bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint public procurement in European Union Law
Authors: Jakab Radomir
Published: May 2023

One of the areas related to the drawing and use of the budget funds of particular member states, as well as European Union (EU) funds, is public procurement. EU law allows particular contracting authorities or sector procurers to cooperate within public procurement and procure commodities jointly, i.e. to implement the joint public procurement procedure. This procedure is undoubtedly advantageous, especially in terms of cost savings; however, it also has a few drawbacks, particularly the ambiguity of legal regulations regarding the application of particular institutes in such joint public procurement. This paper aims to examine the theoretical and legal basis of joint public procurement, define the individual forms of joint public procurement under consideration, highlight the existing application-related problems in the implementation of this procedure and indicate possible legal solutions to the identified legal problems based on the interpretation of the relevant provisions of legal regulations
Collagen supplementation - does it bring real benefits?
Authors: Kaziród Karolina , Hunek Adrian , Zapała Magdalena , Wiśniewska-Skomra Joanna , Chmielarz Karolina , Tylutka Kinga , Hapon Anna
Published: May 2023

Collagen is a protein and one of the main building blocks of our skin. It is found in bones, tendons, ligaments, internal organs, blood vessels, and the lining of the intestines. In our body, collagen enables the cohesion of tissues and organs, affects hydration, resistance and elasticity of the skin, reduces the risk of developing degenerative joint diseases. Its production decreases with age. As a result, more and more people are taking collagen supplements. It has been proven that doing so can bring many benefits to the body. Taking collagen orally can be an effective way to improve the quality of the skin, increase hydration and delay the aging process. Collagen peptides are potential therapeutic agents for treating osteoarthritis and maintaining joint health. Collagen supplementation may be an element of preventive medicine in the field of cardiovascular diseases. as it significantly reduces fat mass and increases lean mass, it also leads to lower LDL concentrations. A beneficial effect was also noted on hair and nails, as well as on brain function.
Eklektyczna filozofia przyrody Krystyna Lacha
Authors: Roskal Zenon
Published: May 2023

Filozofia Krystyna Lacha Szyrmy z uwagi na jej nominalnie eklektyczny charakter nie jest przedmiotem żywego zainteresowania  historyków filozofii w Polsce. Krytyczne wydanie dzieł filozoficznych Szyrmy może zmienić ten stan rzeczy, ale w wydaniu tym pominięte zostały poglądy filozoficzne Szyrmy, które ujawnił w przypisach w redagowanym przez niego czasopiśmie Pamiętnik Umiejętności Moralnych i Literatury.  W artykule zostały nie tylko przytoczone te poglądy, ale także zostały zinterpretowane jako frenologiczno-spirytualistyczny amalgamat, który łączy nowożytny empiryzm z dogmatyzmem scholastycznej metafizyki. Programowy eklektyzm tej filozofii został zinterpretowany jako postawa filozoficzna w pełni afirmującą dyspozycje do pozytywnej oceny takich wartości jak wybór, pluralizm i kompromis. Źródłem tego rodzaju eklektyzmu były doświadczenia życiowe Krystyna Lacha.
O guście ze smakiem – czyli kiedy i dlaczego wyraz gust utracił w polszczyźnie znaczenie zmysłowe
Authors: Batko-Tokarz Barbara
Published: May 2023

ABOUT GOOD TASTE (POLISH: GUST) AND DELICIOUS TASTE (POLISH: SMAK): IN OTHER WORDS: WHY THE POLISH WORD GUST LOST ITS ETYMOLOGICAL MEANING
The word gust was borrowed from Western European Languages in 17th century in a few meanings, including perception of taste and flavour of food and appetite. The author of this article discusses the very etymological meaning of the word gust and also words derived from it: the adjective gustowny and adverb gustownie. The author presents the reasons why this etymological meaning disappeared from Polish language, which is compared in the context of the synonymic Polish word smak and other borrowings with the core of word (-gust-). The article discusses the etymology and history of the Polish word gust along with the examples of its exact meaning found in texts from 17th and 18th centuries, especially in cookbooks. The article also explains the semantic evolution of gust. In order to achieve her objective, the author used historical dictionaries, descriptions of cultural changes associated with the French idea of bon goût, and also linguistic descriptions concerning semantic changes of the lexis of taste evolving into their metaphorical meanings. This article underlines the evolution of the meaning of the Polish words gust and smak during the past centuries.
Deutsche Appellativa Zur Bezeichnung Von Metallgiessern Im Spiegel Polnischer, Ukrainischer Und Weissrussischer Sprachdenkmäler
Authors: Pyts Taras
Published: May 2023

