bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Night Combat in Late Antiquity in the Light of Roman Military Treatises
Authors: Różycki Łukasz
Published: December 2023

The aim of the text entitled: Night Combat in Late Antiquity in the Light of Roman Military Treatises is to present the theory and practice of night combat in the 6th century. Based on source analysis (military treatises – mainly Strategicon, and Late Roman and Byzantine historiography), the author presented the theory and practice of night fighting. Apart from classical methods of analysis, the psychology of the battlefield was also used. This gives us a complete picture of how Byzantines use the night as an advantage on the battlefield.
“Ex Marte se procreatum” – Did the Roman Emperor Galerius Make Mars his Personal Protective Deitie?
Authors: Bralewski Sławomir
Published: December 2023

Lactantius referred in his work On the Deaths of the Persecutors (De mortibus persecutorum) to a great victory which Caesar Galerius won over the Persians. From then on, he demanded for himself the title of Augustus and, we are made to believe, insisted upon being called a son of Mars as second Romulus. Did he thus deviate from the truth? Or, on the contrary, did Galerius render Mars his divine patron and does Lactantius’ account remain in agreement with other sources and reflect the true course of events. The aim in this article is to resolve this issue.

It thus seems that as a result of the triumph over the Persians, which he was believed to owe to Mars, Galerius gained a new position already under the first tetrarchy, which Lactantius testifies to in his work On the Deaths of the Persecutors. It is thus clear that Lactantius’s testimony according to which Galerius recognized Mars as his divine patron is credible and remains in agreement both with a number of other sources and with the true course of events.
Impact of Taxes, Transfers, and Subsidies on Income Distributionand Poverty in Argentina
Authors: Rossignolo Dario
Published: December 2023

This study evaluates the impact of direct and indirect taxes, as well as public expenditure on transfers (monetary and in-kind, economic subsidies, healthcare, and education), on income distribution and poverty in Argentina. It utilizes a standard fiscal incidence analysis and combines data from the Permanent Household Survey (EPH) and the National Household Expenditure Survey (ENGHo). The findings indicate that fiscal policy has been a powerful instrument in reducing inequality and poverty. However, unusually high levels of public spending could potentially render the programs unsustainable.
La materialidad de los muertos vivos. La carta-relación del licenciado Polo Ondegardo al arzobispo Jerónimo de Loaysa de 1566 y su contexto
Authors: Lamana Gonzalo
Published: December 2023

A principios de 1566, el licenciado Polo Ondegardo, un reconocido experto en asunto indígenas, envió al arzobispo Jerónimo de Loaysa una detallada carta-relación —desconocida hasta hoy— sobre ideas y prácticas nativas relacionadas con la muerte. Polo respondió así al pedido expreso de Loayza, lo cual requiere una explicación, pues en 1559 ya le había entregado un extenso tratado sobre religiones indígenas. Este ensayo busca posibles respuestas examinando en detalle el debate sobre la explotación de las huacas y enterramientos, el Taqui Onqoy, y el cambio progresivo de la primera a la segunda evangelización del territorio andino.
Mujeres en espacios étnicos: Relaciones prácticas, roles y estrategias (cacicazgos de Tarata, Tacna y Codpa, 1759-1803)
Authors: Inostroza Ponce Xochitl
Published: December 2023

A partir de la conceptualización de espacios étnicos, se busca caracterizar la vida cotidiana de mujeres que habitaron los cacicazgos de Tarata, Tacna y Codpa. La historia de dos mujeres mestizas, pertenecientes a familias de caciques, y de las mujeres esclavizadas que poseían cada una es abordada a partir de los testamentos de las primeras. Su situación es comparada con la de dos mujeres originarias habitantes del pueblo de Belén y de dos esclavas del cura que habitaron la misma doctrina, cuyas vidas fueron reconstruidas a partir de libros parroquiales. Se evidencian disímiles aspectos en sus relaciones prácticas que permiten diferenciar espacios étnicos.
Victimization during the COVID-19 pandemic and symptoms of psychological trauma in early and late adolescents: the mediating role of loneliness
Authors: Magro Lazo Giancarlo Carlos , Miranda Ayala Rafael Alberto , Oriol Granado Xavier
Published: December 2023

This study aims to analyze the effect of victimization suffered during the COVID-19 lockdown on psychological trauma in early and late adolescents. The sample of this study comprised of 933 Peruvian adolescents, 45.5% (n= 423) were males and (54.5%) (n= 506) were females. 44.5% (n=415) were in early adolescence (12 to 13 years) and 55.5 % (n=518) were in late adolescence (14 to 17 years). Data was collected online during the COVID-19 lockdown. Results show that early adolescents who have suffered victimization have higher probabilities of suffering psychological trauma than late adolescents compared to non- victims. In addition, loneliness is observed to play a significant role as a mediator in the relationship between victimization and psychological trauma in Early Adolescents (B = .69, SE = 0.08, CI [ .53, .86]) and late adolescents (B = .66, SE = 0.07, CI [.51, .81]). Results suggests that the cost-benefit of COVID 19 lockdown should be reconsidered. Social distance could had made difficult for adolescents to stablish interpersonal relationships and solve conflicts associated with victimization. Loneliness could be an expression of these difficulties and therefore explain symptoms of psychological trauma. Finally, results are discussed in order to prevent the harmful effects of the pandemic and the measures taken on adolescent mental health, especially in middle- and low-income countries.
Discrepancies and Similarities Between Online and Face-to-Face Teachers’ Use of Open Educational Resources (OER) for Teaching Purposes
Authors: Dashtestani Reza , Suhrawardi Ahmad Mohamadi
Published: December 2023

