bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the access to and use of digital technology by people in the criminal legal system: Empirical findings from Wales
Authors: Morgan Gemma , Walker Charlotte
Published: August 2024

Background
There is growing recognition of digital technology's role in supporting desistance and improving the well-being and social inclusion of people in the criminal legal system (CLS). However, it remains significantly under-researched within England and Wales despite its implications for prison and probation policy and practice. This article provides empirical insights into the access to and use of digital technology and the digital competency of 41 people with offending histories in Wales, UK. The study utilises and supports Reisdorf and Rikard’s (2018) digital rehabilitation model, which highlights the interconnectedness of the digital and social world and the need for CLS support to integrate digital competency skills and access to digital technology to help people desist from crime.
Results
The study revealed that people experience varying levels of digital exclusion, from not owning any digital hardware (smartphones, laptops, computers and tablets) to being unable to afford data for their devices and not having the digital competency to use digital technology effectively. We highlight the implications for people accessing support that can facilitate desistance and the need for training to improve digital skills.
Conclusion
Our findings further support Reisdorf and Rikard’s (2018) digital rehabilitation model. We argue that online and offline spaces are intertwined, and understanding and addressing the digital needs of people in the CLS is essential to prevent further marginalisation and support desistance and other positive outcomes.
Enantiomer-Selective Magnetoresistance in Chiral Gold Nanocrystals by Magnetic Control of Surface Potentials
Authors: Yan Binghai , Wu Fengxia , Wang Ying , Zhao Yufei , Tian Yu , Xie Zuoti , Niu Wenxin , Guo Cunlan
Published: August 2024

Chiral nanomaterials offer intriguing possibilities for novel electronic and chemical applications. Here, we report the discovery of an enantiomer-selective magnetoresistance effect in chiral gold nanocrystals. Based on precise control of nanocrystal chiral morphology using amino acid-directed synthesis, we demonstrate that an external magnetic field can dramatically modulate resistance in an enantiomer-specific manner. For a given enantiomer, a magnetic field in one direction alters the resistance by over an order of magnitude, while the opposite field direction leaves it unchanged. This asymmetric response reverses for the opposite enantiomer.
We attribute this phenomenon to a novel chirality-driven charge trapping mechanism, where the interplay between the chiral nanocrystal morphology and the magnetic field selectively modifies the surface potential. The magnitude and sign of the magnetoresistance can be further tuned by the surface chemistry of the nanocrystal, as demonstrated through sulfide treatment. Our findings reveal a new form of chirality-dependent magnetoresistance, distinct from previously known effects such as chirality-induced spin selectivity and electric magnetochiral anisotropy.
The ability to remotely control surface potentials of chiral nanostructures using magnetic fields could enable novel approaches in catalysis, drug delivery, and nanoelectronics.
Genetic Factor in the Risk of Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Liya
Published: August 2024

In this article, we use multistage models to simulate the data of surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) registry. The data are age-specific incidence rates of breast cancer of females in the United States. Our results indicate that the proportion of the mutation carriers of breast cancer genes is 16% and the proportion of the non-mutation carriers of breast cancer genes is 84%, and 2 gene mutations are most likely to occur in the development of the mutation carriers of breast cancer genes. In addition, the genetic components in the younger is higher than that in the older groups, which is in accordance with observations that the genetic effects are strongest in early-onset cancers.
AoZC9, a Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor, negatively regulates salt tolerance in Aspergillus oryzae by controlling fatty acid biosynthesis
Authors: Yu Wenbin , Zhao Zeying , Zhang Yufei , Tu Yayi , He Bin
Published: August 2024

Aspergillus oryzae, a key fermenting organism in soy sauce production, faces significant osmotic stress due to high environmental salt levels. This study identifies and functionally characterizes a novel Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor, AoZC9, which negatively regulates salt tolerance by controlling fatty acid biosynthesis. Overexpression of AoZC9 decreased growth rates in the presence of salt, while its knockdown enhanced growth, spore count, and biomass, particularly under conditions of 15% salt concentration, doubling these metrics compared to the wild-type. Furthermore, overexpression of AoZC9 led to the downregulation of the FAD2 gene, a key enzyme in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed the broad impact of AoZC9 on unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and key stress response pathways, emphasizing its regulatory role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the ABC transporters pathway, both integral to cellular osmotic balance and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. These findings offer valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of salt stress response and could inform improvements in industrial fermentation processes for Aspergillus oryzae.
Impact of Academic Role on Physical Activity, Health Locus of Control, and Health-Related Quality of Life
Authors: Feiler Kimberly , Thomas Anusha
Published: August 2024

