bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Björn Þór Sigbjörnsson og Bergsteinn Sigurðsson: Ísland í aldanna rás 2001-2010. Saga lands og þjóðar ár frá ári
Authors: Kjartansson Helgi Skúli
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Undirliggjandi ádeilutónn fer ekki illa í bók sem spannar hinn örlagaríka áratug útrásar, ofþenslu og bankahruns. Þar er hið stóra viðfangsefni höfundanna sem þó má ekki valta yfir fjölbreytni hins fréttnæma mannlífs með öllum þess björtu og kátlegu hliðum og persónulegu hetju- og örlagasögum. Fjölbreytnin kemst vel til skila. Sömuleiðis þungi þeirrar öfugþróunar sem hrunið var hluti af.
Evelyn Ellis og Kristín Benediktsdóttir: Equality into Reality: Action for Diversity and Non- Discrimination in Iceland
Authors: Þorvaldsdóttir Þorgerður H.
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Heilt yfir er ástæða til þess að fagna útkomu bókarinnar. Hún er þarft framlag til brýnnar samfélags umræðu um álitamál og eyður sem tengjast banni við mismunun, í íslenskri löggjöf og í Evrópurétti.
Jón Ólafsson: Appelsínur frá Abkasíu - Vera Hertzsch, Halldór Laxness og hreinsanirnar miklu
Authors: Arnórsson Auðunn
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Með þeirri persónulegu nálgun að örlögum saklausrar móður og barns sem lentu tannhjólum kúgunarvélar stalínismans, sem Jón beitir í bókinni færir hann óhugnað þessa miskunnarlausa óréttarkerfis nærri lesandanum. Þau sérstæðu tengsl sem hin þýzkættaði Sovétborgari Vera Hertzsch og dóttir hennar höfðu við þjóðþekkta Íslendinga færa þennan óhugnað Stalínstímans líka nær íslenzkum nútímalesendum en allar þær bækur sem áður hafa verið skrifaðar um Gúlagið.
Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson: Íslenskir kommúnistar 1918-1998
Authors: Júlíusson Gunnlaugur A.
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Vafalaust er túlkun höfundar á því efni sem fram kemur í langri bók talin umdeilanleg af einhverjum. Það er eðlilegt þar sem sjónarmið einstaklinga og sýn þeirra á menn og málefni eru mismunandi. Engu að síður er ritun bókarinnar "Íslenskir kommúnistar 1918-1998" að mínu mati verðmætt innlegg í íslenska stjórnmálasögu sem varpar nýju ljósi á margt sem áður var hulið einföldum áhugamanni um íslensk stjórnmál.
Björn Þór Sigbjörnsson: Steingrímur J. Frá Hruni og heim
Authors: Harðarson Ólafur Þ.
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram: Varnarrit Steingríms er vel skrifað; dálítið eins og langt og vandað blaðaviðtal. Björn Þór skrifar skipulega og lipurlega um atburðarásina – einkum auðvitað frá sjónarhóli Steingríms. Steingrímur gerir glögga grein fyrir sjónarmiðum sínum í löngum og beinum tilvitnunum – oftast með yfirveguðum og áhugaverðum hætti. Bókin verður vafalaust meðal lykilrita fyrir þá sem skrifa munu stjórnmálasögu þessa tímabils – hvort sem dómur sögunnar reynist Steingrími og félögum hagstæður eða ekki þegar upp verður staðið.
Utanríkisráðuneytið (umsjón): Opinber tengsl Íslands við Sovétríkin/Rússland 1943-2008. Skjöl
Authors: Sigurðsson Kjartan Emil
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Hér er einkum um að ræða uppflettirit og heimildaútgáfu. Sérfræðingum um utanríkismál mun nýtast vel að hafa hér á einum stað skjöl sem gagnast í fræðilegu starfi og við rannsóknir. Fyrir áhugamenn um utanríkismál getur á köflum verið áhugavert að rýna í einstök skjöl, einkum þó sendibréf þar sem stjórnmál og hefðbundin utanríkismál eru reifuð. Hið síðarnefnda gefur nokkra innsýn inn í stjórnmálin á hverjum og einum tíma, sem um ræðir.
Stefán Karlsson: Alþjóðastjórnmál - Samvinna/Átök/Umhverfisógn
Authors: Arnórsson Auðunn
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Í samantekt má segja, að hér sé um að ræða kærkomna uppfærslu á riti sem getur nýtzt bæði skólafólki og almenningi sem inngangur að flóknum heimi alþjóðastjórnmála og þeirrar fræðigreinar sem það nafn ber. Betur hefði þó getað tekizt til með uppfærslu bókarinnar frá fyrstu útgáfu.
Edward Hákon Huijbens og Gunnar Þór Jóhannesson: Ferðamál á Íslandi
Authors: Atladóttir Ólöf Ýrr
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Niðurstaðan er því ritverk sem er höfundum sínum til sóma. Hér er borin á borð metnaðarfull og ákaflega áhugaverð lesning um ferðamál fyrir lesendur sem hafa einhverja innsýn í atvinnugreinina, vilja kynnast henni frekar og hafa gaman af því að lesa slíka texta með gagnrýna hugsun að vopni.
Jóhanna Jónsdóttir: Europeanization and the European Economic Area: Iceland’s Participation in the EU’s Policy Process
Authors: Conrad Maximilian
Published: October 2023

