bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biogeochemical processes and fluxes of nutrients and ions, at coastal, pelagic and extreme marine environments
Authors: Ρουσελάκη Ελένη
Published: July 2024

Στη διατριβή αυτή μελετάται η γεωχημεία νερών πόρων επιφανειακών ιζημάτων σε διαφoρετικά θαλάσσια περιβάλλοντα. Οι περιοχές μελέτης περιλαμβάνουν παράκτια ιζήματα στον Κόλπο της Ελευσίνας, ιζήματα βαθιάς θάλασσας νότια της Κρήτης, καθώς και ιζήματα από τα λασποηφαίστεια Gelendzhik, Moscow, Leipiz, Heraklion και Milano στο Olimpi Field. Μελετήθηκαν βιογεωχημικές διεργασίες πρώιμης διαγένεσης αναλύοντας δείγματα νερών πόρων για θρεπτικά, ανόργανο διαλυτό άνθρακα και το σταθερό ισότοπο του και κύρια ιόντα. Δόθηκε έμφαση στη μελέτη του κύκλου του αζώτου και του φωσφόρου, και επιπλέον στην αναγωγή των θειικών ιόντων και την αναερόβια οξείδωση του μεθανίου στην περιοχή του Olimpi Field. Η χωρική μεταβλητότητα που παρατηρείται στις συγκεντρώσεις θρεπτικών και διαλυτού ανόργανου άνθρακα στα ιζήματα βαθιάς θάλασσας αποδίδεται στη θέση του σαπροπηλού S1 και της αποδόμησης του. Στον Κόλπο της Ελευσίνας, παρατηρείται σημαντική εποχική διακύμανση στις συγκεντρώσεις θρεπτικών στα νερά πόρων στο τμήμα που καταγράφεται εποχική ανοξία στο νερό πλησίον του πυθμένα. Τα πειράματα επώασης που πραγματοποιήθηκαν έδειξαν ότι αλλαγές της διαθεσιμότητας οξυγόνου πλησίον του πυθμένα επηρεάζουν άμεσα διεργασίες που λαμβάνουν χώρα πλησίον της μεσεπιφάνειας νερού-ιζήματος ιδιαίτερα για τα νιτρικά και φωσφορικά. Η έλλειψη οξυγόνου πλησίον του πυθμένα, οδηγεί σε πολύ χαμηλές συγκεντρώσεις νιτρικών οδηγώντας σε συσσώρευση αζώτου στα νερά πόρων καθώς η διεργασία της απονιτροποίησης φαίνεται να παρεμποδίζεται σημαντικά. Τα νερά πόρων που συλλέχθηκαν από τα λασποηφαίστεια στο Olimpi Field παρουσίασαν μεγάλη μεταβλητότητα κυρίως λόγω μεταφοράς ρευστών και αερίων από βαθύτερα στρώματα ιζημάτων, οδηγώντας σε εμπλουτισμό κύριων ιόντων, αμμωνιακών και μεθανίου. Στο υπερ-άλμυρο περιβάλλον που εντοπίστηκε στα λασποηφαίστεια Heraklion and Gelendzhik υπάρχουν γεωχημικές ενδείξεις ότι λαμβάνουν χώρα αναγωγή θειικών και αναερόβια οξείδωση μεθανίου. Τα δεδομένα των νερών πόρων υποδεικνύουν ότι η περιοχή Olimpi είναι ενεργή όσον αφορά την μεταφορά ρευστών και αερίων.
Characterisation of the immuno-inflammatory response following operative adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and biological properties of osteoprogenitor cells harvested from vertebral bodies compared to iliac crest
Authors: Φραγκάκης Ευάγγελος-Μηνάς
Published: July 2024

