bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moderating Effect of eHealth Literacy on the Associations of Coronaphobia With Loneliness, Irritability, Depression, and Stigma in Chinese Young Adults: Bayesian Structural Equation Model Study (Preprint)
Authors: Xu Richard Huan , Chan Ho Hin , Shi Lushaobo , Li Ting , Wang Dong
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in known risk factors for mental health problems. Although medical information available through the internet and smartphones has greatly expanded, people’s ability to seek, eschew, and use reliable web-based medical information and services to promote their mental health remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the associations between coronaphobia and 4 frequently reported mental health problems, loneliness, irritability, depression, and stigma, during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the moderating effects of eHealth literacy (eHL) on the adjustment of these relationships in Chinese young adults.

METHODS

The data used in this study were collected from a web-based survey of the general Chinese population, aged between 18 and 30 years, conducted in China between December 2022 and January 2023. A nonprobability snowball sampling method was used for data collection. A Bayesian structural equation model (BSEM) using parameter expansion was used to estimate the moderating effect of eHL on the relationship between coronaphobia and psychological problems. The posterior mean and 95% highest density intervals (HDIs) were estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 4119 participants completed the questionnaire and provided valid responses. Among them, 64.4% (n=2653) were female and 58.7% (n=2417) were rural residents. All measures showed statistically significant but minor-to-moderate associations (correlation coefficients ranged from −0.04 to 0.65). Significant heterogeneity was observed between rural and urban residents at the eHL level, and coronaphobia was observed. The BSEM results demonstrated that eHL was a significant moderator in reducing the negative effects of coronaphobia on loneliness (posterior mean −0.0016, 95% HDI −0.0022 to −0.0011), depression (posterior mean −0.006, 95% HDI −0.0079 to −0.004), stigma (posterior mean −0.0052, 95% HDI −0.0068 to −0.0036), and irritability (posterior mean −0.0037, 95% HDI −0.0052 to −0.0022). The moderating effects of eHL varied across the rural and urban subsamples.

CONCLUSIONS

Using BSEM, this study demonstrated that improving eHL can significantly mitigate the negative effects of coronaphobia on 4 COVID-19–related mental health problems in Chinese young adults. Future eHL initiatives should target rural communities to ensure equal access to information and resources that can help protect their mental health during the pandemic.
A Study of Vertical Load Capacity of Carbon Fiber Concrete Piles Reinforced with Geosynthetics
Authors: El-Kasaby El-Sayed A. , Roshdy Mohab , A. Emara Noaman
Published: September 2023

A compressive static load test was conducted on a total of thirteen end-bearing carbon fiber concrete piles reinforced with geosynthetics, which were divided into four groups and compared to traditional reinforced concrete piles. The tested piles included one reference concrete pipe pile reinforced with traditional steel reinforcement, four concrete pipe piles partially reinforced with carbon fiber bristles with different percentages of 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.25%, and 1.50% of cement weight, four piles partially reinforced with the same carbon fiber bristles percentages and confined with triaxial geogrid, and four piles partially reinforced with the exact carbon fiber bristle percentages and reinforced with carbon fiber bars. Thirteen vertical static loading tests (SLTs) were conducted on 1050-mm-long pipe piles with a diameter of 150 mm to obtain the behavior of these composite piles. Furthermore, the traditional method of stress-strain curves was analyzed. Comparisons between curves were conducted. It was concluded that the use of these composite piles significantly increased the ultimate vertical load capacity by up to 39%. Pile ductility was also significantly improved, and this composite material could be perfectly applied in geotechnical conditions. In addition, an economic analysis was conducted.
Truck Fudeau: Algorithms, Conspiracy and Radicalization
Authors: Hoechsmann Michael , McKee Miranda
Published: September 2023

COVID-19 public health mandates used in Canada and elsewhere proved to be potent measures for radicalizing new groups to right-wing ideas and gatherings, as well as for broadly main-streaming anti-government and anti-media rhetoric. This is visible online on the sites of some influencers who have waged a battle against COVID-19 mandates, and in real world protests such as Canada’s Freedom Convoy, an event that culminated in a three-week occupation of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, from January 29 through February 20, 2022. The movement had some appeal beyond its core groups and picked up momentum as time went on. The rise of right-wing populism in Canada is a result of multiple factors, but in this article, we will limit the purview to how an anti-vax and anti-mandate movement served to radicalize newcomers to a position antithetical to that of public health authorities and mainstream opinion, and also how this ideological struggle was mobilized and received via algorithm-driven online media.
Optimization Multi-Item Lot Sizing Model involve Transportation and Capacity Constraint under Stochastic Demand using Aquila Optimizer
Authors: Utama Dana Marsetiya , Rubiyanti Selvia , Wardana Rahmat Wisnu
Published: September 2023

