bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who Provides Resilience to the Community Resilience Providers?
Authors: Livnat Inbar , Almog-Bar Michal
Published: July 2023

The article focuses on employees of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) as an essential component of community resilience. Forty women, professionals in the helping professions, were interviewed about their work experiences as employees in social service NPOs. The interviews were conducted from 2019 to 2020, mostly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand those employees’ perceptions of work conditions, contracting-out of social services, professional community and relationships with co-workers, work–life balance, job satisfaction, and their future plans. The findings present loneliness at work and lacking of a sense of community and a strong sense of mission while facing a challenging environment and work conditions in NPOs. In the discussion, we offer a complementary understanding of solidarity and resilience in NPOs—and we elaborate on the lack of professional “communitiness” and its possible harmful effect on the resilience of wider communities in times of crisis—when resilience is mostly needed. The paper presents NPOs employees as critical actors in producing resilience, hence there exists a need to examine their work environment, job perceptions, and the latter’s contribution to their own resilience.
Women’s Rights in Nigeria’s Indigenous Systems: An Analysis of Non-Discrimination and Equality under International Human Rights Law
Authors: Abimbola Foluke Oluyemisi , Ehiane Stanley Osezua , Tandlich Roman
Published: July 2023

The Nigerian legal system is diverse in that it recognizes several established legal systems that regulate how Nigerians conduct themselves. These legal frameworks include the civil law that was passed down from the British during and after colonization, pre-colonial customary laws and cultural practices, and religious laws (Christian and Islamic laws). Different kinds of norms and laws have subjected Nigerian women to violations of their rights depending on the woman’s cultural or religious affiliation. Such cultural and/or religious practices are usually in opposition to civil law and the Nigerian constitution, which is a custodian of these rights. Moreover, despite the supremacy of the constitution and expected compliance with international human rights treaties that Nigeria has ratified, the fact is that today there are impediments to the effective protection of women’s rights in Nigeria. For instance, although the Nigerian constitution outlaw’s discrimination on the grounds of gender, customary and religious laws continue to restrict the effective implementation of women’s rights, making it extremely difficult to harmonize domestic legislation with international human rights conventions, and also remove discriminatory measures. This article, thus, examines the issues of gender inequality as the basis for agitation for women’s empowerment and women’s rights while also proposing a re-alignment of domestic legislation in compliance with international human rights conventions and treaties, in order to combat cultural and religious norms that flout human rights considerations for Nigerian women. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to highlight the challenges that may arise when these legal systems clash, and how that affects the protection of women’s rights, particularly in view of international human rights treaties which Nigeria has signed and ratified. The article will therefore propose that women’s rights should be protected by seeking to eradicate cultural and religious practices that are discriminatory. This can be achieved by adopting laws which can be interpreted by domestic courts in line with constitutional requirements protecting the rights of women. It is noteworthy that the Nigerian judiciary has declared certain customs and traditions contrary to natural justice, equity and good conscience. Some of the case laws and judicial pronouncements will also be examined in this paper to enable implementation for the protection of women’s rights. The methodology adopted is desk-top legal research where judgments of courts and legislative enactments will form the basis of the findings of this paper.
A Scoping Review of Educational Interventions to Increase Prosociality against Gender-Based Violence in University Bystanders
Authors: Villalonga-Aragón Maria , Martí-Vilar Manuel , Merino-Soto César , Tantalean-Terrones Lizley
Published: July 2023

Gender-based violence represents a problem of public interest with a high prevalence on university campuses, which has intensified the preventive strategy for potential victims. However, the prosocial action of the viewer provides a promising alternative to mitigate its incidence. This study analyzes preventive interventions based on gender-based violence towards university viewers as a basis for future proven and sensitive implementation processes of intercultural adaptation. The Scoping review process was implemented based on the Arksey and O’Malley methodology (aligned with the Cochrane manual), with subsequent reporting of results according to the PRISMA guide. In total, 15 articles finally met the selection criteria in the databases: WOS, Scopus, ERIC, PsycINFO, Embase, and PubMed, with specific descriptors. Despite the heterogeneity in the types of intervention and the study variables, the intervention and the results are described, and it is highlighted that they were effective for most of the proposed objectives, such as the decrease in the perpetration of sexual violence, the increase in prosocial behavior, and the recognition of forms of violence. The great value of these preventive interventions is concluded, and the diversity of these strategies implemented in parallel and continuously would have a lasting impact in higher education contexts.
Electric Vehicle Solar Charging Station Siting Study Based on GIS and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making: A Case Study of China
Authors: Zhao Hui , Gao Jing , Cheng Xian
Published: July 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are one of the most practical solutions to the energy issue and environmental pollution. In recent years, EVs have developed rapidly, but are still limited by charging problems. The emergence of photovoltaic charging stations can solve the environmental pollution and charging problems. The location of charging stations is critical in the life cycle of electric vehicles. In this paper, a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method based on Geographic Information Technology (GIS) for optimal site selection is proposed. First, based on literature reading and expert interviews, a site selection index system was identified, including four aspects with a total of ten sub-criteria. Secondly, a spatial database of relevant evaluation criteria was established using GIS, and preliminary analysis was conducted. Then, the fuzzy DEMATEL (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory method) is applied for assigning the criteria weights. Then, potential sites are ranked using the fuzzy MULTIMOORA (Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis) method. Then, the model was validated by siting the electric vehicle PV charging stations in Qingdao, and eight stations were identified in the preliminary selection stage, and the most suitable locations were finally selected through the MCDM stage. Finally, the reliability and validity of the model were further verified by comparative analysis and dual sensitivity analysis.
Exploring the Role of ICTs and Communication Flows in the Forest Sector
Authors: Gavilanes Montoya Alex Vinicio , Castillo Vizuete Danny Daniel , Marcu Marina Viorela
Published: July 2023

