bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of music on the hearing and mental health of adolescents and countermeasures
Authors: Chen Li
Published: August 2023

This review elaborates on the influence of music on the psychological well-being of adolescents, covering the potential advantages, drawbacks, and necessary strategic interventions associated with music exposure. Initially, we characterize music and delve into a multifaceted classification system. Music, as a pervasive art form, is categorized based on regional and national parameters, and it also distinguishes through the assorted genres and traits. The mental well-being of adolescents is significantly influenced by music through mechanisms such as the facilitation of emotional expression and regulation, fortification of social bonds and the sense of belonging, as well as the fostering of creativity and cognitive development. Nonetheless, music, if misused or associated with inappropriate content, could elicit a spectrum of issues ranging from auditory impairment, diversion of attention, addiction tendencies, to the induction of negative emotions. To counteract these potential hazards, we propose several mitigation strategies including the selection of appropriate music styles, the establishment of a wholesome music environment, the promotion of the constructive role of music education, and fostering active participation in music activities among the youth. In conclusion, we underscore the necessity of a collaborative endeavor from all sectors of society to ensure a healthy music environment for the youth, which in turn would enhance the positive influence of music on the mental health development of this population.
Berberine influences multiple diseases by modifying gut microbiota
Authors: Yang Fujie , Gao Rongmao , Luo Xiaoxiu , Liu Rongan , Xiong Daqian
Published: August 2023

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and is commonly found in Coptis chinensis Franch. It has low bioavailability, but it can interact with gut microbiota and affect a variety of diseases. The effects of BBR in diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, liver diseases, intestinal diseases, mental disorders, autoimmune diseases, and other diseases are all thought to be related to gut microbiota. This review systematically and comprehensively summarize these interactions and their effects, and describes the changes of gut microbiota after the intervention of different doses of berberine and its potential clinical consequences, in order to provide a basis for the rational application of BBR in the future clinical treatment.
The effects of royal jelly supplementation on anthropometric indices: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Vajdi Mahdi , Musazadeh Vali , Khajeh Mahsa , Safaei Ehsan , Darzi Melika , Noshadi Nooshin , Bazyar Hadi , Askari Gholamreza
Published: August 2023

Inconsistent data are available about the effect of royal jelly supplementation on anthropometric indices in humans. This systematic review and meta-analysis was done to summarize data from available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of royal jelly supplementation on anthropometric indices such as body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM) in adults. We systematically searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to March 2023. All RCTs assessing the effect of royal jelly on anthropometric indices were included. Data were pooled using the random-effects method and were expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were also performed. Out of 1,492 records, 10 studies that enrolled 512 participants were included. There was no significant effect on BW (WMD: −0.29 kg, 95% CI: −1.24, 0.65, p = 0.543), BMI (WMD: 0.11 kg/m2, 95% CI: −0.29, 0.52, p = 0.583), and FM (WMD: 0.02%, 95% CI: −0.41, 0.46, p = 0.84). However, we observed a reduction in BW and BMI following royal jelly intake in subgroup of royal jelly dosage <3,000 mg/day. Although the royal jelly supplementation significantly reduced BW and BMI at the dosages <3,000 mg/day, until additional trials have been conducted to assess the effects on obesity measures, it is best to prescribe royal jelly with caution.
Biological functions and research progress of eIF4E
Authors: Chen Xiaocong , An Yang , Tan Mengsi , Xie Dongrui , Liu Ling , Xu Benjin
Published: August 2023

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4E can specifically bind to the cap structure of an mRNA 5' end, mainly regulating translation initiation and preferentially enhancing the translation of carcinogenesis related mRNAs. The expression of eIF4E is closely related to a variety of malignant tumors. In tumor cells, eIF4E activity is abnormally increased, which stimulates cell growth, metastasis and translation of related proteins. The main factors affecting eIF4E activity include intranuclear regulation, phosphorylation of 4EBPs, and phosphorylation and sumoylation of eIF4E. In this review, we summarize the biological functions and the research progress of eIF4E, the main influencing factors of eIF4E activity, and the recent progress of drugs targeting eIF4E, in the hope of providing new insights for the treatment of multiple malignancies and development of targeted drugs.
Therapeutic targeting of leukemia stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Barbosa Karina , Deshpande Aniruddha J.
Published: August 2023

