bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of realistic acceptance and commitment therapy (RACT) on marital burnout and alexithymia in couples
Authors: Mardani Farzaneh , Uousefi Seyed Adel , Ghorbani Elaheh
Published: March 2024

Objective: The consequence of the lack of expressing emotions is the intensification of unpleasant thoughts and negative arousal in people, and this is known as one of the most important factors of marital conflicts. These self-inflicted negative thoughts ultimately strengthen the cycle of increasing dissatisfaction with marriage, the feeling of marital exhaustion and boredom; So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of RACT on marital burnout and alexithymia in couples. Method: The purpose of the current research was applied, and the way it was conducted was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with an experimental group and a control group and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population of the research included all the couples referring to private counseling centers in the 5th district of Tehran in 2021. 30 couples were selected using the available sampling method and randomly assigned to an experimental group (15 couples) and a control group (15 couples). On the experimental group, a group intervention based on RACT was conducted based on the package compiled by Afshari et al. (2022). The research tools included Pines Marital Depression Questionnaire (1996) and Toronto Alexithymia (TAS-20). SPSS-26 software and mixed variance analysis with three-stage repeated measures were used for statistical analysis of data. Results: Based on the findings, there was a significant difference between the scores of marital burnout and alexithymia of the experimental and control groups in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up stages. The results of the analysis of the findings indicate that the RACT had a significant effect on the marital burnout and alexithymia of the experimental group. The effectiveness RACT was stable in the follow-up phase according to the Bonferroni post-hoc test. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that RACT can be used in family counseling and couple therapy centers to reduce marital burnout and Alexithymia of couples.
INPATIENT VS OUTPATIENTS LABOR INDUCTION : A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Ramadhan Mu’arif , Putu Arianta Yohanes
Published: March 2024

Background: Labor induction can take a long period, anywhere from a few hours to several days, especially in nulliparous women. Worldwide, the use of mechanical or pharmaceutical treatments for outpatient cervical ripening is becoming more and more common.
Aims : This systematic review is to review the comparison of outpatient with inpatient labor induction.
Methods: By comparing itself to the standards set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020, this study was able to show that it met all of the requirements. So, the experts were able to make sure that the study was as up-to-date as it was possible to be. For this search approach, publications that came out between 2014 and 2024 were taken into account. Several different online reference sources, like Pubmed and SAGEPUB, were used to do this. It was decided not to take into account review pieces, works that had already been published, or works that were only half done.
Result: In the PubMded database, the results of our search brought up 83 articles, whereas the results of our search on SAGEPUB brought up 605 articles, our search on SCIENCE DIRECT brought up 470 articles. The results of the search conducted for the last year of 2014 yielded a total 17 articles for PubMed, 155 articles for SAGEPUB and 122 articles for SCIENCE DIRECT. In the end, we compiled a total of 8 papers, 4 of which came from PubMed, 2 of which came from SAGEPUB and 2 of which came from SCIENCE DIRECT. We included eight research that met the criteria.
Conclusion: In summary, in modern obstetrics, when labor is being induced in an increasing percentage of pregnancies, outpatient induction for low-risk women offers a safe, practical, and successful alternative to hospital induction. This is especially true in places with abundant resources. It should be given more widespread consideration.
Akibat Hukum Terhadap Tindakan Wanprestasi Pada Perjanjian Kredit Pemilikan Rumah Di Kota Makassar (Studi Kasus: Putusan PN Makassar Nomor 134/PDT.G/2019/PN Mks)
Authors: Ariadin
Published: March 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui untuk mengetahui akibat hukum terhadap tindakan wanprestasi pada perjanjian kredit pemilikan rumah pada Putusan PN Makassar Nomor 134/Pdt.G/2019/PN Mks serta untuk mengetahui Pertimbangan Hakim terhadap Putusan PN Makassar Nomor 134/Pdt.G/2019/PN Mks. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Pengadilan Negeri Makassar (PN Makassar). Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui prosedur inventarisasi dan identifikasi peraturan perundang-undangan, serta klasifikasi dan sistematisasi bahan hukum sesuai permasalahan penelitian melalui studi kepustakaan. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa akibat wanprestasi yang dilakukan debitor atau pihak yang  mempunyai kewajiban melaksanakan prestasi dalam kontrak, dapat menimbulkan kerugian bagi kreditor atau pihak yang mempunyai hak menerima prestasi. Akibat hukum  debitor atau pihak yang mempunyai kewajiban melaksanakan prestasi dalam kontrak diantaranya pihak debitor harus menerima pemutusan kontrak yang disertai dengan pembayaran ganti kerugian. Pertimbangan Hakim dalam perkara Nomor : Nomor 134/Pdt.G/2019/PN Mks bahwa tergugat telah mengikatkan diri dengan Turut Tergugat Idalam Perjanjian Fasilitas Kredit KPR Perumahan, namun dalam perjalanannya pihak tergugat tidak melaksanakan kewajibannya sehingga turut tergugat I melakukan Peralihak Hak untuk mencegah terjadinya kredit macet kepada Pihak Penggugat. Pada proses persidangan terbukti secara bersesuai apa yang didalilkan dalam persidangan antara Penggugat dengan Tergugat I sehingga Hakim memutuskan bahwa Penggugat adalah sebagai pemilik satu satunya yang sah atas sebidang tanah dan bangunan rumah tinggal.
TOPLU İŞÇİ ÇIKARMA TEORİSİ VE YARGITAY’IN GÜNCEL UYGULAMASI
Authors: Sezgin Sedat
Published: March 2024