GERMAN APPELLATIONS FOR DENOTING CASTERS IN THE MIRROR OF POLISH, UKRAINIAN AND BYELORUSSIAN WRITTEN RECOLLECTIONS
The paper is dedicated to the research of German names of the casters (Kannengießer, Rotgießer, Gießer, Buchstaben-/Schriftgießer, Rinckenmacher) and also their word-forms in Polish, Ukrainian and Byelorussian as a craftsman name and/or surname. The research on the etymology of German borrowings in the three Slavonic languages is analysed. On the basis of written recollection of German, Polish, Ukrainian and Byelorussian languages of the 14th – 18th centuries, it can be determined which German word-forms of the handicraft names were included into Slavonic languages and what their dialectal origins as well as ways and chronology of borrowings were. Phonetic, morphologic and graphic transformations are also analyzed, and the semantics of Polish rynkmacher and Ukrainian гисеръ/гисаръ is defined more precisely.
An analysis of the fulfilment criteria for a medical experiment with regards to the use of intravenous ketamine in the treatment of drugresistant depression
Authors: Gutowska-Ibbs Anna Maria , Permoda-Pachuta Agnieszka , Karakuła- Juchnowicz Hanna
Published: May 2023

Introduction: Clinical experience, as well as the results of real-world data analysis point to the need for developing a model for the care of patients with drug-resistant depression, which could lead to improved access to effective and safe treatment. Scientific studies carried out to date have unequivocally documented the mode of action of ketamine and identified factors which can influence the efficacy of single infusions of ketamine for depression as well as in cases of affective bipolar disorder.
Material and method: Case report including a review of national and international literature and an analysis of the case in the light Polish of EU law.
Discussion: The use of ketamine in the treatment of drug-resistant depression raises question regarding its legal qualification, in particular whether such treatment can be characterized as a medical experiment.
Conclusions: In the light of international publications, which confirm the validity of the method described above, one might assume that the treatment could be qualified as off-label use of a medicine, but not as a medical experiment as it is understood in the legislation (art. 21 ZawLekU). However, given the nature of this treatment, its qualification as off-label use is not the only one possible and others cannot be immediately ruled out.
O AGIR DE PROFESSORES INICIANTES EM FOCO: UM ESTUDO DE RELATÓRIOS DE ESTÁGIO SOB O VIÉS INTERACIONISTA SOCIODISCURSIVO / The act of beginning teachers in focus: a study of internship reports under the sociodiscursive interactionist perspective
Authors: Lima Denilson Cícero Farias de , Dias Sandra Maria Araújo
Published: May 2023

O presente estudo objetiva apresentar uma análise de como o agir docente (BRONCKART, 2004, 2006, 2009; MACHADO, 2004; MACHADO; BRONCKART, 2009) encontra-se representado em relatórios de estágio supervisionado produzidos por professores iniciantes de um curso de Licenciatura em Letras-Língua Inglesa, modalidade de ensino a distância. A fundamentação está baseada no Interacionismo Sociodiscursivo (BRONCKART, 1999a, 1999b, 2006, 2009), construto teórico-metodológico de caráter interdisciplinar, que concede, ao agir e à linguagem, um papel fundamental para o desenvolvimento humano. O corpus deste estudo é composto por quatro relatórios produzidos para a disciplina de Estágio Supervisionado II, alocada no 7º período do referido curso e ofertada por uma Instituição de Ensino Superior pública, no Estado da Paraíba, em parceria com a Universidade Aberta do Brasil. Assim, o presente trabalho constitui-se de uma pesquisa documental de abordagem qualitativa. Como procedimentos de análise, descrevemos, inicialmente, o contexto de produção desses textos e, em seguida, os elementos constituintes da Semântica do Agir (BRONCKART; MACHADO, 2004; MACHADO; BRONCKART 2009). Os resultados revelaram que o trabalho dos professores iniciantes de língua inglesa está representado, nos relatórios analisados, por razões, intencionalidades e capacidades, as quais revelam-se por meio de determinantes externos, motivos, finalidades, intenções, ferramentas e capacidades que desvelam características e aspectos relacionados às dimensões da atividade dos actantes.
The management of tooth wear: past, present and future
Authors: Mehta Shamir B , Banerji Subir
Published: May 2023

Over the decades, the management of tooth wear has changed significantly. With the development in the materials available and an understanding of certain occlusal concepts, a minimally invasive strategy is now the preferred option. This article outlines these developments within an evidence-based framework. Contemporary research is referenced to support the clinical approaches to current management strategies and possible future expectations.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of current concepts of tooth wear management in general dental practice should facilitate good treatment decisions
A History of Smallpox Vaccination in Modern China: Vaccine Techniques, Instruments, and Localization
Authors: JO Jeongeun
Published: May 2023