The integration of open educational resources (OER) in the educational curricula of universities and educational organizations has gained tremendous popularity. However, there is a gap in research on teachers’ attitudes toward OER in many developing countries. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study explored the use of OER by online and face-to-face teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Iran. A total of 62 teachers (31 online teachers and 31 face-to-face teachers) participated in the study. Survey and interview results indicated that there were significant differences between online and face-to-face teachers’ attitudes toward OER. Online teachers had a more positive attitude toward OER than face-to-face teachers. The perceived benefits of OER included developing the flexibility of curricula, encouraging personalized learning, and offering pedagogical options for teachers. There were several perceived OER-based challenges in the educational context of Iran as well. The challenges included teachers’ uncertainty about copyright issues, the low quality of OER, teachers’ low levels of digital literacy, teachers’ unawareness of the existence of OER, the lack of quality control over OER, the lack of credibility of OER content, and the lack of up-to-dateness of OER. There were also significant differences between participants’ perspectives on the types and frequency of using OER. More specifically, online teachers used OER for teaching practices more frequently than face-to-face teachers. Participants perceived that they needed various types of training for the appropriate use of OER. This study proposes several implications for renewing and improving teacher training/education programs and material development projects.
O potrzebie skorzystania przez Rzeczpospolitą Polską z prawa opcji w odniesieniu do reklamy preparatów do początkowego żywienia niemowląt i żywności specjalnego przeznaczenia medycznego opracowanej w celu zaspokojenia potrzeb żywieniowych niemowląt
Authors: Koronkiewicz-Wiórek Anna
Published: December 2023

Niniejszy artykuł przedstawia argumenty przemawiające za potrzebą skorzystania przez Rzeczpospolitą Polską z prawa opcji w odniesieniu do reklamy preparatów do początkowego żywienia niemowląt i żywności specjalnego przeznaczenia medycznego opracowanej w celu zaspokojenia potrzeb żywieniowych niemowląt. Za skorzystaniem z prawa opcji w pełnym zakresie (czyli wprowadzeniem zakazu, a nie jedynie dalszego ograniczenia, reklamy produktów objętych prawem opcji) przemawiają zwłaszcza względy ochrony zdrowia publicznego i środowiska, prawo kobiet do precyzyjnych, bezstronnych informacji potrzebnych do dokonania świadomego wyboru w sprawie karmienia dziecka, prawo matki i dziecka do karmienia piersią oraz związane z nimi zobowiązania międzynarodowe Polski, a także analiza przepisów dotyczących reklamy produktów objętych prawem opcji pod kątem ich wystarczalności i skuteczności.
Pathways linking microbiota-gut-brain axis with neuroinflammatory mechanisms in Alzheimer’s pathophysiology
Authors: Hochuli Nathaniel , Kadyan Saurabh , Park Gwoncheol , Patoine Cole , Nagpal Ravinder
Published: December 2023

Disturbances in the local and peripheral immune systems are closely linked to a wide range of diseases. In the context of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), inflammation plays a crucial role, often appearing as a common manifestation despite the variability in the occurrence of other pathophysiological hallmarks. Thus, combating neuroinflammation holds promise in treating complex pathophysiological diseases like AD. Growing evidence suggests the gut microbiome’s crucial role in shaping the pathogenesis of AD by influencing inflammatory mediators. Gut dysbiosis can potentially activate neuroinflammatory pathways through bidirectional signaling of the gut-brain axis; however, the precise mechanisms of this complex interweaved network remain largely unclear. In these milieus, this review attempts to summarize the contributing role of gut microbiome-mediated neuroinflammatory signals in AD pathophysiology, while also pondering potential mechanisms through which commensal and pathogenic gut microbes affect neuroinflammation. While certain taxa such as Roseburia and Escherichia have been strongly correlated with AD, other clades such as Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium exhibit variations at the species and strain levels. In order to disentangle the inflammatory aspects of neurodegeneration attributed to the gut microbiome, it is imperative that future mechanistic studies investigate the species/strain-level dependency of commensals, opportunistic, and pathogenic gut microbes that consistently show correlations with AD patients across multiple associative studies.
The social portrait of the Muslim clergy in the Tobolsk Governate in the 19th — early 20th century
Authors: Mavlyutova G.Sh.
Published: December 2023