Extraction:

Drawing on unique material, the book presents an empirically rich and theoretically relevant contribution not just to issues regarding the role of small states within or outside the union, but also allows for broader conclusions regarding the institutional logics that explain political action in the context of European integration. In the Icelandic context, its relevance stems mainly from the fact that it asks a somewhat different question: it is not interested in the potential role that Iceland may have as a full member of the EU, but instead analyzes the channels for influence that are available already today to non-members such as the three EEA/EFTA countries Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Stefán Már Stefánsson: Hlutafélagaréttur
Authors: Björgvinsson Davíð Þór
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Meginstyrkur ritsins liggur í hagnýtu gildi þess sem handbókar eða uppflettirits um alla meginþætti hlutafélagaréttarins. Uppbygging og kaflaskipting bókarinnar fylgir í höfuðatriðum uppbyggingu laga um einkahlutafélög nr. 138/1994 og laga um hlutafélög nr. 2/1995. Uppsetningin er þannig skýr og hagnýt fyrir notendur bókarinnar, jafnt lærða sem leika. Þá fylgja bókinni skrár yfir lög og dóma, sem og atriðisorðaskrá, sem auðvelda notkun hennar. Meginframlag höfundur felst þannig í að safna saman og setja fram á skipulegan og skýran hátt meginatriði hlutafélagaréttarins.
Þórður Sverrisson: Forskot
Authors: Matthíasson Pétur Berg
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnanda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Sú aðferðafræði sem kynnt er til leiks í bókinni, markaðshringurinn, er fyrst og fremst tæki fyrir fyrirtæki en þó má finna atriði sem eiga jafnframt við opinbera geirann.
Árni H. Kristjánsson: Hugsjónir, fjármál og pólitík. Saga Sparisjóðs Reykjavíkur og nágrennis í sjötíu og sjö ár
Authors: Steinarsson Valur Freyr
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

... gagnrýni á ákveðna þætti í bókinni skyggja hins vegar ekki á aðalatriðið sem er að bókin byggir á góðri heimildavinnu og efni hennar vel rannsakað, textinn er mjög læsilegur, myndefni, töflur og heimildarskrár til fyrirmyndar og heilt yfir er bókin velheppnað verk og mættu fleiri fyrirtæki og stofnanir standa eins vel að útgáfu sögu sinnar og Menningarsjóður SPRON með liðstyrk Sögufélags.
Höskuldur Þráinsson og Matthew Whelpton (ritstjórn): Chomsky – Mál, saga og samfélag
Authors: Valgarðsson Viktor Orri
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Á heildina litið er bókin Chomsky: Mál, sál og samfélag áhugaverð, fræðandi og fjölbreytt umfjöllun um kenningar og hugmyndir Noam Chomsky, áhrif hans og tengdar hugmyndir. Bókin er líka öðrum þræði ritstýrð fræðibók, þar sem fjölbreyttir og málsmetandi fræðimenn kafa dýpra í tiltekna þætti kenninga hans, hver með sínum hætti.
Guðný Björk Eydal og Stefán Ólafsson (ritstjórn): Þróun velferðarinnar 1988-2008
Authors: Einarsson Ingimar
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Í bókinni um Þróun velferðarinnar 1988-2008 er að finna umfangsmikla og gagnlega greiningu á þróun helstu velferðarmála á Íslandi á tuttugu ára tímabili fram að kreppunni. Þetta viðamikla rit hefði að öllu jöfnu átt að marka tímamót í rannsóknum á íslensku velferðarþjóðfélagi og samanburði við önnur lönd. Efnahagshrunið haustið 2008 setti hins vegar strik í reikninginn þannig að ýmislegt hefur breyst hin síðustu ár eða þróast í aðrar áttir en gera hefði mátt ráð fyrir undir lok rannsóknartímabilsins. Þess vegna er mikilvægt að fljótlega verði ráðist í sambærilega úttekt á þeim miklu breytingum sem átt hafa sér stað á Íslandi frá hruni. Á þann hátt yrði væntanlega unnt að skýra betur þær þjóðfélagsbreytingar sem átt hafa sér stað frá lokum níunda áratugar síðustu aldar til nútímans.
Stefán Jón Hafstein: Afríka. Ást við aðra sýn
Authors: Kristmundsdóttir Sigríður Dúna
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Stefán Jón á miklar þakkir skildar fyrir að færa okkur þessa mynd af Afríkumönnum og ekki veitir af. Myndin sem við fáum af Afríku í fjölmiðlum er venjulega mynd af skelfingum sem vissulega fyrirfinnast í þessari stóru álfu. Staðreyndin er samt sú að flestir Afríkubúar lifa lífinu rétt eins og við, í ró og spekt (jafnvel meiri spekt en Íslendingar), sinna vinnu sinni, senda börnin sín í skóla, gera við húsin sín, kjósa í kosningum og þar fram eftir götum.
Eiríkur Bergmann Einarsson: Iceland and the International Financial Crisis: Boom, Bust and Recovery
Authors: Conrad Maximilian
Published: October 2023

