bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The sensory experience of English local shrines: a ‘synaesthetic follow-up’
Authors: Wells Emma J.
Published: October 2024

In a sense, all saints are local, and many are both native and international. But from the early eighth century, high-status saints of regional importance began permeating locally-superior churches, and England’s ‘golden age’ of sainthood was secured. Then, ‘universal’ or ‘popular’ cults, came into existence around the turn of the thirteenth century, when shrines of international significance began to outdo those of traditional local importance. Nonetheless, no cult could be successful if it did not appeal to the heart of pilgrimage: a sense of contact with the saint. This article explores the sensory experience of the pilgrim at local shrine sites in England from the post-Conquest era to the late fifteenth century, to discover how and why pilgrims participated in such sensory actions. The discussion necessitates examination of the architectural design and development of the structural arrangements created for the veneration of local saintly relics, from which it is argued that an increase in the sensory aspects of shrine design was a direct result of the demand by supplicants for more interaction in devotion.
Crude and primitive? Rethinking the dating and construction of dug-out church chests in Britain
Authors: Sycamore Rachel , Lewis Jodie
Published: October 2024

Chests were a ubiquitous part of medieval church furniture across Britain and Europe. Late 19th and early 20th century scholars believed that one type, the dug-out chest, was devoid of technical skill, and as such, confined to the earliest period of chest chronology. Perhaps as a result of the ‘primitive’ label, dug-outs remain relatively under-studied in relation to other types of chests and surprisingly few attempts have been made to validate ideas about their early origin through scientific dating. The current study uses dendrochronology to directly date a selection of dug-out chests, almost doubling the number of dated chests of this type in England and producing the earliest absolute dates for their construction. Five dug-out chests from the case-study counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire returned dates ranging from the 13th-16th century, showing that they are not chronologically confined to the ‘earliest’ period. This research also demonstrates how analysing extant saw-marks, along with the different methods of attaching chest lids, can assist in dating a chest’s construction. By understanding the tools and processes of construction, this research challenges the existing accepted framework that dug-outs are the ‘crudest’ and ‘most primitive’ type of church chest in the medieval period. Together these findings offer a new methodology and framework for studies of church chests in Britain and Europe.
St George, Damerham, Hampshire: an Anglo-Saxon minster church in a landscape of social power
Authors: Secker Daniel
Published: October 2024

The church of St George, Damerham, now in Hampshire but until 1895 in Wiltshire, is a former minster church. The early Romanesque church may preserve fabric from a late Anglo-Saxon building perhaps dating from shortly after the time when Æthelflæd, widow of King Eadmund (939-45), granted Damerham to Glastonbury Abbey in her will of c975-91. There is some indirect evidence that the minster at Damerham was founded in the later 9th century. Prior to this, the main minster in the region could have been at nearby Fordingbridge. What, however, is exceptional about the church is that it is adjacent to a natural knoll which appears to have formed an Anglo-Saxon assembly site of special importance: what has been termed a ‘hanging promontory’ site (Baker and Brookes, 2013a). It is probable that the minster was deliberately founded adjacent to the assembly site so that the two would project an impression of mutually reinforcing political and religious power.
The Hospitaller preceptory of Slebech, Pembrokeshire: Interpreting social function and burial practice in the later Middle Ages
Authors: Costello Brian , Jenkins John
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the important medieval Hospitaller preceptory of Slebech, Pembrokeshire and its place and function within its immediate and regional social landscape. The analysis identifies potential future archaeological work which might be carried out, particularly in terms of the surviving medieval church and its surrounding burial ground. This approach interrogates Hospitaller burial practices through the lens of a single site. The authors propose that the parochial function of the church, the predominantly lay staff of the Hospital, and the potential presence of a late medieval female community characterised the burial record within the cemetery. In addition, named high-status lay burials within the church point to a relationship between local patronage and interment at the preceptory. More ‘unusual’ burials often associated with the Hospitallers, such as pilgrims, confraters, and felons, are more likely to have taken place at the Order’s appropriated churches rather than at the preceptory itself.
Poulton, Cheshire: The investigation of a rural chapel in an evolving medieval landscape
Authors: Cootes Kevin , Axworthy Janet , Borrini Matteo , Carlin Rea , Irish Joel , Jordan David , King Megan , Russ Hannah , Swallow Rachel , Thomas Matt , Valoriani Satu , Wilson Father Terence , Petchey Fiona
Published: October 2024

This article presents the results of the radiocarbon dating programme and interpretation of a medieval chapel and graveyard in Poulton, Cheshire. The structure was associated with a lost Cistercian Abbey of 12th-13th-century date, which was relocated to Staffordshire after c. 60 years. Extensive excavation has revealed a minimum of 783 interments, interpreted as the remains of the farming community who worked the land after the monks’ departure. The role of the chapel within the early Cistercian landscape has proved enigmatic, although archaeological investigation has enabled a detailed understanding of the development of this ecclesiastical structure. The radiocarbon dating programme has revealed the chronology of the graveyard. By combining this new evidence with the historical record and archaeological data, an interpretation of the changing role of the chapel within the evolving medieval landscape is presented.
The shrine of Saint Werburgh: the history, architecture and restoration
Authors: Livingstone Tom
Published: October 2024