The Muslim clergy is analysed as one of the social groups. In Muslim communities, the clergy could comprise khatibs, imams, muezzins or adhan-caller, mujtahids, and ahuns. The congregation usually called all clergymen of mosque as mullah. In the course of research, it has been found that the majority of the clergymen worked in the countryside. The clerical staff of coun-tryside mosques was few. Generally, there were one or two clergymen in service: an imam and a muezzin. Sometimes, two imams worked in the house of worship. In the period under study, mosques operated in the towns of Tara, Tobolsk, and Tyumen. The clergy staff in the urban mosques in different periods included 1–4 people. In most cases, the religious community elected clergymen, although there were situations when the congregation were asking the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly to appoint them a mullah. The clergymen began religious activities at a relatively young age (28 years old). The aver-age age of the imams was 45. Normally, they occupied clerical posts for the whole life. The Muslim clergy was not receiving allowance from the state. Usually, the religious community took the maintenance obligations towards the mullah. The clergy had different well-being levels. Part of the clergymen were living well. For example, they could afford to build religious houses at their own expenses. In the meantime, some mullahs lived in need, especially, in the time of natural disasters and poor harvests, when the members of the congregation did not support them with resources. A large part of the clergymen carried out educa-tional activities, teaching children in a maktab or a madrasah. The Muslim clergymen were family people. In the second half of the 19th c., a trend towards establishing the dynasts of imams emerged in the Tobolsk Governate. The Muslim clergy had an immense authority amongst the population. Meanwhile, the facts are known when some imams discredited themselves by their behaviour. The religious community and individuals criticised them and composed complaints on them. Petitions against the Muslim clergy were written not only by the congregation, but also by clergymen against each other.
Tools for the metal processing of the Alakul population of the forest-steppe Tobol River basin
Authors: Kostomarova Yu.V. , Sechko E.A.
Published: December 2023

The paper presents the results of the study of a tool complex associated with metalworking from the sites of the Alakul Culture of the forest-steppe Tobol River basin — the settlements of Kamyshnoe 1 and 2, Uk 3, Nizhneingalskoe 3, and Zolotoe 1. The Alakul antiquities, in general, date to 1900–1450 BC. The purpose of this work is the consolidation and clarification of information on the metalworking of the Alakul population of the forest-steppe Tobol basin. For this purpose, collections of trade tools of the aforementioned Alakul settlements were revisited; the tools used in the production in question were identified; the signs of their wear, documented by a series of microphotographs, were characterised; and groups of the tools were identified according to their functional feature. The main research method was experimental-traceological. It implies, firstly, the study of traces of wear, their mutual occurrence and specifics of the location on the tools; secondly, the comparison of the obtained characteristics with experimental data. In the work, theoretical and experiential concepts of the methodology and classification schemes developed by S.A. Semenov, G.F. Korobkova, and V.V. Kileynikov were employed. To verify the traces of wear on archaeological tools, experimental reference samples of the tools were used, obtained during many years of work and stored in the Tyumen Scientific Centre SB RAS. As analogies, published results of the experiments and experimental and traceological studies of similar tools from territorially close Bronze Age sites were used. As the result, forging tools (hammers for cold and hot forging of castings, smoothers) and abrasive tools were identified; their technological characteristics and distinctive signs of wear marks were clari-fied. A set of tools in one quantity or another was recorded at each of the studied sites; therefore, the blacksmith production was quite developed also on the periphery of the Alakul Culture. Additional arguments were obtained in favour of the hypothesis that the ore processing was taking place in the immediate vicinity of its sources, and the metal could have been supplied to the re-mote villages already in a ‘finished’ form; there, the products were cast, forged, and finished. Analogies to the studied tools are known from the earlier Petrovka and Sintashta complexes of the Southern Trans-Urals. Thus, we can talk about common patterns in the manufacture and use of metalworking tools during the Bronze Age in the Trans-Urals territory.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy in patients with heart failure: relationship with patient characteristics and pre-pandemic quality of life – a cohort study
Authors: Sawczak Filip , Kukfisz Agata , Cierzniak Maria , Szubarga Alicja , Soloch Aleksandra , Balewska Anita , Szczechla Magdalena , Krysztofiak Helena , Przytarska Katarzyna , Dudek Magdalena , Uchmanowicz Izabella , Straburzyńska-Migaj Ewa , Kałużna-Oleksy Marta
Published: December 2023

Heart failure (HF) patients are vulnerable to a complicated course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This research analysed the relationship between the decision not to be immunised against SARS-CoV-2, clinical and epidemiological factors, and the pre-pandemic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of HF patients. Before the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, hospitalised HF patients were enrolled as a prospective cohort and interviewed using the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Brief Version questionnaire. On October 30, 2021, the immunisation status was verified. The association of vaccination hesitancy with epidemiological and clinical parameters and pre-pandemic questionnaire results was tested. Subsequently, independence from confounding factors such as age, sex, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) scale, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was analyzed. Among the 136 included patients, 77.9% were vaccinated. Unvaccinated patients were younger (51.2±13.2 vs 56.6±10.3; p = 0.018) and more frequently had non-ischaemic aetiology of HF (73.3% vs 46.7%; p=0.013). It was significant after adjustment for age, sex, NYHA class, and LVEF. There was no association of overall HRQoL or domain scores with vaccination status. Younger age as a factor associated with vaccine avoidance in this population is consistent with data from the general population despite higher exposure to the severe course of the disease.
Značaj kulture pamćenja za izgradnju kolektivnog identiteta i ontološke bezbednosti
Authors: Stanković Đurđica , Topalović Milica
Published: December 2023

