bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring willingness-to-pay for ‘malaria-free’ rice among rural consumers in Rwanda: examining the potential for a local voluntary standard
Authors: Rulisa Alexis , van Kempen Luuk , Koch Dirk-Jan
Published: August 2023

Rice cultivation in Sub-Saharan Africa produces a negative externality in the form of higher malaria risk. Larval source management, such as the application of bio-larvicides in rice fields, is available to mitigate the problem. However, the cost of larvicide and the corresponding spraying campaigns is such that rice farmers are unable to carry all of the financial burden themselves. This study explores in a rice-growing area of Rwanda whether, and to what extent, local consumers are willing to share this burden through their consumption choices. In a non-incentivized format, we elicit willingness-to-pay from 290 respondents for locally produced rice that is cultivated in either sprayed or non-sprayed fields. Price premium estimates are extracted to discuss the prospects of a voluntary sustainability standard for ‘malaria-free’ rice. We observe robust support among local consumers to re-align food production and public health through the marketplace. The results thus warrant a critical reflection on the assumption in the ethical consumption literature that consumers in the Global South, especially those on low incomes in rural areas, cannot play their part.
High-resolution strain-level microbiome composition analysis from short reads
Authors: Liao Herui , Ji Yongxin , Sun Yanni
Published: August 2023

Background

Bacterial strains under the same species can exhibit different biological properties, making strain-level composition analysis an important step in understanding the dynamics of microbial communities. Metagenomic sequencing has become the major means for probing the microbial composition in host-associated or environmental samples. Although there are a plethora of composition analysis tools, they are not optimized to address the challenges in strain-level analysis: highly similar strain genomes and the presence of multiple strains under one species in a sample. Thus, this work aims to provide a high-resolution and more accurate strain-level analysis tool for short reads.

Results

In this work, we present a new strain-level composition analysis tool named StrainScan that employs a novel tree-based k-mers indexing structure to strike a balance between the strain identification accuracy and the computational complexity. We tested StrainScan extensively on a large number of simulated and real sequencing data and benchmarked StrainScan with popular strain-level analysis tools including Krakenuniq, StrainSeeker, Pathoscope2, Sigma, StrainGE, and StrainEst. The results show that StrainScan has higher accuracy and resolution than the state-of-the-art tools on strain-level composition analysis. It improves the F1 score by 20% in identifying multiple strains at the strain level.

Conclusions

By using a novel k-mer indexing structure, StrainScan is able to provide strain-level analysis with higher resolution than existing tools, enabling it to return more informative strain composition analysis in one sample or across multiple samples. StrainScan takes short reads and a set of reference strains as input and its source codes are freely available at https://github.com/liaoherui/StrainScan.
Developing neural network diagnostic models and potential drugs based on novel identified immune-related biomarkers for celiac disease
Authors: Shen Tao , Wang Haiyang , Hu Rongkang , Lv Yanni
Published: August 2023

Background

As one of the most common intestinal inflammatory diseases, celiac disease (CD) is typically characterized by an autoimmune disorder resulting from ingesting gluten proteins. Although the incidence and prevalence of CD have increased over time, the diagnostic methods and treatment options are still limited. Therefore, it is urgent to investigate the potential biomarkers and targeted drugs for CD.

Methods

Gene expression data was downloaded from GEO datasets. Differential gene expression analysis was performed to identify the dysregulated immune-related genes. Multiple machine algorithms, including randomForest, SVM-RFE, and LASSO, were used to select the hub immune-related genes (HIGs). The immune-related genes score (IG score) and artificial neural network (ANN) were constructed based on HIGs. Potential drugs targeting HIGs were identified by using the Enrichr platform and molecular docking method.

Results

We identified the dysregulated immune-related genes at a genome-wide level and demonstrated their roles in CD-related immune pathways. The hub genes (MR1, CCL25, and TNFSF13B) were further screened by integrating several machine algorithms. Meanwhile, the CD patients were divided into distinct subtypes with either high- or low-immunoactivity using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and consensus clustering. By constructing IG score based on HIGs, we found that patients with high IG score were mainly attributed to high-immunoactivity subgroups, which suggested a strong link between HIGs and immunoactivity of CD patients. In addition, the novel constructed ANN model showed the sound diagnostic ability of HIGs. Mechanistically, we validated that the HIGs play pivotal roles in regulating CD's immune and inflammatory state. Through targeting the HIGs, we also found potential drugs for anti-CD treatment by using the Enrichr platform and molecular docking method.

