bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strikes of physicians and other health care workers in sub-Saharan African countries: a systematic review
Authors: Manguele Alexandre Lourenço Jaime , Sidat Mohsin , Ferrinho Paulo , Cabral António Jorge Rodrigues , Craveiro Isabel
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Strikes in the health sector have been of growing concern, given their disruptive nature, negatively impacting the provision of health care and jeopardizing the well-being of patients. This study aims to identify the main actors, the reasons behind industrial actions protests, strikes and lockouts (IAPSL) in sub-Saharan African countries and their impact on health care workers (specifically doctors) and health services, as well as to identify the main strategies adopted to reduce their impact on healthcare services.

Methods

Studies published between January 2000 and December 2021 and archived in MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, ProQuest, and Science Direct were included. Quantitative, observational (i.e., cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and ecological) and experimental studies, as well as mixed methods, quasi-experimental, and qualitative studies were eligible

Results

A total of 5521 studies were identified and after eliminating duplicates, applying the inclusion criteria, and assessing the risk of bias, a total of 11 studies were included in the review. Nurses and doctors are the actors most commonly involved in strikes. The main causes of strikes were salary claims and poor working conditions. The main strategies adopted to mitigate the strike consequences were to restrict services and prioritize emergency and chronic care, greater cooperation with the private sector and rearrange tasks of the available staff. The strikes led to a reduction in hospitalizations and in the number of women giving birth in health units, an increase in maternal and child morbidities and delays in the immunization process. Increased mortality was only reported in faith-based hospitals.

Discussion

This evidence can assist decision-makers in developing strategies and interventions to address IAPSL by health care workers, contributing to strengthen the health system. Strikes in the health sector disrupt healthcare services provision and compromise the well-being of patients, especially the most disadvantaged, with consequences that may be difficult to overcome ever. The potential health impacts of strikes highlights the importance of their prevention or timely resolution through regulation and negotiations to balance the rights of health care workers and the rights of patients.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=334173, identifier CRD42022334173.
Identification of biological indicators for human exposure toxicology in smart cities based on public health data and deep learning
Authors: Gao Peimao , Huang Guowu , Zhao Lu , Ma Sen
Published: May 2024

With the acceleration of urbanization, the risk of urban population exposure to environmental pollutants is increasing. Protecting public health is the top priority in the construction of smart cities. The purpose of this study is to propose a method for identifying toxicological biological indicators of human exposure in smart cities based on public health data and deep learning to achieve accurate assessment and management of exposure risks. Initially, the study used a network of sensors within the smart city infrastructure to collect environmental monitoring data, including indicators such as air quality, water quality, and soil pollution. Using public health data, a database containing information on types and concentrations of environmental pollutants has been established. Convolutional neural network was used to recognize the pattern of environmental monitoring data, identify the relationship between different indicators, and build the correlation model between health indicators and environmental indicators. Identify biological indicators associated with environmental pollution exposure through training optimization. Experimental analysis showed that the prediction accuracy of the model reached 93.45%, which could provide decision support for the government and the health sector. In the recognition of the association pattern between respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and environmental exposure factors such as PM2.5 and SO2, the fitting degree between the model and the simulation value reached more than 0.90. The research design model can play a positive role in public health and provide new decision-making ideas for protecting public health.
“The ban is there, but it is not there”: perceptions of cigarette users and tobacco vendors regarding ban on the sale of loose cigarettes in India
Authors: Sakhuja Mayank , Macauda Mark M. , Thrasher James F. , Hebert James R. , Pednekar Mangesh S. , Gupta Prakash C. , Friedman Daniela B.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Banning the sales of loose cigarettes is recommended by Article 16 of the World Health Organization – Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study aims to understand the perceptions of cigarette users and tobacco vendors regarding such a ban.

Methods

Using a systematic recruitment and interview protocol, we interviewed cigarette users (n = 28) and tobacco vendors (n = 28) from two Indian cities where sales of loose cigarettes were banned (Mumbai) or not banned (Delhi). Separate semi-structured interview guides were used for users and vendors. Interview questions focused on reasons for purchasing loose cigarettes, preference for buying and selling loose vs. packs, thoughts on the necessity of banning loose cigarettes, and the perceived impact of the policy ban for vendors and cigarette users. We performed thematic analysis and used NVivo for organizing transcript coding.

Results

The main reasons users cited for purchasing loose cigarettes were financial constraints, social restrictions (fear of getting caught), and limiting cigarette consumption. In Mumbai, awareness of the existing ban was poor among both users and vendors. Those who were aware did not think the policy had been implemented. Users thought that loose cigarettes promoted smoking initiation and prevented them from quitting. Both users and vendors reported that a ban on loose cigarettes would reduce cigarette consumption and promote quit attempts as it would not be possible for everyone to purchase packs because of financial and social reasons.

Conclusion

Users in both cities reported easy access to and widespread availability of loose cigarettes. Low awareness of the ban in Mumbai suggested inadequate enforcement. A country-wide ban on the sale of loose cigarettes could be highly effective in preventing smoking initiation and promoting quitting.
Social mass gathering events influence emergency medical services call volume
Authors: Kienbacher Calvin Lukas , Herkner Harald , Alemu Feven , Rhodes Jason M. , Al Rasheed Norah , Aldeghaither Ibrahem , Barnawi Esam , Williams Kenneth Alan
Published: May 2024

Background

Prior literature suggests that mass gathering events pose challenges to an emergency medical services (EMS) system. We aimed to investigate whether events influence EMS call rates.