This research investigated physical activity (PA), health locus of control, and health-related quality of life for adults working and/or enrolled at higher education institutions in California. Roles were full-time or part-time: student, faculty, or staff. One questionnaire combined four surveys, with added demographic questions. Over 65% of respondents reported high PA, 28% moderate, and 5% low. Part-time staff reported the greatest amount of high PA; full-time students showed the highest scores for health locus of control’s “God” scale; and, part-time faculty reported the highest scores for health-related quality of life’s general health. The college/university campus is a vital space for health education. Through improving understanding of how role impacts PA, health locus of control, and health related quality of life, health programs can be better designed for health behavior changes and improve health outcomes. This research was the first to look at differences among students, staff, and faculty.
Properties and Corrosion Resistance Mechanism of a Self-Healing Octadecyl amine Loaded Ethyl cellulose Microcapsule Coating Loaded with Epoxy Resin
Authors: Cao Qidong , Kang Shumei , Lu Chenshuo , Sun Dongpeng , Li Jinghao , Chen Hong , Li Xintong
Published: August 2024

The use of inhibitors in organic coatings is an effective method for protection against corrosion. However, most coatings cannot provide lasting protection to the matrix. In this paper, an intelligent self-healing epoxy coating (EC@ODA/EP) consisting of microcapsules coated with octadecyl amine (ODA) encapsulated by ethyl cellulose (EC) was designed. The corrosion resistance and self-healing properties of EC@ODA/EP were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The EIS results show that the impedance modulus of EC@ODA/EP is 3.7×104 Ω/cm2 at low frequency after 7 days of immersion, which is still higher than that of pure epoxy coating. EC@ODA microcapsules coatings can provide long-term corrosion protection for steel because microcapsules were breaked when damaged, releasing ODA and the multiple synergistic effects of metal matrix and epoxy resin give the coating excellent self-healing ability. The design of self-healing coating system with multiple synergistic effects will provide a new strategy for the preparation of efficient anti-corrosion coating.
Modeling and Control of Functional Electrical Stimulation Cycling Training System
Authors: Sun Mingxu , Cheng Fangyuan , Wang Tingting , Hu Chuan , Wang Sizhong , Li Xiangyang , Xu Yuan , Liu Min
Published: August 2024

As a rehabilitation technique, functional electrical stimulation cycling training system can improve patients' cardiopulmonary function, enhance muscle strength, and restore some motor function. However, for functional electrical stimulators, the pattern of electrical stimulation in cycling training is usually obtained by physiotherapist based on trial and error or clinical experience, Inability to maintain a training speed for an extended period of time. Therefore, this study proposed a kind of pedal-Hill modeling to establish an optimal stimulus mode with the maximum torque efficiency optimization objective. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, back propagation (BP) neural network algorithm and a composite algorithm of proportional integral differentiation (PID) control were used to construct an adaptive controller. We conducted experiments on six subjects to validate the system. First, the six subjects' own stimulation patterns were found separately according to the proposed modeling approach, and then each subject performed three sets of experiments for cycling without electrical stimulation, cycling with fixed pulse width, and cycling with adaptive adjustment of pulse width by the fabricated controller. In the traditional training mode, the cycling speed of the six subjects fluctuated greatly, in the FES-engaged mode, six subjects experienced longer sustained riding and more stable cycling training speeds. RMSE: fixed pulse width < adaptive adjustment of pulse width, AVE: traditional training mode > fixed pulse width >28 adaptive adjustment of pulse width, training time: traditional training mode < fixed pulse width < adaptive adjustment29 of pulse width, number of stops: traditional training mode > fixed pulse width > adaptive adjustment of pulse width. The results of the study showed that the adaptive pulse width control system of the fabricated controller allows subjects to train at a more stable speed compared to the no control and fixed control conditions.
Synergizing Handcrafted and Deep Features for Enhanced Face Presentation Attack Detection
Authors: Shekar B. H. , K Vannurswamy , Pilar Bharathi
Published: August 2024

This paper presents an integrated approach to enhance face presentation attack detection (PAD) by combining handcrafted Multi-level Local Binary Patterns (MLBP) and VGG16 deep learning features. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is employed to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space, ensuring an efficient detection process. MLBP captures intricate details and patterns crucial for distinguishing between genuine and forged facial presentations. By analyzing texture patterns at multiple scales and focusing on both local texture variations and global features, MLBP effectively identifies specific characteristics that are not easily discernible with global features alone. VGG16, a convolutional neural network with 16 layers, is renowned for its deep architecture, which extracts high-level hierarchical features from facial images. It captures complex and hierarchical representations of image data, effectively differentiating between subtle variations in facial images. The features are integrated and then processed using PCA to reduce dimensionality, enhancing overall efficiency. Extensive experimentation is done on various datasets, including CS-MAD Mobile, CASIA FASD, and NUAA, demonstrating the success of the proposed approach. We have also conducted a comparative analysis with state-of-the-art literature. The comparison results demonstrate that this integrated approach distinguishes between genuine and fraudulent facial presentations more effectively than well-known methods in the field.
Modeling Paths and History for Temporal Knowledge Graph Reasoning
Authors: Chen Yue , Huang Yongzhong
Published: August 2024