Σε ασθενείς που υποβλήθηκαν σε χειρουργική επέμβαση εφηβικής ιδιοπαθούς σκολίωσης (AIS), η απόδοση και οι ικανότητες διαφοροποίησης των μεσεγχυματικών βλαστοκυττάρων (MSCs) από το σπονδυλικό σώμα (VB) και την λαγόνια ακρολοφία (IC) μυελού των οστών (BM) διερευνήθηκαν συγκρίνοντας την αποτελεσματικότητα δύο διαδικασιών συλλογής MSC [Φυγοκέντρηση βαθμίδωσης πυκνότητας (Lymphoprep, LMP) και λύση ερυθρών αιμοσφαιρίων (χλωριούχο αμμώνιο, AC)]. Επίσης ποσοτικοποιήθηκε η επιβάρυνση της χειρουργικής επέμβασης 3 χειρουργικών προσεγγίσεων (οπίσθια, οπίσθια-κοστοπλαστική, προσθιο-οπίσθια), για διόρθωση AIS.Σε 18 ασθενείς αναρροφήθηκαν 10 ml BM διεγχειρητικά από IC και VB και τα MSCs απομονώθηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας διαδικασίες συλλογής AC και LMP. Τα MSC απαριθμήθηκαν και φαινοτυπικά χαρακτηρίστηκαν χρησιμοποιώντας ινοβλάστες μονάδας σχηματισμού αποικίας (CFU-F), κυτταρομετρία ροής και προσδιορισμούς διαφοροποίησης τριών γενεών. Για την ανοσοφλεγμονώδη μελέτη επιλέχθηκαν 23 ασθενείς. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν δοκιμασίες ELISA σε ορό από 4 ml περιφερικού αίματος, σε 6 περιεγχειρητικά χρονικά σημεία (Τ), μετρώντας 4 κυτοκίνες [(Ιντερλευκίνη) IL-6, IL-10, IL-18 και Προκαλσιτονίνη (PCT)]. Αναλύθηκαν επίσης οι χειρουργικές παράμετροι και η μεταβλητότητα του φύλου. Τόσο το IC όσο και το VB παρουσίασαν παρόμοιες συγκεντρώσεις MSC, ωστόσο το AC απέδωσε σημαντικά περισσότερα MSC/ml κατά 1,8 φορές (IC, p=0,012) και 1,5 φορές (VB, p=0,043), σε σύγκριση με το LMP. Οι συγκεντρώσεις ασβεστίου και γλυκοζαμινογλυκάνης (GAG) ήταν και οι δύο σημαντικά υψηλότερες από τα VB MSCs, σε σύγκριση με το IC [Ασβέστιο: AC 8,7 φορές (p=0,001), LMP 1,2 φορές, GAG: AC 3,8 φορές (p=0,0005), LMP 1,9 -δίπλωμα (p=0,003)]. Η λιπογένεση δεν έδειξε σημαντικές διαφορές. Τα MSC που συλλέχθηκαν από VB AC παρουσίασαν σημαντικά μικρότερη περιοχή αποικίας κατά 1,9 φορές (p=0,039), σε σύγκριση με το IC AC. Οι μετεγχειρητικές συγκεντρώσεις της IL-6 και της IL-10 ήταν πάντα σημαντικά αυξημένες στα σημεία Τ2 και Τ3, και στις 3 προσεγγίσεις (p<0,01) με την προσθιο-οπίσθια προσέγγιση να παρουσιάζει τα υψηλότερα επίπεδα ακολουθούμενη από οπίσθια-κοστοπλαστική και οπίσθια προσεγγίσεις. Αν και οι παρατεταμένες διαδικασίες και ο τύπος φύλου επηρέασαν τις συγκεντρώσεις κυτοκίνης, τα επίπεδά τους δεν ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά.Συνοπτικά, το AC απομόνωσε πιο αποτελεσματικά τα MSC, χωρίς να επηρεάσει τη λειτουργία τους. Τα MSCs VBBM επέδειξαν υψηλότερες ικανότητες οστεο- και χονδρογονικής διαφοροποίησης, αντιπροσωπεύοντας μια έγκυρη πηγή MSCs στη χειρουργική της σπονδυλικής στήλης. Η χειρουργική αντίδραση στρες που ποσοτικοποιήθηκε με ανοσο-φλεγμονώδεις δείκτες, ήταν υψηλότερη σε πιο επιθετικές και εκτεταμένες επεμβάσεις, υποδηλώνοντας μεγαλύτερη επαγρύπνηση στον εντοπισμό και την πρόληψη των επιπλοκών.
The legal basis of the activities of criminal enforcement inspections
Authors: Grushin Fedor , Karkhanina Lyudmila Vladimirovna , Byakina Svetlana Igorevna
Published: July 2024

The textbook highlights the issues of legal regulation of the execution of criminal penalties, measures of a criminal legal nature, preventive measures, compulsory medical measures prescribed in accordance with Part 2.1 of Article 102 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as well as the specifics of the organization of executive and post-penitentiary probation by employees of criminal enforcement inspections.
For cadets of educational institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, students of other educational organizations studying the disciplines of Penal Enforcement Law, "Organization of activities of penal enforcement inspections", "Execution of punishments not related to the isolation of convicts from society", as well as for employees of penal enforcement inspections.
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Instrumentalizacja migracji
Authors: Nitszke Agnieszka
Published: July 2024

INSTRUMENTALIZATION OF MIGRATION: PROCEDURALIZATION VS. HUMANIZATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ASYLUM POLICY
The 2015 migration crisis and its consequences still determine the EU debate on the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), which began in 2015. In September 2020, the assumptions of a new pact on migration and asylum were presented. In response to the crisis on the EU’s eastern border, the pact has been supplemented in 2021 with a draft of regulation on the situation of instrumentalization in the area of migration and asylum, which is the main subject of the analysis in the presented article. The aim of the article is to present selected aspects of the instrumentalization of migration and answer the question whether it is possible to reconcile EU security and a humanitarian approach to people seeking international protection in the EU. The article was based on document analysis with the use of primarily content analysis, as well as institutional, legal and systemic methods. The securitization theory was used to explain the phenomenon of instrumentalization of migration.
Theoretical and Applied Principles of Strategic Management of Competitive Advantages of Enterprises in the Context of Digitalization
Authors: Zaverbnyj A. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University, Pushak Ya. ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: July 2024

The article highlights the main theoretical and applied principles of strategic management of competitive advantages of enterprises in the context of digitalization. The paper analyzes the problems of strategic management of competitive advantages at the macro and micro levels. Since the management of domestic enterprises is simply forced to make decisions under conditions of critical uncertainty, in the absence of practical experience in wartime, the dynamic development of innovative technologies, and the digitalization of the economy, the study and improvement of the strategic management of competitive advantages of enterprises in the context of digitalization are topical issues. It has been established that the current highly dynamic pace of development of the economic environment will primarily be reflected in enterprises. Digitalization, active introduction, development of the latest technologies in the activities of these enterprises will also entail changes in approaches to ensuring the competitive position of the enterprise in the markets. It is determined that adaptation to changes in domestic enterprises should be ensured by internal changes in their systems of activity, reflected in their strategic development. It has been substantiated that the dynamics cause fierce competition and the need for enterprises to adapt to it. Domestic enterprises were unable to immediately respond to changing conditions, market needs, etc., which is why many of them were simply not ready for such competition. The paper determines that, in general, digitalization has a significant impact on the level of competitiveness. The key effects that can contribute to improving their level of efficiency and ensuring competitive advantage are allocated. The mechanism for implementing a strategy for achieving competitive advantages by domestic enterprises in the context of digitalization is a set of directions, measures, and tools aimed at achieving a competitive position of an enterprise in the market by introducing advanced technologies into business processes, which will allow achieving a cost leadership position, differentiating products and services in the market, or a strategy for entering foreign markets, etc. The structure of digital tools that can be used in practice in the formation and further development of competitive advantages of enterprises is proposed in the article.
Some properties of the commutators of special linear quantum groups
Authors: Atteya Mehsin Jabel ,   Mustansiriyah University
Published: July 2024

