bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insulin resistance, lipids and body composition in patients with coronary artery disease after combined aerobic training and resistance training: a randomised, controlled trial
Authors: Kambic Tim , Božič Mijovski Mojca , Jug Borut , Hadžić Vedran , Lainscak Mitja
Published: March 2023

Background

The effect of resistance training (RT) in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on insulin resistance remains elusive. We examined whether the addition of high-load (HL) or low loads (LL) RT has any effect on the levels of insulin resistance and lipids versus aerobic training (AT) alone in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

Seventy-nine CAD patients were randomised to HL-RT [70–80% of one repetition maximum (1-RM)] and AT, LL-RT (35–40% of 1-RM) and AT or AT (50–80% of maximal power output), and 59 patients [75% males, 15% diabetics, age: 61 (8) years, left ventricular ejection fraction: 53 (9) %] completed the study. Plasma levels of glucose, insulin, blood lipids [total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] cholesterol and body composition were measured at baseline and post-training (36 training sessions).

Results

Training intervention had only time effect on lean mass (p = 0.002), total and LDL cholesterol levels (both p < 0.001), and no effects on levels of glucose and insulin resistance (homeostatic assessment 2-insulin resistance). Total and LDL cholesterols levels decreased following AT [mean difference (95% confidence interval); total cholesterol: − 0.4 mmol/l (− 0.7 mmol/l, − 0.1 mmol/l), p = 0.013; LDL: − 0.4 mmol/l (− 0.7 mmol/l, − 0.1 mmol/l), p = 0.006] and HL-RT [total cholesterol: − 0.5 mmol/l (− 0.8 mmol/l, − 0.2 mmol/l), p = 0.002; LDL: − 0.5 mol/l (− 0.7 mmol/l, − 0.2 mmol/l), p = 0.002]. No associations were observed between post-training change in body composition and post-training change in blood biomarkers.

Conclusions

RT when combined with AT had no additional effect beyond AT alone on fasting glucose metabolism, blood lipids and body composition in patients with CAD.

Trial registration number NCT04638764.
Improving ethanol tolerance of ethyl carbamate hydrolase by diphasic high pressure molecular dynamic simulations
Authors: Zan Qijia , Long Mengfei , Zheng Nan , Zhang Zehua , Zhou Huimin , Xu Xinjie , Osire Tolbert , Xia Xiaole
Published: March 2023

Ethyl carbamate (EC) is mainly found in fermented foods and fermented alcoholic beverages, which could cause carcinogenic potential to humans. Reducing EC is one of the key research priorities to address security of fermented foods. Enzymatic degradation of EC with EC hydrolase in food is the most reliable and efficient method. However, poor tolerance to ethanol severely hinders application of EC hydrolase. In this study, the mutants of EC hydrolase were screened by diphasic high pressure molecular dynamic simulations (dHP-MD). The best variant with remarkable improvement in specific activity and was H68A/K70R/S325N, whose specific activity was approximately 3.42-fold higher than WT, and relative enzyme activity under 20% (v/v) was 5.02-fold higher than WT. Moreover, the triple mutant increased its stability by acquiring more hydration shell and forming extra hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the ability of degrading EC of the immobilized triple mutant was both detected in mock wine and under certain reaction conditions. The stability of immobilized triple mutant and WT were both improved, and immobilized triple mutant degraded nearly twice as much EC as that of immobilized WT. Overall, dHP-MD was proved to effectively improve enzyme activity and ethanol tolerance for extent application at industrial scale.
Mapping reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence and gap maps (EGMs): the same but different— the “Big Picture” review family
Authors: Campbell Fiona , Tricco Andrea C. , Munn Zachary , Pollock Danielle , Saran Ashrita , Sutton Anthea , White Howard , Khalil Hanan
Published: March 2023

Scoping reviews, mapping reviews, and evidence and gap maps are evidence synthesis methodologies that address broad research questions, aiming to describe a bigger picture rather than address a specific question about intervention effectiveness. They are being increasingly used to support a range of purposes including guiding research priorities and decision making. There is however a confusing array of terminology used to describe these different approaches. In this commentary, we aim to describe where there are differences in terminology and where this equates to differences in meaning. We demonstrate the different theoretical routes that underpin these differences. We suggest ways in which the approaches of scoping and mapping reviews may differ in order to guide consistency in reporting and method. We propose that mapping and scoping reviews and evidence and gap maps have similarities that unite them as a group but also have unique differences. Understanding these similarities and differences is important for informing the development of methods used to undertake and report these types of evidence synthesis.
Uniqueness of a nonlinear integro-differential equation with nonlocal boundary condition and variable coefficients
Authors: Li Chenkuan
Published: March 2023

This paper studies the uniqueness of solutions to a two-term nonlinear fractional integro-differential equation with nonlocal boundary condition and variable coefficients based on the Mittag-Leffler function, Babenko’s approach, and Banach’s contractive principle. An example is also provided to illustrate the applications of our theorem.
NEMoE: a nutrition aware regularized mixture of experts model to identify heterogeneous diet-microbiome-host health interactions
Authors: Xu Xiangnan , Lubomski Michal , Holmes Andrew J. , Sue Carolyn M. , Davis Ryan L. , Muller Samuel , Yang Jean Y. H.
Published: March 2023

Background

Unrevealing the interplay between diet, the microbiome, and the health state could enable the design of personalized intervention strategies and improve the health and well-being of individuals. A common approach to this is to divide the study population into smaller cohorts based on dietary preferences in the hope of identifying specific microbial signatures. However, classification of patients based solely on diet is unlikely to reflect the microbiome-host health relationship or the taxonomic microbiome makeup.