Toplu işçi çıkarma, 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu m. 29 kapsamında tanımlanan, iş sözleşmesinin işverence feshine dair özel bir düzenlemedir. 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu m. 29 hükmüne göre toplu işçi çıkarma durumu ekonomik, teknolojik, yapısal ve benzeri işletme, işyeri veya işin gerekleri sonucunda gereklilik arz etmelidir. Toplu işçi çıkarma gerekçesi olarak işçinin yetersizliği veya davranışları gösterilemez. Toplu işçi çıkarmaya yönelik alınan işletmesel karar yerindelik denetimine tabi tutulamaz. İşletmesel kararın alınmasına bağlı iş sözleşmelerinin feshinde işçilerin kapsamını belirlerken işveren dürüstlük kuralına uymalıdır ve son çare ilkesi kapsamında yalnızca iş sözleşmesini feshetmek zorunda olduğu işçileri işten çıkarmalıdır. 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/2. hükmüne göre, toplu işçi çıkarılması hususundan bahsedilebilmesi için işçilerin bir ay içinde aynı tarihte veya farklı tarihlerde çıkarılması gereklidir. 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/5 hükmünde bahsedilen otuz günlük süre ile 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/1 hükmünde belirtilen otuz günlük süre aynı süreci ifade eder. Lakin 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/2 hükmünde belirtilen süre, 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/5 ve 4857 sayılı İş Kanunu’nun m. 29/1 hükmünde belirtilen süreden farklıdır. Önem arz eden bir diğer nokta ilgili işçilerin iş güvencesine tabi olup olmadığıdır. Şayet işçiler iş güvencesine tabi değilse maddi ayrıma aykırılığın doğrudan bir sonucu bulunmayacaktır. Zira iş güvencesine tabi olmayan işçiler bakımından işverenin geçerli bir fesih sebebine dayanması gerekmemektedir.
Mengenal Cara Belajar Anak (Usia 6-8 Tahun)
Authors: Manik Donal
Published: March 2024

Dikaitkan dengan kegiatan rohani, alangkah baiknya kalau para pembina anak di gereja menciptakan permainan-permainan yang membawa mereka belajar Firman Tuhan. Selain mereka senang karena bentuknya bermain, mereka juga sebenarnya sedang mempelajari prinsip yang diajarkan oleh Firman Allah. Dalam memimpin pujian atau ayat hafalan, guru juga bisa mengajar mereka dengan menciptakan gerakan-gerakan sederhana yang bisa menolong anak-anak untuk mengerti makna dari nyanyian atau ayat hafalan tersebut. 

Memang ini bukan hal yang mudah, karena kita sering berpikir bahwa suasana belajar Firman itu harus duduk diam, tidak bersuara. Tetapi kalau kita ingin optimal dalam membelajarkan mereka. Maka kita harus terbuka terhadap ide-ide baru dan menjawab kebutuhan anak-anak. Hanya saja pada praktiknya perubahan tersebut perlu senantiasa dikoordinasi dengan baik, sehingga tidak membuat orang lain bingung hanya karena kita ingin menciptakan model belajar yang baru.
El salario suficiente como derecho humano fundamental en Venezuela
Authors: Durán Chávez Carlos Eduardo
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this investigation was to carry out an analysis on the adequacy of the salary in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Organic Law of Labor, Workers and Workers. In addition to the legal instruments indicated, the legal basis was: Convention No. 26 on the Methods for the Establishment of Minimum Wages of the International Labor Organization, Recommendation No. 135 on the Establishment of Minimum Wages of the International Labor Organization, among others. The study was legal, documentary, analytical and descriptive. It is concluded that the right to a sufficient salary is regulated both in the National Constitution and in various international legal instruments in the field of human rights, which constitutes it as a fundamental human right. On the other hand, it was concluded that the basic basket constitutes an element of unpredictable observance when raising the minimum wage. Likewise, it is concluded that for the purposes of setting the minimum wage, workers 'and employers' organizations are not called, in breach of the provisions of Convention No. 26 of the International Labor Organization.
Contextos definidos para la influencia medio ambiental y desarrollo local sostenible en la Provincia de El Oro
Authors: López Fernández Raúl , Palmero Urquiza Diana Eliza , Medina Peña Rolando
Published: March 2024

