bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concentric Learning Communities: Educating Rural Library Staff in Principles of Collaborative Family Learning
Authors: Evans Sarah A. , Simpson Lance Michael , Molina Lacy Noel , Stanley Christy
Published: February 2025

Abstract: The Raise Up Radio Libraries research project applies sociocultural learning theories in the public library environment. In conjunction with university-based investigators, rural-serving library staff engage community families in a program to codesign a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) podcast series that will be broadcast over local radio. The first two libraries to participate represent two distinct models of service for rural communities in the United States. In Texas, the pilot library is an independent organization, operated by a part-time director and dependent on volunteers. In Alabama, the pilot library is part of a three-branch system, which includes service to a large city as well as a rural area. Staff at both libraries actively engage with community members and develop services and programs that meet local needs. Yet the ways in which staff achieve these outcomes vary greatly and often reflect the previous experiences and education of its staff members. The various stakeholders allowed for different learning communities to organically form. This paper explores the impact of the learning community formed by researchers and library staff (Learning Community 1) on the learning community made up of library staff and families (Learning Community 2), a crucial element of the library program project.
Newcomer: Best Practices on Community Librarianship in Europe
Authors: Tammaro Anna Maria , Kish Ilona , Boekesteijn Erik , De Fockert Tirza , Bruun Kirstine , Riccardo Demicelis , Villa Simona , Vladana Pillerova , Hannelore Vogt , Vunšek Maja
Published: February 2025

Abstract: This article describes a European curriculum for community librarians as a result of the NEWCOMER Project. The methodology adopted by the NEWCOMER Project was based on building a network of community libraries sharing their experience and knowledge during transnational meetings. The partners of the NEWCOMER Project discussed the profile of the community librarian in their different contexts and shared a curriculum for community librarianship, guidelines for recruiting community librarians, and methods for continuous lifelong learning. To further support the community librarian profile in Europe, the NEWCOMER Project has produced a handbook of good practices for libraries. A policy recommendation has been created by the project that can lay the foundations for building community libraries beyond the duration of the project.
Swedish Library Policy and Community Librarianship
Authors: Rydbeck Kerstin
Published: February 2025

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to examine how Swedish national library policy has evolved and been influenced by ideas associated with community librarianship. Additionally, the collaboration between public libraries and the movement-based popular education, which shares common roots with public libraries and emphasizes community building, is explored. The article is structured around two research questions, addressed through a qualitatively oriented document study of key documents in national library policy. The state initiative "Strengthened Libraries" is also analyzed. The investigation reveals that Swedish library policy has been significantly influenced by community librarianship in recent years, expressing several of its central ideas, such as community building, diversification of activities, and the library's role as a place. It also indicates that public libraries have some collaboration with movement-based popular education but that libraries' interest in expanding this collaboration appears limited. No previous research has examined the impact of community librarianship on Swedish library policy. The relationship between public libraries and movement-based popular education in study associations is also an underexplored area. This study provides some insight into the current situation, but further research is needed.
Upcycling Antigone : A New Puerto Rican Heroine in the Theatre of Carlos Canales
Authors: Tennyson Michelle
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Drawing from Sébastian Lefait's theories on adaptation as recycling as well as ideas proposed by Linda Hutcheon and others, this essay examines Puerto Rican playwright Carlos Canales's Antígona barrio (2017), which is an adaptation of the Greek tragedy Antigone . The play offers a poetic representation of a series of 1960s protests organized by the residents of the author's native Puerto Rican barrio of Buenaventura, a working-class neighborhood in the island's northeastern municipality of Carolina. I study his adaptation of Antigone as a process of upcycling that engages with an international spectatorship and dialogues with the classical tragedy and Puerto Rican social reality. Like recycling, upcycling connotes a collaborative and sustainable form of salvaging that transforms used materials into a new product of value for present and future generations. I explore the ways in which playwright Canales uses adaptive materials to intervene in discussions on national history, politics, and culture, calling attention to issues of migration and citizenship rights throughout Latin America and the world at large.
"One way of looking at it": Positive Thinking and Precarious Labor in Helen DeWitt's Lightning Rods
Authors: Lower Evan
Published: February 2025

Abstract: In Helen DeWitt's novel Lightning Rods , the free-indirect discourse that narrativizes protagonist Joe and two of his more successful employees is characterized primarily by markers of the American self-help technique positive thinking. Positive thinking, I argue, has entered into an interrelationship with the neoliberal form of capitalism and is key to understanding political subjectivity in the 21st century. This essay examines the layers of complicity that positive thinking allows and encourages in DeWitt's so-far critically neglected workplace satire.
"I Always Protest Against Being Referred to the Bees": Bee Analogies in Charles Dickens's Bleak House and Our Mutual Friend
Authors: Chen Houliang
Published: February 2025

