bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revolutionizing Pneumonia Assessment: Modern Diagnostics and Traditional Scales
Authors: Sikora Marcelina , Zarzycka Marta , Plewniok Ines , Maj-Dziedzic Monika , Dubiel Jeremiasz , Brzozowska Anna , Maj Adrian , Śmietana Greta , Warno Martyna , Kozik Wiktor
Published: January 2024

Introduction and Purpose:  
Pneumonia's severity demands a thorough assessment, guided by CRB-65 and CURB-65 scales. This article underscores the crucial role of accurate interpretation and effective use of these scales, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of pneumonia for proficient severity assessment. 
Material and Method: 
The article identifies populations disproportionately affected by pneumonia, stressing the necessity of standardized severity assessment due to diverse clinical manifestations. It highlights the importance of accurate diagnosis through the integration of clinical evaluation, imaging, and laboratory tests. While CRB-65 and CURB-65 offer a systematic approach, potential pitfalls are discussed, emphasizing the risk of misinterpretation. 
Results: Principles for correct interpretation are outlined, emphasizing holistic evaluation, timely application, and clinical acumen. Common mistakes, including overreliance on scores and incomplete data collection, are identified. The discussion introduces advanced diagnostic techniques like biomarkers and imaging, enhancing severity assessment. Cardiac biomarkers and computed tomography contribute to refined evaluation, aligning with recommendations from renowned organizations. 
Conclusion:  
The integration of traditional tools with advanced diagnostics signifies a paradigm shift in pneumonia assessment. Emphasizing correct interpretation and avoiding common mistakes ensures a comprehensive approach. Recent research supports advanced diagnostic techniques, aligning with recommendations. The article advocates for continuous education and collaboration among healthcare professionals, contributing to improved patient outcomes and overall healthcare efficacy.
Low opioid and opioid-free anesthesia - a review of current data
Authors: Czeremańska-Koczkodaj Dorota , Grabek Agata , Domańska Anastazja
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Opioids are one of the most frequently used drugs during anesthesia. Due to the side effects anesthesiologists try to limit their number during anesthesia. They use low-opioid and opioid-free anesthesia. 

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to present the current state of knowledge and recent reports on low-opioid and non-opioid anesthesia and their use. 

Materials and Methods: The search was conducted using PubMed and GoogleScholar databases. Articles were searched in English using the following keywords: "low-opioid anesthesia," "non-opioid anesthesia," "OFA," "LOA" 

Key words: "low-opioid anesthesia", "non-opioid anesthesia", "OFA", "LOA", "opioids". 

Conclusion: low-opioid anesthesia techniques are being used more and more frequently and reduce the incidence of opioid side effects: respiratory depression, postoperative nausea and vomiting. This helps ensure greater patient safety and shortens the postoperative recovery period.
Pandemia da COVID-19 e as consequentes alterações comportamentais de uma comunidade universitária
Authors: Guilherme Larissa Quintão , Bedim Natiele Resende , Miranda Valter Paulo Neves , Amorim Paulo Roberto dos Santos
Published: January 2024

Objetivou-se avaliar as variações comportamentais, estilo de vida e indicador nutricional de uma comunidade acadêmica antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Estudo transversal, epidemiológico, com 1655 integrantes da Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, de ambos os sexos e idades entre 17 a 72 anos. Via Google Forms, aplicou-se o questionário adaptado do “ConVid: Pesquisa de Comportamentos”, e a versão curta do IPAQ. Utilizou-se o teste de McNemar para comparação dos indicadores entre estilo de vida antes e durante a pandemia (p < 0,05) e regressão logística binária para associação com diagnóstico da COVID-19. Observou-se que durante a pandemia houve uma prevalência de aumento (p < 0,001) de indivíduos que não atingiram as recomendações para caminhada (42,8% para 80,6%); atividade física moderada (74,3% para 80,6%) e vigorosa (64,6% para 71,8%). Além disso, aumento no tempo de uso considerado elevado (p < 0,001), para televisão (2,4% para 12,7%) e computador/tablet (58,1% para 81,8%). O consumo de álcool passou de 64,1% para 64,9% (p < 0,001), enquanto o uso de cigarros foi de 5,7% para 7,8% (p < 0,001). A classificação do indicador nutricional também demonstrou mudanças significativas (p < 0,001), o percentual de obesidade (7,7% para 11,1%) e sobrepeso (22,6% para 28,1%). O risco de contaminação para COVID-19 foi maior entre aqueles menos ativos (OR = 1,34; IC95%: 1,04 – 1,64). Os resultados demonstraram diminuição do nível de atividade física, aumento do tempo sedentário, piora no estilo de vida e aumento do excesso de peso dos estudantes e servidores de uma comunidade acadêmica, devido às consequências impostas pelo período pandêmico, elevando fatores de risco à saúde.
Alterações comportamentais na pandemia de COVID-19, sobrepeso e obesidade de escolares Quilombolas
Authors: Jesus Gilmar Mercês de , Barros Anna Karolina Cerqueira , Araujo Lara Daniele Matos dos Santos , Schrann Mayva Mayana Ferreira , Dias Lizziane Andrade , Araujo Raphael Henrique de Oliveira , Tosta Laís Pinto da Silva , Santana Maylson dos Santos , Souza Laila de Sena de
Published: January 2024