One of the distinguishing properties of hematopoietic stem cells is their ability to self-renew. Since self-renewal is important for the continuous replenishment of the hematopoietic stem cell pool, this property is often hijacked in blood cancers. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is believed to be arranged in a hierarchy, with self-renewing leukemia stem cells (LSCs) giving rise to the bulk tumor. Some of the earliest characterizations of LSCs were made in seminal studies that assessed the ability of prospectively isolated candidate AML stem cells to repopulate the entire heterogeneity of the tumor in mice. Further studies indicated that LSCs may be responsible for chemotherapy resistance and therefore act as a reservoir for secondary disease and leukemia relapse. In recent years, a number of studies have helped illuminate the complexity of clonality in bone marrow pathologies, including leukemias. Many features distinguishing LSCs from normal hematopoietic stem cells have been identified, and these studies have opened up diverse avenues for targeting LSCs, with an impact on the clinical management of AML patients. This review will discuss the role of self-renewal in AML and its implications, distinguishing characteristics between normal and leukemia stem cells, and opportunities for therapeutic targeting of AML LSCs.
Novel insights into biomarkers of progression in Desmoid tumor
Authors: Liu Baiqi , Sun Zefang , Zhou Rui , Shen Dingcheng , Zhu Shuai , Chen Lu , Huang Gengwen
Published: August 2023

Desmoid tumor (DT) is a rare neoplasm characterized by the proliferation of myofibroblastic cells that infiltrates and invades adjacent tissues. Due to its locally aggressive and recurrent nature, DT often causes local symptoms and can be challenging to manage clinically. Therefore, identifying biomarkers that can predict the progression of DT and guide treatment decisions is critical. This review summarizes several biomarkers that have been implicated in active surveillance (AS) and the prediction of postoperative recurrence and attempts to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. Some of these novel markers could provide prognostic value for clinicians, and ultimately help facilitate optimal and accurate therapeutic decisions for DT.
Anti-cancer properties of boswellic acids: mechanism of action as anti-cancerous agent
Authors: Trivedi Vijay Laxmi , Soni Ruchi , Dhyani Praveen , Sati Priyanka , Tejada Silvia , Sureda Antoni , Setzer William N. , Faizal Abdull Razis Ahmad , Modu Babagana , Butnariu Monica , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: August 2023

With the advent of highly effective plant-based medications with few or no side effects, the use of phytomedicines against complex diseases such as cancer is becoming more widespread. The broadly recognized pentacyclic triterpenes known as boswellic acids (BAs) are derived from the oleogum resin, or frankincense, extracted from the plant species of the genus Boswellia. The frankincense mixture contains various BA types, each having a different potential and helping treat certain cancers. This review focuses on details regarding the traits of the BAs, their roles as anti-cancer agents, the mechanism underlying their activities, and the function of their semi-synthetic derivatives in managing and treating certain cancers. The review also explores the biological sources of BAs, how they are conserved, and how biotechnology might help preserve and improve in vitro BA production. The review concludes that the BAs and their semi-synthetic derivatives are effective against a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines. The detailed information in the review can be helpful for researchers to gain more information about BAs and BA-based medications for efficient and cost-effective cancer treatments.
Genetic diversity for drought tolerance in the native forage grass Trichloris crinita and possible morpho-physiological mechanisms involved
Authors: Dominguez Deolindo Luis Esteban , Cavagnaro Juan Bruno , Ros Juana Panasiti , Le Anh Tuan , Chung Yong Suk , Cavagnaro Pablo Federico
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The use of drought tolerant genotypes is one of the main strategies proposed for coping with the negative effects of global warming in dry lands. Trichloris crinita is a native forage grass occupying extensive arid and semi-arid regions in the American continent, and used for range grazing and revegetation of degraded lands.

Methods

To identify drought-tolerant genotypes and possible underlying physiological mechanisms, this study investigated drought tolerance in 21 genetically diverse T. crinita genotypes under natural field conditions. The accessions were grown under irrigated (control) and drought conditions for 84 days after initiation of the drought treatment (DAIDT), which coincided with flowering initiation. Various morpho-physiological traits were monitored, including total-, foliage-, and root biomass yield, dry matter partitioning to individual plant organs (roots, leaves, stems, and panicles), total leaf area, chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, stomatal conductance, and number of panicles per plant.

Results and discussion

Broad and significant variation (p<0.001) was found among the accessions for all the traits. Three highly tolerant and three very sensitive accessions were identified as the most contrasting materials, and their responses to drought stress were confirmed over two years of experiments. Under prolonged drought conditions (84 DAIDT), the tolerant accessions were generally more productive than the rest for all the biomass yield components analyzed, and this was associated with a postponed and more attenuated decrease in variables related to the plant photosynthetic activity, such as stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency. In contrast to previous findings, our data indicate no direct relationship between drought tolerance and the level of aridity in the accessions natural habitats, but rather suggest genetic heterogeneity and ample variation for drought tolerance in T. crinita natural populations derived from a particular location or environment. Also, having low total and forageable biomass yield, or increased biomass allocation to the roots (i.e., lower foliage/root ratio), under optimal water availability, were not associated with greater drought tolerance. The drought-tolerant accessions identified are of value for future genetic research and breeding programs, and as forage for range grazing and revegetation in arid regions.
Acceptance and adherence to non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a grounded theory study
Authors: Volpato Eleonora , Banfi Paolo Innocente , Pagnini Francesco
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV) is an established treatment for people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but it is often improperly used or rejected. The patterns of acceptance and adherence to NPPV, conceiving constraints, and strengths related to its adaptation have not been explored from a qualitative perspective yet.