Materials and methods

This study is a retrospective review of all primary response ambulance calls in Rhode Island (US) between January 1st, 2018 and August 31st, 2022. The number of EMS calls per day was taken from the state’s EMS registry. Event data was collected using a Google (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA) search. We used separate Poisson regression models with the number of ambulance calls as the dependent and the social event categories sports, agricultural, music events, and public exhibitions as independent variables. All models controlled for the population at risk and the period of the COVID−19 pandemic. Results are presented as increases or decreases in calls per 100,000 inhabitants from the mean over the study period.

Results

The mean number of daily EMS calls was 38 ± 4 per 100,000 inhabitants. EMS encountered significantly more missions on days with music events (+3, 95% CI [2; 3]) and public exhibitions (+2, 95% CI [1; 2]). In contrast, days with agricultural events were associated with fewer calls (−1, 95% CI [−1; 0]). We did not find any effect of sports events on call rates.

Conclusion

Increased ambulance call volumes are observed on days with music events and public exhibitions. Days with agricultural events are associated with fewer EMS calls.
Enhancing bladder cancer diagnosis through transitional cell carcinoma polyp detection and segmentation: an artificial intelligence powered deep learning solution
Authors: Borna Mahdi-Reza , Sepehri Mohammad Mehdi , Shadpour Pejman , Khaleghi Mehr Farhood
Published: May 2024

Background

Bladder cancer, specifically transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) polyps, presents a significant healthcare challenge worldwide. Accurate segmentation of TCC polyps in cystoscopy images is crucial for early diagnosis and urgent treatment. Deep learning models have shown promise in addressing this challenge.

Methods

We evaluated deep learning architectures, including Unetplusplus_vgg19, Unet_vgg11, and FPN_resnet34, trained on a dataset of annotated cystoscopy images of low quality.

Results

The models showed promise, with Unetplusplus_vgg19 and FPN_resnet34 exhibiting precision of 55.40 and 57.41%, respectively, suitable for clinical application without modifying existing treatment workflows.

Conclusion

Deep learning models demonstrate potential in TCC polyp segmentation, even when trained on lower-quality images, suggesting their viability in improving timely bladder cancer diagnosis without impacting the current clinical processes.
Opportunities for play in paediatric healthcare environments: a scoping review
Authors: Yu Clarissa , Weaver Sophie , Walker Meaghan , Hess Julia , Mac Amanda , Ross Timothy
Published: May 2024

Play spaces are important components of paediatric healthcare environments. They provide children with critical opportunities to experience the social, emotional, and developmental benefits of play while in healthcare settings for appointments or hospitalizations. These spaces can help to mitigate stress, provide a sense of normalcy in unfamiliar environments, and facilitate social engagement for children and their families. Given the benefits of play spaces in paediatric healthcare settings, it is important to understand how these spaces can be designed to enhance children's inclusion and quality of care. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the current understanding of paediatric play space design. Using search terms related to children, health care, and play space, six interdisciplinary databases were searched over a 30-year period. The search found 2,533 records from which eighteen were included for review. Findings suggest that although it is well-documented that play spaces offer valuable social and emotional benefits, little is known about the specific design features that can and should be incorporated to enhance play opportunities and ensure that they benefit all children and families. Further, the literature mostly considers play spaces in the context of designated play or recreational rooms. Scholars are encouraged to consider how play opportunities can be incorporated into the designs of paediatric healthcare environments beyond the boundaries of these rooms. Future studies should also consider the diversity of play space users, including children of varying ages and abilities, to create more accessible and inclusive paediatric play spaces for children and their families. Advancing knowledge on play space design can help to optimize the quality of these important spaces and to ensure their designs meaningfully enhance children's play experiences and quality of care.
Flow in human-robot collaboration—multimodal analysis and perceived challenge detection in industrial scenarios
Authors: Prajod Pooja , Lavit Nicora Matteo , Mondellini Marta , Falerni Matteo Meregalli , Vertechy Rocco , Malosio Matteo , André Elisabeth
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Flow state, the optimal experience resulting from the equilibrium between perceived challenge and skill level, has been extensively studied in various domains. However, its occurrence in industrial settings has remained relatively unexplored. Notably, the literature predominantly focuses on Flow within mentally demanding tasks, which differ significantly from industrial tasks. Consequently, our understanding of emotional and physiological responses to varying challenge levels, specifically in the context of industry-like tasks, remains limited.

Methods: To bridge this gap, we investigate how facial emotion estimation (valence, arousal) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) features vary with the perceived challenge levels during industrial assembly tasks. Our study involves an assembly scenario that simulates an industrial human-robot collaboration task with three distinct challenge levels. As part of our study, we collected video, electrocardiogram (ECG), and NASA-TLX questionnaire data from 37 participants.

Results: Our results demonstrate a significant difference in mean arousal and heart rate between the low-challenge (Boredom) condition and the other conditions. We also found a noticeable trend-level difference in mean heart rate between the adaptive (Flow) and high-challenge (Anxiety) conditions. Similar differences were also observed in a few other temporal HRV features like Mean NN and Triangular index. Considering the characteristics of typical industrial assembly tasks, we aim to facilitate Flow by detecting and balancing the perceived challenge levels. Leveraging our analysis results, we developed an HRV-based machine learning model for discerning perceived challenge levels, distinguishing between low and higher-challenge conditions.