Abstract: In Bleak House (1852–1853) and Our Mutual Friend (1864–1865), Charles Dickens draws analogies between human beings and bees, which function as an important means to address social and moral problems of Victorian society. This article shows how references to bees expose the hedonistic version of psychological egoism represented by Skimpole's drone philosophy in Bleak House and how Dickens attacks the evils of insatiable greed underlying the ideology of the middle-class "economic man" implied by the worker-bee analogy in Our Mutual Friend . I argue that the Mandevillian tension between private interests and public benefits underlies Dickens's allegorical representation of bees.
Phantasmatic Metamorphosis of a Woman: Three Short Stories by Algirdas Landsbergis
Authors: Vaišvylaitė Domantė , Bankauskaitė Gabija
Published: February 2025

Abstract: The article addresses the erotically conditioned metamorphoses of the female image in the phantasmatic space of three short stories by Algirdas Landsbergis (1924–2004), in which identity is transformed into an expression of creative fantasy and primal needs. The article analyzes sensations and drives in terms of origin and expression. The analysis focuses on the erotic construction and modification of the body according to the needs of the fantasizer. In the three stories, while the male character experiences desire, his mind conjures up a metamorphosis of the desired body, turning it into a sexual provocation, a physical space for erotic action, revealing the inner workings of the fantasizer's self.
19th -Century Secularist Poetry: Form and Formation of a New Worldview: Forum Introduction
Authors: Stainthorp Clare , Kosuch Carolin
Published: February 2025

Abstract: This introduction considers the perhaps unorthodox pairing of secularism and poetry and explores their relationship during the 19th century. It surveys the Forum's five essays, which consider how secularism's multiplicities were negotiated in 19th-century poetry and how the formal affordances of poetry itself contributed to secularist beliefs, emphasizing national cultural differences as well as points of connection.
Creating a Micro UX Internship with Artifacts and Impact
Authors: Miller James
Published: February 2025

abstract: User experience (UX) internships generate ideas for usability projects, improve the design of existing and new services, investigate users' motivations and behavior, and build transferable skills for interns. This case study proposes a micro-internship model, grounded in the design cycle, that institutions can adapt to address their libraries and students' needs. The model employs a three-stage process—discover, understand, and create—and it also provides best practices on structure, engagement, resource selection, and skill acquisition with usability methods. The article includes three case studies of UX undergraduate intern projects completed in two weeks or less using a mini-portfolio format.
OER Librarianship: Examining OER Librarian Work, Motivations, and Origin Stories
Authors: LeMire Sarah
Published: February 2025

abstract: As the OER movement expands in higher education, libraries are increasingly seeking to add OER librarians to their organizational charts. As an emerging subfield, OER librarianship takes many forms, and there are many paths to OER work. This study examines OER librarians' paths to the field, including their motivations for entering and remaining in the field, their day-to-day work, and the barriers that they experience. The results of this study have implications for administrators seeking to develop or sustain OER programs in their libraries and on their campuses.
Integrating Intercultural Competencies in an Introductory Business Information Literacy Course
Authors: Bochenek Annette , Howard Heather , Mayhook Zoeanna
Published: February 2025

abstract: Librarians at a large Midwestern university integrated intercultural competencies into an information literacy course taught annually to over 100 first-year business students. The interventions aim to improve intercultural skills and characteristics as defined by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) Intercultural Knowledge and Competence VALUE Rubric. Student intercultural competencies were assessed via online surveys according to the VALUE Rubric, comparing pre-, retrospective, and post-self-assessments. Students' intercultural competencies changed as a result of engaging with the course material. This paper describes the classroom interventions implemented by librarians, results from survey data analysis, and implications for library instruction.
Incorporating Signature Pedagogies into Library Instruction Through Reflective Pedagogy
Authors: Riesen Karleigh
Published: February 2025

abstract: Librarians provide instruction for students across disciplines, each with their own teaching and learning practices. An exploration of signature pedagogies will help librarians develop a deeper understanding of student learning. This article identifies reflective pedagogy as a teaching strategy librarians can use to expand upon this learning by integrating signature pedagogies into the library instruction classroom. A replicable framework is detailed throughout the article to guide librarians as they develop library instruction that uses reflection to contextualize information literacy within a disciplinary lens and help students make connections to their growing knowledge structures.
Improved Open Access Support through a Popular Open Access Fund
Authors: Wirth Andrea A.
Published: February 2025

abstract: This paper describes results of a 2023 survey of authors who applied to University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Open Article Fund, a fund that supports article processing charges (APCs). The survey sought feedback about the fund's impact, value, and award criteria as well as opinions on other open access topics. Results show that the fund has had a positive impact on open access uptake and opinions of open access. Respondents reported that they participate in other open publishing activities and believe that most publications should be made open access. The results suggest opportunities for better strategic connections between the fund and other open access outreach efforts.
A Bundist Tale in the Soviet World: Historical and Artistic Representations of Hirsh Lekert
Authors: Treves Nethanel M.
Published: February 2025

