bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical relationship between maxillary posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus in an Indonesian population: a CT scan study
Authors: Sarilita Erli , Muhammad Rizky Maulana , Nugraha Harry Galuh , Murniati Nani , Yusuf Harmas Yazid , Takeshita Yohei , Asaumi Junichi
Published: August 2024

Background

The anatomical proximity between the root apex of the maxillary posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus can lead to complications, including odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. While several studies have investigated similar variables in different populations, there is limited research on the Indonesian population. This study aimed to describe the anatomical position of the maxillary posterior teeth in relation to the floor of the maxillary sinus using CT scans.

Methods

A total of 122 patients (432 maxillary premolars and 1,282 maxillary molars) underwent CT scans to evaluate 1,711 roots. The vertical relationship between the root apex of the maxillary posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus was classified into three types: IS (inside sinus), CO (sinus contact), and OS (outside sinus).

Results

The IS type was predominantly found in the palatal roots of the first molars, accounting for 20% of the total roots in this type. The CO type was most frequently observed in the mesiobuccal roots of the second molars, representing 18% of the total roots in this type. The OS type was most commonly found in the first premolar, comprising 20% of the total roots in this type.

Conclusions

The palatal roots of the first molars exhibited the highest frequency of proximity to the maxillary sinus. CT scans can effectively assess the relationship between the root apex of the posterior teeth and the maxillary sinus.

Clinical Relevance

Clinicians should consider this information comprehensively when planning treatments for maxillary molars.
The ancestral environment of teosinte populations shapes their root microbiome
Authors: Barnes Christopher J. , Bünner Maria Sophie , Ramírez-Flores M. Rosario , Nielsen Ida Broman , Ramos-Madrigal Jazmin , Zharikova Daria , McLaughlin Chloee M. , Gilbert M. Thomas , Sawers Ruairidh J.H.
Published: August 2024

Background

The composition of the root microbiome affects the host’s growth, with variation in the host genome associated with microbiome variation. However, it is not known whether this intra-specific variation of root microbiomes is a consequence of plants performing targeted manipulations of them to adapt to their local environment or varying passively with other traits. To explore the relationship between the genome, environment and microbiome, we sampled seeds from teosinte populations across its native range in Mexico. We then grew teosinte accessions alongside two modern maize lines in a common garden experiment. Metabarcoding was performed using universal bacterial and fungal primers to profile their root microbiomes.

Results

The root microbiome varied between the two modern maize lines and the teosinte accessions. We further found that variation of the teosinte genome, the ancestral environment (temperature/elevation) and root microbiome were all correlated. Multiple microbial groups significantly varied in relative abundance with temperature/elevation, with an increased abundance of bacteria associated with cold tolerance found in teosinte accessions taken from high elevations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that variation in the root microbiome is pre-conditioned by the genome for the local environment (i.e. non-random). Ultimately, these claims would be strengthened by confirming that these differences in the root microbiome impact host phenotype, for example, by confirming that the root microbiomes of high-elevation teosinte populations enhance cold tolerance.
Outcome of Retinoblastoma After Implementation of National Retinoblastoma Treatment Guidelines in South Africa
Authors: Kruger Mariana , van Elsland Sabine L. , Davidson Alan , Stones David , du Plessis Jan , Naidu Gita , Geel Jennifer , Poole Janet , Schoeman Judy , Stannard Clare , Mustak Hamzah , van Zyl Anel , Wetter Julie , Lecuona Karin
Published: August 2024

PURPOSE

Retinoblastoma, a curable childhood cancer, has been identified as a tracer cancer in the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. To document the outcomes of children with retinoblastoma in South Africa, treated as per the first prospective standard national treatment guidelines for childhood cancer in South Africa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All children diagnosed with retinoblastoma between 2012 and 2016 in five South African pediatric oncology units were treated with a standard treatment on the basis of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology-Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries guidelines for high-income settings. Treatment included focal therapy with/without chemotherapy, or enucleation with/without chemotherapy, and orbital radiotherapy, depending on enucleated eye histology. The end point was survival at 24 months, using Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank (Mantel-Cox) and chi-square (χ2) tests with respective P values reported.

RESULTS

A total of 178 children were included in the study; 68% presented with unilateral disease. The median age was 27 months (range 0-118 months) with a male:female ratio of 1:0.75. The overall survival was 79% at 24 months with significant association with stage at diagnosis ( P < .001) and older age over 2 years as opposed to younger than 2 years ( P < .001). Causes of death were disease progression/relapses in 90% (34 of 38) and unknown in 2% (1 of 38), whereas treatment abandonment was 1.7% (3 of 178).

