bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genome sequence of the horse’s hoof clam, Hippopus hippopus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Li Ruiqi , Li Jingchun , Lopez Jose Victor , Oatley Graeme , Clayton-Lucey Isabelle Ailish , Sinclair Elizabeth , Aunin Eerik , Gettle Noah , Santos Camilla , Paulini Michael , Niu Haoyu , McKenna Victoria , O’Brien Rebecca ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory Team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics Team,   EBI Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Data Portal Team,   Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics Project Leadership
Published: March 2024

We present a chromosomal-level genome assembly from an individual Hippopus hippopus (strawberry clam; Mollusca; Bivalvia; Veneroida; Cardiidae). The genome sequence is 1,068.5 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 23.96 kilobases in length.
Media Formats of Advertising
Authors: Lin Song
Published: March 2024

A theoretical analysis of the role of media format in advertising.
A rare case of a hard-to-heal ulcer caused by pulmonary Nocardia infection
Authors: Zhu Wei , Shu Ziqin , Song Huapei
Published: March 2024

Nocardiosis is an acute purulent or granulomatous disease caused by Nocardia spp. infection that commonly invades the lungs and central nervous system. Hard-to-heal wounds caused by Nocardia spp. infection are rare. A 63-year-old female patient underwent puncture biopsy due to a mass in the right lung. Subsequently, dermal ulceration occurred on her back at the biopsy site, with no improvement following treatment at multiple hospitals. After admission to our department, bacterial culture of sputum and discharge from the deep wound sinus revealed Nocardia asteroides infection. The treatment regimen was developed by a multidisciplinary team at our department. The patient underwent debridement and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) and was administered imipenem. The wound was then sealed by local flap transfer. The patient was discharged from the hospital after the wound had healed and continued to take minocycline for 2 months. At 3 months post-discharge, the symptoms of lung infection had resolved. Nocardiosis mainly affects the lungs, and its clinical symptoms are similar to those of pulmonary tuberculosis. Nocardia infections can extend to the chest wall and form abscesses or cellulitis. For hard-to-heal wounds caused by Nocardia spp., local debridement combined with systemic anti-infective therapy should be applied. In this case study, the diagnosis of pulmonary and wound nocardiosis was confirmed based on clinical manifestations, imaging, aetiological investigation and pathology. The treatment regimen was debridement combined with VSD, as well as a full course of antibiotics. The optimal treatment regimen for hard-to-heal wounds caused by Nocardia spp. includes effective debridement combined with VSD and long-course antibiotic therapy, which can improve the cure rate.

Declaration of interest:

The authors have no conflicts of interest.
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
Authors: Winter George
Published: March 2024

George Winter provides an overview of recently published articles that may be of interest to practice nurses. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided
Fluorescence modulation of quantum dots in subsurface defects of optical elements by a linearly polarized light
Authors: He Wen , Wu Ya-Jie , Cui Ya-Na , Wang Chunyang , Liu Xuelian , Xiao Bo
Published: March 2024

The limited excitation efficiency of quantum dots in the detection of subsurface defects in optical elements by quantum dot fluorescence gives rise to insufficient accuracy. To enhance the excitation efficiency of quantum dots, we studied the modulation of the polarization direction of linearly polarized incident light on quantum dot fluorescence. We first apply density matrix evolution theory to study the quantum dots interacting with linearly polarized incident light and emitting fluorescence. The fluorescence intensity exhibits cosine oscillations versus modulated laser polarization. It reaches a maximum value at the polarization angle zero, and then decreases as the angle becomes larger until π/2. The experimental results for the quantum dot in both solutions and subsurface defect of optical elements confirmed these results. For optical elements tagged with CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, the fluorescence intensity increases by 61.7%, and the area for the detected subsurface defects increases by 142.9%. Similarly, for C and InP/ZnS quantum dots, there are also increases in both the fluorescence intensity and the area of subsurface defects. Our study suggests that the subsurface defect detection in optical elements by the linearly polarized incident light could enhance the detection accuracy of subsurface defects in optical elements, and potentially achieve super-resolution imaging of subsurface defects.
Monolithic 24  cm2 flexible triple-junction solar cell encapsulated module based on the ipsilateral electrode welding technology
Authors: Luo Xiaolong , Long Junhua , Sun Qiangjian , Chen Zhitao , Wu Xiaoxu , Li Xufei , Yu Menglu , Zhao Huyin , Shen Xiaoming , Lu Shulong
Published: March 2024

