bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Socio-Demographic Correlates of Barriers to Access Healthcare Services among Children in Post-Communist Albania
Authors: Mone Iris , Vasil Suela , Alia Albano , Xinxo Sonela , Muça Kliton , Burazeri Genc
Published: May 2023

Access to healthcare services is an essential component of promoting public health and sustainable development. Our aim was to assess socio-demographic correlates of barriers to accessing healthcare services among children in Albania, a post-communist country in Europe. An online survey was conducted in September 2022, including a nationwide representative sample of 7831 school children (≈54% girls) ranging from grades six to nine from all regions of Albania. A structured and anonymous questionnaire was administered to all children inquiring about a range of potential barriers to accessing healthcare services. Overall, about 42% of the children reported that they had barriers to accessing healthcare services. There were no gender differences, but there were significant ethnic differences (51% among Roma/Egyptian children vs. 42% among the general sample of the children); urban/rural differences (46% rural vs. 39% urban); and socio-economic differences (52% among children with a lower maternal education vs. 31% among children with a higher maternal education; 66% among children from poor families vs. 35% among children with a higher family income). In transitional Albania, children residing in rural areas, children from Roma and/or Egyptian communities, and especially those pertinent to low socio-economic families report considerably more barriers to accessing healthcare services, which is a cause of concern.
Understanding the Impact of Big Data Analytics and Knowledge Management on Green Innovation Practices and Organizational Performance: The Moderating Effect of Government Support
Authors: Makhloufi Lahcene , Vasa László , Rosak-Szyrocka Joanna , Djermani Farouk
Published: May 2023

Understanding and predicting the relationship between big data analytics (BDA) and knowledge management (KM) and how they complement each other is still an ambiguous and strategically crucial issue. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between BDA and KM in fostering green innovation practices (GIP) and organizational performance and, in addition, to explore the mediation effect of KM and how it can boost the impact of BDA on GIP. Based upon the underpinning theories that cover the study’s research model, several hypotheses were proposed and then examined. Using a cross-sectional research design, 174 questionnaires were collected from medium and large Algerian manufacturing firms. The study applied smart PLS-SEM for data analysis. The sorted results show that BDA positively impacts KM and GIP. The results also indicate that GIP positively influences and increases firm performance. In addition, the findings reveal that government support plays a significant part in leveling up firms’ GIP. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the critical impact of KM to polish the impact of BDA on GIP. This study highlights the necessity of improving the technological and managerial aspects of BDA by determining valuable capabilities, such as KM processes, to enhance organizational performance. Tracking business opportunities and predicting their relevant threats has become a severe concern to knowledge-extensive firms. Therefore, BDA can enable managers to absorb a large amount of data to increase the efficiency of a business decision to ensure survival and advancement. The study discusses both practical and theoretical implications.
Traffic Flow State Analysis Considering Driver Response Time and V2V Communication Delay in Heterogeneous Traffic Environment
Authors: Guan Shan , Ma Chicheng , Wang Jianjun
Published: May 2023

In order to study the heterogeneous traffic environment generated by connected automated vehicles (CAVs) and human-driven vehicles (HDVs), the car-following model and basic graph model of the mixed traffic flows of connected automated vehicles and human-driven vehicles are constructed. Considering driver response time and the communication delay of the connected automated vehicles control system, the three-parameter variation law of traffic flow is summarized to solve the traffic congestion problem in heterogeneous traffic environments. Firstly, the probability of six scenarios in queues of cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) vehicles, adaptive cruise control (ACC) vehicles, and human-driven vehicles in heterogeneous traffic environments is analyzed. The car-following model is defined, and the parameters are calibrated, and then a fundamental diagram model of traffic flow balance is derived. On this basis, considering driver response time and the communication delay of the linear controller, a car-following model considering multi-party delay is updated and established, and the heterogeneous traffic flow analysis of the two types of delays in the model is carried out. Finally, the microscopic simulation environment is constructed based on SUMO 1.17.0 (Simulation of Urban Mobility) software. The results show that when the permeability (the proportion of connected automated vehicles in a traffic stream) exceeds 0.6, CAVs account for the main part in the heterogeneous traffic, which has a positive impact on the maximum flow and the optimal density and can effectively improve the maximum capacity of the road. The simulation results show that the updated car-following model is reasonable and accurate in dealing with driver response time and V2V communication delay.
Circularity in Facility Management: Conceptualisation and Potential Areas for Circularity-Oriented Actions
Authors: Baniya Bishal
Published: May 2023