Results

We present a novel approach, the Nutrition-Ecotype Mixture of Experts (NEMoE) model, for establishing associations between gut microbiota and health state that accounts for diet-specific cohort variability using a regularized mixture of experts model framework with an integrated parameter sharing strategy to ensure data-driven diet-cohort identification consistency across taxonomic levels. The success of our approach was demonstrated through a series of simulation studies, in which NEMoE showed robustness with regard to parameter selection and varying degrees of data heterogeneity. Further application to real-world microbiome data from a Parkinson’s disease cohort revealed that NEMoE is capable of not only improving predictive performance for Parkinson’s Disease but also for identifying diet-specific microbial signatures of disease.

Conclusion

In summary, NEMoE can be used to uncover diet-specific relationships between nutritional-ecotype and patient health and to contextualize precision nutrition for different diseases.
Impact of anxiety and depression across childhood and adolescence on adverse outcomes in young adulthood: a UK birth cohort study
Authors: Morales-Muñoz Isabel , Mallikarjun Pavan K. , Chandan Joht S. , Thayakaran Rasiah , Upthegrove Rachel , Marwaha Steven
Published: March 2023

Background

Little is still known about the long-term impact of childhood and adolescent persistent depression and anxiety in adulthood.

Aims

To investigate the impact of persistent anxiety, depression, and comorbid anxiety and depression across childhood and adolescence on the development of multiple adverse outcomes in young adulthood.

Method

This study used data from 8122 participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort. The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) examined child anxiety and depression symptomatology. The DAWBA generalised anxiety and mood subscales at 8, 10 and 13 years were selected, and a measure of comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms was created at each time point. Further, several mental and physical health, substance misuse and education/employment problems were assessed at 24 years. Latent class growth analyses were used to detect trajectories of anxiety, depression and comorbid anxiety and depression; and logistic regression to examine how persistent anxiety, depression or both were associated with adverse outcomes at 24 years.

Results

All three classes with persistent anxiety, depression or both were significantly associated with presenting with any mental health problems and any education/employment problem. Persistent high levels of depression and high levels of comorbid anxiety and depression, but not persistent high anxiety, were significantly associated with any physical health problem. High levels of comorbid anxiety and depression was the only DAWBA domain significantly associated with substance misuse; and overall, this was the domain that exerted the greatest negative impact, as it presented the highest odd ratio values.

Conclusions

Children and adolescents with comorbid anxiety and depression are at the highest risk for having more adverse outcomes at 24 years.
Cascade Genetic Risk Education and Testing in Families With Hereditary Cancer Syndromes: A Pilot Study
Authors: Katz Steven J. , Abrahamse Paul , Hodan Rachel , Kurian Allison W. , Rankin Aaron , Tocco Rachel S. , Rios-Ventura Sonia , Ward Kevin C. , An Lawrence C.
Published: March 2023

PURPOSE:

Cascade genetic risk evaluation in families with hereditary cancer can reduce the burden of disease but the rate of germline genetic testing in relatives of patients at risk is low.

METHODS:

We identified all 277 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Georgia in 2017 who linked to a clinically actionable germline pathogenic variant through a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry-variant linkage initiative. We surveyed them, and then invited eligible respondents to an online platform hosted by a navigator that offered cancer genetic risk education and germline genetic testing to untested relatives. We randomly assigned patient-family clusters at the time of the patient enrollment offer to free versus $50 (USD) test cost. Patients invited relatives to join the study through personalized e-mail. Enrolled relatives received online cancer genetic education and the opportunity to order clinical germline genetic testing through the platform. The primary outcome was the number of relatives who ordered genetic testing.

RESULTS:

One hundred twenty-five of 277 patients completed surveys (45.2%). Most respondents were eligible for the trial offer (113 of 125; 90.4%). In the free testing arm, 20 of 56 eligible patients participated (35.7% of eligible respondents) and they invited 28 relatives: 12 relatives enrolled and 10 ordered testing. In the $50 (USD) arm, 16 of 57 eligible patients participated (28.1%) and they invited 38 relatives: 18 relatives enrolled and 17 ordered testing.

CONCLUSION:

Cascade genetic testing in families with hereditary cancer syndromes accrued through a population-based cancer registry can be achieved through an online platform that offers genetic risk education and low-cost testing to relatives. A modest charge did not appear to influence the percentage of participating patients, numbers of participating relatives, and numbers of relatives who received genetic testing.
Development and External Validation of the Spinal Tumor Surgery Risk Index
Authors: Alomari Safwan , Theodore John , Ahmed A. Karim , Azad Tej D. , Lubelski Daniel , Sciubba Daniel M , Theodore Nicholas
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

Patients undergoing surgical procedures for spinal tumors are vulnerable to major adverse events (AEs) and death in the postoperative period. Shared decision making and preoperative optimization of outcomes require accurate risk estimation.

