bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Making Sense of STEM Education: An Integration into Higher Education
Authors: Singh Kushagri
Published: December 2024

The goal of STEM education is to increase students' capacity to use their knowledge to
make the world a better place by encouraging creativity and innovation. STEM education in
higher education institutions (HEIs) in India is shaped by the National Education Policy (NEP)
2020, the demand for STEM graduates worldwide, and a number of other factors. This article
provides practical recommendations for development while examining the state, prospects,
trends, and difficulties of STEM education in India's Higher Education Institutions. This study
evaluates data from secondary sources, such as articles, reports, and websites, using a mixedmethods
methodology. The results show a noteworthy rise in diversity, STEM enrollment, curriculum
development, creative pedagogy, research, and innovation. But issues like the demanding
nature of STEM programs, prejudices, exorbitant expenses, and the divide between secondary
and tertiary education continue to exist. Important suggestions consist of: Increasing Integration:
Organize STEM courses according to academic levels and fields. Increasing Exposure: Give
students more opportunities to learn about STEM professions and prepare for the workforce.
Supporting Resources: Give instructors and students access to sufficient facilities and services.
Encouraging Inclusion: Promote gender parity and diversity in STEM disciplines. Building Industry
Links: For practical relevance, strengthen industry-academia ties. In conclusion, STEM
education in India's higher education institutions has the ability to establish India as a global
leader in STEM. It equips students with the opportunities and challenges of the twenty-first century
by providing an all-encompassing, interdisciplinary, and creative learning experience.
Evaluation of the parameters of contact interaction and wear of parts with cylindrical friction surfaces
Authors: Gorlenko A. O. , Ageev E. V. , Shevtsov M. Yu.
Published: December 2024

The purpose of the presented research work was to evaluate various factors affecting the wear process of parts with cylindrical friction surfaces, which will allow to simulate their contact interaction taking into account the parameters of roughness and physico-mechanical properties of the surface layer.

Methods. Modeling of the process of contact interaction of cylindrical surfaces is performed by considering the sliding contact of two cylindrical surfaces, represented as the contact of a smooth elastic sleeve and a shaft with the given (equivalent) values of roughness parameters. The modeling takes into account elastic deformations of conjugate bodies, as well as elastic-plastic deformations of micro-dimensions. When modeling a geometric contact, a certain section of the cylindrical surface is considered, located along the plane forming in the section of the cylinder passing through its axis. This section of the cylindrical surface is considered as an elementary area of the total geometric contact area of cylindrical surfaces and is a section of a cylindrical surface, the width of which is determined by the length of the larger axis of the ellipse at the base of the elliptical paraboloid when modeling a rough surface.

Results. Based on the modeling of the contact interaction of cylindrical surfaces, the main factors influencing the process of their wear are established, such as: the actual contact area; the amount of convergence of the contacting surfaces; the actual pressure; the intensity of wear of the mating cylindrical surfaces. A kinetic wear model is proposed that takes into account the parameters of the roughness and physico-mechanical properties of the surface layer.

Conclusion. Based on the proposed model of wear of parts with cylindrical friction surfaces, taking into account the parameters of roughness and physico-mechanical properties of the surface layer, it became possible to provide the required intensity of wear of cylindrical friction surfaces.
Don’t Forget the Humble Text Message: 25 Years of Text Messaging in Health
Authors: Dobson Rosie , Whittaker Robyn , Abroms Lorien C , Bramley Dale , Free Caroline , McRobbie Hayden , Stowell Melanie , Rodgers Anthony
Published: December 2024

Since the early studies exploring the use of SMS text messaging for health intervention, text messaging has played a pivotal role in the advancement of mobile health. As an intervention modality, text messaging has provided vital learnings for the design and delivery of interventions, particularly in low-resource settings. Despite the advances in technology over the last 25 years, text messaging is still being used in largely the same way to deliver health information, behavior change interventions, and support. The strong, consistent evidence for the benefits of this type of intervention has made text messaging a routine part of health interventions around the world. Key to its success is its simplicity, alongside the benefit of being arguably the most accessible form of consumer digital health intervention. Text message interventions are well suited for public health interventions due to their low cost, vast reach, frequent use, high read rates, and ability to be tailored and personalized. Furthermore, the nature of text messaging interventions makes them ideal for the delivery of multilingual, culturally tailored interventions, which is important in the context of increasing cultural diversity in many countries internationally. Indeed, studies assessing text message–based health interventions have shown them to be effective across sociodemographic and ethnic groups and have led to their adoption into national-level health promotion programs. With a growing focus on artificial intelligence, robotics, sensors, and other advances in digital health, there is an opportunity to integrate these technologies into text messaging programs. Simultaneously, it is essential that equity remains at the forefront for digital health researchers, developers, and implementers. Ensuring digital health solutions address inequities in health experienced across the world while taking action to maximize digital inclusion will ensure the true potential of digital health is realized. Text messaging has the potential to continue to play a pivotal role in the delivery of equitable digital health tools to communities around the world for many years to come. Further new technologies can build on the humble text message, leveraging its success to advance the field of digital health. This Viewpoint presents a retrospective of text messaging in health, drawing on the example of text message–based interventions for smoking cessation, and presents evidence for the continued relevance of this mobile health modality in 2025 and beyond.
Insights and Trends in Open Note Access: Retrospective Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Badwal Randeep Singh , Cavo Paul , Panesar Mandip
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