The forestry sector has used technology to improve productivity and increase service quality, reducing labor in many processes. In this sense, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are having broad impacts on the forestry sector, from forestry to the marketing of forest products and the recreational use of forests. There is a wide range of technologies that can be implemented in forestry depending on the needs of each user. The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review in order to analyze the opportunities for improving ICT and communication flows in the forestry sector and to evaluate their applicability. This literature review was analyzed using the Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases. An overview of the importance of ICT and communication flows in the forestry sector, ICT tools, and their applications is provided. One-way and two-way communication flows coexist in forestry, integrating different communication channels, time, target audience, and message. It is clear that technologies have produced significant changes in all sectors of the forestry industry. We conclude that ICTs and communication flows contribute to forest conservation and management in the establishment of standards or policies that ensure conservation through monitoring and analysis of landscapes at different temporal and spatial scales.
High-Growth Benefit Corporations: Leveraging on Intangibles—Insights from Italy
Authors: Del Baldo Mara , Palazzi Federica
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the link between high growth, benefit corporations, and intellectual capital. The last is particularly relevant in high-growth companies called “gazelles.” Moreover, it is assumed to play a pivotal role in benefit corporations whose purpose-driven mission is to pursue and integrate economic, social-environmental, and ethical benefits. Drawing from this theoretical background, we identified four benefit corporations among 2183 Italian gazelles founded in 2014 with a minimum employee number equal to 10 in 2015 and 2016 and with a growth of sales and employees of 20% in 2018 and 2019. A qualitative-based methodology, a multiple case study relative to Italian benefit corporations that showed an interesting increasing dynamic in the last two years, 2020–2021, has been carried out to deeply investigate salient traits of the virtuous circle that a benefit corporation triggers. Findings point out that the high-growth benefit corporations balance public purposes and economic goals through a sustainable business model, taking advantage of the intangible resources made available by the group’s companies and sharing them with stakeholders, enriching the context in which they operate through direct actions to support the community and the area.
Framework for the Design of a Small Transport Hub as an Interdisciplinary Challenge to Implement Sustainable Solutions
Authors: Staniewska Anna , Sykta Izabela , Ozimek Agnieszka , Barnaś Krzysztof , Dudek Mariusz , Marasik Magdalena , Racoń-Leja Kinga
Published: July 2023

The numerous effects of climate change on the urban environment over the past decades have urged many planning professionals to implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Higher education institutions (HEIs) bear particular responsibility for sustainability-aware designers able to implement specific measures in this field. This paper presents a typology of design solutions for urban contexts intended to implement Sustainable Development Goal 11, which refers to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, which can be included in university curricula. The study presents a comprehensive source base of possible interpretations of sustainability guidelines in architectural, landscape, and transport solution design and can be used to guide and assess projects in these fields. Solutions identified and analyzed were grouped into four dimensions related to sustainability aspects (accessibility, ecology, functionality, and identity). The framework proposed was developed based on the teaching experience of thesis design projects and practice-based workshop course projects featured in the curricula of first and second cycle Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Transport programs taught at the Cracow University of Technology, Poland. The projects were prepared as a part of workshop-based public consultations for a real-world project—the construction of a transport hub in Hrubieszów, Poland. The most complex implementation of various individual sustainable design solutions was linked to the interdisciplinarity of the design team and the broadest public participation spectrum.
A New Hybrid Algorithm for Vehicle Routing Optimization
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Wang Weidong , He Junyi , Zhang Jianjun , Wang Jing , Li Shasha , Sun Yining , Ren Xianyang
Published: July 2023