CONCLUSION

Efficacy with national treatment guidelines was confirmed, and feasibility of implementing standard national childhood cancer treatment guidelines was documented, involving multidisciplinary teams in South Africa. Outcome was significantly associated with stage at diagnosis and age.
Experimentation in Networks
Authors: Board Simon , Meyer-ter-Vehn Moritz
Published: August 2024

We propose a model of strategic experimentation on social networks in which forward-looking agents learn from their own and neighbors’ successes. In equilibrium, private discovery is followed by social diffusion. Social learning crowds out own experimentation, so total information decreases with network density; we determine density thresholds below which agents’ asymptotic learning is perfect. By contrast, agent welfare is single peaked in network density and achieves a second-best benchmark level at intermediate levels that strike a balance between discovery and diffusion. (JEL D82, D83, D86, O31, O33, Z13)
Βυζαντινή και μοντέρνα τέχνη
Authors: Τζημαγιώργη Καλλιόπη
Published: August 2024

Η διαπίστωση ότι τα φαινόμενα της τέχνης εκδηλώνονται με μια περιοδικότητα, με παλινδρομήσεις, αναβιώσεις και επιστροφές, σε όλη την καταγεγραμμένη ιστορική της πορεία δεν είναι βέβαια πρωτότυπη. Έτσι, δύο περίοδοι της τέχνης, με τόσο μεγάλη χρονική απόσταση, χωρίς εμφανή σημεία επαφής ή σύγκλισης, δεμένες σφιχτά η καθεμία πάνω στη δική της ανεπανάληπτη ιστορική συγκυρία, η Βυζαντινή και η Μοντέρνα τέχνη, είναι δυνατόν να μοιράζονται κάποια κοινά στοιχεία. Από τη μία πλευρά, η τέχνη που προωθήθηκε και εξαπλώθηκε μέσα και έξω από τα γεωγραφικά όρια της Βυζαντινής αυτοκρατορίας και από την άλλη, η τέχνη του Μοντερνισμού, όπως εκδηλώθηκε με τα κινήματα της Πρωτοπορίας των αρχών του 20ού αιώνα, μοιάζουν δύο μακρινά συστήματα, ωστόσο, πιο προσεκτική εξέταση μπορεί να αποκαλύψει συγκλίσεις. Δεν αρκεί όμως μόνο η διαπίστωση ότι χρησιμοποιούν κοινά μορφοπλαστικά εργαλεία, ούτε μόνο η διερεύνηση συγκλίσεων στο εικονογραφικό επίπεδο. Κεντρική θέση στα ζητούμενα αυτής της διατριβής έχει ο προσδιορισμός της φύσης αυτής της διαλεκτικής, με την αναζήτηση των ασύνειδων επιρροών, των προϋποθέσεων και των προεκτάσεών της, και η ερμηνεία της κάτω από πολλαπλά πρίσματα, ως ένα φαινόμενο του ανθρώπινου πολιτισμού που επανέρχεται μέσα σε εντελώς διαφορετικά συμφραζόμενα. Η διδακτορική διατριβή με τίτλο Βυζαντινή και Μοντέρνα Τέχνη: Εφαπτόμενες Σφαίρες, Ομόκεντρες Ιδέες θα επιχειρήσει να ανιχνεύσει και να ορίσει με τη μεγαλύτερη δυνατή σαφήνεια τις παραμέτρους αυτής της ιδιότυπης συνάφειας. Η εργασία ακολουθεί μια διττή μέθοδο: α. Θεωρητική συζήτηση των προϋποθέσεων και των μορφών που η συνάφεια αυτή προσλαμβάνει και β. οπτική τεκμηρίωση των παραπάνω με αντιπαραβολή και σχολιασμό έργων και από τις δύο περιόδους.
Case Report: Acute large bowel obstruction with actinomycosis of the sigmoid colon mimicking neoplasm
Authors: Hajri Mohamed , Zouari Rami , Mallek Ines , Bacha Dhouha , Bayar Rached , ben slama Sana
Published: August 2024

Introduction Actinomycosis is an uncommon inflammatory bacterial disease caused by Actinomyces species, especially Actinomyces Israeli. Abdominopelvic forms are relatively rare and may involve the colon as a solid mass, mimicking a malignant tumor. Case presentation A 68-year-old Tunisian man, with a history of diabetes, hypertension, penicillin allergy, and renal failure, presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting, and bowel obstruction. CT scan showed an acute intestinal obstruction upstream with obstructive tissular mass at the sigmoid colon. Emergency surgery revealed a sigmoid mass and a pre-perforative cecum. Total colectomy was performed, with ileostomy and distal end closure. Histological examination confirmed Actinomyces infection. The patient was then placed on long-term doxycycline and Bactrim, with no recurrence over a 9-month follow-up period. Conclusion Abdominal actinomycosis, though rare, presents diagnostic challenges. It can be mistaken for malignancy, leading to unnecessary surgery in non-complicated cases, since it is effectively treated by antibiotics. In complicated cases, a combined approach involving both surgery and antibiotic therapy is necessary until the infection is completely eradicated.
Evaluating the dynamics of fee-free higher education in South Africa: a causal loop diagram approach
Authors: Ramasu Tlotlo , Kanakana-Katumba Grace
Published: August 2024

