bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of the digital retrieval system integrating intelligent information and improved genetic algorithm: A study based on art museums
Authors: Lin Cun , Hu XiaoChen , Cheng TianYi , Yin Rao
Published: June 2024

This study aims to develop a digital retrieval system for art museums to solve the problems of inaccurate information and low retrieval efficiency in the digital management of cultural heritage. By introducing an improved Genetic Algorithm (GA), digital management and access efficiency are enhanced, to bring substantial optimization and innovation to the digital management of cultural heritage. Based on the collection of art museums, this study first integrates the collection’s images, texts, and metadata with multi-source intelligent information to achieve a more accurate and comprehensive description of digital content. Second, a GA is introduced, and a GA 2 Convolutional Neural Network (GA2CNN) optimization model combining domain knowledge is proposed. Moreover, the convergence speed of traditional GA is improved to adapt to the characteristics of cultural heritage data. Lastly, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), GA, and GA2CNN are compared to verify the proposed system’s superiority. The results show that in all models, the sample output results’ actual value is 2.62, which represents the real data observation results. For sample number 5, compared with the actual value of 2.62, the predicted values of the GA2CNN and GA models are 2.6177 and 2.6313, and their errors are 0.0023 and 0.0113. The CNN model’s predicted value is 2.6237, with an error of 0.0037. It can be found that the network fitting accuracy after optimization of the GA2CNN model is high, and the predicted value is very close to the actual value. The digital retrieval system integrated with the GA2CNN model has a good performance in enhancing retrieval efficiency and accuracy. This study provides technical support for the digital organization and display of cultural heritage and offers valuable references for innovative exploration of museum information management in the digital era.
The cost of typhoid illness in low- and middle-income countries, a scoping review of the literature
Authors: Debellut Frederic , Friedrich Alena , Baral Ranju , Pecenka Clint , Mugisha Emmanuel , Neuzil Kathleen M.
Published: June 2024

Typhoid fever is responsible for a substantial health burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). New means of prevention became available with the prequalification of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018. Policymakers require evidence to inform decisions about TCV. The economic burden related to typhoid fever can be considerable, both for healthcare providers and households, and should be accounted for in the decision-making process. We aimed to understand the breadth of the evidence on the cost of typhoid fever by undertaking a scoping review of the published literature. We searched scientific databases with terms referring to typhoid fever cost of illness to identify published studies for the period January 1st 2000 to May 24th 2024. We also conferred with stakeholders engaged in typhoid research to identify studies pending completion or publication. We identified 13 published studies reporting empirical data for 11 countries, most of them located in Asia. The total cost of a typhoid episode ranged from $23 in India to $884 in Indonesia (current 2022 United States Dollar [USD]). Household expenditures related to typhoid fever were characterized as catastrophic in 9 studies. We identified 5 studies pending completion or publication, which will provide evidence for 9 countries, most of them located in Africa. Alignment in study characteristics and methods would increase the usefulness of the evidence generated and facilitate cross-country and regional comparison. The gap in evidence across regions should be mitigated when studies undertaken in African countries are published. There remains a lack of evidence on the cost to treat typhoid in the context of increasing antimicrobial resistance. Decision-makers should consider the available evidence on the economic burden of typhoid, particularly as risk factors related to antimicrobial resistance and climate change increase typhoid risk. Additional studies should address typhoid illness costs, using standardized methods and accounting for the costs of antimicrobial resistance.
Determinants of preterm birth among reproductive age women in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data-2019-2022
Authors: Tekeba Berhan , Techane Masersha Asmare , Workneh Belayneh Shetie , Zegeye Alebachew Ferede , Gonete Almaz Tefera , Ahmed Medina Abdela , Wassie Yilkal Abebaw , Wassie Mulugeta , Kassie Alemneh Tadesse , Ali Mohammed Seid , Mekonen Enyew Getaneh , Tamir Tadesse Tarik , Tsega Sintayehu Simie
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Preterm birth is the leading cause of both infant and neonatal mortality. It also had long-term consequences for the physical and neurological development of a growing child. The majority of these and related problems occur in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, due to resource scarcity to sustain the lives of premature babies. Despite this, there is a paucity of recent information on the pooled prevalence and factors associated with preterm birth in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to update the pooled prevalence and determinants of preterm birth in sub-Saharan Africa based on the most recent Demographic and Health Survey data.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design using the most recent demographic and health survey data from eight sub-Saharan African countries was used. We included a total weighted sample of 74,871 reproductive-aged women who gave birth in the five years preceding the survey. We used a multilevel logistic regression model to identify associated factors of preterm birth in sub-Saharan Africa. The adjusted odds ratio at 95% Cl was computed to assess the strength and significance of the association between explanatory and outcome variables. Factors with a p-value of <0.05 are declared statistically significant.

