bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curculionidae and Rhynchitidae community (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) in different ecosystems of eastern Black Sea and northeastern Anatolia of Türkiye.
Authors: ALASERHAT İsmail , GÜRBÜZ Ramazan , ALPTEKİN Harun , DOĞAN Dilek
Published: November 2023

1. The Curculionoidea superfamily is represented by approximately 62,000 species identified in the world and 1,700 species in Türkiye. Individuals belonging to this family are considered to be highly specialized phytophagous insects. Some species are known as agricultural and forest pests, others as biological control agents for weed control or as bioindicators for desertification detection. 2. Therefore, knowledge of the abundance and diversity of native Curculionoidea species associated with different ecosystems and the design and implementation of specific measures to prevent or control their damage is essential. 3. In this study, three different periods (early summer, summer and autumn), locations and altitudes were sampled to investigate the species composition, abundance and diversity of the Curculionoidea community in different ecosystems, namely fruit orchards, forest areas, weeds and forage crops in northeastern Türkiye during 2010–2013 and 2016–2017 (6 years in total). 4. A total of 5580 individuals were collected (3770 in 2010, 70 in 2011, 1190 in 2012, 430 in 2013, 80 in 2016 and 40 in 2017), belonging to 32 species from two families. Of these, 3350 belonged to the Curculionidae (1890 males, 1460 females) and 2230 to the Rhynchitidae (1180 males, 1050 females). Phyllobius glaucus (%25.5), Tatianaerhynchites aequatus (17.77%), Rhynchites bacchus (10.05%), Rhynchites auratus (8.80%) and Polydrusus ponticus (4.85%) were determined as the first stage Curculionoidea species in terms of distribution and density. A large number of the species (26 species) were caught in all the ecosystems and, in general, with a higher abundance in the early summer. The highest levels of abundance and diversity of the Curculionoidea have been observed in fruit orchards. However, between ecosystems, localities, altitudes, years and sampling periods, these parameters (abundance and diversity) varied considerably. 5. Further research into how the composition of the vegetation cover shapes the Curculionoidea community is essential to implement strategies to prevent, reduce or control their damage.
COVID-19 Correlated with Wellbeing-Quality of Life, and Digital Healthcare Services
Authors: Adamopoulos Ioannis , Bardavouras Antonis
Published: November 2023

Background: COVID-19 is related to wellbeing quality of life, and digital healthcare services may have been understudied to date in terms of examining socio-demographic characteristics.
Methodology: This study used self-reports regarding digital health, and wellbeing - quality of life questionnaires given to participants attending the Hippocrates Hospital in Athens, Greece (N = 167). Participants were initially asked to answer questions about the COVID-19 epidemic. The study's data was analyzed using IBM SPSS V.26.
Results: The study's conclusions concern the role of age. People who are younger appear to be more likely to believe that quality of life is simply a flu-like sickness that is normally innocuous. Furthermore, the greater the perceived impact of the epidemic, the higher the participants' digital healthcare Services .
Conclusions: The findings of this study addressing the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and the analyzed parameters are consistent with previous literature. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the critical importance of digital health care Services in relation to the perception of the severity of the issue during the Wellbeing-Quality of Life connected with the pandemic.
Efficiency Evaluation of Expanded Granular Sludge Blanket (EGSBR) to treat the Tannery Wastewater in an Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: v Vivekanandhan , Pandi K. , Sekar B. , Kumar E. Santhosh
Published: November 2023

The tannery wastewater is highly hazardous and intricate, what is discharged without proper treatment and also it affect the environment and human health. In Tamil Nadu, there are numerous small scale tannery industries has discharged large amount of tannery wastewater in river stream. The proper treatment process is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance efficiency of EGSBR, removal percentage of COD, Chromium removal and recovery of biogas in an anaerobic digestion. The varying hydraulic retention time 5.21, 2.60, 1.74, 1.30 and 1.04 days followed throughout the experiment. The efficiency of COD removal percentage was attained 85.52% with 0.27 m3/kg COD of biogas production at 5.21 days of HRT, with an 1.512 kg COD/m3 of Organic loading rate. The decrease in Volatile fatty acid and Volatile suspended solid shows the active performance of microorganism in the reactor. The percentage of chromium removal efficiency was 85% with a 1.436 kg COD/m3/day OLR at 5.21 days of HRT. The maximum biogas generation was 0.27 m3/kg COD. The kinetic modeling was studied for the substrate degradation.
A Case of Balo’s Concentric Sclerosis Confirmed by Stereotactic Intracranial Brain Biopsy and Literature Review
Authors: Hang Hang , Ren Siying , Mao Yuanhong , Wu Guofeng , Wang Likun
Published: November 2023