As of 2021, at least 4 out of every 5 hospitals offered patients access to clinical notes via a web-based patient portal, a number that is expected to grow because of the 21st Century Cures Act. There is limited data on how open note use may have evolved over time or which types of clinical interactions were viewed most in the outpatient setting.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze trends in outpatient open note access over time; characterize usage in terms of age, sex, and clinical interaction type; and assess the method of access to help uncover areas of improvement in patient engagement and identify further areas of research.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted at Erie County Medical Center from November 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, to coincide with the time that open notes went live. Outpatient note access and account logs were downloaded from the portal and combined into a single dataset consisting of 18,384 note accesses by 4615 users, with column headings of the patient index, sex, age, note title that was accessed, clinical interaction type, time stamp of note creation, time stamp of access, and method of access (web vs mobile). A separate table was created with sex data for all 35,273 portal accounts. Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Query were used to combine and analyze the data.

RESULTS

During the study period, 4615 portal users viewed 12,150 documents for a total of 18,384 times, averaging 2.6 notes per patient viewed 4 times. Only 13.1% (4615/35,273) of all portal inpatient and outpatient registrants viewed their outpatient notes. There was a female predominance in those who viewed notes (2926/4615, 63.4%; P<.001), while 56.8% (20,047/35,273) of all portal registrants were female. Users in their 30s and 50s accessed more notes than other age groups. The ratio of mobile-to-web access of notes tended to decrease as a function of increasing age, which was not observed in those aged ≥90 years. Notes regarding COVID-19 assessments were the most accessed among all clinical interactions (4725/12,150, 38.9%). Overall, the number of users accessing notes reached a maximum of 1968 before declining to 1027 by the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Open note access was largely dominated by COVID-19 assessments, and the number of users viewing their notes has declined over time as the pandemic subsided. Furthermore, female patients and those aged in their 30s as well as 50s viewed more notes than other groups. Finally, the percentage of notes viewed via a mobile device tended to decrease as a function of increasing age, showing that web-based access of open notes is an important modality for older patients.
The Impact and Wider Implications of Remote Consultations for General Practice in Norway: Qualitative Study Among Norwegian Contract General Practitioners (Preprint)
Authors: Norberg Børge Lønnebakke , Austad Bjarne , Kristiansen Eli , Zanaboni Paolo , Getz Linn Okkenhaug
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

The digital shift toward remote consultations in general practice needs ongoing monitoring to understand its impact on general practice organizations and the wider health care system.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore how remote consultations impact on contracted general practitioner (GP) practices and how GPs perceive the implications of this uptake for the overall health care system.

METHODS

In total, 5 focus groups were conducted with a total of 18 GPs from all 4 health regions of Norway in 2022. The material was subjected to Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The analysis yielded six themes: (1) the design of novel effective clinical pathways: remote consultations empower GPs to tailor new effective clinical trajectories, blending modalities to address diverse needs across clinical episodes—from initial triage, through investigations to case closure; (2) increased workday flexibility: remote consultations introduce variability into daily work, allowing GPs to adjust patient contact intensity, and leading to a less stressful work-home balance; (3) erosion of organizational boundaries: easy remote access to GPs appears to reduce patients’ tolerance for minor illness and self-care, hindering effective gatekeeping and shifting GPs’ focus from proactive to more reactive work, increasing work-related stress; (4) degradation of clinical shrewdness: confronted with an increasing amount of unsorted and trivial remote inquiries, GPs observe challenges in detecting and prioritizing serious cases; (5) dilemmas related to responsibility, ethics, and legislation: remote consultations highlight a tension for contract GPs between legal responsibilities and ethical obligations, with implications for patients with limited health literacy; this may entail suboptimal evaluation or delayed treatment—potentially contributing to increased health care inequity; and (6) retaining clinical core values in a changing world. Overall, GPs affirm that remote consultations have come to stay and describe efforts to effectively manage the advantages and disadvantages inherent in such interactions to safeguard clinical effectiveness and organizational sustainability of primary health care.