For more than a thousand years, the remains of Saint Werburgh lay within successive shrines set amongst the vast stone walls of the Abbey of St Werburgh and St Oswald, now the Cathedral Church of Chester. Werburgh was elevated to sainthood in the early medieval period, then her remains were translated to a monastic house in Chester in the 9th century until the shrine was dismantled under Henry VIII. During this time, her shrine saw worship and devotion, conflict, desecration, and finally curiosity and restoration. This article examines the likely evolution of the shrine from her translation to Chester, through to its final complete incarnation as a 14th century sandstone shrine; its post-medieval role as the throne of the bishop; and its eventual restoration in the 19th century.
English medieval bridge crosses and shrines: two neglected types of ecclesiastical monuments
Authors: Watson Bruce
Published: October 2024

Until the Reformation in the mid-16th century, many English bridges were adorned with a variety of symbols of Christian piety, including chapels, crosses, and statues, as a public reminder that building and maintaining bridges were considered pious and charitable deeds. Surviving examples of ecclesiastical bridge monuments are very rare in England and often poorly documented. Almost all examples of these relatively common medieval ecclesiastical monuments like wayside crosses appear to have been destroyed by iconoclasts during the Reformation. The rarity of these types of medieval ecclesiastical monuments has resulted in their underrepresentation in publications and HER data.
Understanding Anthropogenic Pressures in Island Ecosystems Through Ecological Vulnerability Indicators–An Overview
Authors: Yanes Andrea , Portz Luana , Torregroza Ana , Sierra Maria
Published: October 2024

Islands are unique ecosystems that include terrestrial subecosystems and round waters composed of both natural and anthropogenic factors. These interactions could affect their ecological health, especially their vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic pressures, and their resilience. This study analyzes how ecological health is evaluated in coastal ecosystems, mainly islands, emphasizing the variables used to analyze ecosystem changes, resistance, and responses to anthropogenic impacts, pressures, and activities. Island ecosystems are rarely examined as a whole and are studied more by each type of coastal ecosystem (such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass, beaches, and dunes). The main criteria for determining ecological health in these ecosystems are exposure level, adaptive capacity, and sensitivity. This review should help improve the importance of island ecosystem vulnerability assessments related to anthropogenic-induced pressures for decision-making needs in disaster risk management and land planning management.
Three new species of Conostigmus from China and redescription of Conostigmus ampullaceus Dessart, 1997 (Hymenoptera, Megaspilidae)
Authors: Wang Xu , Cui Shanshan , Li Fang , Huang Yixin , Chen Huayan
Published: October 2024

Three new species of Conostigmus Dahlbom, 1858 (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), Conostigmus quadripetalus Wang & Chen, sp. nov., Conostigmus electrinus Wang & Chen, sp. nov., Conostigmus acutus Wang & Chen, sp. nov. are characterized and illustrated from China. Conostigmus ampullaceus Dessart, 1997 is redescribed on the basis of 17 specimens and genitalia pictures are provided for the first time.
Two new species of Pholiota (Agaricales, Strophariaceae) from the southwest of China
Authors: Huang Jia-hui , Lei Chun-yu , Shen Ya-lun , Tian En-jing
Published: October 2024

Two new mushroom species from Southwest China, Pholiota cylindrospora and P. subterrestris, are described in this study. Pholiota cylindrospora is characterized by its dry pileus with slightly recurved and triangular scales, cylindrical basidiospores, and two types of pleurocystidia—leptocystidia and chrysocystidia—as well as its growth on soil. Pholiota subterrestris is identified by a brownish-orange pileus with numerous brown fibrillose scales; pale brown lamellae with even edges; a stipe covered with recurved fibrillose scales; elliptical spores with a distinct but small germ pore; and pleurocystidia containing typical amorphous refractive inclusions of chrysocystidia. Both species are described and illustrated, and a phylogenetic analysis of a multigene dataset (ITS + 28S) is presented. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses confirm that P. cylindrospora and P. subterrestris are distinct from the other Pholiota species, and both belong to the subgenus Pholiota. A key to the species of subgenus Pholiota from China is provided.
Generating a system of group constants for neutron-physical calculations of fast reactors based on ROSFOND-2020.2 library files
Authors: Averchenkova Elizaveta P. , Dyachenko Yana V. , Zabrodskaya Svetlana V. , Manturov Gennady N. , Mishin Vyacheslav A. , Panova Daria V. , Peregudov Anton A. , Semenov Mikhail Yu. , Tormyshev Ivan V. , Lyapin Evgeny P.
Published: October 2024