Results

In this study, the pooled prevalence of preterm birth among reproductive-aged women in eight sub-Saharan African countries was 3.11% (95% CI: 2.98–3.25). Working mothers (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38–0.97), being married (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99), and having media exposure (AOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.36–0.96) decrease the odds of preterm birth. On the other hand, being low birth weight (AOR = 17.7; 95% CI: 10.7–29.3), having multiple pregnancies (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.82–6.45), having a history of terminated pregnancies (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01–2.41), being un-educated (AOR = 3.16; 95% CI: 1.12–8.93), being of a maternal age above 35 (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08–2.45), maternal alcohol use (AOR = 19.18; 95% CI: 13.6–38.8), and being in the low socio-economic status (AOR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.11–3.07) of the community increase the odds of preterm birth.

Conclusion

The burden of preterm birth among reproductive-age women in sub-Saharan Africa showed improvements as compared to previous findings. To further lessen the burden, policymakers and other pertinent organizations must prioritize maternal health, expand media access, educate and empower women, and promote a healthy lifestyle for reproductive-age women.
Executives’ academic experience and corporate social responsibility: A case study in China
Authors: Yang XiFeng , Qi MeiHui
Published: June 2024

Fulfilling corporate social responsibility (CSR) is crucial for society’s sustainable development. Executives’ academic experience significantly affects their awareness of social responsibility, value orientation, professional ability, and network resources. Thus, it is critical in CSR-related corporate decision-making. This paper explores the impact of executives’ academic experience on the fulfillment of CSR. It focuses on non-financial, Special treatment enterprises (ST), and ST* enterprises listed in the A-share market from 2012 to 2021. It utilizes a fixed-effects analysis model to examine the relationship between executives’ academic experience and CSR fulfillment. The CSR score and executives’ academic experience were positively correlated. This paper also explores the intermediary role of compensation incentives and the moderating effect of marketization level. Both compensation incentives and the level of marketization positively moderated the relationship between executives’ academic experience and CSR fulfillment. Meanwhile, the robustness results showed that the experimental findings still held after replacing the explained and explanatory variables. This paper contributes to the advancement of the Upper Echelons Theory and provides empirical evidence for the society’s sustainable development.
Mental health and the overall tendency to follow official recommendations against COVID-19: A U-shaped relationship?
Authors: Apouey Bénédicte , Yin Rémi , Etilé Fabrice , Piper Alan , Vögele Claus
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the association between several mental health indicators (depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness) and the overall tendency to follow official recommendations regarding self-protection against COVID-19 (i.e., overall compliance). We employ panel data from the COME-HERE survey, collected over four waves, on 7,766 individuals (22,878 observations) from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. Employing a flexible specification that allows the association to be non-monotonic, we find a U-shaped relationship, in which transitions to low and high levels of mental health are associated with higher overall compliance, while transitions to medium levels of mental health are associated with less overall compliance. Moreover, anxiety, stress, and loneliness levels at baseline (i.e., at wave 1) also have a U-shaped effect on overall compliance later (i.e., recommendations are followed best by those with lowest and highest levels of anxiety, stress, and loneliness at baseline, while following the recommendations is lowest for those with moderate levels of these variables). These U shapes, which are robust to several specifications, may explain some of the ambiguous results reported in the previous literature. Additionally, we observe a U-shaped association between the mental health indicators and a number of specific health behaviours (including washing hands and mask wearing). Importantly, most of these specific behaviours play a role in overall compliance. Finally, we uncover the role of gender composition effects in some of the results. While variations in depression and stress are negatively associated with variations in overall compliance for men, the association is positive for women. The U-shaped relation in the full sample (composed of males and females) will reflect first the negative slope for males and then the positive slope for females.
Relative effect size-based profiles as an alternative to differentiation analysis in multi-species single-cell transcriptional studies
Authors: Papiez Anna , Pioch Jonathan , Mollenkopf Hans-Joachim , Corleis Björn , Dorhoi Anca , Polanska Joanna
Published: June 2024

Combining data from experiments on multispecies studies provides invaluable contributions to the understanding of basic disease mechanisms and pathophysiology of pathogens crossing species boundaries. The task of multispecies gene expression analysis, however, is often challenging given annotation inconsistencies and in cases of small sample sizes due to bias caused by batch effects. In this work we aim to demonstrate that an alternative approach to standard differential expression analysis in single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) based on effect size profiles is suitable for the fusion of data from small samples and multiple organisms. The analysis pipeline is based on effect size metric profiles of samples in specific cell clusters. The effect size substitutes standard differentiation analyses based on p-values and profiles identified based on these effect size metrics serve as a tool to link cell type clusters between the studied organisms. The algorithms were tested on published scRNA-seq data sets derived from several species and subsequently validated on own data from human and bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Correlation of the effect size profiles between clusters allowed for the linkage of human and bovine cell types. Moreover, effect size ratios were used to identify differentially regulated genes in control and stimulated samples. The genes identified through effect size profiling were confirmed experimentally using qPCR. We demonstrate that in situations where batch effects dominate cell type variation in single cell small sample size multispecies studies, effect size profiling is a valid alternative to traditional statistical inference techniques.
Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of some Ethiopian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) accessions using SSR markers
Authors: Zewodu Alemayehu , Mohammed Wassu , Shiferaw Eleni
Published: June 2024