This paper examines how smallpox vaccination has been implemented in China from a technological perspective. It is an attempt not only to investigate the impact of technology and instruments on medical advances, but also to deepen the understanding of modern Chinese society through smallpox vaccination.Smallpox vaccination helps people develop immunity to smallpox by inoculating into them pus from cowpox which is an infectious disease that affects cows. In 1805, Alexander Pearson succeeded in smallpox vaccination using the arm-to-arm transfer method for the first time in China thanks to the arrival of the vaccine in Macao. As Pearson and Quixi, who followed in the footsteps of Pearson, used the arm-to-arm method, they did not have much interest in vaccine containers. However, the vaccine administration technique changed: the vaccine obtained from people was inoculated into cows, and then again, into people. It thus resulted in the manufacturing of various vaccine containers including glass vials and tubes. The development of tools contributed to the expansion of cowpox vaccination.In addition, cowpox vaccines were imported directly from foreign countries. Advertisements which remain to date indicate that vaccines were widely imported. Pharmacies promoted vaccines, contending that the sale and import of vaccines was for the Chinese people. On the other hand, there were voices against imported vaccines, saying that they were expensive and foreign-made. Under the banner of patriotism and nationalism, people demanded that vaccines be made in China, which led to the production of vaccines in large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.Along with the aforementioned efforts to obtain vaccines, techniques for smallpox vaccination can also be understood in the Chinese context. For example, traditional Chinese medicine maintains that acupuncture can be used as a vaccination lancet. Since traditional Chinese medicine already embraced the use of cowpox for protection against smallpox, they advocated using acupuncture instead of western instruments in order to expand the influence of traditional Chinese medicine. The belief that inoculation should be done into acupuncture points in the upper arms shows the significant influence of traditional Chinese medicine. On the other hand, Chinese people being reluctant to leave vaccine marks show the general view of what was considered as beautiful at the time, rather than the Chinese traditional perspective.Consequently, smallpox vaccine techniques in China, while following the technological advancement in general, could not help but be adapted to the Chinese context under the influence of modern Chinese society. Thus, smallpox vaccine techniques provide clues for understanding modern Chinese society. As such, historians who conduct research mainly with literature should also take interest in medical technology and instruments as well.
The exchange of medicine with Japan during the Koryo Dynasty era and its characteristics -A case of ‘East Asian Medicine’-
Authors: LEE Kyung-Rok
Published: May 2023

In this article, I reviewed the exchange of medicine between the Koryo Dynasty and Japan during the Koryo Dynasty. Compared to the exchange of medicine during the Three Kingdoms or the early Joseon Dynasty, medicine between Korea and Japan was loosely affected each other during the Koryo Dynasty. This characteristic of medical history with Japan during the Koryo Dynasty corresponded to the overall low density of exchanges between the two countries.In this paper, the exchange of medicine during the entire Koryo period was divided into 4 periods, and medical records in Korea and Japan were discussed in terms of medical personnel, medical knowledge, and pharmaceutical materials. During the Koryo Dynasty, Korea was interested in Japan’s medical personnel and pharmaceutical materials, and Japan was interested in Korea’s medical knowledge and pharmaceutical materials.When limited to the Koryo Dynasty, it is difficult to determine the superiority or inferiority of pharmaceutical materials, medical personnel, and medical knowledge between Korea and Japan. Without frequent contact to compare the level of medical care, each country only accepted the other country’s medical care within the necessary range. This means that the exchange of medicine between Koryo and Japan did not flow only in one direction.In addition, I proposed to understand the pre-modern East Asian world, including Korea-Japan relations, by using the concept of political bodies instead of the concept of state. In other words, it is necessary to call the subject of action that independently judges and executes foreign relations while maintaining a high degree of autonomy in decision-making as ‘political bodies’, and utilizes this concept to interpret the pre-modern East Asian world complexly. The concept of political bodies is also useful for understanding the exchange of medicine among the three East Asian countries.
Correction of distorted FPI interferograms to invert atmospheric winds and temperatures
Authors: Wei Yafei , Gu Shengyang , Sun Ruidi , Huang Cong
Published: May 2023

Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is a vital optical device for measuring atmospheric wind and temperature, which is widely used worldwide for its simple structure and excellent accuracy. Nevertheless, the working environment of FPI could be light polluted by many factors, such as light from street lamp and moon, which results in distortion for realistic airglow interferogram and thus affects the accuracy for the wind and temperature inversion. We simulate the FPI interferogram and invert the correct wind and temperature from the full interferogram and three parts of it. Further analysis is performed using real airglow interferograms observed at Kelan (38.7°N, 111.6°E). Distortion interferograms cause temperature deviations, while the wind is not affected. A correction method is presented to correct the distortion interferogram by making it more homogeneous. The corrected interferogram is calculated again, and the result shows that the temperature deviation of the different parts is reduced significantly. Wind and temperature errors of each part are reduced compared to the previous ones. This correction method will help improve the accuracy of the FPI temperature inversion when the interferogram is distorted.
Laser operation at 1.2 µm in Ho3+-doped ZBYA glass fibers
Authors: Xu Changjun , Li Xiaoxu , Shen Yanfei , Zhang Jiquan , Jia Shijie , Farrell Gerald , Wang Shunbin , Wang Pengfei
Published: May 2023

Powerful 1.2-µm laser operation was produced in Ho3+-doped single-cladding, in-house fabricated ZrF4-BaF2-YF3-AlF3 (ZBYA) glass fibers. The fibers were fabricated based on ZBYA glass with a composition of ZrF4-BaF2-YF3-AlF3. Pumped by an 1150-nm Raman fiber laser, the maximum combined laser output power emitted from both sides of a 0.5-mol% Ho3+-doped ZBYA fiber was 6.7 W, with a slope efficiency of 40.5%. We also observed lasing at 2.9 µm with an output power of 350 mW, which was ascribed to the transition of Ho3+:5I6 → 5I7. The effect of rare earth (RE) doping concentration and the length of the gain fiber were also investigated to determine their effect on laser performance at 1.2 µm and 2.9 µm.
High coupling efficiency waveguide grating couplers on lithium niobate
Authors: Zhou Xuetong , Xue Ying , Ye Fan , Feng Ziyao , Li Yuan , Sun Xiankai , Lau Kei May , Tsang Hon Ki
Published: May 2023