Although literature discussing materials circularity in the built environment sector is well-developed, we have a limited understanding of circularity in facility services because most of the literature often generalises building operations, ignoring circularity applications via service streams. Thus, owing to the service nature of facility management, facility service providers’ remit, and the building operation functions, this paper makes a first-order attempt to conceptualise circularity in the context of facility services and to identify areas corresponding to key facility functions and performance improvement criteria. Facility service is an important service stream for building operations, and it includes a range of functions ensuring better condition, quality, serviceability, and durability of building assets. Understanding the limited research undertaken to highlight circularity in facility services, this paper uses a literature review and qualitative content analysis to categorise three scopes (procurement, building use, and end of life) and the corresponding circularity-oriented action areas in facility service delivery. As key findings, subtle changes in the core facility function, such as in products’ purchase approach, delivery of ongoing maintenance and refurbishment of building assets, and end-of-life management, possess the potential to enable circularity. Thus, within the buildings’ operation realm, a dedicated service stream, such as the facility service, can contribute to realising circularity for facility service providers’ commercial clients.
Effect of Silica Fume on Engineering Performance and Life Cycle Impact of Jute-Fibre-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Kurda Rawaz
Published: May 2023

The brittleness of plain concrete (PC) is a result of its lack of tensile strength and poor resistance to cracking, which in turn limits its potential uses. The addition of dispersed fibres into the binding material has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on the tensile properties of PC. Nevertheless, using new or engineered fibres in concrete significantly increases the overall cost and carbon footprint of concrete. Consequently, the main obstacle in creating environmentally friendly fibre-reinforced concrete is the traditional design process with energy-intensive materials. This study investigated how the engineering properties and life cycle impact of concrete were influenced by varying the volume fractions of jute fibre (JF). The impact of incorporating silica fume (SF) as a partial replacement of Portland cement was also studied. The studied parameters included mechanical behaviour, non-destructive durability indicators, and the life cycle impact of concrete using JF and SF. The efficiency of JF in mechanical performance improved with the increase in age and with the addition of SF. When using both SF and 0.3% JF, there was an improvement of around 28% in the compressive strength (CS). When 0.3% JF was added, in the presence and absence of SF, the splitting tensile strength (STS) improvement was around 20% and 40%, respectively. The addition of JF improved the residual flexural strength (FS) and flexural ductility of PC. The SF addition overcame the drawbacks of the poor resistance of JF-reinforced concrete (JFRC) against water absorption (WA) and rapid chloride ion penetration (RCIP).
The Role of Dynamic Cloud Capability in Improving SME’s Strategic Agility and Resource Flexibility: An Empirical Study
Authors: Uddin Aleem , Cetindamar Dilek , Hawryszkiewycz Igor , Sohaib Osama
Published: May 2023

This research explores how the cloud’s technological capability helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adapt to challenging business environments, providing long-term sustainability and strategic agility. The article uses a theoretical and quantitative empirical approach, known as the positivist research paradigm, in offering a unique capability called dynamic cloud capability that leverages the cloud’s technological capabilities. Based on the quantitative analysis of 222 Australian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) SMEs, dynamic cloud capability favourably improves the flexible allocation of resources (resource fluidity) and the ability to adapt business models (strategic agility). Additionally, because of the successful mediating effect of resource fluidity, it is inferred that dynamic cloud capability allows for the flexible allocation of resources leading to improved strategic agility. Hence, adopting dynamic cloud capability in an organisation’s strategy would be particularly appealing to ICT SMEs as it has been verified to enhance adaptability to a challenging business environment and flexible allocation of resources.
Can Green Credit Policy Promote the High-Quality Development of China’s Heavily-Polluting Enterprises?
Authors: Wu Kai , Bai E , Zhu Hejie , Lu Zhijiang , Zhu Hongxin
Published: May 2023

Prior literature on the green innovation effects of green credit policies is extensive. However, few scholars have focused on the impact of green credit policies on the high-quality development of heavily-polluting enterprises. Based on this, this study employs the difference-in-differences (DID) model to explore the causal relationship between the Green Credit Guidelines (Guidelines) issued in 2012 and the high-quality development of heavily-polluting enterprises. Additionally, we test whether the effect of upgrading human resources in enterprises strengthens this causal relationship. Our findings suggest that the implementation of the Guidelines has significantly promoted the development quality of heavily-polluting enterprises and the promotion effect is more significant in enterprises with higher development quality, state-owned enterprises, large-scale enterprises, and enterprises in the western region of China. Further research reveals that the effect of upgrading human resources in enterprises has reinforced the positive impact of Guidelines on the high-quality development of enterprises. From the perspective of high-quality development of enterprises, in this paper, we expand the research into the effects of green credit policy, providing a decision-making reference for the promotion and improvement of subsequent green credit policy in the future.
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and High-Speed Rail Operators: Do Not Let the Train Pass!
Authors: Moyano Amparo , Tejero-Beteta Carlos , Sánchez-Cambronero Santos
Published: May 2023

