bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the cost of illness of acute Japanese encephalitis and sequelae care in Vietnam and Laos: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Nguyen An Le Thanh , Slavkovsky Rose , Phan Hai Thanh , Nguyen Huong Thi Thu , Vannachone Souphaphone , Le Dang Hai , Dubot-Pérès Audrey , Vongsouvath Manivanh , Dinh Son Thai , Marfin Anthony A. , Letson G. William , Vu Huong Minh , Tham Dung Chi , Mayxay Mayfong , Ashley Elizabeth A. , Pham Thai Quang , Pecenka Clint
Published: June 2023

Background

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a leading cause of acute encephalitis syndrome and resulting neurological disability in Asia and the Western Pacific. This study aims to estimate the cost of acute care, initial rehabilitation and sequelae care, in Vietnam and Laos.

Methodology

We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study using a micro-costing approach from the health system and household perspectives. Out-of-pocket direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect costs, and family impact were reported by patients and/or caregivers. Hospitalization costs were extracted from hospital charts. Acute costs covered expenditures from pre-hospital to follow-up visits while sequelae care costs were estimated from expenditures in the last 90 days. All costs are in 2021 US dollars.

Principal findings

242 patients in two major sentinel sites in the North and South of Vietnam and 65 patients in a central hospital in Vientiane, Laos, with laboratory-confirmed JE were recruited regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. In Vietnam, the mean total cost was $3,371 per acute JE episode (median $2,071, standard error [SE] $464) while annual costs were $404 for initial sequelae care (median $0, SE $220) and $320 for long-term sequelae care (median $0, SE $108). In Laos, the mean hospitalization costs in acute stage were $2,005 (median $1,698, SE $279) and the mean annual costs were $2,317 (median $0, SE $2,233) for initial sequelae care and $89 (median $0, SE $57) for long-term sequelae care. In both countries, most patients did not seek care for their sequelae. Families perceived extreme impact from JE and 20% to 30% of households still had sustained debts years after acute JE.

Conclusions

JE patients and families in Vietnam and Laos suffer extreme medical, economic, and social hardship. This has policy implications for improving JE prevention in these two JE-endemic countries.
Financial reporting quality of ESG firms listed in China
Authors: Wu Mengqian , Abeysekera Indra
Published: June 2023

Given the growing importance of environmental protection in China, this study investigated the determinants of the financial reporting quality of environmental, social and governance (ESG) firms listed in China. The quality of financial reporting shows how informative the accounting numbers are for decision-making. Because business outlook can influence financial reporting quality, this study examined predictable, moderately predictable and unpredictable business outlooks. The study randomly selected 100 firms from the 2021 China ESG Top 500 Outstanding Enterprises published by the Sina Finance ESG Rating Centre and then analysed those firms in 2018, 2019 and 2020. It investigated determinants (financial health, governance and earnings management), controlling for the influence of known variables (firm age and firm-specific risk) on financial reporting quality measured as accruals quality and earnings smoothness. Ordinary robust least square regression was conducted. Financial health had a negative influence, but governance variables and earnings management did not affect financial reporting quality. Firm-specific risk had a positive effect, but firm age did not influence financial reporting quality. Changes in business outlook had no impact on the determinants’ effect on financial reporting quality. The study found that ESG firms did not engage in earnings management and aggressively manage earnings, pointing to ethical behaviour. This is the first study to contribute to understanding the financial reporting quality of ESG firms listed in China. It examined different business outlooks to understand ESG firms’ behaviour towards financial reporting quality. The findings invite replicable studies outside China to understand the contextual validity and reliability of the financial reporting quality of ESG firms, and to investigate the effect of determinants not examined in this study.
Analysis of spatial perception and the influencing factors of attractions in Southwest China’s ethnic minority areas: The case of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture
Authors: Yin Xiaoyan , Han Xin , Jung Taeyeol
Published: June 2023