Environmental studies and sustainable local development are currently a priority by state and private entities, where universities have a weight in this dedication. The objective of the work is to identify the environmental and sustainable local development contexts in the province of El Oro to transform their worldview and action. A qualitative methodology has been used in this study, where the theoretical methods used were the historical logical and synthetic analytical and from the empirical level the observation, survey and interview. The context where the research was conducted was in the Province of El Oro. The fundamental results are that public and private schools, shrimp farms, banana plantations, the Metropolitan University and the Machala canton were identified, where the common characteristic in them is what they can transform the environment in this region, both culturally and in transformation.
Proyecto integrador de saberes en la formación de profesionales en educación básica
Authors: Lalangui Pereira Julio Honorato , Valarezo Castro Jorge Washington , Paucar Córdova Rosman José , Durán Apolo Jorge Luis
Published: March 2024

The objective of this research is to determine the level of application and impact of the Knowledge Integration Project (PIS) in the training of professionals in basic education (E.B). For this purpose, part of bibliographic reviews in scientific articles, laws and experiences of students who experienced the learning strategy. The methodology responds to the quantitative - qualitative paradigm; the use of the methods was required: descriptive, explanatory, analytical and synthetic, a structured questionnaire was applied according to the Likert scale to 38 students of the E.B career of the Technical University of Machala. It was considered as selection discretion of the sample, having participated in the development of two PIS. In the same way the comparative procedure was used to carry out the theoretical triangulations and reach the respective conclusions. Among the main findings and in order to unveil the application and impact levels of peer in professional training, it was found to be an integrative and collaborative learning strategy, which reflects the importance of the PIS as a contribution to the formation of the teacher, for being an interdisciplinary process that can be presented with different degrees of transference, interrelation and integration of learning.
Does Using Core Quadrants Lead to More Teacher Self-Efficacy and Less Perceived Problem Behaviour?
Authors: Batstra Laura , De Vries Wietske , Thoutenhoofd Ernst
Published: March 2024

PURPOSE. The number of childhood psychiatric classifications and treatments have risen rapidly in Western countries over recent decades. Since child behaviour often arises as a problem in schools, it seems important to find ways to help teachers successfully engage with pupils whose behaviours they experience as challenging. The present study attempts to shift special education teachers’ focus from challenging pupil behaviour, or pupil mental disorder, to teachers’ self-efficacy and less negative perception of pupil behaviour.
METHODS. Ofman’s core quadrant model was used to engage teachers in reflecting on their own key competences, and relate them to possible pitfalls, challenges and aversions in their teaching. The professional development intervention entailed three subsequent team meetings, each lasting two and a half hours. Forty-seven teachers undertook the training, of which half (the control group) were initially put on a waiting list. Via quantitative questionnaires at three different time-points and qualitative post-intervention interviews with teachers involved, we analysed the influence of the intervention on teachers’ perceptions of problem behaviour and the grip they experienced on pupil behaviour (via a measure of self-efficacy). In the interviews, room was also made for reporting other outcomes of the training intervention.
RESULTS. Neither quantitative nor qualitative data analysis revealed an effect of the intervention on self-efficacy or perceived pupil behaviour. The interview data suggest that teachers ascribe pupil behaviour they cannot control to factors outside themselves, primarily child mental disorder.
CONCLUSION. Core quadrant training does not seem to alter how teachers engage with challenging pupil behaviour, nor does it help to reduce disorder thinking in special education. Our findings flag up the importance of better educating teachers about disorder thinking on the one hand, while on the other hand seeking ways to reduce the likelihood that teachers run out of pedagogical options, and instead further build up a sense of self-efficacy.
 
Points of Interest:

Childhood diagnostic classifications are on the rise in recent decades.
Teachers often suggest diagnostic investigations of pupils, because they believe this will explain difficult behaviour or academic underperformance.
A training aimed to shift the focus from disorder within a child to teacher’s own key competences, pitfalls, challenges and aversions, failed to change self-efficacy, behaviour perception and disorder thinking in teachers.
To reduce disorder thinking in schools, simply educating teachers about what disorders are not and cannot explain, might be more effective than training programs, like studied in the present research.
Mortality trends during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic at an urban district hospital in South Africa: A retrospective comparative analysis
Authors: Hirachund O , Pennefather C , Naidoo M
Published: March 2024

Background. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐COV‐2) is the virus responsible for the COVID‐19 (C19) pandemic. South Africa (SA) experienced multiple periods of increased transmission. Tertiary, regional and central hospitals were overwhelmed, resulting in low acceptance rates.
Objectives. To compare mortality trends of patients who died in hospital from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during the first three waves of infection as defined by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases of South Africa.
Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study at a district level hospital of 311 adults who died within the first three waves of COVID‐19. The study analysed case and crude fatality rates, baseline characteristics, symptomatology, clinical presentation and management of patients.
Results. Waves 1, 2 and 3 yielded case fatality rates of 14.5%, 27.6% and 6.3%, respectively, and crude fatality rates of 16.7%, 33.0% and 12.2%, respectively. Black Africans were less likely to die during the third wave (odds ratio (OR) 0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31 ‐ 0.94). Patients in the second wave had clinical frailty scores of <5 (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.56 ‐ 4.03). Obesity was most prevalent in the second wave (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.01 ‐ 3.46), and dyslipidaemia (OR 3.03; 95% CI 1.59 ‐ 5.77) and ischaemic heart disease (OR 3.77; 95% CI .71 ‐ 8.33) were most prevalent during the third wave. Severe ground glass appearance was most common during the second wave (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.49 ‐ 3.77). Renal impairment was most prevalent during the first wave (OR 3.28; 95% CI 1.59 ‐ 6.77), and thrombo‐ embolic phenomena were less common during wave three (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02 ‐ 0.91).
Conclusion. The Beta variant was the most virulent, with the highest case and crude fatality rates in wave 2.
The development of a nurse-led preoperative anaesthesia screening tool by Delphi consensus
Authors: Nejthardt M B , Alexandris P , Bechan S , Bijli M F A , Chetty S , Dippenaar J M , Gibbs M , Johnson M , Kluyts H , Llewellyn R , Motiang M , Mogane P , Motshabi P , Mrara B , Roodt F , Singh U , Spijkerman S , Turton E , Van der Westhuizen J , Biccard B
Published: March 2024