Baló's Concentric Sclerosis (BCS) is an extremely rare central nervous system demyelinating disease, often presenting as acute or subacute neurological damage, with lesions typically occurring in the brain white matter. On MRI, it manifests as one or more concentric circular structures, forming multilayered ring-like patterns. Balo's Concentric Sclerosis, named after the Hungarian neuropathologist József Balo, was first defined in 1928. Traditionally, BCS was identified postmortem, but in recent years, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a crucial diagnostic method, allowing effective diagnosis and treatment during a patient's lifetime. While brain biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing this condition, reports of intracranial biopsy cases are relatively scarce. This article reports a case of BCS diagnosed through stereotactic intracranial brain biopsy and MRI, aiming to further enhance understanding of this disease.
SM-GMVAE: An intelligent evaluation model for defect depth based on few ultrasonic signals
Authors: Li Zhifeng , Liu Xiaojian , Li Runchen , Liu Weihua , Song Yaqin
Published: November 2023

Ultrasonic non-destructive detection is widely used for recognition and estimation of structural defects. Deep learning, especially deep neural network (DNN) has become a research hotspot for defect automated evaluation. Nonetheless, most current models are based on supervised learning approaches. To improve the performance of model, more data is needed to train model. Unfortunately, the collection of data in industrial scenarios is often limited and data labeling is also a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. In order to overcome this problem, This paper proposed a novel Similarity Metric Gaussian Mixture Variational Auto-Encoder model (SM-GMVAE) that combines few-shot learning and non-destructive testing techniques to evaluate defect depth with limited data. This model is designed into two modules: feature extraction (FE) module and similarity metric (SM) module. The FE module is designed to extract the feature of defect signal via the Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE). The SM module is used to measure the similarity of two defect signal based on the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). Moreover, sparse filtering techniques are used to enhance the fused features in the SM module. To validate proposed model, several specimens containing defects of different depths were produced. We construct the defect dataset based on defective ultrasound detection signals and several case studies on this datasets. The results demonstrate that the GMM and sparse filtering techniques used in our model can improve the model evaluation accuracy, and the proposed model outperforms other models.
Functional Insights into Hypothyroidism Etiology through Complementary Genetic Association Methods
Authors: Zucker Roei , Kovalerchik Michael , Stern Amos , Kaufman Hadasa , Linial Michal
Published: November 2023

Background
Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder that increases with age. The disease manifests itself when the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient thyroid hormones. The disorder includes cases of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) due to thyroid development abnormalities. However, the majority of cases in the developed world derive from dysregulation of the hormonal feedback of the pituitary gland and the destruction of the thyroid gland by autoantibodies. In this study, we sought to identify hypothyroidism causal genes by applying a diverse collection of genome association studies to large populations.
Methods
The study used the UK-Biobank (UKB) database to report 13,687 cases of European ancestry and approximately 260,000 controls. To identify the associated variants, GWAS and coding-GWAS protocols were used. In addition, applying the complementary genetic association methods of PWAS (proteome-based) and TWAS (transcriptome-based) revealed hypothyroidism-associated genes. The prevalence among the affected population was 7.5% and 2.0% for the female and male groups, respectively. We further developed a risk prediction model through sex stratification.
Results
Comparing GWAS summary statistics revealed the CH developmental program. The gene-based PWAS method identified 77 statistically significant genes. Most of these genes are located within the Chr6 MHC locus and are enriched with autoimmunity-related genes. Comparing GWAS and TWAS revealed multiple facets of the etiology of hypothyroidism. Most notably, thyroid developmental programs and dysregulation of hormone secretion capacity in the thyroid. Despite a 3.6-fold higher prevalence in females relative to males for hypothyroidism, using a permutation approach, we found no sex-dependent genetic effect, with 98% of the associated genes being identical between the sexes. The prediction of the polygenic risk score (PRS) for hypothyroidism is mostly derived from the female affected group.
Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of synthesizing complementary genome-wide association methods for this complex disease. We conclude that the integration of established association methods can improve interpretability and clinical utility.
Clinical effects of Sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: He Qin , Zeng Jun , Yang Jianming , Tang Renmin , Wang Wen
Published: November 2023

Background: Sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown to promote urinary glucose excretion through an insulin-independent mechanism.
Objective: To study the relationship between type 2 diabetic (T2D) ketoacidosis and fracture risk in patients treated with the SGLT2i dapagliflozin.
Methods: A total of 755 patients were randomly divided into two groups for 12 weeks between January 2018 and December 2021 :SGLT2i (n= 367) and non-SGLT2I (n=354). Changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, body weight, diabetic ketosis and ketoacidosis, fracture risk, bone mineral density (BMD), and ketone body levels were measured.
Results: Compared with the non-SGLT2i group, HbA1c, BMD, and body weight of the femoral neck and total hip was decreased significant, and the fracture riskwas significantly higher in the SGLT2i group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: In patients with T2D, dapagliflozin significantly reduced HbA1c levels and body weight, while fracture risk and ketone body levels were reversed.
Modelling the possible Debris Flow events in Swat Mountains Using Flow-R -A Case Study in Pakistan
Authors: Hassan Sohaib Hassan Sohaib , Ehsan Saqib Ehsan Saqib , Afzal Sohail Afzal Gill Sohail , Hassan Hassan , Ahmed Ihtasham Ahmed Ihtasham , Saleem Muhammad Usama Bin Saleem Muhammad Usama Bin
Published: November 2023