The subject of constant support development is currently becoming increasingly important in connection with the national strategy of transition to a closed nuclear fuel cycle. At the same time, the importance of the tasks of refining calculation models and minimizing methodological, statistical, and constant errors is increasing. In this connection, the idea of creating a universal system of constants describing with equal accuracy both uranium loading and loading with mixed oxide uranium-plutonium fuel and the possibility to perform on its basis both precision Monte Carlo calculations (data format – ACE) and multigroup calculations (formats – ABBN and ANISN) was laid in the basis of this work. In this paper we analyze the freely available libraries of evaluated nuclear data in order to justify the choice of source files for the formation of a new system of group constants for neutron-physical calculations of fast reactor cores, describe the process of formation of a new library of reactor constants, and verify the obtained system on computational test models of BN-800 reactor and critical systems. The process of formation of the new system of group constants included selection of initial neutron data files, updating of data tables of basic neutron cross-sections, self-shielding factors and Doppler coefficients, as well as data on fission spectra for the main fuel nuclides. The methodological component of the error for test models of the BN-800 core was evaluated. Using the ABBN-RF22 system of group constants it was possible to estimate the correction in the 299 groups calculation, which amounted to 0.3%. Previously, when using the ABBN-93 library, there was no such possibility due to the lack of continuity between the files of evaluated neutron data and the group constants used.
A new species of Bonnetia Mart. (Bonnetiaceae) from the Pantepui of South America
Authors: Barbosa-Silva Rafael G. , Torke Benjamin M. , Viana Pedro L.
Published: October 2024

Bonnetia is the most representative genus of the Pantepui woody flora and is among the groups with the greatest endemism in the local flora. The genus has 28 currently recognized species in tropical America, 26 of them endemic to the Pantepui. Here we describe Bonnetia ayangannensis from the summit of Mount Ayanganna tepui in Guyana, providing a morphological description, illustrations, distribution maps, characterization of micromorphology under scanning electron microscopy and leaf venation, comments comparing the new species with closely related species, and a key for the identification of the species of Bonnetia occurring in Guyana. With its restricted distribution threatened by climate change, Bonnetia ayangannensis is assessed in the conservation threat category of Critically Endangered. Its description raises the number of endemic species of Bonnetia in the Pantepui to 27.
Advances in Brazil's National Forest Inventory
Authors: da Silva Ribeiro Ricardo , de Souza Hallefy Junio , Munari Lúcia , Anholetto Junior Claudio Roberto , dos Santos Alcâmenes , Castro Filho Hugo , Alencar Tiago , Faria Júnior Jair , Santiago Daniel , Bentes Lis , Faria Vítor , Pereira Alex , Souza e Lira David , Teixeira Michella , Trindade Ana Laura , Leão Raquel , Dianese Érico , Pinho Gustavo , Andrade Dárlison , Cruz Tiago
Published: October 2024

Brazil's National Forest Inventory (IFN), coordinated by the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB), provides essential data on the country's forest resources. The availability of IFN data, collected over more than a decade, through the National Forest Information System (SNIF), promotes transparency and facilitates access to comprehensive information about Brazilian forests. This detailed survey covers biophysical, botanical and socio-environmental aspects, as well as interviews about the use of forest resources.
Integrating Learners Into the Pediatric Primary Care Workflow: Strategies for Optimizing Teaching and Learning
Authors: Brecha Federica S. , Friedman Suzanne , Costich Marguerite
Published: October 2024

Primary care pediatric providers play an important role in the education of future medical professionals. However, it may feel challenging to integrate a learner into out-patient practice given both time constraints and varying levels of experience among learners. Here we discuss how learners at various stages of training from different medical professions can be integrated into the outpatient pediatric clinical environment. We review eight teaching strategies and provide examples of their use in practice. The goal is to introduce tools to support teachers working with learners in the clinical environment to optimize educational experiences for both teachers and learners.

[
Pediatr Ann
. 2024;53(10):e386–e391.]
Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Zhang Xueqin , Pei Yuntao , Zhao Yile
Published: October 2024

This article focuses on the advancements made in diagnostic techniques and drug interventions of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. A diagnosis necessitates a combination of factors, including inflammatory markers and imaging findings, as well as the collection of specimens for culture when feasible. Subsequently, treatment should be based on epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, and susceptibility findings. A brief course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics, followed by oral antibiotics, may be employed for uncomplicated infections if there is improvement in the clinical condition and a decline in C-reactive protein levels. However, for complex infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, prolonged administration of IV antibiotics is recommended, along with surgical intervention if necessary.