Knowledge Graph (KG) reasoning is a crucial task that discovers potential and unknown knowledge based on the existing knowledge. Temporal Knowledge Graph (TKG) reasoning is more challenging than KG reasoning because the additional temporal information needs to be handled. Previous TKG reasoning methods restrict the search space to avoid huge computational consumption, resulting in a decrease in accuracy. In order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of TKG reasoning, a model CMPH (Combination Model of Paths and History) is proposed, which consists of a path memory network and a history memory network. The former finds the paths in advance by a TKG path search algorithm and learns to memorize the recurrent pattern for reasoning, which prevents path search at inference stage. The latter adopts efficient encoder-decoder architecture to learn the features of historical events in TKG, which can avoid tackling a large number of structural dependencies and increase the reasoning accuracy. To take the advantages of these two types of memory networks, a gate component is designed to integrate them for better performance. Extensive experiments on four real-world datasets demonstrate that the proposed model obtains substantial performance and efficiency improvement for the TKG reasoning tasks. Especially, it achieves up to 8.6% and 11.8% improvements in MRR and hit@1 respectively, and up to 21 times speedup at inference stage comparing to the state-of-the-art baseline.
Innovative Approaches to Structural Health Monitoring: Ndt Applications in Critical Facilities
Authors: Bhirud Rushabh , Makwana Mahesh
Published: August 2024

With the rapid advancement of technology and the growing need for auditing, the concept of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and its application through Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) is experiencing significant demand. SHM has become essential, offering a range of techniques for evaluating and preserving the integrity of structures. This project investigates the synergy between NDT and SHM, where innovation and precision work together to meet the critical needs of assessing, safeguarding, and extending the lifespan of vital infrastructure. The primary goal of this project is to explore and implement various NDT methodologies within the context of SHM for a rural hospital and an industrial institute, providing practical insights through real-world applications. Applying NDT techniques to these structures not only enhances development but also increases sustainability and facilitates necessary structural improvements. This research paper provides valuable insights for professionals and individuals involved in preserving the structural integrity of built environments. This includes engineers who design structures, researchers who study construction methods and materials, and stakeholders interested in ensuring the stability and safety of these structures.
Impact of Spanish gambling regulations on online gambling behavior and marketing strategies
Authors: Aonso-Diego Gema , García-Pérez Ángel , Krotter Andrea
Published: August 2024

Background. A large body of research has pointed out that advertising has an impact on gambling behavior. However, little is known about how gambling marketing regulations impact online gambling behavior and marketing expenditure. Recently, a Spanish law -the Royal Decree 958/2020- came into force, which, in general terms, limits the marketing of gambling products. The current study aimed to examine the effect of the Spanish Royal Decree 958/2020 on gambling behavior (i.e., new accounts, active accounts, deposits, and total money bet) and marketing expenditure (i.e., advertising, bonuses, affiliation, and sponsorship) based on data from the Directorate General for Regulation of Gambling. Methods. We used Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models to examine the impact of the implementation of Royal Decree 958/2020 on both online gambling behavior and marketing expenditure.
Results. The entry into force of the Spanish Royal Decree led to a permanent decrease in gambling behavior, in particular new accounts (-326k; p = .006) and total money bet (-€232M; p= .016). Additionally, regulatory measures had an impact on marketing strategies, specifically, reducing money earmarked for advertising (-€20M; p< .001), bonus (-€2.6M; p < .001) and sponsorship (-€5.3M; p< .001).
Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that regulatory measures aimed at limiting gambling advertising, bonuses, and sponsorships have an impact on new accounts and total money gambled. This study can serve as a model for other countries where gambling advertisements have not yet been regulated.
Longitudinal changes in brain asymmetry track lifestyle and disease
Authors: Bzdok Danilo , Saltoun Karin , Yeo B.T. Thomas , Paul Lynn , Diedrichsen Jörn
Published: August 2024