Rail operators are developing their own Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) applications for mobility management, integrating all the transport links for door-to-door intermodal journeys. In this context, this paper analyses the main challenges railway operators face when implementing their new MaaS applications on a national scale, analysing and evaluating the factors influencing the successful implementation of MaaS in cities with high-speed rail services. These factors are related directly to the adaptation of MaaS services to different geographies, from large metropolitan areas to small cities located in rural environments. The differences among all the HSR cities in Spain are related to both socioeconomic and transport systems’ variables. Smaller cities are generally in a more rural/suburban environment, with higher percentages of aged and illiterate inhabitants, who are much more vulnerable to the digital divide. In addition, these areas present very few and/or inefficient public transport options, and practically non-existent shared mobility services, largely limiting the possibility of competing for private car mobility. Our paper’s analysis of all these factors fills a gap in the literature and opens the debate about different approaches and transport policies that rail operators could adopt when entering the MaaS environment.
The Impact of Fast-Food Density on Obesity during the COVID-19 Lockdown in the UK: A Multi-Timepoint Study on British Cohort Data
Authors: Alonge Oluwanifemi , Shiode Shino , Shiode Narushige
Published: May 2023

Poor food environments are considered to trigger obesity and related health complications by restricting the local food options to predominantly low quality, energy-dense foods. This study investigated the impact of the food environment on obesity with a focus on any changes that might have occurred around the COVID lockdown period in the UK when majority of the population relied on food delivery and the local food environments. The proportion of fast-food retailers in the area and the Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) were calculated for participants of the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) at three timepoints: pre-COVID (2016), the first UK nation-wide lockdown (April–May 2020) and post lockdown (September–October 2020). The association of the food environment and the odds of obesity was estimated through multivariable logistic regression, with adjustments being made for selected socioeconomic variables. A model using the fast-food proportion as the sole predictor estimated that higher fast-food proportion increased the odds of obesity by 2.41 in 2016, 2.89 during the lockdown and 1.34 post lockdown, compared with 1.87, 2.23, and 0.73, respectively, for the same three periods with adjustments being made for select socioeconomic variables. On the other hand, RFEI increased the odds of obesity only slightly at 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03, respectively, with the model with adjustments yielding respective similar values. The fast-food proportion model indicates that proximity to a poor food environment is linked to obesity, especially during the COVID lockdown period, but the impact of a poor-food environment is limited if the RFEI is used as its indicator. The findings will add much needed insights on the UK data and will inform public health planning and policy.
Modeling and Quantitative Analysis in the Energy–Food–Water–Waste Nexus (EF2W): Case Study in Cameroon
Authors: Pemi Boris Abeli Pekarou , Njomo Donatien , Tchinda René , Seutche Jean Calvin , Kamta Legue Daniel Roméo , Babikir Mahamat Hassane , Chara-Dackou Venant Sorel
Published: May 2023

In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is necessary to quantitatively examine the interactions in the EF2W nexus in more detail. The main objective of this work is to model and quantify the EF2W nexus. The approach and model (input–output model) used from the literature is applied to the case of Cameroon. This model has some advantages that make it special, namely the possibility of establishing quantitative relationships on a local, national, regional, or global scale. The results indicate that the method presented in this study is sufficiently relevant to achieve a quantitative framework for modeling the sixteen (16) relationships intertwining the EF2W. Moreover, the analyses carried out on the EF2W interactions for the three decades (1990–2020) show that the energy sector is strongly impacted by biomass, water, and petroleum products with very low impact of waste; the proportion of energy for electricity generation is, on average, 67.528%; the contribution of water (surface and groundwater, water use per ton of food) for agriculture is estimated to be 0.16%, on average, for 17.44 m3/t feed; the energy sector contributed during the three decades 0.42% for 0.88 toe/kt of energy produced. As for the waste (agricultural and animal waste), their use in the agricultural sector is, on average, 97.80%. These results have a significant impact on the energy mix in the management and distribution of production sources and its uses in the different sectors considered. A new optimal approach should be considered.
Advanced Design for Experimental Optimisation of Physico-Mechanical Characteristics of Sustainable Local Hemp Concrete
Authors: Adam Laurentiu , Judele Loredana , Motrescu Iuliana , Rusu Ion , Lepadatu Daniel , Bucur Roxana Dana
Published: May 2023