We propose and validate a new, to the best of our knowledge, approach for high coupling efficiency (CE) grating couplers (GCs) in the lithium niobate on insulator photonic integration platform. Enhanced CE is achieved by increasing the grating strength using a high refractive index polysilicon layer on the GC. Due to the high refractive index of the polysilicon layer, the light in the lithium niobate waveguide is pulled up to the grating region. The optical cavity formed in the vertical direction enhances the CE of the waveguide GC. With this novel structure, simulations predicted the CE to be −1.40 dB, while the experimentally measured CE was −2.20 dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 81 nm from 1592 nm to 1673 nm. The high CE GC is achieved without using bottom metal reflectors or requiring the etching of the lithium niobate material.
Adaptive time modulation technique for multiplexed on-chip particle detection across scales
Authors: Ganjalizadeh Vahid , Hawkins Aaron R. , Schmidt Holger
Published: May 2023

Integrated optofluidic biosensors have demonstrated ultrasensitivity down to single particle detection and attomolar target concentrations. However, a wide dynamic range is highly desirable in practice and can usually only be achieved by using multiple detection modalities or sacrificing linearity. Here, we demonstrate an analysis technique that uses temporal excitation at two different time scales to simultaneously enable digital and analog detection of fluorescent targets. We demonstrated the seamless detection of nanobeads across eight orders of magnitude from attomolar to nanomolar concentration. Furthermore, a combination of spectrally varying modulation frequencies and a closed-loop feedback system that provides rapid adjustment of excitation laser powers enables multiplex analysis in the presence of vastly different concentrations. We demonstrated this ability to detect across scales via an analysis of a mixture of fluorescent nanobeads at femtomolar and picomolar concentrations. This technique advances the performance and versatility of integrated biosensors, especially toward point-of-use applications.
Optimising computer aided detection to identify intra-thoracic tuberculosis on chest x-ray in South African children
Authors: Palmer Megan , Seddon James A. , van der Zalm Marieke M. , Hesseling Anneke C. , Goussard Pierre , Schaaf H. Simon , Morrison Julie , van Ginneken Bram , Melendez Jaime , Walters Elisabetta , Murphy Keelin
Published: May 2023

Diagnostic tools for paediatric tuberculosis remain limited, with heavy reliance on clinical algorithms which include chest x-ray. Computer aided detection (CAD) for tuberculosis on chest x-ray has shown promise in adults. We aimed to measure and optimise the performance of an adult CAD system, CAD4TB, to identify tuberculosis on chest x-rays from children with presumptive tuberculosis. Chest x-rays from 620 children <13 years enrolled in a prospective observational diagnostic study in South Africa, were evaluated. All chest x-rays were read by a panel of expert readers who attributed each with a radiological reference of either ‘tuberculosis’ or ‘not tuberculosis’. Of the 525 chest x-rays included in this analysis, 80 (40 with a reference of ‘tuberculosis’ and 40 with ‘not tuberculosis’) were allocated to an independent test set. The remainder made up the training set. The performance of CAD4TB to identify ‘tuberculosis’ versus ‘not tuberculosis’ on chest x-ray against the radiological reference read was calculated. The CAD4TB software was then fine-tuned using the paediatric training set. We compared the performance of the fine-tuned model to the original model. Our findings were that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the original CAD4TB model, prior to fine-tuning, was 0.58. After fine-tuning there was an improvement in the AUC to 0.72 (p = 0.0016). In this first-ever description of the use of CAD to identify tuberculosis on chest x-ray in children, we demonstrate a significant improvement in the performance of CAD4TB after fine-tuning with a set of well-characterised paediatric chest x-rays. CAD has the potential to be a useful additional diagnostic tool for paediatric tuberculosis. We recommend replicating the methods we describe using a larger chest x-ray dataset from a more diverse population and evaluating the potential role of CAD to replace a human-read chest x-ray within treatment-decision algorithms for paediatric tuberculosis.
Prevalence and impact of combined vision and hearing (dual sensory) impairment: A scoping review
Authors: Bright Tess , Ramke Jacqueline , Zhang Justine H. , Kitema Gatera Fiston , Safi Sare , Mdala Shaffi , Yoshizaki Miho , Brennan-Jones Christopher G. , Mactaggart Islay , Gordon Iris , Swenor Bonnielin K. , Burton Matthew J. , Evans Jennifer R.
Published: May 2023