Conclusions

This study unveils the HIGs and elucidates the networks regulated by these genes in the context of CD. It underscores the pivotal significance of HIGs in accurately predicting the presence or absence of CD in patients. Consequently, this research offers promising prospects for the development of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CD.
The development of co-designed parent-supported cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism in adolescents with eating disorders: initial feasibility and acceptability
Authors: Egan Sarah J. , Neal Jamie , Ure Sarah , Callaghan Thomas , Ho Pheobe , Shafran Roz , Wade Tracey D.
Published: August 2023

Background

Perfectionism is significantly associated with symptoms of eating disorders in adolescents. Studies to date have not examined parent-supported CBT for perfectionism in eating disorders (CBT-P-ED). We co-designed the treatment and conducted a feasibility trial.

Methods

Eight parents of adolescents with eating disorders (M age = 48.75 years, 100% female) engaged in three co-design workshops to create a parent-supported CBT-P-ED self-help intervention. A further 10 parents (M age 41.8 years, 50% female) and their adolescent offspring (n = 10, M age 15.4 years, 60% female, 50% with self-reported diagnosis of anorexia nervosa) participated in a feasibility trial and provided feedback on the intervention.

Results

The parents who engaged in the co-design workshops suggested several areas to optimise the perfectionism intervention, including using plain language, the impact of parental perfectionism, how to engage with their adolescent in treatment and the importance of increasing eating disorder specific material. Feedback from the feasibility trial suggested that the intervention was acceptable and feasible with 100% of parents and adolescents saying it was useful, and no attrition.

Conclusions

Parent-supported CBT-P-ED appears to be feasible. Future research is now required in a randomised controlled trial.
Machine learning for seismic exploration: Where are we and how far are we from the holy grail?
Authors: Khosro Anjom Farbod , Vaccarino Francesco , Socco Laura Valentina
Published: August 2023

Machine-learning (ML) applications in seismic exploration are growing faster than applications in other industry fields, mainly due to the large amount of acquired data for the exploration industry. The ML algorithms are constantly being implemented for almost all the steps involved in seismic processing and interpretation workflow, mainly for automation, processing time reduction, efficiency, and in some cases for improving the results. We carry out a literature-based analysis of existing ML-based seismic processing and interpretation published in SEG and EAGE literature repositories and derive a detailed overview of the main ML thrusts in different seismic applications. For each publication, we extract various metadata about ML implementations and performances. The data indicate that current ML implementations in seismic exploration are focused on individual tasks rather than a disruptive change in processing and interpretation workflows. The metadata indicate that the main targets of ML applications for seismic processing are denoising, velocity model building, and first-break picking, whereas, for seismic interpretation, they are fault detection, lithofacies classification, and geobody identification. Through the metadata available in publications, we obtain indices related to computational power efficiency, data preparation simplicity, real data test rate of the ML model, diversity of ML methods, etc., and we use them to approximate the level of efficiency, effectivity, and applicability of the current ML-based seismic processing and interpretation tasks. The indices of ML-based processing tasks indicate that current ML-based denoising and frequency extrapolation have higher efficiency, whereas ML-based quality control is more effective and applicable compared with other processing tasks. Among the interpretation tasks, ML-based impedance inversion indicates high efficiency, whereas high effectivity is depicted for fault detection. ML-based lithofacies classification, stratigraphic sequence identification, and petro/rock properties inversion exhibit high applicability among other interpretation tasks.
Development of fracture diagnostic methods for fluid distribution based on quantitative interpretation of distributed acoustic sensing and distributed temperature sensing
Authors: Sakaida Shohei , Hamanaka Yasuyuki , Zhu Ding , Hill A. D.
Published: August 2023

Multistage hydraulic fracturing design on horizontal wells has significantly evolved with larger fluid volume, more fracturing stages, and tighter perforation cluster spacing to efficiently stimulate unconventional reservoirs. From the published field observations, the recent fracturing design results in complex fracture networks or swarm of fractures. Fracture treatment evaluation is extremely challenging in such a case because of the large amount of variables in well completion and stimulation design. Combined measurements from different technologies can help in fracture diagnosis. Fluid distribution, either during fracture injection or during production, directly relates to the stimulation efficiency at the cluster level and at the stage level. Because it is unlikely in the real world to distribute the injected fluid uniformly among all the clusters, we need diagnostic techniques to generate the flow profile along a lateral. Fiber-optic measurements, such as distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) and distributed temperature sensing (DTS), are currently used to diagnose downhole flow conditions. This technology allows us to qualitatively confirm the fluid flow profile and other issues occurring downhole during fracturing such as leakage through plugs. For optimizing a fracturing design, we also need to understand how the design parameters are correlated with the stimulation efficiency. In this study, we combine two sets of models of DAS and DTS data interpretation for injected fluid volume distribution. The DAS is interpreted based on an empirical correlation between fluid flow rates and frequency band energy from the acoustic signals. The DTS is interpreted by performing temperature history match-based thermal energy conservation. Because of the completely different physics behind the interpretations, the confirmation of two interpretations provides confidence in fluid distribution.
Psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries concerning spirituality and religion: mixed-methods study
Authors: Poole Rob , Cook Christopher C. H. , Song Robert , Robinson Catherine A.
Published: August 2023

Aims and method

Calls for the integration of spirituality into psychiatric practice have raised concerns about boundary violations. We sought to develop a method to capture psychiatrists’ attitudes to professional boundaries and spirituality, explore consensus and understand what factors are considered. Case vignettes were developed, tested and refined. Three vignettes were presented to 80 mental health professionals (53% said they were psychiatrists; 39% did not identify their professional status). Participants recorded their reactions to the vignettes. Four researchers categorised these as identifying boundary violations or not and analysed the factors considered.