Objectives

This study aims to qualitatively explore patterns of adaptation to NPPV in people affected by COPD and to identify the core characteristics and the specific adaptive challenges during the adaptation process.

Methods

Forty-two people with moderate or severe COPD were recruited and 336 unstructured interviews were conducted. A Constructivist Grounded Theory was used to gather and analyze data: the transcriptions were mutually gathered in open, selective, and theoretical phases, with open, selective, and theoretical coding, respectively.

Results

The analysis resulted in a non-linear and dynamic process, characterized by three phases: deciding, trying NPPV, and using NPPV. The patterns revealed that positive and negative NPPV experiences, together with beliefs, emotions, stressful mental states, and behaviors result in different acceptance and adherence rates.

Discussions

These findings may be helpful to implement new care strategies to promote acceptance and adherence to NPPV.
Parental behavior and newborn attachment in birds: life history traits and endocrine responses
Authors: Mota-Rojas Daniel , Marcet-Rius Míriam , Domínguez-Oliva Adriana , Buenhombre Jhon , Daza-Cardona Erika Alexandra , Lezama-García Karina , Olmos-Hernández Adriana , Verduzco-Mendoza Antonio , Bienboire-Frosini Cécile
Published: August 2023

In birds, parental care and attachment period differ widely depending on the species (altricial or precocial), developmental strategies, and life history traits. In most bird species, parental care can be provided by both female and male individuals and includes specific stages such as nesting, laying, and hatching. During said periods, a series of neuroendocrine responses are triggered to motivate parental care and attachment. These behaviors are vital for offspring survival, development, social bonding, intergenerational learning, reproductive success, and ultimately, the overall fitness and evolution of bird populations in a variety of environments. Thus, this review aims to describe and analyze the behavioral and endocrine systems of parental care and newborn attachment in birds during each stage of the post-hatching period.
A qualitative exploration of reunification post alienation from the perspective of adult alienated children and targeted parents
Authors: Matthewson Mandy Louise , Bowring Jessica , Hickey Jacinta , Ward Sophie , Diercke Peta , Van Niekerk Leesa
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of voluntary reunification from the perspectives of adult alienated children and targeted parents

Methods

Nine adult alienated children and 12 targeted parents participated in semi-structured interviews which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically

Results

Six themes emerged in the data from the adult alienated children including catalysts for reunification, factors influencing reunification, adult alienated child relationships, the role of communication in reunification, adult alienated child understandings of alienation post reunification, and the role of therapy in reunification. Three themes emerged from the targeted parents including what is reunification, factors impacting reunification, and life after reunification.

Discussion

Findings from the present study offer novel insights into the experience of voluntary reunification from the perspectives of both adult alienated children and targeted parents. They illustrate that voluntary reunification is a process that takes time. This process can span decades and can include periods of connection and rejection.
How children learn to understand language meanings: a neural model of adult–child multimodal interactions in real-time
Authors: Grossberg Stephen
Published: August 2023

This article describes a biological neural network model that can be used to explain how children learn to understand language meanings about the perceptual and affective events that they consciously experience. This kind of learning often occurs when a child interacts with an adult teacher to learn language meanings about events that they experience together. Multiple types of self-organizing brain processes are involved in learning language meanings, including processes that control conscious visual perception, joint attention, object learning and conscious recognition, cognitive working memory, cognitive planning, emotion, cognitive-emotional interactions, volition, and goal-oriented actions. The article shows how all of these brain processes interact to enable the learning of language meanings to occur. The article also contrasts these human capabilities with AI models such as ChatGPT. The current model is called the ChatSOME model, where SOME abbreviates Self-Organizing MEaning.
Implementing digital neuroscience in special-needs-teacher education: exploring student-teachers’ multifaceted learning outcomes related to teaching children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Frei-Landau Rivi , Grobgeld Etty , Guberman Raisa
Published: August 2023

Introduction

In recent decades, there has been increased use of neuroscience in teacher education, which refers to applying knowledge from brain science to teaching. Similarly, digital learning has been extensively integrated into teacher education, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the benefits of assimilating educational neuroscience into special-education training—particularly using digital platforms–have yet to be examined. The current study explored the use of digitally-delivered educational neuroscience, related to neurodevelopmental disorders (ND), in teacher education, to gain insight into the learning outcomes alongside the contribution of the digital platform.