This article is interested to a detailed computation of the commutators of the Hopf algebra Uq(sl(n)). It can betreated as a second way to computation the brackets of the Hopf algebra Uq(sl(n)) which could be introducing and understanding the Uq(sl(n)) for the researchers.
Special schools framework
Authors: Stephenson Jo
Published: July 2024

Special schools cater for children and young people with additional and often complex needs. Jo Stephenson sets out 10 emerging trends on how the education inspection framework is being applied in special schools
Jury out on proposed mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse
Authors: Simpson Fiona
Published: July 2024

Key sector leaders back independent inquiry recommendation that reporting of child sex abuse should be made compulsory in law, but others remain concerned that it would lead to children's services being ‘overwhelmed’
Immediate effects of dry needling on spasticity-related parameters in the wrist and elbow of patients after a stroke: a quasi-experimental feasibility study
Authors: Friedman Alan , Treger Iuly , Kalichman Leonid
Published: July 2024

Background/Aims

Dry needling is widely used to treat myofascial pain and related musculoskeletal conditions. Recently, the use of dry needling for the management of post-stroke spasticity has been proposed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effect of dry needling of spastic muscles on pain, spasticity, and pain pressure threshold in the elbow and wrist muscles of patients who have had a stroke.

Methods

This quasi-experimental, pre–post design feasibility study implemented dry needling in wrist or elbow flexors. Outcome measures evaluated muscle spasticity using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale, pain pressure threshold and range of motion.

Results

A total of eight participants (seven men and one woman) were included in the study. The average age was 57.00 ± 13.88 years. The Modified Modified Ashworth Scale scores decreased from 1.81 ± 0.84 to 1.25 ± 0.46 in the elbow flexors (P=0.066) and from 1.86 ± 0.69 to 1.29 ± 0.49 in the wrist extensors (P=0.046). Range of motion increased in the elbow, and there was a statistically significant increase in the range of motion in the wrist (P=0.027). Pain pressure threshold also increased statistically significantly in muscles related to the wrist and elbow (P=0.043 and P=0.035 respectively).

Conclusions

Dry needling may decrease spasticity, increase range of motion and pain pressure threshold in treated muscles and improve functional gains in the spastic limb. Further, more extensive studies are essential to assess the use of dry needling in managing post-stroke spasticity.

Implications for practice

Physiotherapists can use dry needling in spastic muscles when treating patients who have had a stroke.
Use of natural language processing techniques to predict patient selection for total hip and knee arthroplasty from radiology reports
Authors: Farrow Luke , Zhong Mingjun , Anderson Lesley
Published: July 2024

Aims

To examine whether natural language processing (NLP) using a clinically based large language model (LLM) could be used to predict patient selection for total hip or total knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) from routinely available free-text radiology reports.

Methods

Data pre-processing and analyses were conducted according to the Artificial intelligence to Revolutionize the patient Care pathway in Hip and knEe aRthroplastY (ARCHERY) project protocol. This included use of de-identified Scottish regional clinical data of patients referred for consideration of THA/TKA, held in a secure data environment designed for artificial intelligence (AI) inference. Only preoperative radiology reports were included. NLP algorithms were based on the freely available GatorTron model, a LLM trained on over 82 billion words of de-identified clinical text. Two inference tasks were performed: assessment after model-fine tuning (50 Epochs and three cycles of k-fold cross validation), and external validation.

Results

For THA, there were 5,558 patient radiology reports included, of which 4,137 were used for model training and testing, and 1,421 for external validation. Following training, model performance demonstrated average (mean across three folds) accuracy, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) values of 0.850 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.833 to 0.867), 0.813 (95% CI 0.785 to 0.841), and 0.847 (95% CI 0.822 to 0.872), respectively. For TKA, 7,457 patient radiology reports were included, with 3,478 used for model training and testing, and 3,152 for external validation. Performance metrics included accuracy, F1 score, and AUROC values of 0.757 (95% CI 0.702 to 0.811), 0.543 (95% CI 0.479 to 0.607), and 0.717 (95% CI 0.657 to 0.778) respectively. There was a notable deterioration in performance on external validation in both cohorts.