Discussion: This work deepens our understanding of emotional and physiological responses to perceived challenge levels in industrial contexts and provides valuable insights for the design of adaptive work environments.
Evaluating the potency of laser-activated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy utilizing methylene blue as a treatment approach for chronic periodontitis
Authors: Karuppan Perumal Manoj Kumar , Rajan Renuka Remya , Manickam Natarajan Prabhu
Published: May 2024

Chronic periodontitis is a ubiquitous inflammatory disease in dental healthcare that is challenging to treat due to its impact on bone and tooth loss. Conventional mechanical debridement has been challenging in eliminating complex subgingival biofilms. Hence, adjunctive approaches like low-level laser antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (A-PDT) utilising methylene blue (MB) have been emerging approaches in recent times. This review evaluates the latest research on the use of MB-mediated A-PDT to decrease microbial count and enhance clinical results in chronic periodontitis. Studies have shown the interaction between laser light and MB generates a phototoxic effect thereby, eliminating pathogenic bacteria within periodontal pockets. Moreover, numerous clinical trials have shown that A-PDT using MB can reduce probing depths, improve clinical attachment levels, and decrease bleeding during probing in comparison to traditional treatment approaches. Notably, A-PDT shows superior antibiotic resistance compared to conventional antibiotic treatments. In conclusion, the A-PDT using MB shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for chronic periodontitis. Additional research is required to standardize treatment protocols and assess long-term outcomes of A-PDT with MB in the treatment of periodontitis.
Measuring and improving public space resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic: Chongqing-China as a case study
Authors: Alawi Mohsen , Chu Dongzhu , Rui Yang
Published: May 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of public spaces. Accessing public spaces during the pandemic improves physical health, reduces feelings of loneliness, and lessens depression. However, not all public spaces can provide an effective response during the pandemic. The public spaces’ ability to respond to the pandemic varies depending on their resilience level, which refers to the capability of those spaces to adapt to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain functionality to meet users’ needs during this crisis. By investigating the response of existing public spaces to the COVID-19 pandemic and identifying and examining the criteria of pandemic resilience, this study aims to explore and improve public spaces’ capability to respond effectively during the pandemic. One hundred and sixty nine public spaces in three regions in Chongqing City in China are studied. Four main criteria involving 9 sub-criteria of pandemic resilience that can be integrated into public spaces’ planning and design are studied. Three questionnaire surveys are used in this study to examine how public spaces adapt to the pandemic and evaluate the pandemic resilience criteria. The questionnaire data is analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The pandemic resilience criteria are assessed and analyzed using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The study utilized the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to assign weights to the criteria of pandemic resilience. Weighted overlay analysis (WOA) is applied to assess the pandemic resilience level in public spaces. Results indicate various possibilities for pandemic resilience depending on the characteristics of the area. However, these resilience levels are inadequate to respond effectively to the pandemic, resulting in diminished utilization of public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic across all studied regions compared to the periods preceding the pandemic and after the complete reopening. This study presents a remarkable source for strengthening the resilience of cities against pandemic emergencies.
How Might Browner Seawater Affect Marine Organisms?
Authors: Bandara Tharindu , Brugel Sonia , Andersson Agneta , Lau Danny Chun Pong
Published: May 2024

Climate change is having many negative impacts worldwide. Increased rainfall caused by climate change has become a serious issue in the northern parts of the world. With more rainfall, a larger amount of brown-colored decaying plant material is transported from the land to oceans, making the seawater browner. The brown color reduces the amount of sunlight that penetrates into the seawater, which can decrease the growth of microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton that rely on sunlight to grow. Phytoplankton are an important food source for ocean animals, such as tiny creatures called zooplankton. This study explored the effects of seawater browning on phytoplankton and zooplankton in the northern Baltic Sea.
The validity and reliability of the My Jump 2 app for measuring vertical stiffness in male college players
Authors: Wang Yizhang , Wang Xintang , Luan Chenglin , Shan Wei , Gong Lijing
Published: May 2024

Background

Vertical stiffness (Kvert) can be used to evaluate sports performance and injury risk in players. The My Jump 2 smartphone application (App), is increasingly being used by researchers, coaches, and players in the competitive sports field. We aimed to analyze the reliability and concurrent validity of the My Jump 2 app for measuring Kvert in male college players.

Methods

Twenty male college players (10 soccer players, 10 basketball players; age, 20.2 ± 1.3 years old; weight, 76.4 ± 6.0 kg; height, 178.3 ± 4.7 cm) volunteered to take part in this study. Three drop jumps were performed by participants from 30 cm to 40 cm on a force platform and retested after three days. All the jumps were recorded by both the Force platform and the My Jump 2 app. Data obtained from the above two devices were compared using the paired t tests, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r), Bland-Altman plots, and one-way regression.