CONCLUSIONS

The widespread adoption of remote consultations in the Norwegian contract GP scheme fundamentally reshapes the dynamics of GP work and the overall health care system. Awareness and proactive management of these changes are essential for maintaining sustainable, high-quality primary health care.
Evaluation of the ALIBIRD mHealth Platform for Patient Monitoring in Lung Cancer: Prospective Interventional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Iniesta-Chamorro Jose M. , Sereno Maria , Garrido-Rubiales Beatriz , Villarino Sanz Marta , Espinosa-Salinas Isabel , Falagán Sandra , Rubio Gustavo , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Tabarés Beatriz , Martín Yolanda , Hernández de Córdoba Irene , Morales Maria , Molinero Natalia , Moreno-Arribas M. Victoria , Reglero Guillermo , Ramírez de Molina Ana , Gómez Enrique J. , Casado Enrique
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Mobile Health (mHealth) represents a promising instrument for optimizing symptom management and important lifestyle strategies that enhance self-care and the quality of healthcare for cancer patients. The ALIBIRD mHealth is a digital health solution specifically designed for the telemonitoring of oncology patients, fostering patient empowerment and supporting clinical decision-making.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the patient experience with the ALIBIRD platform. Additionally, the study aimed to assess clinical outcomes, particularly in symptom management, nutritional status, and lifestyle, using patient-reported outcome measures.

METHODS

The evaluation of the mHealth platform was conducted over a 30-week period involving patients with advanced lung cancer who were undergoing active treatment. Through a mobile application, patients reported their symptoms and lifestyle data while receiving personalized recommendations, which included nutrigenetic and microbiota reports. Clinicians monitored patient data remotely using a web-based tool and executed various clinical interventions, including phone calls, therapeutic adjustments, referrals, and appointment rescheduling.

RESULTS

Out of 20 patients recruited for the study, 14 completed the intervention. The System Usability Scale yielded a score of 90, indicating high levels of patient satisfaction. The ALIBIRD platform collected and processed 3,589 patient-reported outcomes related to physical activity, 3,468 related to sleep, 679 on-demand symptom entries, and 1,524 completed questionnaires. Clinically, 143 alerts were resolved within an average of 2.05 days, resulting in two referrals to emergency rooms and two early detections of disease progressions. Furthermore, over 2,100 personalized recommendations contributed to a 21% increase in adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a 14.28% increase in moderate physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The evaluation of the ALIBIRD implementation yielded promising results in that it facilitated the adoption of healthier life-style habits while enhancing health self-management among oncology patients. The ALIBIRD mHealth platform emerges as an effective digital health tool that enables closer monitoring of patients and thereby more informed clinical decision-making.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05770869
Patient Satisfaction with a Comprehensive Remote Care Program for Chronic Condition Management for Adults under Medical Care (Preprint)
Authors: Merrill Michael , Zbikowski Susan M. , Jenkins Garrett J.
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Over half of adults in the United States suffer from at least one chronic medical condition. Remote care strategies including telemedicine and remote monitoring with connected devices have grown in popularity to help patients manage their chronic conditions and follow medically prescribed recommendations [1, 2]. Understanding participants’ experiences with using remote care/remote monitoring programs is beneficial to determining if participants find these programs useful and will use them as part of their care strategy.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize participant’s satisfaction of non-hospitalized patients referred to and enrolled in Brook’s Remote Care program for individuals under care for a chronic health condition. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into participant’s ratings of program usefulness and satisfaction and how program ratings and self-reported health outcomes relate to participant demographics, length of time in the program, and which health conditions are being managed.

METHODS

A participant experience survey was emailed between September 23 and December 8, 2023, to active participants in the Brook’s Remote Care program. The survey included questions to rate program usefulness and satisfaction, program features, nurse monitoring, self-reported health and changes in health, condition management, and emotional wellbeing. Frequencies and percentages were generated for survey response data and responses were compared by gender, age group, duration in the program and health condition.

RESULTS

Surveys were sent to 1,411 active remote care participants and 360 participants responded to the survey resulting in a 26% response rate. Participants reported the program was useful (88%) and that they were highly likely to recommend it (65%) to other people with similar needs. 68% to 85% of participants rated program features as “good” to “excellent.” Nurse monitoring, monitoring devices, and program costs were rated most favorably. Nearly half of participants reported their physical (49%) and emotional health (45%) improved since being in the program and greater knowledge about their health condition (48%).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of Remote Care for health condition management has grown in popularity. Remote Care programs play an important role in helping patients adhere to their provider’s care plan recommendations and improve the overall self-management of their chronic medical condition. Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the likelihood of participation and engagement. This study revealed high satisfaction with a program that included health monitoring with devices, routine follow-up with a nurse or coach, and patient education related to condition management and lifestyle change.
Digital Framework to Support a Shared Agenda at Surgical Ward Rounds: Participatory Design Study (Preprint)
Authors: Poulsen Helle , Clemensen Jane , Ammentorp Jette , Kofoed Poul-Erik , Wolderslund Maiken
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Surgical ward rounds (SWRs) are often unstructured and deprioritized compared to traditional surgical tasks, leading to limited interdisciplinary collaboration, unprepared patients, and low family attendance.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to design and develop a digital framework to facilitate a shared agenda for SWRs, ensuring all core participants can attend and participate effectively.

METHODS

Participatory design methodologies were employed, utilizing user-engaging activities within an iterative process. A multidisciplinary team, including patients, relatives, healthcare providers, technology designers, and researchers, collaborated in workshops and testing to translate user needs into prototypes of technologies consisting of the digital framework.