Methods

Employing a qualitative approach, we recruited 193 student-teachers who learned a digital ND-related neuroscience course. Data collection included open-ended reflections, open-ended story questions and five focus groups – all of which were analyzed using content analysis.

Results

Findings revealed a process involving four learning outcomes: understanding brain-based mechanisms of ND, enhanced empathy, extended perception of teachers’ professional role, and the design of pedagogical adaptations. The analysis also pointed out the various ways in which the digital platform facilitated these learning outcomes.

Discussion

The study provides theoretical insight into the role of digitally-delivered educational neuroscience in the service of inclusion. It further discusses the practical implications of using digitally-delivered educational neuroscience in teacher education to promote an inclusive pedagogy and best practices.
Phase-wise evaluation and optimization of non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.
Authors: Zhou Xiao , Zhang Xiaohu , Santi Paolo , Ratti Carlo
Published: August 2023

Given that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and other therapies is greatly limited by the continuously emerging variants, non-pharmaceutical interventions have been adopted as primary control strategies in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, implementing strict interventions over extended periods of time is inevitably hurting the economy. Many countries are faced with the dilemma of how to take appropriate policy actions for socio-economic recovery while curbing the further spread of COVID-19. With an aim to solve this multi-objective decision-making problem, we investigate the underlying temporal dynamics and associations between policies, mobility patterns, and virus transmission through vector autoregressive models and the Toda-Yamamoto Granger causality test. Our findings reveal the presence of temporal lagged effects and Granger causality relationships among various transmission and human mobility variables. We further assess the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 control measures and explore potential optimal strategies that strike a balance between public health and socio-economic recovery for individual states in the U.S. by employing the Pareto optimality and genetic algorithms. The results highlight the joint power of the state of emergency declaration, wearing face masks, and the closure of bars, and emphasize the necessity of pursuing tailor-made strategies for different states and phases of epidemiological transmission. Our framework enables policymakers to create more refined designs of COVID-19 strategies and can be extended to other countries regarding best practices in pandemic response.
Implementation of targeted next-generation sequencing for the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis in low-resource settings: a programmatic model, challenges, and initial outcomes
Authors: de Araujo Leonardo , Cabibbe Andrea Maurizio , Mhuulu Lusia , Ruswa Nunurai , Dreyer Viola , Diergaardt Azaria , Günther Gunar , Claassens Mareli , Gerlach Christiane , Utpatel Christian , Cirillo Daniela Maria , Nepolo Emmanuel , Niemann Stefan
Published: August 2023

Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) from clinical specimens has the potential to become a comprehensive tool for routine drug-resistance (DR) prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains (MTBC), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). However, TB mainly affects low- and middle-income countries, in which the implementation of new technologies have specific needs and challenges. We propose a model for programmatic implementation of tNGS in settings with no or low previous sequencing capacity/experience. We highlight the major challenges and considerations for a successful implementation. This model has been applied to build NGS capacity in Namibia, an upper middle-income country located in Southern Africa and suffering from a high-burden of TB and TB-HIV, and we describe herein the outcomes of this process.
Effectiveness of exercise interventions on fall prevention in ambulatory community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review with narrative synthesis
Authors: Sadaqa Munseef , Németh Zsanett , Makai Alexandra , Prémusz Viktória , Hock Márta
Published: August 2023

Objective

To present a systematic review of randomized controlled trials which summarizes the effects of community-based resistance, balance, and multi-component exercise interventions on the parameters of functional ability (e.g., lower extremities muscle strength, balance performance and mobility).

Methods

This PROSPERO-registered systematic review (registration no. CRD42023434808) followed the PRISMA guidelines. Literature search was conducted in Cochrane, Embase, Ovid Medline, PEDro, Pubmed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. We included RCTs that investigated the following interventions: lower extremity strengthening, balance and multi-component exercise interventions on ambulatory community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years.

Results

Lower extremity strengthening exercises revealed significant effects on the strength of lower extremity, balance outcomes and mobility. Balance exercises reduce the rate of injurious falls, improve static, dynamic and reactive balance, lower extremity strength as well as mobility. Multi-component exercise training reduces medically-attended injurious falls and fallers, incidence of falls, fall-related emergency department visits as well as improves mobility, balance, and lower extremity strength.