Kulturno pamćenje kolektiviteta izgrađeno je na važnim, često traumatskim, ‎istorijskim momentima, koji se u svesti naroda rekonstruišu sakralizacijom, ‎prenose usmenom tradicijom i održavaju kreiranjem narativa koji posledično postaju formativni, integrativni i mobilišući faktor kolektivnog identiteta. ‎Uporišta sećanja i simboli kolektivnog identiteta pružaju permanentnost i stabilnost zajednice i na primeru Japana i na primeru Kosova*1‎. Iako je kontekst ‎proučavanja sećanja različit u dvema studijama slučaja, tačku spajanja dva ‎naizgled nespojiva primera, Japana i Kosova, autorke pronalaze u sećanju na ‎traumatske događaje i stradanja oba naroda kroz prizmu kulture sećanja kao ‎referentnog teorijskog modela. Posmatrano sočivima socijalnog konstruktivizma, rad teži da odgovori na pitanje da li sećanje na nuklearni napad može ‎da promeni i simplifikuje japanski identitet, i da istraži potencijal nastanka ‎nacionalnog mita na motivima stradanja i žrtve, kao što je to slučaj sa Koso vskim mitom. Takođe, istraživačka namera ogleda se u određivanju značaja, ali ‎i (zlo)upotrebe Kosovskog mita za istorijsko pozicioniranje srpskog naroda i ‎u izgradnji mi identiteta i u kreiranju distinkcije u odnosu na Druge. Ontološka bezbednost, kao naučen odnos sa Drugima kroz kulturu sećanja na zajed ničke (ne)slavne momente, nadgrađuje postojeće nalaze opšte teorije kulture ‎odgovorom na pitanje zašto je postojanje kolektivnih identiteta kroz kulturu ‎pamćenja bezbednosno aktuelna tema.‎‎
Factors Affecting Properties of Polymer Grouted Sands
Authors: Anagnostopoulos Costas , Aggelidis Vassilios
Published: December 2023

The aim of this research was to undertake laboratory testing to investigate the beneficial effects of epoxy resin grouts on the physical and mechanical properties of sands with a wide range of granulometric characteristics. Six sands, of different particle size and uniformity coefficients, were grouted using epoxy resin solutions with three ratios of epoxy resin to water (3.0, 2.0 and 1.5). A set of unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted on grouted samples at different curing periods and a set of long-term unconfined compressive creep tests in dry and wet conditions after 180 days of curing were also carried out, in order to evaluate the development of the mechanical properties of the sands, as well as, the impact of water on them. The findings of the investigation showed that epoxy resin resulted in appreciable strength values in the specimens, especially those of fine sands, grouted with the different epoxy resin grouts. In general, the compressive strength varied between 0.68 - 5.60 MPa and the modulus of elasticity between 75 - 480 MPa, after a curing period of 180 days. In terms of physical properties, the permeability and porosity (before and after the grouting process) were estimated. Grouts with an epoxy resin to water ratio of 3 decreased permeability by up to four orders of magnitude. Using laboratory results and regression analysis, three mathematical equations were developed that relate each of the dependent variables; compressive strength, elastic modulus, and coefficient of permeability, with particular explanatory variables.
Research Progress on Doping and Coating of High-Nickel Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Lv Fusen , Ye Yun , Zhang Shuhao , Sun Yi , Wang Qiang , Yuan Shuang
Published: December 2023

Cathode materials play a key role in the development and application of lithium-ion batteries, but the unfavorable factors such as structural phase transformation and low conductivity in the cycling process restrict the further improvement of battery performance, so the development and modification of high-performance cathode materials is a current research hotspot. LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2(x≥0.6), a high-nickel cathode material, has the advantages of high platform potential, high energy density and low cost, and is an ideal material to achieve the goal of 300 Wh kg-1 and above for batteries. However, its poor thermal stability, poor interface stability, safety and life cannot meet the requirements of current power batteries. In this paper, the research status of high-nickel cathode materials is introduced, including bulk doping and surface coating, and the modification method of doping and coating integration is also introduced. Finally, we put forward the prospect of the future development trend of high-nickel cathode materials.
Investigation on the Influence Area of Excavation of Double-Line Highway Tunnel Underpass Existing Railway Tunnel
Authors: Li Yifan , Huang Changfu , Lu Hongjian , Mou Chao
Published: December 2023