RESULTS

A logistics system was developed for nurses to pre-book the SWRs in designated time slots, enabling them to prepare relevant data and partake in the dialogue with patients. Additionally, a mobile Health app displayed the schedule for patients and relatives, helping them to participate and prepare questions in advance. Multiple iterations ensured that the digital framework met user needs and was feasible for clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the importance of collaboration between users and technology designers in developing digital health technologies. Engaging the users helped identify organizational challenges that needed to be addressed to integrate the digital framework into clinical settings.
Is there science in fiction? Exploring perceptions of a virtual reality electrocardiogram training system: a proposal (Preprint)
Authors: Cochrane Maria Elizabeth , Smit Liesel , Van der Merwe Wanda , Herselman Ronel , De Beer Koos
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, virtual reality (VR) has gained traction in healthcare skills training due to its ability to improve educational quality and efficiency. VR offers immersive simulations for practicing medical procedures safely, enabling repetition, immediate feedback and risk-free failure. However, despite its advantages, VR adoption in South Africa remains limited, with little information available on its implementation, benefits, and challenges in this context.

OBJECTIVE

Therefore, the aims of the study are to determine: the impact; relevance; perceived benefits; challenges; potential risks; perceived effectiveness; and lecturers’ perceptions and experiences of a novel VR simulator training system.

METHODS

A three-year longitudinal cohort study will recruit third-year medical students and staff involved in skills training. In the first year, the initial cohort (cohort 1) will be recruited. In the second year, a follow-up will be conducted with cohort 1, and a new group of third-year students (cohort 2) will be recruited as a comparator group. Both cohorts will be followed for two years. Data will be collected via questionnaires and focus group interviews.

RESULTS

To ensure a confidence level of 95% (5% margin of error), 222 students and 3 lecturers are required to participate in the study. To account for attrition and incomplete questionnaire submission, 312 students (i.e., 156 per cohort) and 4 staff members will be recruited for participation. Quantitative data will undergo descriptive analysis, while qualitative data will be analyzed thematically using a grounded theory approach, incorporating both inductive and deductive methods. Data collection will commence in January 2025 and will continue until December 2028.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will be the first in South Africa to investigate VR technology usage for electrocardiogram procedural skills training over a prolonged period of time. The results obtained from the data collected may be used in decision-making regarding the feasibility of VR for skills training both in a local- and global context.

CLINICALTRIAL

Not applicable
KLASİK TÜRK MÜZİĞİ ESERLERİNDEKİ DEĞERLERİN ÖĞRENCİ GÖZÜNDEN İNCELENMESİ: GÜZEL SANATLAR LİSESİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: Bayram Emrah , Yıldırım Sevda Gülşah
Published: December 2024

Araştırmada Güzel Sanatlar Lisesinde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin gözünden Klasik Türk Müziği eserlerinde yer alan değerlere ilişkin görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmak amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada nitel araştırma modeli doğasına uygun olarak doküman incelemesi yöntemi tercih edilmiştir. Çalışma grubunu Klasik Türk Müziği eserlerinden sınıf düzeylerinde icra edilen dört eser ve bu eserleri inceleyen her bir sınıf kademesinden olmak üzere 11 Güzel Sanatlar Lisesi öğrencisi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırma sonucunda analiz edilen eserlerde değerden ziyade duygu ifadelerine yer verildiği görülmüştür. Yine eserlerin değerler açısından etkisine yönelik öğrencilerin genelde duyuşsal alana yönelik ifadelere rastlanmıştır. Eğitim-öğretim süreci içerisinde tercih edilen eserlerin, öğrenciler açısından değerleri yeterince yansıtmadığı sonucuna erişilmiştir.
KAYIHAN KESKİNOK ESERLERİNDE MİTOLOJİK ÖGELER
Authors: Çevik Semra
Published: December 2024

Resim sanatı; yazılı edebiyatta sözlü ifadenin anlatıldığına benzer bir biçimde fikirleri görsel imgelerle hikâyeleştirir. Sanatçı sözlü düşüncenin anlamını renk, doku ve çizgiyle güçlendirerek somutlaşmasını sağlar. Resim sanatında sanatçılar konularını günlük yaşamdan seçtikleri gibi aynı zamanda onları mitoloji ile ilişkilendirirler. Yaratıcılık aracı olarak mitoloji resme önemli katkılar sağlar ve bir tür kurgu olarak anlatılar aracılığıyla bilinçaltı ile iletişim kurmaktadırlar. Mitolojik anlatıların görünen dünyanın ve toplumun işleyişini düzenleyen ortak bilinçaltının ürünleri olduğundan hareketle Kayıhan Keskinok’un eserlerinde hangi mitolojik anlatılar ve ögelerine yer verdiği bu çalışmanın ana sorusunu oluşturmaktadır.
Bu çalışmada; sanatçının vakıftaki eserleri, basılı kitapları incelenmiş ve eserlerinde kullandığı mitolojik ögeler tespit edilmiştir. Sanatçının eserlerinde; Sümer, Yunan mitolojisine ait ögelerin öne çıktığı bulgulanmıştır. Bu mitolojilerin yanı sıra çağdaş destanlar, Anadolu kahraman ve lider miti ögelerinin de sanatçının çalışmalarında sıklıkla yer aldığı görülmüştür. Bu bağlamda farklı mitolojik anlatılar içeren çalışmalardan birer örnek seçilmiş, ilgili efsaneler tespit edilerek ikonografik okumaları yapılmış, betimsel analiz yöntemiyle incelenerek mitolojik ögeler içeren eserlerde anlatıcı olarak Kayıhan Keskinok’un kuşaktan kuşağa aktarılarak gelen söylenceyi kendi sanat tarzı ile izleyicinin deneyimine nasıl sunduğu aktarılmıştır.
Dissolution behaviour of black alder bark extractives in polyurethane synthesis media: a comprehensive study
Authors:   Latvian State Institute of wood chemistry, Latvia, Lauberts Maris , Pals Matiss ,   Latvian State Institute of wood chemistry, Latvia, Ponomarenko Jevgenija ,   Latvian State Institute of wood chemistry, Latvia, Arshanitsa Alexandr ,   Latvian State Institute of wood chemistry, Latvia
Published: December 2024

