bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using Virtual Reality in a Rehabilitation Program for Patients With Breast Cancer: Phenomenological Study
Authors: Wu Shih-Chung , Chuang Chia-Wen , Liao Wen-Chun , Li Chung-Fang , Shih Hsin-Hsin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Surgery is an essential treatment for early-stage breast cancer. However, various side effects of breast cancer surgery, such as arm dysfunction and lymphedema, remain causes for concern. Rehabilitation exercises to prevent such side effects should be initiated within 24 hours after surgery. Virtual reality (VR) can assist the process of rehabilitation; however, the feasibility of applying VR for rehabilitation must be explored, in addition to experiences of this application.

Objective
This study explored patients’ attitudes toward and experiences of using VR for their rehabilitation to determine the feasibility of such VR use and to identify potential barriers.

Methods
A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted from September to December 2021. A total of 18 patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgical treatment were interviewed using open-ended questions. The Colaizzi 7-step procedure for phenomenological analysis was used for data analysis. To ensure high study reliability, this study followed previously reported quality criteria for trustworthiness.

Results
Three themes were identified: (1) VR was powerful in facilitating rehabilitation, (2) early and repetitive upper limb movements were an advantage of VR rehabilitation, and (3) extensive VR use had challenges to be overcome. Most of the interviewed patients reported positive experiences of using VR for rehabilitation. Specifically, VR helped these patients identify appropriate motion and angle limits while exercising; in other words, knowledge gained through VR can play a key role in the rehabilitation process. In addition, the patients reported that the use of VR provided them company, similar to when a physiotherapist is present. Finally, the gamified nature of the VR system seemed to make VR-based rehabilitation more engaging than traditional rehabilitation, particularly with respect to early rehabilitation; however, the high cost of VR equipment made VR-based rehabilitation difficult to implement at home.

Conclusions
The interviewed patients with breast cancer had positive experiences in using VR for rehabilitation. The high cost of both VR equipment and software development presents a challenge for applying VR-based rehabilitation.
Nephrectomy indications in kidney diseases: 10-years’ experience study
Authors: Albadran M.F. , Mezban S.G. , Alfadli E.B. , Jareh K.H. 
Published: December 2023

Background. Nephrectomy, a performance surgery in urology practice, may lead to an irreversibly kidney injuries during surgical removal. This study aims to describe 10-years of experience with nephrectomy, its indications and complications in kidney diseases. Materials and methods. Data for all the patients who underwent nephrectomy were collected including demographics, age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, aetiology, past medical and surgical history and comorbidity. Indications for nephrectomy were stones, obstruction, tumors, pyelonephritis and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Among complications, thrombocytopenia, fever, hyperkalemia, hypertension, ileus, pneumonia, pneumothorax, septic shock, surgical site infection, hyperglycemia, bleeding and postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded. Preoperative preparation included laboratory tests such as complete blood count, renal function test and liver function test. It is reasonable to perform renoscintography before nephrectomy to consider partial nephrectomy. However, in our study we performed it routinely because nearly all patients underwent ultrasonography or/and computed tomography scan of abdomen/pelvis to detect pathologies. A percutaneous polyurethane catheters or stents were placed. A guidewire was inserted into the kidney via the rigid cystoscope. Results. A total of 50 nephrectomies were performed. The median age of patients was 45 years ranging from 14 to 73 years. About 60 % of the patients were females and 40 % were males. Patients were educated (48 %), smoking (56 %), alcoholic (12 %), with past medical and surgical history (50 %), comorbidities (46 %) and lived in rural region (44 %) and urban areas (56 %). Stones and obstruction accounted for the majority of cases, 52 and 36 %, respectively. Most of the nephrectomies were performed with laparoscopic approach (58 %). Open surgery was done in 15 cases (30 %) because of adhesions and emphysema. Complications related to laparoscopy and open surgery occurred in 17 (34 %) of patients. Thrombocytopenia, fever, hyperkalemia, hypertension, ileus, pneumonia, pneumothorax, septic shock, surgical site infection, hyperglycemia, bleeding and postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded. Conclusions. Stone disease and obstruction were the most common benign conditions requiring nephrectomy. The laparoscopic approach can be feasible for most benign kidney diseases requiring nephrectomies with adequate expertise. Сomplication rate in it is comparable with that of open surgery.
A rotatividade no call center: um olhar a partir dos jovens de um call center em Teresina, Piauí
Authors: Araujo Johnne Petterson de Sousa 
Published: December 2023