Results

In 90% of cases, at least three of the four researchers agreed on classification (boundary violation; possible boundary violation; no boundary violation). Participants’ opinion about boundary violations was heterogeneous. There was consensus that psychiatrists should not proselytise in clinical settings. Reasoning emphasised pragmatic concerns. Few participants mentioned their religious beliefs. Equivocation was common.

Clinical implications

Mental health professionals seem unsure about professional boundaries concerning religion and spirituality in psychiatric practice.
Mental health services in Norway, 2023
Authors: Reitan Solveig Klæbo , Lien Lars
Published: August 2023

Norway has, according to the World Health Organization, more psychiatrists engaged in public health services per head of population than any other country, and the proportionate numbers of psychologists and others engaged in mental healthcare are also among the world's highest. Approximately 10% of Norway's gross domestic product is spent on health, expenditure per capita that is the fourth highest internationally. We discuss how this wealth of expertise translates into the delivery of services to the public.
Perioperative Chemoimmunotherapy With Durvalumab for Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma: Primary Analysis of the Single-Arm Phase II Trial SAKK 06/17
Authors: Cathomas Richard , Rothschild Sacha I. , Hayoz Stefanie , Bubendorf Lukas , Özdemir Berna C. , Kiss Bernhard , Erdmann Andreas , Aeppli Stefanie , Mach Nicolas , Strebel Räto T. , Hadaschik Boris , Berthold Dominik , John Hubert , Zihler Deborah , Schmid Mathias , Alborelli Ilaria , Schneider Martina , Musilova Jana , Spahn Martin , Petrausch Ulf
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE

The integration of immunotherapy in the perioperative setting of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIUC) appears promising. SAKK 06/17 investigated the addition of neoadjuvant durvalumab to gemcitabine/cisplatin (GC) chemotherapy followed by radical surgery and adjuvant checkpoint inhibition with durvalumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

SAKK 06/17 was an investigator-initiated, open-label, single-arm phase II study including cisplatin-fit patients with stage cT2-T4a cN0-1 operable MIUC. Four cycles of neoadjuvant GC in combination with four cycles of durvalumab (start with GC cycle 2) were administered, followed by radical surgery. Adjuvant durvalumab was given for 10 cycles. The primary end point was event-free survival (EFS) at 2 years.

RESULTS

Sixty one patients were accrued at 12 sites. The full analysis set consisted of 57 patients, 54 (95%) had bladder cancer. Median follow-up was 40 months. The primary end point was met, with EFS at 2 years of 76% (one-sided 90% CI [lower bound], 67%; two-sided 95% CI, 62 to 85). EFS at 3 years was 73% (95% CI, 59 to 83). Complete pathologic response in resected patients (N = 52) was achieved in 17 patients (33%), and 31 (60%) had pathologic response <ypT2 ypN0. Overall survival (OS) was 85% (95% CI, 72 to 92) at 2 years and 81% (95% CI, 67 to 89) at 3 years. Grade 3 and 4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) during neoadjuvant treatment occurred in 42% and 25%, respectively. TRAEs related to adjuvant durvalumab were grade 3 in 5 (11%) and grade 4 in 2 (4%) patients.

CONCLUSION

The addition of perioperative durvalumab to the standard of care for patients with resectable MIUC results in a high EFS and OS at 2 years.
Topological robust corner states of a two-dimensional square lattice with C4 symmetry in fully coupled dipolar arrays
Authors: Luo Chen , Li Hui-Chang , Shen Yun , Deng Xiao-Hua
Published: August 2023