As standards of material living continue to improve and urbanization advances, an increasing number of remote ethnic minority areas are becoming tourist destinations. Understanding tourists’ perceptions on a large scale is thus crucial for the development of the regional tourism industry. However, traditional research methods suffer from high costs, small sample sizes, and low efficiency, making it difficult to measure the spatial perception of remote areas on a large scale. This study constructs a research framework for spatial perception measurement of remote ethnic minority areas by collecting reviews data from Ctrip using spatiotemporal data calculation and the Geodetector model. We considered Dali Prefecture as an empirical case and analyzed tourists’ perceptions of the area’s attractions, the spatial distribution of the attractions, and the process of change in the explanatory power of their influencing factors over an eight-year period (2014–2021). The results indicated that the most visited attractions were concentrated in Dali City. The perception of humanistic resources (attractions) with historical value was the highest, followed by natural resources. The high perception of attractions was influenced by the level of tourism development, traffic accessibility and attractiveness, and had an increasing influence on tourists’ perceptions over time. Additionally, changes in the mode of transportation from road to high-speed rail played an important role in the selection of tourist attractions. Conversely, the tourists paid relatively less attention to humanistic resources (e.g., national cultural heritage protection units and traditional villages). Our study provides a basis for the measurement of spatial perception in remote minority areas and can be used as a reference for tourism development planning in Dali Prefecture, thus promoting the sustainable development of tourism in the area.
Enhancing intestinal anastomotic healing using butyrate: Systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental animal studies
Authors: Wildeboer Aurelia C. L. , van Helsdingen Claire P. M. , Gallé Camille G. , de Vries Rob B. M. , Derikx Joep P. M. , Bouvy Nicole D.
Published: June 2023

Background

Despite advancements in surgical technique and perioperative care, intestinal anastomoses still have a 10–15 per cent risk of leakage, which results in considerable morbidity and/or mortality. Recent animal studies have suggested that administration of butyrate to the anastomotic site results in enhanced anastomotic strength, which may prevent leakage. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarises current evidence concerning the effect of butyrate administration on anastomotic healing and will form a scientific basis for the development of new research into this subject.

Methods

Animal studies on the effect of butyrate-based interventions in models of intestinal anastomotic healing were systematically retrieved from online databases. Bibliographical data, study characteristics and outcome data were extracted, and internal validity of the studies was assessed. Outcomes studied through meta-analysis concerned: anastomotic strength, anastomotic leakage, collagen metabolism and general histologic parameters of wound healing.

Results

A comprehensive search and selection identified 19 relevant studies containing 41 individual comparisons. Design and conduct of most experiments were poorly reported resulting in an unclear risk of bias. Meta-analyses showed that butyrate administration significantly increases anastomotic strength (SMD 1.24, 0.88 to 1.61), collagen synthesis (SMD 1.44, 0.72 to 2.15) and collagen maturation, making anastomoses less prone to leakage in the early postoperative period (OR 0.37, 0.15 to 0.93).

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis shows that there is potential ground to investigate the use of butyrate in clinical trials to prevent anastomotic leakage in intestinal surgery. However, more research is necessary to define the best application form, dosage and administration route.
The angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 attenuates renal fibrosis via ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPK-mediated apoptosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction
Authors: Ding Jun , Cui Sheng , Li Song Yu , Cui Lin Yan , Nan Qi Yan , Lin Xue Jing , Xuan Mei Ying , Jin Jian , Piao Shang Guo , Jiang Yu Ji , Zheng Hai Lan , Jin Ji Zhe , Chung Byung Ha , Yang Chul Woo , Cui Jing Hao , Li Can
Published: June 2023

The angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor LCZ696 affords superior cardioprotection and renoprotection compared with renin-angiotensin blockade monotherapy, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we evaluated whether LCZ696 attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting ASK1/JNK/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-mediated apoptosis in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in vitro. Rats with UUO were treated daily for 7 days with LCZ696, valsartan, or the selective ATP competitive inhibitor of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), GS-444217. The effects of LCZ696 on renal injury were examined by assessing the histopathology, oxidative stress, intracellular organelles, apoptotic cell death, and MAPK pathways. H2O2-exposed human kidney 2 (HK-2) cells were also examined. LCZ696 and valsartan treatment significantly attenuated renal fibrosis caused by UUO, and this was paralleled by downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and decreased inflammatory cell influx. Intriguingly, LCZ696 had stronger effects on renal fibrosis and inflammation than valsartan. UUO-induced oxidative stress triggered mitochondrial destruction and endoplasmic reticulum stress, which resulted in apoptotic cell death; these effects were reversed by LCZ696. Both GS-444217 and LCZ696 hampered the expression of death-associated ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPKs. In H2O2-treated HK-2 cells, LCZ696 and GS-444217 increased cell viability but decreased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and MitoSOX and apoptotic cell death. Both agents also deactivated H2O2-stimulated activation of ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPKs. These findings suggest that LCZ696 protects against UUO-induced renal fibrosis by inhibiting ASK1/JNK/p38 MAPK-mediated apoptosis.
Leverage point themes within Dutch municipalities’ healthy weight approaches: A qualitative study from a systems perspective
Authors: Bogt Maud J. J. ter , Bevelander Kirsten E. , Tholen Lisa , Molleman Gerard R. M. , van den Muijsenbergh Maria , Fransen Gerdine A. J.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Despite all efforts of national and local approaches, obesity rates continue to rise worldwide. It is increasingly recognized that the complexity of obesity should be further addressed by incorporating a systems perspective when implementing approaches. Such an approach has four interconnected system levels: events, structures, goals, and beliefs, in which small changes (‘leverage points’) can lead to substantial changes in the functioning of the entire system. The current research examined the functioning of five Dutch municipalities’ healthy weight approaches (HWAs) and the leverage point themes that can be identified in their system.