Two approaches to incorporating black alder (BA) bark extractives-derived polyol into a polyurethane (PU) network were studied. In the first case, fractionation of bark extractives with tetrahydrofuran (THF), focusing on isolating the biomass fraction available for obtaining PU elastomers by casting methods using cyclic ethers as a solvent, was employed. Another approach aimed to obtain liquid bio-polyols that could be suitable for producing rigid PU foams. For this purpose, oven-dried crude BA bark water extracts were liquefied with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) at temperatures of 130-170°C. The effect of adding sulfuric acid as a catalyst on biomass processing was studied. Wet chemistry, GC, FTIR spectroscopy, analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS/FID) and rheological methods were employed to characterize the obtained polyols and insoluble fractions, enabling an assessment of biomass transformation during processing. The resulting THF-soluble fraction comprised 62% of the BA bark extract, mainly consisting of the xyloside form of the diarylheptanoid compound oregonin, along with oligomeric flavonoids and carbohydrates. The THF-insoluble fraction was most enriched with carbohydrate compounds. Moreover, it was observed that the PEG 400-insoluble fractions were predominantly composed of carbohydrate components. The results indicated that the use of sulfuric acid as a catalyst (1-1.5% of solvent) promotes the complete liquefaction of extractives, enabling biomass content in polyols of up to15-25%. Surpassing the extract content in the starting suspension up to 30% resulted in incomplete liquefaction of biomass. These findings offer valuable insights into tailoring BA bark extractives as building blocks suitable for obtaining PU materials.
financiamento e o monitoramento da principal política pública de saúde e educação do Brasil
Authors: Santos Edson Manoel dos , Roggero Rosemary
Published: December 2024

Este trabalho visa analisar a autonomia dos membros dos Grupos de Trabalho Intersetorial (GTI) quanto ao financiamento e monitoramento das ações do Programa Saúde na Escola (PSE), que é a principal política de saúde escolar brasileira promovida pelos Ministérios da Saúde e da Educação. Esta pesquisa contou com a participação de representantes de secretarias estaduais e municipais (de capitais estaduais), de educação e de saúde que compõem os GTI através de um questionário eletrônico. Representando 23 estados, o Distrito Federal e 22 capitais estaduais, as 90 respostas recebidas indicam que os membros dos GTI não possuem autonomia na gestão financeira do PSE, mas estão envolvidos em seu monitoramento. Conclui-se, assim, a necessidade de revisão dos protocolos do PSE para que o GTI possa acompanhar a utilização dos recursos financeiros, bem como a necessidade de novas investigações sobre a atuação dos GTI.
Medical and legal significance of assessing the probability of brain death in patients after intraoperative cardiac arrest and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Vinogradov V. L. , Pletyanova I. V. , Gubarev K. K.
Published: December 2024

Background. After successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation for intraoperative cardiac arrest, most patients die in the Intensive Care Unit from multiple organ failure, cardiovascular complications that develop after hypoxic-ischemic damage to the central nervous system. In some patients whose heart is still beating in conditions of mechanical ventilation, a complete and irreversible cessation of all brain functions may occur, that is, brain death.

Objective. Based on clinical criteria, we made an attempt to assess the likelihood of developing a condition consistent with the diagnosis of brain death in those who sustained cardiac arrest during surgery or other medical manipulation and underwent successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but died later in the Intensive Care Unit.

Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of medical records related to 45 clinical cases was performed to assess the likelihood of brain death according to the Quality Assurance Programme in the Deceased Donation Process (QAPDD) methodology, which has been used during an external audit in hospitals of Spain and specifically focused on the donation process after brain death.

Results. In 30 (66.7%) patients, based on the proposed criteria, a high probability of developing brain death was noted. At the same time, in 27 (90%) cases, clinical signs of brain death were noted within the first 6 days after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Biological death in these patients was ascertained within 1 to 119 days from the moment of the development of clinical signs of brain death.