Debris flows are dangerous mixtures of water, sediment, and rock that can cause serious problems in mountainous regions.These destructive events happen often in mountain areas, especially during floods and intensive rain fall. The purpose of this study is analyse the possible debris flow events in Swat mountains in Pakistan using Flow-R. Flow-R is a debris flow simulation software that generates susceptibility maps, offering critical insights into the areas most prone to this hazardous phenomenon. The primary inputs required for the Flow-R simulation were digital elevation models (DEM) and the source area file of the region. Two specific algorithms, Holmgren modified and Gamma 2000, have been taken into consideration for this case study. Holmgren Modified considers various factors like topography, climate, vegetation, and land use, while Gamma 2000 focuses on rock type’s influence on debris flow occurrences. By integrating these inputs with the selected algorithms, Flow-R generated susceptibility maps, highlighting three regions: Thal, Kalam, and Kandia Valley, with varying degrees of vulnerability to debris flow events. According to the susceptibility map of Holmgren modified among three regions, the Thal region is highly susceptible to debris flows due to its topography as compared to Kalam and Kandia Valley. On the other hand, the susceptibility map of Gamma 2000 shows that in the Thal region, large rocks contribute more, while in the other two regions, small rocks are mainly responsible for generating debris flow. By identifying the areas most susceptible to debris flows, effective risk mitigation measures can be implemented to reduce potential damage and protect vulnerable communities.
Salt and heat stress enhances hydrogen production in cyanobacteria
Authors: Broussos Panayiotis-Ilias , Romanos George E. , Stamatakis Kostas
Published: November 2023

Cyanobacteria are among the most suitable organisms for the capture of excessive amounts of CO2 and can be grown in extreme environments. In our research we use the single-celled freshwater cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 PAMCOD strain and Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 for the production of chemical compounds and energy. PAMCOD strain and Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 synthesize sucrose when exposed to salinity stress, as their main compatible osmolyte. We examined the cell proliferation rate and the sucrose accumulation in those two organisms under salt (0.4 M NaCl) and heat stress (35 0C) conditions. The intracellular sucrose (mol sucrose content per Chl a) was found to increase by 50% and 108% in PAMCOD strain and Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 cells, respectively. As previously reported, PAMCOD strain has the ability to produce hydrogen through the process of dark anaerobic fermentation (Vayenos D, Romanos GE, Papageorgiou GC, Stamatakis K (2020) Photosynth Res 146, 235–245). In the present study, we demonstrate that Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 has also this ability. We further examined the optimal conditions during the dark fermentation of PAMCOD and Synechocystis sp. PCC6714 regarding H2 formation, increasing the PAMCOD H2 productivity from 2 nmol H2 h-1 mol Chl a-1 to 23 nmol H2 h-1 mol Chl a-1. Moreover, after the dark fermentation, the cells demonstrated proliferation in both double BG-11 and BG-11 medium enriched in NaNO3, thus showing the sustainability of the procedure.
Awareness of medico-legal risks related to anesthesiology among anesthesiologists in China: a survey-based analysis
Authors: Guo Yang , Lu Hongcheng , Lin Jingyan , Li Peng , Du Yu , Zhu Bo , Jiang Xian , Ou Cehua , Zhan Jian
Published: November 2023

Background
Despite the rising trend in anesthesia-related legal risks in China, there remains insufficient research on the topic. We aimed to conduct a cross-sectional survey to better understand Chinese anesthesiologists' understanding of legal risks related to their practice, narcotics and other drugs, and emergency rescue requirements.
Methods
An anonymous online questionnaire covering various aspects of legal risks related to anesthesia was sent via email to anesthesiologists practicing in China. Data were collected from February 1, 2023, to April 1, 2023. We assessed (1) the incidence of medical compensation claims for anesthesiologists in China; (2) awareness of laws related to drugs and narcotic drugs; and (3) awareness of emergency rescue protocols.
Results
A total of 224 anesthesiologists completed the questionnaires. The incidence of medical compensation was 5.8%. Chinese anesthesiologists were unaware of many aspects of laws related to their practice, with the average response accuracy being 63.4%. Additionally, 85.3% of the respondents did not know the legal consequences of anesthesiologists forging, altering, buying, selling, renting, or loaning physician practicing certificates. Furthermore, there was low awareness of laws related to narcotics and other drugs. The average response accuracy was only 48.1%, and most (75%) of the respondents did not know the penalties for anesthesiologists who illegally supply narcotic drugs. Among the respondents, 71.4% did not know that anesthesiologists who do not obtain the required qualifications for the prescription of narcotic and Class I psychotropic drugs are in violation of the law and bear legal responsibility. Only 56.0% of the anesthesiologists were aware of their responsibilities related to emergency rescue. The vast majority (86.6%) of the respondents did not know the legal consequences of refusing or irresponsibly delaying emergency treatment to patients.
Conclusions
This is the first study to investigate anesthesiologists' perceptions and understanding of anesthesia-related legal risks in China. Such legal risks deserve attention from medical institutions given the potentially far-reaching implications of medical errors, the psychological burden on healthcare workers, and healthcare delivery policymaking. Additional education of anesthesiologists on their legal obligations should be considered.
The tumor inhibitory function of growth differentiation factors on hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhuo Jianyong , Li Huigang , He Chiyu , Shen Wei , Zhang Peiru , Yang Xinyu , Lin Zuyuan , Wei Xuyong , Zheng Shusen , Xu Xiao , Lu Di
Published: November 2023