To solve the vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup–delivery and time windows (VRPSDPTW), a sine cosine and firefly perturbed sparrow search algorithm (SFSSA) is presented. Based on the standard sparrow search algorithm, the initial population uses tent chaotic mapping to change the population diversity; then, the discoverer location is updated using the sine cosine fluctuation range of the random weight factor, and finally the global population location is updated using the firefly perturbation strategy. In this study, SFSSA was compared with a genetic algorithm (GA), parallel simulated annealing algorithm (p-SA), discrete cuckoo search algorithm (DCS), and novel mimetic algorithm with efficient local search and extended neighborhood (MATE) adopting improved Solomon’s benchmark test cases. The computational results showed that the proposed SFSSA was able to achieve the current optimal solutions for 100% of the nine small-to-medium instances. For large-scale instances, SFSSA obtained the current optimal solutions for 25 out of 56 instances. The experimental findings demonstrated that SFSSA was an effective method for solving the VRPSPDTW problem.
Does Clean Energy Reduce Environmental Pollution under the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis in Sri Lanka?
Authors: Velayutham Eswaran
Published: July 2023

This study explores the nexus among clean energy, economic growth, urbanization, trade openness, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions nexus in an emerging economy, Sri Lanka. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) econometric technique and different diagnostic tests are used to investigate the linkages. The pairwise Graner causality approach is applied to investigate the causality direction. The estimated results have confirmed that clean energy and urbanization reduce carbon emissions, whereas trade openness induces carbon emissions in the long run in Sri Lanka. The findings revealed the non-existence of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in Sri Lanka. In contrast, the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) exists between trade openness and carbon dioxide emissions in Sri Lanka. Regarding causal relationships, there is bi-directional causality between clean energy and urbanization. This study reports a unidirectional causality from clean energy to CO2 emissions, economic development to carbon emissions, urbanization and trade and CO2 emissions to urbanization and trade. Based on the above findings, this study recommends some policy recommendations.
Effects of Demographic Characteristics on Safety Climate and Construction Worker Safety Behavior
Authors: He Changquan , Hu Zhen , Shen Yuzhong , Wu Chunlin
Published: July 2023

Safety climate and safety behavior have been proven to be critical for construction safety. However, few studies have systematically tested the influences of demographic characteristics on construction worker safety, especially in the background of China’s construction industry. There is still a gap in the demographics–safety relationship, which may reduce the relevance and effectiveness of safety measures. This study explored the effects of five demographic factors (gender, age, work experience, education level, and employer size) on two safety indicators (safety climate and construction worker safety behavior). The survey data were collected from Chinese construction workers. The t-test and one-way ANOVA methods were adopted to examine the demographic differences. The results show that all five demographic factors have significant effects on safety climate, while three (age, education level, and employer size) have significant influences on construction worker safety behavior. However, the remaining two demographic factors (gender and work experience) do not show significant effects on construction worker safety behavior. The results remind the safety management personnel to take a pragmatic approach and to formulate safety measures based on the demographic characteristics of different worker sub-groups.
Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Economic Dual Circulation Coordinated Development in China’s Coastal Provinces
Authors: Wang Jingyi , Liu Shuguang , Zhao Yubin
Published: July 2023

China’s coastal area is an important node, carrying the connection between internal and external circulation. It is of great significance to explore the spatial and temporal evolution of economic dual circulation coordinated development and its driving factors. In this paper, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) evaluation model based on the Criteria Importance Though Intercriteria Correlation and entropy (CRITIC-entropy) weight method, coupling coordination model, standard deviation ellipse and exploratory spatial data analysis were used to analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of economic dual circulation coordinated development of China’s coastal area. In addition, the geographical detector was employed to identify its driving factors. The results showed that: (1) The development level of internal and external economic circulation in China’s coastal area was mainly stable and rising in a fluctuating manner, and the level of internal circulation was higher than that of external circulation. The overall coupling coordination degree of economic dual circulation exhibited a positive trend. (2) There was regional heterogeneity and spatial correlation in the coupling coordination degree of economic dual circulation in the coastal area of China, and the spatial distribution pattern showed the characteristic of being “strong in the internal and weak in the external”. (3) The coordinated development of economic dual circulation was driven by multiple factors. Regional technological innovation capability, per capita income level, circulation development level, marketization process, digitization level and financial development level were the core driving forces. Based on the findings of this paper, a series of policy recommendations for improving the coordination development between internal and external economic circulation was proposed.
Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Climatic Precursors before Major Earthquakes in Iran (2011–2021)
Authors: Mansouri Daneshvar Mohammad Reza , Freund Friedemann T. , Ebrahimi Majid
Published: July 2023