Inference. The concept of brain death has serious medical, economic, legal, and ethical implications. When clinical suspicion of brain death arises, it is important that all such undergo standard diagnostic procedures to objectively rule out or confirm the diagnosis of brain death.

Conclusion. The probability brain death occurrence in patients after intraoperative cardiac arrest and successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation is statistically siqnificant at 66.7% (p=0.0196).
Results of assessing the dynamics of ophthalmological complications in chronic kidney disease patients after kidney transplantation
Authors: Mavlyanova U. F. , Yusupov A. F. , Bakhritdinov F. Sh. , Ashirmatova Kh. S.
Published: December 2024

Objective. The study objective was to investigate the dynamics of opthalmological complications in the non-diabetic end-stage chronic kidney disease in patients after kidney transplantation.

Material and methods. A long-term observation was conducted to assess the changes in morphofunctional parameters of eyes in patients of the study group (after kidney transplantation, n=135 (269 eyes)) and the comparison group (continued on hemodialysis, n=81 (162 eyes)) over 18 months. Both general and specialized ophthalmological investigation methods were employed.

Results. The observation showed a positive trend in patients after kidney transplantation, which was manifested by reduced corneal and conjunctival calcification. In the comparison group, both an increase and decrease in qualitative signs of retinopathy were seen as based on optical coherence tomography data, while in the study group, most retinopathy signs decreased, indicating a positive trend possibly brought about by the kidney transplantation. Analysis of optical coherence tomography quantitative parameters showed an improvement in central choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the study group.

Conclusion. Kidney transplantation in patients with the non-diabetic end-stage chronic kidney disease leads to a reduction in ophthalmological complications both in the anterior eye segment (reduced corneal and conjunctival calcification) and in its posterior segment (improved optical coherence tomography retinal parameters).
Changes in graft density after effective treatment of recurrent hepatitis C in liver transplant recipients during long-term follow-up
Authors: Syutkin V. E. , Mazurchik N. V. , Maltseva A. P. , Niyazov A. R. , Yaremin B. I.
Published: December 2024

Background. The main mechanism underlying the progression of chronic liver transplant disease is an increase in fibrosis, which is associated with an increase in liver density. An effective antiviral therapy for recurrent hepatitis C has led to the increased graft and recipient survival rates.

Objective. To study the long-term effect of successful antiviral therapy on changes in the graft fibrosis stage in liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C.

Material and methods. Transient elastography was used to study the change in liver density in 33 liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C before the start of antiviral therapy and 54 months (IQR: 37;59) after its completion. The median liver densities before antiviral therapy and at the end of follow–up were 7.8 kPa (IQR: 6.1;12.0), and 6.4 kPa, respectively (IQR: 5.5;7.7; p<0.0001). Upon completion of the follow–up, the fibrosis stage decreased by 2 in 4 (12.1%) recipients, by 1 in 8 (24.2%) recipients. In 19 (57.6%) cases, the stage of fibrosis did not change, and in 2 (6.1%) recipients it increased by 1. No clear correlations were found between any of the following parameters: alanine aminotransferase activity, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity, body mass index and the liver density assessed before the start of antiviral therapy and on follow-up completion.

Conclusion. Effective antiviral therapy leads to a long-term (over 4-5 years) decrease in liver density, which is largely due to the slowdown and reverse progression of liver fibrosis. The effect of non-HCV-related risk factors on liver density in this patient population is not significant.
Effect of DNA target size on the efficiency of chimerism measurement in circulating free plasma DNA
Authors: Nikulina E. E. , Risinskaya N. V. , Dubova O. E. , Sumtsova O. V. , Moysyuk Ya. G. , Vasilieva V. A. , Soloveva M. V. , Yushkova A. A. , Fevraleva I. S. , Skripkina A. S. , Makarik A. A. , Sudarikov A. B.
Published: December 2024

Introduction. The analysis of free circulating DNA (cfDNA) holds promise for molecular diagnostics, but its fragmentation and low concentration can complicate PCR analysis.

Objective. To investigate the effect of target length on the amplification efficiency of Y-chromosome markers from cfDNA.

Material and methods. Fifty cfDNA samples were obtained from 39 patients: patients after liver transplantation (n=19), patients with acute leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=10), and pregnant women (n=10). In addition, we prepared 16 chimeric samples by sequential dilution of male cfDNA into female cfDNA from healthy donors. We determined the proportion of male cfDNA using the Y-chromosome marker S02, which is 211 bp in length as suggested by M. Alizadeh et al. We also modified Alizadeh's primer design to obtain a DNA target with a length of 138 bp. The proportion of male cfDNA was also determined by fragment analysis using the amelogenin Y marker (84 bp) from the COrDIS Plus kit (Gordiz LLC, Russia).

Results. In the three groups of patients, amplification of male cfDNA was more efficient when shorter DNA targets were used (p<0.05). In artificially created ‘chimeras’ with a known ratio of male to female cfDNA, analysis of a marker of 84 bp in length gave values closest to the real ones.