The inverted metamorphic multi-junction solar cell is anticipated to be widely applied in stratospheric flight because of its exceptional properties of flexibility and light weight. We propose an ipsilateral welding technology based on Ti/Au electrodes to simplify the fabrication process of GaInP/GaAs/InGaAs solar cells and encapsulate large-sized flexible solar cells. After annealing at 200°C for 2 h, the Ti/Au electrode achieved a low specific contact resistivity of 2.9×10−7Ω⋅cm2. The performance of the ohmic contact remains stable after the thermal cycling tests. The Ti/Au electrode can require less heat input for welding to reduce the risk of microcrack formation of the solar cells. By employment of this electrode, a 24cm2 solar cell achieved a conversion efficiency of 34.74%. A flexible solar cell module with an efficiency of 32.82% under AM 1.5G illumination was obtained by the ipsilateral electrode welding technology.
Power-modulated integrated path differential absorption lidar for probing benzene concentration
Authors: Liu Jiahui , Li Shichun , Wang Yi , Guan SiYu , Hua Dengxin , Xin Wenhui , Song Yuehui
Published: March 2024

Aimed at the regional open-path detection of benzene (C6H6) in the atmosphere, a power-modulated integrated path differential absorption (PM-IPDA) lidar is introduced and demonstrated. Two tunable interband cascade lasers (ICLs) with about 3.2 µm wavelength are utilized to generate the required PM optical signal. These two operation central wavelengths (CWs) of the PM-IPDA lidar are, respectively, 3236.6 and 3187.1 nm, which can mitigate the influence of significant gases such as H2O, CH4, and HCl on the detection performance. In this work, the fast Fourier transform algorithm is used to retrieve the measured values with the time resolution of 0.1 s corresponding to 104 sampling bins at the sampling rate of 100 kSps/s. The modulated frequency of the PM-IPDA lidar is selected as 10 kHz by laboratory experiments. The slow fluctuation characteristic of the benzene absorption spectrum within the vicinity region of 3.2 µm reduces the impact of small wavelength fluctuations on the performance of PM-IPDA lidar, although a scheme modulated only the driving current causes wavelength fluctuations of ∼±0.2nm. These laboratory experiments also indicate the PM-IPDA lidar can reduce the error resulting from 1/f noise. Open-path observation experiments show that the detection limit is about 0.60mg⋅m−3 and that the PM-IPDA lidar can be used for the regional open-path real-time detection of benzene.
Regulating the crystal orientation of vapor-transport-deposited GeSe thin films by a post-annealing treatment
Authors: Zheng Shiqi , Qin Deyang , Wang Rui , Pan Yuxin , Weng Guoen , Hu Xiaobo , Chu Junhao , Akiyama Hidefumi , Chen Shaoqiang
Published: March 2024

Recently, GeSe has emerged as a highly promising photovoltaic absorber material due to its excellent optoelectronic properties, nontoxicity, and high stability. Although many advantages make GeSe well suited for thin-film solar cells, the power conversion efficiency of the GeSe thin-film solar cell is still much below the theoretical maximum efficiency. One of the challenges lies in controlling the crystal orientation of GeSe to enhance solar cell performance. The two-step preparation of GeSe thin films has not yet been reported to grow along the [111] orientation. In this work, we study the effect of a post-annealing treatment on the GeSe thin films and the performance of the solar cells. It was found that amorphous GeSe films can be converted into polycrystalline films with different orientations by changing the post-annealing temperature. [111]-oriented and [100]-oriented GeSe thin films were successfully prepared on the same substrate by optimizing the annealing conditions. With the structure of Au/GeSe/CdS/ITO cell devices, PCEs of 0.14% and 0.16% were ultimately achieved.
High spatiotemporal mapping of cortical blood flow velocity with an enhanced accuracy
Authors: Jin Tian , Li Baochen , Li Linyang , Qi Weizhi , Xi Lei
Published: March 2024

Cerebral blood flow velocity is one of the most essential parameters related to brain functions and diseases. However, most existing mapping methods suffer from either inaccuracy or lengthy sampling time. In this study, we propose a particle-size-related calibration method to improve the measurement accuracy and a random-access strategy to suppress the sampling time. Based on the proposed methods, we study the long-term progress of cortical vasculopathy and abnormal blood flow caused by glioma, short-term variations of blood flow velocity under different anesthetic depths, and cortex-wide connectivity of the rapid fluctuation of blood flow velocities during seizure onset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed calibration method and the random-access strategy can improve both the qualitative and quantitative performance of velocimetry techniques and are also beneficial for understanding brain functions and diseases from the perspective of cerebral blood flow.
Unveiling the potentiality of a self-powered CGT chalcopyrite-based photodetector: theoretical insights
Authors: Ebon Md. Islahur Rahman , Pappu Md. Alamin Hossain , Shiddique Sheikh Noman , Hossain Jaker
Published: March 2024

The article demonstrates the design and modelling of CuGaTe2 direct bandgap (1.18 eV) chalcopyrite-based photodetector (PD), which has superb optical and electronic characteristics and shows remarkable performance on the photodetector. The photodetector has been investigated throughout the work by switching width, carrier and defect densities of particular layers and also the interface defect density of particular interfaces. The various layers have been optimized for the higher performance of the PD. Also, the impression of various device resistances has been analyzed. The JSC and VOC of the heterostructure photodetector is found to be 38.27 mA/cm2 and 0.94 V, in turn. The maximum responsivity, R and detectivity, D* are found to be 0.663A/W and 1.367 × 1016 Jones at a wavelength of 920 nm. The spectral response has a very high value in the range of 800 to 1000 nm light wavelength, which confirmed that this device is capable of detecting the near infrared (NIR) region of light. This work gives important guidance for the manufacture of CGT material-based photodetectors with higher performance.
DESIGNING BLACK MIRRORS
Authors: Willey Ronald
Published: March 2024