[
Pediatr Ann
. 2024;53(10):e392–e395.]
Effects of initial vegetation heterogeneity on competition of submersed and floating macrophytes
Authors: Xu Linhao , DeAngelis Donald L.
Published: October 2024

Non-spatial models of competition between floating aquatic vegetation (FAV) and submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) predict a stable state of pure SAV at low total available limiting nutrient level, N, a stable state of only FAV for high N, and alternative stable states for intermediate N, as described by an S-shaped bifurcation curve. Spatial models that include physical heterogeneity of the waterbody show that the sharp transitions between these states become smooth. We examined the effects of heterogeneous initial conditions of the vegetation types. We used a spatially explicit model to describe the competition between the vegetation types. In the model, the FAV, duckweed (L. gibba), competed with the SAV, Nuttall's waterweed (Elodea nuttallii). Differences in the initial establishment of the two macrophytes affected the possible stable equilibria. When initial biomasses of SAV and FAV differed but each had the same initial biomass in each spatial cell, the S-shaped bifurcation resulted, but the critical transitions on the N-axis are shifted, depending on FAV:SAV biomass ratio. When the initial biomasses of SAV and FAV were randomly heterogeneously distributed among cells, the vegetation pattern of the competing species self-organized spatially, such that many different stable states were possible in the intermediate N region. If N was gradually increased or decreased through time from a stable state, the abrupt transitions of non-spatial models were changed into smoother transitions through a series of stable states, which resembles the Busse balloon observed in other systems.
Potential plant benefits of endophytic microorganisms associated with halophyte Glycyrrhiza glabra L.
Authors: Mardonova Gulsanam , Shurigin Vyacheslav , Eshboev Farkhod , Egamberdieva Dilfuza
Published: October 2024

In this study, bacteria associated with licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) were characterized through 16S rRNA gene analysis. Profiling of endophytic bacteria isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra tissues revealed 18 isolates across the following genera: Enterobacter (4), Pantoea (3), Bacillus (2), Paenibacillus (2), Achromobacter (2), Pseudomonas (1), Escherichia (1), Klebsiella (1), Citrobacter (1), and Kosakonia (1). Furthermore, the beneficial features of bacterial isolates for plants were determined. The bacterial isolates showed the capacity to produce siderophores, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), chitinase, protease, glucanase, lipase, and other enzymes. Seven bacterial isolates showed antagonistic activity against F. culmorum, F. solani, and R. solani. According to these results, licorice with antimicrobial properties may serve as a source for the selection of microorganisms that have antagonistic activity against plant fungal pathogens and may be considered potential candidates for the control of plant pathogens. The selected bacterial isolates, P. polymyxa GU1, A. xylosoxidans GU6, P. azotoformans GU7, and P. agglomerans GU18, increased root and shoot growth of licorice and were able to colonize the plant root. They can also serve as an active part of bioinoculants, improving plant growth.
Presencia del pez fraile Salaria fluviatilis (Asso, 1801) en la cuenca hidrográfica del río Segura
Authors: Sola Galindo Alfonso , Larios López José Enrique Larios López , Díez Castro Jesús , Alonso Gutiérrez Fernando , Perales López Teresa , Zaragüeta Amondarain Mikel , San Juan Escuder Jorge , Rodríguez de Tapia Carlos , Luzón Ortega Julio Miguel
Published: October 2024

En esta nota se informa sobre la presencia del pez Salaria fluviatilis Asso, 1801 en la cuenca del río Segura, una especie catalogada como extinta en esta región y cuyos últimos registros datan de hace más de medio siglo. La especie se redescubrió durante los muestreos del año 2021, cuando se capturó un único individuo en el río Mundo. Un año después, la especie mostró una notable explosión poblacional y expansión geográfica, alcanzando densidades considerables en otras localidades del río Mundo, así como en el propio eje del río Segura y sus afluentes Benízar y Argos.
Revolutionizing Healthcare
Authors: T. Venkat Narayana Rao , Stephen M. , Kolachala Rohan
Published: October 2024

In an age where healthcare and telemedicine have never been more crucial, the rise of IoT has enhanced free use of healthcare systems around the world. This is accomplished by improving the decision making with the help of accessible data, ensuring that monitoring and consultation of patients is carried out by remote means. In order to efficiently use IoT in healthcare, scalable modelling and effective management of the application plays a critical role. Scalable modelling in healthcare and telemedicine involves the development of systems and that can flexibly respond to changing needs, induce quality, accessibility, and value-for-money. Management of IoT applications in healthcare comes with many challenges such as handling patient data on time, secured medical data, remote, ensure proper amount of medicine is taken by the patient, disease tracking, etc. This chapter aims to guide the readers to understand and develop their own frameworks for the scalable models which adapt to the needs in healthcare and enable readers to explore the potential of IoT in telemedicine.
Study and Analysis of IoT-Based Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring
Authors: Kumar Ravi Kant , C. C. Sobin
Published: October 2024