Results

There was almost perfect agreement between measurement instruments for the Kvert value (ICC > 0.972, 95% CI = 0.954–0.992, P < 0.01). Almost perfect agreement was observed between evaluators (ICC > 0.989, 95% CI = 0.981–0.997, P < 0.05). Also, the My Jump 2 app showed excellent intra-rater reliability in all participants (ICC = 1.000, 95% CI = 1.000–1.000, P < 0.001). The My Jump 2 showed good variability when measuring Kvert at T1 30 cm (CV = 5.4%), T1 40 cm (CV = 6.7%), T2 30 cm (CV = 5.0%), and T2 40 cm (CV = 10.3%). The test-retest reliability of My Jump 2 was moderate to good at 30 cm (ICC = 0.708, 95% CI = 0.509–0.827); however, it was lower to moderate at 40 cm (ICC = 0.445, 95% CI = 0.222–0.625). Very large correlations were observed between the force platform and the My Jump 2 for Kvert (r > 0.9655, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The My Jump 2 smartphone application showed excellent reliability and intra-rater consistency in measuring Kvert in male college players. While demonstrating excellent intra-rater consistency and strong agreement with force platform measurements, it showed slightly lower reliability at higher jump heights. Overall, the My Jump 2 app is a valid tool for evaluating Kvert in college players with careful consideration of its limitations, particularly at higher jump heights.
An ecological and embodied approach for training the racecar driver
Authors: Ziv Gal
Published: May 2024

In the dynamic sport of racecar driving, split-second decisions and rapid execution are imperative. Such an environment requires a tight functional coupling of perception and action. This paper introduces an approach for training racecar drivers rooted in ecological and embodied perspectives. It discusses three pivotal affordances of racecar driving: turn-ability, overtake-ability, and defend-ability. The paper also discusses the relevant environment and equipment (i.e., simulators) that can be useful for training racecar drivers. In addition, practice activities relevant for the actual racetrack or to the simulator are discussed. Coaches are encouraged to try and implement the proposed training strategies (or parts of it), evaluating their impact on racing performance. Furthermore, researchers can continue exploring these principles, fostering a fusion of empirical insights with practical expertise from coaches and racing communities. By synergizing empirical research with insights from practitioners, we can refine the strategies employed in the training of racecar drivers.
The impact of land consolidation on rapeseed cost efficiency in China: policy implications for sustainable land use and food security
Authors: Zhang Qing , Ye Feng , Razzaq Amar , Feng Zhongchao , Liu Yi
Published: May 2024

The relationship between farm size expansion and efficiency is a key topic in agricultural economics, especially for achieving sustainable land use and food security. While existing literature focuses on land productivity, technical efficiency, and total factor productivity, the link between farm size and cost efficiency remains less explored. Cost efficiency is a critical indicator of production effectiveness and directly impacts agricultural sustainability and food security. This paper analyzes how farm size expansion affects the cost efficiency of Chinese rapeseed production, with a particular emphasis on sustainable agricultural production and food security. Our findings indicate an average cost efficiency of 0.740 for rapeseed in China, suggesting potential for improvement. We observe an inverted U-shaped relationship between farm size and rapeseed cost efficiency, with variations based on regional and topographic conditions. Optimal rapeseed farm size is between 10 and 30 mu in eastern and central China, and smaller than 10 mu in western China. Interestingly, in central China and plains regions, larger farm sizes have a less negative impact on cost efficiency. Finally, increasing plot size positively moderates the relationship between farm size and rapeseed cost efficiency, suggesting benefits from expanding both plot and farm sizes simultaneously. These findings provide empirical evidence to inform policy decisions related to sustainable land use, cost-efficient agriculture, and food security.
Home food gardening in modern cities: advances, issues, and future perspectives
Authors: Xu Jingcheng , Lin Tingwei , Wang Ying , Jiang Weijie , Li Qiang , Lu Tao , Xiang Yahui , Jiang Jingyong , Yu Hongjun
Published: May 2024

Against the backdrop of the unexpected COVID-19 epidemic, governments are facing significant challenges in mobilizing food resources, particularly fresh products. It is inevitable that there will be intermittent shortages of food during the pandemic. As a result, home food gardening has gained considerable attention from city residents and policymakers in modern cities. This is due to its potential to provide food during humanitarian emergencies and lockdown. Moreover, home food gardening is increasingly becoming a popular recreational activity in many countries, offering therapeutic benefits such as fostering social bonds through knowledge-sharing and fruit-sharing, improving mental and psychological well-being, promoting outdoor physical exercise, and strengthening the connection between humans and nature. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest advancements in home food gardening, including cultivated species, devices, technologies, and current issues. It also proposes perspectives based on current researches to serve as a reference for future research and development.
Antiviral activity of high pressure processing of Korean fermented clam jeotgal against human norovirus GII.4 infectivity
Authors: Jeon Eun Bi , Jeong Heon Sang , Park Shin Young
Published: May 2024

Human norovirus can accumulate in shellfish in contaminated waters through their filter-feeding mechanism, and they can retain the virus for extended periods. It is important to note that this bioaccumulation can pose a risk to human health if the shellfish are consumed raw or undercooked. Jeotgal is a salted fermented food made from various types of seafood and is consumed in Korea and certain Asian countries. However, jeotgal is not sterilized during preparation and is typically consumed raw after fermentation. Bivalve shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, and clams, are considered high-risk foods for HuNoV transmission due to the potential for contaminated water to lead to the accumulation of HuNoV in their digestive tissues. Other foods may also contribute to HuNoV transmission, but bivalve shellfish are particularly susceptible. This study investigated the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) on the inactivation of HuNoV GII.4, in clam jeotgal. After HPP treatment, HuNoV GII.4 was quantified using RT-qPCR and combined with Propidium monoazide (PMA) + Sarkosyl, a pre-treatment agent, before RT-qPCR. As a result of this treatment HuNoV GII.4 was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced to 0.27–1.38 log copy number/μL. Compared to the RT-qPCR, the reduction in HuNoV was significantly greater (p < 0.05) (0.24 log, 43%) log copy number/μL in PMA + Sarkosyl/RT-qPCR when clam jeotgal was treated at 200–600 MPa of HPP. The Hunter “L” and “a” and Hunter “b” values increased and decreased significantly (p < 0.05), respectively, as the pressure of the HPP increased. Although the sensorial color significantly (p < 0.05) decreased as the pressure of the HPP increased, most of the sensory parameters (smell, taste, appearance, and overall acceptability) and the pH were not significantly (p < 0.05) different between non-HPP treated and HPP treated samples. Therefore, HPP pressure in excess of 400 MPa for 5 min appeared to be effective to viably reduce HuNoV levels by ≥90% without significant changes in the overall quality (pH, and most sensory parameters) of clam jeotgal.
Initial experience with robotic technology for thoracic surgery using the da Vinci Xi system in Tibet, China
Authors: Ping Ni , Baoguo Zhou , Renqing Zhaxi , Shaodong Wang
Published: May 2024