O estudo descreveu as alterações comportamentais durante a pandemia de COVID-19 e sua associação com o sobrepeso e obesidade atual de crianças e adolescentes. Participaram do estudo 1.004 crianças e adolescentes de comunidades rurais em áreas de remanescentes de quilombos de Feira de Santana, Bahia (50,3% meninos; Idade: 9,04 ± 1,52 anos). Desfechos: sobrepeso e obesidade, com base nos valores de Índice de Massa Corporal para idade e sexo, avaliados nos pontos de corte da International Obesity Taskforce. Alterações comportamentais (apetite, sono, psicológicas, sociais) foram avaliadas por meio de questionário preenchido pelos pais. A análise de dados incluiu estatística descritiva, bivariada e regressão de Poisson múltipla, com estimador robusto de variância, para estimar Razões de Prevalência (RP) e Intervalos de 95% de Confiança (IC95%). A significância estatística foi fixada em valores de p<0,05. Covariáveis: idade, sexo, infecção por COVID-19 e insegurança alimentar. Após o período pandêmico, 24% dos participantes estavam com excesso de peso (sobrepeso = 15,5%; obesidade: 8,5%). As principais alterações comportamentais ocorreram no apetite (comer muito mais do que o habitual = 45,6%) e no sono (ir dormir e acordar mais tarde do que o habitual, em 74% e 62,2%, respectivamente). Comer mais que o habitual foi fator associado ao sobrepeso (RP = 1,63; IC95%: 1,14 - 2,32) e à obesidade (RP = 2,00; IC95%:1,22 - 2,25) entre os participantes, após ajuste por sexo, idade, infecção por COVID-19 e insegurança alimentar. As prevalências de sobrepeso e obesidade subsequentes ao período pandêmico se associaram às alterações comportamentais no apetite ocorridas durante a pandemia entre escolares Quilombolas.
Supporting young adults with chronic kidney disease in the East Midlands
Authors: Ewing Rachael , Coyne Emma , Hufton Laurie , Byrne Catherine , Bebb Charlotte , Johnson Catherine , McKinnell Joanna
Published: January 2024

This article outlines a specialist renal young adult service that has been supporting young adult patients at two hospital renal units since 2011. This innovative collaboration has successfully adopted a research-driven, evidence-based approach using the philosophy and skills of youth work to support young adult patients aged 18 to 30 years with their psychosocial needs, together with supporting younger patients to navigate the transition process.
Nursing practice patterns in advanced kidney care
Authors: Ormandy Paula , Hurst Helen , Jenkins Karen , Alldridge Louise , Tonkin Emma , de Guzman Mac , Stoby-Fields Meagan , McPeake Mari Louise , Tanasa Jane , Heminsley Aileen , Pryde Kim , Cole Angela , Lama Sangeeta , Abulifa Nahedh , Ashworth Vicky , Hudaya Eris , Bristow Paul , Loud Fiona ,   On behalf of the ANN UK Advanced Kidney Care Community of Practice and supported by Kidney Care UK
Published: January 2024

The Association of Nephrology Nurses Advanced Kidney Care (AKC) Nurses Community of Practice provides a summary of a recent audit of advanced kidney care nursing services, roles and activity.
Bonding Performance of Preservative-Treated Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) Posttreated with CU-Based Preservatives
Authors: Quin Franklin , Ayanleye Samuel , França Tamara S. F. A. , Shmulsky Rubin , Lim Hyungsuk
Published: January 2024