Abstract: This paper analyzes the changing Soviet reception of the story of Hirsh Lekert, the Bundist shoemaker who shot the governor of Vilna in 1902. The first section focuses on two volumes published in 1922. Both attempt, albeit to different degrees, to integrate Lekert's figure into the Bolshevik symbolic system. In one case his Bundist affiliation is maintained, in the other it is underplayed in order to create a Soviet, universal hero. The second section examines two plays and a film, all of them written in 1927 to coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Lekert's death, after the virulent anti-Bundist campaign of the mid-twenties. They are Hirsh Lekert by H. Leivik, Hirsh Lekert by Aron Kushnirov, and Zayn ektselents by Grigori Roshal. Along the axes leading from the United States to the Soviet Union, from Yiddish to Russian, and from Bundism to Bolshevism, the article shows the shift from a benevolent and complacent portrayal of the Bund by one of its former adherents (Leivik) to a portrayal with forms of rejection and manipulation (Kushnirov), and finally to its complete elimination in Roshal's work. The aim of the paper is to shed light on the connection between the historical and artistic modes of representation of Lekert's figure and the changing position of the Bund in Soviet public discourse.
For Fear of Babyn Yar: Why Did It Take So Long for a Monument to Be Built in the Largest Holocaust Site in the Soviet Union?
Authors: Khiterer Victoria
Published: February 2025

Abstract: In 1961 Yevgeny Yevtushenko wrote his famous poem "Babi Yar," which began with the words: "No monument stands over Babi Yar." It took another fifteen years after publication of the poem until the Soviet monument was built in Babyn Yar in 1976. Why did the Soviet authorities not allow any monument to be built in Babyn Yar for so many years? Usually, historians explain the absence of a monument in Babyn Yar by state antisemitism. However, Arkadi Zeltser wrote that more than seven hundred monuments were erected on Holocaust sites in the Soviet Union before 1991. Many of these monuments were built earlier than the monument in Kyiv, even though Babyn Yar was the largest Holocaust site in the Soviet Union. So, not only state antisemitism, but other factors played a role there. The article investigates why it took so long to build a monument in Babyn Yar, and what roles popular and state antisemitism and Cold War politics played in this process. The article also discusses resistance to Holocaust denial in the Soviet Union and its impact on the memorialization of the Holocaust.
From the Execution Ballad to the Dramatic Monologue: Criminal Confession Reconfigured
Authors: Martens Britta
Published: February 2025

Abstract: Victorian dramatic monologues about murder, including such prominent examples as Robert Browning's "Porphyria's Lover," "My Last Duchess," and The Ring and the Book , as well as Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "A Last Confession," often rely upon readers' familiarity with the popular genre of the execution ballad. Subverting the straightforward plotline and deterrent social function of the primarily didactic ballad, these monologues shift readers' horizon of expectation toward greater psychological sophistication and moral ambiguity, obliging them to contemplate a world in which crime may go unpunished and social order is fragile.
Thermal imaging-based core peripheral temperature difference measurement for neonatal monitoring in the NICU
Authors: Zhang Nantao , Song Xiaoyan , He Junli , Liang Fengchao , Yang Jie , Wang Wenjin
Published: February 2025

The core-peripheral temperature difference (CPTD) refers to the difference between the body's core temperature (e.g., chest or abdomen) and peripheral skin temperature (e.g., hands or feet). It serves as a key biomarker for assessing the hemodynamic status of newborns and is an important early warning indicator of potential shock and severe infection. Measurement of CPTD in clinical practice currently requires the use of an infrared spot thermometer to measure the temperature of multiple body parts of a neonate, which is not possible for continuous and fully automatic long-term monitoring. To address these limitations, we propose a thermal infrared (TIR)-based approach that enables non-contact, fully automatic, and continuous CPTD measurement for neonates. The spatial redundancy property of TIR is utilised and combined with a deep learning-based body parsing model to automatically detect different body parts of a neonate, including the chest and limbs (e.g., hand or foot), and measure the temperatures of these two parts to derive their difference as CPTD. Although accurate measurement of the absolute temperature of the neonatal skin is difficult due to the calibration of the TIR camera and environmental influence, the temperature difference between different body parts that emphasizes the spatial contrast at certain moments can be reliably estimated, and it is independent of the subject and environment. In a prospective clinical trial involving 40 preterm infants, our TIR-based CPTD measurement showed a mean absolute error less than 0.3∘C. Additionally, hand temperatures were, on average, 1.11°C higher than foot temperatures.Hand temperatures also showed a more pronounced response to changes in core temperature, suggesting that they may be better indicators of fluctuations in core temperature. Finally, we investigated the relationship between TIR-based CPTD and infant circulatory disorders. We find that infants with circulatory disorders typically have higher CPTD values, which demonstrates the clinical potential of our methods in reflecting functional limitations of the circulatory system in newborns. To our knowledge, this is the first clinical showcase of using a TIR camera for continuous non-contact CPTD monitoring of preterm infants in the hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), providing important preliminary findings that may enrich the video health monitoring applications in the NICU.
Optimization design method of DOE diffraction efficiency and its application in a zoom lens
Authors: Huo Jiaqi , Hu Yuan , Liu Zilong
Published: February 2025