As technology continues to advance, the potential for IoT in healthcare (also called IoMT-Internet of Medical Things) is rising day by day. Innovations in telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are helping to improve the healthcare services, making them more accessible and efficient for patients. Contactless health monitoring can ensure better treatment of patients, especially in remote areas. It refers to the interconnection of medical devices, sensors, and systems to the internet. IoMT enables the collection, transmission, and analysis of patient's data in real-time, allowing for remote monitoring and early detection of health. IoMT systems present a promising opportunity for prevention, prediction, and monitoring of emerging infectious diseases. This technology also helps medical professionals make more informed treatment and deliver personalized care to patients. In this study, the authors focus on the emerging developments of IT-based telemedicine and remote patient monitoring including the definition, impact, importance, advantages, challenges, and future of IoT in healthcare.
Unleashing IoT Data Insights
Authors: Babu C. V. Suresh , A. V. Ganesh Moorthy , Lokesh S. , A. K. Niranjan , Manivannan Yuvaraja
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores the era of unprecedented data creation propelled by the widespread adoption of internet of things (IoT) devices. The massive and diverse IoT data, while holding advantages, necessitates data mining and machine learning techniques to unveil concealed insights. Focusing on the integration of these techniques, the research explores scalable modeling and effective administration of IoT applications. It navigates through the challenges of scalability, data complexity, real-time processing, and security concerns within IoT data. The chapter emphasizes the necessity of feature engineering, data preparation, and model selection tailored to IoT data's particularities. By incorporating IoT capabilities for data gathering, real-time streaming, and comprehensive data analysis, the research promotes efficient handling of IoT data, fostering a new era of productivity and creativity. The findings contribute to the evolving landscape of IoT applications, presenting a roadmap for data-driven decision-making and enhanced operational efficiency.
Impact of partially burnt paddy husk with coir peat on growth and yield of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Jayamali D. M. H. , Karunarathna Brintha
Published: October 2024

French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), recognized as a good source of protein. Growth and yield are low in beans due to unfavorable weather and soil conditions. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of partially burnt paddy husk with coir peat on the growth and yield attributes of beans. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomized Design with seven treatments with thirty replicates. Partially burnt paddy husk was prepared in two different methods (methods 1 and 2). The treatments were, soil (T1-control), coir peat: partially burnt paddy husk 3:1 (T2-method 01), 2:2 (T3-method 01), 1:3 (T4-method 01), 3:1 (T5-method 02), 2:2 (T6-method 02) and 1:3 (T7-method 02).The results reveal that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the tested treatments on growth parameters. However, significant variations (p<0.05) were observed on yield attributes such as number of pods per plant, length and girth of pod and fresh and dry weights of pod. The highest fresh and dry weights of pods were in T1 followed by T3. However, there was no significant variation (p>0.05) between T1 and T3. This study concludes that coir peat: partially burnt paddy husk in 2:2 ratio (T3) could be used as a growth medium for french bean cultivation instead of soil.
Impacting factors and degree of influence on the selection of ICT subject in GCE Advanced Level
Authors: Sabani M. J. Ahamed , Shafana M. S. , Shama L. F. Zisath
Published: October 2024

Education in Sri Lankan education focuses on accelerating the country’s knowledge economy by producing skilled and knowledgeable people who suit present-day needs. Moreover, society wants universities to produce graduates, and of course, those graduates must be employable. Meanwhile, job opportunity is guaranteed for job seekers skilled in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) nowadays. Thus, the Sri Lankan government introduced a new stream “Technology” in the year 2015 as an educational reform. The success level of this government initiative should be measured in an acceptable form for further improvements. The most productive way to measure success measuring the interest of students in ICT on GCE A/L, and the factors that influence it. This study was conducted to examine the factors fluencing ICT subject selection by GCE Advanced Level students and to find out the degree of influence of each factor. The coastal region area of Ampara district of Sri Lanka was covered as a sample population for our study. Data to find out the influencing factors were collected by having One on-One interviews with four categories of stakeholder groups, namely principals or deputy principals, teachers, students, and parents, and prepared a questionnaire with these factors and distributed among the A/L students from different schools to gather their opinions from 266 respondents to find out the degree of influence of factors using the convenience sampling technique. Later, the answers to the questionnaire were analyzed by a statistical data analysis tool which shows that the family income, awareness programme, other main subjects in A/L, and the results of mathematics, English, and ICT subjects in O/L are affecting the ICT subject selection in A/L, meanwhile the results says that gender, parents’ education, and previously followed ICT related courses are not having relations in A/L ICT subject selection, and it revealed the degree of top encouraging factors such job market, opportunities in higher education, and getting high z-score and discouraging factors such lack of resources available in the medium, having no relevancy with other main subjects, and lack of interest in IT.
Methodology for assessing health risk behaviours among undergraduates in Sri Lanka: a literature review
Authors: Fayaz Fazla , Nilaweera Irosha , Cassim Riyas , Samaranayake Dulani
Published: October 2024