Conclusions. In the quantitative models tested so far, shorter PCR targets are preferred for the analysis of cfDNA.
Potential of X-ray endovascular technologies in the correction of rare vascular complications after kidney transplantation
Authors: Shabunin A. V. , Bedin V. V. , Arablinskii A. V. , Minina M. G. , Tsurkan V. A. , Drozdov P. A. , Nesterenko I. V. , Tseloeva A. Kh. , Kolbasova Yu. V. , Semenova L. P. , Vetlugina E. Yu.
Published: December 2024

Objective. The paper aims at demonstrating the efficacy of endovascular interventional techniques in the treatment of rare vascular complications after kidney transplantation.

Material and methods. Recipients of renal grafts obtained from a deceased donor developed the following complications: a false aneurysm of the interlobar renal artery after lymphocele puncture in one case and a subintimal hematoma of the external iliac artery with subocclusion of the latter and impaired perfusion of the renal graft in the other one.

Results. These complications were successfully managed using X-ray endovascular technologies, which allowed saving the renal grafts in both cases with satisfactory long-term results.

Conclusion. Early diagnosis and endovascular technologies made it possible to cope with complications minimally invasively and prevent the development of adverse events in the long term.
Smart Home for Supporting Elderly Based On Ultrawideband Positioning System
Authors: Muhtadin  , Nazarrudin Ahmad Ricky , Purnama I Ketut Eddy , Fatichah Chastine , Purnomo Mauridhi Hery
Published: December 2024

In 2017, the rate of dependency among the elderly was reported to be at 13.28%, which was problematic, due to the limited number of caregivers to assist them at all times. To address this issue, a robotic service and vital sign-based system were developed, but it was found to be insufficient for monitoring the activities of the elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to address the high dependency rates of elderly individuals who required constant support and care to survive by designing an ultrawideband-based positioning system. The system consisted of five sub-systems, including an indoor positioning system, a database system, a data processing system, an actuator system, and an application user interface. The system testing phase revealed several important findings, including that the position coordinates of the elderly were accurately read with differences of only 98.884 mm and 279.94 under Line of Sight and Non-Line of Sight conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the initial error rate of 164.39% was successfully reduced to only 1.096% by applying the average filter method in the data processing system. The actuator system also showed an impressive accuracy rate of 98% success, while the Android-based application user interface received a high user experience rate of 92.3%. Overall, these findings suggested that the ultrawideband-based positioning system had significant potential to support smart homes for the elderly and improve their quality of life.
Subsídios para o desenvolvimento de um modelo epistemológico de referência para a compreensão do conceito de equações diferenciais ordinárias
Authors: Abar Celina A. A. Pereira , Mesquita Amábile Jeovana Neiris
Published: December 2024

O número especial da revista Educação Matemática Pesquisa (EMP) apresenta a questão: Como elaborar um Modelo Epistemológico de Referência (MER) para o ensino de Cálculo? Para colaborarmos com a resposta a essa questão, apresentamos um excerto de uma pesquisa de doutorado em andamento sobre Equações Diferenciais Ordinárias. Como fatores a serem consideradas em um MER ressaltamos as contribuições da Matemática Crítica que destaca uma análise sobre o fracasso escolar, com um foco específico na matemática, e como isso está relacionado às práticas curriculares e aos modelos epistemológicos subjacentes dominantes, os quais enfatizam a transmissão de conhecimento de forma passiva e descontextualizada. A ideia central é que esses modelos não devem ser aceitos passivamente, mas sim questionados e revisados constantemente. Neste estudo foram considerados alguns elementos históricos sobre o tema, assim como dificuldades e avanços do processo de ensino e de aprendizagem tomando resultados de algumas pesquisas. A evolução do conceito de Equações Diferenciais Ordinárias ao longo do tempo, está intrinsecamente ligada às contribuições dos matemáticos na sua definição e compreensão. A modelagem e a teoria dos registros de representação semiótica possibilitaram compor um cenário que evidenciasse os conhecimentos necessários para o ensino de equações diferenciais ordinárias. O saber tecnológico, presente na pesquisa, compreende o conhecimento do GeoGebra que auxiliou no processo de ensino e de aprendizagem deste tema. Estudos preliminares de um Modelo Epistemológico Dominante (MED) sobre um objeto matemático, no caso Equações Diferenciais Ordinárias, podem decorrer em implicações relevantes, na medida em que motiva a construção de um MER.
Impact of Serialization Format on Inter-Service Latency
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Maltsev Eduard , Ul Amin Riaz ,   Edinburgh Napier University, Merchiston Campus
Published: December 2024

This study provides an evaluation of the impact of various serialization formats on inter-service communication performance, with a focus on serialization speed, space efficiency, and latency in environments integrating middleware, which are characteristics of microservice architectures. Through an empirical analysis of a wide range of serialization formats and comparison to the traditional standards, it highlights that the compactness of serialized payloads is more critical in reducing end-to-end latency than the sheer speed of serialization itself. Despite their high serialization speeds, FlatBuffers and Cap’n Proto underperform in distributed settings, in contrast to the more balanced performance seen with Avro, Thrift, and Protobuf. This study underscores the importance of message size optimization in boosting network efficiency and
throughput.
Performance Analysis of Different Types of Nn Models for Target Recognition
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Tsiunyk Bohdan , Muliarevych Oleksandr
Published: December 2024