Objective

Although the robotic surgical system has accumulated rich experience in the development of thoracic surgery, its application in Tibet area is relatively late. We report our experience concerning da Vinci Xi system in thoracic surgery and observe its practicability and surgical effect.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 26 patients who underwent robotic thoracic surgery including: twelve lung resection, two esophagectomies, ten mediastinal surgeries and two rib mass resection. The data of patient characteristics, operative time, perioperative complications were collected.

Results

Of the 26 patients, 22 cases were completed with da Vinci system successfully, including 7 segmentectomies, 4 lobectomies, 1 subsegmentectomy, 2 esophagectomies, 10 mediastinal surgeries (6 thymic resections, 3 posterior mediastinal tumor resection, 1 mediastinal cyst resection) and 2 rib mass resection. In which, 3 cases of lung resection begun with robotic technique were converted to thoracoscopic surgery (due to calcification of hilar lymph node), 1 case of bilobectomy was converted to thoracotomy due to thoracic adhesion. All the operations went well and no patients need blood transfusion. All patients had satisfactory postoperative recovery.

Conclusion

It is safe, reliable and effective to carry out robotic thoracic surgery on the plateau. On the premise of carefully and seriously discussing the indications of surgery, we should actively carry out the application of da Vinci robotic surgery system in Tibet Plateau.
Surface-displayed silicatein-α enzyme in bioengineered E. coli enables biocementation and silica mineralization
Authors: Vigil Toriana N. , Schwendeman Nikolas K. , Grogger Melanie L. M. , Morrison Victoria L. , Warner Margaret C. , Bone Nathaniel B. , Vance Morgan T. , Morris David C. , McElmurry Kristi , Berger Bryan W. , Steel J. Jordan
Published: May 2024

Biocementation is an exciting biomanufacturing alternative to common cement, which is a significant contributor of CO2 greenhouse gas production. In nature biocementation processes are usually modulated via ureolytic microbes, such as Sporosarcina pasteurii, precipitating calcium carbonate to cement particles together, but these ureolytic reactions also produce ammonium and carbonate byproducts, which may have detrimental effects on the environment. As an alternative approach, this work examines biosilicification via surface-displayed silicatein-α in bio-engineered E. coli as an in vivo biocementation strategy. The surface-display of silicatein-α with ice nucleation protein is a novel protein fusion combination that effectively enables biosilicification, which is the polymerization of silica species in solution, from the surface of E. coli bacterial cells. Biosilicification with silicatein-α produces biocementation products with comparable compressive strength as S. pasteurii. This biosilicification approach takes advantage of the high silica content found naturally in sand and does not produce the ammonium and carbonate byproducts of ureolytic bacteria, making this a more environmentally friendly biocementation strategy.
Mitigating cyclophosphamide-associated gonadotoxicity in male Wistar rats: exploring the therapeutic potential of hesperidin
Authors: Hari Priya B. , Ramya B. , Bora Swathi , Shivakumar P. , Rohan A. , Vagdevi T. , Amoolya Rao A.
Published: May 2024

Hesperidin, a bioactive flavanone glycoside prevalent in citrus fruits, with remarkable therapeutic properties stands out as a formidable defender against the debilitating reproductive toxicity associated with Cyclophosphamide (CYP) chemotherapy. This study explores the protective potential of hesperidin (HSP@100 mg/kg b.wt PO daily) against CYP-induced (@ 40 mg/kg b.wt IP once in a week) reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats as several studies were documented on single dose toxicity of CYP. In this experiment, we chose multidosage drug effects, which are more relevant in chemotherapy. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: Group 1 (Control), group 2 (CYP-treated), group 3 (HSP-treated), and group 4 (CYP + HSP-treated) for 28 days. The experimental design included assessments of relative testicular weight, semen analysis, testosterone levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, gross and histopathological changes, and immunohistochemical evaluation. The results revealed that the administration of CYP led to a significant reduction in testicular weight, sperm count, motility, and testosterone levels, accompanied by increased oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Hesperidin co-administration demonstrated a protective effect by restoring these parameters to near-normal levels. Histopathological analysis revealed improved testicular architecture in the group 4 compared with the group 2. Oxidative stress indices indicated that hesperidin attenuated CYP-induced damage by reducing malondialdehyde levels, enhancing superoxide dismutase activity and maintaining glutathione levels. Similarly, inflammatory cytokine analysis demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects of hesperidin by reducing tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and elevating interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in the group 4. Immunohistochemical evaluation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) revealed increased inflammation in the CYP group, while hesperidin significantly reduced NF-κB expression, suggesting its anti-inflammatory properties.
Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Referrals
Authors: Holland Alexis M. , Mead Brittany S. , Lorenz William R. , Scarola Gregory T. , Augenstein Vedra A.
Published: May 2024

Background: Health disparities are pervasive in surgical care. Particularly racial and socioeconomic inequalities have been demonstrated in emergency general surgery outcomes, but less so in elective abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). The goal of this study was to evaluate the disparities in referrals to a tertiary hernia center.