Background. Low- and middle-income countries have a critical shortage of specialist anaesthetists. Most patients arriving for surgery are of low perioperative risk. Without immediate access to preoperative specialist care, an appropriate interim strategy may be to ensure that only high-risk patients are seen preoperatively by a specialist. Matching human resources to the burden of disease with a nurse-administered pre-operative screening tool to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from specialist review prior to the day of surgery may be an effective strategy.
Objective. To develop a nurse-administered preoperative anaesthesia screening tool to identify patients who would most likely benefit from a specialist review before the day of surgery, and those patients who could safely be seen by the anaesthetist on the day of surgery. This would ensure adequate time for optimisation of high-risk patients preoperatively and limit avoidable day-of-surgery cancellations.
Methods. A systematic review was conducted to identify preoperative screening questions for use in a three-round Delphi consensus process. A panel of 16 experienced full-time clinical anaesthetists representing all university-affiliated anaesthesia departments in South Africa participated to define a nurses’ screening tool for preoperative assessment.
Results. Ninety-eight studies were identified, which generated 79 questions. An additional 14 items identified by the facilitators were added to create a list of 93 questions for the first round. The final screening tool consisted of 81 questions, of which 37 were deemed critical to identify patients who should be seen by a specialist prior to the day of surgery.
Conclusion. A structured nurse-administered preoperative screening tool is proposed to identify high-risk patients who are likely to benefit from a timely preoperative specialist anaesthetist review to avoid cancellation on the day of surgery.
The role of new hepatitis B vaccines in South Africa
Authors: Van Zyl G U , Maponga T , Rabie H , Taljaard J
Published: March 2024

Vaccination is key to eliminating hepatitis B virus infection in South Africa (SA). Despite introducing immunisation in 1995, as part of the expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), hepatitis B virus infection remains endemic, and EPI vaccine coverage is incomplete. In addition to infants, non-immune adults at risk of infection through their occupation or with behavioural risk factors should receive vaccination. SA has many individuals with diabetes mellitus (a prevalence of almost 13%), obesity, HIV (8.45 million) or older age (5 million >60 years old), associated with a poorer vaccine response. Recently two new hepatitis B vaccines have been licensed: HEPLISAV-B includes an adjuvant that improves immunogenicity and has shown improved vaccine response in individuals with HIV, old age or diabetes mellitus. PreHevbrio, which includes three hepatitis B surface protein domains, instead of one, may also be more immunogenic, although clinical study data are still limited. These two novel vaccines have not yet been investigated in children and licensed in SA. Should HEPLISAV-B become available in SA, it may be particularly valuable to target high-risk groups in the country, such as people living with HIV, who show a poor response to the currently licensed vaccine.
Exploiting Eye Colors for Better Iris Segmentation in Visible Wavelength Environments
Authors: Sahmoud Shaaban
Published: March 2024

Iris segmentation is a crucial step in iris recognition systems. Iris segmentation in visible wavelength and unconstrained environments is more challenging than ‎segmenting iris images in ideal environments. This paper proposes a new iris segmentation method that exploits the color of human eyes to segment the iris region more accurately. While most of the current iris segmentation methods ignore the color of the iris or deal with ‎grayscale eye images directly, the proposed method takes benefits from iris color to simplify the iris segmentation step. In the first step, we estimate the expected iris center using Haar-like features. The iris color is detected and accordingly, a color-convenient segmentation algorithm is applied to find the iris region. Dealing separately with each iris color set significantly decreases the false segmentation errors and enhances the performance of the iris recognition system. The results of testing the proposed algorithm on the UBIRIS database demonstrate the robustness of our algorithm against different noise factors and non-ideal conditions.
Nuevos datos sobre la distribución y abundancia del ratón leonado Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834) en Catalunya
Authors: Torre Ignasi , Ribas Alexis , Flaquer Carles , Arrizabalaga Antoni
Published: March 2024

The yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834) is a central European forest rodent which, in the Iberian peninsula, is predominantly restricted to the northern area. We collected information on the presence of yellow-necked mouse in 37 1x1-km UTM grids in the province of Barcelona. Our data add 6 new 10x10-km UTM grids to the locations appearing in the Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos Terrestres de España. Some of the new locations represent the southern limit of its distribution in the Iberian Peninsula. The sampling methods used to collect data on their presence included analysing genet diet, live trapping, and checking nest-boxes. Analysis of genet diet provided data on the relative abundance of yellow-necked mouse which, after the field mouse, forms the genet’s main diet. It represents 12.6% (mean frequency of occurrence) of the small mammals consumed based on the analysis of different latrines. Its known altitudinal distribution extends from 300 to 1,550 m.a.s.l., ranging from humid Mediterranean environments (holm-oak forests) to boreo-subalpine ones (fir woods, dwarf juniper scrub), and it is able to penetrate into the Mediterranean zone through riverbed forests (e.g., alder and ash groves).
Supervivencia, dispersión y selección de recursos de corzos Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) reintroducidos en un hábitat mediterráneo
Authors: López-Martín Josép M. , Martínez-Martínez Diego , Such Àngel
Published: March 2024

During the years 2002-2004, 38 roe deer (23 females and 15 males) were released in the National Hunting Reserve (NHR) of Ports (southern Catalonia, Spain) to analyze their viability as a first step before beginning a reintroduction project in this area. A total of 39 individuals were captured in France (Chizé State Forest) and 9 in Alt Pallars NHR (Lleida, Pyrenees, Spain). Thirty individuals fitted with radio transmitters were released to monitor their movements. Roe deer disappeared in these mountains at the end of 19th century, as occurred in other areas in the Mediterranean coast, due to the decrease in forest area and the absence of hunting management. In Catalonia, since the beginning of the 1990s, several roe deer reintroduction projects have been underway in the coastal mountains. In the present study, dispersal patterns, survival probability, and mortality rate were estimated from 589 radiolocations, and the viability of reintroduction evaluated. Resource selection was estimated by logistic regression, the results indicating that roe deer occurrence would be successful in Ports.
Efectos de la gestión fortestal sobre los Quirópteros en hayedos de Cataluña
Authors: Camprodon Jordi , Guixé David , Flaquer Carles
Published: March 2024

Tree cavities appear to be limiting ecological factors for forest bats in Catalonia. However, other ecological factors, such as food availability, are probably influenced by forest structure and this may also affect the reported differences in bat densities in mature and managed woodlands. Bat activity was determined in different types of beech forest using bat detectors from June to July in both 2006 and 2007. A total of 237 bat boxes were inspected twice a year from 2006 to 2008. We conducted 675 point counts (10’) in total and 24 in each beech forest; 12 inside the forest and 12 more at the borders of the same forest. The analysis showed a decrease in bat activity levels that was associated with forest structure: activity was high inside mature forest and low in coppiced forest. In addition, stronger activity patterns were observed among forest specialists (Nyctalus sp., Plecotus auritus or Barbastella barbastellus) in mature forest. The abundance and quality of tree cavities and better internal structure of mature forest may explain the increased activity among specialist forest bats in the wood canopy. Increased occupation in refuge boxes in coppiced forests reinforces the hypothesis of the preference for mature forests and indicates the difficulty of finding natural refuges in mature forests with a low density of tree cavities. We recommend increasing the density of large trees with trunk cavities and promoting plant heterogeneity, as well as increasing mature beech forest patches.
El corzo en la región más meridional de su área de distribución: las zonas más favorabñes para su caza
Authors: Farfán Miguel Ángel , Duarte Jesús , Vargas J. Mario , Real Raimundo
Published: March 2024

Roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a species largely distributed in Spain. In the North the species is very common and abundant, and their populations are increasing. On the contrary, in the South of Iberian Peninsula, the southernmost limit of the distribution range of the species, populations are smaller and show a larger isolation. The conservation of this game species depends, among other aspects, on the management model used for its exploitation. In this work we have done a predictive model to delimit the most favourable areas to hunt roe deer in Andalusia according to topography, climate, actual vegetation, and land use using empirical modelling techniques based on Generalized Lineal Models (GLM) and the information of the Annual Hunting Reports. We used to model the 771 municipalities of Andalusia as unit of work, although the resultant model was downscaled to show the favourability values in the 1x1 km squares of Andalusia. The most favourable areas to hunt roe deer in the southernmost region of its distribution area are zones with presence of pasture, located at low altitude with abundant rainfall.
Análisis de encuestas como herramienta de gestión sostenible de especies cinegéticas en agrosistemas del este de la provincia de Alicante (Marina Baja): estudio del caso del jabalí Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758
Authors: Arques José , Belda Antonio , Martínez José Emilio , Peiró Victoriano , Jiménez Daniel , Seva Eduardo
Published: March 2024