To expand the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) to exterior applications, there is a need to protect the panels from biodegrading agents such as fungi and termites. Pressure treatments are effective methods of increasing the durability of wood and wood-based products; however, studies on pressure-treated CLT are limited. In this study, preservative-treated CLT samples from prefabricated CLT panels were prepared and impregnated with Cu-based preservatives through a conventional vacuum-pressure process. The effects of panel layup (3-ply parallel, 3-ply perpendicular, and 5-ply parallel) and preservative treatment (untreated [control], copper azole-type C [CA-C], and micronized copper azole-type [MCA]) on the bonding performance were investigated. Panel layup and preservative treatment had a significant influence on the block shear strength and percentage of wood failure (WFP) of the treated panels. Overall, approximately 60 percent of the block shear specimens had a WFP of >75 percent. However, fewer than 10 percent of the delamination specimens met the ASTM D2559 (2018) limitation of 1 percent for softwood used in outdoor applications. ASTM D2559 counts shallow wood failure as delamination, which could have been a reason for the high delamination rate. The percentage of wood failure and the high rate of delamination could be due to the moisture-induced adhesion failure resulting from the pressure-treatment process. The preservative pressure-treatment of the CLT panels increased the moisture content (MC) from 12–15 percent to approximately 85 percent MC, and the severe swelling of the panels during treatment might have imposed a high stress on the bond line. However, no noticeable delamination of the panels was observed during the actual treating phase of the study. These results show the feasibility of treating prefabricated CLT panels with CA-C and MCA preservatives without compromising the bonding strength.
Neurotic Stars and Spellbound Viewers: Louis Bisch and Psychoanalytic Film Theory in Silent-Era Photoplay
Authors: Galili Doron
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: Responding to the popular fascination with psychoanalysis in the 1920s, Photoplay magazine commissioned American neuropsychiatrist Louis Bisch to write a series of articles that applied Freudian concepts to questions of film stardom and spectatorship, genres, censorship, and the cinematic apparatus. Markedly different from the 1970s canonical texts in the field, Bisch’s work articulated a psychoanalytic theory that embraces cinema’s lowbrow mass appeal and encourages spectators to adopt a demystified perspective on Hollywood. This article discusses Bisch’s texts as an early instance of film theory written primarily for a female readership and as a forgotten anti-modernist road not taken in the history of theorizing cinema.
Legitimate Transgression: Home Video Culture and Screen Translation(s) in the Late Soviet Union
Authors: Glushneva Iuliia
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT: The arrival of consumer-grade video had a dramatic impact on the 1980s Soviet Union: the unregulated cross-border traffic in the new medium and foreign, primarily Western, screen entertainment erupted; the state monopoly over circulation and exhibition of moving image media collapsed; and the alternative, allegedly aberrant and debased, transcultural viewing habits and tastes of the Soviet audiences surfaced. In examining these transgressive effects of home video, this article simultaneously traces the factors, ranging from socialist cultural doctrines to the conditions of shortage economies and distinctive screen translation practices, that contributed to legitimation of emerging video cultures within the Soviet project.
A Literary History of Josie Craig Berry and Her Communities, 1917–1955
Authors: Mish Jeanetta Calhoun
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Black Americans settled in Oklahoma beginning in the 1830s; the first Black settlers were often people enslaved by Native nations. Despite the long-time Black presence in Oklahoma and the establishment of All-Black towns and thriving middle-class communities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Ralph Ellison is the only Black writer publishing before 1940 who is commonly associated with the state. Yet Ellison’s science teacher and writing mentor, Josie Craig Berry, was a literary and journalistic powerhouse in Oklahoma City beginning in 1918. Berry published poetry, reported on cultural events, and wrote a weekly literary column for Oklahoma City’s Black Dispatch newspaper from 1937 to 1939. This essay presents Berry as an accomplished poet, a literary critic, a community-based journalist, a public intellectual, and a woman whose contributions to Black literature and Oklahoma literature are immeasurable. Berry’s writings as examined in this essay also make evident the need for further research and academic publications on Black Oklahoma writers.
Digital Greenwood: Foregrounding Black Women Business Owners, Community Activism, and the Tulsa Race Massacre
Authors: Wells Brandy Thomas
Published: January 2024

Abstract: African American women helped make Historic Greenwood into the thriving community popularly known as “Black Wall Street.” Despite their rich and varied contributions as business owners and operators and church and community activists, their experiences are frequently ignored in historical and contemporary narratives. Women of Black Wall Street ( WBWS ), a digital humanities project released for the centennial commemoration in May 2021, reifies this by tracking and analyzing the social, intellectual, and economic contributions of Black women in Greenwood. Through this project, my student research team and I restore the visibility of Black women in the community, including writers like Mary Jones Parrish, who provided the first written account of the massacre, and Blanche M. Woodford, whose newspaper articles about Black Wall Street were read throughout the country. Using historical research and digital methods and tools, WBWS features contextual essays, biographies of ten Green-wood women, maps of their homes and businesses, and interviews with contemporary female business owners in the district. In this article, I discuss the site and the importance of bringing Historic Greenwood’s overlooked women online and to the public. I present how the project transforms the Black Wall Street story and joins digital recovery projects that bring forth the full humanity of marginalized people.
Origins and consequences of asymmetric nano-FTIR interferograms
Authors: Németh Gergely , Bechtel Hans , Borondics Ferenc
Published: January 2024

Infrared spectroscopy is essential in understanding the optical properties of materials and is a critical analytical technique for identifying and determining the properties of materials. One of its major shortcomings, the relatively low spatial resolution, was overcome by combining atomic force microscopes and infrared light sources in near-field IR microscopes. Scattering-type near-field optical microscopy, s-SNOM, has been a flagship technique in the infrared community for its ability to provide information on optical properties well below the far-field diffraction limit. When combined with broad-band light sources, the technique gives rise to the nano-FTIR technique, which enables IR spectroscopy at the nanoscale. While s-SNOM and nano-FTIR data analysis are understood, fundamental discussion of experimental data, especially in the context of previously developed frameworks is lacking. Here, we unambiguously describe the origins of asymmetric interferograms recorded with s-SNOM instruments, give detailed analysis of potential artifacts and recommendations on optimal instrument settings as well as data analysis parameters.
Scaled-laboratory demonstrations of deep-turbulence conditions
Authors: Spencer Mark , Dayton David
Published: January 2024

This paper uses five spatially distributed reflective liquid-crystal phase modulators (LcPMs) to accurately simulate deep-turbulence conditions in a scaled-laboratory environment. In practice, we match the Fresnel numbers for long-range, horizontal-path scenarios using optical trombones and relays placed in between the reflective LcPMs. Similar to computational wave-optic simulations, we can also command repeatable high-resolution phase screens to the reflective LcPMs with the proper path-integrated spatial and temporal Kolmogorov statistics.
Non-traumatic lower abdominal pain: ultrasonographic and clinical differential diagnosis
Authors: Perysinakis Iraklis , Vassalou Evangelia E.
Published: January 2024