Purpose
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies with very poor outcomes. Inflammatory factors play a huge role in the incidence and development of HCC. But, the tumor-protective functions of growth differentiation factor (GDF) on HCC were not yet clarified clearly.
Methods
The gene expressions of 10 GDF in HCC and paratumors were compared by using the TCGA dataset and tissues from hospital. We enrolled 108 HCC patients who underwent liver transplantation to explore the prognostic role of GDF7 expression. Loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo were executed to investigated the role of GDF7 in HCC cells.
Results
The mRNA and protein levels of GDF7 were significantly decreased in HCC tumors compared to paratumors (P < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that decreased GDF7 expression in HCC indicated worse overall survival (OS, 5-year OS rate: 61.8% vs. 27.5%, P < 0.001) and increased recurrence risk (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that low GDF7 expression, presence of microvascular invasion, and elevated AFP level were independent risk factors for post-transplant tumor recurrence and poor survival. In vitro, GDF7 was downregulated by JUNB, and down-regulation of GDF7 increased the tumor proliferation, migration, invasion via the EMT pathway. Moreover, GDF7 knockdown could enhance the tumor growth in HCC xenograft model.
Conclusion
GDF7 could be a potential biomarker to predict superior outcomes of HCC patients. GDF7 amplification might be a potential cancer-directed therapeutic option.
Use of tamoxifen derivatives in combination with colistin against colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Panadero Irene Molina , Hmadcha Karim , Princiotto Salvatore , Dallavalle Sabrina , Christodoulou Michael S. , Smani Younes
Published: November 2023

We aimed to discover new tamoxifen derivatives with antimicrobial potential, particularly targeting colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
We determined the MIC of 22 tamoxifen derivatives against both A. baumannii wild-type and colistin-resistant strains using microdilution assays, in monotherapy and in combination with colistin. The antibacterial effects of selected tamoxifen derivatives, in monotherapy and in combination with colistin, against colistin-resistant A. baumannii (Ab22), were assessed through bacterial growth assays. Changes in bacterial membrane permeability and the profile of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) were analyzed by using fluorescence assays and SDS-PAGE, respectively.
The MIC of the tamoxifen derivatives in monotherapy exceed 64 mg/L. However, the combination of tamoxifen derivatives (1), (14), and (18) with colistin displayed MIC between 0.125 and 2 μg/mL for the reference ATCC 17978 strain and between 0.5 and 1 μg/mL for the colistin-resistant Ab22 strain. Bacterial growth assays demonstrated that tamoxifen derivatives (1), (14), and (18) delayed the growth of the Ab22 strain during the first 4 h. Moreover, treatment with these derivatives resulted in increased membrane permeabilization without affecting the expression of OMPs.
These data suggest that tamoxifen derivatives exhibit antibacterial activity against colistin-resistant A. baumannii, potentially broadening the spectrum of available drug treatments for combating antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative bacilli.
The Design and Development of a Metamaterial Absorber for Enhancing Broadband Light Absorption in Quantum Dot Photodetecting Applications
Authors: Raeyani Davoud , Emami Sina , Shirmohammadi Saman , Asgari Asghar
Published: November 2023

Recent advancements in nanostructured photodetectors have led to the development of a new metamaterial absorber design that enables control of light absorption and prevents the loss of photons. An optical simulation studied a broadband plasmonic metamaterial absorber using two-dimensional MXene (Ti3C2Tx) with arrays of tetragram shapes. By altering the angles of the edges of the tetragrams, the broadening of absorption can be tuned, resulting in high-efficiency absorption rates of over 90% for a broad range of wavelengths from 1200 nm to 2500 nm. Additionally, the coupling of PbS quantum dots to the colloidal plasmonic structure has been demonstrated, resulting in enhanced photon absorption capability of PbS QDs. This broadband PbS QD metamaterial absorber can be used as the channel in near-IR phototransistor devices. These findings contribute significantly to the field of photonics and have important implications for developing new and improved photodetectors.
Bond behavior of lightweight coconut shell concrete-filled circular steel tube column
Authors: Sornam Ilanthalir Amala , Dominic Jerlin Regin Joseph
Published: November 2023