Background This research investigated the dynamics of fee-free higher education in South Africa, aiming to elucidate the complexities surrounding its implementation and impact. By employing a causal loop diagram approach, the study examined the interplay of socioeconomic, political, and institutional factors influencing the provision of fee-free higher education. Method A participatory approach to developing the CLD was used. Through an extensive literature review, the research contextualised fee-free higher education enabling a preliminary CLD to be developed. Discussions were held to improve the preliminary model based on stakeholder and expert opinion. The model was then validated by stakeholders and experts. Results The CLD has explicitly mapped out the causal relationships which play a fundamental role in fee-free higher education in South Africa. Key findings revealed that fee-free higher education initiatives, such as managing funding constraints and administrative complexities, hold promise for fostering inclusivity and socioeconomic development but are hindered by bureaucratic policy establishments and inefficiencies. These challenges underscore the gap between policy formulation and implementation, highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms to streamline administrative processes and enhance financial sustainability within the higher education sector. Conclusion This research thoroughly examined the dynamics of fee-free higher education in South Africa, highlighting both the challenges and opportunities in its implementation. The study emphasized the need for systemic reforms to improve accessibility and effectiveness, while also underscoring the potential of such initiatives to promote social mobility and economic empowerment, aligning with global goals like the SDGs and the African Agenda 2063.
The Impact of QRIS Convenience on Non-Cash Transaction Satisfaction: The Role of Usage as an Intervening Factor
Authors: Tricahyono Nor Salim , Aviva Itsla Yunisva , Hasnita Hasnita
Published: August 2024

This research aims to analyze the impact of QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) convenience on non-cash transaction satisfaction among Bank Muamalat customers, with usage as an intervening factor. Employing a quantitative approach, primary data were collected via questionnaires. The data analysis utilized the Structural Equation Model (SEM) based on Partial Least Square (PLS) and path analysis techniques. The findings reveal a significant positive relationship between the convenience of QRIS and customer satisfaction with non-cash transactions at Bank Muamalat. Additionally, the study demonstrates that usage partially mediates the effect of QRIS convenience on customer satisfaction. This research contributes to the literature by examining the influence of QRIS convenience on non-cash transaction satisfaction, with a particular focus on the mediating role of usage. Understanding the pivotal role of perceived convenience in fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty allows Bank Muamalat to tailor its strategies to better meet customer expectations, thereby promoting continued use of QRIS for non-cash transactions.
The Effect of Green Perceived Values and Injunctive Norms on Buying Intentions of Eco-Friendly Products
Authors: Nafiati Lu'lu' , Sukesi Tri Wahyuni , Yuliansyah Herman , Ghozali Fanani Arief , Tentama Fatwa , Sudarsono Bambang , Sulistyawati Sulistyawati , Mulasari Surahma Asti , Subardjo Subardjo
Published: August 2024

This study aims to utilize the multidimensional concept of green perceived value (GPV) and injunctive norms in relation to the intention to buy environmentally friendly products. This research utilized 105 questionnaires to investigate the correlation between GPV, injunctive norms, attitudes toward purchasing, and purchase intention by focusing on four components of GPV: functional value, conditional value, social value, and emotional value. Structural equation models were employed to assess the connections among the seven components. This study adds to the existing literature by exploring the nuanced relationship between green perceived value (GPV), injunctive norms, attitudes toward purchasing, and intention to buy environmentally friendly products. By focusing on four dimensions of GPV - functional value, conditional value, social value, and emotional value - the research sheds light on how these components influence consumer behavior. Using structural equation models and analysis of 105 questionnaires, the study reveals that functional and emotional values significantly impact purchase intention via attitudes toward purchasing. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior and provide insights for promoting and developing eco-friendly products. This study aims to enhance comprehension of consumer behavior and the development of intentions to buy eco-friendly products.
Determinants of Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Tax Compliance
Authors: Pangestuti Dinik Fitri Rahajeng , Romadhona Firdaus Bunga
Published: August 2024

One of Indonesia's iconic products is teak wood furniture and crafts from Jepara, Central Java. The development of MSMEs operating in this sector is also quite good when seen from the value of exports and domestic turnover. However, this development is different from the level of tax revenue. For the reasons above, this research examines the determinants of tax compliance from this object. A total of 380 MSMEs were involved in this research. Technically, this research uses quantitative methods with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis. The independent variables used in this research are literacy, tariffs, sanctions, and tax audits, while the dependent variable is tax compliance. The results of direct testing show that tax literacy and tax rates have a positive nexus on tax compliance. Meanwhile, sanctions and tax audits have yet to be proven to affect tax compliance. As the implication of this study, the government could increase tax literacy levels through many channels and review the tariff regularly to enhance MSMEs' tax compliance.
Financial Ratios on Reducing Financial Distress Moderated by ESG Disclosure
Authors: Rosalika Dina Nilam , Fauziah Nurul , Sari Martdian Ratna
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the impact of financial ratios—including leverage, liquidity, operational capacity, and operating cash flow—on financial distress while assessing the moderating influence of ESG disclosure. It focuses on 26 energy sector companies listed on the IDX from 2018 to 2022, employing a quantitative approach and purposive sampling method. Nine hypotheses were formulated and tested using multiple and moderated regression analysis. The study found that leverage has a significant negative effect on reducing financial distress. In contrast, liquidity, operating capacity, and operating cash flow ratios were found to impact reducing financial distress positively. This study also confirmed that ESG disclosure could weaken the relationship between liquidity and potential financial distress reduction. However, ESG disclosure does not mediate the relationship between leverage, operating capacity, and operating cash flow to financial distress reduction. This findings lend credence to the applicability of stakeholders theory in explaining the relationship between financial ratios, ESG disclosure and financial distress. It also provides insight for companies on how to prevent and mitigate financial distress. Companies, especially in the Energy Sector, could reduce the potential financial distress by optimizing both financial and non-financial aspects in their annual and sustainability reports.
Behavioral Intention to Adopt Islamic Financial Technology: Theory of Planned Behaviour with Gender Moderation
Authors: Utami Budi Barata Kusuma , Wardiwiyono Sartini , Hawariyuni Weni , Abduh Muhamad , Riadi Imam
Published: August 2024