A profound insight into topological photonic systems will empower us to harness their maximum potential and discover uncharted topological phenomena. For the square quadripartite lattice with only nearest-neighbor reciprocal couplings, in the out-of-plane mode, sublattice symmetry makes the eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian symmetric around zero energy, while C
4 symmetry closes the gap between the central bands. Meanwhile, topological corner states (CSs) are fixed at zero energy due to chiral symmetry. Thereby, the CSs cannot appear in a gap, but are embedded in the bulk. In this paper, the full coupling between dipoles is considered in the Hamiltonian, i.e., not only the near-field of nearest-neighbor, but also the far-field dipole-dipole interactions are taken into account to investigate the new potential topological properties. The results show that the sublattice symmetry of the system will be broken, leading to the appearance of a zero-energy band gap. Nevertheless, the generalized chiral symmetry ensures that the CSs are still pinned to zero energy. That is, in-gap CSs are provided. Additionally, the silicon carbide materials used in this paper can confine light to the deep subwavelength scale, which has great potential in enhancing light-matter interactions in the terahertz range.
Restless Legs Syndrome and Other Common Sleep-Related Movement Disorders
Authors: Khan Meena
Published: August 2023

OBJECTIVE

This article reviews common sleep-related movement disorders, including their clinical description, epidemiology, pathophysiology (if known), and evaluation and management strategies. This article will provide the reader with a good foundation for approaching concerns that are suggestive of sleep-related movement disorders to properly evaluate and manage these conditions.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

α2δ Ligands, such as gabapentin enacarbil, can be used for the initial treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS) or in those who cannot tolerate, or have developed augmentation to, dopamine agonists. Another option is the rotigotine patch, which has a 24-hour treatment window and may be beneficial for those who have developed augmentation with short-acting dopamine agonists. IV iron can improve RLS symptoms even in those whose serum ferritin level is between 75 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL. At serum ferritin levels greater than 75 ng/mL, oral iron will likely have minimal absorption or little effect on the improvement of RLS. Research has found an association between RLS and cardiovascular disease, particularly in people who have periodic limb movements of sleep.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

RLS is the most common sleep-related movement disorder. Its pathophysiology is likely a combination of central iron deficiency, dopamine overproduction, and possibly cortical excitation. Treatment includes oral or IV iron. Dopaminergic medications can be very effective but often lead to augmentation, which limits their long-term use. Other sleep-related movement disorders to be aware of are sleep-related rhythmic movement disorder, nocturnal muscle cramps, sleep-related propriospinal myoclonus, sleep bruxism, and benign myoclonus of infancy.
Sleep Disorders in Childhood
Authors: Shelton Althea Robinson
Published: August 2023

OBJECTIVE

This article provides a comprehensive review of pediatric sleep disorders including the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, parasomnias, restless sleep disorder, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy in childhood, and Kleine-Levin syndrome.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Our understanding of pediatric sleep pathophysiology continues to evolve, and diagnostic and treatment modalities have expanded. A low-sodium oxybate formulation was approved in July 2020 in the United States to treat cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients 7 years old and older with narcolepsy. A validated pediatric hypersomnolence survey for pediatric narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia with high sensitivity, specificity, and interrater reliability is now available.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

The clinical presentation, diagnostics, and treatment of children with sleep disorders differ from those of adults. Untreated sleep disorders in childhood can lead to adverse physical and psychological consequences in adults. Correctly diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in youth can prevent a significant burden of disease in adulthood.
Introducing Journalism into the History of Economics
Authors: Mata Tiago
Published: August 2023

The introductory essay to the HOPE supplement on “economics as news” argues why journalism is a deserving subject for research in the history of economics. The case rests on three claims. The first is that the study of journalism gives us a view of a distinct epistemological tradition, of news epistemology, that unsettles the standard convictions of academic knowledge ways. Second, the practices of news organizations are key to understanding how these organizations transform contemporary life into news, marketable products of predictable format. The implication is that economics is featured in news when it is aligned with preexisting journalism practices. Third, journalists acknowledge the existence of domains of expertise but do not feel accountable to them. Ideas that economists may think of as their own are appropriated, repurposed, reinterpreted, and then again and again. Taken together, these arguments describe journalism as an exciting new research territory that will help us understand why so often the body of public economic knowledge diverges from the convictions of credentialed economists.
“The British Lions Crouched to a Nest of Owls”: The South Sea Bubble through the Lens of the London Press
Authors: Wennerlind Carl
Published: August 2023

The South Sea Bubble is one of history's most iconic economic events. While much ink was spilled during the bubble year to make sense of events as they unfolded, commentators were left scrambling for ways to grasp what happened because no one had ever experienced a stock market bubble before. This article focuses on how the London press covered the events that later became known as the South Sea Bubble. A review of every newspaper article in which the company was mentioned during the year of 1720 captures how the movement of the price of the company's stock was interpreted, as well as how it was related to broader social, political, and geopolitical affairs.
Crafting Newsworthiness at the Intersection of Business and Journalism: The Role of Context and Identity in Nascent Economic News Practice in Sweden
Authors: Grafström Maria
Published: August 2023