Lower abdominal pain is frequently reported and has a diverse differential diagnosis. In cases with atypical presentation and nonspecific findings, further imaging evaluation is required to confirm the clinical suspicion and to distinguish between self-limiting disorders and those requiring immediate intervention. In line with European guidelines, transabdominal ultrasonography is recommended as a first-line imaging modality for clinically suspected acute appendicitis and acute diverticulitis, which respectively represent the predominant causes of right and left lower quadrant abdominal pain. It is similarly the preferred method for evaluating suspected obstetric/gynecologic and genitourinary diseases. Computed tomography is utilized as a secondary option when ultrasonography results are inconclusive. This pictorial essay illustrates the sonographic features of the most common conditions associated with lower abdominal pain and outlines the clinical characteristics of each entity.
Study of one-dimensional of W/SiO2 grating selective thermal emitter for thermophotovoltaic applications
Authors: Hilaire Tchoffo Faustin , Kwefeu Mbakop Fabrice , Djongyang Noël
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a one-dimensional multilayer is optimized for potential applications as thermophotovoltaic (TPV) selective emitter. The effect of the diffraction orders and plane of incidence on the spectral emittance of the proposed TPV emitter is calculated numerically by using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA). The emittance spectrum of the proposed TPV selective emitter shows three close to unity emission peaks which are explained by the surface plasmon polariton (SPP), gap plasmon polariton (GPP) and magnetic polariton (MP) excitation. The strong emittance at short wavelengths occurs due to three peaks, one close to unity at 1.2μm wavelength, and two equal to unity at 0.8 and 1.59μm wavelengths. The proposed structure can be used as a selective emitter for TPV applications.
Evaluation of the efficacy of moringa oleifera seed powder on some physicochemical parameters in White Nile River water
Authors: ElGeed B. A Awad , M.I Abdelgadir , E.E Elsadig , M .M Hassan , F.I Omer
Published: January 2024

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera seeds powder on purification of White Nile River water, during the dry season (March-April 2014). Water samples were collected from twelve different locations from the River at El duwaim city, on dimension 3.0 meters in front of the bank and 20 centimeters in depth. The physico-chemical parameters concentrations of water samples (pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, total hardness, iron and chloride ions) were detected before treatment by Moringa oleifera seeds powder., various doses of Moringa seed powder (50, 100 and 150 mg/L) were added to water samples for a duration of one to two hours, then analyzed to detect the effects on that parameter. The results showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) decreased concentrations of all mentioned parameters, directly proportional with increasing dose and time respectively (except pH).
Mass density, sound velocity and Debye temperature of CaTe semiconductor under high compression
Authors: Daoud Salah
Published: January 2024

Using the structural parameters and the elastic stiffness constants reported in the literature (by Guo et al. in Solid State Commun., 340, 114488 (2021)) as well as different appropriate analytical and semi-empirical expressions, we reported the high compression effect up to pressure of 27.8 GPa on the average sound velocity and Debye temperature θD of cubic rocksalt calcium telluride (CaTe) semiconducting compound. The pressure dependence of the Debye temperature θD for CaTe compound was obtained using two different approaches. We found that both the average sound velocity and Debye temperature of CaTe compound increase monotonously and non-linearly with enhanced pressure up to 27.8 GPa. We note that similar behavior on the average sound velocity and Debye temperature θD was also observed in the literature for the same compound and for other materials with different crystallographic structures. The deviations on θD between the two different approaches and to those of the literature are quite large at high pressures.
Les orageux rapports entre Louis XVIII et la Chambre Introuvable (1815-1816)
Authors: Corciulo Maria Sofia
Published: January 2024

Le 8 juillet 1815, la substitution des drapeaux tricolores, hissés sur les bâtiments publics parisiens, par les drapeaux blancs des Bourbons, annonça à la population le changement à la tête de l’Etat.
Au début de l’après-midi, le carrosse de Louis XVIII, accompagné par les voitures du frère du roi, le comte d’Artois, et du neveu, le duc de Berry, parcourut les grands boulevards et arriva aux Tuileries, où une foule en délire acclamait le souverain en criant : « Dieu nous rend notre père de Gand !».
Pourtant, la situation nationale était bien loin d’être joyeuse. Les conséquences politiques des Cent-Jours avaient pesé négativement sur la mise en oeuvre de la restauration des Bourbons. Contrairement à ce qui s’était produit en 1814, grâce à la volonté manifestée, même si de manière non unanime, par le peuple français, maintenant la dynastie était imposée au pays exclusivement par des puissances étrangères. L’image de Louis XVIII revenu « dans les fourgons de l’étranger » sera évoquée souvent dans les années à venir par les ennemis de la monarchie, sans oublier d’ailleurs que les conséquences de l’aventure et de la défaite de Napoléon avaient coûté au pays plus de 50 millions de francs.
Grenzen für die Entwicklung des Parlamentarismus bei den kleinen Völkern: Die Tschechen im Reichsrat in Wien 1879-1914
Authors: Velek Luboš
Published: January 2024