The Islamic banking industry in Indonesia continues to grow, as evidenced by the presence of technology-based services. This study aims to test the application of the theory of plan behavior in explaining customer intention to use Islamic financial technology by adding gender variables as moderators. Primary data were collected from 298 Islamic fintech users through direct and online surveys. The sample was selected based on the purposive sampling technique. Using PLS MGA analysis, this study found that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively affect the intention to use Islamic fintech, except for perceived behavioral control in the male gender. Using the MGA, Parametric, and Welch-Satterthwait tests, the study also revealed no significant difference between males and females in utilizing Islamic fintech. This study expands the understanding of psychological and social factors in adopting Islamic fintech. It also contributes to the literature by filling the research gap that has not considered gender moderation in adopting Islamic fintech.
Formulation of Corporate Strategy Warehouse Cargo Terminal Pt. ABP Uses AHP and QSPM Method at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport
Authors: Shani Mercya Salsabillah , Ciptomulyono Udisubakti
Published: August 2024

The warehousing industry is one of the backbones of logistics operations, involving several activities such as storage, receipt, collection, and delivery of goods or cargo. Common warehousing problems include fluctuating conditions or uncertain demand, varying labor requirements and costs, and inaccurate inventory information. All of these issues require a robust systems solution to keep managers informed of changes and aware of areas that need attention. This study utilizes qualitative and quantitative research, employing data interviews and questionnaires that are processed into numerical data using internal and external condition variables of the company. The methods used are the AHP and QSPM methods, with AHP serving as the weighting of criteria to determine ranking criteria hierarchically, and the QSPM method serving for strategic evaluation of the ranking criteria from it’s key factor produced by the AHP method based on the company's internal and external factors. In this research, the highest and most suitable strategy for the company was formulated based on the distribution of questionnaires using purposive sampling to 8 key person respondents who have a role in the company. The top 3 strategies out of the 9 proposed strategies were identified using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) pairwise comparison method. Subsequently, the QSPM method weighted the alternative strategies based on internal and external factors, and the strategy with the highest Total Attractiveness Score (TAS) of 5.947 was identified as utilizing sensor technology (RFID) to accurately and automatically track each package or cargo in motion
Job Evaluation Based on Hay Method for Developing the Compensation System for The Internal Audit Function in A Transforming Oil and Gas Company
Authors: Setyanto Adityo Dwi , Hanoum Syarifa
Published: August 2024

This research focuses on evaluating the remuneration system within an oil and gas organization, with a specific emphasis on the Internal Audit department undergoing a transformation into a pooled resource organization. This transformation has led to a matrix- based division of work, involving all team members in various projects and necessitating a thorough evaluation of each position. To conduct the evaluation, the Hay Method is employed, using specific criteria such as Know-How, Problem Solving, and Accountability, with the support of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The outcome of this evaluation will serve as the foundation for designing an effective remuneration system. The study will identify the key Hay Method criteria, crucial for position evaluation and subsequently rank them using a point system for positions within the Internal Audit Function.
Technology – small steps lead to big changes
Authors: Parsons Simon
Published: August 2024

An efficient modern practice relies on technology and third parties as much as boots-on-the-ground staff. They are a necessity for delivering the great service that pet owners and patients alike expect to receive for ultimately better health outcomes.
Joint team success: from pain to gain with multimodal osteoarthritis management
Authors: Carmichael Stuart
Published: August 2024

Pain is a key feature of osteoarthritis. The generation of pain in osteoarthritis is complex and remains a constant threat that can never be completely eliminated throughout the course of the disease. The individual patient's ability to tolerate pain, especially chronic pain, is significant and often leads to an underestimation of the toll this is placing on the affected animal, leading to a poor quality of life. Osteoarthritis is a complex chronic disease and benefits from a multimodal approach where different key elements are targeted simultaneously or over time. In a lifelong disease such as osteoarthritis, regular review and re-adjustment is an essential part of sustained management. Mobility clinics with a multi-professional approach are an efficient way of managing these patients.
Ga(S)p
Authors: Philip M. Nourbese
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Precarity of breath as well as premature and unlawful cessation of breath remain distressing markers of many Black and African-descended communities. Using the biological processes of pregnancy as an example of radical hospitality in which the mother breathes for the yet-to-be-born child as a point of departure, "ga(s)p" explores the possibility of this act being a model for community through epigenetic memory. Against the backdrop of the poetics of the fragment—fragments of history, fragments of memory, and of breath even, "ga(s)p" centers the often unobserved work of women, beginning with that initial period of breathing for the Other in utero; it also and reveals the poem cycle Zong! to be an activated space in which a breathing-for occurs, where fragments of word, silence and breath, allow the reader—the one who breathes now for then and for them—to reenact reparative possibilities for the formerly enslaved, the formerly excluded and the formerly extinguished.
Insurgent Attitude: The Shifting Ground of the Afrospora Feminine
Authors: John Catherine A.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay situates the notion of "attitude" or "plenty plenty-ness" associated with excessive Black femininity in African diaspora US and Caribbean spaces, within the contexts suggested by Sylvia Wynter's "demonic ground," Hortense Spillers' "insurgent ground," as well as Denise Ferreira da Silva's theory of "hacking the subject." I use Ferreira da Silva's statement that Black women "neither comply [with] nor disappear [from]" the hegemonic order to argue for a conception of the Black feminine that rests on the shifting ground between invisibility and disruptive power. This power is both consciously and subconsciously deployed in ways that may seem excessive to outsiders but which fuel both Black feminine energy and artistic expression. This article asks if, rather than being birthed on the plantation, this femininity sits partially outside the frame of what Ferreira da Silva refers to as "the patriarch form"? What if, following from Spillers we read Black female excess as symbolic, insurgent possibility rather than absence?
Last Narratives: Life Writing Palliative Praxis
Authors: Gygax Franziska
Published: August 2024