It is imperative to learn more about the distinctive Health-Risk-Behaviours (HRB) that are culturally acceptable in the lower-resource settings. Therefore, the objective of this review is to identify tools measuring HRBs among undergraduates in Sri Lankan context. A literature review was conducted both manually and electronically through Google Scholar and Hinari and PubMed databases. Self-administered Questionnaires were used in National Surveys and individual studies. Youth-Risk Behaviour-Surveillance-System was the most commonly used comprehensive HRB assessment tool. The National College Health Risk Behaviour Survey, National College Health Assessment were other widely used instruments. There are few validated tools and multiple short scales or items combined like Health-Promotion-Lifestyle[1]Profile, Health-Behaviour-Questionnaire or Inventory, DOSPERT scale, Adolescent-Health-Attitude and Behaviour[1]Survey, Healthy-Lifestyle-Scale, Health-Behaviour-Scale and Health-Behaviour-Checklist. Objective methods for assessing high-risk behaviors (HRBs) include measures of personality and aggression, which have been used to critically quantify violence and accidental injury, as well as biochemical tests for alcohol, nicotine, and other drug use, mechanical or computer sensors, and biological tests such as urinary cultures for sexual risk behaviours. These tools had focused only on specific aspects of HRBs among undergraduates in Western countries and were not comprehensive assessments of HRBs of undergraduates in lower-resource settings. It was evident that there has been a deficit of choices for the adaptation of an HRB tool for undergraduates in lower-resource-settings and a new tool to be developed for Sri Lankan context.
A Comparative Analysis of the Factors Influencing Job Expectations among Unemployed Men and Women in Sri Lanka
Authors: Gunawardena A. P. Y. G. V. , Samaraweera G. R. S. R. C.
Published: October 2024

In Sri Lanka, persistent gender differences in unemployment rates exist, with women enduring greater rates of unemployment de-spite having a higher average educational attainment than men. Gender differences in job search intensity vary with attitudes to-ward employment or unemployment as attitudes play a significant role in employment decision-making. These differences are intimately linked to people's expectations and mindsets regarding their work, which are strongly influenced by societal and cultural gender roles. This study looks at how job expectations differ between unemployed men and women in Sri Lanka. This study relies on data from the Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey (2021) and a multinomial logistic model to analyse the total unemployed, male unemployed, and female unemployed separately while taking two dependent variables; job sector expectations and occupational expectations. The study's findings emphasise the pivotal role of gender in sharpening job expectations among the unemployed. Regarding job sector expectations, unemployed women are more inclined towards jobs in the public sector than those in the private sector because of the government's reputation for offering standardized working hours and a work-life balance conducive environment. Furthermore, there are noteworthy differences in occupational expectations as unemployed women are more likely to expect professional and managerial level jobs with the increase in higher education enrolment. This study offers a groundbreaking contribution to the literature by unveiling unique, gender-specific determinants of job expectations among Sri Lanka's unemployed, highlighting the influence of unemployment duration, and employing distinct analytical models to bridge significant theoretical, empirical and methodological gaps. Finally, this study puts forth the broader discourse on gender, unemployment, and labour market dynamics in Sri Lanka, offering gender-specific policy recommendations aimed at bridging the expectation gap between unemployed men and women in Sri Lanka.
Detecting Land-Use Changes in Greater Kandy Development Area
Authors: Pilapitiya P. G. D. , Uduporuwa R. J. M. , Subasinghe Shyamantha
Published: October 2024

As urban growth became a threat to Kandy city, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has introduced a new concept called the “Greater Kandy Development Area (GKDA)” to control and manage the rapid urban growth, as well as to minimize its’ impacts towards the environment. This study examines the land use/ land cover changes in GKDA, in selected time periods using GIS and Remote Sensing techniques. Findings demonstrate that dynamic patterns of urban expansion cause progressive growth in built-ups and lowering in non-built-ups. In 2005, there were only 16.9 percent of built-up areas in GKDA but, it has increased up to 40 percent in 2020. 81.7 percent of non-built-up areas in 2005, has reduced up to 58.8 percent. As population growth happened inside the city limits, land use changes also happened within. These changes create clustered as well as sprawl development patterns.
First report of Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera: coreidae) feeding on Rubus (Rosaceae) fruit
Authors: Tanney Joey B. , Dicaire Annie , John Esme , Roberts Josie , Strong Ward
Published: October 2024

The western conifer seed bug, Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann (Hemiptera: Coreidae), feeds extensively on the seeds of conifer trees within both its endemic range west of the Rocky Mountains and its expanding introduced range throughout eastern North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Its damage to conifer seed challenges seed production in natural stands and in orchards that produce seed for forest regeneration and food. In summer 2023, hundreds of L. occidentalis adults were observed feeding on the berries of two cultivated blackberry, Rubus fruticosus Linnaeus (Rosaceae), vines on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The adults were observed over a period of approximately six weeks, and their stylets were seen penetrating drupelets and causing subsequent damage. Identification was confirmed based on morphological and molecular (CO1 DNA barcoding) methods. To our knowledge, this is the first verifiable report of L. occidentalis feeding on a Rosaceae host, suggesting the insect’s potential for damaging agricultural systems.
Bringing faith to the public: Positioning church communities for social good in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Nanthambwe Patrick , Magezi Vhumani
Published: October 2024

