, represented by glass hygrometers (229 calibration certificates), and complex precision equipment, exemplified by automatic pipettes (79 calibration certificates). A comparative assessment of eight mathematical models, including linear, quadratic, cubic, and exponential regression functions, was conducted to determine the most suitable approach for approximating error progression over time. The findings indicate that while linear regression models provide robust and interpretable predictions for simple instruments, nonlinear models, particularly cubic regression, demonstrated superior predictive accuracy for complex equipment, explaining up to 94–96% of the variance in calibration errors.
However, while nonlinear models offer enhanced precision in tracking measurement deviations, they necessitate larger datasets to mitigate the risk of overfitting and erroneous extrapolations. The study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate statistical modelling techniques tailored to the specific characteristics of the instrument being calibrated. By integrating data-driven approaches, laboratories can establish optimal calibration intervals, thereby enhancing measurement reliability while reducing unnecessary calibration costs. The proposed methodology provides a framework for achieving a balance between accuracy, compliance, and economic feasibility in laboratory calibration management.
AI and Machine Learning in Fraud Detection for Finance and E-Commerce
Authors:   Independent Researcher, Sarma Writuraj , Dey Saswata ,   Independent Researcher
Published: February 2025

The fraud activities involving the finance and e-commerce industries have become very sophisticated,
thus demanding new technologies to solve them. This paper aims to find how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine
Learning (ML) enable the prevention and detection of fraud, utilizing the provision of processing large numbers of
inputs, recognizing irregularities, and assessing risks in real-time. The four areas include: It describes how generative
AI can be used to uncover complex fraudulent schemes, how IoT-enabling chatbots can be integrated to improve the
customer experience while detecting fraudulent activities, and the importance of 5G edge computing to facilitate
immediate processing. The research also pays attention to the necessity of integrating these technologies into the
frameworks of the 'zero-trust' protection concept and enhancing cybersecurity with the help of both. Showing a
practical application of AI and ML in financial and e-commerce environments, this study provides evidence of the emerging trends in combating fraud, enhancing business processes, and enhancing consumers' confidence in the digital economy.
O Papel da Escola na Constituição da Transcendência
Authors: Ferreira Patrick Vieira , Placco Vera Maria Nigro de Souza
Published: February 2025

Resumo Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar as contribuições da escola contemporânea para a constituição da transcendência em alunos do Ensino Médio, na cidade de São Paulo. Os instrumentos de produção de dados foram: 1) aplicação de questionários e 2) grupos de discussão. Como metodologia para o tratamento dos dados assim produzidos, empregou-se a análise descritiva de frequências e variância bem como a análise de prosa. Os resultados revelaram que a escola contribui para a constituição da transcendência quando: 1) proporciona ambientes em que a dimensão transcendental possa ser explorada; 2) oferece auxílio psicoemocional aos alunos; 3) seus professores se tornam mediadores de conhecimentos profundos ao desenvolverem relações baseadas em práticas humanizadoras.