Understanding the genetic diversity of existing genetic resources at the DNA level is an effective approach for germplasm conservation and utilization in breeding programs. However, the patterns of genetic diversity and population structure remain poorly characterized, making germplasm conservation and breeding efforts difficult to succeed. Thus, this study is aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of 49 barley accessions collected from different geographic origins in Ethiopia. Twelve SSR markers were used to analyze all accessions and a total of 61 alleles were found, with a mean of 5.08 alleles per locus. The analysis pointed out the existence of moderate to high values of polymorphic information content ranging from 0.39 to 0.91 and the mean Shannon diversity index(I) was 1.25, indicating that they were highly informative markers. The highest Euclidean distance (1.32) was computed between accession 9950 and two accessions (247011 and 9949), while the lowest Euclidean distance (0.00) was estimated between accessions 243191 and 243192. The result of molecular variance analysis revealed that the highest variation was found among accessions (47) relative to within accessions (44) and among geographic origins (9). Cluster analysis grouped the 49 barley accessions into three major clusters regardless of their geographic origin which could be due to the presence of considerable gene flow (2.72). The result of the STRUCTURE analysis was consistent with neighbor-joining clustering and principal coordinate analysis. Generally, this study concluded that the variation among accessions was more important than the difference in geographical regions to develop an appropriate conservation strategy and for parental selection to use in breeding programs. This information will be helpful for barley conservation and breeding, and it may speed up the development of new competing barley varieties.
Study protocol for the development and validation of a questionnaire evaluating predisposition to immunosuppressant medication non-adherence of kidney pre-transplant patients. The KATITA project
Authors: de Medeiros Oliveira Luana Cristina Lins , Martins Rand Randall , Oliveira Antonio Gouveia
Published: June 2024

Non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication after kidney transplant is an important cause of graft rejection and loss. Approaches to minimization of non-adherence have focused on the identification of episodes of medication non-adherence, but by then irreparable harm to the graft may already have occurred, and a more effective approach would be to adopt preventive measures in patients who may have difficulty in adhering to medication. The aim of this study protocol is to develop and validate a clinical questionnaire for assessing, in kidney transplant candidate patients in the pre-transplant setting, the predisposition to non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication. In this multicenter, prospective study, a pilot questionnaire in Brazilian Portuguese language, composed of Likert-scaled statements expressing patients’ beliefs, behaviors and barriers regarding medication taking will be assembled from a literature review, from focus groups, and an expert panel. The pilot questionnaire will be administered to a minimum of 300 patients in kidney transplant waiting lists and exploratory factor analysis will be used for development of the definitive questionnaire. A random subsample of a minimum of 60 patients will have the scale re-administered after one month for evaluation of test-retest reliability. A multicenter, external validation study will include 364 kidney transplant candidates who will be evaluated immediately before surgery and at months 3, 6 and 12 post-transplant for assessment of concurrent validity, by comparison with two scales that assess medication non-adherence, and for determination of predictive validity using a triangulation method for assessment of medication non-adherence. Structural validity will be assessed with confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling. Cross-cultural generalizability and validity will be assessed by a multicenter study, in which a translation of the scale to another language will be administered to kidney transplant candidate patients from a different culture, with a subsample being selected for test-retest. This study will be conducted in Spain with a Spanish translation of the scale.
Changes in blood catecholamines during induction of general anesthesia in patients with post-induction hypotension undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A single-center prospective cohort study
Authors: Yao Yi , Kong Xia , Chen Xuhui , Zhang Yingying , Liu Xueru , Wang Xiaobin
Published: June 2024

Background

Post-induction hypotension (PIH) often occurs during general anesthesia induction. This study aimed to investigate blood catecholamine levels during induction of general anesthesia in patients with PIH undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

This prospective study included 557 adult patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. PIH was defined as a greater than 20% decrease in systolic blood pressure from the pre-induction value, a systolic arterial pressure of less than 90 mmHg, or both. Plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine during the induction of general anesthesia were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the association between the clinical factors and PIH.

Results

Of the 557 patients, 390 had PIH, and the remaining 167 were allocated to the non-PIH group. Changes in blood adrenaline, noradrenaline levels, or both were more pronounced in the PIH than in the non-PIH group (p<0.05). Age, body mass index, a history of hypertension, preoperative systolic blood pressure, and propofol or sufentanil dose were independent predictors of PIH.