Der Problemkreis von Parlamentarismus und kleinen Staaten bzw. kleinen Völkern umfasst eine enorme Bandbreite von Fragen, Kontexten und Sichtweisen. In meinem Beitrag möchte ich die Faktoren thematisieren, die sich limitierend auf die Entwicklung des Parlamentarismus im 19. Jahrhundert auswirkten, und dies besonders im Zusammenhang der Beziehungen zwischen dem Zentrum, das heißt dem Reichsrat in Wien, und der Peripherie, die hier durch Böhmen beziehungsweise durch die nationale Gemeinschaft der Tschechen verkörpert wird, die dieses Kronland gemeinsam mit den Deutschböhmen (d.h. mit den Deutschen aus den böhmischen Ländern) bewohnten. Die tschechische Gesellschaft war im 19. Jahrhundert eine kleine nationale Gemeinschaft, die dann im letzten Drittel des 19. Jahrhunderts eine erfolgreiche kulturelle, soziale, wirtschaftliche und letztlich auch politische Entwicklung durchlief. Am Ende standen die Tschechen als vollwertige moderne europäische Nation da, der nur ein eigener Staat fehlte. Dieses Ziel, das in unterschiedlicher Intensität bereits seit 1848 auftauchte, erreichten die Tschechen erst nach Ende des Ersten Weltkrieges. In meiner  Skizze der für die tschechischen Abgeordneten des 19. Jahrhunderts typischen wahlrechtlichen, sozialen und psychomentalen Umstände möchte ich Sie mit den zeitgenössischen Grenzen für die qualitative Entwicklung der Abgeordnetendelegationen kleiner Völker aus den Provinzen inmitten des Habsburgerreiches und damit auch mit den Grenzen des Parlamentarismus allgemein vertraut machen.
The Crown and Parliament. The Tragic Fates of English King Charles I and Russian Tsar Nicholas II: a Comparative Study
Authors: Sharifzhanov Izmail
Published: January 2024

This paper examines a very acute problem – the relationships between crowns and their parliaments in history as personified by two political figures: English King Charles I and Russian Tsar Nicholas II. In spite of the three centuries which divide these two monarchs, their fates were strikingly similar, mainly because of their attitudes to national parliaments and constitutional rule in general. This comparative essay provides a basis for understanding the role of individuals in history and their influence on the course of events – the cases where monarchal prejudices, biases, foibles, or obstinacy led to personal as well as national tragedies: to revolutions, civil wars and dictatorships (let it be those of Cromwell or Stalin). Lastly, the paper offers an opportunity to appreciate the national peculiarities of those great tragedies: while England could quite promptly repair the ravages of revolution and restore its monarchy, Russia, on the contrary, lost – vidently, forever – the chance to establish a constitutional monarchy and suffered a long period of political totalitarianism in the twentieth century.
Die Stellvertretung des Staatsoberhauptes in Ungarn zwischen 1920 und 1944
Authors: Szabó István
Published: January 2024

Der ungarische Reichstag stellte in den letzten Tagen des ersten Weltkrieges seine Tätigkeit ein. Zu neuen Parlamentswahlen kam es erst nach dem Scheitern der Revolutionen zu Beginn des Jahres 1920. Die durch diese Wahlen gewählte Nationalversammlung musste - auch wenn sie dem Namen nach keine verfassungsgebende Nationalversammlung war - über die zukünftige Staatsorganisation Ungarns entscheiden. Der überwiegende Teil des staatsrechtlichen Schrifttums hielt die verfassungsrechtliche Tätigkeit der Revolution für ungültig und war damit der Ansicht, dass in Ungarn nach wie vor die Staatsform des Königreichs bestand. Das am 28. Februar 1920 verlautbarte Gesetz Nr. 1 über die Wiederherstellung der Verfassungsmäßigkeit und über die Ausübung der obersten Staatsgewalt hat das Königreich wiederhergestellt.

Die Frage nach der Ausübung der königlichen Gewalt führte jedoch zu scharfen politischen und juristischen Zwistigkeiten. Der im Jahre 1916 gekrönte Karl IV. konnte aufgrund des Widerstandes der Entente nicht nach Ungarn zurückkehren. Die Meinungen waren jedoch auch hinsichtlich der Frage geteilt, ob nach dem Zerbrechen der österreichisch-ungarischen Verbindung Karl IV. seine Rechtsposition als Herrscher beibehalten hatte oder nicht.
The "Cyprus Problem" and the President and Parliament in the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
Authors: Warner Jonathan
Published: January 2024

Any account of the history of Cyprus, and the so-called Cyprus Problem involves contested narratives, and so is likely to be long in order to reflect fully the nuances of the different stories produced by the two communities, Greek and Turkish. At base, the recent history of Cyprus demonstrates that building a multi-ethnic state is never easy, especially when there is no strong national identity, and instead the various groups owe allegiance elsewhere.
The island has been home to a Greek-speaking community for two millennia; smaller groups of Maronite Christians (from Lebanon) and Armenian traders have acculturated to the Greek culture of the island, while maintaining their own ethnic identities. All these communities share a common Eastern Christian heritage. The Maronites and Armenians are tiny minorities compared to the Turkish-speaking inhabitants, who trace their ancestry back to settlers brought over from Anatolia after the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1570-71. It is said that some members of the former ruling elite (European crusaders from what are now France and Italy, who ruled the island from the twelfth century until the Ottoman conquest) also became Moslems and integrated into the Turkish community.
Der liechtensteinische Parlamentarismus heute
Authors: Marxer Wilfried
Published: January 2024