The meaning of technological progress is to produce economic development and to increase the level of personal comfort. Sustainability can only be achieved if, at the microsystem level as well as at the macrosystem level, the secondary effects of the activities undertaken by people on the environment are in a state of neutrality compared to the impact they can produce on natural conditions. This neutrality can be intrinsic or can be achieved through coercive and compensatory measures. If we take into account the production of carbon dioxide that accompanies a product from the stages of conceptualisation, design, procurement of materials, execution, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and recycling the waste produced at the end of use, then nothing can be sustainable in pure form. Nevertheless, there are products whose production, both as a raw material and as a technological process, can be neutral in terms of carbon emissions. Moreover, they can even become carbon negative over time. This is also the case with eco-sustainable hemp concrete, whose capacity to absorb carbon dioxide starts from the growth phase of the plant from which the raw material is obtained and continues throughout the existence of the constructed buildings. Not only does it absorb carbon dioxide, but it also stores it for a period of at least 50 years as long as the construction is guaranteed, being at the same time completely recyclable. However, in order to obtain an optimal mixture from the point of view of raw material consumption, represented by industrial hemp wood chips and the binder based on lime and cement, multiple experiments are necessary. The study presented in this work is based on the use of an advanced method of experimental planning (design of experiments method), which makes possible the correlation between the values obtained experimentally and the algorithm that generated the matrix arrangement of the quantities of materials used in the recipes. This approach helps to create the necessary framework for parametric optimisation with a small number of trials. Thus, it is possible to obtain the mathematical law valid within the minimum and maximum limits of the studied domain that defines the characteristics of the material and allows the achievement of optimisation. The material is thus designed to satisfy the maximum thermal insulation requirements that it can achieve depending on a certain minimum admissible compressive strength.
The Effect of Women’s Leadership on Carbon Disclosure by the Top 100 Global Energy Leaders
Authors: Abd Majid Nurshahirah , Jaaffar Amar Hisham
Published: May 2023

The energy sector is one of the main sources of carbon emissions and the most significant global polluter. Women’s concerns and the climate crisis were strongly associated when issues about climate change were first articulated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals stressing gender equality and climate mitigation actions have received very little attention in the last decade. Consequently, the primary issues raised by this study are the energy industry, and women and climate change. This study examined the effect of women’s leadership on carbon disclosure among the top 100 global energy leaders from 2018 to 2020. This study unequivocally recognizes the effect of women’s leadership as assessed by the number of female board members who are industry experts, serve as advisors, and pose as proxy community leaders for global energy leaders. This study’s sample consisted of 291 observations of global energy leaders sourced from Thomson Reuters’ database. For the panel data analysis, STATA 14 (Version 14.) software was applied as the empirical methodology. The empirical findings showed that among the top energy leaders globally, women leaders increased the degree of carbon disclosure. The findings of this study provide novel insights into the importance of women’s leadership in the energy sector for enhancing and promoting carbon disclosure. The validity of hypothesized links in the findings lends support to the resource dependence theory from the viewpoint of the energy leaders. This study also provides guidance for practitioners, governments, and policymakers on how to combat climate change, encourage the inclusion of as many women as feasible on boards, the promotion of gender parity, and support efforts to achieve the net zero carbon target.
Improved Oscillation Theorems for Even-Order Quasi-Linear Neutral Differential Equations
Authors: Alnafisah Yousef , Masood Fahd , Muhib Ali , Moaaz Osama
Published: May 2023

In this study, our goal was to establish improved inequalities that enhance the asymptotic and oscillatory behaviors of solutions to even-order neutral differential equations. In the oscillation theory of neutral differential equations, the connection between the solution and its corresponding function plays a critical role. We refined these relationships by leveraging the modified monotonic properties of positive solutions and introduced new conditions that ensure the absence of positive solutions, confirming the oscillation of all solutions to the studied equation. Based on the concept of symmetry between the positive and negative solutions of the studied equation, we obtained criteria that guarantee the oscillation of all solutions by excluding positive solutions only. In order to demonstrate the significance of our findings, we examined certain instances of the studied equation and compared them with previous results in the literature.
Lagrangian Reconstruction of Barrow Holographic Dark Energy in Interacting Tachyon Model
Authors: Luciano Giuseppe Gaetano , Liu Yang
Published: May 2023

We consider a correspondence between the tachyon dark energy model and Barrow holographic dark energy (BHDE). The latter is a modified scenario based on the application of the holographic principle with Barrow entropy instead of the usual Bekenstein–Hawking one. We reconstruct the dynamics of the tachyon scalar field T in a curved Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe both in the presence and absence of interactions between dark energy and matter. As a result, we show that the tachyon field exhibits non-trivial dynamics. In a flat universe, T˙2 must always be vanishing, independently of the existence of interaction. This implies ωD=−1 for the equation-of-state parameter, which in turn can be used for modeling the cosmological constant behavior. On the other hand, for a non-flat universe and various values of the Barrow parameter, we find that T˙2 decreases monotonically for increasing cos(Rh/a) and cosh(Rh/a), where Rh and a are the future event horizon and the scale factor, respectively. Specifically, T˙2≥0 for a closed universe, while T˙2<0 for an open one, which is physically not allowed. We finally comment on the inflation mechanism and trans-Planckian censorship conjecture in BHDE and discuss observational consistency of our model.
Editorial Conclusion for the Special Issue “Fixed Point Theory and Computational Analysis with Applications”
Authors: Du Wei-Shih , Cordero Alicia , Huang Huaping , Torregrosa Juan R.
Published: May 2023