A metamorfose do mundo de produção capitalista global se modifica historicamente, ampliando sua capacidade a partir de suas transições no que se refere ao seu modo de organização do labor, do emprego e da produção. As revoluções industriais e tecnológicas apresentam, em grande medida, este rearranjo e traz à tona “novas” modificações advindas desta metamorfose do capital no século XXI. Considerando as sociedades contemporâneas, que se desenvolvem a partir de uma lógica de produção capitalista, baseada na telemática, surgem diversos ramos intermediários na atividade produtiva intensivos em informação, comunicação, dentre eles, os Call Center. A restruturação produtiva reconfigura as variáveis do trabalhador e sua forma de inserção no mundo do trabalho. Fatores que outrora não eram apropriados pelo capital como por exemplo, a dimensão subjetiva passam a ser apoderados pelo modo de organização do trabalho, em sua nova roupagem de acumulação flexível, tercerismo e outros arranjos que captura o trabalhador e altera suas experiências nas relações do labor. Diante deste contexto, esse estudo é sobre o trabalho de jovens em uma empresa de Call Center em Teresina, Piauí. Portanto, busca-se compreender como se constitui o trabalho de jovens teresinenses em Call Center ante aos processos de superexploração da força de trabalho em um contexto de deformação do mundo do trabalho. No que se refere os procedimentos teórico metodológicos, as categorias e conceitos chaves são: terceirismo, flexibilidade, intensificação do setor de serviços, superexploração do trabalho, Call Center, telemarketing, precarização do trabalho, trabalho emocional. Por meio dessas categorias, busca-se compreender como os jovens de Teresina veem no Call Center uma forma de ingressar no mercado de trabalho. A questão de como vem se constituído o trabalho nos espaços de Call Center, sobretudo da força de trabalho jovens, chamou atenção, uma vez que os trabalhadores estão inseridos em um contexto de deformações em esfera global, do labor. A partir das entrevistas realizadas com esses jovens, é possível afirmar que o trabalho por eles realizado era considerado como um “trampolim”, sobretudo para aqueles que estão/estavam no ensino superior ou que já concluíram. Diante dessa realidade, restam continuar como operador(a) de telemarketing, a não se encontrarem incorporados pela tragédia do desemprego. Porém, não consideravam a função que exerciam como um emprego, mais apenas um meio para custear necessidades para continuarem construindo uma outra alternativa de “projeto de vida”.
Engineering Properties, Processing and Value Addition of Tamarind: A Review
Authors: Bidyalakshmi Thingujam , Sunita Thongam , Kaukab Shaghaf , Ravi Y. 
Published: December 2023

Tamarind is widely consumed as fruit and spices in India. Tamarind contains pulp, seeds, shell and fibres. The pulp, which makes up between 30 and 50% of the mature fruit, is rich in reducing sugars, pectin, protein, fiber, and cellulose substances. Study of various physical engineering properties such as moisture content, fruit size, length, width, thickness, and weight (pulp, seed, shell, etc.) is important for designing the post-harvest machineries of tamarind. Major unit operations for processing of tamarind includes drying, dehulling, deseeding, pressing and storage. Traditional and mechanical approaches are used for these operations. Mechanical approaches of tamarind processing are carried out by dehuller and deseeder machinery. One of the crucial unit procedures in the processing of tamarind is deseeding which can be done by deseeder, mechanically. Processing of raw tamarind into value-added goods may increase its worth in addition to increase in shelf life. Additionally, it boosts the income of producers and processors. Value added products of tamarind are pulp, tamarind juice concentrate, tamarind pulp powder, tamarind pickle, tamarind jam, tamarind syrup, tamarind candy, tamarind kernel powder, dried fruit block, tamarind chutney and beverages. Tamarind is also rich in major amino acids phytochemicals and hence it carries the properties of antidiabetic, antibacterial, antivenomic, antioxidant. This paper provides an overview of the engineering properties, processing technologies, value added products, technologies and machineries developed/available for tamarind and its health benefits which will further help in machinery, protocol, technology and product design and development.
A damage-plasticity model for brittle materials based on an approximation of Rankine type of failure criterion
Authors: Saksala Timo , Kouhia Reijo 
Published: December 2023