OBJECTIVE:

To develop and validate a risk index to predict short-term major AEs after spinal tumor surgery.

METHODS:

Prospectively collected data from multiple medical centers affiliated with the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2006 to 2020 were reviewed. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic, tumor-related, and surgery-related factors in the derivation cohort. The spinal tumor surgery risk index (STSRI) was built based on the resulting scores. The STSRI was internally validated using a subgroup of patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and externally validated using a cohort from a single tertiary center.

RESULTS:

In total, 14 982 operations were reviewed and 4556 (16.5%) major AEs occurred within 30 days after surgery, including 209 (4.5%) deaths. 22 factors were independently associated with major AEs or death and were included in the STSRI. Using the internal and external validation cohorts, the STSRI produced an area under the curve of 0.86 and 0.82, sensitivity of 80.1% and 79.7%, and specificity of 74.3% and 73.7%, respectively. The STSRI, which is freely available, outperformed the modified frailty indices, the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and the American College of Surgeons risk calculator.

CONCLUSION:

In patients undergoing surgery for spinal tumors, the STSRI showed the highest predictive accuracy for major postoperative AEs and death compared with other current risk predictors.
Αξιολόγηση της αποτελεσματικότητας ενός βραχυπρόθεσμου προγράμματος μετασχηματιστικής εκπαίδευσης ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων για τη βελτίωση της γνώσης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και της σχολικής προσαρμογής μαθητών δημοτικού σχολείου
Authors: Σταύρου Βαΐα
Published: March 2023

Η εκπαίδευση ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων έχει θετική επίδραση στη σχολική ρουτίνα των παιδιών. Ο στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να διερευνήσει την αποτελεσματικότητα μιας μετασχηματιστικής παρέμβασης εκπαίδευσης ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων 12 συναντήσεων για τη βελτίωση της γνώσης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και της σχολικής προσαρμογής των παιδιών. Οι συμμετέχοντες ήταν 340 Έλληνες μαθητές δημοτικού σχολείου που χωρίστηκαν σε ομάδα παρέμβασης (n = 187) και ομάδα ελέγχου (n = 153). Όλα τα μέλη συμπλήρωσαν ένα γραπτό ερωτηματολόγιο μία εβδομάδα πριν από την εφαρμογή της παρέμβασης σχετικά με τις γνώσεις τους για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, τη σχολική εμπλοκή, τις αντιλήψεις για το σχολικό περιβάλλον, τις διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις, την ενσυναίσθηση και τις αντιλήψεις, τις στάσεις και τα συναισθήματα για το σχολείο. Η διαδικασία συμπλήρωσης του ίδιου ερωτηματολογίου επαναλήφθηκε μία εβδομάδα μετά τη λήξη της παρέμβασης και τέσσερις μήνες αργότερα. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι η παρέμβαση ήταν ιδιαίτερα επωφελής, καθώς τα μέλη της ομάδας παρέμβασης έδειξαν σημαντική αύξηση στις γνώσεις τους για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, τη σχολική εμπλοκή, τις αντιλήψεις για το σχολικό περιβάλλον, την ενσυναίσθηση και τη σχολική αρέσκεια, ενώ παρουσίασαν σημαντική μείωση στη σχολική αποφυγή και τη μοναξιά. Τα μέλη της ομάδας ελέγχου δεν ανέφεραν καμία σημαντική βελτίωση με την πάροδο του χρόνου. Τα ευρήματα και οι εφαρμογές της μελέτης σε μελλοντική έρευνα σχετικά με τις παρεμβάσεις στα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα στο σχολείο συζητούνται.
Physical activity in daily life in patients with asthma and the effect of anti-interleukin-5 therapy
Authors: Παναγιώτου Μάριος
Published: March 2023

Ανάλυση των πρώτων δεδομένων για την φυσική δραστηριότητα στην καθημερινή ζωή (ΦΔΚΖ) Ελλήνων ασθενών με άσθμα και σύγκριση τους με τρέχουσες σχετικές κατευθυντήριες οδηγίες και άλλα ταυτοποιημένα ωφέλιμα όρια, ανέδειξαν οριακά επίπεδα ΦΔΚΖ με σημαντικό περιθώρια βελτίωσης, ειδικά στους ασθενείς με σοβαρό άσθμα. Σε μια μη-καθιστική ομάδα ασθενών με σοβαρό άσθμα, η βιολογική θεραπεία με μεπολιζουμάμπη προσέφερε σημαντική και ουσιαστική βελτίωση στην ΦΔΚΖ.
The political influence of diasporas
Authors: Βλάχου Νίκη
Published: March 2023