Abstract: Research on palliative care emphasizes the crucial role of narratives in the encounter with suffering and dying patients because we need to learn from the dying in order to improve care for them. Autobiographical narratives by terminally ill writers contribute to a more encompassing understanding of what it means to be dying as they often thematize dying and death, besides theorizing all kinds of implications of terminal illness. Among such autothanatographers are well-known writers such as Gillian Rose, Jenny Diski, and Tom Lubbock. The process of writing about the last stage of their lives is palliative narrative praxis because the narrative act alleviates suffering. Exploring dying and death in philosophical, literary, and often highly poetic terms needs to be read and interpreted within a more complex web of meaning-making.
The Meteorological Device: Literary Modernism, the Daily Weather Forecast and the Productions of Anxiety
Authors: Sheils Barry
Published: August 2024

abstract: The focus of this article is the world's first mathematical weather forecast by Lewis Fry Richardson, published in 1922. In a counter-archival and anti-historical move, Richardson's work argues for the "disaggregation" of the future from the past. The paradox which results from this disaggregation, namely that the future must be framed as unprecedented in order to be subject to prediction, is viewed as a disciplinary bind which afflicts literary modernism and meteorology equally. Through a reading of James Joyce's Ulysses alongside the meteorological data for Dublin on June 16, 1904, this article considers the interaction between the future and the archive as a problem of literary writing.
Against Mass Luxury: A Modernist Archaeology of "Politics and the English Language"
Authors: Tripathi Ameya
Published: August 2024

abstract: How did Orwell arrive at his rules for writing in "Politics and the English Language"? Here, I offer a modernist archaeology of the essay, showing how it emerges from The Road to Wigan Pier (1937) and Homage to Catalonia (1938). Concrete words such as "shale" and "shingle" served as a material currency to resist the impressionism of the travel writing of Lawrence and Forster, or the abstraction of Marxist discourse. Orwell's ambivalence towards modernist introspection, at times shared by Empson, Jameson, Woolf, Pound, and Cunard, drove him towards a materialist and nationalist theory and practice of language and prose form.
Transport-of-intensity phase imaging using commercially available confocal microscope
Authors: Yoneda Naru , Sakamoto Joe , Tomoi Takumi , Nemoto Tomomi , Tamada Yosuke , Matoba Osamu
Published: August 2024

Confocal microscopy is an indispensable tool for biologists to observe samples and is useful for fluorescence imaging of living cells with high spatial resolution.
Recently, phase information induced by the sample has been attracting attention because of its applicability such as the measurability of physical parameters and wavefront compensation.
However, commercially available confocal microscopy has no phase imaging function.
In this Letter, phase imaging based on the transport of intensity equation (TIE) in commercially available confocal microscopy is proposed.
The proposed method requires no any modification using a bright field imaging module of a commercially available confocal microscope.
The feasibility of the proposed method is confirmed by evaluating the phase difference of a microlens array and living cells of the moss \textit{Physcomitrium patens} and living mammalian cultured cells.
In addition, multi-modal imaging of fluorescence and phase information is demonstrated.
Laboratory evaluation of the regeneration time, efficacy and wash-resistance of PermaNet Dual (a deltamethrin-chlorfenapyr net) against susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato
Authors: Syme Thomas , N’dombidjé Boris , Todjinou Damien , Ariori Victoria , Ngufor Corine
Published: August 2024

Pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets have been recommended for malaria control by the World Health Organisation (WHO) after an alpha-cypermethrin-chlorfenapyr net showed improved impact in epidemiological trials. PermaNet® Dual is a new deltamethrin-chlorfenapyr net developed by Vestergaard Sàrl to expand options to control programmes. A series of laboratory studies were performed according to WHO guidelines to assess the regeneration time, efficacy and wash-resistance of PermaNet® Dual. Regeneration time was determined by subjecting net pieces to cone bioassays and tunnel tests before and 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after washing. The wash-resistance of PermaNet® Dual was evaluated compared to WHO-prequalified pyrethroid-only (PermaNet® 2.0) and pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr (Interceptor® G2) nets by testing net pieces washed 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 times in cone bioassays and tunnel tests. Tests were performed with susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant strains of Anopheles gambiae to assess the pyrethroid and chlorfenapyr components separately. Net pieces were also analysed to determine insecticide content. In regeneration time studies, the biological activity of the deltamethrin and chlorfenapyr components of PermaNet® Dual regenerated within one day after washing and a 1-day washing interval was adopted for wash-resistance studies. PermaNet® Dual induced high mortality (98%) and blood-feeding inhibition (98%) of the susceptible strain after 20 washes fulfilling WHO efficacy criteria in tunnel tests (≥80% mortality, ≥90% blood-feeding inhibition). Similar results were obtained with PermaNet® 2.0 (99% mortality, 99% blood-feeding inhibition) and Interceptor® G2 (99% mortality, 98% blood-feeding inhibition) washed 20 times. In wash-resistance tunnel tests against the pyrethroid-resistant strain, PermaNet® Dual washed 20 times induced high mortality (91%) and blood-feeding inhibition (73%), which was similar to Interceptor® G2 (87% mortality, 79% blood-feeding inhibition) and superior to PermaNet® 2.0 (47% mortality, 68% blood-feeding inhibition). PermaNet® Dual fulfilled WHO efficacy criteria in laboratory bioassays and showed potential to improve control of pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors.
Typification and differentiation of smallholder dairy production systems in smallholder mixed farming in the highlands of southern Ethiopia
Authors: Azeze Tsedey , Eshetu Mitiku , Yilma Zelalem , Berhe Tesfemariam
Published: August 2024

The present study aimed to classify smallholder dairy production systems by analyzing land allocation for various crop types and characterizing them based on integration with specific crops which is gap in earlier studies. A total of 360 smallholder farmers were interviewed to generate firsthand information in addition to using secondary data sources. The classification utilized K-means clustering, while discriminant analysis was applied to accentuate the distinct characteristics of dairy production systems (DPSs). Subsequently, for a particular crop to be considered dominant, the minimum farmland allocation had to exceed 30%. Based on this, the 360 respondent farmers in the study areas were categorized into four distinct DPSs: diversified crop-based (DCB) at 31%, enset-based (EB) at 28%, cereal-based (CB) at 24% and cash crop-based (CCB) with coffee, khat, vegetables, fruits, and sugarcane accounting for 17%. Within the CCB dairy production system, where cash crops were cultivated most dominantly, averaging 56% of the farmland, farmers reported the highest annual income and, consequently, acquired more improved dairy cows, facilitating their entry into intensive dairy production. Ownership of improved dairy cattle breeds, use of agro-industrial byproducts as feed, practicing stall feeding and better housing are observed practices in this DPS that relate to the intensification of dairy production. This positive relationship was observed between the commercialization of crops and the intensification of dairy production in the CCB dairy production system. In the EB dairy system, enset dominates with a 33% area share, leading to increased residues for cattle feed. They keep large herds of local cattle, limited crossbreeding experience, and prefer conventional feeding. The CB system allocates 47% of land to cereals, justifying cereal residues as primary dairy feed. Cultivating grasses like Pennisetum pedicellatum and Phalaris arundinacea is also highly valued in the system. The DCB system, with diverse crops (none exceeding 30%), implies varied residues for dairy feed. These findings reveal unique characteristics across dairy systems, indicating a positive correlation between crop commercialization and dairy intensification. Hence, understanding each type of DPS and its characteristics will help development experts or those in charge of designing agricultural policy to establish the best strategic plans for enhancing the productivity of dairy cattle under smallholder conditions.
Reduced injection risk behavior with co-located hepatitis C treatment at a syringe service program: The accessible care model
Authors: Lee Claire So Jeong , Mateu-Gelabert Pedro , Melendez Yesenia Aponte , Fong Chunki , Kapadia Shashi N. , Smith Melinda , Marks Kristen M. , Eckhardt Benjamin
Published: August 2024

Background

The main mode of transmission of Hepatitis C in North America is through injection drug use. Availability of accessible care for people who inject drugs is crucial for achieving hepatitis C elimination.

Objective

The objective of this analysis is to compare the changes in injection drug use frequency and high-risk injection behaviors in participants who were randomized to accessible hepatitis c care versus usual hepatitis c care.

Methods

Participants who were hepatitis C virus RNA positive and had injected drugs in the last 90 days were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to an on-site, low threshold accessible care arm or a standard, referral-based usual care arm. Participants attended follow-up appointments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months during which they answered questions regarding injection drug use frequency, behaviors, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Primary outcomes

The primary outcomes of this secondary analysis are the changes in the frequency of injection drug use, high-risk injection behaviors, and receiving medication for opioid use disorder in the last 30 days.

Results

A total of 165 participants were enrolled in the study, with 82 participants in the accessible care arm and 83 participants in the usual care arm. Participants in the accessible care arm were found to have a statistically significant higher likelihood of reporting a lower range of injection days (accessible care-by-time effect OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62–0.98) and injection events (accessible care-by-time effect OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.56–0.88) in the last 30 days at a follow-up interview relative to those in the usual care arm. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of decrease in receptive sharing of injection equipment or in the percentage of participants receiving treatment for opioid use disorders in the two arms.

