bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The implementation of a new measles vaccine mandate in Germany: A qualitative study in local health departments
Authors: Werdin Sophia , Neufeind Julia
Published: June 2024

Background

Measles is a highly contagious disease with the potential for severe complications. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, there have been recurrent measles outbreaks in Germany over the past decades. In response, a new measles vaccine mandate was introduced on March 1, 2020, aimed at closing vaccination gaps in high-risk populations. This study evaluates the mandate’s implementation, identifies operational challenges, assesses the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and investigates expert attitudes towards the new policy.

Methods

Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with staff members of 16 different local health departments in Germany. The interviews, carried out in April and May 2021, were electronically recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the Framework method.

Results

The implementation of the measles vaccine mandate in local health departments varied substantially. Challenges in implementing the mandate primarily arose from uncertainties regarding procedural specifics, such as handling fraudulent medical certificates and imposing sanctions, leading to a call from many interviewees for uniform guidelines to ensure coherent implementation. At the time the measles vaccine mandate came into force, managing the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic was a priority in most local health departments, often delaying the implementation of the mandate. Despite the difficulties encountered, most experts considered the mandate to be an effective step towards measles elimination.

Conclusions

The measles vaccine mandate has imposed a new responsibility on staff in German local health departments, which is associated with implementation challenges such as procedural uncertainties and vaccine hesitancy, but also the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a contextual impediment. Significant differences in the implementation approach underscore the need for harmonization to enhance implementation efficiency and public acceptance of the mandate. Despite the mandate’s potential to increase vaccination rates, our findings advocate for a comprehensive approach, incorporating public education, accessible vaccination, and measures to address social disparities.
Enhancement of transcription efficiency by TAR-Tat system increases the functional expression of human olfactory receptors
Authors: Ojiro Ichie , Katsuyama Hibiki , Kaneko Ryusei , Ogasawara Satoshi , Murata Takeshi , Terada Yuko , Ito Keisuke
Published: June 2024

Humans have approximately 400 different olfactory receptors (hORs) and recognize odorants through the repertoire of hOR responses. Although the cell surface expression of hORs is critical to evaluate their response, hORs are poorly expressed on the surface of heterologous cells. To address this problem, previous studies have focused on hOR transportation to the membrane. Nevertheless, the response pattern of hORs to odorants has yet to be successfully linked, and the response sensitivity still remains to be improved. In this study, we demonstrate that increasing the transcriptional level can result in a significant increase in cell surface and functional expression of hORs. We used the TAR-Tat system, which increases the transcription efficiency through positive feedback, and found that OR1A1, OR6N2, and OR51M1 exhibited robust expression. Moreover, this system induces enhanced hOR responses to odorants, thus defining four hORs as novel n-hexanal receptors and n-hexanal is an inverse agonist to one of them. Our results suggested that using the TAR-Tat system and increasing the transcriptional level of hORs can help understanding the relationship between hORs and odorants that were previously undetectable. This finding could facilitate the understanding of the sense of smell by decoding the repertoire of hOR responses.
Screening outcome of HPV-vaccinated women: Data from the Danish Trial23 cohort study
Authors: Nonboe Mette Hartmann , Napolitano George Maria , Kann Caroline , Andersen Berit , Bennetsen Mary Holten , Christiansen Sanne , Frandsen Anna Poulsgaard , Rygaard Carsten , Salmani Rouzbeh , Schroll Jeppe Bennekou , Lynge Elsebeth
Published: June 2024

Background

Danish women—who were HPV-vaccinated as girls—are now reaching an age where they are invited to cervical cancer screening. Because of their expected lower cervical cancer risk, we must reassess our screening strategies. We analyzed Danish HPV-vaccinated women’s outcomes after the first screening test at age 23.

Methods and findings

Our study was embedded in Danish routine cytology-based screening. We conducted an observational study and included women born in 1994, offered the 4-valent HPV vaccine at age 14, and subsequently invited to screening at age 23. Cervical cytology was used for diagnostics and clinical management. Residual material was HPV tested with Cobas® 4800/6800. The most severe histology diagnosis within 795 days of screening was found through linkage with the Danish National Pathology Register. We calculated the number of women undergoing follow-up (repeated testing and/or colposcopy) per detected cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+). A total of 6021 women were screened; 92% were HPV-vaccinated; 12% had abnormal cytology; 35% were high-risk HPV-positive, including 0.9% HPV16/18 positive, and 20% had follow-up. In women that were cytology-abnormal and HPV-positive (Cyt+/HPV+), 610 (98.5%) had been followed up, and 138 CIN2+ cases were diagnosed, resulting in 4.4 (95% CI 3.9–5.2) women undergoing follow-up per detected CIN2+. In contrast to recommendations, 182 (12.2%) cytology-normal and HPV-positive (Cyt-/HPV+) women were followed up within 795 days, and 8 CIN2+ cases were found, resulting in 22.8 (95% CI 13.3–59.3) women undergoing follow-up per detected CIN2+.