Fixed point theory is a fascinating subject that has a wide range of applications in many areas of mathematics [...]
An Intelligent Approach to Determine Component Volume Percentages in a Symmetrical Homogeneous Three-Phase Fluid in Scaled Pipe Conditions
Authors: Mayet Abdulilah Mohammad , Alizadeh Seyed Mehdi , Ijyas V. P. Thafasal , Grimaldo Guerrero John William , Shukla Neeraj Kumar , Bhutto Javed Khan , Eftekhari-Zadeh Ehsan , Aiesh Qaisi Ramy Mohammed
Published: May 2023

Over time, the accumulation of scale within the transmission pipeline results in a decrease in the internal diameter of the pipe, leading to a decline in efficiency and energy waste. The employment of a gamma ray attenuation system that is non-invasive has been found to be a highly precise diagnostic technique for identifying volumetric percentages across various states. The most appropriate setup for simulating a volume percentage detection system through Monte Carlo N particle (MCNP) simulations involves a system consisting of two NaI detectors and dual-energy gamma sources, namely 241Am and 133Ba radioisotopes. A three-phase flow consisting of oil, water, and gas exhibits symmetrical homogenous flow characteristics across varying volume percentages as it traverses through scaled pipes of varying thicknesses. It is worth mentioning that there is an axial symmetry of flow inside the pipe that creates a homogenous flow pattern. In this study, the experiment involved the emission of gamma rays from one end of a pipe, with photons being absorbed by two detectors located at the other end. The resulting data included three distinct features, namely the counts under the photopeaks of 241Am and 133Ba from the first detector as well as the total count from the second detector. Through the implementation of a two-output MLP neural network utilising the aforementioned inputs, it is possible to accurately forecast the volumetric percentages with an RMSE of under 1.22, regardless of the thickness of the scale. The minimal error value ensures the efficacy of the proposed technique and the practicality of its implementation in the domains of petroleum and petrochemicals.
Improving the Efficiency of Intellectualisation Processes in Enterprise Management Systems
Authors: Kovshova Tatyana , Trifonov Pavel , Ramirez-Asis Edwin
Published: May 2023

Modern management requires the highest level of analytics and the optimisation of business processes with a low risk of poor management decisions. These are essential since rapid changes in the financial world and the external environment can have critical effects. The direction of a company’s growth and the effectiveness of its management systems depend directly on the quality of intellectualisation. This study aims to develop a new methodology for studying the criteria and results of the intellectualisation processes to achieve the highest efficiency in company management systems. This study used sociological and empirical methods to find intellectualisation efficiency criteria. These criteria were then used to analyse the intellectualisation process in ten Russian companies. The correlation analysis method revealed a close relationship between the intellectualisation integral indicator and company performance over time. The results showed that the intellectualisation efficiency criteria are intellectualisation indicators in human resource management systems as well as computer-aided and automated management systems. In addition, it was found that company performance depends on the intellectualisation integral indicator, the human intelligence and artificial intelligence synergy, as well as on the efficiency of using artificial intelligence in business processes.
Changes in HRSV Epidemiology but Not Circulating Variants in Hospitalized Children due to the Emergence of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Virant Monika Jevšnik , Luštrek Manca , Kogoj Rok , Petrovec Miroslav , Uršič Tina
Published: May 2023

This study assesses the circulation of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) genotypes before, during, and toward the end of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in children and determines the influence of the pandemic on HRSV circulation patterns and evolution. Phylogenetic analysis of the hypervariable glycoprotein G gene was performed on 221/261 (84.7%) HRSV-positive samples and shows two separated clusters, one belonging to HRSV-A (129/221) and another to HRSV-B (92/221). All Slovenian HRSV-A strains contained the 72-nucleotide-long duplicated region in the attachment glycoprotein G gene and were classified as lineage GA2.3.5. All Slovenian HRSV-B strains similarly contained a 60-nucleotide-long duplicated region in the attachment glycoprotein G gene and were classified as lineage GB5.0.5a. During the 3-year period (2018–2021) covered by the study, no significant differences were observed within strains detected before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, during it, and after the implementation of nonpharmaceutical preventive measures. Slovenian HRSV-A strains seem to be more diverse than HRSV-B strains. Therefore, further whole-genome investigations would be required for better monitoring of the long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 endemic circulation and the formation of new HRSV lineages and epidemiological patterns.
Human Seasonal Influenza Viruses in Swine Workers in Lagos, Nigeria: Consequences for Animal and Public Health
Authors: Anjorin Abdul-Azeez A. , Sausy Aurélie , Muller Claude P. , Hübschen Judith M. , Omilabu Sunday A. , Snoeck Chantal J.
Published: May 2023