Hearing and vision impairments are common globally. They are often considered separately in research, and in planning and delivering services. However, they can occur concurrently, termed dual sensory impairment (DSI). The prevalence and impact of hearing and vision impairment have been well-examined, but there has been much less consideration of DSI. The aim of this scoping review was to determine the nature and extent of the evidence on prevalence and impact of DSI. Three databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase and Global Health (April 2022). We included primary studies and systematic reviews reporting the prevalence or impact of DSI. No limits were placed on age, publication dates, or country. Only studies where the full text was available in English were included. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstract, full texts. Data were charted by two reviewers independently using a pre-piloted form. The review identified 183 reports of 153 unique primary studies and 14 review articles. Most evidence came from high-income countries (86% of reports). Prevalence varied across reports, as did age groups of participants and definitions used. The prevalence of DSI increased with age. Impact was examined across three broad groups of outcomes—psychosocial, participation, and physical health. There was a strong trend towards poorer outcomes for people with DSI across all categories compared to people with one or neither impairment, including activities of daily living (worse for people with DSI in 78% of reports) and depression (68%). This scoping review highlights that DSI is a relatively common condition with substantial impact, particularly among older adults. There is a gap in evidence from low and middle-income countries. There is a pressing need for a consensus position on the definition(s) of DSI and standardisation of reporting age groups to enable reliable estimates to be ascertained and compared and responsive services developed.
Historical contingency in parasite community assembly: Community divergence results from early host exposure to symbionts and ecological drift
Authors: Grunberg Rita L. , Joyner Brooklynn N. , Mitchell Charles E.
Published: May 2023

Host individuals are commonly coinfected with multiple parasite species that may interact to shape within-host parasite community structure. In addition to within-host species interactions, parasite communities may also be structured by other processes like dispersal and ecological drift. The timing of dispersal (in particular, the temporal sequence in which parasite species infect a host individual) can alter within-host species interactions, setting the stage for historical contingency by priority effects, but how persistently such effects drive the trajectory of parasite community assembly is unclear, particularly under continued dispersal and ecological drift. We tested the role of species interactions under continued dispersal and ecological drift by simultaneously inoculating individual plants of tall fescue with a factorial combination of three symbionts (two foliar fungal parasites and a mutualistic endophyte), then deploying the plants in the field and tracking parasite communities as they assembled within host individuals. In the field, hosts were exposed to continued dispersal from a common pool of parasites, which should promote convergence in the structure of within-host parasite communities. Yet, analysis of parasite community trajectories found no signal of convergence. Instead, parasite community trajectories generally diverged from each other, and the magnitude of divergence depended on the initial composition of symbionts within each host, indicating historical contingency. Early in assembly, parasite communities also showed evidence of drift, revealing another source of among-host divergence in parasite community structure. Overall, these results show that both historical contingency and ecological drift contributed to divergence in parasite community assembly within hosts.
Safety and mortality outcomes for direct oral anticoagulants in renal transplant recipients
Authors: Firth Christine , Shamoun Fadi , Apolinario Michael , Lim Elisabeth S. , Zhang Nan , Keddis Mira T.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used in renal transplant recipients (RTR), but relatively understudied in this population. We assess the safety of post-transplant anticoagulation with DOACs compared to warfarin.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of RTRs at the Mayo Clinic sites (2011-present) that were anticoagulated for greater than 3 months excluding the 1st month post-transplant. The main safety outcomes were bleeding and all-cause mortality. Concomitant antiplatelet and interacting drugs were noted. DOAC dose adjustment was assessed according to common US prescribing practices, guidelines, and/or FDA labeling.

Results

The median follow-up was longer for RTRs on warfarin (1098 days [IQR 521, 1517]) than DOACs (449 days [IQR 338, 942]). Largely, there were no differences in baseline characteristics and comorbidities between RTRs on DOACs (n = 208; apixaban 91.3%, rivaroxaban 8.7%) versus warfarin (n = 320). There was no difference in post-transplant use of antiplatelets, immunosuppressants, most antifungals assessed, or amiodarone. There was no significant difference in incident major bleeding (8.4 vs. 5.3%, p = 0.89), GI bleeding (4.4% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.98), or intra-cranial hemorrhage (1.9% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.85) between warfarin and DOAC. There was no significant difference in mortality in the warfarin group compared to DOACs when adjusted for follow-up time (22.2% vs. 10.1%, p = 0.21). Rates of post-transplant venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation or stroke were similar between the two groups. 32% (n = 67) of patients on DOACs were dose reduced, where 51% of those reductions were warranted. 7% of patients that were not dose reduced should have been.