Conclusion

Hepatitis C treatment through an accessible care model resulted in statistically higher rates of decrease in injection drug use frequency in people who inject drugs.
Comparison of Indocyanine Green with conventional tracers for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: A multidisciplinary evaluation of clinical effectiveness, safety, organizational and economic impact
Authors: Pinelli Maria , Gerardi Chiara , Lettieri Emanuele , Maioru Madalina , Marone Laura , Bertoldi Lorenzo , Navanteri Giuseppe , Costantini Maurizio , Botti Claudio , Pellini Francesca
Published: August 2024

Background

Breast cancer is a global health problem, and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard procedure for early-stage breast cancer. Technetium-99 (TC-99), alone or combined with blue dye (BD) are conventional tracers for SLNB, but they have safety, availability, and cost limitations. Indocyanine green (ICG) is an alternative tracer that has been gaining acceptance among healthcare professionals. This study aimed at assessing the clinical and economic value of ICG in hospital settings, using the health technology assessment (HTA) framework.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of ICG for SLNB, based on literature sources and data collected from two Italian hospitals that switched from TC-99 to ICG. We analyzed ICG’s technical attributes through technology documentation and relevant databases. We performed a systematic literature review of 36 studies to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of ICG. We obtained organizational insights from clinicians and the clinical engineer involved in the study. We applied Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) and Budget Impact Analysis (BIA) to estimate the economic impact of ICG. The ethical, legal, and social implications of ICG were considered through clinicians’ inputs and technology documentation.

Results

Our results showed that ICG had equivalent or superior clinical effectiveness compared to TC-99 and BD, with minimal adverse events. ICG simplified the surgical pathways, by streamlining procedures, reducing waiting times, and increasing flexibility in scheduling surgeries. Moreover, the TDABC analysis showed significant cost reductions by avoiding the need for pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy and hospitalization, with average savings per single care pathway of around 18% for ICG compared to TC-99. Finally, ICG improved patient experience, and proved regulatory compliance.

Conclusions

This study provided strong evidence for ICG’s clinical and economic value for SLNB in breast cancer. It ascertained ICG as a valuable alternative to conventional tracers, ensuring clinical effectiveness along with economic and organizational benefits.
Determining the sweet detection threshold of COVID-19 patients during infection and recovery periods
Authors: Alsanei Woroud , Alhussin Esraa , Natto Zuhair S. , Afeef Marwah , Aktar Tugba
Published: August 2024

Background

The loss of taste and smell is a common symptom of COVID-19, affecting individuals’ quality of life and nutritional status. Detecting sweet thresholds during infection and recovery periods can assist in implementing dietary modifications and nutritional strategies for these patients.

Objective

To investigate the changes and differences in sweet detection thresholds of confirmed COVID-19 patients on Day 1, Day 10, and Day 14 of the infection and recovery periods.

Methods

The demographic factors such as gender, smoking status, BMI, and age group were abstracted on Excel sheet from the medical health records for confirmed COVID-19 patients, who were admitted to King Fahad General Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a COVID-19 care facility, from September 2021 to July 2022. Sweet detection thresholds were determined using a pair-wise comparison procedure and sugar solutions with varying concentrations, arranged in ascending order and presented to participants until the lowest detected concentration was noted after three consecutive positive detections, with the median just noticeable difference (JND) value calculated as the population average threshold. Sensory tests were conducted on COVID-19 patients during their infection and recovery periods to evaluate their taste sensation thresholds. The demographic factors of gender, smoking status, BMI, and age group were considered in the analysis.

Results

A total of 37 patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study were enrolled as participants. Significant variances in sweet detection thresholds were observed among the COVID-19 patients, with consistent decreases over the three testing days, indicating increasing sucrose sensitivity. Infected men showed significant returns to sweet detection thresholds on Day 14 compared to women, while infected smokers exhibited greater recoveries than non-smokers. Overweight patients had consistently elevated thresholds and recovery rates that were comparable to those of normal-weight patients by Day 14, while younger patients had lower thresholds than their older counterparts. On Day 14, the thresholds had significantly recovered to a level comparable to that of healthy individuals (approximately 0.23%).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that sweet detection thresholds can be used as a marker for assessing the progression and recovery of COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing and managing alterations in sweet detection thresholds promptly in COVID-19 patients, as this could positively impact dietary management, nutritional recommendations, and interventions during infection and recovery periods.
Pricing and service effort strategy in live streaming commerce supply chain under the equal proportion settlement mode
Authors: Liu Jinrong , Zhang Yanfen , Sun Zhongmiao
Published: August 2024