Inventory issues are often a major concern as they significantly impact operating costs. Lot sizing is one of the key decisions in managing inventory. However, in a real context, the demand for each item is often uncertain. It is supplied from the same supplier, requiring product orders to be placed in the same period. In addition, limited vehicle capacity and transportation costs are important factors to consider in making multi-item lot sizing decisions. The purpose of this study is to propose a new inventory model multi-item lot sizing model involving transportation cost and capacity constraints under stochastic demand. The decision variables involved in the model are each item's ordering cycle and safety factor with the objective function of minimizing the total inventory cost. To optimize the inventory model, this study also offers the advanced procedure of the Aquila Algorithm. This study also presents sensitivity analysis to the appropriate policy for optimizing the multi-item lot-sizing inventory problem involving transportation cost and capacity constraint under stochastic demand.
Pelatihan kebersyukuran untuk meningkatkan sense of school belonging santri di pondok pesantren
Authors: Prasetyaningrum Susanti , Nurhidayati Nurhidayati
Published: September 2023

Islamic boarding schools are one of the religius beased-educational facilities where the students must follow much more rules than students in regular school.  This makes students feel depressed and bored. That’s finally increase misbehavior in school. These are typical of student’s lack of Sense of School Belonging. The aim of this study was to improve student’s sense of school belonging through gratitude training. This study was conducted using a quasi experiment with non-randomizer method and pre-test-post-test control group design with total of 50 subjects which divided into control group and the experimental group. The results of this study indicate that p <0.05, which means that Ho is rejected (p = 0,000).
Pondok pesantren merupakan salah satu sarana pendidikan berbasis keagamaan dimana para santrinya harus lebih banyak mengikuti peraturan dibandingkan santri di sekolah biasa. Hal ini membuat siswa merasa tertekan dan bosan. Hal itulah yang akhirnya meningkatkan perilaku buruk di sekolah. Hal ini merupakan ciri khas dari kurangnya Sense of School Belonging (rasa memiliki sekolah) pada siswa. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk meningkatkan rasa kepemilikan sekolah siswa melalui pelatihan rasa syukur. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode quasi eksperimen dengan metode non-randomizer dan pre-test-post-test control group design dengan jumlah subjek 50 orang yang dibagi menjadi kelompok kontrol dan kelompok eksperimen. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan p<0,05 yang berarti Ho ditolak (p=0,000).
Caracterización clínica y endoscópica del sarcoma de Kaposi gastrointestinal en una institución del suroccidente colombiano entre 2011 y 2020
Authors: Maldonado Gutiérrez Catalina , Estupiñan Diego , Sepulveda Copete Mauricio , Gempeler Rojas Andrés , Zapata Vásquez Isabel Lucía , Rojas Rojas Nelson Enrique , Rojas Rodríguez Carlos Arturo
Published: September 2023

El sarcoma de Kaposi es una neoplasia angioproliferativa asociada al virus del herpes humano 8. Según las características clínicas y el grado de inmunosupresión, son cuatro las formas epidemiológicas: clásica, endémica, iatrogénica y epidémica, esta última asociada al síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) y con un 40% de compromiso gastrointestinal. Existe escasa evidencia epidemiológica, clínica y endoscópica de la enfermedad. Este estudio buscó caracterizar esta condición en una población colombiana y contrastar los hallazgos con publicaciones de otros países. Se revisaron 135 registros de pacientes que consultaron entre el 2011 y 2020 por sarcoma de Kaposi, de los cuales 24 tenían compromiso gastrointestinal. Se obtuvieron características epidemiológicas, clínicas, endoscópicas y tratamientos. Veintidós pacientes eran hombres. Hubo 21 pacientes infectados por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH; 87,5%) y 19 recibían terapia antirretroviral (90%). El 33,3% tenía carga viral VIH > 100 000 copias/mL. El recuento de CD4+ fue < 50 cel/μL en el 28,6% de los casos, entre 50 y 100 cel/μL en el 19,0%, y entre 100 y 200 cel/μL en el 14,4%. La tasa de infecciones por otros oportunistas fue de 41,7%. Hubo síntomas gastrointestinales en el 33% de los pacientes y los más frecuentes fueron hematoquecia, dolor abdominal, náuseas y diarrea. La mayoría tuvo lesiones cutáneas concomitantes (70,8%). Las lesiones gastrointestinales se localizaron principalmente en la orofaringe (41,7%), estómago (20,8%) y colon (16,7%). El hallazgo endoscópico más común fue eritema maculopapular. Este artículo mostró una visión de la epidemiología local del sarcoma de Kaposi gastrointestinal. En contraste con estudios en otras poblaciones, en este, los síntomas gastrointestinales fueron más frecuentes y hubo diferencia en los hallazgos endoscópicos. Son necesarios estudios con poblaciones más grandes.
Non-canonical Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Transducers CREB3 family in cancer and other diseases
Authors: Han Yaqi , Li Ziwei , Cao Zijian , Sun Jirui , Zhang Jinku
Published: September 2023

Background When unfolded proteins accumulate in the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), they cause ER stress and activate the pathways of
unfolded protein response (UPR), constituted by a set of canonical ER
stress transducing proteins. While the classical UPR is well-studied,
the functions of non-canonical ER stress transducers are emerging.
Findings The CREB3 (cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein 3)
family, which contains five members including CREB3, CREB3L1, CREB3L2,
CREB3L3, and CREB3L4, is the most important non-canonical ER stress
response factor sensing and modulating unfolded protein homeostasis. As
novel ER stress transducers, the CREB3 family plays important roles in
regulating protein folding, modification, and secretion, contributing to
biological events, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and
migration in diverse contexts, especially in cancer. Conclusion This
review summarized the roles of the CREB3 family in development and
disease progression, with an aim to provide references for further
research and clinical translation.
Yinxieling decoction ameliorates psoriasis by regulating the differentiation and functions of Langerhans cells via TGF-β1/PU.1/IL-23 signal axis
Authors: Wu Dinghong , Li Ning , Ke Jiagu , Yu Qihua , Li Xiong , Tang Lipeng , Zhang Miaomiao , Chai Xiaoshu , Wu Qiaoling , Lu Chuanjian
Published: September 2023