The book is a highly interesting read particularly for international audiences hoping to get a deeper insight not only into the causes and consequences of the collapse of the three banks, but more importantly also into the histo rical, political - cultural, and no less into the political - psychological background and dimension of the crisis. The chapters presenting Iceland’s economic history as well as the rise and fall of the Icelandic banks therefore present a very useful summary o f the existing literature on the subject, although the interested reader could also have hoped for a more diverse selection of sources.
Jón Þ. Þór: Winston S. Churchill ævisaga
Authors: Matthíasson Pétur Berg
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Það felast mörg tækifæri í svona bókum og maður getur séð fyrir sér heilan bókaflokk í þessum stíl. Það er hins vegar ljóst að þekking höfundar og ástríða á viðfangsefninu skilar bók sem allir ættu að lesa sem einhvern áhuga hafa á sögu og stjórnmálum.
Reynir Traustason: Afhjúpun. Lífshlaup og leyndarmál fréttaritara sem varð ritstjóri
Authors: Guðmundsson Friðrik Þór
Published: October 2023

Í umsögn gagnrýnenda kemur meðal annars eftirfarandi fram:

Mikilvæg fagleg og fræðileg skilaboð um sjálfstæði og fagmennsku ritstjórna og áhrif eigenda. Um að ófagleg og óeðlileg afskipti af faglegri blaðamennsku eigi sér stað nokkurn veginn á hverjum tíma og með margvíslegum hætti. Það er rétt að hafa þetta í huga um leið og rifjuð eru upp háleit orð um fjölmiðla með aðhaldshlutverk og stöðu þeirra sem fjórða valdið.
Disallowed Truths: Race, Shadow Books, and Captain America
Authors: Kobre Michael
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: This article examines a series of Captain America stories by Black creators and locates these works in the tradition of "shadow books," as defined by Kevin Young in his study of Black culture and artistic expression, The Grey Album: On the Blackness of Blackness. Truth: Red, White, and Black by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker; The Crew , written by Christopher Priest and drawn by Joe Bennett; and Morales' truncated 2004 run on Marvel's flagship Captain America title are all examples of what Young calls "shadow books," works by Black creators that subvert conventional meanings and are in turn "disallowed, vanished": out of print for years, sometimes with plots that were cut short and never completed, their events only glancingly recognized (or retroactively altered) in Marvel's continuity. This article focuses, in particular, on the retroactive revision of a key plot point from Truth: Red, White, and Black , and the way in which this editorial revision functions as an act of erasure in a broader struggle over the representation of American history.
Halal Fiction and Female Agency
Authors: Santesso Esra Mirze
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Contemporary Muslim writing, both in the US and in England, is witnessing the emergence of woman-centered fiction that puts Islam front and center. "Halal fiction," coined by Farial Ghazoul to refer to a new mode of writing advocating a theologically-conceived and ideologically-established worldview, has been used to describe the works penned by Leila Aboulela ( The Translator and Minaret ) and Umm Zakiyyah ( If I Should Speak trilogy). Both writers have drawn praise from certain segments of the Muslim population, and attracted a robust readership. However, the critical reception of these works remains divided: a group of scholars celebrate the subversive politics of halal fiction that presents Islam as a source of empowerment for women while others express reservations about the way halal fiction validates a skewed image of the Muslim woman aligned with patriarchal norms of gender identity. This paper focuses on the thematic, critical, and aesthetic challenges of halal fiction. It argues that rather than affirming individual agency as a significant component of self-actualization, halal fiction appears to endorse a type of womanhood based on consensual subordination, and voluntary withdrawal from the world. Furthermore, halal fiction reveals a divergence in the utilization of the novel itself, largely because of that genre's strong association with secularism and dialogism. This all suggests that there is a visible discrepancy between the alleged politics of the work (Islam as a redeeming code of ethics) and its effective politics of representation (Islam as a limiting and even authoritarian ideology).
"Entering Into God's Point of View": Marilyn McCord Adams and Marilynne Robinson on the Practice of Christian Forgiveness
Authors: Iacovetti Christopher
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: This article attempts both to defend and to expand upon Marilyn McCord Adams's influential account of Christian forgiveness by reading it in conjunction with Marilynne Robinson's Gilead (2004). For all its merits, I argue, Adams's account relies heavily on its appeal to an experience that Adams herself fails to clearly define: namely, an "exchange of viewpoints" between God and the believer which enables the latter to forgive her wrongdoer. The claim of this article is that Gilead provides us with a clear and psychologically plausible picture of what such an "exchange" might look like in practice, and thus that Robinson's novel both enriches and lends plausibility to Adams's account.
"Ten Lamps of Fire": Transforming the Darkness in Mary Oliver's Thirst
Authors: Peterson John
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: This article examines Mary Oliver's book Thirst (2006) and the ways in which it pursues a Christian vision of transformation that is shaped by the Desert Fathers' writings and the author's processing of the death of her beloved life partner, Molly Malone Cook. The speaker's transformation over the course of the book is depicted primarily through the imagery of light, which is used to reveal an incarnational way of seeing and the processing of a loved one's death, each of which contribute to the holistic vision that emerges in in one of the book's major concluding pieces, the poet's reworking of Psalm 145. Oliver's journey of healing and transformation in this book is especially poignant for the many readers who mourned her recent passing.
Norton-Beer apodization and its Fourier transform
Authors: Ntokas Konstantin F. F. , Ungermann Jörn , Kaufmann Martin
Published: October 2023