A damage-plasticity model for tensile failure analyses of brittle materials is developed. The stress states leading to a failure (inelastic strains and damage) are indicated by a rounded approximation of the Rankine criterion. This approximation is expressed in terms of the stress invariants avoiding thus the need of coordinate transformations and eigenvalue solutions required by the classical Rankine criterion. The model is formulated with the effective stress space approach, i.e. the return mapping is first performed in the global effective stress space and then the damage update is performed independently of the plasticity part. The model is consistently linearized, and, finally, some demonstrative simulations of a tensile test on a rock-like material are carried out.
Effect of Luffa Sponge Fibre Mats Embedded in the Plaster Matrix
Authors: Kharrati Khaled , Salhi Madiha , Hidouri Abdelmoumen , Abdeljabar Ridha 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The present experimental research work aims to elaborate a new composite material (CM) composed of plasters reinforced with mats of long unidirectional luffa sponge fibres, treated chemically by 1% NaOH solution during 90 min at a temperature of 50°C, in orderto improve its thermomechanical and physical properties. The influence of fibre mat and fibre napping numbers of luffa sponge on density, porosity, flexural strength, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity and specific heat capacity properties was investigatedto lower building energy consumption. As far as our case is concerned, we processed a composite using single, double and triple-layer luffa sponge fibre mats. In our study, we are basically confined our experiments to three-layer mats. The experimental results revealed that the networking structure of fibres increases the flexural strength and decreases the thermal conductivity for a two-layer fibre wire mesh imbedded in the plaster matrix as compared with the neat plaster. However, there is a decrease in strength for a triple-layer composite, which referred to poor wetting of the fiber with the matrix material.
Energy Conversion in Systems-Contained Laser-Irradiated Metallic Nanoparticles – Comparison of Results from Analytical Solutions and Numerical Methods
Authors: Radomski Piotr , Ziółkowski Paweł , Mikielewicz Dariusz 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This work introduces the theoretical method of metallic nanoparticles’ (NPs’) heat and mass transfer where the particles are coated on a surface (base), together with considering the case wherein nanoparticles move freely in a pipe. In order to simulate the heat transfer, energy and radiative transfer equations are adjusted to the considered issue. NPs’ properties are determined following the nanofluidic theories, whereas absorption and scattering coefficients are described using either Mie-Lorenz theory or Rayleigh-Drude approximation. Thermal boundary conditions are implemented based on the microscale heat transfer and Smoluchowski theory. Results are compared with the classical Fourier transport differential solutions that have been adjusted to laser irradiation.
Avoidence Strategies for Fractional Order Systems with Caputo Derivative
Authors: Pawłuszewicz Ewa 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
A control strategy is derived for fractional-order dynamic systems with Caputo derivative to guarantee collision-free trajectories for two agents. To guarantee that one agent keeps the state of the system out of a given set regardless of the other agent’s actions a Lyapunov-based approach is adopted. As a special case showing that the given approach to choosing proposed strategy is constructive for a fractional-order system with the Caputo derivative, a linear system as an example is discussed. Obtained results extend to the fractional order case the avoidance problem Leitman’s and Skowronski’s approach.
Numerical Analysis of the Boiling Heat Transfer Coefficient in the Flow in Mini-Channels
Authors: Maciejewska Beata , Hożejowska Sylwia , Grabowski Mirosław , Poniewski Mieczysław E. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This paper deals with boiling heat transfer in the flow of water through an asymmetrically heated horizontal rectangular mini-channel. The mini-channel was made by gluing three transparent glass plates and a copper block. Through the glass window, the variable along the length of the mini-channel two-phase flow structures were recorded to determine local values of the void fraction. Four resistance heaters were attached to the copper block, powered by direct current, generating the heat initiating the flow boiling inside the channel. During the experiment, the following were measured: water volumetric flow rate, inlet pressure with pressure drop, inlet and outlet water temperature, copper block temperatures at three points inside its body, voltage and current supplied to the heaters. Stationary and laminar fluid flow with low Reynolds numbers were assumed in the mathematical model of heat transfer in selected elements of the measuring module. The temperature distributions in the copper block and flowing water were described by the appropriate energy equations: the Laplace equation for the copper block and the Fourier–Kirchhoff equation with parabolic fluid velocity for the flowing water. These equations were supplemented with a set of boundary conditions based on measurement data; moreover, data from experimental studies were the basis for numerical calculations and their verification. Two-dimensional temperature distributions of the copper block and water were calculated with the Trefftz method (TM). The main objective of this study was to determine the heat transfer coefficient on the contact surface of the copper block and water, which was calculated from the Robin boundary condition. The results of the calculations were compared with the results of numerical simulations performed using the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ software, obtaining consistent values. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were verified based on experimental data including void fraction and temperature measurements of the copper block and flowing water.
A New Approach to Designing Control of Dissolved Oxygen and Aeration System in Sequencing Batch Reactor by Applied Backstepping Control Algorithm