Der liechtensteinische Landtag ist eingebettet in ein komplexes politisches System, welches die Macht des Landtags formell beschränkt, explizit durch die Rechte des Landesfürsten, die direktdemokratischen Volksrechte und die Gerichtsbarkeit. Er ist aber auch informellen Einschränkungen unterworfen, etwa durch die Macht und den Einfluss der Regierung, der Zivilgesellschaft und der Parteien. Dies verleiht ihm einen vergleichsweise schwachen Stand innerhalb des politischen Systems.
L’État de Sienne de la République communale à la monarchie absolue « postmédiévale ». Les institutions parlementaires citadines à l’époque du Principat des Médicis
Authors: Ruiu Antonio
Published: January 2024

En Toscane, le plus important héritage de l’époque médiévale fut la création d’une aristocratie urbaine qui légitimait sa supériorité hiérarchique à travers l’exercice des plus grandes charges publiques. Faisaient partie de cette noblesse citadine les familles qui détenaient le monopole des magistratures communales, ou du moins les plus importantes, en vertu d’un privilège héréditaire ou d’un acte d’agrégation au regimen historiquement constitué.

La nature insolite de la noblesse toscane permit une mobilité sociale plutôt élevée. Cette mobilité fut favorisée par l’absence des droits rigides du sang et de naissance et des droits concernant le monopole des armes, car cette noblesse se basait sur d’autres éléments rendant plutôt flous les paramètres de la condition nobiliaire. Ce phénomène peut, de plus, s’appuyer sur la théorie de la stratification sociale élaborée par Roland Mousnier. Nous rentrons clairement dans le cas de la société stratifiée en ordres, où la mobilité sociale se situe dans une position intermédiaire par rapport aux deux extrêmes représentés, par défaut, par la distribution par castes - où celle-ci n’est rien -, et, par excès, par la distribution en classes - lieu de la plus grande mobilité potentielle. En effet, la possibilité de déplacement était limitée et soumise au contrôle du pouvoir publique, et était également liée à l’évaluation des qualités retenues  indispensables pour acquérir le status nobiliaire.
Optimization-based trajectory planning for transport collaboration of heterogeneous systems
Authors: Chen Jingshan , Luo Wei , Ebel Henrik , Eberhard Peter
Published: January 2024

This paper describes an optimization-based trajectory planning scheme for handing over an object between a quadrotor and a wheeled robot in a transportation scenario. Concretely, a quadrotor should pick up an object from a moving ground mobile robot and deliver it to its destination. An optimization framework based on discrete mechanics and complementarity constraints is utilized here to jointly ensure dynamic feasibility and determine the position, timing, and coordination of the handover autonomously. Cooperative trajectories of the heterogeneous robot system can be generated simultaneously to satisfy different requirements by adjusting the objective function and constraints. The proposed planning scheme provides a novel paradigm combining trajectory planning and handover decision-making within an optimal control problem.
Robust stability of moving horizon estimation for continuous-time systems
Authors: Schiller Julian D. , Müller Matthias A.
Published: January 2024

We consider a moving horizon estimation (MHE) scheme involving a discounted least squares objective for general nonlinear continuous-time systems. Provided that the system is detectable (incrementally integral input/output-to-state stable, i-iIOSS), we show that there exists a sufficiently long estimation horizon that guarantees robust global exponential stability of the estimation error in a time-discountedL2-to-L∞sense. In addition, we show that i-iIOSS Lyapunov functions can be efficiently constructed by verifying certain linear matrix inequality conditions. In combination, we propose a flexible Lyapunov-based MHE framework in continuous time, which particularly offers more tuning possibilities than its discrete-time analog, and provide sufficient conditions for stability that can be easily verified in practice. Our results are illustrated by a numerical example.
The dynamics of a bicycle on a pump track – first results on modeling and optimal control
Authors: Golembiewski Julian , Schmidt Marcus , Terschluse Benedikt , Jaitner Thomas , Liebig Thomas , Faulwasser Timm
Published: January 2024