The influenza A virus has been scarcely investigated in pigs in Africa, with rare detection prior to 2009. The spread of A(H1N1)pdm09 changed the epidemiology due to frequent human-to-swine transmission and the emergence of various new reassortants. This study therefore aimed at estimating the level of circulation and characterizing influenza A viruses at the interface between swine workers, who are crucial players in the inter-species transmission of influenza A viruses, and their animals in several farms in Nigeria, a hub for pig production in Africa. This cross-sectional study showed that 24.6% (58/236) of the pig serum samples collected in 2013–2014 had anti-influenza A antibodies in the absence of vaccination programs, but none of the pig swabs (n = 1193) were positive according to RT-qPCR. Viral RNA was detected in 0.9% (2/229) of swine workers sampled at their place of work, and the strains were characterized as A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal A(H3N2). Our results highlight that more awareness of swine workers regarding the consequences of reverse zoonosis for animal and public health is warranted. Annual vaccination and the wearing of masks when experiencing influenza-like symptoms would help decrease influenza inter-species transmission, while surveillance should be adequately supported for early detection.
Immune Reconstitution and Safe Metabolic Profile after the Switch to Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate among Virologically Controlled PLWH: A 96 Week Update from the BICTEL Cohort
Authors: Lazzaro Alessandro , Bianchini Diana , Gentilini Cacciola Elio , Mezzaroma Ivano , Falciano Mario , Andreoni Carolina , Fimiani Caterina , Santinelli Letizia , Maddaloni Luca , Bugani Ginevra , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Mastroianni Claudio Maria , d’Ettorre Gabriella
Published: May 2023

Background: Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (BIC/FTC/TAF) is a recommended once-daily single-tablet regimen for the treatment of people living with HIV (PLWH). We aimed to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability of BIC/FTC/TAF among PLWH, with a specific focus on people older than 55 years. Methods: We recruited an observational retrospective real-life cohort, including all PLWH who underwent a therapeutic switch to BIC/FTC/TAF, independently from the previous treatment regimen (the BICTEL cohort). Longitudinal nonparametric analyses and linear models were built. Results: After 96 weeks of follow-up, 164 PLWH were included, with 106 older than 55. Both the intention-to-treat and the per-protocol analysis showed low rates of virologic failure, independent of the pre-switch anchor drug. At week 96, a significant increase in CD4+ T cell count and in CD4+/CD8+ ratio was observed, inversely correlated with baseline immune status. Fasting serum lipid profile, total body weight, BMI, and hepatic function were not affected by the switch, without new onset of metabolic syndrome or weight gain. Compared to baseline, we observed a renal function worsening which is worthy of further follow-up. Conclusion: BIC/FTC/TAF is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated switching strategy for PLWH, especially among those older than 55.
The 100-Year Series of Weather-Related Fatalities in the Czech Republic: Interactions of Climate, Environment, and Society
Authors: Brázdil Rudolf , Chromá Kateřina , Dolák Lukáš , Zahradníček Pavel , Řehoř Jan , Dobrovolný Petr , Řezníčková Ladislava
Published: May 2023

The paper investigates weather-related fatalities over the territory of the Czech Republic in the 100-year period from 1921 to 2020. The unique database, created from documentary evidence (particularly newspapers), includes, for each deadly event, information about the weather event, the fatality itself, and related circumstances. A total of 2729 fatalities were detected during the 100-year period and were associated with various weather categories including frost (38%), convective storms (19%), floods (17%), fog (11%), snow and glaze ice (8%), windstorms (5%), and other inclement weather (2%). A detailed analysis was performed for each individual category. Fatalities occurred throughout the country, with a main maximum in winter (January) and a secondary maximum in summer (July), corresponding to the occurrence of extreme weather. Deaths were mainly interpreted as direct, caused by freezing to death/hypothermia or drowning, and occurred in the afternoon and at night in open countryside or on rivers and water bodies. Males outnumbered females, and adults outnumbered children and the elderly. Hazardous behavior was more frequent than non-hazardous behavior among victims. The information on fatalities and the structure of their characteristics strongly reflects historical milestones of the country, political and socioeconomic changes, as well as changes in lifestyle. Although important weather effects were observed on the deadliest events, the character of the data did not allow for clear evidence of the effects of long-term climate variability.
How Important for Society Is Recreation Provided by Multi-Purpose Water Reservoirs? Welfare Analysis of the Vltava River Reservoir System
Authors: Mácová Kateřina , Kozáková Zuzana
Published: May 2023