Human beings may have evolved the largest asymmetries of brain organization in the animal kingdom. Hemispheric left-vs-right specialization is especially pronounced in our species-unique capacities. Yet, brain asymmetry features appear to be strongly shaped by non-genetic influences. We hence charted the largest longitudinal brain-imaging adult resource, yielding evidence that brain asymmetry changes continuously in a manner suggestive of neural plasticity. In the UK Biobank population cohort, we demonstrate that asymmetry changes show robust associations across 959 distinct phenotypic variables spanning 11 categories. We also find that changes in brain asymmetry over years co-occur with changes among specific lifestyle markers. Finally, we reveal relevance of brain asymmetry changes to major disease categories across thousands of medical diagnoses. Our results challenge the tacit assumption that asymmetrical neural systems are highly conserved throughout adulthood.
Future runoff increase may destabilize Petermann ice shelf
Authors: Prakash Abhay , Zhou Qin , Hattermann Tore , Kirchner Nina
Published: August 2024

Increased basal melting of the Petermann Glacier Ice Shelf (PGIS) is typically attributed to rising ocean temperatures. Although subglacial discharge (Qsg) has been shown to intensify melt, the mechanisms behind this increase and their evolution with increasing Qsg in a warmer climate remain unresolved. Using a 3-D numerical regional ice shelf-ocean model centered on the Petermann Fjord, we show that heightened Qsg under the RCP 8.5 scenario leads to more than threefold increase in summer mean melt when averaged over the deeper (>300 m) drafts compared to conditions without Qsg. Notably, we identify a regime change in heat flux efficiency within the PGIS cavity when Qsg exceeds the current peak summer value. Here, thermal driving saturates, and Qsg-intensified currents increase melt by enhancing shear-driven turbulent mixing across the PGIS-ocean boundary layer. Increases in melt are most profound at the crests of the basal channels, where vigorous meltwater confluence exacerbates friction velocity. We estimate that sustained intensified summer melting over a decade may completely erode the channels, undermining the stability of PGIS. Considering the impact of the channelized basal morphology of PGIS on the spatial heterogeneity of melt, and projected increases in Qsg, we posit that our results have wider implications for similar 'warm cavity' environments.
A tunable and reversible thermo-inducible bio-switch for streptomycetes
Authors: Niu Guoqing , Lv Lanxin , Fu Yudie , Liu Shuo , Zhang Yuxin , Wang Meiyan , Lu Yin
Published: August 2024

Programmable control of bacterial gene expression is of great interest for both applied and academic research. This is particularly true for Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Streptomyces, major producers of prodigious natural products. Despite a few inducible regulatory systems have been developed for use in Streptomyces, there is an increasing pursuit to augment the toolkit of high-performance induction systems. We herein report a robust and reversible thermo-inducible bio-switch, referred to as StrepT-switch. The bio-switch enables tunable and bidirectional control of gene expression with temperature as stimulation input. StrepT-switch has been proved successful for highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering, as well as programmable control of antibiotic production and morphology differentiation. The versatility of the device has also been exemplified by thermal induction of a site-specific relaxase ZouA-mediated DNA amplification for overproduction of actinorhodin, a blue pigmented polyketide antibiotic. This study demonstrates the exploration a temperature-sensing module and exemplifies its versatility for programmable control of various target genes in Streptomyces species.
Neoadjuvant cabozantinib restores CD8 T cells in patients with locally advanced non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a phase 2 trial
Authors: Kissick Haydn , Bilen Mehmet , Vo BaoHan , Liu Yuan , Greenwald Rachel , Davarpanahfakhr Amir , McGuire Donal , Shiradkar Rakesh , Li Liping , Nazha Bassel , Brown Jacqueline , Williams Sierra , Session Wilena , Russler Greta , Caulfield Sarah , Joshi Shreyas , Narayan Vikram , Filson Christopher , Ogan Kenneth , Kucuk Omer , Carthon Bradley , Balzo Luke del , Cohen Athena , Boyanton Adriana , Prokhnevska Nataliya , Cardenas Maria , Sobierajska Ewelina , Jansen Caroline , Patil Dattatraya , Edouard Nicaise , Osunkoya Adeboye , Master Viraj
Published: August 2024

Cabozantinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor approved for treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We hypothesized that neoadjuvant cabozantinib could downstage localized tumors, facilitating partial nephrectomy, and facilitating surgery in patients with locally advanced tumors that would require significant adjacent organ resection. We, therefore, conducted a phase 2, single-arm trial of cabozantinib treatment for 12 weeks in 17 patients with locally advanced biopsy-proven non-metastatic clear cell RCC before surgical resection. Six patients (35%) experienced a partial response, and 11 patients (65%) had stable disease. We identified that plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA), VEGF, c-MET, Gas6, and AXL were significantly increased while VEGFR2 decreased during cabozantinib treatments. There was a trend towards CD8+ T cells becoming activated in the blood, expressing the proliferation marker Ki67 and activation markers HLA-DR and CD38. Cabozantinib treatment depleted myeloid populations acutely. Importantly, immune niches made up of the stem-like CD8+ T cells and antigen presenting cells were increased in every patient. These data suggest that cabozantinib treatment was clinically active and safe in the neoadjuvant setting in patients with locally advanced non-metastatic clear cell RCC and activated the anti-tumor CD8+ T cell response. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT04022343.
Applied Design of Optimal PID-with-Feedforward Control Using Two-Parameter Behavior Models
Authors: Smith George
Published: August 2024

This paper proposes a two-parameter method for adjusting and tuning control systems in order to explore trade-offs in light of real-world objectives and constraints; the user-friendly mechanism draws parallels between robot and human behavior easily understood at an intuitive level. Firstly, the general behavior model enables a designer to adjust weightings in a cost function using two behavior traits, potentially to create 3D plots that illustrate trade-offs. Secondly, the specific behavior model allows someone to explore trade-offs or tune the control gains in real time, for a specific situation or for personal preference, again using only two intuitive behavior traits. Both methods also facilitate a simple strategy of just choosing between a few distinctive behavior types. Moreover, the framework provides a possible model for understanding how some behavior qualities might arise due to the natural constraint of feedback in systems, with implications for programming relatable behaviors into robots. A nonlinear optimal quadratic tracking design for the PID-with-feedforward control of a robot link demonstrates the practical design methodology.
Assessment of the PhysicochemicalProperties of Water in Tin Mining Ponds on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria: Prospect for Municipal Clean Water Supply
Authors: Zitta Solomon Wuyep
Published: August 2024

The global problem in water resources management is finding new and reliable sources of water. The utility of water is limited by its quality and accessibility,which makes it suitable or unsuitable for a variety of uses. Assessment of water quality is therefore an important aspect of water resource evaluation. Various analytical procedures were used to analyze the appearance, taste, E-productivity, temperature, turbidity, color, odor, pH, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na) chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), nitrate (NO2), microbial, cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr) and arsenic (Ar) contents, which were all measured during the dry season. The results were compared with water quality standards established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Based on these findings, the appearance, color, taste, odor, electrical conductivity, turbidity, iron (Fe), lead (Pb), arsenic (Ar), total coliform and E. coli concentrations are above the WHO and NESREA limits. The utilization of mining ponds for a sustainable water supply offers benefits, including increased water security, minimized environmental impact and reduced water costs. It is recommended that mining ponds undergo proper treatment and further purification before being utilized for domestic purposes.
Intraclass Level Differentiation as a Model for Organizing the Educational Process in an Inclusive Classroom
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Zvoleyko Elena V.
Published: August 2024

A form of convergence between general and special education systems is the creation of inclusive classes, which consists of two categories of schoolchildren ‒ normally developing and schoolchildren with disabilities. Normally developing schoolchildren have different levels of development ‒ from very high to very low and therefore cannot master the educational program at the same level. Schoolchildren with disabilities experience significant difficulties in mastering general education programs. Since the inclusive class is characterized by heterogeneity of composition, the teacher is faced with the problem of teaching students taking into account the existing unequal opportunities. The relevance of the article is due to the need to highlight pedagogical technology, which can be taken as the basis for modeling the educational process in an inclusive classroom. The article is a scientific review on the problem of differentiated learning and has the goal of substantiating and identifying the leading pedagogical technology applicable in the work of a teacher in an inclusive classroom. The method of analysis of normative documents regulating primary general and special education, the method of analysis of educational and methodological materials in the field of differentiation of education, inclusive schools, comparative analysis of texts, the method of generalization and systematization of teaching experience are used by the author. The article substantiates and defines the leading pedagogical technology applicable in an inclusive classroom ‒ the technology of intraclass level differentiation, and describes the general plan for organizing the work of a teacher to introduce this technology into the educational process. A diagnostic complex is presented that makes it possible to solve the problem of selecting students into groups that have individual typological differences in the performance of educational activities, with the aim of their intraclass differentiation. According to N. F. Kruglova, reliable criteria for differentiating schoolchildren in an inclusive class are the individual characteristics of the formation and functioning of the processes of conscious voluntary regulation of activity, as well as the quality and level of formation of cognitive processes. Prospects for further research are related to the development of methodological aspects of organizing the work of an inclusive class teacher in conditions of intraclass level differentiation.
Some Aspects of Reforming Higher Education in China in Modern Realities
Authors:   Institute of International Education, Qiqihar University, Liu Xiaowen Liu Xiaowen
Published: August 2024