We investigate the dynamics of a bicycle on an uneven mountain bike track split into straight sections with small jumps (kickers) and banked corners. A basic model of the interaction of bicycle and rider proposed and used to derive equations of motion, which capture the possibilities to accelerate the bicycle without pedaling. Since this is a first approach to the problem, only corners connected by straight lines are considered to compute optimal riding strategies. The simulation is validated with experimental data obtained on a real pump track. It is demonstrated that the model effectively captures the longitudinal bike acceleration resulting from the relative vertical motion between the rider’s upper body and the bicycle. Our numerical results are in good analogy with real rider’s actions on similar tracks.
Research progress on ocular complications caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus and the function of tears and blepharons
Authors: Wang Xiaohong , Fang Jian , Yang Lina
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the related research progress of ocular complications (OCs) caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), tear and tarsal function, and the application of deep learning (DL) in the diagnosis of diabetes and OCs caused by it, to provide reference for the prevention and control of OCs in T2DM patients. This study reviewed the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes retinopathy, keratopathy, dry eye disease, glaucoma, and cataract, analyzed the relationship between OCs and tear function and tarsal function, and discussed the application value of DL in the diagnosis of diabetes and OCs. Diabetes retinopathy is related to hyperglycemia, angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and other factors. The increase in water content in the corneal stroma leads to corneal relaxation, loss of transparency, and elasticity, and can lead to the occurrence of corneal lesions. Dry eye syndrome is related to abnormal stability of the tear film and imbalance in neural and immune regulation. Elevated intraocular pressure, inflammatory reactions, atrophy of the optic nerve head, and damage to optic nerve fibers are the causes of glaucoma. Cataract is a common eye disease in the elderly, which is a visual disorder caused by lens opacity. Oxidative stress is an important factor in the occurrence of cataracts. In clinical practice, blood sugar control, laser therapy, and drug therapy are used to control the above eye complications. The function of tear and tarsal plate will be affected by eye diseases. Retinopathy and dry eye disease caused by diabetes will cause dysfunction of tear and tarsal plate, which will affect the eye function of patients. Furthermore, DL can automatically diagnose and classify eye diseases, automatically analyze fundus images, and accurately diagnose diabetes retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other diseases by analyzing and processing eye images and data. The treatment of T2DM is difficult and prone to OCs, which seriously threatens the normal life of patients. The occurrence of OCs is closely related to abnormal tear and tarsal function. Based on DL, clinical diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and its OCs can be carried out, which has positive application value.
On the acquisition of tense and agreement in L2 English by adult speakers of L1 Chinese
Authors: Kong Stano , Huang Yuhsin
Published: January 2024

This study investigates whether forms associated with verbal inflection can be acquired in relation to two UG-based L2 acquisition hypotheses: the Full Transfer Full Access (FTFA) Hypothesis (Schwartz, Bonnie & Rex Sprouse. 1994. Word order and nominative case in nonnative language acquisition: A longitudinal study of (L1 Turkish) German interlanguage. In Teun Hoekstra & Bonnie D. Schwartz (eds.), Language acquisition Studies in generative grammar, 317–368. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, Schwartz, Bonnie & Rex Sprouse. 1996. L2 cognitive states and the ‘full transfer/full access’ model. Second Language Research 12. 40–72) and the Interpretability Hypothesis (Tsimpli, Ianthi-maria & Maria Dimitrakopoulou. 2007. The Interpretability hypothesis: Evidence from wh-interrogatives in second language acquisition. Second Language Research 23. 215–242). The former captures the insight that convergence on grammars like those of native speakers is possible, whereas the latter argues that a native/non-native divergence results from the inaccessibility of some uninterpretable syntactic features. Ninety adult L1 speakers of Chinese of different English proficiency levels were asked to interpret and produce tense and agreement in various contexts in three tasks. Results suggest that the underlying grammatical representations in the end-state grammar may not be the same as native speakers’. We speculate that the inaccessibility of the uninterpretable [uInfl:] feature of v and the uninterpretable [uInfl:*] feature of be are the potential source of difficulty in acquiring verbal inflection in L2 English.
Research progress on rat model of drug-induced liver injury established by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (celecoxib) and royal jelly ameliorative effect
Authors: Eleiwa Naglaa Zakaria Helmy , Khalifa Hesham Ahmed M. Ismael , Nazim Heba Ahmed
Published: January 2024

Objectives

NSAIDs, like celecoxib, are widely used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation, with celecoxib being particularly effective in managing arthritis symptoms and acute or chronic pain especially with its favorable gastrointestinal tolerability. The study aimed at exploring the effect of chronic administration of celecoxib on hepatic tissues in male albino rats. It also examined the royal jelly celecoxib interplay.

Methods

50 male albino rats in 5 equal groups; Group 1: received no drug. Group 2: received celecoxib (50 mg/kg/day, orally), for 30 successive days. Group 3: received celecoxib plus royal jelly (300 mg/kg/day, orally) for 30 successive days. Group 4: received celecoxib, for 30 days, then were left untreated for another 30 days. Group 5: received celecoxib plus royal jelly for 30 days, then were left untreated for another 30 days.

Results

Chronic celecoxib administration caused hepatotoxicity in male albino rats, with ameliorative effect of royal jelly. Celecoxib discontinuation significantly diminished the celecoxib-induced toxicity, and normal liver enzymes and serum protein levels were regained in the case of dual medications (celecoxib+RJ) discontinuation.

Conclusions

Long-term celecoxib administration caused hepatotoxicity, with ameliorative effects of royal jelly against celecoxib-induced oxidative and apoptotic stress. In addition, it could be concluded that royal jelly may prove a useful adjunct in patients being prescribed celecoxib.
Multifetal pregnancy reductions and selective fetocide in a tertiary referral center – a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jernman Riina Maria , Stefanovic Vedran
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Multiple pregnancies involve several complications, most often prematurity, but also higher anomaly rates. Reducing fetuses generally improves pregnancy outcomes. We conducted this study to evaluate the obstetrical and neonatal results after multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) in the largest tertiary hospital in Finland.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included all MFPR managed in Helsinki University Hospital during a 13 year period (2007–2019). Data on pregnancies, parturients and newborns were collected from patient files. The number of fetuses, chorionicities and amnionicities were defined in first-trimester ultrasound screening.