Η έρευνα εστιάζει στις διασπορές και στην πολιτική δύναμη, την οποία θα μπορούσαν υπό προϋποθέσεις να αποκτήσουν στη χώρα διαμονής τους. Η δύναμη αυτή, αποτελεσματικά αξιοποιούμενη, δύναται να τους επιτρέψει να ασκήσουν πολιτική επιρροή στη λήψη αποφάσεων επί θεμάτων εξωτερικής πολιτικής που αφορούν στη χώρα προέλευσής τους. Παρ’όλ’αυτά και παρά το γεγονός ότι, τουλάχιστον στις δημοκρατικές και ανοικτές σε τέτοιου είδους πολιτικές επιρροές χώρες όπως οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής, το σύνολο των διασπορών απολαμβάνει τις ίδιες ελευθερίες ως προς τη δυνατότητα οργάνωσης και κινητοποίησης, δεν είναι όλες οι διασπορές εξίσου αποτελεσματικές στην άσκηση πολιτικής επιρροής και την επιτυχή προώθηση των θεμάτων τους. Ορισμένες εξ αυτών, όπως η Εβραϊκή διασπορά στις ΗΠΑ θεωρούνται πολύ αποτελεσματικές στην υποστήριξη της χώρας προέλευσής τους, ενώ άλλες πάρ’ολη την προσπάθεια δεν έχουν κατορθώσει να έχουν ανάλογη επιτυχία στην προώθηση των στόχων τους. Επιπλέον, ακόμα και οι διασπορές που θεωρούνται επιτυχημένες και με πολιτική επιρροή στη χώρα διαμονής, δεν καταφέρνουν να προωθήσουν το σύνολο των στόχων τους και κάποιες από τις προσπάθειές τους αποτυγχάνουν. Η έρευνα, επομένως, εστιάζει στους παράγοντες, οι οποίοι δύνανται να ενισχύσουν την ικανότητα της διασποράς να επηρεάσει την λήψη αποφάσεων σε θέματα εξωτερικής πολιτικής στη χώρα διαμονής, υπέρ της χώρας προέλευσης. Μελετώνται τρείς διαφορετικές διασπορές και οι προσπάθειές τους να προωθήσουν τρία συγκεκριμένα θέματα σχετικά με την χώρα προέλευσής τους. Επιπρόσθετα, διαχωρίζοντας τους προαναφερόμενους παράγοντες σε εγγενείς και μεταβλητούς, ανάλογα με τη δυνατότητα ή μη της διασποράς να τους μεταβάλλει και να τους χρησιμοποιήσει προς όφελός της, επιχειρείται να διαπιστωθεί αν η οποιαδήποτε διασπορά έχει τη δυνατότητα να ασκήσει πολιτική επιρροή ή αν η επιτυχία είναι δυνατή από ορισμένες διασπορές, μόνο, οι οποίες έχουν συγκεκριμένα χαρακτηριστικά.
Maternal anaemia care in Kano state, Nigeria: an exploratory qualitative study of experiences of uptake and provision
Authors: Kuliya-Gwarzo Aisha , Tancred Tara , Gordon Daniel , Bates Imelda , Raven Joanna
Published: March 2023

Background: Maternal anaemia (anaemia in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period) remains a persistent challenge, particularly in Kano State, Nigeria, which has the highest prevalence of maternal anaemia globally, at 72%.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano State, Nigeria. We aimed to identify factors constraining uptake and provision of maternal anaemia care, exploring perspectives across different stakeholders. We carried out 10 key informant interviews with policymakers and hospital managers, 28 in-depth interviews with healthcare providers and pregnant women using antenatal services and four focus group discussions with pregnant women’s husbands and mothers-in-law. Data were analysed thematically.

Results: Issues with provision include a lack of provider training and guidelines specific to maternal anaemia and blood transfusion, insufficient staff to meet increasing demand, and inadequate resources. Issues with uptake include the inability to afford informal user fees, distrust in health services and the blood transfusion process, and a lack of understanding of the causes, consequences, and treatment for anaemia, resulting in poor uptake of care and adherence to treatment.

Conclusions: This study recommends the implementation of standardized guidelines and training sessions to better support healthcare providers in offering quality services and increasing funding allocated to supporting maternal anaemia care. Education initiatives for service users and the public are also recommended to build public trust in health services and to improve understanding of maternal anaemia.
How maternal obesity affects pregnancy? - literature review
Authors: Kalicka Maria , Bielak Alicja , Gryta Jakub , Iwan Karolina , Janczewska Martyna , Kolasa Agata , Krysa Tomasz , Radziejowska Zuzanna , Szklarz Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Obesity is a well-known risk factor for many health problems. Recently, the increasing number of obese pregnant patients deserves our special attention, because maternal obesity is associated with numerous complications during the antepartum, intrapartum, and immediate postpartum stages of pregnancy.
Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to collect and summarize the latest views on maternal obesity in pregnancy and highlights the complications associated with it.
Material and methods: Literature review was performed in English different databases, using keywords: morbid obesity, super-obesity, maternal obesity, pregnancy, complications.
Results and conclusions: In our systematic review we would like to present the most important threats of obesity among pregnant women such as: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrinology and gestational weight gain problems; pregnancy loss; fetal anomalies; anesthetic and delivery problems; breastfeeding disorders; problems with contraception and long-distant effects in a child's adult life. Therapeutic success of such a pregnancy should consist of the cooperation of many specialists. This phenomenon of maternal obesity will certainly spread in the future and for this reason - awareness of this problem is very important for both patients and physicians taking care of them.
Online synchronous inspection and system optimization of flexible food packaging bags by using machine vision and sensing technique
Authors: Gu Lizhi , Li Qiong , Huang Ehui , Li Mingrui , Gao Shanping , Yen Kin Sam , Li Shuting , Zhou Junqin , Chen Zhenjie
Published: March 2023