Conclusion

The use of routinely available preoperative radiology reports provides promising potential to help screen suitable candidates for THA, but not for TKA. The external validation results demonstrate the importance of further model testing and training when confronted with new clinical cohorts.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(7):688–695.
Factors associated with Achilles tendon re-rupture following operative fixation
Authors: Choi Yoon H. , Kwon Tae H. , Choi Ji H. , Han Hee S. , Lee Kyoung M.
Published: July 2024

Aims

Achilles tendon re-rupture (ATRR) poses a significant risk of postoperative complication, even after a successful initial surgical repair. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with Achilles tendon re-rupture following operative fixation.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed a total of 43,287 patients from national health claims data spanning 2008 to 2018, focusing on patients who underwent surgical treatment for primary Achilles tendon rupture. Short-term ATRR was defined as cases that required revision surgery occurring between six weeks and one year after the initial surgical repair, while omitting cases with simultaneous infection or skin necrosis. Variables such as age, sex, the presence of Achilles tendinopathy, and comorbidities were systematically collected for the analysis. We employed multivariate stepwise logistic regression to identify potential risk factors associated with short-term ATRR.

Results

From 2009 to 2018, the short-term re-rupture rate for Achilles tendon surgeries was 2.14%. Risk factors included male sex, younger age, and the presence of Achilles tendinopathy.

Conclusion

This large-scale, big-data study reaffirmed known risk factors for short-term Achilles tendon re-rupture, specifically identifying male sex and younger age. Moreover, this study discovered that a prior history of Achilles tendinopathy emerges as an independent risk factor for re-rupture, even following initial operative fixation.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(7):315–320.
Genetic diversity of rose apple (Syzygium samarangense) varieties based on ISSR molecular markers
Authors: HIEN PHAN THI THU , HANG VU THI THUY , CHAM LE THI TUYET
Published: July 2024

Abstract. Hien PTT, Hang VTT, Cham LTT. 2024. Genetic diversity of Rose apple (Syzygium samarangense) varieties based on ISSR molecular markers. Biodiversitas 25: xxxx. Rose apple (Syzygium samarangense) exhibits a rich diversity in its varieties, metabolic compounds, and biological activities. Genetic diversity studies are crucial in understanding plant species taxonomy and evolutionary history. They provide a roadmap for researchers to trace the relationships between different varieties and offer insights into the evolutionary processes that have shaped the diversity within the species. Many traditional or indigenous varieties of plants may harbor unique traits adapted to specific local conditions. This study, therefore, holds immense value as it aims to evaluate the genetic relationship among rose apple varieties in Vietnam using morphological characteristics and ISSR markers. Sixteen local varieties of rose apple were collected from provinces in Vietnam for this purpose. The morphological characteristics of leaves and fruits were compared among samples, and the genetic diversity was evaluated using ISSR markers. The results revealed significant morphological diversity in the leaf base, blade shape, leaf color, and fruit shape and size. Based on the DNA profiles of 15 ISSR markers, 102 amplicons were produced, and the percentage of polymorphism ranged from 57 to 100%. The dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method classified these varieties into two main clusters with a genetic diversity of 64%. Such comprehensive information underscores the genetic diversity among S. samarangense, thereby contributing to the germplasm resources for future plant breeding programs.
Floristic diversity of Naungan mangrove ecosystem in Ormoc, the largest port city in Leyte, Philippines
Authors: PASA ARTURO E. , SOLANO VAL JASON D. , FIGUEROA SHAINA MAE S. , VALENZONA ERNIE O. , BUHAY ANNE FRANCES V. , BUOT JR INOCENCIO E.
Published: July 2024

Abstract. Pasa AE, Solano VJD, Figueroa SMS, Valenzona EO, Buhay AFV, Buot Jr IE. 2024. Floristic diversity of Naungan mangrove ecosystem in Ormoc, the largest port city in Leyte, Philippines. Biodiversitas 25: 2093-2103. Assessing the floristic diversity of the Naungan mangrove ecosystem in Ormoc, the largest port city in Leyte and a highly susceptible area to geologic and natural hazards, extreme weather events and human disturbances, is vital to determine available resources and ecosystem services for communities. This study aimed to evaluate the present state of the mangrove ecosystem in Naungan by analyzing its floristic diversity, composition, and structural characteristics. A total of 55 nested quadrats were established as observation points, measuring 10 m x 10 m and 5 m x 5 m to document the upper canopy and understorey vegetation, respectively. Mangroves with a diameter of 10 cm and above were recorded for the upper canopy while plants with diameter below 10 cm were recorded for the understorey. Results showed that the upper canopy vegetation has a total of 331 individuals of which are 10 tree species belonging to 8 families while the understorey canopy has a total of 1,310 individuals of which are 23 species belonging to 15 families. The diversity of upper canopy vegetation, as measured by the Shannon index, is notably low at 1.492. Similarly, the understorey diversity, with a value of 2.198, falls into the low category. When considering the combined diversity of both upper and lower canopies, the overall score remains low at 2.176. Avicennia marina is the most dominant upperstorey species with a relative abundance of 0.39275 followed by Sonneratia alba with 0.27492 and Avicennia officinalis with 0.16012. The understorey is also dominated by Avicennia marina with a relative abundance of 0.352672 followed by Nypa fruticans with 0.118321 and Rhizophora apiculata with 0.10229. Aegiceras floridum and Ceriops decandra are “nearly threatened” while the other species are under the “least concern” category. The area is managed by a people’s organization but threats such as fishpond establishment, road construction, and subsistence farming remain and are expected to affect mangrove diversity and ecosystem services. A mangrove ecosystem conservation framework is proposed, incorporating the importance of policy intervention and local participation in realizing sustainable mangrove ecosystems and stable provisions of the ecosystem services.
Estimation of protozoal diversity among stray cats in Malaysia
Authors: ABDULWAHAB MARWA HASAN , AL-TALIB HASSANAIN
Published: July 2024