Methods: A prospectively maintained hernia database was queried for patients who underwent open ventral hernia (OVHR) or minimally invasive surgical (MISR) repair from 2011 to 2022 with complete insurance and address information. Patients were divided by home address into in-state (IS) and out-of-state (OOS) referrals as well as by operative technique. Demographic data and outcomes were compared. Standard and inferential statistical analyses were performed.

Results: Of 554 patients, most were IS (59.0%); 334 underwent OVHR, and 220 underwent MISR. IS patients were more likely to undergo MISR (OVHR: 45.6% vs. 81.5%, laparoscopic: 38.2% vs. 14.1%, robotic: 16.2% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.001) when compared to OOS referrals. Of OVHR patients, 44.6% were IS and 55.4% were OOS. Patients’ average age and BMI, sex, ASA score, and insurance payer were similar between IS and OOS groups. IS patients were more often Black (White: 77.9% vs. 93.5%, Black: 16.8% vs. 4.3%; p < 0.001). IS patients had more smokers (12.1% vs. 3.2%; p = 0.001), fewer recurrent hernias (45.0% vs. 69.7%; p < 0.001), and smaller defects (155.7 ± 142.2 vs. 256.4 ± 202.9 cm2; p < 0.001). Wound class, mesh type, and rate of fascial closure were similar, but IS patients underwent fewer panniculectomies (13.4% vs. 34.1%; p < 0.001), component separations (26.2% vs. 51.4%; p < 0.001), received smaller mesh (744.2 ± 495.6 vs. 975.7 ± 442.3 cm2; p < 0.001), and had shorter length-of-stay (4.8 ± 2.0 vs. 7.0 ± 5.5 days; p < 0.001). There was no difference in wound breakdown, seroma requiring intervention, hematoma, mesh infection, or recurrence; however, IS patients had decreased wound infections (2.0% vs. 8.6%; p = 0.009), overall wound complications (11.4% vs. 21.1%; p = 0.016), readmissions (2.7% vs. 13.0%; p = 0.001), and reoperations (3.4% vs. 11.4%; p = 0.007). Of MISR patients, 80.9% were IS and 19.1% were OOS. In contrast to OVHR, MISR IS and OOS patients had similar demographics, preoperative characteristics, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes.

Conclusion: Although there were no differences in referred patients for MISR, this study demonstrates the racial disparities that exist among our IS and OOS complex, open AWR patients. Awareness of these disparities can help clinicians work towards equitable access to care and equal referrals to tertiary hernia centers.
Research on the Face Forgery Detection Model Based on Adversarial Training and Disentanglement
Authors: Wang Yidi , Fu Hui , Wu Tongkai
Published: May 2024

With the advancement of generative models, face forgeries are becoming increasingly realistic, making face forgery detection a hot topic in research. The primary challenge in face forgery detection is the inadequate generalization performance. Numerous studies have proposed solutions to this issue; however, some methods heavily rely on the overall feature space of training samples, interfering with the extraction of key features for detection. Additionally, some studies design disentangled frameworks that overlook data diversity, limiting their effectiveness in complex real-world scenarios. This paper presents a model framework based on adversarial training and disentanglement strategy. Adversarial training is employed to generate forged samples that imitate the face forgery process, specifically targeting certain facial areas to simulate face forgery effects, which enriches data diversity. Simultaneously, the feature disentanglement strategies are employed to focus the model on forgery features, with a mutual information loss function designed to obtain the disentanglement effect. Additionally, an adversarial loss based on mutual information is designed to further enhance the disentanglement effect. On the FaceForensics++ dataset, our method achieves an AUC of 96.75%. Simultaneously, it demonstrates outstanding performance in cross-method evaluations with an accuracy of 80.32%. In cross-dataset experiments, our method also exhibits excellent performance.
Experimental Study on the Bearing Behavior and Failure Model of Digging Hold Foundation in Rock Ground
Authors: Zhang Wenxiang , Cui Qiang , Xi Banglu , Qi Lin
Published: May 2024

The physical model test is an effective method to study the bearing behavior of digging hold foundations due to its low cost and clear boundary conditions. Here, similar materials of rocks were configured and employed to study the bearing capacity and failure model of digging hold foundations in rock ground. Firstly, sixteen groups of material proportion schemes were employed to make similar materials of rocks, and the effects of four mix parameters were analyzed. Then, similar materials of rocks were employed to perform the uplift tests of digging hold foundations. The results show that the mass ratio of fine particles and aggregate has the greatest influence on the density and internal friction angle, while the cement moisture content has the greatest influence on the cohesion and compressive strength of similar materials of rocks. During the pull-out process of the digging hold foundation, the radial cracks radiate outward from the circumferential cracks, which is different from those in the field test because the ground is small and uniform without fissures inside. The foundation drives the surrounding similar materials to be pulled up as a whole with a certain failure angle, which increases from 35.7° to 42.5° as the internal friction angle decreases from 56° to 41°. In addition, the ratio between the equivalent shear strength in Chinese Code and uniaxial compressive strength falls in the range of 0.027–0.05.
Analysing the Potency of a Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Using Reference Antisera from Heterologous Strains
Authors: Wadey Christine , Rockman Steven
Published: May 2024