Flexible food packaging in the market is increasingly favored, and its quality is essential and indispensable for safety and convenience.  However, quality inspection still stays in the manual stage, or partially manual inspection remains, in production, leading low efficiency, lack and even false inspection, hardly meeting the requirements of the modern output.  This paper proposes and optimizes the design of an automatic detection system with intelligence for flexible food packaging bag, which can effectively be adopted to check the quality of packaging trademark patterns, fillers, and sealing quality.  The inspection system runs with two-stage structure, machine vision, pressure sensing and synchronization to improve efficiency and ensure the normal production beat. Simplex Method is adopted to determine the best synchronous speeds online to achieve the best expectation. Comparison has been made between the manual inspection and our automatic operation, the sample of 10000 was statistically analyzed and results have shown that two workers were saved and the correctness rate of inspection raised up to 999.8‰.
Analysis of the effect of temperature and raw material mixes on the pyrolysis process with single retort-rocket stove technology on the characteristics of sawdust charcoal briquettes
Authors: Mansyur Syaiful , Apriani Enda
Published: March 2023

Government-subsidized LPG gas as household fuel for the poor is increasingly scarce. The discourse to return to using traditional fuels emerged because one of the biomass wastes, namely wood processing in the form of sawdust produced by small and medium industries, can be used to replace LPG gas. This study aims to determine the effect of peak temperature and sawdust mixture on making charcoal briquettes with Single Retort-Rocket Stove Pyrolysis Technology. This technology is one of the alternative pyrolysis technology used for self-heating. This technology is cleaner because the smoke can help speed up combustion to be more energy-efficient. The Rocket Stove system allows spreading of heat from the bottom to the top of the reactor. The raw material for use from Mahogany and Sonokeling Sawdust. Both types of sawdust combine with different ratios. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) non-factorial methods showed that all treatments, namely the ratio of sawdust mixtures and the temperature settings used, greatly influenced the proximate value obtained, where all experiments were very significantly different because Fcalculate > Ftable (0.05). The best briquette proximate results were found in an optimum mixture of rosewood and mahogany with a ratio of 70:30 at 350°C with a setting time of 1 hour, which is close to the SNI 01-6235 standard, with respective characteristic values, namely: 5.5% moisture content; ash content 5.3%; bonded carbon 66.2%; volatile matter content of 22.8% and a caloric value of 6470 cal/gr.
Long term currency forecast with multiple trend corrected exponential smoothing with shifting lags
Authors: Sutcu Muhammed , Gulbahar Ibrahim Tumay
Published: March 2023

In the current global economy, exchange rate forecasting is critical for investors and businesses seeking to make informed investment decisions and manage risk. While many short-term exchange rate forecasting methods exist, long-term forecasting methods are limited and often fail to account for the complex macroeconomic factors that influence exchange rate trends. However, investors need to have an analytically examined basis for deciding to invest, which requires knowing more about the future values of the related market currency. This paper proposes a new Multiple Trend Corrected Exponential Smoothing with Shifting Lags model to forecast long-term exchange rates, which incorporates multiple trend corrections and shifting lags to provide more accurate predictions of future currency values. We apply the proposed method to six currency pairs (USD/EUR, USD/NOK, USD/TRY, USD/CNY, USD/XOF, and USD/MGF) from 2006 to 2018 and compare its performance to existing methods, such as moving average, weighted moving average, and exponential smoothing. Our results show that the proposed model provides more accurate long-term exchange rate forecasts for developed countries than existing methods. Our findings have important implications for investors and businesses seeking to manage currency risk and make informed investment decisions in the global economy.
NOTAS DE UMA PESQUISA COM INTELECTUAIS NEGROS(AS) DA ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PESQUISADORES(AS) NEGROS(AS) DA BAHIA/APNB: “amefricanizando” experiências em um “xirê” epistêmico decolonial
Authors: Santos Luiz Gustavo Santos da Silva Gustavo
Published: March 2023

O artigo apresenta algumas reflexões sobre uma pesquisa que contou com o financiamento da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Inserida no campo de estudos dos cotidianos, estabeleceu diálogos com intelectuais da Associação de Pesquisadores(as) Negros(as) da Bahia (APNB) buscando compreender, entre outras questões, como se posicionam na luta antirracista e quais repertórios político-culturais influenciaram e ainda mantêm unidos(as) estes(as) mesmos(as) pesquisadores(as) em torno da Associação. No presente texto, estão descritos os caminhos metodológicos percorridos na pesquisa, além dos descritivos da APNB. Com base nos pressupostos da história oral estabeleceu-se um “xirê” epistêmico decolonial, uma aproximação, representação simbólica tomada por empréstimo do universo epistemológico afro-brasileiro, especificamente das religiões de matrizes africanas que serviu como ferramenta fundamental permitindo localizar, a partir das narrativas destes(as) intelectuais negros(as), as suas experiências nos diversificados movimentos negros e nas universidades. Todas essas questões foram desenvolvidas à luz do conceito de Amefricanidade (GONZALEZ, 1988).
EVENTOS E IDENTIDADE NEGRA NA UNIVERSIDADE
Authors: Oliveira Tatiane de , Santos Sérgio Pereira dos
Published: March 2023