Conclusion

Overall, HPV prevalence was high in HPV-vaccinated women, but HPV16/18 had largely disappeared. In the large group of cytology-normal and HPV-positive women, 23 had been followed up per detected CIN2+ case. Our data indicated that primary HPV screening of young HPV-vaccinated women would require very effective triage methods to avoid an excessive follow-up burden.

Trial registration

Trial registration number: NCT0304955.
Visceral leishmaniasis follow-up and treatment outcomes in Tiaty East and West sub-counties, Kenya: Cure, relapse, and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis
Authors: Kennedy Grace C. , O’Brien Katherine , Nyakundi Hellen , Kitondo Mwatela , Biwott Wilson , Wamai Richard G.
Published: June 2024

Background

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) with the highest regional burden in East Africa. Relapse and Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) contribute to the spread of VL in endemic areas, making their surveillance imperative for control and elimination. Little is known about long-term patient outcomes in Kenya through follow-up after VL treatment, despite its requirement for control and elimination by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Kenya Ministry of Health (KMOH).

Methodology/Principal findings

36 follow-up patients in Tiaty East and West, sub-counties, Kenya, and records from 248 patients at the regional Chemolingot Sub-county Hospital (CSCH) were analyzed separately using Fisher’s Exact Tests, two-sample t-tests, and Welch’s t-tests in R (Version 4.3.0). The study found a prevalence rate of 88.89% (n = 32) final cure, 5.56% (n = 2) relapse, and 5.56% (n = 2) PKDL in follow-up patients and 92.74% (n = 230) initial cure, 6.86% (n = 17) relapse, and 0.80% (n = 2) PKDL in overall CSCH patients. The mean lengths of time at which follow-up patients relapsed and developed PKDL were 4.5 and 17 months, respectively. Young age (p = 0.04, 95% CI 0.63–24.31), shorter length of time from initial treatment to follow-up (p = 0.002, 95% CI 1.03-∞), lower Hb level at primary treatment (p = 0.0002, 95% CI 1.23–3.24), and living in Tiaty East sub-county (p = 0.04, 95% CI 0.00–1.43) were significantly associated (p<0.05) with VL relapse in follow-up study patients. Female sex (p = 0.04, 95% CI 0.84-∞) and living in Tiaty East sub-county (p = 0.03, 95% CI 0.00–1.43) were significantly associated with PKDL in follow-up study patients.

Conclusions/Significance

More research should be done on PKDL in Kenya with active follow-up to understand its true burden. These results on prevalence and risk factors for PKDL and relapse in Kenya should inform knowledge of patient outcomes and interventions in the region.
dtool and dserver: A flexible ecosystem for findable data
Authors: Hörmann Johannes L. , Yanes Luis , Vazhappilly Ashwin , Sanner Antoine , Holey Hannes , Pastewka Lars , Hartley Matthew , Olsson Tjelvar S. G.
Published: June 2024

Making data FAIR—findable, accessible, interoperable, reproducible—has become the recurring theme behind many research data management efforts. dtool is a lightweight data management tool that packages metadata with immutable data to promote accessibility, interoperability, and reproducibility. Each dataset is self-contained and does not require metadata to be stored in a centralised system. This decentralised approach means that finding datasets can be difficult. dtool’s lookup server, short dserver, as defined by a REST API, makes dtool datasets findable, hence rendering the dtool ecosystem fit for a FAIR data management world. Its simplicity, modularity, accessibility and standardisation via API distinguish dtool and dserver from other solutions and enable it to serve as a common denominator for cross-disciplinary research data management. The dtool ecosystem bridges the gap between standardisation-free data management by individuals and FAIR platform solutions with rigid metadata requirements.
Congenital syphilis, syphilis in pregnancy and prenatal care in Brazil: An ecological study
Authors: Costa Izabelle Bezerra , Pimenta Isac Davidson Santiago Fernandes , Aiquoc Kezauyn Miranda , Oliveira Ângelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa
Published: June 2024

The aim of this research was to evaluate the incidence of congenital syphilis and the ratio between congenital syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women in Brazil according to socioeconomic indicators (inadequate water supply and sanitation; illiteracy at 15 years of age or older; household income per capita; proportion of poor people; Gini index; human development index; and average health expenditure per inhabitant by the health system) and prenatal quality-of-care indicators. We conducted an ecological study using a sample composed of 257 municipalities, each with ≥ 100,000 inhabitants. Data was collected from four public databases: the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, comprising socioeconomical data from the 2010 census; and the data of 2019 available in the databases of the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Health System, Information and Management of Primary Care, and the Electronic Citizen Information System. Descriptive analysis of dependent and independent variables and bivariate analysis by Negative Binomial regression were carried out. The mean incidence of congenital syphilis was 38% higher in municipalities with a Human Development Index up to 0.785 (ratio of means [RM] = 1.38; p = 0.049) and 57% higher among populations where less than 50% of primary healthcare services provided a rapid test for syphilis (RM = 1.57; p < 0.001). The ratio between congenital syphilis and syphilis in pregnant women was 29% higher in municipalities with a low household income per capita (RM = 1.29; p < 0.001) and 28% higher in locations where less than 50% of the primary healthcare services provided a rapid test for syphilis (RM = 1.28; p < 0.001). There was no statistical significance of the quality of prenatal care compared to the outcomes. This result underscores the challenges in detecting syphilis infections among pregnant women during prenatal care, consequently increasing the risk of vertical transmission of the disease to the fetus. Traits of inequality in the occurrence of congenital syphilis also draw attention to strategies to reduce health inequities and improve prenatal care.
How mixed ownership affects investment efficiency? evidence from state-owned enterprises in China
Authors: Huo Xiaoping , Zhao Yunpei , Dong Zhihao
Published: June 2024