Black mirrors are related to neutral density (ND) filters which are primarily concerned with transmittance whereas a black mirror has no transmittance and endeavors to reduce the reflectance to zero in the wavelength band of interest by absorbing all the light. Metal layers must be used for the absorptance capabilities and dielectric layers to create the interference phases which maximize the electric field at the absorbing layers. A literature search for designing ND filters came up with eight [1-8] references and there is little to be found on black mirror design. The procedure and results of designing black mirrors is reported here.
Ultrafast modulable 2DEG Huygens metasurface
Authors: Zeng Hongxin , Cong Xuan , Wang Shiqi , Gong Sen , Huang Lin , Wang Lan , Liang Huajie , Lan Feng , Cao Haoyi , Wang Zheng , Wang Weipeng , Liang Shixiong , Feng Zhihong , Yang Ziqiang , Zhang Yaxin , Cui Tie Jun
Published: March 2024

Huygens metasurfaces have demonstrated remarkable potential in perfect transmission and precise wavefront modulation through the synergistic integration of electric resonance and magnetic resonance. However, prevailing active or reconfigurable Huygens metasurfaces, based on all-optical systems, encounter formidable challenges associated with the intricate control of bulk dielectric using laser equipment and the presence of residual thermal effects, leading to limitations in continuous modulation speeds. Here, we present an ultrafast electrically driven terahertz Huygens metasurface that comprises an artificial microstructure layer featuring a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) provided by an AlGaN/GaN heterojunction, as well as a passive microstructure layer. Through precise manipulation of the carrier concentration within the 2DEG layer, we effectively govern the current distribution on the metasurfaces, inducing variations in electromagnetic resonance modes to modulate terahertz waves. This modulation mechanism achieves high efficiency and contrast for terahertz wave manipulation. Experimental investigations demonstrate continuous modulation capabilities of up to 6 GHz, a modulation efficiency of 90%, a transmission of 91%, and a remarkable relative operating bandwidth of 55.5%. These significant advancements substantially enhance the performance of terahertz metasurface modulators. Importantly, our work not only enables efficient amplitude modulation but also introduces an approach for the development of high-speed and efficient intelligent transmissive metasurfaces.
De novo copy number variations in candidate genomic regions in patients of severe autism spectrum disorder in Vietnam
Authors: Bui Hoa Thi Phuong , Huy Do Duong , Ly Ha Thi Thanh , Tran Kien Trung , Le Huong Thi Thanh , Nguyen Kien Trung , Pham Linh Thi Dieu , Le Hau Duc , Le Vinh Sy , Mukhopadhyay Arijit , Nguyen Liem Thanh
Published: March 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder with a prevalence of around 1% children worldwide and characterized by patient behaviour (communication, social interaction, and personal development). Data on the efficacy of diagnostic tests using copy number variations (CNVs) in candidate genes in ASD is currently around 10% but it is overrepresented by patients of Caucasian background. We report here that the diagnostic success of de novo candidate CNVs in Vietnamese ASD patients is around 6%. We recruited one hundred trios (both parents and a child) where the child was clinically diagnosed with ASD while the parents were not affected. We performed genetic screening to exclude RETT syndrome and Fragile X syndrome and performed genome-wide DNA microarray (aCGH) on all probands and their parents to analyse for de novo CNVs. We detected 1708 non-redundant CNVs in 100 patients and 118 (7%) of them were de novo. Using the filter for known CNVs from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database, we identified six CNVs (one gain and five loss CNVs) in six patients (3 males and 3 females). Notably, 3 of our patients had a deletion involving the SHANK3 gene–which is the highest compared to previous reports. This is the first report of candidate CNVs in ASD patients from Vietnam and provides the framework for building a CNV based test as the first tier screening for clinical management.
Diminished psychedelic returns on distress: Marital status and household size
Authors: Viña Sean M.
Published: March 2024

Although the use of psychedelics to impact health has seen growth, little research has tested the effects of culture conditions on the relationship. More specifically, how does marital status and family size affect the relationship between psychedelics and health? This study tests the relationship between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use (LCPU), marital status, and household size (number of people living in a household) on levels of psychological distress in the past 30 days. This project uses pooled data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) (2010 to 2018) (N = 674,521). The Final sample size is determined by the dependent variable, psychological distress in the past month (n = 158,633). The analysis includes a series of nested logistic regression models conducted in Stata 17. Results indicate that LCPU is independently associated with better health, but the association between LCPU and health varies across levels of household size. Larger households are associated with higher levels of distress, which are then exacerbated among psychedelics users. Furthermore, three-way interactions reveal that the negative association between household size and distress gets larger among psychedelic users who are married, divorced, and widowed. Overall, results suggest that household size negatively impacts the association between LCPU and health, with those who are married, divorced, and widowed experiencing the worst outcomes.
Safety profile of rivaroxaban in first-time users treated for venous thromboembolism in four European countries
Authors: Ruigómez Ana , Schink Tania , Voss Annemarie , Herings Ron M. C. , Smits Elisabeth , Swart-Polinder Karin , Balabanova Yanina , Brobert Gunnar , Suzart-Woischnik Kiliana , García Rodríguez Luis Alberto
Published: March 2024