Contrary to the other functions of multi-purpose reservoirs, recreational use is not associated with a tangible social value, which hinders the search for new balances among optimal uses of water that will likely be needed under climate change. The objective of this study is to analyze visitation behavior and its patterns at a large-scale reservoir system on the Vltava River to quantify the total social benefits associated with recreation in monetary terms and to suggest how the magnitude of estimated recreation welfare relates to hydro-energy benefits, which are in usual practice taken much more into account than recreation in the strategic management of water dams. The elicited average consumer surplus per person and trip is EUR 55.7, which yields a total yearly recreation value of EUR 34 billion (ranging between 22 and 57). When compared to, e.g., the social value of hydro-energy generation, the actual yearly recreation welfare represents 1/3 of this nowadays more prioritized use. The results of the study bring new information for water management bodies that has been missing up to now, and they bring new arguments for reaching socially optimal water use in the strategic and operational management of the cascade of dams. From this perspective, the actual strategic relative prioritization of these two reservoir functions at the pilot site may be viewed as rational.
Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Human Health Risk Assessment of Fluoride Enrichment in Water in Faulted Basins of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—A Case Study of Sanhe Plain in Guide Basin
Authors: Liu Ruiping , Liu Fei , Xu Youning , Zhu Hua , Jiao Jiangang , El-Wardany Refaey M.
Published: May 2023

Fluoride (F) is an essential element of drinking water for human health, especially for bone development and enamel creation. However, if the fluoride content in drinking water is higher than 1.5 mg/L or lower than 0.5 mg/L, it will cause endemic diseases, such as dental fluorosis. There are two main hydrogeological characteristics: the properties of the water-bearing rocks and groundwater conditions controlled the groundwater in guide basin. The geothermal water can be divided into fracture convection and sedimentary basin geothermal water according to its geological environment and heat transfer mode. Inductively coupled plasma spectrometry is a significant tool for groundwater quality analysis. The geochemical factors of fluoride enrichment in confined geothermal water mainly include pH, ion exchange, and mineral saturation. Both groundwater samples are slightly alkaline, while the phreatic water and surface water record pH values of 8.5, 7.78, and 7.8, respectively. The salinity of groundwater water is not high, but for confined geothermal water, phreatic water, and surface water measures 706.0, 430.1 and 285.9 mg/L respectively. The higher the pH of groundwater, the more beneficial it is to the enrichment of fluoride. In contrast, the main cations in phreatic water and surface water are calcium ions and magnesium ions. The anions in groundwater and surface water mainly include SO42− and HCO3−, followed by Cl−, indicating that the groundwater and surface water here is mainly leaching. Fluoride was shown to be positively correlated with sodium and bicarbonate. Moreover, the results indicate that F− enrichment is usually associated with high HCO3− and Na+ concentrations in water, while a high Ca2+ concentration tends to lower the F− concentration in water. This means that the ion exchange between calcium ions and sodium ions may lead to fluoride enrichment in natural water. As mentioned above, high-sodium and low-calcium water are favorable for fluoride enrichment. Moreover, saturation indices of fluorite, gypsum, dolomite, and calcite, as well as the saturation index of fluorite, represent a vital method to understand the fluoride enrichment. According to this study, fluoride as a pollutant poses great risks to human health overall, whether lower than or higher than the drinking water limit. Children face higher health risks than adults caused by confined geothermal water drinking intake. This study suggests that groundwater treatment should be conducted to reduce fluoride concentration in drinking water. It is suggested that when confined geothermal water is used as drinking water, it should be mixed with phreatic water and surface water in a certain proportion to make the fluoride in groundwater reach the range of safe drinking water.
Evaluation of Control Effect of Confined Water Hazard in Taiyuan Formation Coal Seam Mining in Huanghebei Coalfield
Authors: Li Jingying , Xu Qingguo , Hu Yanbo , Chen Xinmin
Published: May 2023

The shallow-layer resources in the Huanghebei Coalfield have been depleted, and the deep coal seam of the Taiyuan Formation (lower coal group) is the main continuous resource in mining at this stage. With the annual increase in mining depth, the exploitation of lower coal groups is being met with the influence of high ground stress, high water pressure, high temperature, and strong mining disturbances, as a result of which the threat of water inrush is particularly serious. Based on the grouting data of the coalface floor aquifer, this paper proposes an evaluation method for the control of water rushing into the coalface floor. By comparing the test data with mine electrical exploration data through ArcGIS, the results show that the water pressure threshold based on ArcGIS is twice the water pressure of the grouting reconstruction layer as the optimal solution. The research results can provide a reference for the prevention and control of water inrush in the lower coal group of Huanghebei Coalfield.
Assessing Hydrological Drought in a Climate Change: Methods and Measures
Authors: Barbulescu Alina , Mocanu Stefan
Published: May 2023