The inefficiency observed in investment within state-owned enterprises presents a significant practical challenge that can affect the sustainable development of China’s economy. To address this issue, this study comprehensively explores the intricate mechanisms underlying the governance implications of mixed ownership on the investment efficiency of listed companies. Drawing on unbalanced panel data encompassing Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange A-share listed companies in China spanning the period from 2008 to 2022, this study employs a fixed-effects model to unveil the nuanced ways in which mixed ownership influences investment efficiency through the lens of agency costs. This study transcends the boundaries of traditional agency conflicts between managers and shareholders. It delves deeper, illuminating the diverse effects of agency conflicts between significant controlling shareholders and minority shareholders. The results revealed a noteworthy positive correlation between mixed ownership and investment efficiency, and verified the intermediary role of agency costs between mixed ownership and investment efficiency, which is an important result of our research. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the relationship between the two can be affected by external events, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, investment efficiency is not the most concerned issue for enterprises. The findings have practical implications for practitioners and policymakers, as they offer avenues for optimizing investment strategies and fostering efficient and effective corporate governance practices.
¿Puede engañarnos una IA? Carencias del estudiantado universitario para detectar ChatGPT
Authors: González-Geraldo José L. , Ortega-López Leticia
Published: June 2024

La evolución que ha sufrido en los últimos meses la inteligencia artificial (IA), especialmente en la capacidad de generar textos de alta calidad argumentativa ha supuesto un hecho disruptivo en ámbitos académicos y en espacios de educación superior. Uno de los mayores retos actuales y futuros a los que nos enfrentamos reside en la dificultad de identificar aquellos textos que simulan nuestra narrativa humana en un lenguaje natural y que sin embargo han sido elaborados por una IA. OBJETIVOS: En la presente investigación analizamos hasta qué punto el estudiantado universitario de los grados en Educación Primaria y en Educación Social (n=130) es capaz de realizar esta distinción. METODOLOGÍA: A través de la implementación de cuestionarios realizados ad hoc, comprobamos el grado de percepción, complejidad y autoría con respecto a distintos textos. Los textos a analizar fueron diversas definiciones del concepto de educación, la mitad realizadas por humanos y la mitad realizadas por una IA que emulaba el grado de complejidad y expresión de los distintos perfiles y tonos humanos. De manera paralela, los análisis estadísticos han sido realizados a través de la función “Advanced Data Analysis” (anteriormente “Code Interpreter”) del propio ChatGPT y replicados en SPSS, encontrando una gran similitud entre ambos, cualitativamente coincidentes en todos los realizados, excepto uno. Además, los gráficos que se incluyen también han sido realizados gracias a esta función. RESULTADOS: Los resultados señalan la dificultad que los estudiantes de la muestra han tenido en detectar las definiciones realizadas por la IA. CONCLUSIONES: Pese a que, a día de hoy, los límites de la IA con respecto al pensamiento y razonamiento humano son claros, la versátil capacidad creativa de estos modelos de lenguaje dificulta y enmascara su identificación.
A Quality Improvement Study on Colonoscopy Wait Times in Underinsured Patients Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shim Hong Gi , Gupta Anuj , Fu Andrew , Flores Ricardo , Simmons Robert , Steinberg Jonathan , Guerson-Gil Arcelia , Liao Yunhan , Yang Jie , LaComb Joseph F. , D'Souza Lionel S. , Monzur Farah , Li Ellen , Guillaume Alexandra
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic limited access to colonoscopy. To advance colorectal cancer health equity, we conducted a quality improvement study on colonoscopy wait times in 2019–2023 for underinsured (Medicaid, uninsured) compared with insured patients at an academic medical center providing colonoscopy for surrounding Federally Qualified Health Centers.

METHODS:

Retrospective chart reviews were performed on adult outpatient colonoscopies in the preintervention period (2019–2021). In 2022, an institutional grant funded bilingual patient navigation to reduce colonoscopy wait times. Postintervention data were collected prospectively from May 2022 to May 2023 in 2 phases. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted for colonoscopy wait times as a primary outcome.

RESULTS:

Analysis of 3,403 screening/surveillance and 1,896 diagnostic colonoscopies revealed significantly longer colonoscopy wait times for underinsured compared with insured patients after 2019. For screening/surveillance colonoscopies, wait time differences between underinsured and insured patients in the second postintervention phase were reduced by 34.21 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.07–57.35) compared with the postpandemic period and by 56.36 days (95% CI: 34.16–78.55) compared with the first postintervention phase. For diagnostic colonoscopies, wait time differences in the second postintervention phase were reduced by 27.57 days (95% CI: 9.96–45.19) compared with the postpandemic period and by 20.40 days (95% CI: 1.02–39.77) compared with the first postintervention phase.