Conventional single-layer diffractive optical elements (SLDOEs) frequently overlook the impact of incident angle and environmental temperature, leading to reduced diffraction efficiency, stray light, and compromised imaging quality. This study addresses these limitations by deriving the phase delay increment caused by temperature-induced changes in the refractive index and thermal expansion coefficients of the SLDOE substrate and propagation material. We propose the temperature angle bandwidth integrated average diffraction efficiency (TABIADE) concept and establish its mathematical model. An algorithm targeting the maximum TABIADE value is used to optimize the microstructure height, enabling the design of high-diffraction-efficiency SLDOEs. Our TABIADE-based design demonstrates superior performance in adapting to complex temperature variations compared to conventional designs optimized for maximum angle bandwidth integrated average diffraction efficiency (ABIADE). We designed a cooled infrared continuous zoom system incorporating multiple SLDOEs and analyzed the impact of SLDOEs’ diffraction efficiency on the system modulation transfer function (MTF). Compared with the approximate maximum ABIADE method, the DOE designed by our proposed method causes less degradation in imaging quality when used in optical systems. The final system incorporates three SLDOEs, achieving an MTF>1 at 33 lp/mm across a 3.7–5 µm wavelength range. With an F-number of 4, a zoom range of 40–900 mm, and a total length of 337 mm, an innovative balance between high zoom ratio, long focal length, and lightweight design has been demonstrated. This method addresses the challenge in infrared continuous zoom system design, where ensuring imaging quality typically limits the number of SLDOEs, making it difficult to balance high zoom ratios, long focal lengths, and lightweight structures. Additionally, it provides technical support for the use of SLDOEs in various refractive–diffractive hybrid system designs.
Single photon structure model and multi-photon composite monomer
Authors: Zu Donglin
Published: February 2025

This paper has proposed a single-photon structure model based on both the Maxwell wave equation and canonical quantization results of free electromagnetic fields under gauge conditions. Model assumption: There are only right-spin single photon and left-spin single photon, and their spin angular frequency (ω=2πν) is their spin angular velocity. By studying the bunching properties of two single photons, it was found that homo-frequency right-spin photons and left-spin photons could be superimposed into linearly polarized (LP) 2-photon monomers. Two homo-frequency and parallel LP 2-photon monomers with a phase difference of 90° can be superimposed onto an LP4-photon monomer. This monomer has been proven to be a normal unit of light.
Slot waveguide-based, polarization-insensitive, thermo-optic phase shifters
Authors: Wang WenKang , Zheng YanFeng , Feng JiaWang , Cheng Rui
Published: February 2025

Polarization-insensitive, thermo-optic (TO), silicon photonic phase shifters using vertical slot waveguides are proposed. For such slot waveguides that support slot modes only for transverse-electric (TE) polarized modes, the TO coefficients of the fundamental TE and transverse-magnetic (TM) polarized modes (i.e., TE0 and TM0, respectively) can be easily engineered to be the same by designing the widths of the slot and the total waveguide. In the experiments, the TO coefficients of the TE0 and TM0 modes for various slot waveguides are characterized by measuring the electrical switching powers of dual-polarization MZI optical switches using the slot waveguides as the TO phase shifters. A small switching power difference of <0.3% between the two polarization modes is observed for the switch using the slot waveguide engineered to act as a polarization-insensitive phase shifter. The performance of the developed optical switch is also experimentally characterized to prove the potential of the proposed phase shifters to realize polarization-independent switches.
Ultra-wideband MHz to THz plasmonic EO modulator
Authors: Horst Yannik , Moor David , Chelladurai Daniel , Blatter Tobias , Fernandes Sónia , Kulmer Laurenz , Baumann Michael , Ibili Hande , Funck Christian , Keller Killian , Destraz Marcel , Heni Wolfgang , Chérix Loïc , Liu Yuqi , Wang Hua , Koepfli Stefan M. , Leuthold Juerg
Published: February 2025

Electromagnetic fields at terahertz frequencies open a window to multiple applications, such as wireless communication, sensing, and medical imaging. Yet the challenge remains to efficiently generate, receive and process such high frequencies. In this work, we investigate plasmonic modulators to bring THz frequencies to photonic integrated circuits (PICs). We demonstrate a frequency response beyond the 1 THz and develop an equivalent circuit model of the modulator. Our results show that plasmonic modulators are uniquely suited for THz PICs.
Multi-strain phage induced clearance of bacterial infections
Authors: Marchi Jacopo , Minh Chau Nguyen Ngoc , Debarbieux Laurent , Weitz Joshua S
Published: February 2025