Background

The European rivaroxaban post-authorization safety study evaluated bleeding risk among patients initiated on rivaroxaban or vitamin K antagonists for the treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism in routine clinical practice.

Methods

Cohorts were created using electronic healthcare databases from the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. Patients with a first prescription of rivaroxaban or vitamin K antagonist during the period from December 2011 (in the UK, January 2012) to December 2017 (in Germany, December 2016) for venous thromboembolism indication, with no record of atrial fibrillation or recent cancer history, were observed until the occurrence of each safety outcome (hospitalization for intracranial, gastrointestinal, urogenital or other bleeding), death or study end (December 2018; in Germany, December 2017). Crude incidence rates of each outcome per 100 person-years were computed.

Results

Overall, 44 737 rivaroxaban and 45 842 vitamin K antagonist patients were enrolled, mean age, 59.9–63.8 years. Incidence rates were similar between rivaroxaban and vitamin K antagonist users with some exceptions, including higher incidence rates for gastrointestinal bleeding in rivaroxaban users than in vitamin K antagonist users. Among rivaroxaban users, mortality and bleeding risk generally increased with age, renal impairment and diabetes.

Conclusions

This study provides further data from routine clinical practice that broadly support safety profile of rivaroxaban for VTE indication and complement findings from previous randomized clinical trials.
Systematic evaluation of common natural language processing techniques to codify clinical notes
Authors: Tavabi Nazgol , Singh Mallika , Pruneski James , Kiapour Ata M.
Published: March 2024

Proper codification of medical diagnoses and procedures is essential for optimized health care management, quality improvement, research, and reimbursement tasks within large healthcare systems. Assignment of diagnostic or procedure codes is a tedious manual process, often prone to human error. Natural Language Processing (NLP) has been suggested to facilitate this manual codification process. Yet, little is known on best practices to utilize NLP for such applications. With Large Language Models (LLMs) becoming more ubiquitous in daily life, it is critical to remember, not every task requires that level of resource and effort. Here we comprehensively assessed the performance of common NLP techniques to predict current procedural terminology (CPT) from operative notes. CPT codes are commonly used to track surgical procedures and interventions and are the primary means for reimbursement. Our analysis of 100 most common musculoskeletal CPT codes suggest that traditional approaches can outperform more resource intensive approaches like BERT significantly (P-value = 4.4e-17) with average AUROC of 0.96 and accuracy of 0.97, in addition to providing interpretability which can be very helpful and even crucial in the clinical domain. We also proposed a complexity measure to quantify the complexity of a classification task and how this measure could influence the effect of dataset size on model’s performance. Finally, we provide preliminary evidence that NLP can help minimize the codification error, including mislabeling due to human error.
Temporal trends of severity and outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 after the emergence of variants of concern: A comparison of two waves
Authors: Freitas Daniela Helena Machado , Costa Eduardo Leite Vieira , Zimmermann Natalia Alcantara , Gois Larissa Santos Oliveira , Anjos Mirella Vittig Alves , Lima Felipe Gallego , Andrade Pâmela Santos , Joelsons Daniel , Ho Yeh‐Li , Sales Flávia Cristina Silva , Sabino Ester Cerdeira , Carvalho Carlos Roberto Ribeiro , Ferreira Juliana Carvalho
Published: March 2024

Background

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants led to subsequent waves of COVID-19 worldwide. In many countries, the second wave of COVID-19 was marked by record deaths, raising the concern that variants associated with that wave might be more deadly. Our aim was to compare outcomes of critically-ill patients of the first two waves of COVID-19.

Methods

This retrospective cohort included critically-ill patients admitted between March-June 2020 and April-July 2021 in the largest academic hospital in Brazil, which has free-access universal health care system. We compared admission characteristics and hospital outcomes. The main outcome was 60‐day survival and we built multivariable Cox model based on a conceptual causal diagram in the format of directed acyclic graph (DAG).

Results

We included 1583 patients (1315 in the first and 268 in the second wave). Patients in the second wave were younger, had lower severity scores, used prone and non-invasive ventilatory support more often, and fewer patients required mechanical ventilation (70% vs 80%, p<0.001), vasopressors (60 vs 74%, p<0.001), and dialysis (22% vs 37%, p<0.001). Survival was higher in the second wave (HR 0.61, 95%CI 0.50–0.76). In the multivariable model, admission during the second wave, adjusted for age, SAPS3 and vaccination, was not associated with survival (aHR 0.85, 95%CI 0.65–1.12).