The research on the impact of excavation of underpass tunnels has already had certain results, but there is a lack of research cases of double-line highway tunnels with oblique angles underpass the existing railway tunnels, especially the method of determining the area of the impact of the dynamic and static loads of the new tunnels and existing trains to be enriched by considering them at the same time. In this paper, based on the tunnel project of the new double-line Shiqian Highway Tunnel with oblique angles underpass the Hurong Railway in Wanshoushan. By constructing a three-dimensional finite element model and simulating the application of static tunnel excavation load, dynamic blasting load and dynamic train operation load of the existing tunnel, the overall displacement of the existing tunnel and the settlement value of the bottom plate of the track surface by the static tunnel excavation load were analyzed. Then, the stresses, vibration speeds and displacements of the tunnel due to the dynamic blasting loads and the dynamic train operation loads were obtained. The results show that: the area of influence of the static loads of the new tunnel excavation on the existing tunnel is divided into three types of perturbations presenting strong, weak and slight; the area affected by the blasting dynamic load of new tunnel excavation is a circular domain with the datum point in the tunnel section as the center; the area affected by the dynamic load of train operation in the existing tunnel is an ellipse with the center of the track surface of the existing tunnel as the datum; there is an anomalous shape in the area affected by the blasting dynamic load of new tunnel excavation and the area affected by the dynamic load of train operation in the existing tunnel.
Blast-resistant Performance of Steel Petrochemical Control Room with 3D-Kagome Sandwich Wall
Authors: Li Zhijun , Dong Xinlong , Chen Dou , Li Xuehua
Published: December 2023

As the control brain of the petrochemical plant, blast resistant performance requirements of the petrochemical control room should be guaranteed when the vapor cloud explosion occurs in the petrochemical production process. 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich structure is a kind of blast resistant material with high energy absorption. Considering the influence factors of the radius of the truss core rod and thickness of the upper and lower panels, in this paper, blast resistant performance of a real steel petrochemical control room with 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich wall is analyzed. With the optimization goal of plastic deformation energy and panel displacement, the optimal wall thickness and radius of the truss core rode are obtained. The optimized blast resistant wall is assembled, and the dynamic response of the steel petrochemical control room with the 3D-Kagome truss core sandwich blast resistant wall is analyzed. The simulation results show that the truss core layer does not dissipate the blast energy effectively when the radius ratio of the truss core rod is larger than 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall; with the increase of the thickness of the upper and lower panels, the proportion of plastic deformation energy of the truss core layer increases gradually and then tends to be a stable proportion value, that is about 90%; When the thickness ratio of the panel is 6.7% of the total one of the wall and the radius ratio of the truss core rod is 2.7% of the total thickness of the wall, the optimal blast resistant 3D-Kagome sandwich wall is determined.
Cancer‐Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Oral Cancer
Authors: Arebro Julia , Lee Che-Min , Bennewith Kevin L , Garnis Cathie
Published: December 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains an under-studied and significant global cancer killer and dismal survival rates have not changed in decades. A better understanding of the molecular basis of OSCC progression and metastasis is needed to develop new approaches for treating this disease. The supportive network surrounding cancer tumor cells known as the tumor microenvironment (TME) has gained increasing interest lately since it performs essential pro-tumorigenic functions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the main cell types in the TME and are known to play a key role in influencing the biological behavior of tumors. CAFs present a heterogeneity both in phenotype as well as functions, leading to the suggestion of different CAF subtypes in several cancer forms. The task to subtype CAFs in OSCC has however just begun and there is today no united way of subtyping CAFs in this disease. This review aims to define the features of CAFs and to summarize CAF subtype research in OSCC including aspects as disease prognosis and therapeutic opportunities.
NH2-MIL-125-Derived TiO2@N-Doped C Visible Light Catalyst for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Wang Wenbing , Qiang Wei , Chen Chuntao , Sun Dongping
Published: December 2023

The utilization of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a photocatalyst for the treatment of wastewater has attracted significant attention in the environmental field. Herein, we have prepared a NH2-MIL-125-derived TiO2@N-doped C Visible Light Catalyst through an in-situ calcination method. The nitrogen element in the organic connector is released through calcination, simul-taneously doping into the sample, thereby enhancing its spectral response to cover the visible region. The as-prepared TiO2@N-doped C catalyst exhibited preserved cage structure even after calcination, thereby alleviating the optical shielding effect and further augmenting its photo-catalytic performance by increasing the reaction sites between the catalyst and pollutants. The calcination time of the TiO2@N-doped C-450 °C catalyst was optimized to achieve a balance be-tween the TiO2 content and nitrogen doping level, ensuring efficient degradation rates for basic fuchsin (99.7%), Rhodamine B (89.9%), and tetracycline hydrochloride (93%) within 90 minutes.
Interference of the inclusive language in the creation of the memory trace during the Reading Comprehension of texts
Authors: Tornero Jose Luis Vilchez , Alberca Danny Sebastían Odoñez
Published: December 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Psychometric properties of questionnaire scales to assess psychosocial determinants that influence compliance with surgical site infection prevention measures: results of the WACH-study
Authors: Krosta Karolin M.E. , Tomsic Ivonne , Maike Stolz , Krauth Christian , Chaberny Iris F. , von Lengerke Thomas
Published: December 2023