Coconut shell concrete is a lightweight concrete produced from waste coconut shells. In this paper, the bond strength between lightweight coconut shell concrete with silica fume and circular steel tube was experimentally investigated. Coconut shells were used as coarse aggregates and silica fume as the mineral admixture. Two concrete mixes with and without silica fume were tested for bond strength. The parameters of study were the D/t ratio, interface length, and the interface type (roughened steel surface and internal stiffeners). The steel tube thickness (2.5mm) was kept constant, and the external diameter (88mm, 114mm and 140mm), and the length of the tubes (300mm and 400mm) were varied. Silica fume significantly increased the bond strength and was evidenced through the micro-structural study of the interface with a scanning electron microscope. Higher bond strength was obtained in columns with a low D/t ratio, and increasing the interface length could not improve the bond strength. The combination of silica fume with internal stiffeners improved the bond strength by 5.33–27% more than the combination of roughened steel surface and silica fume. Test results were compared to EC4 and ANSI/AISC 360 recommendations. The test values exceeded code design bond strengths.
Resilience buffers the association between psychotic-like experiences and suicide risk: Results from the prospective study in a non-clinical sample
Authors: Karska Julia , Rejek Maksymilian , Misiak Błażej
Published: November 2023

Background: Several studies have reported that psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are associated with low levels of resilience and increased suicide risk. However, it remains unknown as to whether resilience mediates or moderates the association between PLEs and suicide risk. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to explore the moderating and mediating effect of resilience in the association between PLEs and suicide risk.
Methods: A total of 1100 non-clinical, young adults (aged 18 – 35 years) with a negative history of psychiatric treatment were enrolled (T1). They were followed-up for about 7 months (T2). Variables of interest were recorded using self-reports.
Results: The moderation analysis revealed that higher levels of PLEs and related distress (T1) were associated with significantly higher suicide risk (T2) after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive and anxiety symptoms, a history of childhood trauma, and problematic cannabis use (T1). The interaction between resilience (T2) and distress related to PLEs (T1) was significantly and negatively associated with suicide risk (T2). Specifically, the correlation between the level of distress related to PLEs (T1) and suicide risk (T2) was significant and positive only in participants with lower levels of resilience (T2). This interaction did not reach statistical significance for the level of PLEs (T1). No significant mediating effect of resilience level (T2) in the association between PLEs (T1) and suicide risk (T2) was found.
Conclusions: Findings from the present study indicate that resilience might protect against suicide risk in people with PLEs. Future studies need to explore the effects of interventions targeting resilience for individuals with PLEs.
Stochastic Weather Simulation Based on Gate Recurrent Unit and Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Han Lingling , Fu Xueqian , Zhang Chunyu , BAMISILE Olusola , Shang Shirong
Published: November 2023

The weather has a significant impact on power load and power system planning. Stochastic weather simulation is important in the field of power systems. However, due to factors such as long recording years, observation technology, and so on, the historical weather data often have the problem of missing or insufficient. Meteorological data are characterized by changeable, rapid change, and high dimensions. Therefore, it is a challenging task to accurately grasp the law of weather data. This paper presents a random weather simulation model based on gate recurrent unit (GRU) and generative adversarial networks (GAN). GRU selectively learns or forgets what was in the previous moment during training, it can learn the previous and current data of the time series data. When combined with the GAN, it will produce data with the same distribution as the original weather data. We evaluate the proposed method on a real weather dataset, and the results show that the proposed method outperforms the other contrast algorithms.
Factors Influencing Childhood Immunization Coverage in Juba County, South Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Mwanje Jolem
Published: November 2023

Introduction: The study aimed to investigate the immunization status of children aged 1 to 2 years in Juba County, South Sudan, and to identify factors associated with their immunization coverage. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with Juba being purposively sampled and the Payams in Juba being stratified, followed by the random sampling of villages within these Payams. Data was collected through structured interviews and analyzed using SPSS v22, incorporating descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The study revealed that more than three-quarters of the children had received all the recommended vaccines, with the BCG vaccine being the most commonly received, while the measles vaccine was the least received. The study identified several factors associated with immunization coverage, including parental age, religious affiliation, knowledge of the benefits of immunization, maternal economic activity, and perceived flexibility of immunization services provided at healthcare facilities. Notably, the prevalence of reception of all vaccines was lower among children whose parents were aged 18–25 years and born-again Christians, while it was higher among children whose parents recognized the benefits of immunization. Additionally, children whose mothers were engaged in economic activities were less likely to receive all primary vaccines. Furthermore, the study found that the flexibility of immunization services at healthcare facilities was associated with lower immunization coverage. Conclusion: The study highlighted that while the proportion of children in Juba receiving all vaccines is relatively high, it still falls below the global standard of 90%. The immunization status of children in Juba was found to be primarily influenced by parental characteristics, with institutional characteristics playing a smaller role. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions to address specific parental and institutional factors that may hinder optimal immunization coverage in Juba County, South Sudan.
Multimodal Seismic Assessment of Infrastructures Retrofitted with Exoskeletons: Insights from the Foggia Airport Case Study
Authors: Cucuzza Raffaele , Aloisio Angelo , Domaneschi Marco , Nascimbene Roberto
Published: November 2023