Conclusions

DOACs did not have inferior bleeding or mortality outcomes compared to warfarin in RTRs. There was greater use of warfarin compared to DOACs and a high rate of improper DOAC dose reduction.
Ceftazidime resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is multigenic and complex
Authors: Ramsay Kay A. , Rehman Attika , Wardell Samuel T. , Martin Lois W. , Bell Scott C. , Patrick Wayne M. , Winstanley Craig , Lamont Iain L.
Published: May 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes a wide range of severe infections. Ceftazidime, a cephalosporin, is a key antibiotic for treating infections but a significant proportion of isolates are ceftazidime-resistant. The aim of this research was to identify mutations that contribute to resistance, and to quantify the impacts of individual mutations and mutation combinations. Thirty-five mutants with reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime were evolved from two antibiotic-sensitive P. aeruginosa reference strains PAO1 and PA14. Mutations were identified by whole genome sequencing. The evolved mutants tolerated ceftazidime at concentrations between 4 and 1000 times that of the parental bacteria, with most mutants being ceftazidime resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≥ 32 mg/L). Many mutants were also resistant to meropenem, a carbapenem antibiotic. Twenty-eight genes were mutated in multiple mutants, with dacB and mpl being the most frequently mutated. Mutations in six key genes were engineered into the genome of strain PAO1 individually and in combinations. A dacB mutation by itself increased the ceftazidime MIC by 16-fold although the mutant bacteria remained ceftazidime sensitive (MIC < 32 mg/L). Mutations in ampC, mexR, nalC or nalD increased the MIC by 2- to 4-fold. The MIC of a dacB mutant was increased when combined with a mutation in ampC, rendering the bacteria resistant, whereas other mutation combinations did not increase the MIC above those of single mutants. To determine the clinical relevance of mutations identified through experimental evolution, 173 ceftazidime-resistant and 166 sensitive clinical isolates were analysed for the presence of sequence variants that likely alter function of resistance-associated genes. dacB and ampC sequence variants occur most frequently in both resistant and sensitive clinical isolates. Our findings quantify the individual and combinatorial effects of mutations in different genes on ceftazidime susceptibility and demonstrate that the genetic basis of ceftazidime resistance is complex and multifactorial.
Differential gene expression in peripheral leukocytes of pre-weaned Holstein heifer calves with respiratory disease
Authors: Elder Lily A. , Hinnant Holly R. , Mandella Chris M. , Claus-Walker Rachel A. , Parrish Lindsay M. , Slanzon Giovana S. , McConnel Craig S.
Published: May 2023

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a leading cause of calf morbidity and mortality, and prevalence remains high despite current management practices. Differential gene expression (DGE) provides detailed insight into individual immune responses and can illuminate enriched pathways and biomarkers that contribute to disease susceptibility and outcomes. The aims of this study were to investigate differences in peripheral leukocyte gene expression in Holstein preweaned heifer calves 1) with and without BRD, and 2) across weeks of age. Calves were enrolled for this short-term longitudinal study on two commercial dairies in Washington State. Calves were assessed every two weeks throughout the pre-weaning period using clinical respiratory scoring (CRS) and thoracic ultrasonography (TUS), and blood samples were collected. Calves were selected that were either healthy (n = 10) or had BRD diagnosed by CRS (n = 7), TUS (n = 6), or both (n = 6) in weeks 5 or 7 of life). Three consecutive time point samples were analyzed for each BRD calf consisting of PRE, ONSET, and POST samples. Nineteen genes of interest were selected based on previous gene expression studies in cattle: ALOX15, BPI, CATHL6, CXCL8, DHX58, GZMB, HPGD, IFNG, IL17D, IL1R2, ISG15, LCN2, LIF, MX1, OAS2, PGLYRP1, S100A8, SELP, and TNF. Comparisons were made between age and disease time point matched BRD and healthy calves as well as between calf weeks of age. No DGE was observed between diseased and healthy calves; however, DGE was observed between calf weeks of age regardless of disease state. Developmental differences in leukocyte gene expression, phenotype, and functionality make pre-weaned calves immunologically distinct from mature cattle, and early life shifts in calf leukocyte populations likely contribute to the age-related gene expression differences we observed. Age overshadows disease impacts to influence gene expression in young calves, and immune development progresses upon a common trajectory regardless of disease during the preweaning period.
Fitting in and sticking out: An exploratory study of the Whiteness of the school music curriculum and its effects on Global Majority musicians
Authors: Hendry Natasha
Published: May 2023

This exploratory study followed the journeys of eleven Global Majority teachers and musicians from their early experiences within the UK music education system up to their present professional careers in music. Focus groups with ten students presently engaged in music education offered a current perspective and comparison with adults’ experiences, allowing for reflection on possible trajectories. The research question asked whether a predominantly White, middle-class music curriculum has an effect on the musical behaviours and identity of members of the Global Majority in the United Kingdom. Findings showed that musicians and music teachers had experienced considerable barriers in music education and musical careers, which had an adverse psychological effect, typically recognized later in life.
First record of the rare moth Amana angulifera Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Epicopeiidae) from India since the 19th century
Authors: Singhamahapatra Aniruddha , Roy Subhajit
Published: May 2023

Amana angulifera Walker, 1855, a diurnal moth belonging to the family Epicopeiidae, was described from India based on a previously collected specimen. Though type locality was omitted in the original description, in the last decade of the 19th century, the habitat of the moth was mentioned to be Khasi Hills of the present Meghalaya state of India. It is also recorded from Yunnan in southern part of China. After a gap of more than a century, this paper reports the presence of the species again from India, this time in the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering China, filling a sampling gap within its distribution range. Further study of the moth in this region is recommended to fill the sampling gaps and assess its life cycle, population trends, abundance, phenological responses and inter-specific interactions with plants so that conservation measures may be taken up accordingly.
The impact of corruption in climate finance on achieving net zero emissions
Authors: Lyeonov Serhiy , Toušek Zdeněk , Bozhenko Victoria , Kérmárki-Gally Szilvia Erdeiné
Published: May 2023