Conclusions

In this cohort study, patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU in the second wave were younger and had better prognostic scores. Adjusted survival was similar in the two waves, contrasting with record number of hospitalizations, daily deaths and health system collapse seen across the country in the second wave. Our findings suggest that the combination of the burden of severe cases and factors such as resource allocation and health disparities may have had an impact in the excess mortality found in many countries in the second wave.
The impact of companies disclosing ESG reports in multiple languages on the enthusiasm of foreign investors for holding shares
Authors: Bao Ruixue , Wei Li
Published: March 2024

We collect Chinese A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2022 as samples and use the multi-period difference-in-difference model (DID) to study the impact of multilingual ESG report disclosure on the enthusiasm of foreign investors. We find that Chinese companies disclose ESG reports in both Chinese and English stimulate the enthusiasm of foreign investors to hold shares. The main manifestations are the expansion of the company’s foreign shareholding quota and the increase in the number of shareholders. Further research show that disclosure of multilingual ESG reports makes up for the readability of company annual reports for foreign investors. In the case of companies with poor analyst attention and comparability of accounting information, and companies that hire non-big four auditing firms to audit financial reports, multilingual ESG report disclosures are more positive for foreign shareholdings. The participation of the central investor service center in corporate governance is weak, the degree of regional cultural integration is low, and the disclosure of English ESG reports by Chinese enterprises is conducive to promoting the enthusiasm of foreign shareholding. The research conclusions provide theoretical guidance and empirical reference for enterprises to expand information disclosure methods to foreign investors and attract overseas capital investment.
The place of writing in practice-based Ph.D. programmes
Authors: Álvarez Natalie
Published: March 2024

The relationship between the written and artistic work in practice-based Ph.D. dissertations is often ambiguous, leaving the student to languish as they navigate ill-defined expectations tied to a daunting ideal of ‘scholarly writing’ they feel pressured to meet, uncertain about its purpose in relation to their artistic practice. This ambiguity about the place of writing in practice-based Ph.D. programmes has been at the forefront of debates in the European Union’s Bologna Process. In this article, Álvarez investigates the problem writing presents in the context of doctoral programmes in which creative practice is the cornerstone of the thesis project. Probing expectations that the written portion of the dissertation serve an exegetical function that explains the significance of the work of art, Álvarez examines the ways in which written requirements in practice-based Ph.D. programmes trouble foundational premises of art-making in relation to knowledge-making and offers a way of framing writing that collapses the hierarchy being writing and art-making.
Everyday divine: Fashion, ritual and identity transformation
Authors: Hughes Megan K.
Published: March 2024

As the world experiences the end of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown era, I have been conducting a project that investigates the function and meaning of the creative making process. Using the steps to making as the research focus, I ask: why does designing and crafting feel and function like a change-making ritual, more than a routine? What evidence of the metamorphic energy of making lies within each finished creation? Through a review of other scholars’ work, from fields including ritual study, psychology, art and pedagogy, I began to understand the process of creation, and how it can promote positive transformation. Most important of all is the transformation of materials, ideas and inspiration into millinery. To begin, I found that the art of creative research propels the maker into a liminal stew of ideas and actions, where only the forces for and against the act of making are evident. The choices of materials and applications gather increasingly on the studio table, and the question of the meaning behind the process grows curiously deeper…
Assessment of abattoir workers and livestock keepers’ knowledge and practices regarding bovine tuberculosis in Senegal
Authors: Hamid Abdoul Madihou Ousmane , Dahourou Laibané Dieudonné , Alambedji Rianatou Bada
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major zoonosis in Senegal, accounting for 33% of all zoonotic disease reports in 2019. The aim of this study was to assess bovine TB knowledge and practices of abattoir workers in Dakar and livestock farmers in Pout.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on knowledge and practices of Dakar abattoir workers (butchers, transporters, sellers, and animal health workers) and Pout livestock farmers regarding bovine tuberculosis. R 3.2.6 was used for descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Fischer’s exact tests, and STATA 13 was used for univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.

Results: A total of 274 abattoir workers and livestock farmers were interviewed: 103 (37.6%) from Dakar abattoir and 171 (62.4%) from Pout farms. Respondents were predominantly male (75.2%), aged 30–59 years (67.5%), and had at least 10 years of experience (51.8%). The majority (98.2%) were aware of TB, but only 31.4% knew that it was zoonotic. Only 2.5% (7/274) of participants had satisfactory TB knowledge, which differed according to study area, experience, profession, and good practice (p = 0.05). Abattoir workers were 11 times more likely than farmers to have good TB knowledge (odds ratio [OR] = 11.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1–114.3). Respondents with 5–10 years of experience were 16.9 times more likely to have good knowledge of TB (OR = 16.9; 95% CI = 1.7–163.4). The majority of participants preferred raw milk (83.6%) and undercooked meat (83.6%). Only 29.6% of participants had good practices, which differed with respect to study area, gender, marital status, age, occupation, and knowledge of TB (p = 0.05). Age (OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.3–8.3) was identified as a good practice adoption predictor.