In Fourier transform spectroscopy, apodization is used to alter the instrument line shape, reducing the prominence of its side lobes. The Fourier transform of the apodization window is of great interest as it allows us to compute or optimize the line shape. In the last decades, many apodization windows have been proposed, from which the group of Norton-Beer apodization functions gained large popularity in Fourier transform spectroscopy. While for a small set of specific Norton-Beer apodization functions analytical solutions of the Fourier transform have been presented in the past, we present here a general method, which allows us to calculate the analytical solution of the Fourier transform for any Norton-Beer apodization function. This paper also documents the free Python library called norton_beer. It contains functions to generate apodization windows and their Fourier transform following the presented analytical solution. Furthermore, new Norton-Beer apodization functions can be generated for any desired spectral resolution.
Q-switched vortex waveguide laser generation based on LNOI thin films with implanted Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Sun Wenqing , Liu Yi , Romero Carolina , Vázquez de Aldana Javier R. , Ren Feng , Jia Yuechen , Sun Xiaoli , Chen Feng
Published: October 2023

Lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) thin films have gained significant attention in integrated photonics due to their exceptional crystal properties and wide range of applications. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to realize a Q-switched vortex waveguide laser by incorporating integrated lithium niobate thin films with embedded silver nanoparticles (Ag:LNOI) as a saturable absorber. The saturable absorption characteristics of Ag:LNOI are investigated using a home-made Z-scan system. Additionally, we integrate Ag:LNOI as a saturable absorber into a Nd:YAG “ear-like” cladding waveguide platform, which is prepared via femtosecond laser direct writing. By combining this setup with helical phase plates for phase modulation in the resonator, we successfully achieve a passive Q-switched vortex laser with a high repetition rate and narrow pulse duration in the near-infrared region. This work demonstrates the potential applications of LNOI thin films towards on-chip integration of vortex waveguide laser sources.
Atmospheric turbulence characterization with simultaneous measurement of phase, angle of arrival, and intensity in a retroreflected optical link
Authors: Dix-Matthews Benjamin P. , Karpathakis Skevos F. E. , Schediwy Sascha W.
Published: October 2023

Free-space optical transmission through the Earth’s atmosphere is applicable to high-speed data transmission and optical clock comparisons, among other uses. Fluctuations in the refractive index of the atmosphere limit the performance of atmospheric optical transmission by inducing phase noise, angle-of-arrival variation, and scintillation. The statistics of these deleterious effects are predicted by models for the spatial spectrum of the atmospheric refractive index structure. We present measurements of phase fluctuations, angle-of-arrival variations, and scintillation, taken concurrently and compared with models for the atmospheric refractive index structure. The measurements are also cross-compared by deriving independent estimates of the turbulence structure constant . We find agreement within an order of magnitude for derived values for all three metrics.
Nonlinear interaction between non-orthogonally polarization-multiplexed signals in fiber transmission with polarization-dependent loss
Authors: Inoue Kyo , Igarashi Koji
Published: October 2023

Polarization-division-multiplexing (PDM) is widely used in fiber transmission systems, wherein fiber nonlinearity is a crucial issue to be considered. Conventionally, the Manakov equation has been used to analyze the nonlinear propagation properties of PDM signal lights, which describes the nonlinear interaction between orthogonally polarized lights. However, because the polarization states of PDM signals are not necessarily orthogonal in transmission systems with polarization-dependent loss (PDL), it is not certain if the Manakov equation is applicable to such systems. Therefore, this study presents a wave equation that describes the nonlinear interaction between non-orthogonally polarized PDM signal lights. We derive a formula that considers the nonorthogonality resulting from PDL. Calculation based on the formula is carried out, the result of which shows that the nonlinear wave equation assuming orthogonal PDM signals results in negligible errors in effect when treating nonorthogonal PDM signals.
Z-scan analytical solutions for thin media with high order refractive nonlinearity and multiphoton absorption
Authors: Mendez Rodriguez J. J. , Arroyo Carrasco M. L. , Torres Romero R. , Mendez Otero M. M. , Martinez Irivas B. A. , Iturbe Castillo M. D.
Published: October 2023

Considering that a thin media presents solely one type of nonlinearity, we obtain an analytical solution for far field on-axis Z-scan detection; a second solution is obtained for open aperture case. To find the analytical solutions, we propose a form for the nonlinear high order refractive and multiphoton absorption of the media. Z-scan curves are presented where the nonlinear high order refractive and multiphoton absorption are varied.
Enteric Nervous System: Identification of a Novel Neuronal Sensory Network in the Duodenal Epithelium
Authors: Salazar Víctor , Bolaños Pura , del Castillo Jesús R.
Published: October 2023

The communication between the intestinal epithelium and the enteric nervous system has been considered indirect. Mechanical or chemical stimuli activate enteroendocrine cells inducing hormone secretion, which act on sub-epithelial nerve ends, activating the enteric nervous system. However, we identified an epithelial cell that expresses NKAIN4, a neuronal protein associated with the β-subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase. This cell overexpresses Na+/K+-ATPase and ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase, enzymes involved in active sodium transport. NKAIN4-positive cells also express neuronal markers as NeuN, acetylcholine-esterase, acetylcholine-transferase, α3- and α7-subunits of ACh receptors, glutamic-decarboxylase, and serotonin-receptor-7, suggesting they are neurons. NKAIN4-positive cells show a polarized shape with an oval body, an apical process finished in a knob-like terminal in contact with the lumen, a basal cilia body at the base of the apical extension, and basal axon-like soma projections connecting sub-epithelial nerve terminals, lymphoid nodules, glial cells, and enterochromaffin cells, forming a network that reaches the epithelial surface. We also showed, using retrograde labeling and immunofluorescence, that these cells receive afferent signals from the enteric nervous system. Finally, we demonstrated that acetylcholine activates NKAIN4-positive cells inducing Ca2+ mobilization and probably serotonin secretion in enterochromaffin cells. NKAIN4-positive cells are neurons that would form a part of a duodenal sensory network for physiological or noxious luminal stimuli.
O antigen biogenesis sensitises Escherichia coli K-12 to bile salts, providing a plausible explanation for its evolutionary loss
Authors: Qin Jilong , Hong Yaoqin , Morona Renato , Totsika Makrina
Published: October 2023