The potency of inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine is harmonised by establishing the haemagglutinin (HA) content using the compendial single radial diffusion (SRD) method. SRD reagents (antigens and antisera) are prepared, calibrated and distributed by regulatory agencies as standards for potency testing, following the biannual World Health Organization (WHO) announcements of the virus strains suitable for inclusion in the vaccine. The generation of a homologous hyperimmune sheep antiserum constrains the time to vaccine release. This study tests the application of heterologous antisera to determine the potency of influenza vaccine compared to that of a standard homologous antiserum. The results indicate that the selected heterologous sheep antisera directed to seasonal H1N1, H3N2 or B Victoria virus strains can be used to determine the accurate potency of inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines. Individually selected antisera could be useful for two to fourteen seasons. A limitation to the heterologous antiserum approach is the diversity of each individual serum, indicating that the empirical determination of a specific serum is required. This application has the potential to enable the earlier availability of a seasonal vaccine and reduce animal usage.
PENGARUH UMUR PERUSAHAAN, PROFITABILITAS, LAVERAGE, UKURAN PERUSAHAAN TERHADAP TAX AVOIDANCE PADA PERUSAHAAN FARMASI YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA
Authors: Evi juita Novelia h saragih
Published: May 2024

Tax avoidance is one of the efforts to minimize the tax burden that is often done by companies. There are several factors that affect a company in conducting tax avoidance including, company age, profitability, leverage and company size. This study used a quantitative approach. Quantitative data regarding information about the variables studied in the form of numbers or numbers, it can be concluded that the age of the company, profitability, laverage, company size affect the tax avoidance variable simultaneously. The study selected 10 companies as samples during 2018-2021. Therefore, the number of observations obtained is 40 observations. The results of this research analysis can be concluded that company age, profitability, laverage, company size have a positive effect on tax avoidance.
FAKTOR RASIO KEUANGAN TERHADAP RETURN SAHAM PERUSAHAAN FOOD AND BEVERAGES YANG TERDAFTAR DI BEI
Authors: Wirawan Nicholas Edric
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
This study aims to find important financial ratio factors such as profitability, solvency, liquidity, and other financial ratios that have a significant effect on the return (Return of Shares) of a company in the food and beverage sector for the 2017-2021 period listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The research method uses quantitative descriptive with a quantitative approach to examine population data or samples in the form of numbers with statistics as a measuring tool and testing research hypotheses. The research data comes from the annual report listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The population collected is 15 food and beverage sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2017-2021 period. With the selection with Purposive Sampling Technique, 8 companies were obtained with a total of 40 samples. The results of this study show that the sample tested does not have a significant effect on the rate of return (Stock Return) of a company.
Keywords: Financial Ratios, Stock Return, Profitability, Solvability, Liquidity
جدوى الحيازة في كسب الحقوق العينية ما بين حق الملكية والحقوق الأخرى
Authors: صالح ناصر العتيبي
Published: May 2024

جرت العادة عند شرح أحكام الحيازة أن يتم التركيز عليها كأحد أسباب كسب حق الملكية وأحياناً مع الإشارة إلى تطبيقها على الحقوق العينية الأخرى وإلى عدم جدواها في غير حق الملكية. وقد أظهر البحث أن الحيازة تطبق فقط على ستة أنواع من الحقوق العينية الثمانية باستبعاد حقي الرهن الرسمي والامتياز. وأجرى البحث مقارنة بين حق الملكية من جهة وباقي الحقوق العينية القابلة للحيازة، وهي حقوق: الانتفاع والاستعمال والسكنى والارتفاق والرهن الحيازي من جهة أخرى، وتبيّن عدم وجود اختلاف بينها فيما يتعلق بشروط الحيازة وآثارها؛ مما ترتب عليه تفضيل الحائز لحق الملكية على باقي الحقوق العينية؛ لما يحققه له من مزايا وسلطات أكبر للانتفاع بالشيء محل الحق. وقد انتهى البحث إلى اقتراح بأن يتم التخفيف من شروط الحيازة فيما يتعلق باكتساب الحقوق العينية خلاف حق الملكية.
القواعد المتعلقة باستئناف الحكم الإداري في النظام السعودي
Authors: أشرف محمد حمامدة
Published: May 2024

إن الطعن بالاستئناف الإداري يمثل أهم طرق الطعن في الأحكام الإدارية الصادرة عن المحكمة الإدارية محكمة الدرجة الأولى، إذ هو الطريق الوحيد الذي يعطي لمحكمة الموضوع إعادة فحص النزاع من جديد فحصاً شاملاً من حيث الواقع والقانون، فتبسط سلطتها على عموم النزاع وتحل نفسها محل محكمة الدرجة الأولى، فتتخذ ما تشاء في سبيل الوصول لتأييد حكم الدرجة الأولى أو تعديله أو إلغائه على النحو الذي يحقق عدالة قضائية حقيقية.
الكلمات الدالة: القانون الإداري - القضاء الإداري - محاكم ديوان المظالم السعودي - محكمة الاستئناف الإدارية.
عولمة العدالة الجنائية في سياق مجلس الأمن الدولي
Authors: بلمداني علي
Published: May 2024