Conclusion

The changes of blood catecholamines in patients with more stable hemodynamics during the induction of general anesthesia are smaller than that in patients with post-induction hypotension.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2200055549, 12/01/2022.
Multi-objective optimization using improved NSGA-II for integrated process planning and scheduling problems in a machining job shop for large-size valve
Authors: Wang Junqiang , Xu Lihua , Sun Shuangqiu , Ma Yunfei , Yu Guofeng
Published: June 2024

This paper studied an integrated process planning and scheduling problem from a machining workshop for large-size valves in a valve manufacturing plant. Large-size valves usually contain several key parts and are generally produced in small-series production. Almost all the parts need to be manufactured in the same workshop at the same time in the plant. Facilities have to handle various items in one order, including different models, sizes, and types. It is a classical NP-hard problem on a large scale. An improved NSGA-II algorithm is suggested to obtain satisfactory solutions for makespan and manufacturing costs, which involve large optimization parameters and interactions. A two-section encoding method and an inserting greedy decoding method are chosen to enable the algorithm. The dynamic population update strategy based on dynamic population update and the adaptive mutation technique depending on the population entropy changing rate are selected for enhancing both the solution quality and population diversity. The methodology was successfully implemented in a real-life case at a major valve machining workshop operated by Yuanda Valve Company in China. By taking into account realistic factors and restrictions that have been identified from a real-world manufacturing setting, this technique aids in bridging the knowledge gap between present IPPS research and practical valve production implementations.
Improvement in inpatient discharge planning for patients with alcohol use disorder with the implementation of a team-based multidisciplinary workflow
Authors: Abiri Parinaz , Jeong Il Seok Daniel , Verdell Amber , Shah Shivani , Entabi Rana , Nguyen Hoanglong
Published: June 2024

Background

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major economic and healthcare burden in the United States. While there is evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for AUD, few physicians implement these therapies on a regular basis.

Objective

To determine the impact of a pharmacy-guided AUD discharge planning workflow on the rate of MAT prescriptions and inpatient readmissions.

Methods

This was a single-centered pre-and-post intervention study over a 6-month period, with a 90-day pre-intervention period and a 90-day post-intervention period. The study included all patients over the age of 18 years admitted to a medicine or surgery floor bed who presented with alcohol withdrawal at any point during their hospital course. The intervention involved a pharmacy workflow, in which a list of patients admitted with alcohol withdrawal was automatically generated and referred to pharmacists, who then provided recommendations to the primary physician regarding prescriptions for naltrexone, acamprosate, and/or gabapentin. The patients were then contacted within 30 days after discharge for post-hospitalization follow-up. Our outcome measures were change in prescription rate of MATs, change in total and alcohol-related 90-day readmission rates, and change in total and alcohol-related 90-day emergency department (ED) visit rates.

Results

The pre-intervention period consisted of 49 patients and the post-intervention period consisted of 41 patients. Our workflow demonstrated a 195% increase in the prescription rate of MATs at discharge (p < 0.001), 61% reduction in 90-day total readmission rate (p < 0.05), 40% reduction in 90-day total ED visit rate (p = 0.09), 92% reduction in 90-day alcohol-related readmission rate (p < 0.05), and 88% reduction in 90-day alcohol-related ED visit rate (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our intervention demonstrated that a pharmacy-based AUD discharge planning workflow has the potential to reduce inpatient readmissions and ED visits for patients with AUD, thus demonstrating improved patient outcomes with the potential to reduce healthcare costs.
Orexin receptor 2 agonist activates diaphragm and genioglossus muscle through stimulating inspiratory neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex, and phrenic and hypoglossal motoneurons in rodents
Authors: Yamada Ryuji , Koike Tatsuki , Nakakariya Masanori , Kimura Haruhide
Published: June 2024

Orexin-mediated stimulation of orexin receptors 1/2 (OX[1/2]R) may stimulate the diaphragm and genioglossus muscle via activation of inspiratory neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex, which are critical for the generation of inspiratory rhythm, and phrenic and hypoglossal motoneurons. Herein, we assessed the effects of OX2R-selective agonists TAK-925 (danavorexton) and OX-201 on respiratory function. In in vitro electrophysiologic analyses using rat medullary slices, danavorexton and OX-201 showed tendency and significant effect, respectively, in increasing the frequency of inspiratory synaptic currents of inspiratory neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex. In rat medullary slices, both danavorexton and OX-201 significantly increased the frequency of inspiratory synaptic currents of hypoglossal motoneurons. Danavorexton and OX-201 also showed significant effect and tendency, respectively, in increasing the frequency of burst activity recorded from the cervical (C3–C5) ventral root, which contains axons of phrenic motoneurons, in in vitro electrophysiologic analyses from rat isolated brainstem–spinal cord preparations. Electromyogram recordings revealed that intravenous administration of OX-201 increased burst frequency of the diaphragm and burst amplitude of the genioglossus muscle in isoflurane- and urethane-anesthetized rats, respectively. In whole-body plethysmography analyses, oral administration of OX-201 increased respiratory activity in free-moving mice. Overall, these results suggest that OX2R-selective agonists enhance respiratory function via activation of the diaphragm and genioglossus muscle through stimulation of inspiratory neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex, and phrenic and hypoglossal motoneurons. OX2R-selective agonists could be promising drugs for various conditions with respiratory dysfunction.
Dimensión jurídica de la corrupción en el contexto del derecho corporativo (con especial referencia a los ordenamientos jurídicos portugués y español)
Authors: De Andrade e Silva Forte dos Santos Niedja
Published: June 2024