The study’s primary purpose is to assess the probabilistic impact of corruption in climate finance on achieving zero emissions. This scientific problem is highly relevant since the largest recipients of international climate assistance are countries with significant corruption in the public sector. Thus, it is necessary to increase the transparency in the use of international assistance funds and strengthen accountability. The study used the methods of survival analysis, namely the Kaplan-Meier approach and the Cox proportional hazards regression model, to investigate 114 countries that received international climate assistance during 2005-2021. The empirical analysis showed that the most probable time frame for achieving 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is five years. Moreover, the response of climate finance to reducing greenhouse emissions is faster in countries with medium levels of corruption than in countries with high and very high levels of corruption. Two covariates (the level of corruption and the volume of climate finance) likely to affect the achievement of net zero emissions were chosen to build the Cox proportional hazards model. The study empirically confirms that with a 1-point increase in the Corruption Perceptions Index, the probability of reducing emissions increases by 2.4581%, while the volume of climate finance does not have a statistically significant impact on the performance indicator. It suggests that current climate investment in underdeveloped countries is incapable of mitigating the negative impact of climate change.
Global envelope method – new trend in determining economic potential of rural areas
Authors: Pártlová Petra
Published: May 2023

This paper uses the narrative method to critically analyze theoretical approaches and concepts related to the development of rural areas and discusses the identified research gap that allows for the search for new concepts and methodologies for determining the economic potential of rural areas. In the study, various statistical methods, including the new global envelope method and permutation tests, were used to calculate the economic potential of the global model and individual sub-models of the rural areas´ potential. The achieved results suggest that the sub-model calculation is more complex and time consuming than the calculation of the global model. The comparison has also shown that the degree of relevance of the individual sub-models is lower due to the application of four sub-test statistics compared to the one test used in the global model. The selected process thus complicates the identification of false-positive significant variables. Based on the results, it can be stated that the significant variables identified in each sub-model affect the economic potential of a given sub-model, and thus the overall economic potential of the municipality, when compared to the variables identified in the global model.
Perceived “common” social problems and macroeconomic trends in Azerbaijan
Authors: Aliyev Khatai
Published: May 2023

The research presents an elaborated mapping of common social problems in Azerbaijan across country’s regions. Using a survey dataset of 2161 respondents representing various socio-demographic categories of the population, the study borrows a two-stage approach to identify the “common” social problems in the country. Primary research findings are (1) the "top 5" list includes inflation, unemployment, corruption, state of education and health, and poverty, (2) a correlation exists between macro-economic trends and the population's social problem perception, (3) the subjective evaluation is relatively less institutional in the regions, and among less educated people, and (4) poverty is a typical problem for the less educated people. From institutional perspective, Azerbaijan government should put more effort into enhancing governance quality. On the economic side, the government needs to reconsider its official unemployment and poverty records to do more precise policy estimates, which is crucial to abstaining from social unrest.
The effects of foreign direct investment on the performance of small-medium enterprises: The case of Vietnam
Authors: Bozsik Norbert , Ngo Duong Minh , Vasa László
Published: May 2023

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is one of the most important elements influencing countries' international economic integration. FDI establishes direct, consistent, and long-lasting interconnections between economies as well as encouraging innovative technology and know-how transmission across territories while allowing host economies to offer their goods more extensively on global markets. FDI is also a source of investment financing that creates the climate for appropriate policies. Aside from the obvious advantages for all economic sectors, attracting FDI in small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) has a variety of additional benefits. For example, an opportunity to participate in the global supply chain for parts and components; an opportunity not yet wholly established in most developing nations but is critical for industrialization and improving income distribution through job creation for low-skilled employees. This study compared the impact of FDI on the performance of SMEs in Vietnam to that of a group of ASEAN nations with comparable economic structures including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The empirical evidence indicates that FDI has a negative effect on the performance of SMEs in the group of four ASEAN member countries while having a positive influence on Vietnamese SMEs.
You're Dead—So What?: Media, Police, and the Invisibility of Black Women as Victims of Homicide
Authors: Neely Cheryl L.
Published: May 2023

Though numerous studies have been conducted regarding perceived racial bias in newspaper reporting of violent crimes, few studies have focused on the intersections of race and gender in determining the extent and prominence of this coverage, and more specifically how the lack of attention to violence against women of color reinforces their invisibility in the social structure. This book provides an empirical study of media and law enforcement bias in reporting and investigating homicides of African American women compared with their white counterparts. The author discusses the symbiotic relationship between media coverage and the response from law enforcement to victims of color, particularly when these victims are reported missing and presumed to be in danger by their loved ones. Just as the media are effective in helping to increase police response, law enforcement officials reach out to news outlets to solicit help from the public in locating a missing person or solving a murder. However, a deeply troubling disparity in reporting the disappearance and homicides of female victims reflects racial inequality and institutionalized racism in the social structure that need to be addressed. It is this disparity this important study seeks to solve.
“Who are these for? Is this for the teacher?”: Understandings of expertise and evaluation in the era of ESSA
Authors: Good Madeline
Published: May 2023