Methods

Thirty-four semi-structured interviews were conducted with various stakeholders about the HWA, including policy advisors, care professionals, practice professionals, and citizens. An inductive thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Three main themes were identified: 1) HWA organization structure, 2) collaboration between professionals, and 3) citizen participation. Across all system levels, we identified leverage point themes. The upper-levels events and structures occurred the most and were explained by underlying goals and beliefs. Leverage point themes regarding “HWA organization structure” were municipal processes, such as perceived impact; diversity of themes, activities, and tasks; network; and communication strategies, such as messages about the HWA. Leverage point themes regarding “collaboration between professionals” were linking pins, indicating central players within the network; motivation and commitment including support base; and stimulating one another to work on the HWA by spurring other professionals into action. Lastly, leverage point themes under “citizen participation” included reaching the target group, e.g., look for entry points; and citizens’ motivation, including customization.

Discussion

This paper provides unique insights into HWAs’ leverage point themes that can lead to substantial changes in how the entire system functions and makes suggestions about underlying leverage points to help stakeholders improve their HWA. Future research could focus on studying leverage points within leverage point themes.
Food web differences between two neighboring tropical high mountain lakes and the influence of introducing a new top predator
Authors: Jiménez-Seinos José Luis , Alcocer Javier , Planas Dolors
Published: June 2023

High mountain lakes (HMLs) are considered unique and comparable ecosystems for monitoring global climate change. The food web structure can indicate the response of these ecosystems to ecological threats, such as fish introduction, by analyzing the trophic dynamics. Nonetheless, the food webs of tropical HMLs are less well-studied than temperate HMLs. The present study assessed the food webs of two neighboring (600 m apart) tropical HMLs, El Sol and La Luna, inside the crater of the Nevado de Toluca volcano, Mexico. It used stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and Bayesian mixing models with different trophic discrimination factors and priors to assess the impacts of introduced rainbow trout, persisting only in the larger lake, El Sol. The food web in Lake El Sol was more complex than in Lake La Luna, mainly due to its larger size, extensive vegetated littoral zone, and being fueled by autochthonous primary production. In contrast, the smaller and fishless Lake La Luna has a reduced and bare littoral zone that harbored a simple food web substantially sustained by allochthonous carbon inputs. The persistence of introduced rainbow trout in Lake El Sol but not in Lake La Luna accentuated the differences between the lakes. The models suggested that rainbow trout fed on key consumers of littoral macroinvertebrates (70–80%) and pelagic zooplankton (20–30%), increasing the linkage between sub-networks. In both tropical HMLs, the species richness and herbivorous fraction were elevated compared with temperate HMLs, while the linkage density and omnivorous fraction were lower. Basal nodes dominated these tropical HMLs, and the vegetated littoral zone of Lake El Sol had more intermediate (omnivore) nodes. Our results showed the convenience of food web analysis to compare the effects of introduced fish in originally fishless lakes in different latitudes.
Soil elemental changes during human decomposition
Authors: Taylor Lois S. , Gonzalez Adrian , Essington Michael E. , Lenaghan Scott C. , Stewart C. Neal , Mundorff Amy Z. , Steadman Dawnie W. , DeBruyn Jennifer M.
Published: June 2023

Mammalian decomposition provides pulses of organic matter to the local ecosystem creating ephemeral hotspots of nutrient cycling. While changes to soil biogeochemistry in these hotspots have been described for C and N, patterns associated with deposition and cycling of other elements have not received the same attention. The goal of our study was to evaluate temporal changes to a broad suite of dissolved elements in soils impacted by human decomposition on the soil surface including: 1) abundant mineral elements in the human body (K, Na, S, P, Ca, and Mg), 2) trace elements in the human body (Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Cu, Co, and B), and 3) Al which is transient in the human body but common in soils. We performed a four-month human decomposition trial at the University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility and quantified elemental concentrations dissolved in the soil solution, targeting the mobile and bioavailable fraction. We identified three groups of elements based on their temporal patterns. Group 1 elements appeared to be cadaver-derived (Na, K, P, S) and their persistence in soil varied based upon soluble organic forms (P), the dynamics of the soil exchange complex (Na, K), and gradual releases attributable to microbial degradation (S). Group 2 elements (Ca, Mg, Mn, Se, B) included three elements that have greater concentrations in soil than would be expected based on cadaver inputs alone, suggesting that these elements partially originate from the soil exchange (Ca, Mg), or are solubilized as a result of soil acidification (Mn). Group 3 elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Al) increased late in the decomposition process, suggesting a gradual solubilization from soil minerals under acidic pH conditions. This work presents a detailed longitudinal characterization of changes in dissolved soil elements during human decomposition furthering our understanding of elemental deposition and cycling in these environments.
Ostracism and sharing in an intergroup context
Authors: Reem Hila , Zeev-Wolf Maor
Published: June 2023