Objective: Psychosocial determinants influence healthcare workers’ compliance with infection prevention and control measures. In order to design needs-based interventions promoting compliance, such determinants must first be assessed using valid and reliable questionnaire scales. To compare professional groups without bias, the scales must also be measurement-equivalent. This study examines these psychometric properties of four questionnaire scales that assess determinants influencing compliance with surgical site infection (SSI) prevention measures. Exploratively, associations with self-reported compliance are reported.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Nine general/visceral or orthopedic/trauma surgery departments in six non-university hospitals in Germany.
Participants: N=90 physicians and N=193 nurses (response rate: 31.5%).
Methods: A written questionnaire was used to assess the compliance with SSI prevention measures and the determinants of compliance based on the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior-Model. For psychometric testing, single- and multiple-group confirmatory factor analyses were performed, and t-tests and multiple linear regressions for explorative analyses.
Results: The scales assessing individual determinants of compliance (capability, motivation, planning) were found to be reliable (Cronbach’s αs≥.85) and valid (Root-Mean-Square-Error of Approximation=.065, Comparative-Fit-Index=.95) and revealed measurement equivalence for physicians and nurses. The scale assessing external determinants (opportunity) did not demonstrate validity, reliability, or measurement equivalence. Group differences were found neither in compliance (p=.627) nor determinants (p=.129; p=.866; p=.964). Capability (β=.301) and planning (β=.201) showed theory-conform associations with compliance for nurses only.
Conclusions: The scales assessing motivation, capability, and planning regarding SSI prevention compliance provided reliable and valid scores for physicians and nurses in surgery. Measurementequivalence allows group comparisons of scale means to be interpreted without bias.
Single and combined phytoextraction of lead and cadmium on submerged plants Potamogeton pusillus L.: removal, bioaccumulation pattern, and phytotoxicity
Authors: Rivela Cynthia B , Griboff Julieta , Arán Daniela S. , Cortés Facundo L , Valdes M. Eugenia , Harguinteguy Carlos A , Monferran Magdalena V.
Published: December 2023

Under the present investigation, the submerged plant Potamogeton pusillus has been tested for the removal of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). P. pusillus removal efficiency and accumulation capacity were examined in separated Pb and Cd solutions, at 0.5, 1.0, and 2 mg L-1, and in solutions where both metals were present at the same concentration (0.5, 1.0, and 2 mg L-1), under laboratory conditions for 3, 7, and 10 days. Also, we examined the removal efficiency and accumulation capacity when a set of plants were exposed to 0.5 mg L-1 of Pb (or Cd) and increasing concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 mg L-1) of Cd (or Pb) for 10 days. The effect of Cd and Pb was assessed by measuring changes in the chlorophylls, carotenoids, and malondialdehyde contents. Results showed that P. pusillus could accumulate Cd and Pb from individual solutions. Roots and leaves accumulated the highest amount of Cd and Pb followed by the stems. Some phytotoxic effects were observed, especially at individual Cd exposures, but these effects were not observed in the two-metal system. The removal and accumulation of Pb by P. pusillus were significantly enhanced in the presence of Cd under certain conditions, presenting a good alternative for the removal of these metals from polluted aquifers. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first report on both enhanced phytoextraction of Pb in the presence of Cd and bioaccumulation of these heavy metals by P. pusillus.
Insights into Homogenous Bulk Boron Doping at the Tetrahedral Site of NCM811 Cathode Materials: Structure Stabilization by Inductive Effect on TM-O-B Bonds
Authors: Kleiner Karin , Ying Bixian , Teng Zhenjie , Avdeev Maxim , Senyshyn Anatoliy , Peng Jiali , Simonsen Søren Bredmose , Dolotko Oleksandr , Schmuch Richard , Indris Sylvio , Merz Michael , Nagel Peter , Schuppler Stefan , Ehrenberg Helmut , Winter Martin
Published: December 2023

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are critical for enabling sustainable electrochemical energy storage. The capacity of cathode materials is a major limiting factor in the LIB performance, and doping has emerged as an effective strategy for enhancing the electrochemical properties of nickel-rich layered oxides such as NCM811. In this study, boron was successfully incorporated onto a tetrahedral site of NCM811 through a co-precipitation method using a Couette-Taylor Flow Reactor (CTFR). The outcome of this homogeneous bulk boron incorporation onto a tetrahedral site led to an inductive effect on TM (transition metal)-O-B bonds, resulting in a delay of structural collapse and a decrease in oxygen release. Consequently, these changes culminated in an enhancement of cycling performance, translating to an initial specific capacity of 210 mAh g− 1 and a 95.3% capacity retention after 100 cycles. These interesting findings deepen our understanding of boron doping and shed light on the design of better lithium cathode materials on an applicable scale.
Pulp oxygen saturation levels and tooth sensitivity after bleaching with led light-activated hydrogen peroxide: randomized clinical trial
Authors: DIAS Allana da Silva e Silva , LIMA Suellen Nogueira Linares , LAGO Andréa Dias Neves , SOUZA Soraia de Fátima Carvalho , RODRIGUES Vandilson Pinheiro , SALDANHA Luanna Marinho Sereno Nery , TRINTA Luana Barbieri , LIMA Darlon Martins
Published: December 2023