The Christian faith must move beyond private belief and engage more actively in public issues to promote societal well-being. Churches, as key actors in the public sphere alongside for-profit institutions and political bodies, have the potential to contribute to the common good. This involves contestation, dialogue, and collaboration with other sectors to develop approaches that enhance human welfare. While the term ‘public good’ originates in economics, its association with social good aligns it with the mission of faith communities, which focus on community well-being. The pressing question is how church communities in sub-Saharan Africa can interact with businesses and governments to advance social good. This requires churches to engage in advocacy, provide direct services, and collaborate with secular organizations while ensuring their actions promote equity and justice. Through thoughtful engagement in the public sphere, churches can influence societal structures by upholding values such as compassion, justice, and mutual respect. By doing so, they can play a significant role in addressing challenges within their local contexts.Contribution: The article contributes to the discussions of how churches can move from private concerns to actively engaging with public issues, collaborating with various societal actors to promote social good and enhance community well-being.
Alloimmunization and consequential delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions in sickle cell disease patients: A case series
Authors: Anwar Tahsim , Prakash Satya , Sahu Ansuman , Mukherjee Somnath , Mishra Debasish
Published: October 2024

Alloimmunization is a significant complication of blood transfusion, especially in sickle cell patients, and may lead to a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR). DHTR is defined as evident hemolysis and a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) 24 h to 28 days posttransfusion with either a positive eluate or a newly identified alloantibody in the plasma. Hyperhemolysis syndrome (HS) is a fatal form of DHTR in which the posttransfusion hemoglobin (Hb) level is less than the pretransfusion Hb level. In this case series, we have reported three cases of alloimmunized sickle cell disease patients with clinically significant DHTR. The second case is typical of HS. All three cases were DAT positive, alloimmunized with multiple alloantibodies, and had substantial hemolysis posttransfusion. In this series, we have provided an algorithmic approach to resolve such complex immunohematological problems and have highlighted some of the limitations of serology methods. High-dose corticosteroid and intravenous immunoglobulin prove to be an effective treatment for DHTR.
Medical Crowdfunding in India: The Need for a Strong Legal Enforcement System
Authors: Bhat Lekha D. , Panneer Sigamani , Bhagyalakshmi R. , Kantamaneni Komali , Nayar Kesavan Rajasekharan , Rice Louis
Published: October 2024

In India, poor health insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket expenditure especially for chronic and rare genetic/life-threatening diseases is a reality. People who use medical crowdfunding as an option to meet medical expenditures and the sudden growth of new fundraising platforms are significant developments in healthcare. The digital platforms in fundraising and the multitude of transactions they perform are increasing in the country and have a significant impact on the health sector and the rights of the patients which points toward the need for more effective regulation. In the absence of sector-specific legislation and government guidelines, the paper summarizes the growth of medical crowdfunding in India, identifies the challenges, and reiterates the need for effective legal enforcement systems.
Performance of WHO-Updated Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction Charts among Doctors: Findings from a Tertiary Care Teaching Center in Puducherry, India
Authors: Barathi Arivarasan , Kar Sitanshu Sekhar , Satheesh Santhosh , Sahoo Jaya Prakash
Published: October 2024

Background:

The cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction charts, updated by the World Health Organization for 21 regions in 2019. These charts—lab and non-lab versions—estimate a person’s overall CVD risk; the non-lab version is intended for low-resource environments.

Objectives:

Using the “non-lab” and “lab” versions of the WHO CVD risk prediction charts, we sought to estimate the burden of ten-year risk of a fatal or non-fatal CVD event in a tertiary care hospital of Puducherry and to assess the agreement between them.

Materials and Methods:

We included 255 doctors working in a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry. Age, gender, systolic blood pressure, and smoking status are all factors used in both charts. Moreover, a lab chart requires a person’s total cholesterol and diabetes mellitus status, whereas a non-lab chart requires a person’s body mass index. Proportions (95% confidence intervals) were used to portray the population at various CVD risk levels. Using Cohen’s Kappa, the degree of agreement between the lab and non-lab charts was assessed (k).

Results:

The majority of the study participants had <5% risk of CVD, and none had a risk of >20% in both the charts, which shows the better health-seeking behaviour of doctors. A good level of agreement was shown by the 95.2% (95%CI = 91.7 – 97.4 ) concordance in the risk categorization between the two charts (k = 0.934).

Conclusion:

When data are available and there is strong agreement between non-lab and lab-based charts, it is practical to apply WHO-updated CVD risk prediction charts.
A Cross-sectional Study to Identify Risk Factors for Hepatitis C in Punjab, India
Authors: Tandon Roli , Boeke Caroline E. , Sindhwani Siddharth , Chawla Umesh , Govil Parag , Fernandes Oriel , Chan Yuhui , Lakshmi Pinnaka Venkata Maha , Grover Gagandeep S.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody prevalence in Punjab, India (0.56%) is higher than the national average (0.32%), but primary drivers of local transmission are unclear.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to identify behavioral and demographic predictors of screening positive for HCV in Punjab.