Este estudio explora la dimensión jurídica de la corrupción en el derecho corporativo, examinando sus diversos aspectos. El argumento planteado es que comprender mejor la corrupción en el ámbito del derecho corporativo facilitará la identificación de lagunas y el desarrollo de mecanismos para prevenir y combatir la corrupción en los negocios, contribuyendo así a la lucha global contra este fenómeno. La introducción proporciona una visión general del estado actual de la investigación en el campo. La siguiente sección define el concepto de corrupción en los negocios, destacando la importancia del interés social como un enfoque analítico crucial para examinar la convergencia de la gobernanza corporativa y la responsabilidad social en relación con la corrupción. Se hace hincapié en cómo la corrupción puede socavar la rentabilidad, poner en peligro los activos corporativos e impactar a las partes interesadas. A continuación, el artículo explora las respuestas jurídicas a la corrupción empresarial, centrándose en los deberes fiduciarios como base para imponer consecuencias legales en el ámbito del derecho corporativo. También se destacan los conflictos de interés y el abuso de poder como principales fuentes de corrupción en el mundo empresarial. Posteriormente, el artículo aborda los diversos aspectos de la corrupción en el derecho corporativo. Se profundiza en temas como los códigos de gobierno corporativo, los códigos de conducta, la información financiera y no financiera, así como las consideraciones ambientales, sociales y de gobernanza (esg/asg), examinando su relación con la corrupción. La conclusión ofrece un resumen de los principales puntos discutidos a lo largo del artículo, reforzando la importancia de comprender y abordar la corrupción dentro del marco del derecho corporativo.
regulación de las criptomonedas en México y sus principales desafíos jurídicos internacionales
Authors: Tirado Gálvez Reyna Araceli
Published: June 2024

La globalización ha aumentado el intercambio de bienes y servicios, sin embargo, en los últimos años, la pandemia del covid-19 también ayudó a incrementar la movilización de capitales a través de plataformas virtuales en todo el mundo. Es claro que la falta de regulación sobre las criptomonedas como el bitcoin está generando un aumento del blanqueo de capitales por la vulnerabilidad de las legislaciones locales y el aumento de la evasión fiscal según los organismos internacionales. Mediante el método histórico, analítico y documental se analiza la legislación de México, su tratamiento jurídico en cuanto a las monedas virtuales, así como los cambios que se avecinan en los ordenamientos legales. Resulta urgente y necesario regular las monedas virtuales en las leyes de los países para inhibir estas prácticas, fortalecer la transparencia y la rendición de cuentas mediante tratados internacionales, unificar criterios sobre ciberseguridad para enfrentar el anonimato y proteger datos personales. El internet está revolucionando las finanzas internacionales y la economía mundial y el bitcoin son un ejemplo claro de ello y de cómo puede ser utilizado para actividades ilícitas por su falta de regulación.
valores constitucionales de la propiedad y la aplicación del concepto «interés general» como fundamento de la potestad constitucional de corrección patrimonial en la extinción de dominio
Authors: Urbina Mendoza Emilio J
Published: June 2024

La creciente criminalidad económica a nivel global, producto de los procesos globalizadores de las dos últimas décadas, ha obligado al diseño y la ejecución de nuevas formas de combate contra esta tipología de conductas. La incapacidad del Derecho penal para hacer frente con éxito impulsa el péndulo de las políticas criminales hacia la persecución civil-patrimonial, donde, por una ficción jurídica, se instaura un proceso de naturaleza civil contra los bienes de origen ilícito o cuyo uso devino en actividades contrarias a Derecho. Entre las nuevas formas, encontramos el decomiso civil o sin condena, propio de Europa y Norteamérica, o la variante latinoamericana denominada extinción de dominio. Venezuela se incorporó a las naciones que han implementado la extinción de dominio, no sin antes debatir las polémicas de este instituto basado en las tensiones entre los valores de la Constitución y el derecho de propiedad garantizado por el texto fundamental de 1999.
Exploring Challenges Faced by Women Leaders in a Financial Sector in South Africa
Authors: Nduku Sithembile , Hoque Muhammad
Published: June 2024