This article explores how economic information was turned into newsworthy content in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s. Professional norms and identities of “business journalists” were during the 1960s yet to be developed, and there were concerns raised whether issues about the corporate world and the economy were suitable to turn into journalistic news content at all. Conceptualizing newsworthiness as a logic of appropriateness, the analysis focuses on the roles that professional norms and identities played in forming nascent economic news practice. The empirical findings show that there was not one way—or one place—that this newsworthiness was constructed. Instead, nascent economic news was produced in two highly separated organizational settings: one rooted in the journalistic world and one in the business world. Depending on the context, significantly different methods and ideas guided the nascent work of creating newsworthiness for economic information.
From pedagogical content knowledge toward technological pedagogical content knowledge frameworks and their effectiveness in teaching mathematics: A mapping review
Authors: Habiyaremye Hashituky Telesphore , Ntivuguruzwa Celestin , Ntawiha Philothere
Published: August 2023

Background: A study to reveal existing pedagogical content knowledge or technological pedagogical content knowledge frameworks and their effectiveness in teaching mathematics is crucial to inform the reader, teacher, and researcher. This review study intended to explore the trends of the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) framework, how it has changed over time until the most recent version of technological and pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) was developed, and their effectiveness in teaching mathematics.

Methods: We initially downloaded 273 articles from the first 30 Google Scholar pages and analyzed 229 journal articles. We got 24 frameworks from 64 journal articles since Shulman’s first model in 1986. About 52 out of 229 were mathematics studies. Among these studies, we found that 18 studies have extensively investigated the use of identified frameworks.

Results: The frameworks were presented and descriptively discussed in chronological order. The empirical studies that compared the role of pedagogical content knowledge and technological pedagogical content knowledge models among classrooms with teachers who possess and do not possess such skills were demonstrated.

Conclusions: The gap in empirical studies was identified, and further studies about the intervention of PCK and TPACK models were suggested to gain more insight into the mathematics classroom.
Circadian clock control of tRNA synthetases in Neurospora crassa
Authors: Castillo Kathrina D. , Chapa Emily D. , Lamb Teresa M. , Gangopadhyay Madhusree , Bell-Pedersen Deborah
Published: August 2023

Background: In Neurospora crassa, the circadian clock controls rhythmic mRNA translation initiation through regulation of the eIF2α kinase CPC-3 (the homolog of yeast and mammalian GCN2). Active CPC-3 phosphorylates and inactivates eIF2α, leading to higher phosphorylated eIF2α (P-eIF2α) levels and reduced translation initiation during the subjective day. This daytime activation of CPC-3 is driven by its binding to uncharged tRNA, and uncharged tRNA levels peak during the day under control of the circadian clock. The daily rhythm in uncharged tRNA levels could arise from rhythmic amino acid levels or aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRSs) levels.

Methods: To determine if and how the clock potentially controls rhythms in aspartyl-tRNA synthetase (AspRS) and glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase (GlnRS), both observed to be rhythmic in circadian genomic datasets, transcriptional and translational fusions to luciferase were generated. These luciferase reporter fusions were examined in wild type (WT), clock mutant Δfrq, and clock-controlled transcription factor deletion strains.

Results: Translational and transcriptional fusions of AspRS and GlnRS to luciferase confirmed that their protein and RNA levels are clock-controlled with peak levels at night. Clock-controlled transcription factor NCU00275 was found to be necessary for rhythmic protein expression of AspRS and deletion of transcription factor ADV-1 decreased the amplitude of GlnRS rhythms.

Conclusions: These data support a model whereby coordinate clock control of select aaRSs drives rhythms in uncharged tRNAs, leading to rhythmic CPC-3 activation, and rhythms in translation of specific mRNAs.
Meditation as an effective BCI training protocol for controlling virtual wheeled robots
Authors: Duarte David , Lima Cabral , Lima Priscila Machado Vieira , Queiroz Rubens Lacerda , Turci Rubens
Published: August 2023

Background: Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems allow the use of electroencephalographic activities to control devices. As such, it can be an important tool for disabled people since using a BCI does not involves any muscular stimulation. Despite its great potential as an assistive technology, BCI systems are yet scarcely available outside scientific contexts. The main reason is that BCI is still not accurate enough for real world situations. In this paper, we investigated if mindfulness meditation can help BCI users to perform better, particularly on controlling virtual wheeled robots. Controlling virtual wheeled robots must be seen as an important BCI research issue, since disabled people can take the best advantages from assistive wheeled robots. 

Methods: Case-control study with 30 subjects, meditators and non-meditators, who controlled a virtual wheeled robot using a BCI system. 

Results: In straight-ahead moves, the robot was 30% faster when controlled by meditators. In stop-and-go moves, the meditators controlled the robot with an accuracy of 66% while the non-meditators’ accuracy was 27%. In rectangular shape moves, meditators also performed better than non-meditators, with an accuracy of 40% against 7% of non-meditators. 