Conclusion

Physical exercises are effective in improving the components of balance, lower extremity strength, mobility, and reducing falls and fall-related injuries. Further research on fall prevention in low-income countries as well as for older adults in vulnerable context is needed.
How to bridge the nurse innovation–diffusion gap? An in-depth case study of Create4Care
Authors: Rigtering Coen , Spaans Lara J. , de Jong Jeroen P. J.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Nurses frequently innovate in response to operational failures, regulations, procedures, and/or other workflow barriers that prevent them from delivering high-quality patient care. Unfortunately, most nurse innovations do not diffuse to a broader audience, depriving other nurses from taking advantage of solutions that have already been developed elsewhere. This under-diffusion is problematic from a societal and welfare point of view. The goal of this paper is to understand how diffusion shortage of nurse innovations can be reduced.

Methods

We develop a qualitative case study of a medical makerspace at the largest academic hospital in the Netherlands. This medical makerspace reported unusually high rates of nurse innovation diffusion. Our data collection includes on-site observations, archival data, secondary data, and fifteen in-depth interviews with key informants. Qualitative coding procedures and a combination of deductive and inductive reasoning are used to analyze the data.

Results

Our data show that personal, organizational, regulatory, and market barriers prevent nurses from further developing and diffusion their innovations in an anticipatory manner. That is, because nurses expect that transforming an initial solution into an innovation that can be shared with others will be too time consuming and difficult they do not proceed with the further development. The medical makerspace that we investigated adequately addresses this problem by developing an innovation ecosystem that largely takes over the innovation and diffusion process.

Discussion

We provide a concrete example of how a medical makerspace, and innovation support systems in a broader sense, can be designed to more adequately address the nurse innovation-diffusion gap. The two main elements of the practical solution that we identified are: (1) Support systems should facilitate that others may lead the development and diffusion of innovations and (2) The support system should promote that actors integrate their functional specializations within an innovation ecosystem. We make two theoretical contributions. First, we contribute to understanding barriers in the nurse innovation-diffusion process from a psychological point. Second, we identified that an ecosystem perspective is beneficial to develop innovation support systems in which diffusion occurs more often.
Coupling the effects of extreme temperature and air pollution on non-accidental mortality in Rencheng, China
Authors: Yu Daozheng , Lee Soo-Beom , Chen Si , Kim Seong Wook , Xi Shuaishuai
Published: August 2023

Background

Extreme temperatures and air pollution have raised widespread concerns about their impact on population health.

Aim

To explore the quantitative exposure risks of high/low temperatures and types of air pollutants on the health of various populations in urban areas in China, this study assessed the effects of temperature and air pollutants on daily non-accidental deaths in Rencheng District, Jining City, China from 2019 to 2021.

Methods

A combination of Poisson regression models and distributed lag non-linear models was used to examine the relationships between temperature, air pollutants, and daily non-accidental deaths. We found that temperature and air pollutants had a significant non-linear effect on non-accidental mortality. Both high and low temperatures had a noticeable impact on non-accidental deaths, with heat effects occurring immediately and lasting 2–3 days, while cold effects lasted for 6–12 days. The relative risks of non-accidental deaths from PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were highest in winter and lowest in autumn. The relative risk of non-accidental deaths from O3 was highest in spring, with no significant variations in other seasons. Older adults (≥75) and outdoor workers were at the greatest risk from temperature and air pollutant exposure.

Conclusions/interpretation

Exposure to extreme temperatures and air pollutants in the Rencheng District was associated with an increased mortality rate. Under the influence of climate change, it is necessary for policymakers to take measures to reduce the risk of non-accidental deaths among residents.
Deciphering the connection between upstream obstacles, wake structures, and root signals in seal whisker array sensing using interpretable neural networks
Authors: Bodaghi Dariush , Wang Yuxing , Liu Geng , Liu Dongfang , Xue Qian , Zheng Xudong
Published: August 2023

This study presents a novel method that combines a computational fluid-structure interaction model with an interpretable deep-learning model to explore the fundamental mechanisms of seal whisker sensing. By establishing connections between crucial signal patterns, flow characteristics, and attributes of upstream obstacles, the method has the potential to enhance our understanding of the intricate sensing mechanisms. The effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through its accurate prediction of the location and orientation of a circular plate placed in front of seal whisker arrays. The model also generates temporal and spatial importance values of the signals, enabling the identification of significant temporal-spatial signal patterns crucial for the network’s predictions. These signal patterns are further correlated with flow structures, allowing for the identification of important flow features relevant for accurate prediction. The study provides insights into seal whiskers’ perception of complex underwater environments, inspiring advancements in underwater sensing technologies.
How Yoga Helps the Brain
Authors: Ferguson Shea E. , Short Sarah J. , Huxtable Adrianne G. , Guenther Courtney H.
Published: August 2023