In recent years, business and industries are striving to find a balance in the workplace since there is a huge gap in inequalities and gender representation is at the forefront in leadership positions. Despite several initiatives from both the public and private sectors, the gap does not appear to be closing over time in the financial sector in South Africa. The aim of the study is to explore the representation of women in leadership roles in financial organisations in greater Durban area. This was a cross-sectional qualitative study conducted among 10 women who were in management positions. They were recruited using purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis was performed to identify themes, the study found that women in leadership positions in the financial industries face a variety of difficulties. The issues range from the way males treat women to stereotypical behaviour, harassment, the pay gap, juggling home and work obligations, and male domination. It is therefore recommended that, to advance women into leadership positions, organizations can create policies, provide mentorship programs, provide networking opportunities, promote women, and enforce gender equity policies.
The Green Transformational Leadership, Green Human Resource Management, Green Innovation and Sustainable Performance: Evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Nhung Tran Thi Bich , Nga Nguyen Thu , Nhu Y Nguyen Ngoc , Thi Nguyen Hao , Son Le Trung
Published: June 2024

Sustainable performance has been an interesting topic and attracted a lot of attention among businesses, scholars and policy planners. Green transformational leadership (GTL), green human resource management (GHRM) and green innovation (GI) are seen as the most important factors in shaping green behaviors, improving competitive advantages and achieving sustainable performance. This study examines the effect of GTL, GHRM, GI on sustainable performance, including environment performance (EP), economic performance (EcP) and social performance (SP). Besides that, this paper also studies the effect of GTL on GHRM and GI as well as the impact of GHRM on GI. A multi-respondent survey was conducted to collect data. Indicators including item loading, cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, average variance extracted are applied to assess the constructs’ convergent credibility and internal consistency. The discriminant validity of the measuring instruments was evaluated using the Fornell - Larcker Criterion and the Heterotrait - Monotrait Ratio. The PLS-SEM analysis method was applied to test hypotheses. The findings of this study reveal that GTL positively and significantly influences GHRM practices and GI. Regarding sustainable performance, the findings of this study also suggest that GTL is positively related to EcP and SP, whereas EP is not. Regarding GHRM, the proposed relationship between GHRM and EP and SP are supported, however, the findings do not support the relationship between GHRM and EcP. Besides that, the result suggests that GHRM positively and significantly affects GI. Concerning the relationship between GI and sustainable performance, the findings show that GI only positively influences EcP and does not impact EP and SP.
Research impact in society and the economy: The digital health revolution in medical care
Authors: Adams Jonathan , Agnihotri Gaurav , Pendlebury David , White Ed
Published: June 2024

This Global Research Report from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) examines the transformative impact of digital health on society and the global economy. Leveraging insights from our collaboration with Times Higher Education at the Digital Health 2024 event at Stanford University, the report integrates research and patent data to highlight the societal benefits of digital health innovations. Key findings include a 70-fold increase in digital health publications since 2013, with AI and advanced analytics driving innovation. The report identifies leading contributors to digital health research, the influence of university research on intellectual property, and the strategic landscape of digital health innovation. It offers a comprehensive view of how digital health research impacts the world by integrating research, commercial, and healthcare data.
Upright Pyramid Surface Textures for Light Trapping and MoOx Layer in Ultrathin Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Omar Halo D.
Published: June 2024

In this work, ray tracing is used to investigate the optical characteristics of various surface structures in ultrathin crystalline silicon (c-Si) for solar cells. Ultrathin c-Si with a thickness of 20 μm is used as the substrate. The light trapping includes front upright pyramids with a molybdenum oxides (MoOx) anti-reflection (AR) layer. Planar ultrathin c-Si (without a MoOx AR layer and upright pyramids) is used as a reference. The wafer ray tracer was developed by a photovoltaic (PV) lighthouse to model the MoOx AR layer to reduce the front surface reflectance and impacts of the AR layer on ultrathin Si solar cells. The optical properties are calculated on the AM1.5 global solar energy spectrum across the 200–1200 nm wavelength region. From the absorbance profile, the photogenerated current density (Jph) in the substrate is also calculated with various surface structures. The front upright pyramids with the MoOx layer result in the largest absorbance enhancement due to the enhanced light scattering by the pyramids and MoOx AR layer. The Jph of 37.41 mA/cm2 is improved when compared to the planar ultrathin c-Si reference. This study is significant as it illustrates the potential of ultrathin c-Si as a promising PV module technology in the future.
Zielorientierte Umweltgestaltung
Authors: Leidig Guido
Published: June 2024