Escherichia coli K-12 is a model organism for bacteriology and has served as a workhorse for molecular biology and biochemistry for over a century since its first isolation in 1922. However, Escherichia coli K-12 strains are phenotypically devoid of an O antigen (OAg) since early reports in the scientific literature. Recent studies have reported the presence of independent mutations that abolish OAg repeating-unit (RU) biogenesis in E. coli K-12 strains from the same original source, suggesting unknown evolutionary forces have selected for inactivation of OAg biogenesis during the early propagation of K-12. Here, we show for the first time that restoration of OAg in E. coli K-12 strain MG1655 synergistically sensitises bacteria to vancomycin with bile salts (VBS). Suppressor mutants surviving lethal doses of VBS primarily contained disruptions in OAg biogenesis. We present data supporting a model where the transient presence and accumulation of lipid-linked OAg intermediates in the periplasmic leaflet of the inner membrane interfere with peptidoglycan sacculus biosynthesis, causing growth defects that are synergistically enhanced by bile salts. Lastly, we demonstrate that continuous bile salt exposure of OAg-producing MG1655 in the laboratory, can recreate a scenario where OAg disruption is selected for as an evolutionary fitness benefit. Our work thus provides a plausible explanation for the long-held mystery of the selective pressure that may have led to the loss of OAg biogenesis in E. coli K-12; this opens new avenues for exploring long-standing questions on the intricate network coordinating the synthesis of different cell envelope components in Gram-negative bacteria.
Barriers and facilitators to informal healthcare provider engagement in the national tuberculosis elimination program of India: An exploratory study from West Bengal
Authors: Thapa Poshan , Narasimhan Padmanesan , Jayasuriya Rohan , Hall John J. , Mukherjee Partha Sarathi , Das Dipesh Kr , Beek Kristen
Published: October 2023

India has a high burden of Tuberculosis (TB), accounting for a significant portion of global cases. While efforts are being made to engage the formal private sector in the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP) of India, there remains a significant gap in addressing the engagement of Informal Healthcare Providers (IPs), who serve as the first point of contact for healthcare in many communities. Recognizing the increasing evidence of IPs’ importance in TB care, it is crucial to enhance their engagement in the NTEP. Therefore, this study explored various factors influencing the engagement of IPs in the program. A qualitative study was conducted in West Bengal, India, involving 23 IPs and 11 Formal Providers (FPs) from different levels of the formal health system. Thematic analysis of the data was conducted following a six-step approach outlined by Braun and Clarke. Three overarching themes were identified in the analysis, encompassing barriers and facilitators to IPs’ engagement in the NTEP. The first theme focused on IPs’ position and capacity as care providers, highlighting their role as primary care providers and the trust and acceptance extended by the community. The second theme explored policy and system-level drivers and prohibitors, revealing barriers such as role ambiguity, competing tasks, and quality of care issues. Facilitators such as growing recognition of IPs’ importance in the health system, an inclusive incentive system, and willingness to collaborate were also identified. The third theme focused on the relationship between the formal and informal systems, highlighting a need to strengthen the relationship between the two. This study sheds light on factors influencing the engagement of IPs in the NTEP of India. It emphasizes the need for role clarity, knowledge enhancement, and improved relationships between formal and informal systems. By addressing these factors, policymakers and stakeholders can strengthen the engagement of IPs in the NTEP.
Prevalence of malaria and dengue co-infections among febrile patients during dengue transmission season in Kassala, eastern Sudan
Authors: Alsedig Khider , Eldigail Mawahib H. , Elduma Adel Hussein , Elaagip Arwa , Altahir Omnia , Siam Hanaa Adli , Ali Yousif , Abdallah Tajeldin
Published: October 2023

Background

Malaria and dengue are common mosquito-borne diseases around the world that cause high mortality and morbidity. The number of cases of both diseases is currently rising in Sudan and is associated with climate and environmental changes. Limited information is available on malaria and dengue co-infections and the severity of the two diseases among febrile patients in eastern Sudan. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of malaria and dengue co-infections among febrile patients in Kassala, eastern Sudan.

Methodology/Principal findings

A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among febrile patients from September to December 2019. A total of 395 patients were enrolled after consenting to participate in the study. Demographic and clinical data were collected by structured questionnaires. Blood samples were provided to diagnose malaria infections using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for serology diagnosis of dengue using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) IgM. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between demographic information, clinical symptoms and malaria and dengue co-infections.