Langerhans cells(LCs) play a critical role in skin immune responses and
the development of psoriasis. Yinxieling(YXL) is a representative herbal
medicine formula for the treatment of psoriasis in South China. It was
confirmed to improve psoriasis without obvious side effects in the
clinic. Here we attempted to clarify whether and how YXL regulates the
differentiation and functions of LCs in Imiquimod(IMQ)-induced
psoriasis-like C57BL/6 mouse model in vivo, and induced LCs in vitro.
The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was used to evaluate
efficacy of YXL for IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice. Flow cytometry was
utilized to analyze the effects of YXL to regulate the differentiation,
migration, mature and antigen presentation of LCs. The results show that
YXL significantly alleviated skin inflammation, as reduced in PASI score
and classic psoriatic characteristics in pathological sections. Although
there was not any effect on the proportion of total DCs in the skin
draining lymph nodes, the expression of epidermal LCs and its
transcription factor PU.1 was significantly inhibited, and its migration
to draining lymph nodes and maturation were also inhibited. Further data
showed that the number of antigen-carrying LC in the epidermis
increased, indicating that YXL could effectively inhibit the antigen
presentation of LCs. YXL also significantly inhibited the
differentiation of LC in vitro. Further data showed that YXL decreaded
the relatve expression of TGFβmRNA and IL-23 mRNA. Thus, YXL allievates
psoriasis by regualting differentiation, migration, maturation and
antigen presentation via TGFβ/ PU.1/IL-23 signal axis.
A species distribution model of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera: worldwide changes and a focus on the Southeast Pacific
Authors: Gonzalez-Aragon Daniel , Rivadeneira Marcelo , Lara Carlos , Torres Felipe , Vasquez Julio , Broitman Bernardo
Published: September 2023

Aim: Worldwide climate-driven shifts in the distribution of species is
of special concern when it involves habitat-forming species. In the
coastal environment, large Laminarian algae – kelps – form key coastal
ecosystems that support complex and diverse food webs. Among kelps,
Macrocystis pyrifera is the most widely distributed
habitat-forming species and provides essential ecosystem services. This
study aimed to establish the main drivers of future distributional
changes on a global scale and use them to predict both future habitat
suitability. Location: Global Methods: Using species distribution models
(SDM), we examined the changes in global distribution of M.
pyrifera under different emission scenarios with a focus on the
Southeastern Pacific shores. To constrain the drivers of our simulations
to the most important factors controlling kelp forest distribution
across spatial scales, we explored a suite of environmental variables
and validated the predictions derived from the SDMs. Results: Minimum
sea surface temperature was the single most important variable
explaining the global distribution of suitable habitat for M.
pyrifera. Under different climate change scenarios, we always observed
a decrease of suitable habitat at low latitudes, while an increase was
detected in other regions, mostly at high latitudes. Along the Southeast
Pacific, we observed an upper range contraction of -17.08°S of latitude
for 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario, implying a loss of habitat
suitability throughout the coast of Peru and poleward to -27.83°S in
Chile. Along the area of Northern Chile where a complete habitat loss is
predicted by our model, natural stands are under heavy exploitation.
Main conclusions: The loss of habitat suitability will take place
worldwide: significant impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystem
functioning are likely. Furthermore, changes in habitat suitability are
a harbinger of massive impacts in the socio-ecological systems of the
Southeastern Pacific.
Long-term working memory and vagally-mediated heart rate variability in pattern recall: A study on adolescent and adult female soccer players
Authors: Che Xiang , Lin Jingkang , Lu Hanshuang , Yang Zipeng , Hui Qi , Zhou Qian , Li Jie , Lan Jijun , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2023

Pattern recall performance is associated with basic cognitive skills
such as working memory (WM) that temporally stores information. The
performance may also associate with expertise knowledge that utilizes
long-term working memory (LTWM) to retrieve information in long-term
memory. However, the role of WM and LTWM in pattern recall tasks are
still not clarified. Also, the role of WM and LTWM in task demand and
developmental differences of players remain unclear. Further, memory
retrieval is associate with vagally-mediated heart rate variability
(vmHRV) level. Thus, we examined the effect of WM and LTWM in pattern
recall tasks by participants setting two phases separately represent WM
and LTWM abilities. We situated varied task demand by situation
complexities, taken investigation on the developmental difference by
recruited adolescent (U15) and adult (U23) female soccer players. vmHRV
was measured during all tasks. The results show the adult group
performed better than adolescents in the radial error (RE) of LTWM
phase. Moreover, RE of WM phase was predicted by age in low and medium
complexity. RE of LTWM phase was predicted by soccer experience in all
situation complexities and predicted by vmHRV in medium and high
situation complexities. The results indicate that the LTWM phase of
pattern recall has a stronger association with soccer experience and
validity in distinguishing age groups than the WM phase. Additionally,
vmHRV can serve as a score predictor in the LTWM phase, specifically in
complex conditions, and plays an important role in pattern recall
evaluation among female soccer players.
Neural Network Models for Ionospheric Electron Density Prediction: A Neural Architecture Search Study
Authors: Pan Yang , Jin Mingwu , Zhang Shun-Rong , Wing Simon , Deng Yue
Published: September 2023