The present study provides a systematic assessment of the relationships between climatic variables and major earthquakes (M > 6) in Iran (2011–2021). These variables include total cloud cover (tcc), low cloud cover (lcc), total precipitation (tp), surface latent heat flux (slhf), and total column rainwater (tcrw). Based on a wider set of variables provided by a multidimensional global dataset (ERA5), the combination of a cross-correlation function (CCF) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to develop the spatial and temporal analytic relations. Covering maximal values from 0.42 to 0.92, the CCF plots revealed that an increase in climatic parameters could provide valuable information about impending earthquake activity within 8 to 20 days. The mean values of tcc, lcc, tp, slhf, and tcrw were found to increase by 95%, 60%, 80.0 mm, 105 W/m2, and 95 kg−3/m2, respectively. In fact, with the mean AUC (area under the curve) indices ranging from 0.677 (tcc) to 0.810 (tcrw) prior to major earthquakes, the ROC plots allowed for discrimination between seismic and climatic variables ranging from “acceptable” to “excellent”. The changes in the climatic variables under study were due to anomalous air ionization and water condensation in the atmosphere, which can be regarded as short-term precursors to major earthquakes.
Estimation of Potential Suitable Habitats for the Relict Plant Euptelea pleiosperma in China via Comparison of Three Niche Models
Authors: Zhang Huayong , Zheng Shuang , Huang Tousheng , Liu Jiangnan , Yue Junjie
Published: July 2023

Climate change has a significant impact on species distribution, especially for the relict plants. Euptelea pleiosperma is a type of tertiary relict plant. This plant shows a decreasing trend in population size, and it is on the edge of extinction given the background of climate change. Understanding the change in suitable habitats of E. pleiosperma will provide significant academic value for investigating species conservation and sustainable development. According to the 236 distribution records of E. pleiosperma in China, and 11 environmental factors, the optimal model was selected from MaxEnt, BIOCLIM, and DOMAIN models, aiming to estimate the future potential suitable habitats and exploring the major environmental factors influencing the distribution of E. pleiosperma. By comparison, the BIOCLIM model was the optimal for estimation, since it achieved the highest precision and the lowest standard error. Our results demonstrated that temperature was the most important factor affecting the suitable habitats of E. pleiosperma, followed by precipitation and altitude. Under the medium- and high-emission scenarios, the future suitable habitats of E. pleiosperma will migrate northward to the high-latitude areas, whereas those under the low-emission scenario will migrate southward to the low-latitude areas. During 2041–2060, the suitable habitat areas will present a positive trend, while those during 2081–2100 will exhibit a negative trend to varying degrees. Consistent with the above results, it is advisable to establish natural reserves and seed resource banks of E. pleiosperma in the current high suitability areas, as well as to provide artificial assistance to guide its migration to the high suitability areas under the future climate scenarios. The findings in this research not only reveal the response of suitable habitats of E. pleiosperma to climate change but also lay a reliable foundation for its population resource conservation and sustainable development.
Open Innovation Intellectual Property Risk Maturity Model: An Approach to Measure Intellectual Property Risks of Software Firms Engaged in Open Innovation
Authors: Arunnima B. Senakumari , Bijulal Dharmaseelan , Sudhir Kumar R.
Published: July 2023

Open innovation (OI) is key to sustainable product development and is increasingly gaining significance as the preferred model of innovation across industries. When compared to closed innovation, the protection of intellectual property (IP) that is created in open innovation is complex. For organisations engaging in OI, a sound IP management policy focusing on IP risk reduction plays a significant role in ensuring their sustained growth. Assessing the risks that are involved in IP management will enable firms to devise appropriate IP management strategies, which would ensure sufficient protection of an IP that is created in an OI model. Studies indicate that the risks which are associated with IP and risk management processes also vary with company segments that range from start-ups to micro, small, medium, and large organisations. This paper proposes an open innovation IP risk assessment model to compute the open innovation intellectual property risk score (OIIPRS) by employing an analytic hierarchy process. The OIIPRS indicates the IP risk levels of an organisation when it engages in open innovation with other organisations. The factors contributing to IP risk are identified and further classified as configurable IP risk factors, and the impact of these factors for the various company segments is also factored in when computing the OIIPRS. Further, an OI IP risk maturity model (OIIPRMM) is proposed. This model depicts the IP risk maturity of organisations based on the computed OIIPRS on an IP risk continuum, which categorises firms into five levels of IP risk maturity. The software firms can make use of the OIIPRMM to assess the level of IP risk and adopt proactive IP protection mechanisms while collaborating with other organisations.
Promoting Epistemic Growth with Respect to Sustainable Development Issues through Computer-Supported Argumentation
Authors: Chen Sheng , Wang Shuang
Published: July 2023