Addressing the seismic vulnerability of infrastructures is critical, especially for those built before the introduction of the current seismic regulations. One of the primary challenges lies in retrofitting these buildings without interrupting their functionality. In this context, the use of exoskeletons for seismic retrofitting represents an effective solution. This approach increases the seismic resistance and ensures the continuous operation of the building during retrofitting. This advantage is especially crucial for critical infrastructures, such as airports. Nevertheless, traditional seismic assessment methods based on pushover analyses might not accurately predict the seismic capacity of complex infrastructures dominated by local vibration modes. To bridge this gap, the study proposes refining the multimodal pushover analysis tailored for seismic vulnerability assessments of large infrastructures with exoskeletons characterized by low modal participation ratios. The Foggia Airport case study exemplifies these points and highlights the practical applications of the discussed advancements. The authors compared two force distributions for push-over analysis, addressing the fine-tuning of exoskeletons to maximize their seismic resistance.
Effect of biosynthesised nano zinc on blood biochemical profile, antioxidant status and immune response in Vanaraja chicken
Authors: Kumar M. Ravi , Roy Barun , Kannan A. , Shanmugam M. , Venkateswarlu R. , Kannaki R. , Kumar M. Muthu
Published: November 2023

Biosynthesized nano zinc as replacement for traditional zinc salt in feed using Vanaraja chicken was evaluated for the response in terms of blood biochemical profile, antioxidant status and immune response. Day-old chicks (n = 324), of a slow growing Vanaraja breed, were randomly assigned to one of the six dietary treatments, each consisting of 54 birds with 9 replicates. The groups were offered basal diet without any supplemental zinc (negative control), basal diet supplemented with 60 mg Zn/kg diet from zinc oxide and the remaining four groups were fed with biosynthesised nano zinc at 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg Zinc per kg diet. The trial lasted for 56 days. The results indicated that, causes significant (P < 0.05) improvement in humoral immunity as compared to control group. Nano zinc at 30 mg/kg diet is sufficient to replace conventional zinc at 60 mg/kg diet. Absence of any significant changes in the serum enzyme profile and biochemical parameters indicated that nano zinc is safe to feed. From the current study, it may be concluded that the conventional zinc oxide can be replaced with nanoparticle forms at a reduced level without any adverse effect on health assessed through serum biochemical profile. In order to recommend the level of dose reduction, more studies with different breeds, indifferent agro-climatic zones during different seasons are recommended.
Relationship Between Leadership Behaviour and Firm Performance in the Rmg Industry of Bangladesh
Authors: Tareque Mohammad Alam , Islam Prof. Nazrul
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the complex relationship between leadership behaviour and firm performance in Bangladesh's Ready-made Garment (RMG) sector. It specifically examines the mediating role of competitive advantage and the moderating effects of emotional intelligence and firm strategy. The research employs a rigorous quantitative approach, incorporating a mixed-method strategy with qualitative and quantitative phases. Data were collected from 400 RMG managers through physical questionnaires and analysed using SPSS, PLS4, and R. The empirical data analysed using PLS structural equation modelling revealed that leadership behaviour is an intangible resource within firms. Relation Behaviour emerged as the most significant behaviour in influencing firm performance. The study confirms the pivotal role of leadership behaviour in enhancing firm performance through competitive advantage. This research is distinguished by its novel perspective on examining specific leadership behaviours in the RMG sector, a departure from broader categorisations in previous studies. While the study provides valuable insights, it is limited to the context of Bangladesh's RMG sector, which may affect the generalisability of its findings. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported data may introduce biases. This study offers practical guidance for RMG firms in Bangladesh to enhance their performance by focusing on specific leadership behaviours, particularly relation-oriented approaches. It underscores the importance of emotional intelligence and firm strategy as moderating factors. It points out that competitive advantage must align with a firm's strategy to mediate between leadership behaviour and firm performance.
Nutrition-associated markers and outcomes among patients receiving enteral nutrition after ischemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: wang rui , Cao le , He Yueyue , Zhang Ping , Feng Ling
Published: November 2023

Objectives: Early nutrition after acute ischemic stroke is crucial. We explored early enteral nutrition for stroke patients and evaluated changes in blood indicators as a predictor of stroke prognosis.
Methods: All hospitalized stroke patients receiving enteral nutrition were included in the study. We retrospectively collected the protein, energy, fat, and carbohydrate values for 7 days after admission. Serum albumin, total protein, and hemoglobin values were reviewed at admission and at one week. The main outcome indicators were the Modified Rankin Score, Barthel Index, and Quality of Life at 3 months.
Results: A total of 354 patients (mean age, 70.7 years; 59.0% male) were included. The change in serum albumin at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Quality of Life score (p=0.001), the Barthel Index (p=0.004), and the modified Rankin Score (p=0.029). The change in total protein at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Quality of Life score (p=0.002), the Barthel Index (p=0.001), and the modified Rankin score (p=0.011). The change in hemoglobin values at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Barthel Index (p=0.037 but not with the Quality of Life score (p=0.237) or the modified Rankin score (p=0.730).
Conclusions: Improved nutrition-related blood indicators one week after admission were independently associated with good stroke outcomes. Nutritional support for acute ischemic stroke patients during the early hospitalization stage appears to be advisable.
Congenital malignant melanoma: An Integrated Clinicopathological Clinical Case Series
Authors: Xu Kailun , Guan Wenbin , Wang Lifeng
Published: November 2023