Out of 395 febrile patients examined 158 (40%) were malaria positive and 67 (17%) were dengue positive. The prevalence of malaria and dengue co-infections was 6.6% (26/395). Results of multiple logistic regression indicated that elder patients (41–60 years) had less rate of co-infections (OR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.81,p-value = 0.018), while patients of co-infections were eight times more likely to have fatigue, and two times more likely to suffer from joint and muscle pain and this difference was statistically significant with (OR = 8.3, 95% CI: 1.89 to 37.22,p-value = 0.005) and (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.10 to 5.39,p-value = 0.027), respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

This study confirmed the existence of malaria and dengue co-infections among febrile patients in Kassala, eastern Sudan for the first time. The severity of clinical symptoms of patients with malaria and dengue co-infections was observed, and the co-infections were found prevalent among young people.
Student satisfaction and academic efficacy during online learning with the mediating effect of student engagement: A multi-country study
Authors: Sharif Nia Hamid , Marôco João , She Long , Khoshnavay Fomani Fatemeh , Rahmatpour Pardis , Stepanovic Ilic Ivana , Mohammad Ibrahim Maryam , Muhammad Ibrahim Fatima , Narula Sumit , Esposito Giovanna , Gorgulu Ozkan , Naghavi Navaz , Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Allen Kelly-Ann , Kaveh Omolhoda , Reardon Jonathan
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented changes to educational institutions, forcing their closure and a subsequent shift to online education to cater to student learning requirements. However, successful online learning depends on several factors and may also vary between countries. As such, this cross-sectional study sought to investigate how engagement of university students, a major driver of online learning, was influenced by course content, online interaction, student acceptance, and satisfaction with online learning, as well as self-efficacy across nine countries (China, India, Iran, Italy, Malaysia, Portugal, Serbia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a questionnaire-based approach, data collected from 6,489 university students showed that student engagement was strongly linked to perception of the quality of the course content and online interactions (p < .001). The current study also indicated that online interactions are a major determinant of academic efficacy but only if mediated by engagement within the online learning context. A negative correlation between student engagement and satisfaction with online learning was found, demonstrating the importance of students being engaged behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively to feel satisfied with learning. Academic efficacy and student satisfaction were explained by course content, online interaction, and online learning acceptance, being mediated by student engagement. Student satisfaction and, to a lesser degree academic efficacy, were also associated with online learning acceptance. Overall, the structural equation model was a good fit for the data collected from all nine countries (CFI = .947, TLI = .943; RMSEA = .068; SRMR = .048), despite differences in the percentage variations explained by each factor (no invariance), likely due to differences in levels of technology use, learning management systems, and the preparedness of teachers to migrate to full online instruction. Despite limitations, the results of this study highlight the most important factors affecting online learning, providing insight into potential approaches for improving student experiences in online learning environments.
Safety and clinical efficacy of an anti-PD-L1 antibody (c4G12) in dogs with advanced malignant tumours
Authors: Maekawa Naoya , Konnai Satoru , Hosoya Kenji , Kim Sangho , Kinoshita Ryohei , Deguchi Tatsuya , Owaki Ryo , Tachibana Yurika , Yokokawa Madoka , Takeuchi Hiroto , Kagawa Yumiko , Takagi Satoshi , Ohta Hiroshi , Kato Yukinari , Yamamoto Satoshi , Yamamoto Keiichi , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Okagawa Tomohiro , Murata Shiro , Ohashi Kazuhiko
Published: October 2023

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been developed for canine tumour treatment, and pilot clinical studies have demonstrated their antitumour efficacy in dogs with oral malignant melanoma (OMM). Although ICIs have been approved for various human malignancies, their clinical benefits in other tumour types remain to be elucidated in dogs. Here, we conducted a clinical study of c4G12, a canine chimeric anti-PD-L1 antibody, to assess its safety and efficacy in dogs with various advanced malignant tumours (n = 12) at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Hokkaido University from 2018 to 2023. Dogs with digit or foot pad malignant melanoma (n = 4), osteosarcoma (n = 2), hemangiosarcoma (n = 1), transitional cell carcinoma (n = 1), nasal adenocarcinoma (n = 1), B-cell lymphoma (n = 1), or undifferentiated sarcoma (n = 2) were treated with 2 or 5 mg/kg c4G12 every 2 weeks. Treatment-related adverse events of any grade were observed in eight dogs (66.7%), including elevated aspartate aminotransferase (grade 3) in one dog (8.3%) and thrombocytopenia (grade 4) in another dog (8.3%). Among dogs with target disease at baseline (n = 8), as defined by the response evaluation criteria for solid tumours in dogs (cRECIST), one dog with nasal adenocarcinoma and another with osteosarcoma experienced a partial response (PR), with an objective response rate of 25.0% (2 PR out of 8 dogs; 95% confidence interval: 3.2–65.1%). These results suggest that c4G12 is safe and tolerable and shows antitumor effects in dogs with malignant tumours other than OMM. Further clinical studies are warranted to identify the tumour types that are most likely to benefit from c4G12 treatment.
Moderate intensity continuous versus high intensity interval training: Metabolic responses of slow and fast skeletal muscles in rat
Authors: Pengam Morgane , Goanvec Christelle , Moisan Christine , Simon Bernard , Albacète Gaëlle , Féray Annie , Guernec Anthony , Amérand Aline
Published: October 2023