Results

There were 54 MFPR cases included in the final analyses. Most often the reduction was from twins to singletons (n=34, 63 %). Majority of these (25/34, 73.5 %) were due to co-twin anomaly. Triplets (n=16, 29.6 %) were reduced to twins (n=7, 13 %) or singletons (n=9, 16.7 %), quadruplets (n=2, 3.7 %) and quintuplets (n=2, 3.7 %) to twins. Most (33/54, 61.1 %) MFPR procedures were done by 15+0 weeks of gestation. There were six miscarriages after MFPR and one early co-twin miscarriage. In the remaining 47 pregnancies that continued as twins (n=7, 14.9 %) or singletons (n=40, 85.1 %) the liveborn rate was 90 % for one fetus and 71.4 % for two fetuses.

Conclusions

Most MFPR cases were pregnancies with an anomalous co-twin. The whole pregnancy loss risk was 11.1 % after MFPR. The majority (70.6 %) of twins were spontaneous, whereas all quadruplets, quintuplets, and 56.3 % of triplets were assisted reproductive technologies (ART) pregnancies. Careful counselling should be an essential part of obstetrical care in multiple pregnancies, which should be referred to fetomaternal units for MFPR option.
Identification of potential biomarkers in follicular thyroid carcinoma: bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analyses
Authors: Lin Qianhuang , Ma Ye , Chen Pengcheng
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The prevalence of thyroid cancer has shown a progressive rise over time. This study aimed to explore the expression and underlying mechanisms of decorin (DCN) in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), employing bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry techniques.

Methods

The GSE27155 dataset was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and core DEGs were identified through data mining and analysis using the R language and online databases. The expression of core DEGs was validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Additionally, the correlation between DCN and clinicopathological stage, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and hotspot molecules in thyroid cancer was assessed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and TIMER databases. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was then conducted to verify the differential expression of core DCN in FTC and adjacent tissues.

Results

We confirmed the downregulation of three DEGs (DCN, GPC3, and PDGFRA). Furthermore, the analysis revealed a significant association between DCN expression and the clinical stage of patients with thyroid cancer (p<0.0001). DCN expression and the infiltration of several immune cells were positively correlated (p<0.01). A significant positive correlation was also noted between DCN and the NRAS and KRAS genes (partial cor>0, p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analyses revealed a significantly lower staining score (3.071 ± 2.493) for DCN protein in cancer tissues than that in adjacent tissues (8.643 ± 2.094) (p<0.0001).

Conclusions

DCN is underexpressed and contributes to tumor progression in FTC. Thus, DCN serves as a tumor suppressor gene in FTC and a promising therapeutic target.
Biopolymer-based nanocomposites for application in biomedicine: a review
Authors: Shaikh Abdul Aziz , Datta Preetam , Dastidar Prithwish , Majumder Arkadip , Das Maharghya Dyuti , Manna Pratikrit , Roy Subhasis
Published: January 2024

Biopolymer-based nanocomposites have gained significant attention in biomedicine due to their unique properties and potential applications. These nanocomposites combine biopolymers, natural polymers derived from renewable sources, with nanoparticles or other nanoscale materials to create materials with enhanced properties and functionalities. Biopolymers that are used to make bio-nanocomposites are cellulose, alginate, chitosan, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), etc. These have different properties, and they can be used in several types of treatments. Scaffolds frequently employ polylactic acid-gelatin, nanocellulose, and chitosan. Studies have shown that some special types of hydrogel films have proven beneficial in anticancer treatment. Synthetic and naturally occurring substances such as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), guar gum, and chitosan are employed in the drug delivery system. Nanocomposites such as silver nanoparticles with chitosan, sulfated polysaccharides, and thyme-loaded carrot nanocellulose or starch biopolymer nanocomposites have been used to stop bacterial development. This review article provides a comprehensive insight into biopolymer-based nanocomposites and their uses. Also, it has been incorporated into fields such as biosensors, bioimaging, blood clotting, immunomodulation, antibacterial and antiviral drugs, and food packaging. Hence, the primary objective of this review is to provide an overall perspective on biopolymer nanocomposites in nanomedicine.
Structural optimization of trays in bolt support systems
Authors: Wang Cunfei , Yang Zengfu , Shi Chengwang , Zou Meishuai , Zhang Xufeng
Published: January 2024

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) have the advantages of high strength, corrosion resistance, and low density, which are widely used to serve as tray products in bolt support systems. As a key component, the low mechanical load-bearing capacity of trays significantly limits their widespread application. Besides, there is no corresponding theoretical calculations and strength analysis methods for the structural design. The aim of this study is to optimize the tray structure and improve its load-bearing capacity. Through theoretical calculations and finite element numerical analysis, the effect of inner surface taper and stiffener height on the load-bearing capacity of the tray under the application of constant axial force is investigated. The results show that first of all, the larger the inner surface taper is, the better the load capacity of the tray. Second, the special-shaped truncated cone type displayed better load capacity than the stiffener tray. Third, the higher the design height of the stiffener is, the smaller the deformation and shear stress on the top of the inner surface of the tray, and better load capacity is achieved. We believe that this study provides theoretical guidance for the structural design of high-performance FRP trays.