Authors: Kolankowski Michał , Banach Michał , Piotrowski Robert , Ujazdowski Tomasz 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a complex system due to its non-linearity, time-variance and multiple time scales in its dynamics among others. The most important control parameter in a WWTP is the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. The tracking problem of the DO concentration is one of the most fundamental issues in biological wastewater treatment. Proper control of DO concentration is necessary to achieve adequate biological conditions for microorganisms in the WWTP. Aeration is an important process to achieve those conditions, but it is expensive. It was performed using an aeration system, which includes blowers, pipelines and diffusers. This paper presents a new approach to designing a non-linear control system for controlling DO concentration using an adaptive backstepping algorithm. A model of biological processes and aeration system were applied in designing the control system. Simulation tests of the control system were performed and very good results on control were obtained. The proposed solution has proved to be effective and computationally efficient.
Dynamic Stability of a Three-Layer Beam – Generalisation of the Sandwich Structure Theory
Authors: Magnucki Krzysztof , Magnucka-Blandzi Ewa 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The work focuses on the dynamic stability problem of a simply supported three-layer beam subjected to a pulsating axial force. Two analytical models of this beam are developed: one model takes into account the non-linear hypothesis of cross-section deformation, and the other takes into account the standard “broken line” hypothesis. Displacements, strains and stresses for each model are formulated in detail. Based on the Hamilton principle, equations of motion are determined for each of these models. These systems of two differential equations for each model are approximately solved with the consideration of the axial pulsating force, and the fundamental natural frequencies, critical forces and the Mathieu equation are determined. Detailed studies are performed for an exemplary family of beams. The stable and unstable regions are calculated for the three pulsating load cases. The values of fundamental natural frequencies and critical forces of exemplary beams calculated from two models are compared.
Metabolic disturbances in sedentary and active Polish male students with normal body mass index and waist circumference
Authors: Malara Marzena , Widłak Patrycja 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Study aim: To evaluate circulating lipoproteins, glucose, insulin and the index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in male Polish students with normal BMI and waist circumference (WC) in the context of their physical activity.
Material and methods: A total 170 male students with normal BMI and WC less than 102 cm were accepted for the study (56 sedentary and 114 physically active). Body weight and height were determined using standard medical equipment. Waist circumference was measured using non-stretchable tape. The percentage of body fat was determined from the sum of the thickness of four skinfolds. Circulating lipoproteins, glucose and insulin level was determined.
Results: Active participants had significantly lower plasma TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL ratio, LDL/HDL ratio, insulin and HOMA-IR compared to sedentary subjects (P < 0.001). However, even among active participants, as many as 58% were characterized by high TG, 17% high TC, 12% high LDL-C and 20% high TG/HDL ratio.
Conclusion: In male students with normal body composition according to BMI and WC distorted metabolic variables were observed. Additionally, physical activity markedly decreased but not eliminated these disturbances. Thus, using BMI and WC for body composition classification as healthy possibly provide a false results concerning metabolic status.
Exploring intraspecific pollen morphology variation in Apocynaceae: A roadmap for horticultural innovation
Authors: Khan Muhammad Rizwan , Zafar Muhammad , Ahmad Mushtaq , Al-Ghamdi Abdullah Ahmed , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman , Makhkamov Trobjon , Mamarakhimov Oybek , Yuldashev Akramjon , Botirova Laziza , Mamadiyarov Dilshod , Sultana Shazia , Majeed Salman , Raza Jamil , Kumar Prem 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the pollen and pollinia morpho-structure of 18 horticultural Apocynaceous species. Advanced light and scanning electron microscopy (LM and SEM) were used to elaborate on and examine the systematic importance of pollen and pollinia micromorphology. Pollen grains were first acetolysed, which was followed by visualisation of their sculpturing features. The quantified data were subjected to statistical tools to elucidate dendrogram clustering and principal component analysis to reveal pollen/pollinia morphotypes. The size of pollen is variable, ranging from 113.45 μm in Cascabela thevetia to 23.4 μm in Alstonia scholaris. The study revealed tetrad, tetraporate, and tricolporate grains. Sculpturing (exine ornamentation) varies from reticulate perforate to reticulate. Pollinum shape was observed to be narrow oblong, obovate, orbicular, and reniform. Reticulate-psilate sculptural features were prominent among pollinia surfaces. Based on examination, it was ascertained that the minimum exine thickness in Periploca aphylla was 4.9 μm, whereas the corresponding number in Cryptolepis dubia was 1.35 μm. Taxonomic identification keys were constructed separately based on pollen/pollinia characters to identify the Apocynaceous taxa. In the presented study, seven pollen shapes were observed: from oblate to per prolate. The findings confirm that morphopollinic traits differ amongst genera of Apocynaceous species. However, these features can be used to distinguish the Apocynaceous taxa. The results show that structural characteristics of pollen and pollinia can help accurately identify Apocynaceous species.
Desired work-leisure balance in a partial equilibrium job search model with multiple job holding
Authors: Sum Lo Simon Ming 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Work-leisure balances are beneficial to society. A partial equilibrium job search model is developed to explain desired work-leisure tradeoffs for single-job holders and multiple-job holders. Significant work-leisure mismatches are found: 63% of the observations underwork by an average of 17 hours per week, while 37% overwork by 8.5 hours. The value of leisure is approximately four times the average hourly real wage when a single job is held, and it drops by one-third when multiple jobs are held. Models ignoring possibilities of multiple jobholding overstate the elasticity of leisure and understate the value of leisure.