Specification and forecast ionospheric parameters, such as ionospheric
electron density (Ne), have been an important topic in space weather and
ionosphere research. Neural networks (NNs) emerge as a powerful modeling
tool for Ne prediction. However, heavy manual attention costs time to
determine the optimal NN structures. In this work, we propose to use
neural architecture search (NAS), an automatic machine learning method,
to address this problem of NN models. NAS aims to find the optimal
network structure through the alternated optimization of the
hyperparameters and the corresponding network parameters. A total of
16-year data from Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar (ISR) are used
for NN models. One single-layer NN (SLNN) model and one deep NN (DNN)
model are trained with NAS, namely SLNN-NAS and DNN-NAS, for Ne
prediction and compared with their counterparts without NAS from
previous studies, denoted as SLNN and DNN. Our results show that
SLNN-NAS and DNN-NAS outperformed SLNN and DNN, respectively. NN models
can reveal more finer details than the empirical ionospheric model
developed using traditional data fitting approaches. DNN-NAS yields the
best prediction accuracy measured by quantitative metrics and rankings
of daily pattern prediction. The limited improvement of NAS is likely
due to the network complexity and the limitation of fully connected NN
without a memory mechanism.
Flare-up in Cordilleran arcs controlled by fluxes in subduction water budgets
Authors: Chapman Timothy , Milan Luke A. , Zahirovic Sabin , Merdith Andrew , Clarke Geoffrey L. , Sun Mingdao , Daczko Nathan Robert
Published: September 2023

The tempo of subduction-related magmatic activity over geological time
is episodic. Despite intense study and their importance in crustal
addition, the fundamental driver of these episodes remains unclear. We
demonstrate quantitatively a first order relationship between arc
magmatic activity and subduction flux. The volume of oceanic lithosphere
entering the mantle is the key parameter that regulates the proportion
of H2O entering the sub-arc. New estimates of subduction zone H2O
budgets over the last 150 million-years indicate a three- to five-fold
increase in the proportion of H2O entering the sub-arc during the most
recent global pulse of magmatism. Step changes in H2O flux enable
proportionally greater partial melting in the sub-arc. Similar magmatic
pulses in the ancient Earth could be related to variability in
subduction flux associated with supercontinent cycles.
Geopolitical challenges and the Macedonian path to EU accession
Authors: Daskalovski Zhidas
Published: September 2023

While formally founded on a variety of values and rules, the enlargement of
the European Union (EU) has also been consistently influenced by
geopolitical considerations, including within the Western Balkans (WB). The
author particularly focuses on the Macedonian case in this regard, observing
it in the context of the enlargement policy?s diminished credibility, the
lack of progress towards fulfilling membership criteria, and more recently,
the complications caused by Russia?s invasion of Ukraine. Apart from the
veto imposed by Greece due to the naming dispute (which began in 2005),
Skopje?s progress towards EU accession was further hindered by additional
challenges related to democratic regression, state capture, and corruption.
However, even the change of government and the subsequent conclusion of the
Prespa Agreement with Athens in 2018 failed to result in the initiation of
EU accession negotiations, which were initially blocked by France and later
by Bulgaria. Meanwhile, concerns regarding the high degree of corruption
persisted, while Bulgarian bilateral demands became integrated into the
broader EU expectations from Skopje. The author concludes that the
Macedonian case is characterized by a significant degree of bilateral and
geopolitical considerations, further undermining the legitimacy and
objectives of the enlargement policy.
Spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy - case report and review of diagnostic and treatment difficulties
Authors: Bila Jovan , Dotlic Jelena , Jovanovic Ljubisa , Dokic Milan , Madic Tatjana
Published: September 2023

Introduction. Spontaneous bilateral ectopic pregnancy is a rare condition easily overlooked or misdiagnosed. We present a case of spontaneous bilateral tubal ectopic pregnancy and discuss the difficulties in diagnosing and treating such patients. Case outline. A 39-years-old patient with a history of irregular and abundant menstrual cycles complained of pelvic pain and light bleeding after 55 days of amenorrhea. Ultrasound revealed enlarged uterus with a myoma and a heterogenic formation with echogenic ring sign beside the left ovary. Free fluid with clots was present in the pelvis. As the patient was hemodynamically unstable and ectopic pregnancy was suspected, emergency laparotomy was performed. During the surgery we found that both tubes were significantly edematous, dilated, and livid in their ampullary regions. On the left tube anterior wall rupture 15 ? 8 mm was noticeable, while right tube was intact with bleeding from its abdominal ostium. Even though the patient was not informed about the possibility of bilateral salpingectomy, after thorough consideration and due to the extent of tubal damage bilateral salpingectomy was eventually performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of decidua, partially viable and partially necrotic chorionic villi, and trophoblastic tissue in both right and left tubes. Conclusions. Careful preoperative and intraoperative examination of both Fallopian tubes as well as the whole abdominal and pelvic cavity should be mandatory during every assessment of patients with ectopic pregnancy.
Clinician Acceptability of a Peripheral Intravenous Passive Safety Catheter with Blood Control: Practical Use Article
Authors: Yeh Jesson , Valencia Diana , Ballek Sue , Curtin Christopher R. , Marshall-Hudson Allyson, , Tuley Michael, , Karpf Angela,
Published: September 2023

Highlights

Aim:

Acceptability, usability, and overall ease of use of a safety engineered peripherally inserted intravenous catheter with blood control septum (PIVCBC) were evaluated among clinicians who frequently use peripherally inserted intravenous catheters (PIVCs). This study was conducted in healthy subjects at a Phase 1 facility.