Epistemic growth is a desirable outcome of engaging in argumentation related to sustainable development issues. However, earlier studies have rarely been conducted from the perspective of practical epistemology. This longitudinal study aimed to address this gap and to promote epistemic growth in sustainable development issues via computer-supported argumentation through a practice-based approach, using the Apt-AIR framework. The participants were 96 undergraduate students with various majors. Repeated measures of the frequency and epistemic quality of students’ argumentation comments were taken with respect to six consecutive sustainable development issues to explicate the participants’ epistemic growth. The qualitative data of a specific undergraduate provided procedural evidence confirming a change in the epistemic performance and the epistemic growth curves. The results supported an argumentation-based intervention in education with respect to sustainable development issues and highlighted the possibility that the different aspects of epistemic performance are interrelated.
A Review on the Modelling Techniques of Liquid Storage Tanks Considering Fluid–Structure–Soil Interaction Effects with a Focus on the Mitigation of Seismic Effects through Base Isolation Techniques
Authors: Chaithra M. , Krishnamoorthy A. , Avinash A. R.
Published: July 2023

Globally, tanks play a major part in the provision of access to clean drinking water to the human population. Beyond aiding in the supply of fresh water, tanks are also essential for ensuring good sanitary conditions for people and for livestock. Many countries have realized that a robust water supply and a robust sanitation infrastructure are necessary for sustainable growth. Therefore, there is large demand for the construction of storage tanks. Further, liquid storage tanks are crucial structures which must continue to be operational even after a catastrophic natural event, such as an earthquake, to support rehabilitation efforts. From an engineering point of view, the various forces acting on the tanks and the behaviour of the tanks under various loads are important issues which need to be addressed for a safe design. Analyses of the tanks are challenging due to the interaction between the fluid and tank wall. Thus, researchers have conducted several investigations to understand the performance of storage tanks subjected to earthquakes by considering this interaction. This paper discusses the historical development of various modelling techniques of storage tanks. The interaction with the soil also influences the behaviour of the tanks, and hence, in this paper, various modelling approaches for soil structure interaction are also reviewed. Further, a brief history of various systems of base isolation and modelling approaches of base-isolated structures are also discussed in this article.
Centrifuge Model Tests on the Effects of Navigable Channel Excavation and Seawall Construction on a Subsea Shield Tunnel Below
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Yuan Dajun , Luo Weiping , Zhang Song , Liu Huixi
Published: July 2023

As subsea shield tunnels are becoming increasingly popular, especially in coastal or river cities, the complicated construction environment poses multiple challenges that need to be addressed to ensure their safety and reliable operation. This study presents the results of centrifuge model tests that aimed to examine the impacts of navigable channel excavation and seawall construction on the deformation and forces acting on a subsea shield tunnel. The symmetry of the tunnel structure, as well as the loading and unloading effects from channel excavation and seawall construction in this engineering project, allow for the simplification of the problem. The centrifuge test model included a novel device to simulate the unloading action of channel excavation and the loading impact from seawall construction. The structural response of the tunnel was monitored using an innovative solution, and various parameters such as vertical displacement, opening of the circumferential joint, circumferential bending moment, and longitudinal stress were analyzed. The results reveal that both channel excavation and seawall construction have significant effects on the stress and deformation of the pre-existing tunnel. While the excavation of the navigable channel reduces the load on the tunnel from the overlying strata, resulting in uplifts in the tunnel structure around the excavation area, and the construction of the seawall causes settlement of the tunnel near the loading zone. The unloading effect of channel excavation leads to the opening tendency of the tunnel circumferential joints, while the loading effect of seawall construction has the opposite effect on the tunnel circumferential joints. The excavation of the channel induces tensile stresses on the tunnel crown around the loading zone, while the seawall construction causes significant compressive stresses on the tunnel crown around the loading zone. It is crucial to prioritize safety and ensure the tunnel’s load-bearing capacity through careful design and construction considerations in practical engineering. The study can guide the design and construction of future projects and help minimize the risk of damage to pre-existing structures.
Frequency Shift of Photons in the Spacetime of Deformed RN BH
Authors: Alibekov Husan , Narzilloev Bakhtiyor , Abdujabbarov Ahmadjon , Ahmedov Bobomurat
Published: July 2023

The motion of photons and the frequency shift of photons emitted by particles orbiting the central black hole described by the deformed Reissner–Nordström spacetime metric is investigated. It has been shown that in spacetime, two stable photon spheres are formed due to the gravitational attraction of photons by the central gravitating compact object. It has been found that as spacetime parameters increase, charge and deformation photon spheres become smaller in size and the effect of the electric charge is stronger than the effect of the deformation parameter. The frequency shift of photons radiated by the particles at the equatorial plane becomes stronger for the smaller values of the deformation parameter and the electric charge of the deformed Reissner–Nordström black hole.
Symmetries of Systems with the Same Jacobi Multiplier
Authors: González Contreras Gabriel , Yakhno Alexander
Published: July 2023