Bacteriophage (or ‘phage’ – viruses that infect and kill bacteria) are increasingly considered as a therapeutic alternative to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. However, bacteria can evolve resistance to phage, presenting a significant challenge to the near- and long-term success of phage therapeutics. Application of mixtures of multiple phages (i.e., ‘cocktails’) has been proposed to limit the emergence of phage-resistant bacterial mutants that could lead to therapeutic failure. Here, we combine theory and computational models of in vivo phage therapy to study the efficacy of a phage cocktail, composed of two complementary phages motivated by the example of Pseudomonas aeruginosa facing two phages that exploit different surface receptors, LUZ19v and PAK_P1. As confirmed in a Luria-Delbrück fluctuation test, this motivating example serves as a model for instances where bacteria are extremely unlikely to develop simultaneous resistance mutations against both phages. We then quantify therapeutic outcomes given single- or double-phage treatment models, as a function of phage traits and host immune strength. Building upon prior work showing monophage therapy efficacy in immunocompetent hosts, here we show that phage cocktails comprised of phage targeting independent bacterial receptors can improve treatment outcome in immunocompromised hosts and reduce the chance that pathogens simultaneously evolve resistance against phage combinations. The finding of phage cocktail efficacy is qualitatively robust to differences in virus-bacteria interactions and host immune dynamics. Altogether, the combined use of theory and computational analysis highlights the influence of viral life history traits and receptor complementarity when designing and deploying phage cocktails in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts.
Contributions of action potentials to scalp EEG: Theory and biophysical simulations
Authors: Brake Niklas , Khadra Anmar
Published: February 2025

Differences in the apparent 1/f component of neural power spectra require correction depending on the underlying neural mechanisms, which remain incompletely understood. Past studies suggest that neuronal spiking produces broadband signals and shapes the spectral trend of invasive macroscopic recordings, but it is unclear to what extent action potentials (APs) influence scalp EEG. Here, we combined biophysical simulations with statistical modelling to examine the amplitude and spectral content of scalp potentials generated by the electric fields from spiking activity. In physiological parameter regimes, we found that APs contribute negligibly to the EEG spectral trend. Consistent with this, comparing our biophysical simulations with previously published data from pharmacologically paralyzed subjects suggested that the EEG spectral trend can be explained by a combination of synaptic timescales and electromyogram contamination. We also modelled rhythmic EEG generation, finding that APs can generate detectable narrowband power between approximately 60 and 1000 Hz, reaching frequencies much faster than would be possible from synaptic currents. Finally, we show that different spectral detrending strategies are required for AP generated oscillations compared to synaptically generated oscillations, suggesting that existing detrending methods for EEG spectra need to be modified for high frequency signals.
D-stem mutation in an essential tRNA increases translation speed at the cost of fidelity
Authors: Schrock Madison N. , Parsawar Krishna , Hughes Kelly T. , Chevance Fabienne F. V.
Published: February 2025

The efficiency with which aminoacyl-tRNA and GTP-bound translation elongation factor EF-Tu recognizes the A-site codon of the ribosome is dependent on codons and tRNA species present in the polypeptide (P) and exit (E) codon sites. To understand how codon context affects the efficiency of codon recognition by tRNA-bound EF-Tu, a genetic system was developed to select for fast translation through slow-translating codon combinations. Selection for fast translation through the slow-translated UCA-UAC pair, flanked by histidine codons, resulted in the isolation of an A25G base substitution mutant in the D-stem of an essential tRNA LeuZ, which recognizes the UUA and UUG leucine codons. The LeuZ(A25G) substitution allowed for faster translation through all codon pairs tested that included the UCA codon. Insertion of leucine at the UCA serine codon was enhanced in the presence of LeuZ(A25G) tRNA. This work, taken in context with the Hirsh UGA nonsense suppressor G24A mutation in TrpT tRNA, provides genetic evidence that the post-GTP hydrolysis proofreading step by elongation factor Tu may be controlled by structural interactions in the hinge region of tRNA species. Our results support a model in which the tRNA bending component of the accommodation step in mRNA translation allows EF Tu time to enhance its ability to differentiate tRNA interactions between cognate and near-cognate mRNA codons.
Status and associations of transition shock among nursing students during clinical practice: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Tang Yinying , Chen Xiuwen , Liao Yuying , Zheng Tingyu , Xiao Yao , You Yunhui
Published: February 2025

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the current state and influencing factors of transition shock among nursing students during clinical practice.

Background

Transition shock among nursing students can significantly impact their academic performance and well-being. Understanding the key factors contributing to this shock is crucial for developing effective support strategies and improving overall educational outcomes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on October 8–28, 2022 at four tertiary Class A hospitals in Changsha, Hunan Province, located in south-central China. A convenience sample of 620 full-time nursing students was surveyed to collect demographic information and assess their transition shock levels using the transition shock scale. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests, correlation analysis, and multiple regression. STROBE checklist was used for the methodology in this study.