This study was conducted in a traditional agrosystem in the north-east of Alicante Province (SE Spain). The study area is approximately 59,000 ha. The area is highly varied, with mountains in the interior region, which has traditionally been dedicated to dry groves, and plains in the littoral zone which are dedicated to irrigated groves and tourism. It is characterized by a semiarid Mediterranean climate. The study was based on information obtained by oral interviews with hunting managers, and which provided data on wild boar abundance and population growth between 1980 and the present. A GIS database was constructed made up of 15 game reserves in the Marina Baja. The database included different variables: land use at the reserve level, abundances and population growth. The results show that 2 reserves have very high density (15-25 ind/ha), 2 preserves have medium abundances (10-15 ind/ha), 5 preserves have low abundances (5-0 ind/ha) and 6 preserves have very low abundances (0-5 ind/ha). Peak values are found in the interior and mountain reserves, where there is a mixture of dry groves, abandoned groves and natural areas. On the other hand, minimum values are found in the reserves which are near to the coast, where there are few suitable habitats and high concentrations of people. Finally, the wild boar populations have increased since 1980 in all the reserves studied.
Revealing intact neuronal circuitry in centimeter-sized formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain
Authors: Lin Ya-Hui , Wang Li-Wen , Chen Yen-Hui , Chan Yi-Chieh , Hu Shang-Hsiu , Wu Sheng-Yan , Chiang Chi-Shiun , Huang Guan-Jie , Yang Shang-Da , Chu Shi-Wei , Wang Kuo-Chuan , Lin Chin-Hsien , Huang Pei-Hsin , Cheng Hwai-Jong , Chen Bi-Chang , Chu Li-An
Published: March 2024

Tissue clearing and labeling techniques have revolutionized brain-wide imaging and analysis, yet their application to clinical formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks remains challenging. We introduce MOCAT, a novel method for efficiently clearing and labeling centimeter-thick FFPE specimens using elevated temperature and concentrated detergents. MOCAT with multi-round immunolabeling reveals neuron circuitry regulating multiple neurotransmitter systems in a whole FFPE mouse brain, and is able to be used as the evaluation of disease treatment efficiency. MOCAT also supports expansion microscopy and can be performed on a non-sectioned 15-year-old FFPE specimen. Thus, MOCAT represents a feasible approach for researching archived FFPE specimens for future neuroscientific and 3D neuropathological analyses.
How larvae feel the world around them
Authors: Berni Jimena
Published: March 2024

A complete map of the external sense organs shows how fruit fly larvae detect different aspects of their environment.
Role of Helicobacter pylori Immunohistochemistry in the Histopathological Assessment of Inflamed Endoscopic Gastric Biopsies
Authors: Hall Richard , Bruce-Brand Cassandra , Mudini Washington , Aldera Alessandro Pietro
Published: March 2024

Objectives: The identification of Helicobacter pylori is one of the main tasks of diagnostic histopathologists when evaluating endoscopic gastric biopsies. The sensitivity and specificity of different stains that facilitate this identification vary. Despite the existing guidelines, many histopathology laboratories perform routine histochemical staining of all gastric biopsies to improve turnaround times. This study assessed the utility of an H. pylori immunohistochemical (IHC) stain compared with a routinely used histochemical stain, cresyl violet (CV), in the South African setting.Methods: Cases were identified retrospectively, and original histopathology reports were used to establish the “ground truth” diagnoses. Three pathologists independently evaluated the CV and IHC stains; each pathologist was timed in a standardized manner. The sensitivity, specificity, interobserver variability, and time taken to identify H. pylori with each stain were compared.Results: The overall sensitivity and specificity for IHC staining (85.2% and 97.7%, respectively) were higher than those for CV staining (64.5% and 90.6%, respectively). Detection of H. pylori took an average of 16 and 49 seconds using the IHC and CV stains, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori in our laboratory was 23.7%, which is lower than the reported national prevalence in South Africa.Conclusions: IHC stain-based detection of H. pylori in inflamed gastric biopsies demonstrated superior sensitivity and specificity than CV staining. This was particularly true for cases involving patients with low bacterial loads. The interpretation of H. pylori IHC staining is much faster than that associated with CV staining, which is important in centers with high caseloads and shortages of pathologists.
Altering reality – sensory tactics to manage wildlife and conserve threatened species
Authors: Price Catherine J. , Bytheway Jenna P. , Finnerty Patrick B. , Grant Laura S. , Masani Shani , Orlando Cristian Gabriel , Parker Finn C. G. , Possell Malcolm , McArthur Clare , Banks Peter B.
Published: March 2024

Animals interact with their worlds using sensory information (sounds, smells, sights) that is perceived differently by each species. This sensory information and how it is interpreted underpins most behaviours, but especially foraging decisions. Creating sensory misinformation, that is uninformative or unrewarding cues, is a new approach with applications for managing wildlife and conserving threatened species across a range of global contexts. Here we discuss recent research that demonstrates the power of strategically deploying olfactory misinformation to reduce predation on birds by predators, consumption of vulnerable seedlings by herbivores, and seeds by rodents as well as how multimodal misinformation may work. Single and multimodal sensory tactics can alter foraging decisions by both herbivores and predators, with profound consequences for the survival of prey and plants. There remains much to understand regarding sensory perception and learning but results to date suggest there are enormous opportunities to harness innovative sensory tactics in the future to improve many conservation and wildlife management scenarios.
The Influence of E-banking on the Financial Performance of Kenyan Commercial Banks
Authors: Mwakera Justus Mwandoe , Riwo-Abudho Marcella , Abudho Silas Onyango
Published: March 2024

Aims: The mobile and internet revolution has influenced creation and delivery of financial services leading to more innovative ways of linking customers and partners. Electronic Banking (e-banking) has opened up a new channel of banking resulting in new capabilities for banks as intermediaries. The research questions that the study sought to answer include, the role of mobile banking on the financial performance in Kenyan commercial banks, the effect of Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on the financial performance of Kenyan commercial banks.