The healthy benefits of regular physical exercise are mainly mediated by the stimulation of oxidative and antioxidant capacities in skeletal muscle. Our understanding of the cellular and molecular responses involved in these processes remain often uncomplete particularly regarding muscle typology. The main aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two types of exercise training protocol: a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on metabolic processes in two muscles with different typologies: soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL). Training effects in male Wistar rats were studied from whole organism level (maximal aerobic speed, morphometric and systemic parameters) to muscle level (transcripts, protein contents and enzymatic activities involved in antioxidant defences, aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms). Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: untrained (UNTR), n = 7; MICT, n = 8; and HIIT, n = 8. Rats of the MICT and HIIT groups ran five times a week for six weeks at moderate and high intensity, respectively. HIIT improved more than MICT the endurance performance (a trend to increased maximal aerobic speed, p = 0.07) and oxidative capacities in both muscles, as determined through protein and transcript assays (AMPK–PGC-1α signalling pathway, antioxidant defences, mitochondrial functioning and dynamics). Whatever the training protocol, the genes involved in these processes were largely more significantly upregulated in soleus (slow-twitch fibres) than in EDL (fast-twitch fibres). Solely on the basis of the transcript changes, we conclude that the training protocols tested here lead to specific muscular responses.
The diagnostic tests and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in young adults: A 4-year hospital-based observational study
Authors: Sakseranee Jakraphat , Sethabouppha Peerapong , Pattarasakulchai Tanapat , Klaewkla Theerawee , Thiankhaw Kitti
Published: October 2023

Background and objectives

Ischemic strokes in young adults have been a significant concern due to various potential etiologies and had substantial clinical and public health impacts. We aimed to study the diagnostic tests, etiologies, and functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in young adult patients.

Methods

The data were retrieved from the Chiang Mai University Hospital Stroke Registry between January 2018 and December 2021. Consecutive AIS or TIA patients were included if they were 18–50 years and had no stroke mimics. Study outcomes were proportions of positive diagnostic tests, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

Results

Of 244 enrolled patients, 59.0% (n = 144) were male, and 38.1% (n = 93) were aged 18–40, classified as the younger age group. There was a high incidence of diabetes (24.5%) and dyslipidemia (54.3%) among patients aged 41–50, associated with small-vessel occlusion and large-artery atherosclerosis stroke classification in this age group. Patients aged 18–40 years had more other determined etiologies (39.8%), with hypercoagulability (8.2%), arterial dissection (7.8%), and cardiac sources (6.6%) being the first three causes, which were associated with higher anticoagulant treatment. The cerebrovascular study, cardiac evaluation using echocardiography, and antiphospholipid syndrome testing were commonly performed, of which computed tomography angiography provided a high proportion of positive results (80.3%). 76.3% of young adult patients had excellent functional outcomes (mRS 0–1) with a median mRS of 0 (interquartile range 0–1) at 90-day follow-up.

Conclusions

Stroke of other determined etiology remained the common cause of stroke in young adults, and most affected individuals had excellent clinical outcomes. Blood tests for arterial hypercoagulability and noninvasive vascular and cardiac evaluations are encouraged in selected patients to determine the stroke etiology and guide for appropriate preventive strategies.
LucFlow: A method to measure Luciferase reporter expression in single cells
Authors: Nooti Sunil , Naylor Madison , Long Trevor , Groll Brayden , Manu
Published: October 2023

Reporter assays, in which the expression of an inert protein is driven by gene regulatory elements such as promoters and enhancers, are a workhorse for investigating gene regulation. Techniques for measuring reporter gene expression vary from single-cell or single-molecule approaches having low throughput to bulk Luciferase assays that have high throughput. We developed a Luciferase Reporter Assay using Flow-Cytometry (LucFlow), which measures reporter expression in single cells immunostained for Luciferase. We optimized and tested LucFlow with a murine cell line that can be differentiated into neutrophils, into which promoter-reporter and enhancer-promoter-reporter constructs have been integrated in a site-specific manner. The single-cell measurements are comparable to bulk ones but we found that dead cells have no detectable Luciferase protein, so that bulk assays underestimate reporter expression. LucFlow is able to achieve a higher accuracy than bulk methods by excluding dead cells during flow cytometry. Prior to fixation and staining, the samples are spiked with stained cells that can be discriminated during flow cytometry and control for tube-to-tube variation in experimental conditions. Computing fold change relative to control cells allows LucFlow to achieve a high level of precision. LucFlow, therefore, enables the accurate and precise measurement of reporter expression in a high throughput manner.
Audio-visual integration is more precise in older adults with a high level of long-term physical activity
Authors: Azizi Zahra , Hirst Rebecca J. , Newell Fiona N. , Kenny Rose Anne , Setti Annalisa
Published: October 2023