Water is a resource indispensable for human life and activity, significantly affected by climate change (by decreasing the water quantities available for drinking) and anthropogenic activities (by pollution) [...]
Estimations of Crop Losses Due to Flood Using Multiple Sources of Information and Models: The Case Study of the Panaro River
Authors: Monteleone Beatrice , Giusti Riccardo , Magnini Andrea , Arosio Marcello , Domeneghetti Alessio , Borzì Iolanda , Petruccelli Natasha , Castellarin Attilio , Bonaccorso Brunella , Martina Mario L. V.
Published: May 2023

Floods and droughts are the events that most threaten crop production; however, the impact of floods on crops is still not fully understood and often under-reported. Nowadays, multiple sources of information and approaches support the estimation of agricultural losses due to floods. This study aims to understand the differences in agricultural loss estimates provided by two conceptually different approaches (crop models and expert-based models), evaluating their sensitivity to flood hazard inputs. We investigated the challenges in flood agricultural loss assessments referring to a case study for which, in addition to model simulations, information from surveys and on-site inspections were available. Two crop models (APSIM and WOFOST) and the expert-based model AGRIDE-c were applied to evaluate agricultural yield losses after the flood event of the Panaro River (Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy) that took place on the 6 December 2020. Two modelling tools were used to reproduce the event: the hydraulic model HEC-RAS and the image-based tool FwDET. Additionally, surveys among local farmers were conducted in the aftermath of the event to evaluate the flood features (water depth, extent and duration) and crop losses. The main findings of the study are that APSIM and WOFOST provide similar estimates of yield losses, while AGRIDE-c tends to underestimate yield losses when the losses over the entire study area are evaluated. The choice of the flood simulation technique does not influence the loss estimation since the difference between the yield loss estimates retrieved from the same model initialized with HEC-RAS or FwDET was always lower than 2%. Information retrieved from the surveys was not sufficient to validate the damage estimates provided by the models but could be used to derive a qualitative picture of the event. Therefore, further research is needed to understand how to effectively incorporate this kind of information in agricultural loss estimation.
Perceptions of Autonomous Vehicles: A Case Study of Jordan
Authors: Abudayyeh Dana , Almomani Malek , Almomani Omar , Alsoud Hadeel , Alsalman Farah
Published: May 2023

Technologies for automated driving have advanced rapidly in recent years. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are one example of these recent technologies that deploy elements such as sensors or processing units to assist the driver. The effective integration of these vehicles into public roads depends on the drivers’ acceptance and how they adjust to this new generation of vehicles. This study investigated the acceptance and willingness of Jordanians to purchase AVs in Jordan. The ordinal logit model was deployed to determine the factors attributed to individual acceptance of AVs, such as the cost, security, privacy, along with the environmental impact, among others. The findings of a national survey conducted on 582 Jordanians to assess their perception about AVs revealed that Jordanians were generally interested in using AVs. However, their decisions about purchasing AVs are influenced by several factors. The results indicated that the cost of AVs greatly influences purchasing decisions, though if the cost is affordable, respondents were more interested in using AVs. The findings also revealed that there is a substantial relationship between the level of security and the likelihood of buying a self-driving car, as respondents are concerned about the level of security and privacy. Furthermore, the results revealed that environmentally friendly AVs are more likely to be owned compared to conventional vehicles. This study helps to enhance the current understanding by highlighting road user perceptions, with practical implications for practitioners.
Trends in consultations and prescribing for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: an electronic primary care records study
Authors: Welsh Victoria K , Mason Kayleigh J , Bailey James , Bajpai Ram , Jordan Kelvin P , Mallen Christian D , Burton Claire
Published: May 2023

Background

Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are common and generally managed in primary care through supported self-care, physiotherapy, analgesia, and specialist referral where indicated. The COVID-19 pandemic led to abrupt changes in primary care delivery, including moves to remote consulting, pauses on group-based self-care, and restricted referrals.

Aim

To describe how patterns of UK primary healthcare consultations and analgesic prescribing relating to RMDs changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design and setting

Observational study using routinely collected national primary care electronic health record data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 1 April 2017 and 1 October 2021.

Method

RMD and analgesic SNOMED-CT codes were derived through consensus and published work. Prevalent and incident RMD-related consultations were determined, and RMD consultations matched to prevalent and incident analgesia prescriptions. Joinpoint regression was used to describe trends over time.

Results

Prevalent and incident RMD consultations steadily increased until March 2020 when a substantial drop occurred as pandemic- related restrictions were introduced; levels had not recovered to pre-pandemic highs by October 2021. While incident and prevalent analgesic prescribing also reduced around March 2020, the proportion of patients with an RMD consultation prescribed any analgesic increased from 27.72% in February 2020 to 38.15% in April 2020, with increases across all analgesic groups. A higher proportion of strong opioid prescriptions was seen in the most deprived areas.

Conclusion

Pandemic-associated restrictions led to fewer primary care consultations and relative increases in analgesic prescribing, including strong opioids, for RMDs in the UK. Policymakers must consider the impact of these changes in future healthcare resource planning.