Objective: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of dental bleaching with 460 nm LED light on pulp tissue by assessing pulp oxygen saturation (SaO2) and dental sensitivity in different dental groups and follow-up times.
Materials and Methods: This study is a randomized clinical trial using a split-mouth design. SaO2 levels were measured using a pulse oximeter adapted for dentistry, and dental sensitivity was assessed using the visual analog scale on 600 intact anterior teeth. Fifty volunteers were selected, and their upper dental arches were randomly divided into two halves (right and left) to create two groups. G1 - half arch that received LED activation to activate the bleaching agent for 1 minute at each gel change, totaling 3 minutes of activation; and G2 - half arch where LED was not used to activate 35% hydrogen peroxide. SaO2 levels were analyzed before bleaching (T0), immediately after the first session (T1), on the seventh day of treatment (T2), 30 days (T3), 6 months (T4), and 1 year (T5) after dental bleaching. Sensitivity testing was conducted until T3. The data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test for normality, independent samples t-test to evaluate differences between groups, and repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey's multiple comparisons test to assess variability over time. The significance level was set at 5%.
Results: An increase in SaO2 was observed in the upper central incisors immediately after light application, followed by a reduction after 24 hours (P < 0.05), and stabilization at subsequent time points (P > 0.05). For both dental arches, the quadrants that received light during bleaching exhibited higher sensitivity to stimuli immediately after treatment (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Dental bleaching with 460 nm LED light increases SaO2 and dental sensitivity immediately after the procedure in the upper central incisors. However, these changes are reversible after 24 hours.
Clinical relevance: The clinical significance of the study lies in the potential for increased oxygen saturation levels and dental sensitivity following dental bleaching with 35% hydrogen peroxide in conjunction with the use of an LED light.
Solving complex surface rolling tasks: propose scheme, mechanism configuration synthesis and apply a new PMs kinematic analysis method
Authors: He Yufan , Fang Hairong , Chen Yufei , He Litao , Qi Tianfeng , Wang Haoqian , Xin Aqing
Published: December 2023

It is always a difficult point in the manufacturing field to realize the surface rolling of complex surface workpieces with both positive and negative curvature and taper by using robot technology. This working condition requires the working manipulator to carry the roller. In the process of advancing along the roller path, the feed direction of the roller always coincides with the normal line at the current point to ensure that the roller pressure is adjustable and controllable. Therefore, the manipulator needs to meet the performance characteristics of high stiffness, large workspace and flexible pose transformation. According to the analysis of the complex curved surface workpiece, we conclude that the manipulator configuration to realize the working action should have the 5-degree-of-freedom motion ability of 3R2T. After analyzing the work of the serial manipulator, we find that the attitude change will cause the joint angle of the manipulator to change suddenly, which will cause the potential risk of interference between the manipulator and the workpiece. Therefore, it can be determined that the manipulator with a series-parallel hybrid (SPH) configuration is more suitable for solving such problems. The first-level parallel mechanism is assigned to realize the position adjustment function and the second-level parallel mechanism is used to realize the attitude transformation. The configuration evolution is carried out by using the displacement manifold theory, and finally the SPH configuration is obtained. In the analysis of the workspace, a new solution method is proposed. Compared with the traditional solution method that requires a fixed attitude or position, the new method can obtain the full-attitude workspace while greatly reducing the amount of calculation. Finally, we prove that the designed configuration can realize the surface rolling task of complex curved workpieces through workspace analysis. The SPH manipulator configuration scheme proposed in this study can completely change the current production status of manual ways for such engineering problems. The proposed new method of workspace solution can be used as a tool to provide a more efficient solution path for mechanism workspace analysis.
The reliability and validity test of the Revised Indebtedness Scale for Chinese university students
Authors: Zhang Jing , Feng Rui , Liang Hongyu , Jin Tonglin , A Yunna , Li Xiaoyu , Liu Minghong
Published: December 2023