Conclusion: Globally, there was a low level of good knowledge and practices regarding TB among respondents. There is a need for mass education through multi-sectoral collaboration between health professionals (humans and animals) using a One Health approach.

Keywords: animal, human, public health, tuberculosis, zoonosis.
Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevalence of sheep scab among communal sheep farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Yawa Mandla , Mtenjwa Bukeka , Jaja Ishmael Festus , Mthi Siza , Nyangiwe Nkululeko , Tokozwayo Sive , Stempa Thuthuzelwa , Qokweni Luxolo
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim: Sheep scab is one of the most contagious diseases of sheep found in rural communities worldwide and is a major health and welfare concern for sheep farming. Information on the attitudes of communal farmers to sheep scab remains speculative in the Eastern Cape Province. This study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the prevalence of sheep scab among communal sheep farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Materials and Methods: From June to August 2022, a cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire (n = 160) was conducted in two rural communities of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in Eastern Cape Province. Purpose sampling was used to obtain respondents’ knowledge, attitudes, and management practices regarding sheep scabs.

Results: Among respondents, 81% were males and 19% were females. The majority of sheep farmers (59%) in both communities were aware of sheep scabs, but the majority (64%) did not receive any farming training. The majority of sheep farmers (65%) believed that sheep scab was the most serious threat to their sheep production since it increased mortality. In the past 3 years, approximately 57% of respondents reported an increase in the prevalence of sheep scab. The majority of farmers reported wool loss as the most noticeable clinical symptom (73%). More than 80% of sheep farmers do not use acaricide on a regular basis. Sixty-one percent of farmers prefer a pour-on topical application method. The frequency of annual dipping was every fortnight (40%), during summer and winter (24%). Most farmers (66%) regularly vaccinate their sheep.

Conclusion: The prevalence of sheep scab is increasing in these communities; however, a better understanding of the factors that facilitate its transmission is required to allow improved management and control of this disease. The government must involve extension officers and distribute them to disseminate information to farmers. Thus, it will be easy to translate the literature into action.

Keywords: communal sheep farmers, Eastern Cape Province, season, sheep scab control methods, sheep scab.
Gender labor market outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Alwago Wycliffe Obwori
Published: March 2024

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that women's employment declined disproportionately than men’s, prompting economists to coin the term "she-cession." This study examines the incidence and persistence of this phenomenon in the Visegrád economies using quarterly data on gender labor market outcomes from 2007Q1-2021Q4. The paper demonstrates that there is significant cross-country heterogeneity in the extent and severity of she-cession, with all the V4 countries demonstrating greater declines in women's employment rates than in men's. The Czech Republic suffered a severe she-cession compared to Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The COVID-19 she-cessions were often short-lived, lasting an average of one or two quarters, hence, it can be concluded that the V4 nations do not need to worry about the hysteresis effect of unemployment rates. The panel fixed effect model shows the significance of the gender labor market outcomes on economic progress measured by per capita GDP. Evidence demonstrates that women's labor market outcomes in the V4 countries have a significant impact on per capita GDP, which explains the advantage of eliminating gender disparities in the labor market.
Some global implications of China's new energy policy initiative
Authors: Rurong Chen
Published: March 2024

The "East Data West Computing" project was launched in February 2022 to alleviate the current imbalance of energy distribution in China and to promote the development of a green digital economy. It is designed to improve the ideal energy layout in China, using the abundant renewable energy available in the West to supply electricity for existing and planned data processing and analyzing centers and other high-tech businesses in the East. The nature of the paper is impact analysis based on qualitative and quantitative research methods. The paper's first objective is to quantify the probable impact of the initiative on China's energy balance in general, the electricity market in particular, its expected effects on Chinese energy imports, and its global implications. The second objective is to analyze the expected impact of the new initiative on the international competitiveness of China's high-tech industries and the structural optimization in the eastern digital industry using a two-way fixed effects model as well as its global implications. Based on the analysis, generalized and instructive conclusions are drawn, first, on the role of renewables in the regional distribution of electricity and the green transition, and, second, on the significance of the supply and price of electricity in the competitiveness of high-tech industries. It is assumed that the project would promote the development of green digital industries across the East and west regions.