Understandings of teacher expertise in the US have transformed over the past 40 years, arguably being “narrowed” and “numericized” due to high-stakes accountability and neoliberal education reform movements. While this trend has been thoroughly studied under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and Race to the Top regimes, less consideration has been given since the Every Study Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaced NCLB in 2015, which notably pivoted away from some of the most stringent accountability practices of the previous era. This paper begins a new line of inquiry into teacher expertise in our current federal policy context, especially considering how understandings of expertise are constructed in school districts that never adopted the most high-stakes evaluation measures. By relying on Jessica Holloway’s (2021) technologies of risk management, this paper explores how teachers in one school understand expertise, focusing specifically on how evaluation and assessment technologies engage with and influence these understandings. Ultimately, it was found that teachers in fact held a plurality of understandings, yet complex and sometimes conflicting influences of assessment and evaluation practices also emerged. This paper argues that although risk management technologies have become commonplace, scholars and practitioners alike should continue to scrutinize their use under ESSA, particularly considering how they are being used, who they primarily benefit, and what consequences come from our reliance upon them.
Daily vs. monthly oral vitamin D3 for treatment of symptomatic vitamin D deficiency in infants: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gora Anupriya , Singh Preeti , Debnath Ekta , Malhotra Rajeev Kumar , Seth Anju
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Compare the efficacy and safety of daily vs. monthly oral vitamin D3 in treating symptomatic vitamin D deficiency in infants.

Methods

90 infants with symptomatic vitamin D deficiency were randomized into Daily (D) [46 infants] and Bolus (B) [44 infants] groups to receive oral vitamin D3, daily (2000 IU/day) and bolus (60,000 IU/month) for three months respectively. Both groups received daily oral calcium @50 mg/kg/day. Serum calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, urine calcium: creatinine ratio and radiological score were assessed at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, 78 infants were available for evaluation of efficacy and safety of both regimens.

Results

Both regimens led to a statistically significant increase in Ca and P levels and fall in ALP and PTH levels from baseline to 4 and 12 weeks of therapy, with no inter-group difference. Infants in group D had statistically significant higher mean 25(OH)D levels as compared to group B at 4 weeks (group D 130.89 ± 43.43 nmol/L, group B – 108.25 ± 32.40 nmol/L; p – 0.012) and 12 weeks (group D – 193.69 ± 32.47 nmol/L, group B – 153.85 ± 33.60 nmol/L; p<0.001). Eight infants [group D – 6/41 (14.6 %); group B – 2/37 (5.4 %), p=0.268] developed mild asymptomatic hypercalcemia without hypercalciuria at 12 weeks that corrected spontaneously within a week.

Conclusions

Both daily and monthly oral vitamin D3 in equivalent doses are efficacious and safe for treating symptomatic vitamin D deficiency in infants.
NECAB3 promotes the migration and invasion of liver cancer cells through HIF-1α/RIT1 signaling pathway
Authors: Tian Yicheng , Shao Longjiang , Wang Qi , Ru Gan , Zhai Chuntao , Zhou Lihui
Published: May 2023

Liver cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor with high mortality worldwide, making it urgent to explore new targets for liver cancer therapy. N-terminal EF-hand calcium binding protein 3 (NECAB3) is a new recognized regulator of cancer, while its role in liver cancer remained elusive. Thus, the study clarified the action of NECAB3 on liver cancer development and explored the detailed mechanism. We found that NECAB3 was enhanced in liver cancer. Knockdown of NECAB3 restrained liver cancer cell migration and invasion. Besides, knockdown of NECAB3 suppressed the activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α)/Ras like without CAAX 1 (RIT1) pathway. Furthermore, NECAB3 regulated liver cancer migration and invasion through modulating RIT1 expression. Moreover, downregulation of NECAB3 suppressed liver cancer tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, NECAB3 was upregulated in liver cancer. Knockdown of NECAB3 suppressed aggressive phenotype of liver cancer via modulating the HIF-1α/RIT1 axis, providing a possible target for liver cancer therapy.
Schleiermachers Kritik an der Hamartiologie Augustins
Authors: Zhou Xiaolong
Published: May 2023

Schleiermachers Theorie der Erbsünde wird gewöhnlich als Abkehr von Augustinus verstanden. Diese Behauptung ist unhaltbar. Eine genauere Untersuchung wird zeigen, dass Schleiermachers Kritik an Augustinus darauf abzielt, Augustins Lehre von der Erbsünde logisch kohärent und widerspruchsfrei zu machen und die Gefahr eines manichäischen Dualismus so weit wie möglich zu umgehen. Darüber hinaus wird gezeigt, dass Schleiermachers Lehre von der Erbsünde in hohem Maße kohärent und in sich konsistent ist, da die folgenden Ideen Schleiermachers philosophische und theologische Schriften durchdringen: die Untrennbarkeit der transzendentalen Freiheit von den sinnlichen Trieben, die Untrennbarkeit von Materie und Form und die Untrennbarkeit von Gott und Welt. Auf diese Weise können wir den Geist von Schleiermachers Lehre der Erbsünde besser verstehen.