It is well established that physical activity leads to numerous health, cognitive, and psychological benefits. However, to date, very few studies have investigated the impact of physical activity on multisensory perception, that is, the brain’s capacity to integrate information across sensory modalities. Furthermore, it is unknown what level of long-term physical activity is associated with multisensory integration in adults. We explored the relationship between multisensory integration and a ten-year physical activity trajectory in 2,974 adults aged 50+ from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing by measuring susceptibility to the Sound Induced Flash Illusion (SIFI) at multiple audio-visual temporal asynchronies. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) at 2 years intervals over ten years. We used latent class trajectory modelling to identify latent growth classes of individuals following a similar trajectory of physical activity over time. We analysed the association of this trajectory with performance accuracy to the illusion trials of the SIFI task with generalized logistic mixed effects regression models, adjusted for several covariates. Results showed that more precise integration (i.e., lower SIFI susceptibility with larger temporal asynchronies) was associated with a higher level of sustained physical activity across ten years. Although the use of self-reported physical activity and a short version of the SIFI task limit our conclusions to some extent, nonetheless, the results suggest that sustained physical activity is associated with more precise multisensory integration, which in turn is linked to better balance and a lower risk of falling in older adults.
Microbial adhesion and biofilm formation by Candida albicans on 3D-printed denture base resins
Authors: Silva Marcela Dantas Dias da , Nunes Thais Soares Bezerra Santos , Viotto Hamile Emanuella do Carmo , Coelho Sabrina Romão Gonçalves , Souza Raphael Freitas de , Pero Ana Carolina
Published: October 2023

This study evaluated surface properties and adhesion/biofilm formation by Candida albicans on 3D printed denture base resins used in 3D printing. Disc-shaped specimens (15 mm x 3 mm) of two 3D-printed resins (NextDent Denture 3D+, NE, n = 64; and Cosmos Denture, CO, n = 64) and a heat-polymerized resin (Lucitone 550, LU, control, n = 64) were analyzed for surface roughness (Ra μm) and surface free energy (erg cm-2). Microbiologic assays (90-min adhesion and 48-h biofilm formation by C. albicans) were performed five times in triplicate, with the evaluation of the specimens’ surface for: (i) colony forming units count (CFU/mL), (ii) cellular metabolism (XTT assay), and (iii) fluorescence and thickness of biofilm layers (confocal laser scanning microscopy). Data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests (α = 0.05). LU presented higher surface roughness Ra (0.329±0.076 μm) than NE (0.295±0.056 μm) (p = 0.024), but both were similar to CO (0.315±0.058 μm) (p = 1.000 and p = 0.129, respectively). LU showed lower surface free energy (47.47±2.01 erg cm-2) than CO (49.61±1.88 erg cm-2) and NE (49.23±2.16 erg cm-2) (p<0.001 for both). The CO and NE resins showed greater cellular metabolism (p<0.001) and CO only, showed greater colonization (p = 0.015) by C. albicans than LU in the 90-min and 48-hour periods. It can be concluded that both 3D-printed denture base resins are more prone to colonization by C. albicans, and that their surface free energy may be more likely associated with that colonization than their surface roughness.
Low-carbon lifestyle revolution: China’s recent progress toward a personal carbon market
Authors: Xu Wensha , Zhou Kaiwen , Hu Sifan , Yang Yang , Liang Pinghan , Pan Rong , Sun Yan , Lee Tien Ming
Published: October 2023

Meeting climate change targets requires inclusive carbon policies to encourage mass public participation. As a bottom-up strategy allows participation from all walks of society, personal carbon market may promote low-carbon behavior and further encourage technological innovation. We analyze the advantages of Personal Carbon Trading (PCT), examples of its application in other countries, and its limitations. To promote a low carbon emissions lifestyle, China has proposed and rapidly developed Inclusive carbon credits (ICC), which is a voluntary PCT scheme. We compare the government-led and enterprise-led ICC platforms with relevant examples in China and highlighted the need for academic-industry-government partnerships. Furthermore, we identify the barriers, opportunities, and the path forward with integrating ICC into the carbon market regarding technology and public participation. We hope that the understanding of ICC and China’s recent exploration of the personal carbon market could serve as an example to revolutionize the low-carbon lifestyle worldwide.
QUAL É MESMO O NOSSO PROBLEMA?
Authors: Viríssimo Tamilly , Viezzer Baretta Julia , Gaia Hoffmann Micheline , Silva Farias Josivania
Published: October 2023

Dilema: Que conceitos, abordagens e técnicas poderiam compor uma estratégia de capacitação dos servidores públicos estaduais para minimizar os riscos de problemas jurídicos na execução de compras públicas de inovação?
Objetivo educacional: Discutir questões relativas a compras públicas de inovação. Nas notas de ensino constam como objetivos compreender as implicações legais e os desafios gerenciais associados a compras públicas de inovação, a importância da etapa de análise de problemas no processo de inovação, a centralidade do usuário e a natureza não linear/iterativa desse processo, e o ferramental para análise e enquadramento de problemas.
Contextualização: O caso trata das repercussões gerenciais do Decreto n. 842/2020, que dispõe sobre a contratação de soluções inovadoras, publicado pelo estado de Santa Catarina. Na medida em que o novo instrumento transfere a lógica das compras públicas da especificação do objeto a ser contratado para a descrição de problema que suscita solução desconhecida, requer competências inexistentes nos servidores.
Tema principal: Compras públicas de inovação.
Público: Pode ser utilizado em cursos de Graduação e Pós-graduação em Administração, Administração Pública e Gestão Pública, nas disciplinas Gestão da Inovação, Inovação no Setor Público, Compras Públicas, Licitações e Contratos.
Originalidade/valor: O tema está na pauta de gestores públicos nos âmbitos nacional e internacional. São muitos os desafios gerenciais que o cercam. Dada à sua novidade, são poucos os trabalhos existentes na literatura. Tem valor não apenas à Gestão Pública, mas também a empreendedores que percebem no poder de compra do Estado a abertura de uma larga avenida de oportunidades de negócios.