Study Design: The research adopted descriptive design with quantitative data approaches.

Place and Duration of Study: The target population was made up of 24 Kenyan Commercial Banks in the North Coast region of Kenya with a total of 240 employees. These banks are top tier lead brands listed in the stock exchange in the banking sector in Kenya between December 2022 and July 2023.

Methodology: Strata of top management (section heads), middle managers (branch managers and super agents) and operational employees (lower cadre employees & credit officers) provided 72 respondents. Both secondary and primary data sources were used with the self-administered questionnaires containing both open and closed ended questions. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression on a model of Y = 1.518+ 0.438 X1 + 0.136 X2 + ε.

Results: The correlation of the independent variables and the dependent variable was high and positive at 0.697 and 0.573 for mobile banking and Electronic Funds Transfer on financial performance respectively. The value of the adjusted R squared was found to be 0.654. The value of F-statistic was found to be 44.919 and it p-value 0.000. The regression coefficient of mobile banking was found to be 0.438 with a t-statistic value of 6.126.

The regression coefficient of EFT was found to be 0.136 with a t-statistic value of 6.182.

Conclusion: There is a strong relationship between mobile banking, EFT and financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. M-banking has significantly reduced operational costs while EFT has increased the number of daily transactions. The study established that the popularity of m-banking has is due to the intensity of technology penetration of mobile phones to bank customers which has resulted in the number of customers registering for m-banking services to increase in the last five years. Commercial banks have also experienced increased ROA and growth in market share with adoption of e-banking.
Rubber (Natural)
Authors: Rogers Thomas H.
Published: September 2006

Uses of Natural Rubber

Processing Raw Materials

Guayule
The Drug Discovery Process
Authors: Hugo Kubinyi
Published: September 2006

Drug discovery is an enormously difficult, complex, time‐consuming and expensive scientific and commercial process that relies on a marriage of fundamental science and cutting‐edge technology with painstaking experimentation and data management.
Clinical Trials, Overview
Authors: Meinert Curtis L.
Published: September 2006

A clinical trial, in its simplest form, involves the application of treatment to a person or group of persons and observation during or following application of the treatment to measure its effect. That measure (outcome measure) may be death, occurrence or recurrence of some morbid condition, or a difference indicative of change in the condition.
Effects of Structural Variation on the Photocatalytic Performance of Hydrothermally Synthesized BiVO4
Authors: Yu J. , Kudo A.
Published: September 2006

Highly crystalline monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 powders are synthesized from aqueous Bi(NO3)3 and NH4VO3 solutions over a wide range of pH by a hydrothermal process. BiVO4 powders with various morphologies, surface textures, and grain shapes are selectively synthesized by adjusting the pH. The dependence of the Raman peak position and intensity on the synthesis conditions indicates that the symmetry distortions in the local structure of the synthesized BiVO4 are affected by the preparation conditions. These variations in the local structure result in the modification of the electronic structure of BiVO4, which results in a blue‐shift in the UV‐vis absorption spectrum of hydrothermally synthesized BiVO4 in comparison with a well‐crystallized sample prepared by homogeneous coprecipitation. The photocatalytic activities for O2 evolution from an aqueous AgNO3 solution under visible‐light irradiation are strongly dependent on the pH used in the synthesis. The differences in the photocatalytic activities between BiVO4 samples prepared under various conditions is attributed to the degree of structural distortion, leading to differences in the mobility of photogenerated holes formed in the valence band, which consists of Bi 6s and O 2p orbitals.
Shape Change and Color Gamut in Gold Nanorods, Dumbbells, and Dog Bones
Authors: Xu X. , Cortie M. B.
Published: September 2006

It is shown here that deviations from a prolate ellipsoidal shape have a significant effect on the optical properties of gold nanorods. Transitions from rods to ‘dumbbell'‐ or ‘phi'‐shaped particles lead to a shift in the longitudinal plasmon peak in the blue and red directions, respectively. Development of ‘dog‐bone' shapes leads to a red‐shift and to the development of a third peak. A broad and flexible color gamut can be obtained.
Fabrication of Organized Porphyrin‐Nanotube‐Attached Heat‐Sensitive Polyelectrolyte Capsules
Authors: Sadasivan S. , Köhler K. , Sukhorukov G. B.
Published: September 2006

A facile method of connecting fluorescent meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphine tetranion nanotubes to polyelectrolyte capsules is developed. Heat‐sensitive robust polyelectrolyte capsules consisting of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and poly(styrene sulfonate) multilayers have been fabricated using the conventional layer‐by‐layer technique. Supramolecular aggregation of porphyrin monomers to nanotubes is induced in the microenvironment of the capsules by sequential addition of salt and acid. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy images reveal satellite‐like structures consisting of a central capsule core with porphyrin nanotubes emerging radially from the capsule walls. The growth and the distribution of the porphyrin units have been monitored by UV‐vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Changing the temperature alters the dimensions and the arrangement of the nanotubes on the capsule walls. Such an attachment of porphyrin tubes onto robust functional capsules should help in developing an artificial light‐harvesting system.
The transition from water continuous to oil continuous flow pattern
Authors: Chakrabarti D. P. , Das G. , Das P. K.
Published: September 2006