At first glance, the paper is a Chinese case study focusing on global effects and implications, exploring the relationship between electricity production and consumption and how the high-tech industries give a chance to arrive at scientifically novel or new conclusions.
Comparison of the TiVA and traditional data based on income groups in the gravity models application
Authors: Kheyirkhabarli Mahammad
Published: March 2024

This article continues the line of research by Fertő et al. (2022) and aims to find if there are any differences between Trade in Value-Added (TiVA) data and traditional data of international trade in the gravity model application when 66 OECD and non-OECD countries are grouped by income level. In addition, the paper also examines differences in gravity model factors between high-income vs. low- and middle-income countries in international trade. In the gravity model application, fixed effects and PPML methods are applied with a 3-year interval. According to the results, the differences between TiVA and traditional data are still minor for both income groups. Additionally, it is found that distance and language have a greater influence on the exports of low and middle-income countries, while shared borders, colonial history, and regional trade agreements are the factors that exert more impact on the exports of high-income countries.
Mediating Effect of Depression on the Relationship between Social Isolation and Quality of Life of University Students in COVID-19 New Infectious Disease Crisis Situation
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Lee Jin Pyo
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to assess the levels of social isolation, depression, and quality of life among university students in the COVID-19 new infectious disease crisis situation, and analyzed the mediating effect of depression in the relationship between social isolation and quality of life. The study surveyed was 199 university students in K and C regions, using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression using IBM SPSS Statistics 24.0. As a result of the study, the depression of college students was higher in the female. The higher the subject's social isolation and the higher the degree of depression, the lower the quality of life. Additionally, the study revealed a completely mediating effect of depression on the relationship between social isolation and quality of life. Based on these results, the study suggests strategies are required to prevent social isolation and improve quality of life in university students, and the need for intervention to prevent and manage depression.
SELECTION OF THE OPTIMAL EXTRACTION MODULE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF PRODUCTION OF BLACK AND GREEN TEA EXTRACTS (Camellia sinensis) WITH HIGH INDICATORS OF ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY
Authors: Ignatova Dinara Fanisovna , Voronina Marianna Sergeevna , Makarova Nadezhda Viktorovna
Published: March 2024

It is known that various factors of extraction, such as the type of solvent, temperature, time, solvent system, degree of grinding of raw materials, extraction modulus significantly affect the level of antioxidant properties of plant products. The aim of our study was to select the optimal extraction module for two types of tea (Camellia sinensis), to obtain extracts with high values of total soluble solids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, antiradical activity according to the DPPH method, restoring strength according to the FRAP method. The objects of the study were extracts of two types of tea obtained using water, with a grinding degree of 0.5 mm, an extraction temperature of 40–50 °C, an extraction time of 24 h, and various versions of extraction modules 1 : 10, 1 : 15, 1 : 20. The indicator of the content of dry soluble substances in black and green tea reaches high values when using the extraction module 1 : 10 (9% and 9.6%, respectively), the maximum amount of phenolic substances (3139 mg (HA) / 100 g and 2045 mg (HA) / 100 g), flavonoids (1644 mg (K) / 100 g and 718 mg (K) / 100 g), tannins (123 mg catechin / 100 g and 56 mg catechin / 100 g) were extracted from black and green tea extracts at extraction module 1 : 10. The highest index of restorative power was observed in black and green tea extracts with an extraction modulus of 1 : 10 (8.73 mmol Fe2+ / kg and 15.84 mmol Fe2+ / kg). At an extraction modulus of 1 : 10, black and green tea extracts exhibited the least antiradical activity (Ec50 = 0.39 mg / cm3 and Ec50 = 0.69 mg / cm3). Thus, we can recommend the value of the module 1 : 10 as the most acceptable for obtaining extracts from black and green tea with a high level of the studied parameters.
INFLUENCE OF CULTIVATION CONDITIONS ON CELLULASE AND XYLANASE ACTIVITY OF RHIZOPUS ORYZAE F-1030
Authors: Mingazova Leysan Azatovna , Kryakunova Elena Vyacheslavovna , Galieva Aigul Rafikovna , Kanarskaya Zosya Albertovna , Kanarsky Albert Vladimirovich , Belkina Ekaterina Vasilievna
Published: March 2024

The paper examines the relationship between the activity of cellulase and xylanase enzymes and the lactic acid yield which was synthesized by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae F-1030 during its cultivation on a culture medium based on catalytically modified neutral sulfite liquors. It was shown that in cultivating by the deep method the fungus R. oryzae F-1030 synthesizes xylanase and cellulase enzymes that break down polysaccharides in a nutrient medium to simple sugars which are easily accessible for assimilation by the fungus. Accordingly, the fungus R. oryzae F-1030 can be used as a promising biotechnological object for the bioconversion of cellulose production secondary resources. It was found that the level of cellulase and xylanase expression in R. oryzae F-1030 depends on the type of substrate. The xylanase activity of the fungus is more pronounced than the cellulase activity since xylan oligomers predominate in birch wood. It was noted that the lactic acid yield during the cultivation of the fungus R. oryzae F-1030 on a catalytically modified neutral sulfite liquor depends on the action specifics of the hydrolyzing catalyst. As a nutrient medium for the microbiological synthesis of lactic acid the fungus R. oryzae F-1030 can use biocatalytically treated liquors of birch wood neutral sulfite pulping.
El juego de fuga como actividad de evaluación de los conocimientos aprendidos: escape room “Esperanza para el futuro”
Authors: Montes Gan Victoria , Salas Labayen Rosa , Martín Carrasquilla Olga , Saenz Nuño Maria Ana , López Salas Nerea , Arroyo Rubén
Published: March 2024