Conclusion: The results show that meditators performed better than non-meditators. As such, we recommend combining mindfulness meditation with standard BCI training protocols for better control of virtual wheeled robots.
Energy gamification: design and development of a user interface tool to upgrade social experience and energy literacy
Authors: Cravinho João , Lucas Ricardo , Brito Miguel , Albuquerque Daniel P. , Mithoowani Uways , Mateus Nuno M.
Published: August 2023

Gamification consists of applying typical elements of game-playing environments to other areas of activity. In various fields such as medicine, education, or business, gamification has been explored as an efficient vehicle to foster real-life predetermined targets or improve a real-life action's effectiveness. Amidst the current energy transition, gamification has emerged as a promising strategy to make the energy transition exciting to end-users, bridging information gaps, increasing learning, and motivating behaviour change. This study presents the design and development of a gamified solution as part of the Smart2B H2020 project. The primary objective is to create an excellent user-engagement experience while encouraging and fostering energy literacy and behaviour change. Leveraging the increasing digitalization of the energy sector, the developed gamified module will feature a user interface (UI) tool that promotes healthy competition between users, primarily driven by changes in energy consumption behaviour. The monthly and overall leader boards will translate energy savings into an in-game virtual point-based system, reinforcing the intrinsic value of energy conservation. The gamified elements and mechanisms, such as missions, interactive tasks or challenges, instant feedback, achievements, and badges, will progressively guide users in understanding their energy consumption patterns and how they can be improved. Drawing from social engineering and educational perspectives, the pilot sites within the Smart2B project will maximize user interaction and engagement to motivate real behaviour change. By highlighting the design and development aspects of our gamified solution, we aim to provide more insights into the process that was followed to create an effective and impactful tool for promoting sustainable energy consumption practices among end-users.
The Role of Mentoring at the Present Stage of Development of Russian Education
Authors: Kolesov V.
Published: August 2023

The article deals with the actual problem of mentoring as an educational phenomenon. The characteristic of the concept of "mentoring" is given, the historical origins of its birth are described, starting from the primitive society. The goals of modern mentoring, its content and forms are revealed. Particular attention is paid to the requirements for the organization of mentoring. Using the example of a kindergarten teacher, the stages of a mentor's work are shown.
To the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of K.D. Ushinsky
Authors: Fedorova N.
Published: August 2023

The article is dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian teacher, the founder of scientific pedagogy, Konstantin Dmitrievich Ushinsky. The contribution of the scientist to the formation of the didactics of elementary school, to the creation of a methodology for teaching the native language is considered. The principles that the teacher substantiated as necessary conditions for the development of the Russian education system are characterized. Interesting facts from his life and work are given.
Tolerant Interaction in Preschool Education Institutions’ Inclusive Groups as a Psychological and Pedagogical Problem
Authors:   Khmelnytskyi Humanitarian and Pedagogical Academy, Novak Olena
Published: August 2023

The article examines the psychological and pedagogical aspects of the problem of tolerant interaction in preschool education institutions’ inclusive groups. The scientific works of researchers, which reveal the issues of organizing a favorable environment for education and development of children with special educational needs in preschool education institutions’ inclusive groups, as well as the formation of tolerance of future specialists who work in an inclusive environment have been analyzed. It has been highlighted the conceptual and terminological aspects of tolerant interaction. The essence of the concepts «tolerance», «formation of tolerance», «interaction» has been clarified. It has been established that the competence of educators is one of the most important conditions for tolerant interaction in preschool education institutions’ inclusive groups, which, in turn, contributes to the creation of adequate conditions for socialization and inclusion of children with special educational needs in society. It has been proved that the main components of tolerant interaction in preschool education institutions’ inclusive groups are: achieving mutual understanding and rational interaction of all group members; disclosure of positive qualities and attributes of group members through cooperation and dialogue; freedom of interlocutors, their equality and depth of personal contact through mutual understanding, empathy, etc.
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
Authors: Cook Neal
Published: August 2023

Neal Cook provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to neuroscience nurses, highlighting key points to keep you up to date; a full reference is provided for those who wish to read the research in more detail
Bottom-Up Convergence? Explaining Uneven Income Growth in the New South
Authors: James Ryan D. , Campbell Harrison S. , Graves William
Published: August 2023