The present study attempts to develop an objective flow pattern indicator to identify phase inversion during liquid‐liquid two‐phase flow through a horizontal pipe. A novel optical probe has been used for this purpose. The probability density function (PDF) analysis and the wavelet multiresolution technique have been adopted to detect the shift of phase continuity. Further attempts have been made to understand the interfacial configurations when oil is the predominant phase in the flow passage. Since little can be revealed through visualization or photography related techniques under such conditions, the information obtained from the probe signals at low phase flow rates has been exploited for this purpose. In addition, a sampling technique has been devised to verify the distribution as obtained from the probe signals. The ambivalent range between the oil‐dispersed and the water‐dispersed regime has been observed to be in close agreement to the empirical and analytical equations available in literature. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Sample Size Reestimation by Bayesian Prediction
Authors: Wang Ming‐Dauh
Published: September 2006

Due to a technical error this article was published with two DOIs. When citing or referring to this article please use the following DOI: 10.1002/bimj.200310273
A Mixed Model‐Based Variance Estimator for Marginal Model Analyses of Cluster Randomized Trials
Authors: Braun Thomas M.
Published: September 2006

Generalized estimating equations (GEE) are used in the analysis of cluster randomized trials (CRTs) because: 1) the resulting intervention effect estimate has the desired marginal or population‐averaged interpretation, and 2) most statistical packages contain programs for GEE. However, GEE tends to underestimate the standard error of the intervention effect estimate in CRTs. In contrast, penalized quasi‐likelihood (PQL) estimates the standard error of the intervention effect in CRTs much better than GEE but is used less frequently because: 1) it generates an intervention effect estimate with a conditional, or cluster‐specific, interpretation, and 2) PQL is not a part of most statistical packages. We propose taking the variance estimator from PQL and re‐expressing it as a sandwich‐type estimator that could be easily incorporated into existing GEE packages, thereby making GEE useful for the analysis of CRTs. Using numerical examples and data from an actual CRT, we compare the performance of this variance estimator to others proposed in the literature, and we find that our variance estimator performs as well as or better than its competitors. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Stepwise Gatekeeping Procedures in Clinical Trial Applications
Authors: Dmitrienko Alex , Tamhane Ajit C. , Wang Xin , Chen Xun
Published: September 2006

This paper discusses multiple testing problems in which families of null hypotheses are tested in a sequential manner and each family serves as a gatekeeper for the subsequent families. Gatekeeping testing strategies of this type arise frequently in clinical trials with multiple objectives, e.g., multiple endpoints and/or multiple dose‐control comparisons. It is demonstrated in this paper that the parallel gatekeeping procedure of Dmitrienko, Offen and Westfall (2003) admits a simple stepwise representation (n null hypotheses can be tested in n steps rather than 2n steps required in the closed procedure). The stepwise representation considerably simplifies the implementation of gatekeeping procedures in practice and provides an important insight into the nature of gatekeeping inferences. The derived stepwise gatekeeping procedure is illustrated using clinical trial examples. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Confidence Intervals of Effect Size for Paired Studies
Authors: Wu Jianrong , Jiang Guoyong
Published: September 2006

To construct a confidence interval of effect size in paired studies, we propose four approximate methods – Wald method, variance‐stabilizing transformation method, and signed and modified signed log‐likelihood ratio methods. We compare these methods using simulation to determine those that have good performance in terms of coverage probability. In particular, simulations show that the modified signed log‐likelihood ratio method produces a confidence interval with a nearly exact coverage probability and highly accurate and symmetric error probabilities even for very small samples. We apply the methods to data from an iron deficiency anemia study. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Reaction of Hydrogen Atoms with Methionine Residues: A Model of Reductive Radical Stress Causing Tandem Protein–Lipid Damage
Authors: Ferreri Carla , Manco Immacolata , Faraone‐Mennella M. Rosaria , Torreggiani Armida , Tamba Maurizio , Manara Sonia , Chatgilialoglu Chryssostomos
Published: September 2006

The occurrence of tandem damage, due to reductive radical stress involving proteins and lipids, is shown by using a biomimetic model. It is made of unsaturated lipid vesicle suspensions in phosphate buffer in the presence of methionine, either as a single amino acid or as part of a protein such as RNase A, which contains four methionine residues. The radical process starts with the formation of H. atoms by reaction of solvated electrons with dihydrogen phosphate anions, which selectively attack the thioether function of methionine. The modification of methionine to α‐aminobutyric acid is accompanied by the formation of thiyl radicals, which in turn cause the isomerization of the cis fatty acid residues to the trans isomers. The relationship between methionine modification and lipid damage and some details of the reductive radical stress obtained by proteomic analysis of irradiated RNase A are presented.