Background
Congenital malignant melanoma (CMM) is present at birth or in the first year of life. It arises through transplacental, de novo, or is associated with congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN). CMM is rare, and its relevant data is limited. Here, we describe 14 cases of congenital malignant melanoma and retrospectively analyze the clinicopathological and molecular features of this entity.
Methods
Clinical data of patients were retrieved, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) and molecular analyses were performed. Besides, a systematic review of articles was conducted using PubMed, and these screened cases were analyzed in EndNote.
Results
Our series comprised six CMN-associated melanoma, six de novo CMM, and two transplacental metastatic melanoma. Histologically, the epithelioid cell was the most common feature in 54% of cases. Spindle and atypical cells were observed in 15% and 23%, respectively. NRAS mutations were detected in 75% of cases, and one patient showed abbreviations in four-probe analyses. Patients ranged in age from in-utero to 12 months, with an average age of 3.5. Males were predominant with a male to female ratio of 2.5:1. Scalp was the most affected location (n = 7), with the most common symptoms being mass. After a median overall survival of 18.5 (ranging from 0.7 to 312) months, four patients died of tumor progression. The mortality of de novo and CMN-associated melanoma was 33% and 17%, respectively, while that of transplacental melanoma was 50%.
Conclusions
Congenital malignant melanoma is a rare subtype of pediatric melanoma associated with poor prognosis. The disease has a high incidence of scalp involvement and male predominance. The epithelioid cell is more common than the spindle and atypical cells. Molecular tests are crucial for the diagnosis of CMM. Due to the rarity, more cases and research are needed to understand the epidemiological features and molecular biology of CMM.
Computer Vision Quickly Identifies Radio Signals with Unlimited Accuracy
Authors: Kleder Michael
Published: November 2023

A seminal component of systems thinking is the application of an advanced technology in one domain to solve a challenging problem in a different domain. This article introduces a method of using advanced computer vision to solve the challenging signal processing problem of specific emitter identification. A one-dimensional signal is sampled; those samples are transformed into to two-dimensional images by computing a bispectrum; those images are evaluated using advanced computer vision; and the results are statistically combined until any user-selected level of classification accuracy is obtained. In testing on a published DARPA challenge dataset, for every eight additional signal samples taken from a candidate signal (out of many thousands), classification error decreases by an entire order of magnitude.
Child undernutrition and its association with household environmental conditions in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Md. Mostaured Ali , Billah Md Arif , Fatima Kaniz , Islam M Mofizul , Sarker Bidhan Krishna , Khanam Shimlin Jahan , Banke-Thomas Aduragbemi , Khan Md Nuruzzaman
Published: November 2023

Background
Child undernutrition, a persistent global concern, is particularly prevalent in Bangladesh. Little is known about the relationship between household environmental conditions (HEC) and child nutrition. This study aimed to explore how HEC is associated with undernutrition among under-5 children in Bangladesh, with a specific focus on rural-urban differences.
Methods
We analysed 8,653 under-5 children’s data from the 2017/18 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey. The outcome variables were various forms of undernutrition, namely stunting, wasting and underweight, as well as their combinations. The exposure variables were HEC indicators, including housing materials, household air pollution (HAP) from the use of solid fuel, water sources, drinking water treatment to ensure safe water, sanitation facilities, and combinations of these exposures. We used a hierarchical Poisson regression model to explore the association between outcomes and exposures adjusted for potential confounders.
Results
The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among under-5 children in Bangladesh was 31%, 8% and 22%, respectively, with notable variations across geographical divisions and urban-rural areas. Under-5 children who lived in houses constructed with unimproved materials (natural or rudimentary) (aRR: 1.17), had high exposure to HAP (aRR: 1.37), used unimproved drinking water sources (aRR: 1.28), or had poor handwashing facilities (aRR: 1.24) had a greater likelihood of stunting compared to their counterparts living in households with better conditions. Similar associations were observed for underweight as well. The lower the cumulative score of HEC (indicating poor conditions), the higher the likelihood of children with stunting and underweight. A significant urban-rural difference in the magnitude of the association was also observed.
Conclusion
The prevalence of stunting and underweight was relatively high among under-5 children in Bangladesh, with notable urban-rural differences. Significant negative associations were observed between HEC indicators and these nutritional measures. Public health interventions are needed to reduce children’s exposure to polluted indoor air, ensure access to clean water and promote proper handwashing facilities, particularly in rural settings.
Editorial: Digitalisierung in der Forschung – Projekte österreichischer Hochschulen 2020–2024
Authors: Blumesberger Susanne , Hasani-Mavriqi Ilire
Published: November 2023