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Revised Indebtedness Scale (IS-R-C) in mainland China.
Methods
A total of 1057 university students participated in this study using the whole group sampling method. Sample 1, consisting of 537 participants, was used for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the Revised Indebtedness Scale (IS-R). Sample 2, comprising 520 participants, was used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability analysis. To test criterion validity, the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS), the Renqing Questionnaire and the Subjective Well-being Scale (SWBS) were administered. Furthermore, a subgroup of 96 participants from sample 2 was employed to evaluate the test-retest reliability.
Results
The results of the item analysis and EFA showed that the IS-R-C consists of 12 items, which can be categorized into two dimensions: pressure to repay and requirements for interaction. CFA further supported this two-factor model for the IS-R-C. The scale demonstrated a significant positive correlation of 0.34 (p < 0.001) with SAD and 0.34 (p < 0.001) with renqing, while exhibiting a negative correlation of -0.09 (p < 0.05) with SWB. The Cronbach's α coefficient for the overall IS-R-C score was 0.88, indicating high internal consistency. Furthermore, the scale demonstrated acceptable test-retest reliability with a correlation coefficient of 0.68 (p < 0.001) after a four-week interval.
Conclusion
The IS-R-C demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties, including strong reliability and validity, making it a suitable measure for studying indebtedness and related research in China.
Pulmonary Melioidosis mimicking Lung Cancer：A diagnostic challenge
Authors: Yang Xiaohong , Ying Zhuo-Peng , Zhan Yue-fu , Chen Jian-Qiang
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
Melioidosis is an infectious disease in tropical and subtropical areas, which can easily lead to septicaemia or even death after infection. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for prognosis. However, in the early stages, clinical symptoms and laboratory tests often lack specificity, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The imaging features that mimic malignant lung tumors further contribute to the diagnostic challenges.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted on six cases of pulmonary melioidosis disease with the imaging findings resembled lung cancer in Hainan province from 2002 to 2022. These cases were compared and summarized with data from 13 previously reported cases of melioidosis misdiagnosed as lung cancer in the literature. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological features were analyzed to better understand this condition.
RESULTS
A retrospective analysis of 19 patients with pulmonary nasal disease mimicking lung cancer revealed that 100% of them had a history of contact with an endemic area, and 95% had predisposing risk factors. Clinical presentations and laboratory data showed little differentiation from lung cancer, with 54% of patients experiencing weight loss and 63% presenting with cough. Radiologically, the pulmonary nasal disease mimicked central lung cancer in 16 cases (84%) and peripheral lung cancer in 3 cases (16%). We found that lesions mimicking central lung cancer were characterized primarily by extensive liquefactive necrotic areas and irregular ring enhancement (94%), with the presence of air bubbles within the lesions being relatively common (63%). Lesions mimicking peripheral lung cancer predominantly exhibited irregular ring enhancement and air bubble signs (100%), with 67% of patients showing multifocal nodules.
CONCLUSION
Infection with pulmonary nasal disease can manifest with clinical and radiological features that mimic lung malignancies, significantly impacting patient prognosis. Important distinguishing features between the two include the presence of patchy necrosis, irregular ring enhancement, and air bubble signs within the lesions. Therefore, when patients have an epidemiological history and present with tumor-like lesions in the lungs, clinicians should maintain a high level of vigilance.
Fundal intramural ectopic pregnancy after previous B-Lynch sutures : A case report
Authors: Xiang Junmiao , Chen Fengdan , Cai Zhuhua , Bao Ruru
Published: December 2023

Background: Intramural pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that occurs within the myometrium. It is challenging to diagnose it early because of its nonspecific clinical presentation, and there is no consensus or guideline on the optimal management among gynecologists.
Case presentation: We report a case of a 34-year-old woman who developed fundal intramural pregnancy after a previous caesarean section with B-Lynch suture. The diagnosis of intramural pregnancy was not confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound. An exploratory laparoscopy and hysteroscopy was performed to remove the gestational sac without significant bleeding.
Conclusions: Intramural pregnancy is a challenging condition that requires gynecologists to be familiar with various management strategies and to customize the treatment plan according to the patient’s clinical situation and preferences. Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective option for treating complete intramural pregnancy, especially when the gestational sac is located close to the uterine serosa.
Investigating Spatio-temporal behaviour for Groundwater in North-West India: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Pranjal Pranshu , Kumar Dheeraj , Soni Ashish , Chatterjee R. S.
Published: December 2023

Sustainability and conservation of natural resources require amalgamation of the novel approaches with the current usages and weather conditions. Groundwater resources is one of the natural resources which is varying annually and requires regular attention for the prediction. Our proposed deep learning (DL) approach, namely Convolution Neural Network-Long short term memory (ConvLSTM) has been implemented for the groundwater level (GWL) prediction model. The model is designed based on U-Net framework with up-sampling and down-sampling modules and also induces non-linearity using the ReLU activation function. Each module in the LSTM unit is responsible for pattern recognition based on the temporal information of GWL. The assessment of the groundwater in North-West India (NWI) has been carried out using several fundamental factors such as precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration and satellite-based groundwater storage. In addition, in-situ groundwater has been used to get groundwater fluctuation scenarios (i.e., categorised into four cycles PrePre, PrePost, PostPre, and PostPost) w.r.t monsoon season to understand the difference (Δh) in GWL. The proposed model has been tested with other DL frameworks such as; Artificial neural network (ANN) and Convolution neural network (CNN). The model has been trained using the stochastic gradient method to optimise the internal parameter and validated using several geo-locations information of NWI, where ConvLSTM outperformed compared to the benchmark method. The proposed model has shown consistent least error in terms of root mean square root (RMSE) and mean square error (MAE) for the year 2014-17 with an overall score of 0.0957 and 0.0520, respectively.