The concept of the Jacobi multiplier for ordinary differential equations up to the second order is reviewed and its connection with classical methods of canonical variables and differential invariants is established. We express, for equations of the second order, the Jacobi multiplier in terms of integrating factors for reduced equations of the first order. We also investigate, from a symmetry point of view, how two different systems with the same Jacobi multiplier are interrelated. As a result, we determine the conditions when such systems admit the same two-dimensional Lie algebra of symmetries. Several illustrative examples are given.
Segmentation of Retinal Blood Vessels Using Focal Attention Convolution Blocks in a UNET
Authors: Ortiz-Feregrino Rafael , Tovar-Arriaga Saul , Pedraza-Ortega Jesus Carlos , Rodriguez-Resendiz Juvenal
Published: July 2023

Retinal vein segmentation is a crucial task that helps in the early detection of health problems, making it an essential area of research. With recent advancements in artificial intelligence, we can now develop highly reliable and efficient models for this task. CNN has been the traditional choice for image analysis tasks. However, the emergence of visual transformers with their unique attention mechanism has proved to be a game-changer. However, visual transformers require a large amount of data and computational power, making them unsuitable for tasks with limited data and resources. To deal with this constraint, we adapted the attention module of visual transformers and integrated it into a CNN-based UNET network, achieving superior performance compared to other models. The model achieved a 0.89 recall, 0.98 AUC, 0.97 accuracy, and 0.97 sensitivity on various datasets, including HRF, Drive, LES-AV, CHASE-DB1, Aria-A, Aria-D, Aria-C, IOSTAR, STARE and DRGAHIS. Moreover, the model can recognize blood vessels accurately, regardless of camera type or the original image resolution, ensuring that it generalizes well. This breakthrough in retinal vein segmentation could improve the early diagnosis of several health conditions.
Role of Intravascular Ultrasound in Pulmonary Embolism Patients Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Desai Rupak , Raval Maharshi , Adompreh-Fia Kokou Selom , Nagarajan Jai Sivanandan , Ghadge Nitin , Vyas Ankit , Jain Akhil , Paul Timir K. , Sachdeva Rajesh , Kumar Gautam
Published: July 2023

Background: Traditionally, mechanical thrombectomy performed for pulmonary embolism (PE) necessitates the utilization of iodinated contrast. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been used as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in the management of acute high and intermediate-risk PE. Recently, with the shortage of contrast supplies and the considerable incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), other safer and more feasible IVUS methods have become desirable. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the importance of IVUS in patients with PE undergoing thrombectomy. Methods: Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for review studies, case reports, and case series. Clinical characteristics, outcomes and the usage of IVUS-guided mechanical thrombectomy during the treatment of acute high and intermediate-risk PE were examined in a descriptive analysis. Results: In this systematic review, we included one prospective study, two case series, and two case reports from July 2019 to May 2023. A total of 39 patients were evaluated; most were female (53.8%). The main presenting symptoms were dyspnea and chest pain (79.5%); three patients (7.9%) presented with syncope, one with shock and one with cardiac arrest. Biomarkers (troponin and BNP) were elevated in 94.6% of patients. Most patients (87.2%) had intermediate-risk PE, and 12.8% had high-risk PE. All patients presented with right-heart strain (RV/LV ratio ≥ 0.9, n = 39). Most patients (56.4%) had bilateral PE. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed using IVUS without contrast utilization in 39.4% of the patients. After the initial learning curve, contrast usage decreased gradually over time. There was a significant decrease in the composite mean arterial pressure immediately following IVUS-guided thrombectomy from 35.1 ± 7.2 to 25.2 ± 8.3 mmHg (p < 0.001). Post-procedure, there was no reported (0%) CI-AKI, no all-cause mortality, no major bleeding, or other adverse events. There was a significant improvement in symptoms and RV function at the mean follow-up. Conclusions: New evidence suggests that IVUS-guided mechanical thrombectomy is safe, with visualization of the thrombus for optimal intervention, and reduces contrast exposure.
Comparative Metagenomic and Metatranscriptomic Analyses Reveal the Response of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Intestinal Microbes and Reduction Mechanisms to High Concentrations of Tetracycline
Authors: Pei Yaxin , Sun Mengxiao , Zhang Jiran , Lei Aojie , Chen Hongge , Kang Xiangtao , Ni Hongyuhang , Yang Sen
Published: July 2023