بمررو الوقت، أضحت العدالة الجنائية الدولية انشغالاً ومطلباً عالمياً، إنسانياً وقانونياً غير قابل للتنازل عليه من طرف المجتمع الدولي خصوصاً بعد تفاقم الانتهاكات الجسيمة الخطيرة والمتتابعة للقانون الدولي الإنساني المرتكبة من طرف الأشخاص.
في هذا السياق، أسهم مجلس الأمن الدولي باعتباره هيئة سياسية وأمنية للأمم المتحدة في إرساء قضاء جنائي دولي مؤقت دائم ومختلط، عملاً بأحكام الفصل السابع من ميثاق الأمم المتحدة، مادام أن الجرائم الدولية تحولت إلى مصدر تهديد للسلم والأمن الدوليين.
ورغم ذلك، يمكن اعتبار -دون شك- أن تدخل مجلس الأمن في مسعى العدالة الجنائية يهدف في المقام الأول إلى الانتقاص من فعالية مبدأ إقليمية القانون الجنائي الوطني.
ومن جهة أخرى، أثر تصرف مجلس الأمن الحائز على سلطة تقديرية واسعة على مصير العدالة الجنائية وحقوق الضحايا أين منح في كل مرة الأفضلية لمقتضيات السلم والأمن الدوليين.
الكلمات المفتاحية: المحاكم الخاصة، مجلس الأمن الدولي، الفصل السابع، المحكمة المختلطة، التكامل، التعاون، الإحالة، الإرجاء
الحماية القانونية الدولية للمناخ في ضوء اتفاقية باريس لعام ٢٠١٥
Authors: علي سيف النامي
Published: May 2024

تعد مشكلة تغير المناخ من أبرز التحديات التي تواجه المجتمع الدولي في القرن الحادي والعشرين؛ إذ إن معدل درجات الحرارة في ارتفاع مطرد ؛ وهو ما أدى إلى كوارث طالت كثيراً من بقاع العالم، وما زالت المخاطر تهدد كثيراً من الدول بالاختفاء عن وجه المعمورة؛ ومن ثم حصد ملايين الأرواح نتيجة ارتفاع مستوى سطح البحار؛ لذلك حاول المجتمع الدولي - عن طريق اعتماد اتفاقية باريس للمناخ عام ٢٠١٥، وبتوافق الآراء - الحد من ارتفاع درجات الحرارة وخفض مستوى الكربون في الجو، وجعل متوسط درجات الحرارة العالمية تقل عن درجتين مئويتين فوق مستويات ما قبل الحقبة الصناعية، ومواصلة الجهود لحصر ارتفاعها في حد لا يتجاوز ١,٥ درجة مئوية. وتعد هذه المعاهدة خطوة رئيسية في مجال حماية المناخ بعد عام ٢٠٢٠، وستتناول هذه الدراسة أولاً الجهود الدولية التي أدت إلى انعقادها، ثم نتعرف مضمونها والتزامات الدول فيها، وأخيراً نعرض لكل من الجوانب الإيجابية والجوانب السلبية في الاتفاقية وقيمتها القانونية.
الإجراءات القانونية لتنفيذ سياسات الكويت المالية والنقدية والآليات المتبعة لدعم المشروعات الصغيرة والمتوسطة في ظل جائحة كورونا (Covid-19) - دراسة مقارنة
Authors: عبد العزيز محمد الشبيب المطيري
Published: May 2024

أثَّرَت جائحة فيروس كورونا (Covid-19) على الاقتصاد العالمي؛ الأمر الذي دعا دول العالم إلى فرض اشتراطات صحية تَداعَت على أثرها اقتصادات الدول بالركود والسلبية، وفي المقابل قام العديد من هذه الدول بتقديم مبادرات للنهوض بالاقتصاد؛ وذلك من خلال إقرار سياسات مالية ونقدية متوازنة لتحفيز الاقتصاد وتنشيطه؛ حيث قامت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمملكة المتحدة بتقديم حزمة من السياسات المالية والنقدية التحفيزية، وعلى وجه الخصوص قطاع المشاريع الصغيرة والمتوسطة، كما نهجت هذا النهج دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي باستثناء دولة الكويت، وبناءً على ذلك سَلطَت هذه الدراسة الضوء على أحد القطاعات المتضررة، والذي يُمثِّل أحد الأعصاب الرئيسية لأي اقتصاد في العالم، وهو قطاع المشاريع الصغيرة والمتوسطة؛ حيث تكمن مشكلة الدراسة في أن دولة الكويت لم تُقدِّم سياسة مالية في ظل وجود أزمة اقتصادية؛ وذلك لارتباط الإصلاحات الاقتصادية بعقبات قانونية وتشريعية تَحُول دون ذلك، وناقشَت الدراسة تَضرُّر أصحاب قطاع المشاريع الصغيرة والمتوسطة في دولة الكويت، وكيفية تحفيزه من السلطة التشريعية أو التنفيذية، وعدم إهمال هذا القطاع الذي يواجه الجائحة بكل تبعاتها دون دعمٍ أو تحفيز، وخلصت الدراسة إلى العديد من النتائج والتوصيات.
واجب المؤجر في تخفيف الضرر في عقود الإيجار في النظام الأمريكي
Authors: فواز محمد العوضي
Published: May 2024

والمسائل المتعلقة بعبء الإثبات وطريقة احتساب التعويض، كما قدمت حلولاً عملية واقتراحات استشرافية للمشرع العربي في النتائج والتوصيات.