Abstract. Abdulwahab MH, Al-Talib H. 2024. Estimation of protozoal diversity among stray cats in Malaysia. Biodiversitas 25: 2115-2120. This cross sectional study was carried out to estimate the current prevalence and protozoa species in stray cats feces in Malaysia. A total of 320 fresh fecal samples were collected from S.I Home Shelter-Selangor, EJ CAT Home- Melaka, and KB-Cat Shelter - Kelantan in Malaysia. The collected fecal samples were concentrated for the presence of intestinal protozoa using a ready-made commercial Parasep tube floatation method. The fecal samples were stained with iodine and examined for protozoa by microscopic examination. The overall prevalence of intestinal protozoa in cat feces was 73.1% (n = 234). Isospora felis was most frequently detected (n = 145; 62%), followed by Toxoplasma gondii (n = 75; 32%), Giardia intestinalis (n = 9; 3.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (n = 9; 3.8%), and Tritrichomonas foetus (n = 6; 12.5%). Monoparasitism was detected in 65.8%, which was more frequent than polyparasitism (34.2%). Therefore, the local population is at risk of exposure to a wide range of zoonotic protozoa through environmental contamination with cat feces, and the current findings should be used to mitigate public health risks. Prevention and control measures need to be taken to reduce prevalence rates, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities where animals live in close proximity to humans, where poor sanitation and overcrowding exist along with a lack of veterinary care and awareness of zoonotic diseases.
How the War between Russia and Ukraine Caused a Multi-Cycle in the Polish Housing Market
Authors: Łaszek Jacek , Olszewski Krzysztof , Augustyniak Hanna
Published: July 2024

We examine the effects of the war between Russia and Ukraine on the housing market in the six largest cities in Poland and explain how these effects emerged. Since Poland’s transition to a market economy and its accession to the EU, Poland has experienced normal cycles in house prices, i.e. relatively long periods of increases in house prices followed by similarly long periods of decreases in house prices. However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine created a situation that can be described as a multi-cycle. The pandemic initially halted nearly all transactions on the market, but after a few quarters of fiscal and monetary intervention aimed at saving the economy we observed a housing boom. Just a few quarters later, the Russian aggression in Ukraine caused significant inflation, which required a sharp increase in interest rates, and once again demand slowed down. This was followed just a few quarters later by a resurgence in house purchases in order to escape inflation, with many people using cash for these purchases. This situation has shaken the housing market, while the war has also generated a demographic shock. Construction and transportation workers began returning to Ukraine to help in its reconstruction, while women with children came to Poland from Ukraine seeking safety and creating a demand for rental housing.
Fractured Mobilization: Miami’s Little Haiti Confronts Mega-Real Estate Speculation
Authors: Tardanico Richard
Published: July 2024

Disenfranchised urban communities worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to land dispossession and cultural erasure as neoliberal regimes unleash intensified financial speculation within polarizing and splintering local/global class and racialized disparities. A dilemma of disenfranchised communities when confronting speculative intrusions where prospective allies have become marginalized or eliminated is whether, and to what degree, to resist such threats contentiously at the risk of zero-sum defeat versus accommodative negotiations seeking to rescue modest benefits while mitigating dislocations. The forms and intensities of community responses can be conceptualized as embedded within multiscalar state society and local politico-spatial configurations. From that perspective, I address a predominantly Black immigrant district, Miami’s Little Haiti, as it confronts mega-real estate speculation within a metropolitan political economy of corporate real estate hegemony and accelerating racialized expulsions. The contentious versus accommodative dilemma and local/supralocal political landscape fractured and neutralized the Haitian collective responses. I conclude by discussing the case’s theoretical/comparative implications.
Beyond dichotomy: unveiling mode behavior in plasmonic nanodisks
Authors: Aray Ayda , Ghavami Sabouri Saeed , Ghaffari-Oskooei Sara Sadat
Published: July 2024

In our study, we investigate the resonance modes of plasmonic nanodisks through numerical simulations and theoretical analysis. These tiny structures exhibit fascinating behavior, but relying solely on mode localization is not sufficient to classify their supported modes as plasmonic or dielectric. Our goal is to address this challenge by introducing a robust method for identifying each mode’s true nature. Moreover, through analysis of the field distribution, we introduce, to our knowledge, a novel metric designed for application in inverse problems within the realm of machine learning. This metric serves as a robust tool for optimizing the performance of photonic devices.
High operating temperature HgCdTe coupled cavity plasmonic infrared photodetectors
Authors: Vallone M. , Goano M. , Tibaldi A.
Published: July 2024

Increasing the operating temperature while enhancing detectivity is paramount for the advancement of HgCdTe infrared detectors. In this context, the integration of plasmonic nanostructures emerges as one of the most intriguing avenues, promising breakthroughs in infrared sensing capabilities. Multiphysics TCAD simulations of pin nanostructured focal plane photodetector arrays unveil the potential benefits of submicron absorber thicknesses, that promise detectivities more than twice as large as those provided by conventional 5μm-thick absorbers, besides enabling operating temperatures up to 260 K. Such performance increase is discussed through the combination of numerical simulations and quantum mechanical treatment based on the occupation number formalism, describing the interaction between plasmonic and optical cavity modes responsible for the spectral broadening of the optical response, allowing for good coverage of the entire mid-infrared band (λ∈[3,5]μm).
Preventing heat-related deaths: The urgent need for a global early warning system for heat
Authors: Brimicombe Chloe , Runkle Jennifer D. , Tuholske Cascade , Domeisen Daniela I. V. , Gao Chuansi , Toftum Jørn , Otto Ilona M.
Published: July 2024