Education is the basis of national prosperity. In China, it is developing rapidly and is challenging the entire educational field and its main actors: academic teachers, teachers. In China’s educational system, along with huge successes, there are contradictory changes. The purpose of this article, based on scientific sources, is to give an overview of modern educational concepts, and to outline the features of reforming Chinese education in the current period. The article presents an overview of the concepts of scientists Li Jiahou, Yang Suyannan, Fu Langming in the field of education and personality development of students and shows how they are reflected in modern educational practice. In Li Jiahou’s concept, the idea was to create a micro-class, in which it would be possible to teach students individually, using modern equipment; in the theory of Yang Suyannan- in creating conditions for the development of students in various aspects, such as intellectual, emotional, physical and social, the concept of Professor Fu Langming is to independently study at home through online classes, and consolidate the studied material in the classroom. During the outbreak of the COVID 19 virus, similar problems arose in the Russian and Chinese education systems on how to effectively build online learning. In this regard, the Russian higher education system is interested in the experience of foreign practice, such as, for example, STEAM training (a practice-oriented approach to building the content of education and organizing the educational process), one of the tasks of which is to create open courses focused, in addition to subjects of natural sciences, on the study of the humanities, in order to expand the system and structure of students’ knowledge. As conclusions, the author identifies the main directions of reforming education in China, namely: the internationalization of education, the purpose of which is the development of international relations and academic exchange with allied countries, regionalization, specific examples are given on the basis of Qiqihar University, Hailujiang Province, where the author of the article works, and widespread adoption of online learning.
World Animal Health Problems
Authors: Cockrill W. Ross
Published: August 2024

In recent years a number of countries, among them Britain, Sweden and the United States of America, have made serious attempts to assess disease in terms of understandable economic figures. Often-quoted statements are made to the effect that internal parasitism in livestock costs the U.S. 400 million dollars annually; or that, if we could reduce the incidence of disease by 50 percent we would increase the output of animal protein by 25 percent; or that losses caused by disease in developing countries may range between 30 and 40 percent of total livestock production.
The true cost of disease in hard cash terms is incalculable; Every country in the world loses incredible amount of money through disease losses in domestic livestock.
Bovine Practitioner Vol. 34, No. 1 (2000 January). Front matter
Authors: Bovine Practitioners American Association of
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
Bovine Practitioner Vol. 38, No. 2 (2004 June). Front matter
Authors: American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
Bovine Practitioner Vol. 39, No. 2 (2005 June). Front matter
Authors: American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
Bovine Practitioner No.13 (1978 November). Front matter
Authors: American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
First report of Acanthamoeba spp. isolation in a recreational hot spring in the Philippines
Authors: Parado Wilfredo , Quito Ynna Cialina , Mondelo Kirk Nathaniel , Nicdao Elynn Joshua Ali , Ortiz Rochelle , Perez Jad Carlos , Reyes Aella Frances , Arada Miguel Carlos , Padua Mark F. F. E. , Milanez Giovanni De Jesus , Karanis Panagiotis
Published: August 2024

Natural hot springs are ideal places and environmental matrices that offer relaxation to people and microorganisms of different types. A total of 40 surface water samples were collected from the five identified collection sites, eight water samples for each site. Collection sites are designated 200 m apart to cover the entire study site. Surface water samples were collected approximately 10–20 cm from the surface. Water samples were filtered, cultured, and microscopically observed for 14 days. After 14 days of cultivation, eight (20%) water samples revealed cystic and trophozoite stages. Polymerase chain reaction using JDP1 and JDP2 specific primers confirmed the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. from two of our isolates in the hot spring, isolates 1.1 and 5.1. Further sequencing revealed that the isolates are Acanthamoeba T20 and Acanthamoeba genotype T7. Sequences were deposited to GenBank and were assigned accession numbers PP741726 and PP741727, respectively. The isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. in hot springs has significant health implications, especially for those who use it for recreational activity. Private resort owners are highly encouraged to regularly monitor and maintain hot spring resorts to avoid future infections.
The Regulatory Effect of Vitamin D on Pancreatic Beta Cell Secretion
in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: He Lian-Ping , Li Cui-Ping , Liu Chang-Wei , Gu Wei
Published: August 2024

Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D is one of the causes of accelerated
development of Insulin Resistance (IR) and islet cell secret dysfunction. Numerous
studies have shown that vitamin D can reduce inflammation, activate the transcription of
the insulin receptors and related genes, and increase insulin-mediated glucose transport,
thereby reducing IR. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms related to vitamin
D deficiency and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).
The Development History, Structural Composition, and Functions of Influenza Viruses and the Progress of Influenza Virus Inhibitors in Clinics and Clinical Trials
Authors: Yong Jianping , Lu Shaoji , Lu Canzhong , Huang Ruiwen
Published: August 2024

Flu is an acute respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. The influenza viruses are
classified as Alphainfluenzavirus (influenza A virus, IAV), Betainfluenzavirus (influenza B virus,
IBV), Gammainfluenzavirus (influenza C virus, ICV), and Deltainfluenzavirus (influenza D virus,
IDV) according to the antigenicity of nucleoproteins (NPs) and matrix (M) proteins in vivo. It is estimated
that the seasonal influenza epidemics will cause about 3-5 million cases of serious illness
and 290,000-650,000 deaths in the world every year, while influenza A virus is the leading cause of
infection and death. Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the most critical targets for the development of
anti-influenza virus drugs, and the main drugs clinically applied for the treatment of flu are neuraminidase
inhibitors. However, various mutant strains have developed resistance to these inhibitors
(For example, the substrains of H274Y in H1N1, H5N1, and E119V in H3N2 have developed resistance
to Oseltamivir). Influenza viruses mutate frequently, and new substrains emerge constantly,
and the pandemics caused by the new substrains will break out at any time. Therefore, it is urgent to
develop new and wide-spectrum influenza virus inhibitors for overcoming the emerging influenza
pandemic. Here, we focus on describing the progress of influenza virus inhibitors in clinics and clinical
trials to provide a comprehensive reference for the researchers.
Mood Disorder Questionnaire Positivity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Chronic Diseases including Screen Bipolar Disorders or Rhythm and Energy Dysregulation Syndromes (DYMERS)
Authors: Primavera Diego , Fornaro Michele , Carrà Giuseppe , Romano Ferdinando , Aviles Gonzales Cesar Ivan , Preti Antonio , Sancassiani Federica , Cossu Giulia , Nardi Antonio Egidio , Scano Alessandra , Orrù Germano , Chessa Elisabetta , Floris Alberto , Piga Matteo , Cauli Alberto , Carta Mauro Giovanni
Published: August 2024

Introduction

This study explores the issue of paper-and-pencil screening tests for bipolar disorder, often leading to false positives. It discusses hypotheses that connect MDQ positivity with sleep disorders, a decline in health-related quality of life, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mood disorders. The study proposes that MDQ identifies a “Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome” (DYMERS), indicating a stress-related condition. It aims to investigate the association between MDQ positivity and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in comparison to other chronic disorders.

Methods

This case-control study, conducted from April 2019 to February 2020, investigated MDQ positivity in patients with SLE. Ethical approvals were obtained, and statistical analysis was used for data assessment.

Results

This is a case-controlled study where MDQ positivity was significantly higher in systemic lupus erythematosus cases than controls. The analysis compared gender, age, and the presence of depressive episodes between MDQ-positive and MDQ-negative cases, revealing some differences but no significant variations. Interestingly, no association with high prednisone or biologics use was observed. The frequency of MDQ positivity in systemic lupus erythematosus was compared to other chronic pathologies, revealing varying associations with each condition.

Conclusion

This study reveals a high rate of (MDQ) positivity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), associated with the risk of bipolar disorder in SLE. Notable discrepancies in MDQ positivity risk factors between SLE and bipolar disorder are observed. The study emphasizes the ability of MDQ to identify a distinct syndrome characterized by rhythm dysregulation, posing a risk for bipolar disorder and other disorders.
Probabilistic Modeling of Cyber-Physical Microgrid Systems to Evaluate the Reliability and Resiliency Implications of Cyber Attacks
Authors: Karki Rajesh , Adhikari Binamra
Published: August 2024

The integration of cyber and physical layer of the grid has not only introduced a microscopic spectacle to observe and ensure the efficient flow of electricity but has also exposed the interdependencies of the network. These cyber-physical interdependencies are often exploited in the form of cyber-attacks that can disable a grid introducing substantial financial losses and observable social repercussions. Thus, it is important to address the impending Achilles heel by devising pragmatic approaches to comprehensibly upgrade the grid preventing huge financial and societal repercussions. In this regard, this paper proposes important methodologies in assessing the resiliency of a smart microgrid enabled distribution system in case of a cyber-attack and also steers discussion towards mitigation strategies and their influence in increasing the reliability and resiliency of the system. While doing so, it also aims to clarify the different principles of reliability and resiliency assessment. The paper describes an efficient bad-data detection strategy and its necessity in improving the reliability and resiliency of the system. The paper finds that a precipitous drop in reliability and resiliency is observed which can be effectively mitigated by the deployment of bad-data detection strategies and proposes efficient resiliency assessment methodologies to conduct similar studies.
Assessment of Eye Care Apps for Children and Adolescents Based on the Mobile App Rating Scale: Content Analysis and Quality Assessment
Authors: Liu Ming , Wu Xiaoqian , Li Ziyu , Tan Dongmei , Huang Cheng
Published: August 2024