Most people think about yoga in terms of its physical benefits, such as increased strength and flexibility, but yoga can also lead to positive changes in the brain. If you are in school, yoga may help you reduce stress and improve your attention—both in and out of the classroom. One of the best things about yoga is that it requires no equipment, so you can do it anywhere. Practicing yoga can help both your brain and body feel better.
Tribal women empowerment through entrepreneurship: evidence from Mayurbhanj District, Odisha
Authors: Naveen S. , Parida Jayanta Kumar , Panda Itishree
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Empowering women in a tribal context through entrepreneurship is an approach for enabling and making them economically and socially viable. This paper aims to highlight entrepreneurship in a specific tribal context and provide insight on some instances or cases relating to women's empowerment. Although there are many initiatives from international organizations and governmental institutions to support women entrepreneurs, especially tribal women, they suffer from isolation as a result of their language and lifestyle differ from the rest of society, which made the growth of their business and ability to compete arduous, and thus affected their ability to make various decisions in their lives. This study examines the pathway to a better understanding of increasing access to entrepreneurship for tribal women in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

Methods

The sample size was 111 Santhal tribal women entrepreneurs, and all of them were interviewed using an interview schedule and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Two analytical tools were used (a linear regression model to find which dependent variables influence entrepreneurs and the Women's Empowerment Index (WEI) to measure the progress in social and economic opportunities). The respondents was interviewed and asked on the various WEI indicators before and after an entrepreneurship intervention.

Results and discussion

It was observed through the results that the empowerment of women has changed in a positive direction after establishing their work; according to the indicators of the study, the Women's Empowerment Index has changed from 0.61 to 1.26. It was also found that entrepreneurship has a positive and significant impact on women's decision-making within the family, and therefore, it was suggested through research to increase the intervention from the government and related organizations with more initiatives that contribute to the possibility of increasing women's education and their financial ability to open new enterprises.
Economic costs related to foodborne disease in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia in 2017
Authors: van Wagenberg Coen P. A. , Havelaar Arie H.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Foodborne diseases (FBD) are a significant problem in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Africa. Country-specific estimates of the economic costs related to FBD caused by different hazards in different food products can inform decision makers about this problem’s magnitude. This aids policy makers in prioritising actions to mitigate risks and prevent illness. Although estimates exist for many high-income countries, they are lacking for African countries.

Methods

This study estimates economic cost in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia related to FBD caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS), Campylobacter spp. (CAMP) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in all foods, chicken meat and tomatoes. The World Health Organization’s estimates of FBD burden, updated from 2010 to 2017, were used as a basis. Economic cost estimates were the sum of estimates of willingness-to-pay (WTP) to reduce risk of death and of pain and suffering, and lost productivity. WTP was based on value of statistical life (VSL) and value of statistical life year (VSLY), extrapolated from USA data. We used sensitivity options to account for uncertainty in these values.

Results

Mean economic costs related to FBD caused by NTS, CAMP and ETEC in 2017 were estimated at 391 million constant 2017 international dollars in Burkina Faso and 723 million in Ethiopia. These represent 3.0% of gross national income in Burkina Faso and 0.9% in Ethiopia. Lost productivity contributed 70%, WTP to reduce risk of death 30%, and WTP to reduce risk of pain and suffering 1-2%. NTS caused the highest costs, followed by ETEC and CAMP. Chicken meat caused 9-12 times higher costs than tomatoes. Children under five years (14.6-17.1% of populations) bore 20-75% of the costs. Due to uncertainty in disease burden and economic data, costs could be four times higher than mean estimates.

Discussion

Policies to control FBD likely result in substantial benefits, especially efforts aiming at this study’s hazards in chicken meat and children under 5 years. Efforts to reduce uncertainty in VSL, VSLY and disease burden estimates, estimate costs for other countries, attribute costs to other food products and hazards, further standardise estimation methodologies, and estimate treatment costs and illness prevention expenditures are recommended.
Association of Job Characteristics and Burnout of Healthcare Workers in Different Positions in Rural China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Mei , Li Sangsang , Han Dan , Wu Yunyi , Zhao Jie , Liao Hui , Ma Ying , Yan Chaoyang , Wang Jing
Published: August 2023

Objectives: Health workers in rural primary care systems are at increased risk of job burnout, but their associations with different positions have received scant attention in the literature. Thus, this study aims to measure job burnout in different positions in rural China and to identify factors associated with it.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a total of 15,627 participants from six provinces in China. And job burnout was measured using the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Scale (MBI-GS). Multilevel regression analyses were used in examining factors potentially associated with job burnout in different positions.

Results: Overall, more than half of providers suffered from moderate burnout. The degree of job burnout varied among different positions. Middle managers showed higher levels personal stress, while general staff showed the lowest interpersonal and self-evaluation dimensions of burnout. Job duty, job capability, job treatment, and career advancement are potential factors affecting these results.