abstract: The southeastern United States has experienced rapid economic and population growth relative to the stagnation and decline of established manufacturing regions. The Rust Belt-Sun Belt literature has relied on a range of factors to explain southern growth (e.g., low wages, regional amenities, technological advances, market proximity, and the Civil Rights Movement). More recent work has cast growth in terms of bottom-up convergence and providing a conceptual framework consistent with the region's experience as the recipient of northern capital seeking a low-cost region. Within the region, uneven development remains. While the neoclassical framework can explain regional capital inflows, questions remain regarding how local and spatial contexts influence the trajectories of individual southern economies. To address these issues, this paper utilizes a conditional convergence model to explain southeastern county-level growth from 1990 to 2018 to understand how the balance of neoclassical processes and localized factors have affected the region's growth. Results highlight a transition away from low-cost manufacturing toward an increased importance of new, knowledge economy sectors. While new economy sectors are identified as significant drivers, results also suggest future challenges for sustained growth due to a suburbanized growth pattern, weak spillover effects, and a lack of urbanization economies.
Silicon photonic broadband polarization-insensitive switch based on polarization-mode diversity conversion
Authors: Li Weijia , Xu Luhua , Wei Zixian , Zhang Jinsong , Mao Deng , D’Mello Yannick , Plant David V.
Published: August 2023

We present a 2 × 2 polarization-insensitive switch on a 220-nm silicon-on-insulator platform, employing a balanced Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure. This design incorporates polarization-insensitive adiabatic couplers, polarization rotators based on mode hybridization and evolution, and thermo-optic mode-insensitive phase shifters with wide waveguides. The switch exhibits broadband polarization-insensitive characteristics, with extinction ratios larger than 15 dB, insertion losses less than 2.3 dB, and polarization-dependent losses less than 1 dB for wavelengths ranging from 1500 nm to 1600 nm. The power consumption required for simultaneously switching the fundamental transverse electric (TE0) and transverse magnetic (TM0) polarized modes is 29.1 mW. These results highlight the potential of the switch as a building block for on-chip polarization-division-multiplexed optical interconnects.
Frequency noise of laser gyros
Authors: Mecozzi Antonio
Published: August 2023

Laser gyros are powerful tools to test the predictions of the general theory of relativity. The precision of a measurement of the rotation rate with a laser gyro is limited by the frequency noise of the beat between two counterpropagating modes of a ring laser. The frequency noise of a single mode of a laser is limited by quantum mechanical constraints because it is related to the maximum precision with which the phase of a coherent state can be measured. If two modes are uncorrelated, the variance of the fluctuations of the difference of the their frequencies is the sum of the variance of the frequency noise of the two modes. If two modes are correlated, this result does not hold any longer. In this paper, we show that there are mechanisms in a laser gyro that are capable to dynamically lock the two modes together without forcing the two modes to the same frequency. The lock of modes decouples the noise of the beat note from the frequency noise of the individual modes, and allows the realization of sub-shot noise laser gyros. These mechanism may explain the recent observation of sub-shot noise performance of the GINGERino laser gyro recently reported in the literature.
Role of oxygenation devices in alleviating the oxygen crisis in India
Authors: Batheja Deepshikha , Kurian Vinith , Buteau Sharon , Joy Neetha , Nair Ajay
Published: August 2023

There has been an unprecedented increase in global demand for medical oxygen equipment to solve the acute oxygen shortages caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study aims to assess the value of improved access and use of Oxygen Concentrators (OCs) and cylinders during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. This evaluation is relevant to strengthening health systems in many resource-constrained Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) settings. Using a Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling method, primary surveys were conducted in 450 health facilities across 21 states in India. The primary outcomes measured were self-reported utility of oxygenation devices in meeting the oxygen demand in the short-run and long-run utility of devices compared to the pre-oxygen-devices-distribution-period. We perform bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. Around 53–54% of surveyed facilities reported that the distributed oxygenation devices helped meet oxygen demand in the short run and are expected to increase their long-run capacity to admit non-COVID patients with oxygen needs. The timely availability of technicians was associated with meeting oxygen demand using the additional oxygenation devices at the facilities. Facilities that increased the number of staff members who were able to administer oxygen devices were at higher odds of reducing the administrative load on their staff to organize oxygen support in the long run. Hospital infrastructure was also associated with long-run outcomes. We find that oxygenation devices such as cylinders and OCs were useful in addressing the oxygen demand during the COVID-19-related oxygen emergency. Overall production of oxygen to meet the demands and investments in training biomedical engineers/technicians to administer oxygen could help save lives.
Application of group model building in implementation research: A systematic review of the public health and healthcare literature
Authors: Estrada-Magbanua Weanne Myrrh , Huang Terry T.-K. , Lounsbury David W. , Zito Priscila , Iftikhar Pulwasha , El-Bassel Nabila , Gilbert Louisa , Wu Elwin , Lee Bruce Y. , Mateu-Gelabert Pedro , S. Sabounchi Nasim
Published: August 2023

Background

Group model building is a process of engaging stakeholders in a participatory modeling process to elicit their perceptions of a problem and explore concepts regarding the origin, contributing factors, and potential solutions or interventions to a complex issue. Recently, it has emerged as a novel method for tackling complex, long-standing public health issues that traditional intervention models and frameworks cannot fully address. However, the extent to which group model building has resulted in the adoption of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies for public health remains largely unstudied. The goal of this systematic review was to examine the public health and healthcare applications of GMB in the literature and outline how it has been used to foster implementation and dissemination of evidence-based interventions.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases through August 2022 for studies related to public health or health care where GMB was cited as a main methodology. We did not eliminate studies based on language, location, or date of publication. Three reviewers independently extracted data on GMB session characteristics, model attributes, and dissemination formats and content.