Uma das missões das universidades brasileiras é propiciar, além das técnicas e da ciência, uma educação integral que valoriza e respeita o ser humano por completo considerando as diferenças raciais, culturais, históricas, identitárias, das classes sociais, de gêneros, entre outras. Uma das formas desta valorização pode ser feita por meio das atividades extrassala de aula, a exemplo dos eventos, que são realizados durante os vários anos, em média de quatro a cinco, em que os(as) estudantes passam na universidade. Desse modo, com foco na educação antirracista, o objetivo deste artigo é compreender a relevância dos eventos que tratam das questões raciais, no processo de afirmação das identidades negras, na Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), na visão de professores e estudantes negros e brancos, bem como analisar a dinâmica em que esses processos acontecem. A pesquisa é qualitativa e analisa as narrativas de vida desses sujeitos, em perspectiva etnossociológica, a partir de dados de uma pesquisa de mestrado em Educação. As perguntas norteadoras da pesquisa são: existe apoio institucional para esses eventos? Como se dá essa relação? Os resultados apontam que as reflexões e as discussões proporcionadas por esses eventos acontecem, principalmente, depois de uma entrada maior de negros(as) na universidade, principalmente pela iniciativa dos próprios coletivos negros. A partir dos dados, percebe-se que os eventos desses coletivos favorecem as afirmações das identidades negras e oportunizam uma educação antirracista, entretanto, muitas vezes, sob pressões e conflitos.
ECOLOGIZANDO E DIALOGIZANDO SABERES DECOLONIAIS, PÓS-HUMANISTAS E INDÍGENAS PARA SE (RE)PENSAR A LINGUAGEM
Authors: Oliveira Magalhães Victor Hugo
Published: March 2023

Após o contexto de pandemia que vivemos, fomos impelidas(os), quiçá forçadamente, a refletir sobre em que pé se encontra nossa relação com o planeta e a natureza, de forma geral. É urgente, portanto, pensar em modos de vida alternativos aos anteriormente vividos/impostos. A decolonialidade, por um lado, urge que examinemos os efeitos e ranços coloniais sobre os corpos e saberes não brancos/europeus, em especial os latinos, negros e indígenas, a fim de retirá-los da subalternidade e resgatá-los para uma posição de legitimidade. O pós-humanismo, por outro, questiona mais a fundo o que significa “ser humano”, entendendo essa figura como imersa em uma complexa rede de relações com entidades não-humanas. Ambos os projetos se cruzam, segundo Sousa e Pessoa (2019), na medida que enxergam nas onto-epistemologias indígenas vias para se imaginar uma convivência mais justa entre entidades humanas e não-humanas. Respaldada pela ideia de ecologia dos saberes (SANTOS, 2007) e diálogos interepistêmicos (NASCIMENTO, 2017), a proposta deste texto é “ecologizar/dialogizar” elaborações de autoras(es) que se debruçam sobre a decolonialidade, o pós-humanismo e as onto-epistemologias e cosmologias indígenas, a fim de refletir sobre uma (nova) concepção de linguagem.
More Than Just a Game: Teachers’ Experiences of the PAX Good Behavior Game
Authors: Holmdahl Ale , Schad Elinor , Nilsson Gustav , Kaldo Viktor
Published: March 2023

The PAX Good Behavior Game (PAX-GBG) is an evidence-based universal preventive intervention program for classroom use. Our aim was to explore teachers’ perceptions of PAX-GBG and their work with it, and whether this changed during the implementation of the intervention. In addition, we explored teachers’ perceptions, and changes in perceptions, regarding how they perceived their workload when learning and using PAX, how it influenced relationships in the classroom and students with special needs. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with six female teachers at three time-points during a school year. Based on thematic analysis, four themes illustrating teachers’ experiences and the perceived effects of PAX-GBG on classroom relationships were identified: (1) Working with PAX-GBG, (2) The Game, (3) Focus on Behaviour, and (4) Relationships. A notable finding was that most teachers, at the outset, had concerns regarding the PAX Game and that these concerns mostly disappeared after they had experienced working with it. Based on improved student behaviours and overall enhanced relationships in the classroom, our results show that PAX-GBG is a suitable intervention for all students. Students with special needs may especially benefit due to a focus on clear expectations, positive reinforcement, and a more inclusive classroom climate. Some remaining concerns regarding the universal suitability of the game need to be explored further in future studies. Based on the results in this study, PAX-GBG seems to have high social validity in a Swedish context.
A business process re-engineering approach to transform business process simulation to BPMN model
Authors: Choudhary Reema , Riaz Nauman
Published: March 2023