Heatwaves are the deadliest weather hazard and people and societies across the world continue to suffer from heat-related impacts. Future climate projections show a troubling increase in cross-sectoral impacts including health and economic risk presented by heatwaves. Many weather hazards such as floods and droughts already have a type of Early Warning System (EWS) or Global Alert System, but a global heat early warning system currently does not exist. An accurate heat EWS can save lives and can promote heat adaptation across society. Here, we (1) explore the history of Early Warning Systems as framed using the Disaster Risk Reduction paradigms and (2) identify potential barriers to an integrated Global Heat Early Warning system. Finally, we discuss what we have learned from history and the identified current barriers and outline a vision of a Global Heat Early Warning system around four key themes, incorporating systems for low-, middle-, and high-income countries and requiring cross-sectoral, cross-government, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Geographical validation of the Smart Triage Model by age group
Authors: Zhang Cherri , Wiens Matthew O. , Dunsmuir Dustin , Pillay Yashodani , Huxford Charly , Kimutai David , Tenywa Emmanuel , Ouma Mary , Kigo Joyce , Kamau Stephen , Chege Mary , Kenya-Mugisha Nathan , Mwaka Savio , Dumont Guy A. , Kissoon Niranjan , Akech Samuel , Ansermino J Mark ,   on behalf of the Pediatric Sepsis CoLab
Published: July 2024

Infectious diseases in neonates account for half of the under-five mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Data-driven algorithms such as clinical prediction models can be used to efficiently detect critically ill children in order to optimize care and reduce mortality. Thus far, only a handful of prediction models have been externally validated and are limited to neonatal in-hospital mortality. The aim of this study is to externally validate a previously derived clinical prediction model (Smart Triage) using a combined prospective baseline cohort from Uganda and Kenya with a composite endpoint of hospital admission, mortality, and readmission. We evaluated model discrimination using area under the receiver-operator curve (AUROC) and visualized calibration plots with age subsets (< 30 days, ≤ 2 months, ≤ 6 months, and < 5 years). Due to reduced performance in neonates (< 1 month), we re-estimated the intercept and coefficients and selected new thresholds to maximize sensitivity and specificity. 11595 participants under the age of five (under-5) were included in the analysis. The proportion with an endpoint ranged from 8.9% in all children under-5 (including neonates) to 26% in the neonatal subset alone. The model achieved good discrimination for children under-5 with AUROC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.79–0.82) but poor discrimination for neonates with AUROC of 0.62 (95% CI: 0.55–0.70). Sensitivity at the low-risk thresholds (CI) were 85% (83%–87%) and 68% (58%–76%) for children under-5 and neonates, respectively. After model revision for neonates, we achieved an AUROC of 0.83 (95% CI: 0.79–0.87) with 13% and 41% as the low- and high-risk thresholds, respectively. The updated Smart Triage performs well in its predictive ability across different age groups and can be incorporated into current triage guidelines at local healthcare facilities. Additional validation of the model is indicated, especially for the neonatal model.
Knowledge and prevalence of common sexually transmitted infections among patients seeking care at selected health facilities in Southern Ghana
Authors: Hutton-Nyameaye Araba Ata , Asiamah Morrison , Asafo-Adjei Karikari , Benneh Charles Kwaku , Kwakye Adwoa Oforiwaa , Mensah Kofi Boamah , Duedu Kwabena Obeng , Buabeng Kwame Ohene
Published: July 2024

The burden of Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains a public health problem that should be addressed considering its effect on society and close association with HIV. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and prevalence of common STIs and associated risk factors among adult patients seeking STI care in health facilities in Ho Municipality. This was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 178 adult clients seeking treatment for suspected STIs, from November 2020 to April 2021. Data on participants’ demographic characteristics, knowledge and health-seeking behaviour for STI therapy was obtained. Urine and blood samples were also taken from each participant for microbiological screening to identify the infecting pathogen and the specific STI. Multiple logistic regression and chi-square analyses were used to test the significance of associations. Of the 178 participants, 71.91% (n = 128) were women and 61.24% (n = 109) were unmarried. About 13% (n = 23) had poor knowledge of STIs. Prevalence of the STIs was 24.72% (n = 44) of which gonorrhoea was the highest 11.24% (n = 20), followed by chlamydia 10.11% (n = 18) and syphilis 7.30% (n = 13). Of all the participants, 3.37% (n = 6) had co-infections with at least 2 pathogens. Infection with all three pathogens was observed in a single participant. Participants who were married were associated with 61% reduced odds of sexually transmitted infection compared to participants who were unmarried (AOR = 0.39; Cl = 0.17–0.89). Participants who smoked had 6.5 times increased odds of the infection compared to nonsmoking participants (AOR = 6.51; Cl = 1.07–39.56). Although knowledge of STIs was high, it did not appear to contribute to lowering of the prevalence. This suggests there may be other factors other than awareness or knowledge driving STIs. There is an urgent need for further studies to ascertain the drivers of STIs beyond knowledge and awareness in the public.
Burden and predictors of anxiety disorder among HIV patients on ART in Nairobi Kenya
Authors: Gacau Kevin Kibera , Mugendi George , Kiragu George , Ngayo Musa Otieno , Omosa Gloria
Published: July 2024