Unpräzis formulierte Umweltziele können nur allzu leicht zu Leerformeln entwertet werden, mit der umweltpolitischen Konsequenz, daß erforderliche Prioritäts- und Evaluationsentscheidungen unterbleiben. Bei der Formulierung und Ableitung von Umweltzielkonzeptionen ergeben sich jedoch vielfach Schwierigkeiten, die häufig daraus resultieren, daß für den Bereich des Umweltschutzes i. d. R. nur globale Ziele mit einem hohen Abstraktionsgrad vorliegen. Um dieses umweltpolitisch bedeutsame Defizit zu beseitigen, wurden methodische Konzepte zur Umwelt-Zielplanung (explorative, normativ-retrograde und kombinative Methode) diskutiert, Bedingungen zur Entwicklung von Umweltzielkonzeptionen abgeleitet (Ableitungsbedingungen, Erreichungsbedingungen, Geltungsbedingungen) sowie Instrumente zur Bewältigung von Zielkonflikten vorgeschlagen (Planzielgewichtung Umweltzielrangordnung übergeordnete Zielbildung). Die Inhalte einer Umweltzielkonzeption umfassen drei Oberziele, die weiter aufzuspalten sind: Schadensvermeidung Schadensbeseitigung und Schadensausgleich.
Pengaruh Digitalisasi dan Pandemi COVID-19 Terhadap Pembentukan Keterampilan Guru di Jepang
Authors: Stahlumb Frichicilia Grace , Iskandar Kurniawaty
Published: June 2024

This paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has implications for the formation of Japanese teachers' skills related to digitalisation, as well as how the teaching and learning situation in Japan has changed as a result. The COVID-19 pandemic has indirectly forced teachers in Japan to adapt and change their teaching methods to students. Discussions on teacher certification and training in Japan, digitization of education in Japan, and the formation of teacher skills in Japan before and after the COVID-19 pandemic are used to explain how digitization was already introduced in education in Japan but was only massively implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study found that current teacher skills in Japan have undergone some changes in standards. The introduction of digitalization in education in Japan as well as the COVID-19 pandemic that entered Japan in 2020 indirectly changed the teaching standards of teachers in Japan. Nowadays, teachers in Japan are not only required to be proficient in teaching but also to act as practitioners in their teaching environment, thus indirectly changing the teaching and learning process in Japan.
The Continuity Of Shinto Theatrical Dance in Aging Society Era: Case Study Of Kagura Dance Revitalization in Matsumae City Hokkaido
Authors: Serang Manuela Bernarda , Srimulyani Nunuk Endah
Published: June 2024

The Kagura dance is a sacred, theatrical dance to entertain the Shinto gods. In several areas, including the city of Matsumae, Hokkaido island, this dance is threatened with extinction due to a lack of the next generation. Using an ethnographic approach, this research aims to describe the development of the Kagura dance and efforts to revitalize the dance amidst the aging society phenomenon that has hit Japan. The data collection techniques used were observation and in-depth interviews. Researchers observed the preparation process for the dance festival for six months and conducted interviews with Shinto priests, local Education and Culture Service employees, and hotel employees to gather data. The research results show that the potential extinction of the Kagura dance is mainly caused by the reduction in the young population because most of the population urbanizes to study and work in big cities. The revitalization strategy that has been carried out is  establishing  the  Kagura  Matsumae  preservation body which oversees the Matsumae shrine, the Kagura Kiyobe Preservation Society, the Haraguchi Preservation Society, and teaching the locality of Matsumae City from elementary to middle school students. The effort has a positive impact on student's awareness of preserving Kagura dance. Some students have joined and become the main members of the Kagura Preservation Body. Since the majority of people moved to the urban areas, the revitalization effort has not been completely successful. However, it can be seen that the city government's awareness and efforts are very high to maintain traditional culture.
The Humanistic Art Perspective: Ono Saseo's Portrayal of Indonesia
Authors: Purnomo Antonius Rahmat Pujo
Published: June 2024

Ono Saseo was a Japanese cartoonist who was recruited as a member of the Japanese Army's Propaganda Division and sent to Java from 1942 to 1945. During his service in Indonesia, he created hundreds of artworks for both military and personal purposes. The purpose of this research is to understand Ono Saseo's views and humanistic values towards the Indonesian people. The research method used is qualitative research, examining Ono Saseo's writings and drawings to uncover the meanings contained within. Additionally, the researcher also examined the opinions of other artist who lived during the same period as Ono Saseo to gain a clearer depiction of Ono. The results of the research show that not all of Ono's drawings published in the Japanese mass media in Indonesia depict elements of Japanese foreign political conflicts against the West, but rather, most of them portray the joyful atmosphere and the harmony of the Indonesian people and Western. Ono's significant attention to the Indonesian society, natural environment, and other nations residing in Indonesia demonstrates his deep humanistic side, both as an intellectual and as a human being.
Natural attenuation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products percolating through rocky substrates – an example based on the Káraný waterworks
Authors: Hrkal Zbyněk , Pasztusek František , Škrob Zdena , Cajthaml Tomáš
Published: June 2024