Background

In China, the current situation of myopia among children and adolescents is very serious. Prevention and control of myopia are inhibited by the lack of medical resources and the low awareness about eye care. Nevertheless, mobile apps provide an effective means to solve these problems. Since the health app market in China is still immature, it has become particularly important to conduct a study to assess the quality of eye-care apps to facilitate the development of better eye-care service strategies.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the quality, functionality, medical evidence, and professional background of eye-care apps targeting children and adolescents in the Chinese app stores.

Methods

A systematic search on iOS and Android app stores was performed to identify eye-care apps for children and adolescents. The general characteristics, development context, and functional features of the apps were described. Quality assessment of the apps was completed by 2 independent researchers using the Mobile App Rating Scale.

Results

This study included 29 apps, of which 17 (59%) were developed by commercial organizations and 12 (41%) had a design with relevant scientific basis. The main built-in functions of these apps include self-testing (18/29, 62%), eye exercises (16/29, 55%), and eye-care education (16/29, 55%). The mean overall quality of eye-care apps was 3.49 (SD 0.33), with a score ranging from 2.89 to 4.39. The overall Mobile App Rating Scale score exhibited a significant positive correlation with the subscale scores (r=0.81-0.91; P<.001). In addition, although most apps provided basic eye-care features, there are some deficiencies. For example, only a few apps were developed with the participation of medical organizations or professional ophthalmologists, and most of the apps were updated infrequently, failing to provide the latest eye-care information and technology in a timely manner.

Conclusions

In general, the quality of eye-care apps for children and teenagers in Chinese app stores is good. These apps fulfill users’ needs for eye-care services to a certain extent, but they still suffer from insufficient medical background, low user engagement, and untimely updates. In order to further improve the effectiveness of eye-care apps, cooperation with medical institutions and professional ophthalmologists should be strengthened to enhance the scientific and authoritative nature of the apps. At the same time, interactive features and regular updates should be added to enhance user participation and the continuity of the apps. This study provides a reference for future development or improvement of eye-care apps, which can help promote myopia prevention and control.
Racial Composition of Social Environments Over the Life Course Using the Pictorial Racial Composition Measure: Development and Validation Study
Authors: Bather Jemar R , Kaphingst Kimberly A , Goodman Melody S
Published: August 2024

Background

Studies investigating the impact of racial segregation on health have reported mixed findings and tended to focus on the racial composition of neighborhoods. These studies use varying racial composition measures, such as census data or investigator-adapted questions, which are currently limited to assessing one dimension of neighborhood racial composition.

Objective

This study aims to develop and validate a novel racial segregation measure, the Pictorial Racial Composition Measure (PRCM).

Methods

The PRCM is a 10-item questionnaire of pictures representing social environments across adolescence and adulthood: neighborhoods and blocks (adolescent and current), schools and classrooms (junior high and high school), workplace, and place of worship. Cognitive interviews (n=13) and surveys (N=549) were administered to medically underserved patients at a primary care clinic at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Development of the PRCM occurred across pilot and main phases. For each social environment and survey phase (pilot and main), we computed positive versus negative pairwise comparisons: mostly Black versus all other categories, half Black versus all other categories, and mostly White versus all other categories. We calculated the following validity metrics for each pairwise comparison: sensitivity, specificity, correct classification rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, false positive rate, and false negative rate.

Results

For each social environment, the mostly Black and mostly White dichotomizations generated better validity metrics relative to the half Black dichotomization. Across all 10 social environments in the pilot and main phases, mostly Black and mostly White dichotomizations exhibited a moderate-to-high sensitivity, specificity, correct classification rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The positive likelihood ratio values were >1, and the negative likelihood ratio values were close to 0. The false positive and negative rates were low to moderate.

Conclusions

These findings support that using either the mostly Black versus other categories or the mostly White versus other categories dichotomizations may provide accurate and reliable measures of racial composition across the 10 social environments. The PRCM can serve as a uniform measure across disciplines, capture multiple social environments over the life course, and be administered during one study visit. The PRCM also provides an added window into understanding how structural racism has impacted minoritized communities and may inform equitable intervention and prevention efforts to improve lives.