DISCUSSION:

Colonoscopy wait times were significantly longer for underinsured compared with insured patients following the COVID-19 pandemic. This disparity was partially ameliorated by patient navigation. Monitoring outpatient colonoscopy wait times in underinsured patients is important for advancing health equity.
The Impact of Financial Factor on Family Entrepreneurship Development in Latvia
Authors: Svilane Ina , Kalkis Henrijs
Published: June 2024

The business environment is a multi-factor framework for economic activity, divided into the internal and external environment. Internal environmental factors can be influenced, managed and controlled by entrepreneurs, while external environmental factors cannot. External environmental factors are determined and regulated by the highest authorities – the national government. The government shapes the external environment of business. The main external factors of the business environment most often identified by researchers are: political, economic, legal and technological. The financial factor is classified as an internal factor of the business environment. Experience shows that the financial factor in the case of Latvia cannot be seen in the context of the internal factors of the business environment as defined by the world's leading scientific sources. Given the international nature of financial decision-making and the inability of entrepreneurs to influence it, the financial factor of the Latvian business environment should be viewed in the context of the external factors of the business environment. Latvian family entrepreneurship should be seen in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises. The aim of the study is to analyse the impact of the financial factor, which includes financial policy and financial system planning at the national level, on the Latvian family business environment. The results of the study show that the national financial policies developed in Latvia since the 1990s have posed a threat to the Latvian business environment. The newly established tax structure, based on labour and consumption taxes, has not been able to ensure the generation of internal sources of finance at national level to foster the development of the business environment. Despite the fact that family entrepreneurship was initially envisaged in policy planning documents, it is not even mentioned in financial policy and planning documents, and hence has not been stimulated or supported by taxation.
Assessing Model of Tax Evasion and Firm’s Value: Moderating Role of Corporate Governance and Company Characteristics
Authors: Salman Kautsar Riza , Sutisna Entis , Sa’diyah Halimatus
Published: June 2024

This study aims to examine the effect of tax evasion and corporate governance on firm value. This model uses governance and company characteristics as moderating variables of the relationship between tax evasion and firm value. This study uses panel data consisting of 18 companies in the mining sector from 2016 to 2020. The approach used is panel data using Eviews 12. This research proves that tax evasion does not have a significant direct effect on firm value. This research finds that family management and ownership concentration have a significant influence on firm value. Family management has a direct negative impact on firm value. Ownership concentration and leverage have a direct positive effect on firm value. Return on assets and company size do not have a significant influence on firm value. Governance and company characteristics are found not to moderate the relationship between tax evasion and firm value. This research presents an initial study that focuses on the relationship between tax evasion efforts and firm value in mining companies, using six analyzed models.
Designing Entrepreneurial Intention with Personal Values Using Soft Systems Methodology-Based Action Research
Authors: Dewi Herliana , Fitriati Rachma , Salsabila Radita
Published: June 2024

The employment landscape in Indonesia is increasingly intricate and demands serious attention. Persistently high unemployment rates, coupled with a lower entrepreneurship ratio compared to other Southeast Asian nations, underscore the urgency for initiatives addressing entrepreneurial intention. Establishing an entrepreneurial intention program, anchored in personal values considerations, is imperative to align policies with community needs and ensure effective implementation. This study endeavors to craft entrepreneurial intentions intertwined with personal values, aimed at bolstering the entrepreneurial aspirations of both students and the broader community. The development of such a program involves a series of human activities ideally suited for analysis through soft systems methodology (SSM). Leveraging SSM, this study puts forth recommendations advocating for synergistic collaboration among the government, universities, entrepreneurs, and banking sectors. The objective is to devise a branding strategy for entrepreneurship, positioning it as an avenue for self-development and practical training enhancement through digital platforms. Effective implementation of this proposed program hinges on collaboration and synergistic communication among all stakeholders. It is essential for each entity involved to contribute collaboratively towards the seamless execution of this initiative.
Increasing the Concentration of School Holidays in Early Childhood
Authors: Ulfadhilah Khairunnisa
Published: June 2024

It is very important for fathers and mothers to train their children to focus from an early age because many fathers and mothers make mistakes when introducing basic learning to their children but forget to teach them how to train their children's focus first. If children are used to practicing focus from an early age, they will easily accept various stimulation and basic learning that parents and mothers give their children at home, and children will get used to good focus. Training children to focus is not easy, and it cannot be done quickly, it needs to be gradual and takes time, so parents need to be patient so that children are able to focus well, which will affect the child's growth and development at home and at home. The research method uses descriptive qualitative so that it can describe the results of the research that has been carried out by the author and the research location at PAUD An-Nur. The data collection technique was direct observation at An-Nur PAUD, after which the author conducted interviews and documentation. It is hoped that the results of this research will serve as a guide for prospective mothers and fathers and those who are already fathers and mothers in educating their children and being able to train their children to focus from an early age because children's focus is related to concentration so that they get used to being at home with their fathers and mothers.
The Impact of a Training Program of Communication for Midwives on Women’s Satisfaction during Childbirth: An Intervention Study
Authors: A. Assaf Enas , Abuhammad Sawsan , Essa Ageely Raana , Maabre Roqia , Al Sabbah Haleama
Published: June 2024