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L) larvae (BSFL) possess remarkable antibiotic degradation abilities due to their robust intestinal microbiota. However, the response mechanism of BSFL intestinal microbes to the high concentration of antibiotic stress remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the shift in BSFL gut microbiome and the functional genes that respond to 1250 mg/kg of tetracycline via metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis, respectively. The bio-physiological phenotypes showed that the survival rate of BSFL was not affected by tetracycline, while the biomass and substrate consumption of BSFL was slightly reduced. Natural BSFL achieved a 20% higher tetracycline degradation rate than the germ-free BSFL after 8 days of rearing. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing results revealed the differences between the entire and active microbiome. Metatranscriptomic analysis indicated that Enterococcus, Vagococcus, Providencia, and Paenalcaligenes were the active genera that responded to tetracycline. Furthermore, based on the active functional genes that responded to tetracycline pressure, the response mechanisms of BSFL intestinal microbes were speculated as follows: the Tet family that mediates the expression of efflux pumps expel tetracycline out of the microbes, while tetM and tetW release it from the ribosome. Eventually, tetracycline was degraded by deacetylases and novel enzymes. Overall, this study provides novel insights about the active intestinal microbes and their functional genes in insects responding to the high concentration of antibiotics.
First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Taj Madiha , Ul Hassan Habib , Yaqub Atif , Shah Muhammad , Sohail Muhammad , Rafiq Naseem , Atique Usman , Abbas Mohammad , Sultana Saira , Abdali Umaiya , Arai Takaomi
Published: July 2023

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging environmental health concern due to their widespread occurrence in food sources such as fish, meat, chicken, honey, sugar, salt, tea and drinking water, thereby posing possible risks to human health. This study aimed to observe the existence of MPs in the crop and gizzard of the farm chicken, a significant food source in Pakistan. Twenty-four chicken samples were taken from eight poultry farms across Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1227 MP particles were found from 24 samples (crop and gizzards) originating from the 8 poultry farms. In all, 429 MP particles were found in 24 chicken crops, with a mean of 17.8 ± 12.1 MPs/crop. In contrast, 798 MP particles were found in 24 chicken gizzards, with a mean of 33.25 ± 17.8 MPs/gizzard. Comparatively larger particles, ranging between 300–500 µm, were more abundant (63%) than other considered sizes (300–150 µm [21%] and 150–50 µm [16%]). Additionally, fragments were the dominant type of shape in both sample types (crop [64%] and gizzard [53%]). The predominant colours of particles extracted from gizzards and crops were yellow (32%) and red (32%), respectively. Chemical characterisation of these particles detected four types of polymers: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at 51.2%, followed by low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at 30.7%, polystyrene (PS) at 13.6% and polypropylene homopolymer (PPH) at 4.5%. In conclusion, we provide evidence for MPs in the gizzards and crops of farmed chickens which may originate from contaminated poultry feed. Only a few studies have been reported globally to assess MPs ingestion in chickens. The current study is the first report from Pakistan. It could be a valuable addition to support MPs literature to establish a relationship between MPs contamination and intake through the food chain.
HCV Co-Infection and Its Genotypic Distribution in HIV-Infected Patients in Nepalese Population
Authors: Sah Uday Kant , Sah Anil Kumar , Ansari Mehraj , Chaudhary Priyanka , Gupta Saurav , Kumar Pawan , Sah Jay Prakash
Published: July 2023

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) co-infection and its genotypic distribution in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) show global inconsistency. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotypic distribution patterns of HCV, along with viral load, in people living with HIV. This cross-sectional study was conducted at SRL Diagnostics Nepal, Pvt. Ltd. in 203 HIV-seropositive patients attending the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal from October 2021 to May 2022. The viral load and HCV genotypes were estimated from RNA extracted from the blood sample (plasma) of PLHIV by using a standard Q-PCR protocol. HCV infection was considered as a core variable, whereas covariates used for this study were duration of HIV infection, age, sex, and ART regimen. Out of total 203 PLHIV, the estimated prevalence of HCV co-infection was 115 (56.6%). Male gender was a unique characteristic associated with a high prevalence of HCV co-infection compared to females. The HCV viral load among PLHIV ranged from 34 to 3,000,000 IU/mL. Among HCV co-infected PLHIV, 56 (48.69%) had a low level of HCV viral load. Interestingly, only 3 (2.6%) patients had an HCV viral load higher than 3,000,000 IU/mL. Diverse HCV genotypes were found in the population, including genotypes 1, 1a, 3a, 5a, and 6. However, genotype 3 was the most prevalent HCV variant among HCV-co-infected PLHIV, with a distribution of 36 (61.1%) and viral load ranging from 34 to 3000 IU/mL. HCV co-infection is frequent in the Nepalese population of people living with HIV, particularly due to HCV genotypic variant 3. The findings of this study could be useful for the management and clearance of the HCV co-infection in PLHIV, aiming to provide a good quality of life.
Estimates of the Surface Magnetic Field Strength of Radio Pulsars
Authors: Kim Vitaliy , Umirbayeva Adel , Aimuratov Yerlan
Published: July 2023