Results

A total of 564 nursing students were ultimately included in the study. The average overall transition shock score was 46 (41, 52). Attitude toward the nursing profession had an independent influence on nursing students’ transition shock (p < 0.05). Additionally, the number of night shifts, choosing nursing as the first choice, being class leaders, education level, future plans, school scale, and monthly household income contributed to different dimensions of transition shock (p < 0.05).

Conclusion and implications for nursing policy

Nursing students experience moderate transition shock, with attitude towards nursing as a key influencing factor. Clinical managers should implement targeted measures to better support nursing students improve their attitudes.
Spatial-temporal characteristics and influence factors of high-quality development of animal husbandry industry in China
Authors: Su Tiantian , Li Cuixia
Published: February 2025

The animal husbandry industry stands as a pillar of the agricultural sector. According to the defining characteristics of high-quality development in animal husbandry, this paper establishes a comprehensive evaluative indicator system. This system evaluates the quality of development in the industry from 2010 to 2022, including five key dimensions: output efficiency, product safety, resource conservation, environmental friendliness, and the level of scientific and technological &management. Results indicate a positive overall trend in the high-quality development of China’s animal industry throughout this period. Provinces exhibiting the highest average levels of development are, in descending order, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Anhui, Beijing, Fujian, Yunnan, Chongqing, Gansu, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Among these five dimensions, the level of environmental friendliness and the level of scientific and technological &management are better developed, while the level of resource conservation, the level of product safety, and the level of output efficiency are poorly developed. Regional differences have demonstrated a slight narrowing trend; however, the effect of intra-regional differences on the overall differences has remained relatively stable. In contrast, the effect of inter-regional differences on overall differences has gradually reduced, while the effect of hypervariable density has steadily increased, becoming the most significant factor. High-quality development in China’s animal industry exhibits a strong path dependency, with advancements typically occurring incrementally between adjacent levels and an insignificant probability of leapfrogging. The level of high-quality development in a given region is significantly influenced by the development levels observed in neighbouring regions, illustrating a phenomenon akin to the adage that One who is near vermilion is stained red, one who is near ink is stained black. Factors such as urbanisation rates, levels of scientific and technological innovation, transport infrastructure, levels of agricultural financial development, and population density all contribute positively to the high-quality development of China’s animal industry. At the same time, a larger share of animal husbandry in both the overall industrial sector and the agricultural industry further contributes to this high-quality development; whereas, GDP per capita and fiscal support for agriculture do not appear to have a significant effect.
Evaluation of comorbidity burden on disease progression and mortality in patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Joerns Elena K. , Ghebranious Michelle A. , Adams Traci N. , Makris Una E.
Published: February 2025

Background

Interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) is a subset of interstitial lung disease that manifests with features of autoimmunity while not meeting classification criteria for a defined rheumatic disease. Comorbidity burden is an important prognostic indicator in various rheumatic and interstitial lung diseases, but few studies have commented on comorbidities in this population. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of individual comorbidities, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the Rheumatic Disease Comorbidity Index (RDCI) with lung disease progression and transplant/mortality outcomes in patients with IPAF.

Methods

In a retrospective study, we evaluated the prevalence and severity of comorbidities in an institutional cohort of patients with IPAF. Using Cox regression, we correlated the association of individual comorbidities and comorbidity indices with time to lung disease progression (relative forced vital capacity decline of 10% or more) and with time to lung transplant/death. We compared the performance of CCI and RDCI in predicting outcomes.

Results

History of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or cardiovascular disease (CVD), moderate-severe chronic kidney disease, and fracture was associated with a faster onset of lung disease progression, while a history of gastroesophageal reflux was protective. History of CVA/CVD, diabetes mellitus, and lymphoma were associated with a faster onset of lung transplant/death. Both CCI and RDCI were associated with shorter time to lung disease progression and lung transplant/death in unadjusted analyses. However, only CCI was associated with shorter time to lung transplant/death in analyses adjusted for age, sex, pulmonary function, and radiographic pattern of lung lesion.

Conclusions

CCI and RDCI may be useful tools in assessing prognosis in patients with IPAF in terms of both lung disease progression and mortality. Prospective studies are needed to further evaluate the performance of CCI and RDCI and the impact of optimizing comorbid conditions that may mitigate poor outcomes among patients with IPAF.
Mortality trends and disparities for coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular disease: A retrospective analysis of deaths in the United States from 1999–2020
Authors: Goyal Aman , Saeed Humza , Sultan Wania , Singh Ajeet , Abdullah  , Arshad Muhammad Khubaib , Amin Zubair , Changez Mah I Kan , Mahalwar Gauranga , Khan Rozi , AlJaroudi Wael
Published: February 2025

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) greatly influence morbidity and mortality, with COPD patients frequently suffering from cardiovascular comorbidities like coronary heart disease and stroke. This study analyzes mortality trends and disparities among individuals in the United States (US) affected by both CVD and COPD.