Methods:

Participating clinicians were ≥18 years of age, employed in a clinical setting, and performed ≥3 PIVC insertions per week. Each clinician completed 6 PIVCBC procedures on 2 to 4 healthy human subjects. Multiple trained observers documented how many attempts it took for the clinician to get a successful stick and what vein was selected for the procedure. Clinicians responded to yes/no questions and to Likert scale statements, describing their experiences with the PIVCBC after the procedures. Video recordings were used to observe procedures. Questionnaire data was summarized by frequency and percent of responses; analyses were conducted using binomial statistics.

Results:

Clinician agreement ranged from 83% to 97% for: able to observe primary and secondary flashbacks, able to use their regular PIVC insertion technique, found the catheter easy to insert, able to easily remove the needle from the catheter hub, believed the catheter would protect them from blood exposure during insertion, and able to flush the catheter. Overall, 96.7% of the clinicians found the PIVCBC to be acceptable.

Conclusions:

Overall, the PIVCBC was acceptable, easy to use, and allowed clinicians to maintain their usual PIVC insertion technique while they felt protected from blood exposure during insertion of the catheter.
Direct fixation of fracture fragment with modified double Kirschner wires for the treatment of old bony mallet finger
Authors: Zhang Yong , Gu Yingluo , Zhou Jupu , Zhao Jiaju , Jiang Bo
Published: September 2023

Background: The management of old bony mallet fingers is complicated. The purpose of this study was to describe direct fixation of fracture fragment with modified double Kirschner wires (K-wires) for treatment of old bony mallet finger, and to evaluate the functional outcomes during long-term follow-up.
Methods: Forty-nine patients with old bony mallet finger were enrolled and underwent surgical treatment from August 2014 to January 2021 in our hospital. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had undergone triple K-wires fixation or modified double K-wires with a dorsal brace fixation. The operation time, mean number of intraoperative fluoroscopy, bone union time, functional recovery and incidence of complications were monitored.
Results: Neither QuickDASH nor visual analogue scale measurement found statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the patients that underwent fixation with double K-wires and a dorsal brace required a shorter operation time and fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy, and exhibited a significantly greater mean final active range of the distal interphalangeal joint flexion, compared to those treated with triple K-wires (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Direct fixation of fracture fragment with modified double K-wires was an easy and feasible procedure which could achieve anatomical reduction and stable fixation of the dorsal fracture block of old bony mallet finger with relatively few complications.
Utviklingen av USAs militære tilstedeværelse på NATOs østre flanke – beroligelse av allierte, avskrekking av Russland og eskaleringskontroll
Authors: Jakobsen Eskil
Published: September 2023

I takt med økende russisk revansjisme og aggresjon fra 2014 har USAs tilnærming til militær tilstedeværelse på NATOs østre flanke gjennomgått en endring. Overordnet kan utviklingen oppfattes som endring i rasjonale fra beroligelse av allierte til avskrekking av Russland gjennom straff og de seneste år avskrekking gjennom nektelse. Dette har resultert i endrede strukturer for tilstedeværelse, med påfølgende endring i disposisjoner på bakken som har bidratt til å øke troverdigheten til NATOs avskrekkingsdoktrine. Den retoriske offensiviteten i den amerikanske strategiske kommunikasjonen har også blitt mer kraftfull og øvingsaktiviteten oppskalert. Dette indikerer endring i amerikansk oppfatning av hva som oppfattes som eskalerende virksomhet. Det foreligger tverrpolitisk enighet om videreføring av amerikansk deep-engagement i Europa, som også kan spores i det amerikanske militærvesenet. Dette underbygger teorien om en «institusjonalisert praksis» for militær tilstedeværelse og stormaktsbestandighet. Den økte troverdigheten til USAs og NATOs avskrekking på den østre flanken senker sannsynligheten for fait accompli-scenarioer. Dette har sikkerhetspolitiske implikasjoner for land lokalisert andre steder som Russland kan ønske å utfordre, både konvensjonelt og med sammensatte virkemidler.
Abstract in English:The Evolution of US Military Presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank: Reassuring Allies, Deterring Russia, and Managing EscalationConcurrent with increasing Russian revanchism and aggression from 2014, the US approach to military presence on NATO’s Eastern flank has evolved. Overall, the development could be perceived as change in rationale from reassurance of allies to deterrence of Russia by punishment and, in recent years, deterrence by denial. This has resulted in altered structures for presence, resulting in changes of dispositions on the ground that has contributed to increasing the credibility of NATO’s deterrence doctrine. The rhetorical offensiveness of U.S. strategic communication has also become more powerful and exercise activity scaled up. This indicates a change in US perception of escalating activity. There is persistent bipartisan agreement on the continuation of US deep-engagement in Europe, with similar perceptions in the US military-leadership. This underpins the theory of an “institutionalized practice” of military presence and Great Power Persistence. The enhanced credibility of US-NATO deterrence on the Eastern flank lowers the likelihood of fait accompli-scenarios. This has security implications for countries located elsewhere that Russia may wish to challenge, both conventionally and through Hybrid means.
Heavy Metal Toxicity and Measures to Removal
Authors: GS Lavekar
Published: September 2023