Conclusion: Interventions aimed at providing appropriate training and development opportunities, developing relevant career planning and management strategies, and implementing reasonable staffing and job design may be promising strategies for alleviating burnout in different positions and improving health system performance.
Influence of Early Postoperative Basal Insulin Treatment and Post-Transplant Diabetes Mellitus Risk on Health-Related Quality of Life in Kidney Transplant Recipients—An Analysis of Data From a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Odler Balazs , Huemer Matthias , Schwaiger Elisabeth , Borenich Andrea , Kurnikowski Amelie , Krall Marcell , Hafner-Giessauf Hildegard , Eleftheriadis Georgios , Bachmann Friderike , Faura Anna , José Pérez-Sáez María , Pascual Julio , Budde Klemens , Rosenkranz Alexander R. , Hecking Manfred , Eller Kathrin
Published: August 2023

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) improves after kidney transplantation (KT) but declines over time. Studies on the effect of early postoperative basal insulin therapy on HRQOL after KT, especially KTRs at high risk of developing post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) are missing. Data from a randomized controlled trial on 148 non-diabetic KTRs were analyzed. HRQOL using the KDQOL-SF™ was compared in KTRs who either received early postoperative basal insulin therapy or standard-of-care and in KTRs at risk of developing PTDM. Determinants of HRQOL outcomes were investigated using multivariable linear regression analysis. In total, 148 patients completed the KDQOL-SF at baseline. Standard-of-care or early basal insulin therapy after KT did not influence HRQOL. Overall, KT improved the mental (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores at 6-month after KT, which remained stable during further follow-up visits. However, patients at high-risk for PTDM had significantly greater impairment in the PCS score (baseline, 24 months) without differences in MCS scores. In the multivariable regression analysis, allograft function and hemoglobin levels were associated with decreased MCS and PCS scores, respectively. A limitation of the study is the fact that only around 50% of the ITP-NODAT study patients participated in the HRQOL evaluation. Still, our data clearly show that early basal insulin therapy does not affect HRQOL after KT but is negatively influenced by classical clinical factors and PTDM-risk at 24 months after KT. The latter might be influenced by older age.
Engaging First Nations People at Work: The Influence of Culture and Context
Authors: Thiessen Susanne
Published: August 2023

The paper seeks to understand organisational context and culture’s influence on engaging First Nations People in Canada in work. Organisations have many opportunities to attract and engage Indigenous people, who have distinct worldviews and unique cultural customs not necessarily reflected in a North American workplace. Indigenous people also grapple with the historical and ongoing disparate impacts of settler colonialism that intersect colonial systems in most every area of their lives. This study worked within Indigenous research principles to encourage the articulation of deeply felt experiences and points of view of how First Nations people viewed and interacted with their work. The findings reviewed the experiences of twelve First Nations individuals working in non-Indigenous organisations. Through anti-colonial and critical organisational theoretical lenses, the study reveals how the context and culture that defined this sample of First Nations people shaped their views of what is essential to engaging them in the workplace. The findings illustrate what First Nations people would like to see in a workplace culture, what they feel needs to be recognised as part of their unique Indigenous context, and the approaches and practises that are most important for engaging them. Understanding the effect of context and culture on positive work interactions provides new information for organisational leaders, managers, diversity officers, and Human Resource practitioners to better support First Nations engagement in the workplace. It may also offer an approach to better engaging other culturally diverse organisational groups. The results add value to the fields of critical theory, anti-colonial theory, critical management studies, and Indigenous wholistic theory. The results further the discussion on the processes of decolonization and the recognition of Indigenous and minority rights in the workplace.
Aerobiology—A New Open Access Journal
Authors: Roy Chad J.
Published: August 2023

It is simultaneously professionally humbling and an absolute pleasure to be associated with the launch of a new open access journal, with added emphasis in a scientific field as rich and diverse as aerobiology [...]
The Impact of Informal Learning on Herders’ Operating Income: An Analysis Based on Human Capital Differences
Authors: Cai Shijia , Gao Bo , Zhou Jie , Qiao Guanghua
Published: August 2023