Anxiety disorders are prevalent among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) globally, but data on the prevalence and factors associated with this mental illness are limited among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Kenya. This study determined the prevalence and correlates of anxiety disorder among HIV patients receiving care and treatment at the Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) in Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. This was a cross-sectional study where 205 eligible and consenting participants were systematically enrolled. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) Questionnaire was used to assess anxiety levels, with a score of 8 or more indicating moderate to severe anxiety. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on factors associated with anxiety disorder. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to analyze data. Of the enrolled 205 patients, 122 (59.5%) were female. The median age and household size were 49 years (Interquartile range IQR 39–54) and 3 people (IQR 2–3) respectively. A large proportion of the participants, 169 (82.4%) were on the first-line ART regimen and the median duration on ART was 13 years (IQR 7–18). Nearly a third of the participants 60 (29.3%) had anxiety disorder. Male participants (adjusted odds ratio—aOR 0.33; 95% confidence interval—CI 0.13–0.78) were less likely to have anxiety disorder. Self-employment (aOR 5.57; 95% CI 2.17–20.06), larger households (aOR 1.48; 95%CI 1.11–2.03) and no history of tuberculosis infection (aOR 2.9; 95% CI; 1.29–6.96) were factors associated with having anxiety disorder. Among PLHIV receiving ART in Nairobi County, Kenya, there is a considerable burden of anxiety disorder which was associated with gender, occupation, household population size and history of tuberculosis infection.
Postnatal zinc deficiency due to giardiasis disrupts hippocampal and cerebellar development
Authors: González Maciel Angélica , Rosas López Laura Elizabeth , Romero-Velázquez Rosa María , Ramos-Morales Andrea , Ponce-Macotela Martha , Calderón-Guzmán David , Trujillo-Jiménez Francisca , Alfaro-Rodríguez Alfonso , Reynoso-Robles Rafael
Published: July 2024

Background

Giardiasis and zinc deficiency have been identified as serious health problems worldwide. Although Zn depletion is known to occur in giardiasis, no work has investigated whether changes occur in brain structures.

Methods

Three groups of gerbils were used: control (1), orogastrically inoculated on day 3 after birth with trophozoites of two isolates of Giardia intestinalis (HGINV/WB) group (2 and 3). Estimates were made at five ages covering: establishment of infection, Giardia population growth, natural parasite clearance and a post-infection age. QuantiChrome zinc assay kit, cresyl violet staining and TUNEL technique were used.

Results

A significant decrease (p<0.01) in tissue zinc was observed and persisted after infection. Cytoarchitectural changes were observed in 75% of gerbils in the HGINV or WB groups. Ectopic pyramidal neurons were found in the cornus ammonis (CA1-CA3). At 60 and 90 days of age loss of lamination was clearly visible in CA1. In the dentate gyrus (DG), thinning of the dorsal lamina and abnormal thickening of the ventral lamina were observed from 30 days of age. In the cerebellum, we found an increase (p<0.01) in the thickness of the external granular layer (EGL) at 14 days of age that persisted until day 21 (C 3 ± 0.3 μm; HGINV 37 ± 5 μm; WB 28 ± 3 μm); Purkinje cell population estimation showed a significant decrease; a large number of apoptotic somas were observed scattered in the molecular layer; in 60 and 90 days old gerbils we found granular cell heterotopia and Purkinje cell ectopia. The pattern of apoptosis was different in the cerebellum and hippocampus of parasitized gerbils.

Conclusion

The morphological changes found suggest that neuronal migration is affected by zinc depletion caused by giardiasis in early postnatal life; for the first time, the link between giardiasis-zinc depletion and damaged brain structures is shown. This damage may explain the psychomotor/cognitive delay associated with giardiasis. These findings are alarming. Alterations in zinc metabolism and signalling are known to be involved in many brain disorders, including autism.
Resilience among Turkish adolescents: A multi-level approach
Authors: Cakir Gokhan , Isik Utku , Ustun Umit Dogan , Su Nihan , Gumusgul Osman
Published: July 2024