Background: Training programs of communication for midwives have an impact on women’s satisfaction during childbirth. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of a training program on communication for midwives of different cultural and national backgrounds on women’s satisfaction with the experience of childbirth. Methods: The study involved an intervention design using pre- and post-test activities. The study took place at one of the largest armed hospitals in the southern region of Saudi Arabia in the Labour and Delivery unit. The study has been developed through three main stages: Data was collected from a convenient sample of 25 working midwives in the unit. Additionally, 50 women were observed during childbirth (25 before and 25 after the intervention). Results: The study results show that there was a significant improvement in the midwives’ communication process with mothers after the intervention. (p<0.01). Women’s satisfaction with the intervention of midwives improved significantly, and their overall satisfaction also increased significantly (p<0.010). Conclusion: Standardizing healthcare provision among midwives is vital when working with diverse cultures. Further studies and follow-up are necessary and training programs should be implemented to ensure intervention effectiveness. Implications for Nursing: The study will serve developing educational programs based on cultural differences and communication skills for midwifery, which is important for women’s satisfaction. Keywords: Midwife communication, Childbirth, Women’s satisfaction, Training programs.
Virtual Authenticity: On Reinvention, Transformation and Functionality of Traditional Dancing during COVID-19
Authors: Panova-Tekath Gergana
Published: June 2024

The following article is dedicated to the changes in folk dancing caused by the Covid pandemic and presents the author’s theoretical ideas on dancing in the digital world. The examples concern the phenomenon of dancing the Bulgarian way by Bulgarians and non-Bulgarians in urban settings, which the author has been studying for years and now diagnoses the emergence of a new virtual model and defines virtual authenticity. On the one hand it relates to the fluid notion of authenticity and organises self-reflection, free expression and rediscovering of one’s own identity in cyberspace. Distance-dancing the Bulgarian way provides a psychosomatic environment with previously unknown online effects and paradoxical dichotomies. In this notion of subjective authenticity, the memory of the social intimacy of circle dancing helps with the social intimacy in the online communication and supports the belief in the whole world as an open community. On the other hand, in addition to focusing on themselves through constrained aloneliness, dancers also engage with themes of the political past, cultural essence and national determination. The verbal discussions in social networks, at virtual folk dance camps and in university classes reveal the solid notion of authenticity. Transparency leads to more knowledge about Bulgaria and its interpretations; endless accessibility improves the correctness of the sources. Nevertheless, the new roles and hierarchies in digital Bulgaria provoke vulnerability and emotion. Recognising the phenomenon as persuasive and flattering communication, the increased verbal exchange connects both the individual and community aspects of authenticity. Even if the dance enthusiasts from Bulgaria and from abroad are not yet fully united in the so-called imagined or digital Bulgaria, the phenomenon participates more than ever in the idea of a global village. Distance-dancing the Bulgarian way creates third spaces of protection and resistance and establishes a global community that has a future beyond the pandemic.
Between (Pseudo)Silence and Noise – the Perceptive Status of Music in the Lo-Fi Environment: The Case of Contemporary Shopping Malls
Authors: Makomaska Sylwia
Published: June 2024

Modern shopping malls are interesting examples of lo-fi soundscapes where the recipi- ents experience diverse auditory phenomena. One of the key factors organising the space is so called programmed music provided by audiomarketing companies. To what extent can this specific context change the perception of music, noise, and silence? Is the imposed music viewed from the perspec- tive of the listeners as music or perhaps noise? These questions shape the discussion on the per- ceptive status of music in lo-fi environments. More than 200 participants (between 18–30) took a soundwalk in one of the shopping malls in Warsaw where audiomarketing strategy is implemented. They were asked to record the characteristic places, to fill in the questionnaire of observation and evaluation and to write a narrative essay once the soundwalk was finished. As a result, an exten- sive set of qualitative and quantitative data was obtained, which was then subjected to a multi-stage analysis: thematic (text data), statistical (quantitative data), auditory and spectral (audio files). The results show that in the case of shopping malls the line between silence, music and noise is blurred because imposed music can become both a part of cacophonic experience and “silence zones”. During the soundwalks, 27% of the participants (n = 57, N = 208) declared they did not experience silence and 75% of the participants (n = 151) identified varied “silence zones”, even with the programmed music in the background. These observations lead to the problems of desensitisation and habituation as possible long-term consequences of noise pollution.
A global perspective on the status of clinical metabolomics in laboratory medicine – a survey by the IFCC metabolomics working group
Authors: Fux Elie , Lenski Marie , Bendt Anne K. , Otvos James D. , Ivanisevic Julijana , De Bruyne Sander , Cavalier Etienne , Friedecký David
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Metabolomics aims for comprehensive characterization and measurement of small molecule metabolites (<1700 Da) in complex biological matrices. This study sought to assess the current understanding and usage of metabolomics in laboratory medicine globally and evaluate the perception of its promise and future implementation.