Metal toxicity is very common in today’s life style this is one of the pathological condition resulting into many diseases like Hypertension, Kidney damage, Asthma, Chronic Bronchitis, Cardiac disorders, Abdominal cramps, Vomiting, Nausea, Allergic reactions, Muscle weakness etc. The toxic metals include mainly mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, barium, chromium, beryllium, copper and selenium. These metals are normally present in the natural environment in traces. However when they are found in larger amounts they may impose additional risks to the body [1].
Interação Colaborativa e Ampliação de Horizontes Culturais como pressupostos formativos para um Curso de GeoGebra
Authors: Ferreira Guilherme Francisco
Published: September 2023

Este artigo apresenta e analisa uma experiência formativa ocorrida em uma das edições de um curso de GeoGebra online. A situação em questão é relevante por permitir exemplificar e enfatizar a proposta de formação idealizada pela equipe formadora ao colocar em movimento os pressupostos teóricos adotados para o curso. Para isso, apresentamos brevemente o curso de GeoGebra, depois indicamos noções do Modelo dos Campos Semânticos que orientam as escolhas da equipe formadora e as análises da situação destacada. Nos resultados, apontamos a importância da interação colaborativa para a efetivação das aprendizagens idealizadas para o curso. Também destacamos as diferentes enunciações para um mesmo objeto em discussão, o teorema de Pitágoras, e a inseparabilidade entre conhecimentos matemáticos e tecnológicos sobre o GeoGebra nas enunciações dos cursistas. Por fim, reforçamos a necessidade de analisarmos situações como a apresentada neste estudo desde uma perspectiva apartada do determinismo tecnológico, apontando a noção de agenciamentos sociotécnicos como possibilidade teórica de análise.
Digital primary care visits designed for different patient segments in the pre-pandemic era: A scoping review
Authors: Lakoma Sanna , Pitkänen Laura , Lahdensuo Kaisa , Lillrank Paul , Torkki Paulus
Published: September 2023

Digital healthcare services have been implemented increasingly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been expected to improve access, reduce inefficiencies, improve the quality of care, lower the cost of healthcare, and provide more personalised care.
This study focuses on digital visits: digital health care services that replace a general practitioner (GP) appointment in primary care. The aim of this review is to assess the perspectives used in studying digital visits, and to describe the services studied in terms of modalities used and patient segments targeted. We aim to find how digital visits were studied prior to their becoming a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is a scoping review of English language papers published between 1.1.2010-31.5.2020. The papers were eligible for the review if they focused on a digital primary care visit which replaced a face-to-face appointment with a GP. In total, 36 papers were included.
Ten of the studies described services tailored to the needs of a patient segment. The rest of the studies (26/36) did not differentiate between patient segments. The most often-used perspective was that of the clinician (16/36 studies). Fifteen studies were descriptive. The costs and outcomes were rarely utilised as a perspective: the costs were used in only one study and outcomes in six. Patient experience was the perspective chosen in 11 studies. Among all the interventions, the most common modality was by phone call (20), and the second most common was asynchronous messaging and video consultation (10 each).
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital visits had mostly been developed for the entire population instead of a particular segment of patients. We argue that developing them to fit the needs of a patient segment would help make them more acceptable and suitable for patients. More studies from the patient perspective are needed to develop these services to better fit the needs of patients. The situation is likely to have changed during the pandemic, as a large number of studies has been published since May 2020.
Stress and coping connected to higher education study structures: combined views from teachers and students
Authors: Heikka Eija-Liisa , Hurmelinna-Laukkanen Pia , Keränen Outi , Partanen Pia
Published: September 2023

Experienced stress by students and teachers in higher education has attracted increasing interest, but the two groups are rarely studied together. We combine their perspectives by considering the stress and coping among students and teachers concerning the development of study structures in a business school context. The findings indicate a strong connection between stress experienced by students and teachers, reflecting their interactive nature in this context. We categorize factors causing stress to those for which effective coping mechanisms exist, those causing tensions and requiring active management, and stressors that are difficult to remove because a coping mechanism for one group increases the stress of the other. Our findings add to existing knowledge on stress and coping mechanisms in higher education by combining the perspectives of students and teachers concerning study structures in business education.
Teknologian hyödyntämiseen liittyvä yksityisyydensuoja, tietoturva ja -suoja ikääntyneiden kotipalveluissa: kyselytutkimus johtajille
Authors: Kuha Suvi , Xiong Essi , Hammarén Mira , Ylisirniö Minna , Haverinen Jari , Suominen Jarno , Leikas Jaana , Kanste Outi
Published: September 2023