The objective of this study is to determine the components that contribute to psychological resilience in adolescents and to determine if physical exercise, emotion control, or self-efficacy are more effective predictors of resilience. Data from participants was collected through a personal information form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form, the Self-Efficacy Scale for Children, the Emotion Regulation Scale for Children and Adolescents, and the Psychological Resilience Scale for Children and Adolescents. The data were gathered online from 16 out of the 81 provinces in Turkey, representing 7 different regions, using convenience sampling. The study sample comprised 505 adolescents, with 309 females and 196 males. The average age of the participants was 15.66 years, with a standard deviation of 1.34. The data obtained from the students was analyzed using SPSS 27.0 statistical software. The Chi-Square test was employed to establish the correlation between the demographic features of adolescents and their levels of physical activity. The relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable was determined using correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. According to the analyzed results, there was a substantial positive correlation between physical activity and resilience, reappraisal and resilience, and self-efficacy and resilience. In addition, it was noted that physical activity alone explains 4.8% of the overall variation in resilience and is a significant predictor of resilience. The inclusion of reappraisal in the model resulted in a partial prediction of resilience by physical activity. However, the primary strength of the model was attributed to reappraisal. The inclusion of self-efficacy in the model resulted in a significant prediction of resilience, accounting for 36.8% of the total variance. The self-efficacy variable had a higher impact level compared to the other variables. Furthermore, the inclusion of self-efficacy in the model resulted in the elimination of the influence of physical activity on resilience. The research conclusions point out that self-efficacy has a greater impact on psychological resilience compared to physical activity and emotion regulation.
Keystrokes: A practical exploration of semantic drift in timed word association tasks
Authors: MacNiven Sean , Tench Ralph
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the phenomena of semantic drift through the lenses of language and situated simulation (LASS) and the word frequency effect (WFE) within a timed word association task. Our primary objectives were to determine whether semantic drift can be identified over the short time (25 seconds) of a free word association task (a predicted corollary of LASS), and whether more frequent terms are generated earlier in the process (as expected due to the WFE). Respondents were provided with five cue words (tree, dog, quality, plastic and love), and asked to write as many associations as they could. We hypothesized that terms generated later in the task (fourth time quartile, the last 19–25 seconds) would be semantically more distant (cosine similarity) from the cue word than those generated earlier (first quartile, the first 1–7 seconds), indicating semantic drift. Additionally, we explored the WFE by hypothesizing that earlier generated words would be more frequent and less diverse. Utilizing a dataset matched with GloVe 300B word embeddings, BERT and WordNet synsets, we analysed semantic distances among 1569 unique term pairs for all cue words across time. Our results supported the presence of semantic drift, with significant evidence of within-participant, semantic drift from the first to fourth time (LASS) and frequency (WFE) quartiles. In terms of the WFE, we observed a notable decrease in the diversity of terms generated earlier in the task, while more unique terms (greater diversity and relative uniqueness) were generated in the 4th time quartile, aligning with our hypothesis that more frequently used words dominate early stages of a word association task. We also found that the size of effects varied substantially across cues, suggesting that some cues might invoke stronger and more idiosyncratic situated simulations. Theoretically, our study contributes to the understanding of LASS and the WFE. It suggests that semantic drift might serve as a scalable indicator of the invocation of language versus simulation systems in LASS and might also be used to explore cognition within word association tasks more generally. The findings also add a temporal and relational dimension to the WFE. Practically, our research highlights the utility of word association tasks in understanding semantic drift and the diffusion of word usage over a sub-minute task, arguably the shortest practically feasible timeframe, offering a scalable method to explore group and individual changes in semantic relationships, whether via the targeted diffusion of influence in a marketing campaign, or seeking to understand differences in cognition more generally. Possible practical uses and opportunities for future research are discussed.
Combined analysis of single-cell sequencing and bulk transcriptome sequencing reveals new mechanisms for non-healing diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Chen Ran , Zou Lijun
Published: July 2024

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) pose a significant challenge in diabetes care. Yet, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying biological disparities between healing and non-healing DFUs remains elusive. We conducted bioinformatics analysis of publicly available transcriptome sequencing data in an attempt to elucidate these differences. Our analysis encompassed differential analysis to unveil shifts in cell composition and gene expression profiles between non-healing and healing DFUs. Cell communication alterations were explored employing the Cellchat R package. Pseudotime analysis and cytoTRACE allowed us to dissect the heterogeneity within fibroblast subpopulations. Our findings unveiled disruptions in various cell types, localized low-grade inflammation, compromised systemic antigen processing and presentation, and extensive extracellular matrix signaling disarray in non-healing DFU patients. Some of these anomalies partially reverted in healing DFUs, particularly within the abnormal ECM-receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, we distinguished distinct fibroblast subpopulations in non-healing and healing DFUs, each with unique biological functions. Healing-associated fibroblasts exhibited heightened extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and a robust wound healing response, while non-healing-associated fibroblasts showed signs of cellular senescence and complement activation, among other characteristics. This analysis offers profound insights into the wound healing microenvironment, identifies pivotal cell types for DFU healing promotion, and reveals potential therapeutic targets for DFU management.
China’s image-building in Africa: The intersection of the media and economic development investment in Mali
Authors: Ameyaw-Brobbey Thomas
Published: July 2024

Since the 2000s, China has deepened public relations in its engagement with Africa primarily through economic investment and assistance. The present work looks at China’s African public relations and the mechanism that shapes public perception of China, focusing on Mali. Mali is not a major destination for Chinese investment, yet public perceptions of China appear to be uniquely positive. How may we explain this trajectory? The work undertakes a longitudinal examination, comparing China’s economic developments in Mali (2010–20) with Malians’ perception of China’s influence on the Malian economy that shapes the general perception and attitude towards China (2010–20) and the media’s role in this process. Some questions guide this study: how do Chinese economic activities in Mali shape Malians’ perception of China? How does the media contribute (if any) to shaping Malian perception of China’s developmental programmes? Employing a mixed research method and a range of datasets, I find that economic investment does not necessarily shape positive public perception of China in Mali. Instead, how the public receives information about economic investments shapes and enhances a positive perception of China in Mali. Consequently, China would substantially enhance its image-building effort when its foreign economic development assistance is linked with public relations, making economic programmes more visible through media representations. I based the theoretical discussion on the media agenda-setting framework.
The discourse of minimalist lifestyle: A corpus-based approach
Authors: Duda Aneta
Published: July 2024

The climate crisis era has seen an upsurge in popular cultural narratives that implicitly challenge principles of economic productivity, consumption and growth by deploring a so-called ‘world of too much’. This article discusses minimalism as examples of anti-consumer-oriented social practices and investigates how the notion of minimalism is represented in a large corpus of English language blogs. The research employs the corpus-linguistics approach of critical discourse analysis. The article argues that discourse of minimalism is paradoxical in that it resists yet at the same time promotes capitalist cultures of growth. In a broader perspective, it constitutes a niche and subversive phenomenon efficiently integrated into the market logic that is seemingly contested by minimalists. On the other hand, it cannot be discredited as a means towards redefining oneself and form of individual conversion. It can result in a new sensitivity to the challenges of late modernity.