Methods

A survey was conducted by the IFCC metabolomics working group that queried 400 professionals from 79 countries. Participants provided insights into their experience levels, knowledge, and usage of metabolomics approaches, along with detailing the applications and methodologies employed.

Results

Findings revealed a varying level of experience among respondents, with varying degrees of familiarity and utilization of metabolomics techniques. Targeted approaches dominated the field, particularly liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, with untargeted methods also receiving significant usage. Applications spanned clinical research, epidemiological studies, clinical diagnostics, patient monitoring, and prognostics across various medical domains, including metabolic diseases, endocrinology, oncology, cardiometabolic risk, neurodegeneration and clinical toxicology.

Conclusions

Despite optimism for the future of clinical metabolomics, challenges such as technical complexity, standardization issues, and financial constraints remain significant hurdles. The study underscores the promising yet intricate landscape of metabolomics in clinical practice, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to overcome barriers and realize its full potential in patient care and precision medicine.
Anisotropic Adaptive Finite Elements for a p-Laplacian Problem
Authors: Passelli Paride , Picasso Marco
Published: June 2024

The p-Laplacian problem

-

∇
⋅

(

(

μ
+

|

∇
⁡
u

|

p
-
2

)

⁢

∇
⁡
u

)

=
f

{-\nabla\cdot((\mu+|\nabla u|^{p-2})\nabla u)=f}

is considered,
where μ is a given positive number. An anisotropic a posteriori residual-based error estimator is presented. The error estimator is shown to be equivalent, up to higher order terms, to the error in a quasi-norm. The involved constants being independent of μ, the solution, the mesh size and aspect ratio. An adaptive algorithm is proposed and numerical results are presented when

p
=
3

{p=3}

. From this model problem, we propose a simplified error estimator and use it in the framework of an industrial application, namely a nonlinear Navier–Stokes problem arising from aluminium electrolysis.
The New Law of the European Data Markets: Demystifying the European Data Strategy
Authors: Groza Teodora , Botero Arcila Beatriz
Published: June 2024

The European Data Strategy, published in 2020, aims to turn the EU into a society empowered by data which captures its benefits to generate improvements in health, well-being, the environment, transparent governance, and convenient public services. This article examines the European Data Strategy, focusing on the Data Act and Data Governance Act, and situates them within broader data governance discussions. It argues that the Strategy has at its centre a tension between fostering a robust, fair data market versus scepticism towards market-based data governance mechansims, and analyses to what extent the regulatory techniques the Data Strategy proposes can address this tension.
A comparative study of the cell wall level delignification behaviour of four Nordic hardwoods during kraft pulping
Authors: Kron Linus , Hasani Merima , Theliander Hans
Published: June 2024

Wood is a heterogeneous material with significant variation among species. This inherent complexity poses a challenge to the continuous expansion of our understanding of the kraft process; yet previous pulping research has mainly been limited to a few species. This study investigates variations among some less studied species and their cell wall level delignification behaviour during kraft pulping. Ground wood of birch, beech, aspen, and alder were pulped at near-constant composition and temperature conditions. Minor, yet significant, differences in the rates of their delignification were observed: aspen had a pronounced fast rate during the initial stage, whereas alder delignified more slowly relative to its high initial lignin content. The dissolution of xylan was substantially faster for birch. In contrast, no substantial differences were detected between the species in the molecular weight and structure of the dissolved wood components, suggesting that the different delignification behaviours stem from variations in the residual phase. The molecular weight distribution of dissolved lignin was uniform during the initial stage of pulping, which is indicative of rapid and extensive fragmentation. Subsequently, the weight increased continuously for the remainder of the process, suggesting that the mass transfer within the cell wall influenced the overall delignification kinetics.
Counter-Colonial Aspects in and Through Public History in Brazil: Participatory Research, Oral History and Corporeality – Embodied Ways of Storytelling
Authors: Rabêlo de Almeida Juniele
Published: June 2024

Based on the counter-colonial thought formulated by the Brazilian quilombola activist Nêgo Bispo (1959–2023), this article offers reflections on participatory research, social memory, and corporeality through discussions carried out by the Brazilian Public History Network (Rede Brasileira de História Pública) – specifically covering the projects produced by the Laboratory of Oral History and the Image at Fluminense Federal University – LABHOI/UFF (Rio de Janeiro/Brazil, created in 1982). The author explores and recognizes the colonial nature of public history practices and identifies a counter-colonial public history that is capable of going beyond text-only source-based public history or which is written only out of official colonial records. Public history, it is suggested, can do this by developing participatory practices with the creation of oral history collections and incorporating embodied ways of storytelling.
ℐ-monotonic convergence of sequences of bi-complex numbers
Authors: Deb Tapasi , Tripathy Binod Chandra
Published: June 2024

In this paper we investigate the concept of

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-monotonic convergence of sequences of bi-complex numbers. We also discuss some partial order relations