La asignatura de Fisiología Humana del 1º curso del Doble Grado de CAFYD y Ed. Primaria tiene como uno de sus objetivos fundamentales conseguir que, al finalizar el curso, el alumno sea capaz de comprender cómo el buen funcionamiento integrado de los sistemas y aparatos orgánicos que nos constituyen permite alcanzar la homeostasis y, con ella, el bienestar físico y mental del ser humano. Para favorecer su consecución se planteó esta actividad de gamificación educativa, un juego de fuga, que, a final del curso, pusiera a los alumnos en la situación de tener que relacionar e integrar sus conocimientos a lo largo de las distintas pruebas que les fueron planteadas para la resolución del reto propuesto. Con este fin, el equipo de innovación docente EduGando, grupo interdisciplinar e interfacultativo de profesores de la Universidad y colaboradores externos, participaron en la creación, planificación, desarrollo, aplicación y evaluación de esta actividad colaborativa, valorando su posible extrapolación a otras asignaturas de distintas titulaciones.
Maths Team Contest: refinamiento y ampliación de metodologías docentes
Authors: Alfaya Sánchez David , Calero María Oliva , Alonso Pérez Estrella , Cano Casanova Santiago , Rodrigo Hitos Javier , Villanueva Pesqueira Manuel
Published: March 2024

A lo largo del curso 2021-22, el proyecto “MTC: Maths Team Contest” se llevó a cabo con éxito en un grupo de 48 alumnos del primer curso del Grado en Ingeniería Matemática e Inteligencia Artificial. Dicho proyecto, consistente en la organización de un concurso matemático por equipos transversal en las asignaturas de Álgebra y Geometría y Análisis Matemático y Cálculo Vectorial, permitió exponer a los alumnos a problemas matemáticos más profundos e interdisciplinares, propiciando el desarrollo de su pensamiento abstracto y de aptitudes como la capacidad de trabajo en equipo, la capacidad de autoorganización y gestión del tiempo o las habilidades comunicativas. Extender este tipo de prácticas de un grupo reducido a un contexto más general supone un reto y en esta práctica se exponen los cambios metodológicos y tecnológicos que se han implantado para hacer escalable el modelo de evaluación colaborativa en codocencia del MTC y poder aplicarlo en el curso 2022-23, donde el número de grupos, alumnos y profesores de estas asignaturas se duplicó. Esto ha incluido el desarrollo de una infraestructura digital distribuida de gestión integral que permite a los profesores coordinar la actividad y corregir los problemas entregados en tiempo real desde tabletas.
Evaluasi Terhadap Kawasan Perbatasan Darat Indonesia Melalui Lima Dimensi Indeks Pembangunan
Authors: Rahim Dian Anggraeny , Priyarsono D.S. , Rustiadi Ernan , Syaukat Yusman
Published: March 2024

Pembangunan kawasan perbatasan adalah suatu amanat Nawacita yaitu membangun dari pinggiran. Berbagai program telah dilaksanakan di kawasan perbatasan yang memiliki tujuan untuk keberhasilan perbatasan, namun pembangunan di kawasan perbatasan belum menunjukkan hasil maksimal, bahkan jika dibandingkan dengan kawasan non perbatasan pada propinsi yang sama. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada rentang tahun 2015 -2020 di lima propinsi yang memiliki kawasan perbatasan darat yaitu Kalimantan Barat. Kalimantan Timur, Kalimantan Utara, Nusa Tenggara Timur dan Papua. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengevaluasi pembangunan yang telah dilakukan pemerintah melalui lima dimensi pada indeks pembangunan yaitu dimensi ekonomi, dimensi sosial, dimensi infrastruktur, dimensi teknologi informasi dan komunikasi serta dimensi lingkungan dan menggunakan dua puluh enam variabel. Metode penghitungan yang dilakukan menggunakan metode Model Linier Agregation oleh OECD. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan selama rentang waktu 2015 – 2020, indeks pembangunan berdasarkan dimensi ekonomi di kawasan perbatasan memiliki klasifikasi rendah,  dimensi sosial memiliki klasifikasi tinggi, dimensi infrastruktur memiliki klasifikasi rendah kecuali Kalimantan Barat pada tahun 2015 -2018 memiliki klaisifikasi sedang, dimensi teknologi indormasi dan komunikasi memiliki klasifikasi rendah, dimensi lingkungan memiliki klasifikasi rendah.
Microglia: Physiological Functions Revealed through Morphological Profiles
Authors: Cho K. , Choi Go-Eun
Published: March 2024

Microglia play key immunological roles in the central nervous system. Upon activation, resident microglial cells transform from a ramified form to an amoeboid form and acquire the ability to phagocytose and release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we review microglial phenotypes that contribute to their functional roles in the central nervous system with the emphasis on their molecular profiles. Deeper understanding of the functions performed by microglia in physiological and pathological conditions can promote investigation of microglia activities in brain injury or disease and facilitate development of new treatment approaches.