Software reverse engineering and reengineering are becoming common in the field of games and website development. Simulation and modeling play an important role in understanding the flow of the overall system. Business process modeling notation (BPMN) is used to show the overall architecture of the business process. Simulated business process re-engineering is essential for implementing change or creating new processes. The simulation model explains whether a change will be successful or not prior to adopting any new business processes or other changes. Some available tools help convert the BPMN to a simulating BPMN model but converting the discrete event simulation model build in commercial off the shelf simulation packages like Simul8 to the BPMN to help generate business process simulation to BPMN is also a key challenge. This framework is introduced to convert the simulation model to BPMN using the reverse engineering concept to understand how the converting tools convert the BPMN model to the simulation model. After understanding this process, the concept of reengineering will be used to build a BPMN from the simulation model. The framework is divided into three main parts model translation, model mapping, and model formation. For model building, two simulation tools Simul8 and BPSimulator are used. It is then tested on two case studies bank and product manufacturing. The output shows the BPMN model is generated from the simulation model within less time on a single click saving time and resources for developing BPMN model first and then making simulation model for testing purpose.
Pregnant women’s awareness, perception, and acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine attending antenatal clinics in Bharatpur, Nepal
Authors: Dhakal Radha , Shapkota Sushma , Shrestha Parita , Adhikari Prativa , Nepal Shobhana
Published: March 2023

Background

Vaccine is the cost-effective and reliable public health intervention to combat the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccination is considered safe and effective at any stage of pregnancy; however, pregnant women show more vaccine hesitation than the general population. This study aims to assess pregnant women’s awareness, perception, and acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine attending antenatal clinics.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional analytical study design was used to assess the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among pregnant women between Feb-1 to March-30–2022 at antenatal clinics of Bharatpur Chitwan using systematic random sampling. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from 644 respondents. Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics like the Pearson chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was found to be 22% and ethnicity (AOR = 1.826; 95% CI = 1.215–2.745), education level (AOR = 1.773; 95%CI = 1.025–3,068;), history of COVID-19 infection (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI = 1.323–9.956;), number of child (AOR = 5.021; 95% CI 1.989–12.677;), trimester (week of pregnancy) (AOR = 2.437; 95% CI 1.107–5.366) and level of perception (AOR = 2.152; 95% CI 1.109–4.178) were found to be statistically significant for acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant mother.

Conclusions

In this study, low levels of vaccine acceptance were found. Several influential factors like occupation, history of COVID-19 infection, number of pregnancies, week of gestation, and level of attitude were found to be significant for acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women. Everyone needs vaccine acceptance to get herd immunity and reduce the COVID-19 infection. But Vaccine hesitancy is one of the significant threats to the COVID-19 rollout and successful pandemic mitigation. Therefore, properly disseminating information and removing misperceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine is necessary to raise the acceptance.
Minimum entropy collaborative groupings: A tool for an automatic heterogeneous learning group formation
Authors: Vallès-Català Toni , Palau Ramon
Published: March 2023

For some decades now, theories on learning methodologies have advocated collaborative learning due to its good results in terms of effectiveness and learning types and its promotion of educational and social values. This means that teachers need to be able to apply different criteria when forming heterogeneous groups of students and to use automated techniques to assist them. In this study, we have created an approach based on complex network theory to design an algorithm called Minimum Entropy Collaborative Groupings (MECG) in order to form these heterogeneous groups more effectively. The algorithm was tested firstly under a synthetic framework and secondly in a real situation. In the first case, we generated 30 synthetic classrooms of different sizes and compared our approach with a genetic algorithm and a random grouping. In the latter case, the approach was tested on a group of 200 students on two subjects of a master’s degree in teacher training. For each subject there were 4 large groups of 50 students each, in which collaborative groups of 4 students were created. Two of these large groups were used as random groups, another group used the CHAEA test and the fourth group used the LML test. The results showed that the groups created with MECG were more effective, had less uncertainty and were more interrelated and mature. It was observed that the randomized groups did not obtain significantly better LML results and that this cannot be related to any emotional or motivational effect because the students performed the test as a placebo measure. In terms of learning styles, the results were significantly better with LML than with CHAEA, whereas no significant difference was observed in the randomized groups.
Private placements of equity and accessibility of bank loans
Authors: Song Xin , Liu Chao , Ding Zijie , Huang Chenchen , Zhang Qiongyao
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the changes in quantity and cost of bank loans after a private placement of common stocks by A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2021. This research is derived from the signaling theory and is based on a difference-in-difference design. Through propensity score matching, the sample comprises companies that placed equity privately in the experiment group and companies that did not place equity privately in the control group. We find evidence that the increase in bank loans slowed down, and the cost of bank loans increased after the private placement. The signaling effect of private placements is robust to various additional tests. Further analysis indicates that when state-owned enterprises place equity privately, their access to bank loans is not affected. When institutional investors participate in the private placement, the company’s access to bank credit does not go through significant changes. In addition, private placements by companies located in regions with higher levels of marketization of the financial market do not reduce the cost of bank loans.
Network analysis reveals abnormal functional brain circuitry in anxious dogs
Authors: Xu Yangfeng , Christiaen Emma , De Witte Sara , Chen Qinyuan , Peremans Kathelijne , Saunders Jimmy H. , Vanhove Christian , Baeken Chris
Published: March 2023