Improving the operating income of farmers and herdsmen is an important starting point for achieving common prosperity. As a common form of learning and an important source of skills training, informal learning has a certain impact on the economy and income level of farmers and herdsmen. This paper takes 439 herdsmen in three cities of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as the research object and tries to explore the comprehensive influence, subdivision difference, and mechanism of informal learning on the operating income of herdsmen on the theoretical and empirical levels. The results show that the impact of informal learning on the operating income of herdsmen is “inverted U-shaped”, and there is an informal learning balance point of 2.9776 h, which maximizes the effect of informal learning on the increased operating income of herdsmen. After using the instrumental variable method to deal with endogeneity and conducting robustness tests through winsorizing, quantile regression, and substitution variables, the research conclusions were still valid. Heterogeneity analysis found that informal learning has a significant impact on the increase in operating income of herdsmen in the low human capital group, reflecting the role of “sending charcoal in the snow”. However, it has no significant effect on the increase in operating income of herdsmen in the high human capital group, and the effect of “icing on the cake” is not obvious. In view of this result, government departments should speed up the planning of Internet infrastructure construction in pastoral areas, and accurately push the knowledge and skills needs of herdsmen to help increase the operating income of herdsmen.
Evaluation and Modelling of Reference Evapotranspiration Using Different Machine Learning Techniques for a Brazilian Tropical Savanna
Authors: Spontoni Thiago A. , Ventura Thiago M. , Palácios Rafael S. , Curado Leone F. A. , Fernandes Widinei A. , Capistrano Vinicius B. , Fritzen Clóvis L. , Pavão Hamilton G. , Rodrigues Thiago R.
Published: August 2023

Meteorological elements can affect the environment and cultures differently and may alter the natural development process contributing significantly to climate change. Meteorological variables of the Brazilian Pantanal were studied and used to determine evapotranspiration with fewer variables. It was found that artificial intelligence can substantially improve environmental modeling when alternative prediction techniques are used, resulting in lower project costs and more reliable results. This work tried to find the best combination by comparing machine learning techniques such as artificial neural networks, random forests, and support vector machines. A new model was created that depends on fewer climatic variables compared to the Penman–Monteith method (the standard method for estimating reference evapotranspiration) and can efficiently describe the reference evapotranspiration. Machine learning techniques are highly efficient for modeling environmental systems since they can process large amounts of data and find the best interactions between the parameters involved. In addition, more than 98% accuracy was obtained using fewer variables compared to the standard method when artificial neural networks are utilized.
Optimizing Controlled Environmental Agriculture for Strawberry Cultivation Using RL-Informer Model
Authors: Lu Yuze , Gong Mali , Li Jing , Ma Jianshe
Published: August 2023

Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) has gained a lot of attention in recent years, mainly because of its ability to overcome extreme weather problems and ensure food safety. CEA can meet the full growth state monitoring of the crop period; however, the optimization of the growing environment is still limited by the algorithm defects. In this article, we present an optimization method of growing environment based on reinforcement learning, Q-learning and the time-series prediction model Informer. This approach is demonstrated for the first time as far as we know. By employing Informer, we predicted the growth of strawberries based on current environmental variables and plant status. The prediction results served as a reward to motivate Q-learning, guiding it to make optimal modifications to the environment in real-time. This approach aimed to achieve the optimal cultivation environment continuously. Two groups of validation experiments were conducted based on different cultivation objectives: “obtaining the most stolons” and “obtaining the highest fruit count”. Compared to the empirically planted groups, the experimental groups using the RL-Informer model achieved yield increases of 17.81% and 20.78%, respectively. These experiments highlight the outstanding performance of the proposed RL-Informer model in real-time prediction and modification of environmental variables.
Regulatory Effect of Light and Rhizobial Inoculation on the Root Architecture and Plant Performance of Pasture Legumes
Authors: De Lara-Del Rey Irene Ariadna , Pérez-Fernández María A.
Published: August 2023

Rhizobial associations with leguminous plants are some of the most important symbioses on Earth, and they have economic relevance in agriculture. Because their interactions are positive and have advantages for both partners, nitrogen-fixing rhizobia also demand significant carbohydrate allocation in exchange for key nutrients, and this demand is reflected in the anatomy of roots. In the current scenario of climate change, rhizobia–legume interactions can be affected, and plants may need to compensate for carbon loss when light availability is not correct. Under such conditions, roots can modify their anatomy to accommodate symbionts’ needs, and the outcome of an interaction can switch from mutualism to parasitism, resulting in changes in root allocation. We experimented with two legume species originating from well-irradiated environments (Coronilla juncea L. and Ornithopus compressus L.) and two species from shaded environments (Trifolium repens L. and Vicia sativa L.). We applied high radiation, intermediate radiation, and low radiation to two treatments of microbial inoculation (inoculation and control). After an incubation period of 105 days, we quantified the root area, size, and complexity, as well as the nodule production and mass, plant relative growth, and below-ground allocation. For plants originating in shaded environments, nodulation, root complexity, and below-ground allocation were enhanced in inoculated plants when they were transferred to conditions of high irradiance. Strikingly, plants from environments exposed to high light radiation were less plastic when exposed to changing light availability, and the symbionts were less beneficial than expected in stress-free environments. Our study proved that the stress imposed on plants due to high irradiance is overcome when plants are inoculated, and the positive effect is more evident in plants that are usually grown in shaded environments (e.g., Trifolium repens and Vicia sativa).