≼

i
2

{\preccurlyeq_{i_{2}}}

and

≼

i
id

{\preccurlyeq_{i_{\rm id}}}

between two bi-complex numbers and

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-convergence,

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-monotonic sequences with respect to different partial order relations,

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-Cauchy sequences,

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-bounded monotonic sequences of bi-complex numbers. The analysis indicates that

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-monotonicity with respect to

≼

i
2

{\preccurlyeq_{i_{2}}}

is not comparable with

ℐ

{\mathcal{I}}

-monotonicity with respect to

≼

i
id

{\preccurlyeq_{i_{\rm id}}}

.
Error estimates for simplified Levenberg–Marquardt method for nonlinear ill-posed operator equations in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Mahale Pallavi , Kumar Ankush
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we consider the simplified Levenberg–Marquardt method for nonlinear ill-posed inverse problems in Hilbert spaces for obtaining stable approximations of solutions to the ill-posed nonlinear equations of the form

F
⁢

(
u
)

=
y

{F(u)=y}

, where

F
:

𝒟
⁢

(
F
)

⊂
𝖴
→
𝖸

{F:\mathcal{D}(F)\subset\mathsf{U}\to\mathsf{Y}}

is a nonlinear operator between Hilbert spaces

𝖴

{\mathsf{U}}

and

𝖸

{\mathsf{Y}}

. The method is defined as follows:

u

n
+
1

δ

=

u
n
δ

-

(

T
0
∗

⁢

T
0

+

α
n

⁢
I

)

-
1

⁢

T
0
∗

⁢

(

F
⁢

(

u
n
δ

)

-

y
δ

)

,

u_{n+1}^{\delta}=u_{n}^{\delta}-(T_{0}^{\ast}T_{0}+\alpha_{n}I)^{-1}T_{0}^{%
\ast}(F(u_{n}^{\delta})-y^{\delta}),

where

T
0

=

F
′

⁢

(

u
0

)

{T_{0}=F^{\prime}(u_{0})}

and

T
0
∗

=

F
′

⁢

(

u
0

)

∗

{T_{0}^{\ast}=F^{\prime}(u_{0})^{\ast}}

. Here

F
′

⁢

(

u
0

)

{F^{\prime}(u_{0})}

denotes the Frèchet derivative of F at an initial guess

u
0

∈

𝒟
⁢

(
F
)

{u_{0}\in\mathcal{D}(F)}

for the exact solution

u
†

{u^{\dagger}}

,

F
′

⁢

(

u
0

)

∗

{F^{\prime}(u_{0})^{\ast}}

is the adjoint of

F
′

⁢

(

u
0

)

{F^{\prime}(u_{0})}

and

{

α
n

}

{\{\alpha_{n}\}}

is an a priori chosen sequence of non-negative real numbers satisfying suitable properties. We use Morozov-type stopping rule to terminate the iterations. Under suitable non-linearity conditions on operator F, we show convergence of the method and also obtain a convergence rate result under a Hölder-type source condition on the element

u
0

-

u
†

{u_{0}-u^{\dagger}}

. Furthermore, we derive convergence of the method for the case when no source conditions are used and the study concludes with numerical examples which validate the theoretical conclusions.
Determination of an unknown coefficient in the Korteweg–de Vries equation
Authors: Sang Lin , Qiao Yan , Wu Hua
Published: June 2024

In this paper, a space-time spectral method for solving an inverse problem in the Korteweg–de Vries equation is considered. Optimal order of convergence of the semi-discrete method is obtained in

L
2

{L^{2}}

-norm. The discrete schemes of the method are based on the modified Fourier pseudospectral method in spatial direction and the Legendre-tau method in temporal direction. The nonlinear term is computed via the fast Fourier transform and fast Legendre transform. The method
is implemented by the explicit-implicit iterative method. Numerical results are given to show the accuracy and capability of this space-time spectral method.
From the Visual to the Auditory in Heidegger’s Being and Time and Augustine’s Confessions
Authors: Fuyarchuk Andrew
Published: June 2024

Studies about the influence of sound and ambient environments on understanding and the affects, prior to intentional acts of consciousness, are employed to rectify self-fragmentation exemplified in Heidegger and Augustine. Due to a visual bias that suppresses his auditory disposition in Being and Time, Heidegger gestures toward Dasein’s fulfillment in social-being yet also recoils from it. To ameliorate this impasse, his underdeveloped modification of existence is revisited by way of Augustine’s attunement to rhetoricity during his conversion experience. As a result of embracing a shared ambient space, he brings care for others as oneself into the realm of “the with” and thereby verifies the significance of an auditory way of being-in-the-world to the formation of communities.
Martingale solutions to stochastic nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard–Navier–Stokes systems with singular potentials driven by multiplicative noise of jump type
Authors: Deugoué Gabriel , Ndongmo Ngana Aristide , Tachim Medjo Theodore
Published: June 2024