Materials and Methods:

Interviews assessing exposure to potential HCV risk factors were administered cross-sectionally to persons screening for HCV across 10 treatment facilities. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using generalized estimating equation models accounting for clustering by health facility.

Results:

One thousand seven hundred and sixty-three patients tested anti-HCV positive; 595 were negative. 57.7% of respondents were male; the median age was 40 years. 13.8% reported injecting drugs. Males were more likely to test positive than females (RR: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.21). Unmarried men were at higher risk of anti-HCV positivity compared with married men (RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08–1.24), but unmarried women were at lower risk (RR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.98). The strongest risk factors were history of injecting drugs (RR: 1.37, 95% CI: 1.24–1.51), incarceration (RR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12–1.33), acupuncture use (RR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.09–1.33), having household member(s) with a history of incarceration (RR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.08–1.26), and tattoos (RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.09–1.24). Additional risk factors among men included receiving injections in a public hospital or from unregistered medical practitioners and among women included a history of childbirth.

Conclusion:

Injecting drugs was most strongly associated with anti-HCV positivity in this population. Greater attention to HCV prevention is needed, with a focus on people-centered harm reduction programs, behavioral change interventions, and increasing safety in potential transmission settings.
On some planar Baumslag–Solitar actions
Authors: Alonso Juan , Guelman Nancy , Rivas Cristóbal , Xavier Juliana
Published: October 2024

Let

\mathrm{BS}(1,n)= \langle a,b : a b a^{-1}= b^{n}\rangle

be the solvable Baumslag–Solitar group for

n \geq 2

. We study representations of

\mathrm{BS}(1, n)

on the plane by orientation-preserving homeomorphisms, assuming that

a

acts as a linear map and

b

as a map with bounded displacement. We find that the possibilities for a faithful action depend greatly on the Jordan canonical form of the map

h

defined by the action of

a

. In case

h

is diagonalizable over

\mathbb{R}

, we shall give examples or prove rigidity theorems depending on the eigenvalues. We also show some rigidity in the cases where

h

is elliptic or parabolic. Then we give applications to the actions of

\mathrm{BS}(1, n)

by homeomorphisms of the torus.
Experimental Investigation of Electro-Discharge-Machined EN-24 and
EN-42 Alloys
Authors: Sahu Kapil Dev , Singh Rajnish , Chauhan Akhilesh Kumar
Published: October 2024

The EN24 and EN42 materials were machined by the electric discharge machine
(EDM). The study aimed to optimize the input variables for the multiple outputs,
such as metal removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface roughness.
The machining of the metal is essential to analyze the surface quality and the
production rate. The MRR is a prediction of the production rate and surface
roughness resembling the quality of the surface. The input variables were
current (A), pulse on time (ton), and pulse duty factor (T). The
three levels of current were 3A, 6A, and 9A. The ton time was
selected as 30 μs, 50 μs, and 70 μs. The pulse duty factors were selected as 4,
5, and 6. The Taguchi optimization techniques are used to optimize process
parameters. The L9 orthogonal array was selected for the process. ANOVA analysis
was employed to check the rank of the input parameters relative to the output.
The maximum MRR were at 9A, 70 μs, and 4 duty factor for the EN24. The best MRR
were at 9A, 70 μs, and 5 duty factor for the EN42. The contribution of
ton was maximum compared in the tool wear analysis. The optimum
value of tool wear was at 6A, 70 μs, and 4 duty factors for the machining of
EN42 and EN24. The surface analysis for EN24 was yielding at 9A, 70 μs, and 4
duty factor, and 9A, 70 μs, and 5 duty factors for the EN42. The maximum
contribution of pulse on time for surface finish for machining both the
materials. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis also analyzed the
surface quality.
Experimental Investigation of Energy Consumption in Select
Micromobility Vehicles
Authors: Pamminger Michael , Duvall Andrew , Wallner Thomas
Published: October 2024

This study provides a detailed energy consumption analysis of two popular
micromobility vehicles—an e-scooter and an e-bike—under various conditions,
including steady-state and dynamics scenarios. Employing a custom-built data
acquisition system, the research tested these vehicles in throttle mode,
additionally assessing the e-bike across three pedal-assist levels. The findings
reveal that the e-bike operates significantly more efficiently than the
e-scooter, with both vehicles demonstrating peak power outputs significantly
exceeding their rated values. Furthermore, the study explores how cargo affects
the e-bike’s energy use, along with the charging and discharging behaviors of
both platforms. Notably, the e-scooter exhibited a considerable battery
self-depletion rate, a characteristic not observed on the e-bike.