Methods

This study analyzed death certificates from the CDC WONDER database for individuals aged 25 and older who died between 1999 and 2020 with both CVD (ICD I00-I99) and COPD (ICD J41-J44). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) and annual percent change (APC) were calculated by year, sex, age group, race/ethnicity, geographic region, and urbanization status.

Results

Between 1999 and 2020, there were 3,590,124 reported deaths due to coexisting CVD and COPD, with overall AAMR slightly changing from 82.2 to 81.2 per 100,000 population, and a notable rise from 2018 to 2020 (APC: 5.28; 95% CI: 1.83 to 7.22) coinciding with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. A similar surge in mortality was observed across multiple demographic subgroups, particularly among older adults. Disparities across age groups, sex, race, and geographic location were also observed in the mortality rates due to CVD and COPD. When analyzed by age group, older adults exhibited the highest AAMR at 824.1. Men had higher AAMRs than women (96.5 vs. 60.7). Ethnoracial analysis showed that non-Hispanic (NH) White individuals had the highest AAMRs (82.0), followed by NH American Indian or Alaska Native (74.5), NH Black (63.6), Hispanic (38.1), and NH Asian or Pacific Islander (25.1) individuals. Additionally, non-metropolitan areas had higher AAMRs compared to metropolitan areas (96.2 vs. 70.9).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that mortality rates for CVD and COPD have increased in recent years, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have exacerbated outcomes in vulnerable populations. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the overlapping impacts of CVD and COPD, especially in high-risk groups.
Trends and socioeconomic inequalities of recommended antenatal care services utilization in Ethiopia: A decomposition analysis using Ethiopian nationwide Demographic Health Surveys 2011–2019
Authors: Tsega Yawkal , Endawkie Abel , Tsega Gebeyehu , Mekonen Asnakew Molla , Dawed Yeshimebet Ali , Stecher Chad
Published: February 2025

Background

Antenatal care (ANC) services are essential to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality rates. However, the trends and socioeconomic inequality of utilizing recommended ANC services has not been well studied in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the trends and socioeconomic disparities in receiving recommended ANC services among Ethiopian women.

Methods

This study used recent Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys (EDHS) conducted in 2011, 2016, and 2019. Binary logistic regression model was employed to assess the association between receiving the recommended ANC services and explanatory variables and socioeconomic disparities were estimated through concentration index (CIX) analysis. Moreover, Wagstaff approach was used to decompose the relative CIX to the contribution of explanatory variables for the observed disparities.

Results

This study found that 37.37% (95%CI: 36.46–38.28%) of mothers utilized the recommended ANC services in Ethiopia. The trend in the coverage of recommended ANC services increased from ~ 30% in 2011 to 44.70% in 2019. Mother’s age and education, household wealth status, distance of the nearest health facility, and experiencing domestic abuse (i.e., wife beating) were significantly associated with utilization of recommended ANC services. The relative estimated CIX for wealth index, mothers education, Ethiopian administrative regions, and residence were 0.15 (P < 0.001), 0.14 (P < 0.001), 0.07(P < 0.001), and −0.11(P < 0.001), respectively. Wealth status of the households contributed for almost two-thirds (66.58%) of the observed disparity in recommended ANC service utilization across wealth categories.

Conclusion

The study revealed that Ethiopian women’s utilization of recommended ANC services was unequal by their socioeconomic classes, with better off women more likely to utilize the recommended ANC services than worse off women. Hence, the responsible body should improve the access and quality of antenatal care services for underprivileged women in Ethiopia.
CCR2 signaling regulates anti-chlamydia T cell immune responses in the airway
Authors: Yang Shuaini , Yu Jinxi , Dong Xue , Zeng Jiajia , Tan Lu , Zhang Hong , Sun Ruoyuan , Tuo Yuqing , Yang Jing , Wan Chunxiao , Bai Hong
Published: February 2025