Anxiety is a common disease within human psychiatric disorders and has also been described as a frequently neuropsychiatric problem in dogs. Human neuroimaging studies showed abnormal functional brain networks might be involved in anxiety. In this study, we expected similar changes in network topology are also present in dogs. We performed resting-state functional MRI on 25 healthy dogs and 13 patients. The generic Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire was used to evaluate anxiety symptoms. We constructed functional brain networks and used graph theory to compare the differences between two groups. No significant differences in global network topology were found. However, focusing on the anxiety circuit, global efficiency and local efficiency were significantly higher, and characteristic path length was significantly lower in the amygdala in patients. We detected higher connectivity between amygdala-hippocampus, amygdala-mesencephalon, amygdala-thalamus, frontal lobe-hippocampus, frontal lobe-thalamus, and hippocampus-thalamus, all part of the anxiety circuit. Moreover, correlations between network metrics and anxiety symptoms were significant. Altered network measures in the amygdala were correlated with stranger-directed fear and excitability; altered degree in the hippocampus was related to attachment/attention seeking, trainability, and touch sensitivity; abnormal frontal lobe function was related to chasing and familiar dog aggression; attachment/attention seeking was correlated with functional connectivity between amygdala-hippocampus and amygdala-thalamus; familiar dog aggression was related to global network topology change. These findings may shed light on the aberrant topological organization of functional brain networks underlying anxiety in dogs.
Sport culture and communication among middle school athletes, parents, and staff: A qualitative study
Authors: Kerr Zachary Yukio , Gildner Paula , Parker Stephanie K. , Kostogiannes Vasiliki , Callahan Christine E. , Nedimyer Aliza K. , Kossman Melissa K. , Chandran Avinash , Register-Mihalik Johna K.
Published: March 2023

Middle school (MS) is an intermediary level of education between elementary and secondary school that typically includes students aged 10–15 years. There is limited research within the MS sport setting, particularly related to sport-related injury prevention. This qualitative study aimed to better understand the sport culture within MS sports and the communication strategies used among invested groups (i.e., athletes, parents, staff inclusive of coaches and school nurses). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 athletes, 20 parents, and 18 staff (e.g., coaches, school nurses) from seven MS in two school districts during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 school years. Topics focused on understanding school- and sport-related factors related to education, safety, and communication. Analysis used a consensual qualitative research tradition, in which the research team discussed individually developed themes and categories from transcribed interviews, with the goal of coming to a consensus and creating a codebook. Throughout the coding process, the research team would reconvene to discuss coding decisions until consensus was reached. This study focuses on the themes of sport culture and communication. Dominant categories identified within sport culture related to participants noting why they were interested in MS sports, and their struggles with their perceived roles and engagement (e.g., helping parents stay engaged, finding coaches, oversight of school nurses). Competitiveness and safety could have conflicting roles and priority. Dominant categories identified within communication centered around limited communication between coaches and parents. Technological assistance (e.g., phone apps, websites) was available, but often varied by school and sport. Concussions were seldom discussed unless during the preseason meeting or when one occurred. Findings highlight that the MS sport settings may struggle with incorporating primary prevention into their cultures and ensuring reliable communication among individuals. Novel and tailored approaches to injury prevention are needed to help ensure buy-in and proper implementation.
Connecting higher education to workplace activities and earnings
Authors: Chau Hung , Bana Sarah H. , Bouvier Baptiste , Frank Morgan R.
Published: March 2023

Higher education is a source of skill acquisition for many middle- and high-skilled jobs. But what specific skills do universities impart on students to prepare them for desirable careers? In this study, we analyze a large novel corpora of over one million syllabi from over eight hundred bachelors’ granting US educational institutions to connect material taught in higher education to the detailed work activities in the US economy as reported by the US Department of Labor. First, we show how differences in taught skills both within and between college majors correspond to earnings differences of recent graduates. Further, we use the co-occurrence of taught skills across all of academia to predict the skills that will be taught in a major moving forward. Our unified information system connecting workplace skills to the skills taught during higher education can improve the workforce development of high-skilled workers, inform educational programs of future trends, and enable employers to quantify the skills of potential workers.
Reward-related self-agency is disturbed in depression and anxiety
Authors: Mehta Marishka M. , Na Soojung , Gu Xiaosi , Murrough James W. , Morris Laurel S.
Published: March 2023

Background

The sense of agency, or the belief in action causality, is an elusive construct that impacts day-to-day experience and decision-making. Despite its relevance in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders, it is widely under-studied and remains difficult to measure objectively in patient populations. We developed and tested a novel cognitive measure of reward-dependent agency perception in an in-person and online cohort.

Methods

The in-person cohort consisted of 52 healthy control subjects and 20 subjects with depression and anxiety disorders (DA), including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The online sample consisted of 254 participants. The task consisted of an effort implementation for monetary rewards with computerized visual feedback interference and trial-by-trial ratings of self versus other agency.

Results

All subjects across both cohorts demonstrated higher self-agency after receiving positive-win feedback, compared to negative-loss feedback when the level of computer inference was kept constant. Patients with DA showed reduced positive feedback-dependent agency compared to healthy controls. Finally, in our online sample, we found that higher self-agency following negative-loss feedback was associated with worse anhedonia symptoms.

Conclusion

Together this work suggests how positive and negative environmental information impacts the sense of self-agency in healthy subjects, and how it is perturbed in patients with depression and anxiety.