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kuvata johtajien näkemyksiä teknologian hyödyntämiseen liittyvästä yksityisyydensuojasta, tietoturvasta ja -suojasta, niihin liittyvistä haasteista ja ratkaisuista sekä teknologisten ratkaisujen hankkimatta jättämiseen liittyvistä tekijöistä ikääntyneiden kotipalveluissa.
Tutkimus on poikkileikkausasetelmassa tehty survey-tutkimus. Aineisto kerättiin syksyllä 2022 sähköisellä kyselyllä iäkkäiden kotipalvelujen johtajilta (n=68) viidestä sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon kuntayhtymästä ja viidestätoista kunnasta tai kaupungista eri puolilta Suomea. Kyselylomake sisälsi neljä strukturoitua ja kaksi avointa kysymystä. Aineisto analysoitiin kuvailevilla tilastomenetelmillä ja induktiivisen sisällön analyysin periaatteilla.
Tulosten mukaan teknologisten ratkaisujen käyttöönotossa huomioidaan Digi-HTA-arviointien asioita tietoturvasta ja -suojasta pääasiallisesti hyvin, mutta tässä tunnistettiin myös kehitettävää. Johtajien arvioiden mukaan teknologian hankintaprosesseissa huomioidaan tietosuojaan liittyvät tekijät hyvin, ja prosesseihin on luotu tietoturvaan liittyvät kriteerit. Teknologisten ratkaisujen hankkimatta jättämiseen arvioitiin vaikuttavan erityisesti se, että ratkaisut eivät vastanneet asiakkaiden tarpeisiin tai niiden ei nähty tehostavan toimintaa. Johtajien näkemykset teknologian hyödyntämiseen liittyvän yksityisyydensuojan ja tietoturvan ja -suojan haasteista liittyivät toimintaympäristöön, digitaalisiin ratkaisuihin, toimintatapoihin ja osaamiseen sekä organisaation käytäntöihin haasteiden ehkäisyssä. Näiden haasteiden ratkaisuiksi nähtiin viestintä ja vuorovaikutus, yksityisyydensuojaa, tietoturvaa ja -suojaa koskevien prosessien määrittäminen sekä toimintatapojen muuttaminen ja osaamisen kehittäminen.
Yksityisyydensuojaan, tietoturvaan ja -suojaan liittyvien tekijöiden huomioiminen toteutuu ikääntyneiden kotipalveluissa pääasiallisesti hyvin, mutta toisaalta niihin liittyvät haasteet koetaan moninaisiksi. Tutkimuksessa tunnistettiin selkeä tarve koko henkilöstön laaja-alaiseen koulutukseen, konkreettisiin näyttöön perustuviin suosituksiin ja selkeisiin toimintaohjeisiin. Huomiota tulisi kiinnittää etenkin ikääntyneiden itsemääräämisoikeuden toteutumiseen ja tietoisen suostumuksen varmistamiseen.
Introducing technology to support older people living at home – a qualitative study of ethics from the perspective of care professionals
Authors: Keskitalo Nina , Viljamaa Sanna , Xiong Essi , Jauhiainen Jukka , Paalimäki-Paakki Karoliina
Published: September 2023

Today’s demographic shift towards an aging population is increasing health challenges, and technologies need to be developed to support older people. The national policy in Finland is that older people have the right to live in their own homes for as long as this is safe and meets their needs. However, introducing technology comes with ethical challenges and requires new skills of care personnel. The ethical aspects of technology need to be discussed in more depth.
This study aimed to explore the ethical competence of care professionals who work with older people concerning the introduction of technology that supports living at home and to reveal the issues in this area that need development. The study was based on an electronic survey of 14 care professionals working in home care and used a descriptive qualitative study design. Inductive content analysis revealed four main categories: professional ethics, decision-making, change brought about by technology, and factors affecting the introduction of technology.
This study shows that care professionals, regardless of their level or field of education, recognize professional ethics as a factor that guides their everyday work. However, it seems that ethics are not always realized in practice. To meet older peoples’ needs and wishes decision-making and individual assessment play an important role when introducing technology.
The introduction of technology to support living at home among older people has a strong ethical dimension and requires strong professional ethics. The present study suggests that care personnel have insights into these ethical aspects, but that training, guidelines and operative models are needed to support care professionals’ ethical thinking and decision-making. The results of this study can help health care organizations identify care personnel's training needs and requirements for a clear, uniform process to introduce technology.
Voice and Gesture Controlled D.C. Motor Fan’s Rotational Speed and Direction
Authors: Omweno Samuel Okari , Ketui Daniel , Otieno Calford
Published: September 2023

Physically challenged people in Kenya and the rest of the developing countries in the world; encounter difficulties, when controlling most ofthe motor driven devices in industries and domestic areas of work. In this research paper, a system that utilizes voice and gesture commandsto control the rotational speed and direction of a d.c. (direct current) motor fan is developed. Arduino board is used for providing a link and developing the system hardware parts. The software part is accomplished in Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) using embedded C language. Hardware is then carefully constructed and software porting is done successfully. Outcomes obtained after actual implementation and testing showed that through the use of voice and hand gesture commands speed and direction of a d.c. motor fan can easily be manipulated.
Training and development of employees — a steady trend in the management of human resources in the system of social and labor relations
Authors: Ananchenkova P. I.
Published: September 2023

Modern social and labor relations necessitate the formation of sustainable and effective systems of training and development of employees initiated by top managers and owners of companies. In the conditions of digital transformations and rapid change of technological approaches to the production process, the problem of reproduction of professional skills most in demand by employers is being actualized.