Results

Seventy-two studies were included in the final review. Majority of GMB activities were in the fields of nutrition (n = 19, 26.4%), health care administration (n = 15, 20.8%), and environmental health (n = 12, 16.7%), and were conducted in the United States (n = 29, 40.3%) and Australia (n = 7, 9.7%). Twenty-three (31.9%) studies reported that GMB influenced implementation through policy change, intervention development, and community action plans; less than a third reported dissemination of the model outside journal publication. GMB was reported to have increased insight, facilitated consensus, and fostered communication among stakeholders.

Conclusions

GMB is associated with tangible benefits to participants, including increased community engagement and development of systems solutions. Transdisciplinary stakeholder involvement and more rigorous evaluation and dissemination of GMB activities are recommended.
Exploring the phenomenon of intrusive mental imagery after suicide bereavement: A qualitative interview study in a British sample
Authors: Quayle Katie , Jones Poppy , Di Simplicio Martina , Kamboj Sunjeev , Pitman Alexandra
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Each year an estimated 48 million people are bereaved by suicide internationally. Following traumatic events, experiencing intrusive mental imagery relating to the trauma is not uncommon. This phenomenological study aimed to explore the nature, experience and impact of intrusive mental imagery after suicide bereavement.

Methods

Semi-structured interview transcripts with 18 adults bereaved by the suicide of a close contact were analysed using thematic analysis to explore patterns and themes within the data, with particular consideration of the content of images, how people experience and relate to the imagery, and the impact that the imagery has on the bereaved.

Results

Thematic analysis identified common characteristics in the experience of intrusive mental imagery following suicide loss, summarised under two main themes capturing: 1) the descriptive characteristics and 2) the emotional experience of intrusive mental imagery following suicide loss. The majority of participants found the experience of intrusive imagery distressing, but most also described positive aspects, including help in making sense of the death and retaining memories of the deceased.

Conclusion

Findings inform our understanding of the distressing experience of intrusive imagery after suicide loss, also revealing perceived value in processing the death.
A highly antigenic fragment within the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum Gp900 glycoprotein (Domain 3) is absent in human restricted Cryptosporidium species
Authors: Dayao Denise Ann E. , Jaskiewicz Justyna J. , Sheoran Abhineet S. , Widmer Giovanni , Tzipori Saul
Published: August 2023

We identified a fragment (Domain 3—D3) of the immunodominant sporozoite surface glycoprotein of the zoonotic parasite Cryptosporidium gp900, which is absent C. hominis and C. parvum anthroponosum. The fragment is highly antigenic and is able to effectively differentiate between zoonotic C. parvum and species/genotypes that infect preferentially humans. D3 detection provides a serological tool to determine whether the source of human cryptosporidiosis is of animal or human origin. We demonstrate this in experimentally challenged piglets, mice, rats, and alpaca. We speculate that the absence of this fragment from the C. hominis and C. parvum anthroponosum gp900 protein may play a key role in their host restriction.
From chip to SNP: Rapid development and evaluation of a targeted capture genotyping-by-sequencing approach to support research and management of a plaguing rodent
Authors: Oh Kevin P. , Van de Weyer Nikki , Ruscoe Wendy A. , Henry Steve , Brown Peter R.
Published: August 2023

The management of invasive species has been greatly enhanced by population genetic analyses of multilocus single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) datasets that provide critical information regarding pest population structure, invasion pathways, and reproductive biology. For many applications there is a need for protocols that offer rapid, robust and efficient genotyping on the order of hundreds to thousands of SNPs, that can be tailored to specific study populations and that are scalable for long-term monitoring schemes. Despite its status as a model laboratory species, there are few existing resources for studying wild populations of house mice (Mus musculus spp.) that strike this balance between data density and laboratory efficiency. Here we evaluate the utility of a custom targeted capture genotyping-by-sequencing approach to support research on plaguing house mouse populations in Australia. This approach utilizes 3,651 hybridization capture probes targeting genome-wide SNPs identified from a sample of mice collected in grain-producing regions of southeastern Australia genotyped using a commercially available microarray platform. To assess performance of the custom panel, we genotyped wild caught mice (N = 320) from two adjoining farms and demonstrate the ability to correctly assign individuals to source populations with high confidence (mean >95%), as well as robust kinship inference within sites. We discuss these results in the context of proposed applications for future genetic monitoring of house mice in Australia.