Das Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMBWF) hat 2020 im Rahmen der österreichweiten Ausschreibung „Vorhaben zur digitalen und sozialen Transformation in der Hochschulbildung“ insgesamt 50 Millionen Euro Fördermittel für 34 in einem Begutachtungsverfahren ausgewählte Projekte vergeben. Gefördert werden zukunftsweisende Kooperationsprojekte, die den Anspruch haben, innerhalb ihrer Laufzeit bis 2024 strukturverändernd in das Universitätssystem hineinzuwirken. Mit drei Sonderausgaben bietet die Zeitschrift ZFHE den Projekten die Möglichkeit, ihre Ergebnisse und Erfahrungen einem breiten (wissenschaftlichen) Publikum in einem Open-Access-Publikationsformat zu präsentieren. Die Sonderhefte widmen sich explizit den drei Handlungsfeldern der Digitalisierungsprojekte Lehre, Forschung, Verwaltung, wobei der Schwerpunkt dieser Ausgabe auf den forschungsbezogenen Projekten liegt.
A Comparison Between Virtual and Conventional Microscopes in Health Science Education
Authors: Sharmin Nazlee , Chow Ava , Dong Alice
Published: November 2023

Virtual microscopes are computer or web-based programs that enable users to visualize digital slides and mimic the experience of using a real light microscope. Traditional light microscopes have always been an essential teaching tool in health science education to observe and learn cell and tissue structures. However, studies comparing virtual and real light microscopes in education reported learners’ satisfaction with virtual microscopes regarding their usability, image quality, efficiency, and availability. Although the use of virtual or web-based microscopy is increasing, there is no equivalent decrease in the number of schools utilizing traditional microscopes. We conducted a scoping review to investigate the comparative impact of conventional and virtual microscopes on different aspects of learning. We report a relative effect of virtual and light microscopy on student performance, long-term knowledge retention, and satisfaction. Our results show that virtual microscopy is superior to traditional microscopes as a teaching tool in health science education. Further studies are needed on different learning components to guide the best use of virtual microscopy as a sole teaching tool for health care education.
Study of vigor and esterase activity under NaCl stress deciphering overlap between gametophyte and sporophyte in annual Medicago species
Authors: Moulai Djilali , Bakhti Abdelnasser
Published: November 2023

To study the overlapping of gene expression between sporophyte and gametophyte phases, three annual species of the Medicago genus; M. truncatula, M. ciliaris and M. aculeata were used. First, we measured the germination rate of seeds and pollen grains as well as the length of young seedlings and the length of the pollen tubes under different levels of NaCl concentrations (0 mM, 68 mM, 102 mM and 136 mM). Afterwards, we measured the biochemical activity of plants based on electrophoresis of esterase enzymatic activity under salt stress treatments. The results showed that genotype M.acl4 of M. aculeate species is the most tolerant in the two stages, while the genotypes M.cil 1 and M.trur1 are the most sensitive of M. ciliaris and M. truncatula species, respectively. The separation of the esterase activities by electrophoresis revealed four bands with quantitative and qualitative changes in relation to stress in the same sensitive genotype M.cil1 of M. ciliaris species. The presence of a correlation between measured traits like vigor, as well as the connection between esterase profiles during periods of salt stress in both the sporophyte and gametophyte stages, may unveil a shared pattern of gene expression.
Community-Based Sustainable Tourism Village through Nature and Culture Tourism
Authors: Rahmiati Filda , Ismail Yunita , Amin Grace , Goenadhi Felix , Chairy Chairy
Published: November 2023

The decline in visitors during the COVID-19 outbreak is one of the factors affecting the profitability of tourist destinations. This condition is challenging for developing tourist villages, especially the Hegarmukti tourist village. Several activity restrictions during the COVID-19 outbreak have made community-based tourism development programs experience obstacles. Through this community service activity, the 4C model analysis (Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce) is to be applied to optimize the growth of the Hergarmukti tourist village. The activity begins with a semi-formal interview process and observations to gather information. Through this activity, it was revealed that some potential has not been exploited, especially in terms of natural and cultural tourism. Socialization activities by conducting capacity-building workshops for preserving natural ecosystems through waste management were conducted with the Situ Rawa Binong residents. Besides, cultural promotion activities through local art performances displayed by the Cahaya Gumilar Art Gallery also attract tourists. To run a sustainable tourism village, the community requires soft skills training in tourism and marketing. The study also offers several possible tourist attractions to stimulate the local economy.
Godly accountability: reflection on ethics for zakat accountants
Authors: Zakiy Faris Shalahuddin , Turahman Fitra Istianah
Published: November 2023

Purpose - This research aims to explore the forms of accountability of zakat institutions and their importance and to uncover the meaning of accountability from zakat accountants.Method - To achieve this goal, this study uses qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach. There are three key informants interviewed in this study. Data analysis in this study was divided into four stages: bracketing, noema, noesis, and eidetic reduction.Result - This study found that accountability is reflected in financial reporting and accountability is essential for zakat institutions to increase good governance and trust in the community. Accountability can be interpreted as having faith and ethics, righteousness, accountability to God, and accountability to humans.Implication - Internalizing ethics to become a zakat accountant is more honest and professional and upholds integrity in carrying out its duties.Originality - This research discusses the meaning of accountability from zakat accountant’s perspective and forms of accountability in zakat institutions. Empirical findings can be used to develop insight into accountability in zakat institutions.