The paper presents data reflecting the position of specialists of analytical and consulting agencies (such as Delloit, BCG, ManpowerGroup, etc.), which identify the following main trends in training and development that determine approaches to the organization and implementation of employee training and development programs: organizational flexibility and continuous training; professional development and retraining for the future; the use of training experience focused on the personal needs of employees; wider use of training platforms — LXP for the purpose of individualization of training; introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the workplace.

It is concluded that in order to maintain competitiveness, organizations must adapt their employee training and development strategies in a timely manner to the conditions of rapidly changing social reality and trends in human resource management.
Extraction of Phytochemical from Murraya Koenigii (L.) Spreng Leaves using Maceration Method
Authors: Asman Saliza
Published: September 2023

Curry leaves, scientifically known as Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng is employed as a flavoring agent in a wide range of dishes and possesses the potential for treatment due to its content of flavonoid, steroid, and phenolic compounds. These compounds exhibit antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In this work, the extraction of phytochemicals from M. koenigii leaves was satisfactorily performed. The extraction process was conducted using a maceration technique with three different solvents: 95 % ethanol, 99 % acetone, and 96 % methanol individually. The qualitative and quantitative of existing phytochemicals compounds in the M. koenigii leaves were analyzed through phytochemical screening and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). The percentage yield shows 21.42 % of methanolic extracts, 6.50 % of acetone extracts, and 11.66 % of ethanolic extracts. The major compounds present from screening phytochemicals are terpenoid, phenolic, glycoside, and saponin. GC-MS result showed the major compounds present in M. koenigii leaves are terpene, terpenoid, carotenoid and alkaloid.
PENGARUH KELOMPOK WANITA TANI TERHADAP PENDAPATAN KELUARGA TANI DI DUSUN PANDEREJO DESA SIMOREJO-WIDANG-TUBAN
Authors: Bela Mufaridiyah Ma’rufah  , Astuty Henny Sri
Published: September 2023

This research aims to determine the influence of women farming groups on increasing the income of farming families in Panderejo Hamlet, Simorejo Widang Village, Tuban. This research is quantitative. The population in the study were all members of the women's farmer group in Panderejo Hamlet, Simorejo Widang Tuban Village, totaling 44 people. Data collection techniques use questionnaires. The sample was determined using a saturated sampling technique or census method. Data analysis techniques use the Validity Test, Reliability Test, Normality Test, Simple Linear Regression, T-test, and Coefficient of Determination. Based on the normality test results, it shows that the correlation value is 0.634. Meanwhile, the results of simple linear regression analysis show that the influence of women farming groups on increasing farming family income is 40.2%, while the remaining is 59.8%. Meanwhile, the participation of women farmer groups was 5,313, where the value was above T -table 2.018 and the T -calculated probability value was 0.000, which was below 0.05. From the results of the statistical analysis above, it can be concluded that the group of women farmers has a significant partial influence on the income of farming families in Panderejo Hamlet, Simorejo Village, Widang Tuba.
The Role of Decentralized Electrode Boiler in Ancillary Services and District Heating: a Feasibility Assessment
Authors: Gicevskis K. , Linkevics O.
Published: September 2023

This article evaluates the feasibility of using electrode boiler in grid ancillary services and district heating scenarios. Electrode boilers in the context of electricity grid management can be considered as a relatively new technology. This study assesses the technical and economic viability of electrode boiler by considering various factors such as energy demand, technical feasibility, economic viability, and regulatory market conditions. The simplified mathematical model has been developed for simulation of electrode boiler use for grid services and heat production. The results have shown that electrode boiler have the potential to be a cost-effective solution for heating and grid balancing services in certain scenarios. However, it may not be applicable or economically viable in all situations or regions; thus, further research and development is needed to fully realize their potential.
Economic and Technological Influences on Integrating Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy into Sub-Saharan African Healthcare Systems to Treat Endemic Hemopathies
Authors: Pranajaya Philip
Published: September 2023

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy involves modifying the genome of a patient’s HSCs to treat their genetic hemopathies. Though potentially revolutionary in treating hemopathies endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa such as HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anemia, economic and technological influences threaten its progress and ability to be effectively integrated into Sub-Saharan African healthcare systems. Health expenditure data from 46 Sub-Saharan African low-to-middle-income countries and 56 non-Sub-Saharan African high-income countries were analyzed to determine the extent to which health expenditure and socioeconomic disparity affect the availability of gene therapy. Statistically significant differences were found and were supported by reviews of literature highlighting disparities in gene therapy development, healthcare system capacity, and socioeconomic status between Sub-Saharan Africa and non-Sub-Saharan African high-income countries. Six points of improvement pertaining to domestic development, international collaboration, production optimization, ease-of-use, patient-conscious business models, and social aid are suggested as means of promoting future integration in Sub-Saharan African healthcare systems, emphasizing the importance of access in ensuring the future benefits of autologous gene therapy.