In the diffuse interface theory, the motion of two incompressible viscous fluids and the evolution of their interface are described by the well-known model H. The model consists of the Navier–Stokes equations, nonlinearly coupled with a convective Cahn–Hilliard type equation.
Here we consider a stochastic version of the model driven by a noise of Lévy type, and where the standard Cahn–Hilliard equation is replaced by its nonlocal version with a singular (e.g., logarithmic) potential. The case of smooth potentials with arbitrary polynomial growth has been already analyzed in [G. Deugoué, A. Ndongmo Ngana and T. Tachim Medjo,
Martingale solutions to stochastic nonlocal Cahn–Hilliard–Navier–Stokes equations with multiplicative noise of jump type,
Phys. D 398 2019, 23–68]. Taking advantage of this previous result, we investigate this more challenging and physically relevant case. Global existence of a martingale solution is proved with no-slip and no-flux boundary conditions in both 2D and 3D bounded domains.
In the two-dimensional case, we prove the uniqueness of weak solutions when the viscosity is constant.
The crystal structures of the ternary intermetallics RE
2Pd2Cd (RE = Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) and RE
2Ga2Mg (RE = Tb, Er, Tm, Lu) at 90 K
Authors: Reimann Maximilian Kai , Kösters Jutta , Bieliauskas Tautvydas , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: June 2024

The crystal structures of the U3Si2-related intermetallic compounds RE
2Pd2Cd (RE = Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) and RE
2Ga2Mg (RE = Tb, Er, Tm, Lu) were studied from single crystal X-ray diffraction data at T = 90 K in order to understand the slightly enhanced U
33 displacements of the 2a positions in their room temperature structures. The compounds Sm2Pd2Cd, Gd2Pd2Cd and Dy2Pd2Cd show a decrease of the ratio of U
33 to U
11 for the cadmium atoms, leading to a more isotropic behavior at low temperature, keeping the P4/mbm space group symmetry. Nd2Pd2Cd shows a translationengleiche symmetry reduction to space group P4bm along with a weak puckering effect with shorter (342.7 pm) and longer (345.7 pm) Cd–Nd distances within the Cd@Nd8 square prisms. This new, non-centrosymmetric superstructure variant was also observed for the magnesium compounds Tb2Ga2.069Mg0.931, Er2Ga2.104Mg0.896, Tm2Ga2.097Mg0.903 and Lu2Ga2.173Mg0.827, which show small degrees of Mg/Ga mixing.
Diverse bioactive secondary metabolites from Aspergillus terreus: antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity studies
Authors: Hamed Abdelaaty , Abdel-Razek Ahmed S. , Abdelwahab Ahmed B. , El Taweel Ahmed , GabAllah Mohamed , Sewald Norbert , Shaaban Mohamed
Published: June 2024

Owing to its high interest as prolific source of diverse bioactive compounds referred in our previous research work, we have scaled-up the fermentation of the marine Aspergillus terreus LGO13 on a liquid culture medium to isolate and identify the very minor/further promising bioactive secondary metabolites and to study their antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antiviral properties. Twenty-three known bioactive metabolites, including the recently discovered microbial natural product N-benzoyl-tryptophan (1), were obtained herein. Their structures were determined using HR-ESI-MS 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy and data from the literature. The biological properties of the microbial extract and the resulting compounds were examined using a set of microorganisms, cervix carcinoma KB-3-1, nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549, and coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), respectively. Molecular docking (MD) simulations were used to investigate the potential targets of the separated metabolites as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs. According to the current study, a viral protein that may be the target of anticovid drugs is a papain-like protease (PLpro), and chaetominine (2) appears to be a viable choice against this protein. We evaluated the antiviral efficacy of chaetominine (2), fumitremorgin C (6), and azaspirofuran A (9) against SARS-CoV-2 based on MD data. Chaetominine (2) and azaspirofuran A (9) displayed intermediate selectivity indices (SI = 6.6 and 3.2, respectively), while fumitremorgin C (6) displayed a high selectivity index (SI = 19.77). These findings show that fumitremorgin C has promising antiviral action against SARS-CoV-2.
An Evaluation of TransLife Care: A Locally Developed Structural HIV Prevention Intervention for Transgender Women in Chicago, Illinois
Authors: Kuhns Lisa M. , Perloff Judy , Johnson Amy K. , Paul Josie Lynne , Pleasant Kevin , Evans Kaiji , Denson Damian J. , Gelaude Deborah J. , Bessler Patricia A. , Cervantes Marbella , Muldoon Abigail L. , Garofalo Robert , Hotton Anna L.
Published: June 2024

Transgender women are disproportionately impacted by HIV infection. We report herein the findings of a pre-post evaluation of the TransLife Care (TLC) project in Chicago, Illinois, on behaviors associated with HIV transmission among transgender women. Participants who received any TLC component versus those who did not were compared using mixed-effects logistic regression with random intercepts across follow-up time points. Ninety-seven participants aged 18 to 59 (median age 24) enrolled; 76.3% were transgender women of color. There was a decrease in condomless sex without consistent PrEP use at 8 months, which was not significantly different between those who did and did not receive the TLC intervention, controlling for calendar time. Evidence does not indicate that the TLC reduces condomless sex without PrEP protection among urban transgender women. However, given the preponderance of evidence of the influence of structural barriers on condomless sex, future research should continue to test the efficacy of structural interventions.