The objective of this research is to conduct a comprehensive performance analysis of various types of neural network (NN) models for target recognition. Specifically, this study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of yolov8n, yolov8s, yolov8m models in target recognition tasks. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as OpenCV, the research is aimed at developing a robust methodology for assessing the performance of these NN models. Through meticulous analysis, this study aims to provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each
model, facilitating informed decision-making for practical applications1. This paper presents the process of designing and conducting the performance analysis. The study discusses the implications of the findings for future developments in target recognition systems.
Encrypting the File System on a Single-Board Computers Platform and Using Linux Unified Key Setup With Physical Access Keys
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Onishchenko Bohdan , Banakh Roman , Ibrahim Abdallah ,   Suez Canal University
Published: December 2024

The object of the research is the security of the file system of a single-board platform. As part of the research reported in this paper, a method has been proposed to protect the file system using encryption. Implementing a Linux Unified Key Setup paired with a password or Universal Serial Bus key has been demonstrated. The advantages of Linux Unified Key Setup for this task and the possibilities for system configuration and encryption method depending on the use case and hardware configuration has been outlined. As a result, the administrator of a single-board computer can store and work with sensitive information in a more secure environment. This will allow the user to be sure that their private information will not be accessible in case of theft or attempted hacking of the device.
Agriculture Vehicles Predictive Maintenance With Telemetry, Maintenance History and Geospatial Data
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Department of Computerized Automatic Systems, Shykhmat Anton , Veres Zenovii ,   Lviv Politechnic National University
Published: December 2024

Timely detection and prevention of agriculture vehicles malfunctions are key approaches to reducing maintenance costs, as well as updating and replacing equipment, and reducing the cost of growing agricultural crops. In this article an approach for Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction that utilizes a combination of telemetry, maintenance, and geospatial data (such as weather and terrain information) as input to a Long Short- Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm has been considered. The results have shown that the models trained on the dataset enriched with geospatial data outperformed the models that relied solely on telemetry and maintenance data, demonstrating the benefits of including location-specific factors. However, the model’s RUL prediction applicability for electric and hydraulic systems needs further exploration due to the current dataset limitations.
Blockchain Applicability for Storing Iot Telemetric Data in Logistic
Authors:   Lviv Politechnic National University, Vovchak Orest , Veres Zenovii
Published: December 2024

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the logistics industry by enabling real-time tracking and monitoring of goods throughout the supply chain. However, the immense volume of telemetric data generated by IoT devices presents significant challenges in terms of scalability, data integrity, and security for traditional database solutions. This paper explores the applicability of blockchain technology as an alternative for storing and managing IoT telemetric data in logistics. The blockchain’s decentralized structure, immutable ledger, and smart contract capabilities to address these challenges have been investigated. An ability to enhance data security, automation, and transparency has been disclosed. A comparative analysis between blockchain-based storage and traditional databases, has benn presented, focusing on key criteria such as scalability, data integrity, security, and cost efficiency.
Classifying Serialization Formats for Inter-service Communication in Distributed Systems
Authors:   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Maltsev Eduard , Muliarevych Oleksandr , Razzaque Asmad ,   Sapienza University of Rome
Published: December 2024

This study focuses on classifying serialization formats used in inter-service communication (ISC) within distributed systems and exploring their historical development. We have examined key features of humanreadable formats such as XML, JSON, and YAML, binary formats like Protocol Buffers and Apache Avro, and columnar formats such as Apache Parquet and ORC, among others. Our results have indicated a significant shift toward binary formats optimized for speed and compactness in recent years. The industry demand score for Apache Avro and Google Protocol Buffers has been shown to be much higher than for Thrift. JSON remains on top, showing the best score for general technology adoption and industry demand score; Zero-copy formats like Can’n proto and Flatbuffers show lower industry demand scores in comparison to AVRO and Protocol Buffers but are useful in specific scenarios.
Optimization Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks to Solve Maximization Problems
Authors:   Gori State University, Mshvidobadze Tinatin
Published: December 2024

The paper describes a constant time clustering algorithm that can be applied on wireless sensor networks. The scheme for rate control, scheduling, routing, and power control protocol for wireless sensor networks based on compressive sensing has been shown. Using network utility maximization formulations, cross-optimization solutions using Lagrangian multipliers in network access control and physical layers have been presented. The optimization solutions have been developed by solving the optimization model of network utility maximization. The paper presents a cross-sectional design problem that jointly maximizes network utility and lifetime. The solution to the problem leads to the optimal source rate as well as the optimal routes between each source and sink in the network. The presence of a common sink node in the network has been formulated to develop a distributed algorithm that minimizes the energy overhead in its implementation.