Investigating novel collaboration modes is imperative for enhancing the cooperative ties between brand retailers and anchors as live streaming commerce moves progressively towards standardization. In this paper, we study a live streaming commerce supply chain system composed of a brand retailer and an Internet celebrity anchor. We also develop the pricing and live streaming service effort decision models under the equal proportion settlement mode of pit fee for the brand retailer and anchor. The research results show that under certain conditions, there is an optimal joint decision on price discount and live streaming service effort. In addition, the equal proportion settlement mode provides security for brand retailers but tends to expose the anchor’s capabilities of live streaming sales. Consequently, anchors can only obtain a higher proportion of the pit fee by putting in more effort. Finally, through numerical analysis, we presented the impact of key parameters on the optimal decisions, demand, and profits of brand retailers and anchors. Based on these findings, we provided relevant managerial insights, offering valuable guidance and reference for the live streaming commerce industry.
Perfil Epidemiológico do HIV/AIDS em Gestantes: 2018 a 2023
Authors: Nonato Anne Caroline Oliveira , Lodonio Isabelly de Sousa , Chaves Keziane Guilherme , Cunha Maria Gabriela Ferreira , Sales Luísa Lanny Leite , Galvão Nádya Ribeiro , Nonato Victor Kalebe de Oliveira , Nobre Camila Bezerra
Published: August 2024

O HIV/AIDS desde sua descoberta em 1981 até a contemporaneidade passou por transformações, destacando-se o processo de feminilização, que evidenciou um lamentável problema: A transmissão vertical do HIV/AIDS. Tal realidade está permeada por desafios: a descoberta da soropositividade, as dificuldades emocionais, os tratamentos e os riscos do parto e da amamentação. O objetivo do estudo foi realizar uma abordagem sobre a epidemiologia do HIV/ AIDS em gestantes, da contaminação ao pós-parto, permeando por análises físicas, mentais e socioeconômicas que afetam as grávidas e seus familiares, destacando-se o papel dos profissionais de saúde nessa temática. É uma revisão da literatura sobre o perfil epidemiológico do HIV/AIDS em gestantes, resultado de uma análise crítica de 40 artigos, com a inclusão de 17 deles para a formação de um compilado sobre o tema. O nível socioeconômico das mulheres influencia na uniformização do perfil das infectadas, sendo a forma de contágio através de relações sexuais desprotegidas e com parceiros fixos. As gestantes também são alcançadas por sentimentos de medo e culpa pela possibilidade de transmissão vertical e pela impossibilidade da amamentação. Foi compreensível a necessidade de cuidados, durante e após a gestação, com apoio de profissionais, familiares e amigos para que haja uma redução nos casos de transmissão materno-fetal. Portanto, um acompanhamento durante o pré-natal e o puerpério minimizam a transmissão do HIV/AIDS das soropositivas aos seus filhos. Desse modo, torna-se necessária uma maior pesquisa e abordagem sobre o assunto para que os números de contágio se tornem cada vez mais ínfimos.
Transidentidades e Psicanálise: por um fazer clínico não-binário
Authors: Teixeira Iasminny Loiola , Paulino Francisca Bárbara Costa , Danziato Leonardo José Barreira
Published: August 2024

Objetivou-se discutir, nesse estudo, diferentes perspectivas de atuação na clínica psicanalítica considerando às questões transidentitárias não-binárias, a fim de explorar os desafios do fazer analítico nas multiplicidades em que é experienciado o gênero, fazendo emergir um olhar mais cauteloso e acolhedor para uma atuação clínica “desbinarizante”, refletindo sobre os atenuantes epistemológicos e culturais que circundam as transidentidades na pós-contemporaneidade. Foi utilizado como método à abordagem qualitativa a partir de pesquisas de levantamentos bibliográficos, que trazem questões salutares para a consolidação desta pesquisa. O estudo em questão foi conduzido a partir do aporte teórico da Psicanálise. A discussão acerca das transidentidades, por meio da abordagem psicanalítica, necessita estar em um campo aberto e atento às diferenças sexuais, sempre trans-disciplinarizando a escuta e considerando que o sujeito que chega à clínica ultrapassa as logísticas das categorizações biológicas e/ou sociais. Assim, escutá-lo sob a ótica do fazer clínico não-binário é necessário e trans-muta-dor.
Entendendo o Impacto Social dos Impostos no Brasil: Uma Comparação entre Tributos Diretos e Indiretos
Authors: Silva Mislene Hevilla Alves da , Saraiva Piedley Macedo
Published: August 2024

Os tributos sempre estiveram presentes na humanidade, desde as civilizações antigas, quando se necessitou mensurar de forma rudimentar o que cada indivíduo pescava, caçava, para se ter o controle do seu rebanho. Muitos governantes antigos passaram a cobrar de seus súditos cereais, animais, alimentos e trabalho, como forma de tributos. Nessa conjectura, a contabilidade desempenha um papel fundamental no ambiente social. Se destina-se a registrar, analisar, interpretar e planejar as obrigações fiscais, ajudando a garantir uma conformidade com as legislações tributárias em vigor e as normas contábeis. Observe-se que as leis fiscais no Brasil são bastante abrangentes e complexas. O objetivo do presente estudo foi compreender a diferença dos impostos diretos e indiretos, e quais os impactos na economia e na sociedade brasileira. Este estudo aborda os conceitos fundamentais sobre o Sistema tributário e quais são os impostos diretos e indiretos. Os resultados demonstraram que uma gestão tributária eficaz e eficiente é importante para uma  boa distribuição de recursos e serviços para a sociedade resultando em uma melhoria no desenvolvimento do país.