We investigate the geometry of the magnetic field of rotation-powered pulsars. A new method for calculating an angle (β) between the spin and magnetic dipole axes of a neutron star (NS) in the ejector stage is considered within the frame of the magnetic dipole energy loss mechanism. We estimate the surface magnetic field strength (Bns) for a population of known neutron stars in the radio pulsar (ejector) stage. The evaluated Bns(β) may differ by an order of magnitude from the values without considering the angle β. It is shown that Bns(β) lies in the range 108–1014G for a known population of short and middle periodic radio pulsars.
Multi-View Learning to Unravel the Different Levels Underlying Hepatitis B Vaccine Response
Authors: Affaticati Fabio , Bartholomeus Esther , Mullan Kerry , Damme Pierre Van , Beutels Philippe , Ogunjimi Benson , Laukens Kris , Meysman Pieter
Published: July 2023

The immune system acts as an intricate apparatus that is dedicated to mounting a defense and ensures host survival from microbial threats. To engage this faceted immune response and provide protection against infectious diseases, vaccinations are a critical tool to be developed. However, vaccine responses are governed by levels that, when interrogated, separately only explain a fraction of the immune reaction. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a feasibility study to determine if multi-view modeling could aid in gaining actionable insights on response markers shared across populations, capture the immune system’s diversity, and disentangle confounders. We thus sought to assess this multi-view modeling capacity on the responsiveness to the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. Seroconversion to vaccine-induced antibodies against the HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) in early converters (n = 21; <2 months) and late converters (n = 9; <6 months) and was defined based on the anti-HBs titers (>10IU/L). The multi-view data encompassed bulk RNA-seq, CD4+ T-cell parameters (including T-cell receptor data), flow cytometry data, and clinical metadata (including age and gender). The modeling included testing single-view and multi-view joint dimensionality reductions. Multi-view joint dimensionality reduction outperformed single-view methods in terms of the area under the curve and balanced accuracy, confirming the increase in predictive power to be gained. The interpretation of these findings showed that age, gender, inflammation-related gene sets, and pre-existing vaccine-specific T-cells could be associated with vaccination responsiveness. This multi-view dimensionality reduction approach complements clinical seroconversion and all single modalities. Importantly, this modeling could identify what features could predict HBV vaccine response. This methodology could be extended to other vaccination trials to identify the key features regulating responsiveness.
Better to Be Unpaid than COVID-19 Vaccinated! A Qualitative Study on Italian Nurses Suspended from Work without Salary
Authors: Picelli Serena , Danielis Matteo , Zanotti Renzo
Published: July 2023

In Italy, from April 2021, healthcare workers were required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; if they refused it, an immediate unpaid suspension was implemented until they received the vaccine. Although there are numerous quantitative studies on the factors that influenced vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, qualitative research on the causes of vaccine refusal is still missing. This research aimed to investigate the phenomenon of nurses who refused to receive COVID-19 vaccination despite being required to do so, as well as the reasons behind their refusal. Furthermore, the actions of those who abandoned this stance were explored. This was a qualitative study involving the methodological approach of grounded theory. Twenty-four nurses were interviewed virtually via Zoom from May to July 2022. Anti-vax behavior—as emerged from nurses’ experiences—was based on seven themes: (1) job satisfaction, (2) the main sources of information on COVID-19, (3) the reasons for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, (4) the attitudes of family members toward the COVID-19 vaccine, (5) previous experience with other vaccines, (6) firm opposition to the vaccine (unvaccinated nurses), (7) reluctant acceptance (vaccinated nurses). It was shown that it is imperative for health authorities to adopt timely, documented, transparent, and consistent communication when carrying out public health campaigns, especially for vaccination.
Regulation of IkappaB Protein Expression by Early Gestation in the Thymus of Ewes
Authors: Meng Yao , Yang Zhen , Quan Yaodong , Zhao Shuxin , Zhang Leying , Yang Ling
Published: July 2023

The thymus is an essential component of maternal immune systems that play key roles in recognizing the placenta as immunologically foreign. The inhibitor of the NF-κB (IκB) family has essential effects on the NF-κB pathway; however, it is unclear whether early pregnancy modulates the expression of the IκB family in the thymus. In this study, maternal thymuses were sampled on day 16 of nonpregnancy and different gestation stages in the ovine, and the expression of IκB proteins was analyzed. The data showed that B cell leukemia-3 and IκBβ increased; however, IκBα, IκBε, and IKKγ deceased during gestation. Furthermore, there was an increase in IκBNS and IκBζ expression values on day 13 of pregnancy; however, this decreased on day 25 of gestation. In summary, the expression of the IκB family was modulated in the thymus during early gestation, suggesting that the maternal thymus can be associated with maternal immunologic tolerance and pregnancy establishment in ewes.