This survey focused on a detailed analysis of the ability of fluvial Quaternary sediments to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from drinking water. Thirty-eight PPCPs were detected in the Jizera River, which is used after infiltration to produce drinking water by the Káraný waterworks. Several PPCPs occurred in the water at concentrations exceeding 100 ng/l, some of which are not possible to remove (oxypurinol, acesulfame). The presence of PPCPs was monitored after infiltration and during passage through sandy gravels to the receiving well (total distance of 180 m) at monthly intervals in 2022–2023. PPCPs can be divided into different groups based on the results. Iohexol, iopromide, metoprolol, cetirizine, valsartan and clarithromycin were already below the established threshold after passing through 60 m of gravel. Other substances were gradually attenuated and a diverse group of PPCPs remained in the groundwater even after passing through 180 m of subsoil. Surprisingly, the PPCP with a high degree of attenuation, such as metformin, whose concentration drops from the original value of 677 ng/l to 16 ng/l, was in this group. The member of this group with lowest degree of attenuation was sulfamethoxazole with a value of 9%. Five substances (benzotriazole, propylparaben, bisphenol S, hydrochlorothiazide, ibuprofen-2-hydroxy) were identified as the most problematic since they passed through the quaternary fluvial aquifer practically unchanged and the process of qualitative treatment using artificial infiltration appears to be ineffective.
Exploring the therapeutic potential of ethanol extract of Erythrina fusca Lour. roots as an analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory agent in experimental animals
Authors: Nhung Tran Thi Phuong , Quoc Le Pham Tan
Published: June 2024

Erythrina fusca Lour., renowned in traditional medicine for its soothing, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroinhibitory properties, is the focus of our investigation. Expanding on its traditional applications, we assessed the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic characteristics of the ethanol extract from E. fusca root (REEF). Administered orally to mice at varying doses (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg for pain and fever reduction; 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg for anti-inflammatory experiments), REEF's effects were systematically evaluated through parameters such as reaction time, pain inhibition ratio, COX2 and PGE2 levels, rectal temperature, fever inhibition ratio, paw diameter, paw edema inhibition ratio, and inflammatory cytokines. Results reveal that REEF consistently reduced licking and biting time (p < 0.05) in response to formalin-induced pain in mice. Particularly noteworthy was the more pronounced reduction in COX2 and PGE2 during the late phase, with the most significant decrease observed at the 150 mg/kg REEF treatment (p < 0.05). The licking time graph substantiated the analgesic efficacy of REEF, illustrating simultaneous and sustained pain reduction over time. Moreover, REEF significantly alleviated fever (p < 0.05) in mice, with the most substantial effect observed three hours post-yeast injection. REEF not only efficiently reduced body temperature but also countered the fever-inducing effects of yeast at evaluated time points (p < 0.05). In the context of carrageenan-induced inflammation, paw swelling markedly diminished after 4 and 5 hours (p < 0.05). Notably, at the 5-hour mark, REEF treatment at 150 mg/kg dose exhibited significantly superior anti-inflammatory effects (p < 0.05). Additionally, mice treated with REEF (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) exhibited a considerable decrease (p < 0.05) in serum concentrations of TNF-?, IL-1?, and IL-6 compared to the control treatment. The ethanol extract from Erythrina fusca roots demonstrates substantial potential for pain relief, fever reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects, positioning it as a promising herbal resource for the research and development of natural medicinal products with these therapeutic properties.
Slovenian Traditional Music and the Media: A Study of Early Gramophone Records
Authors: Kunej Drago
Published: June 2024

The article focuses on early commercial recorded music on gramophone records and analyses the beginnings of commercialisation and popularisation of Slovenian traditional music through new technical advances and the emergence of the gramophone industry. It is based on an analysis of a large amount of material, collected in the Digital Collection of Gramophone Records at the Institute of Ethnomusicology ZRC SAZU in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as well as on various written sources and metadata. Slovenian material on early gramophone records, known predominantly as 78 rpm records or shellac records, was being recorded for a good fifty years, from the very first recordings in the early 20th century to the end of the era of these gramophone records in the mid-1950s. Due to the characteristics of the mass medium, the traditional music, which can frequently be found on the early Slovenian gramophone recordings, moved outside its traditional and local bounds and becoming part of the culture industry and marketing. The article presents the characteristics of this medium and the recordings made on it, and shows how such recordings can help to shed new light on various aspects of traditional music. It reveals that folk tradition was adapted, popularised and transmitted for different types of audiences and raises the question of commercialism and its influence on the further development of traditional musical creativity, popularisation and contribution to the development of new popular-music genres.