CCR2, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, is widely expressed on monocytes, macrophages, activated T cells, and other cell types, and plays a critical role in coordinating the immune response to various infections. Here we demonstrate that CCR2 expression is significantly elevated during Chlamydia muridarum (C. muridarum) respiratory infection, and its absence leads to exacerbated susceptibility, as evidenced by significant weight loss, higher bacterial loads, severe lung pathology, and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines (il-1β, tnfα, and il-6). The absence of ccr2 impairs both myeloid cell infiltration and T cell responses, which are crucial for effective immune defense. Specifically, ccr2 deficiency disrupts the differentiation and response of Th1 cells, which are the primary effector lineage responsible for clearing chlamydia through secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). As a result, there is a significant decrease in CD3+CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells in the lung and spleen, accompanied by reduced levels of IFN-γ protein and mRNA, as well as downregulated mRNA expression of Th1-promoting cytokines (il-12p35, il-12p40) and transcription factors (stat4, T-bet), which play crucial roles in Th1 differentiation. Moreover, ccr2 deficiency greatly diminishes STAT1 phosphorylation, a key regulator of IFN-γ secretion by Th1 cells. Meanwhile, we also observed a significant reduction in IFN-γ secretion by CD8+ T cells following ccr2 deficiency. Conversely, ccr2-/- mice exhibit an exaggerated Th2-type immune response, with elevated levels of Th2-promoting cytokines (IL-4), transcription factors (STAT6 and gata3), and il-5, which together lead to more severe lung tissue damage and increased susceptibility to infection. Furthermore, these mice show higher levels of IL-17 along with an enhanced Th17-type immune response, characterized by increased Th17-promoting cytokines TGFB, transcription factors stat3 and RORγt, and il-21, suggesting a compensatory mechanism that drives neutrophil infiltration to exacerbate lung inflammation. These findings underscore the pivotal role of CCR2, a chemokine receptor, in orchestrating the immune response to Chlamydia infection by facilitating Th1 cells differentiation while restraining Th2-type and Th17-type immune responses, thereby alleviating pulmonary inflammation.
SPONDYLO - EPI - METAPHYSEAL DYSPLASIA IN A PRETERM NEONATE - A CASE REPORT
Authors: agrawal pranav , Chandra N Sharath , B T Madhukiran , P Anushri , Ravali R , K G Naveen
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND:

Spondylo-epi-metaphyseal Dysplasias [SEMD] are a rare variant of osteo-chondrodysplasia characterized by severe vertebral and epi-metaphyseal abnormalities leading to severe short stature.

Isidor et.al in 2013 published a novel variant of SEMD with no identifiable mutation in the genes previously associated with SEMD. They presented with normal birth length, early postnatal growth deficiency, severe short stature, and genu varum. Xrays showed platyspondyly and severe epimetaphyseal changes. Later in 2019, Le Caignac et.al demonstrated a mutation in the RPL13 gene in these 2 cases.

We herein present a case of this rare variant of Severe Spondylo-epi-metaphyseal Dysplasia in a preterm neonate.

CASE CHARACTERISTICS:

A female preterm neonate, born to a non consanguinous marriage of 3 years . Antenatal scans at 30+2weeks were suggestive of rhizomelia and polyhydramnios. Baby was born via spontaneous vaginal delivery, Cried immediately after birth, Weight, Length, Occipitofrontal circumference were - 1500g, 37cm and 28cm respectively.

Prominent forehead, Flattened nasal bridge. Short neck, protuberant abdomen were noted. Limbs showed Proximal limb shortening and Joint hyperlaxity. Other systems were normal.

Routine Blood Investigations, Ultrasonography, 2D Echo were found to be normal. Xrays showed - Proximal limb shortening, with irregular and abnormal vertebrae, pelvis, Epi-metaphyses. Radiographs of the mother were found to be normal. MRI reported as pachygyria cortical malformation.

Whole exome sequencing was performed and a mutation in the RPL13 gene was detected.

Baby's growth is being serially monitored and found to be <-3SD as per both WHO Child Growth Standard charts as well as Achondroplasia Clinical Charts.

MESSAGE:

Thisreport will represent the first case of The Isidor Toutain variant of Spondyloepimetaphyseal Dysplasia diagnosed in the neonatal age group.
Quasi liquid layer-pressure asymmetrical model for the motion of of a curling rock on ice surface
Authors: Hao Yuze , Wang Yueqi
Published: February 2025

In this paper, we present a new model based on Quasi liquid layer to explain why the direction of

lateral motion of the culing rock on ice surface is opposite to the other material surface. As

we know, under the action of inertial force, the pressure on the ice surface in front of curling is

greater than that on the back. So we assert that the firction coefficientin front of curling is lower

than that on the bank under different pressure. In order to explain the pressure impact on

friction coefficient, we qualitatively account for the reason why the coefficient of friction

increases under the pressure and approximately calculated the relationship between the

pressure and the thickness of the quasi_liquid layer on the ice surface. Then we calculate the

function expression between temperature , pressure and the firction coefficient by the function

between temperature and friction coefficient.
Boosting Engineering Capabilities through Science Learning
Authors: Rohiat Salastri , Widodo Ari , Octaria Prajayanti Atiek , Meta Pusparini Rakai
Published: February 2025

This research aims to review increasing engineering capabilities through science learning using the case study method. The primary focus of the research is to understand how the integration of science concepts in the engineering curriculum can improve students' technical and analytical skills. The case study was conducted at a vocational high school that applies an interdisciplinary approach between science and engineering. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The research results show that students who are involved in science learning integrated with engineering can demonstrate an understanding of engineering concepts, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills. In addition, teaching methods that focus on scientific projects and experiments have proven effective in building students' interest and motivation towards the field of engineering. This research concludes that science learning applied in an integrative manner can be an effective strategy in improving students' engineering capabilities