Previous research suggests that social exclusion is linked to a decrease in individuals’ prosocial behavior. However, this effect has not been examined in an intergroup context. We manipulated social acceptance (using the Cyberball game) to examine participants’ sharing with ingroup or outgroup members in a minimal group paradigm. Results revealed that when the prospective recipient was a group member who rejected them, socially excluded participants shared less than their socially accepted counterparts. However, when faced with members of an outgroup, socially excluded participants showed similar levels of prosocial behavior as their socially accepted counterparts. Further results suggest that the tendency of socially excluded participants to act in a less prosocial manner toward members of a group that had rejected them was generalized to the group as a whole (including group members with whom there had been no previous interaction). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccination on blood and breastmilk antibodies
Authors: Rick Anne-Marie , Lentscher Anthony , Xu Lingqing , Wilkins Maris S. , Nasser Amro , Tuttle Dylan J. , Megli Christina , Marques Ernesto T. A. , McElroy Anita K. , Williams John V. , Martin Judith M.
Published: June 2023

Maternal COVID-19 vaccination could protect infants who are ineligible for vaccine through antibody transfer during pregnancy and lactation. We measured the quantity and durability of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human milk and infant blood before and after maternal booster vaccination. Prospective cohort of lactating women immunized with primary and booster COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy or lactation and their infants. Milk and blood samples from October 2021 to April 2022 were included. Anti-nucleoprotein (NP) and anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG and IgA in maternal milk and maternal and infant blood were measured and compared longitudinally after maternal booster vaccine. Forty-five lactating women and their infants provided samples. 58% of women were anti-NP negative and 42% were positive on their first blood sample prior to booster vaccine. Anti-RBD IgG and IgA in milk remained significantly increased through 120–170 days after booster vaccine and did not differ by maternal NP status. Anti-RBD IgG and IgA did not increase in infant blood after maternal booster. Of infants born to women vaccinated in pregnancy, 74% still had positive serum anti-RBD IgG measured on average 5 months after delivery. Infant to maternal IgG ratio was highest for infants exposed to maternal primary vaccine during the second trimester compared to third trimester (0.85 versus 0.29; p<0.001). Maternal COVID-19 primary and booster vaccine resulted in robust and long-lasting transplacental and milk antibodies. These antibodies may provide important protection against SARS-CoV-2 during the first six months of life.
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 aggravates diet-induced gallstone formation via increased ABCG5/ABCG8 expression
Authors: Kim Min Hee , Lee Eun-Ji , Kim Su-Jeong , Jung Yun-Jae , Park Woo-Jae , Park Inkeun
Published: June 2023

Macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC-1), which is overproduced in various human cancers and associated with cachexia, acts on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and reduce body weight. We investigated the mechanisms through which MIC-1 affects bile acid metabolism and gallstone formation, which are poorly understood. Over 6 weeks, male C57BL/6 mice fed either standard chow or a lithogenic diet were intraperitoneally injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or MIC-1 (200 μg/kg/week). Among lithogenic diet–fed mice, MIC-1 treatment resulted in increased gallstone formation compared with PBS treatment. Compared with PBS treatment, MIC-1 treatment decreased hepatic cholesterol and bile acid levels and reduced expression of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the master cholesterol metabolism regulator sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), mitochondrial sterol 27-hydroxylase, and oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase. Compared with PBS treatment, MIC-1 treatment had no effect on small heterodimer partner, farnesoid X receptor, or pregnane X receptor expression, and extracellular signal–related kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation decreased, suggesting that these factors do not contribute to the MIC-1–induced reduction in CYP7A1 expression. Compared with PBS treatment, MIC-1 treatment increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Treatment with the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR) reduced CYP7A1 and HMGCR expression, whereas the AMPK inhibitor Compound C reversed MIC-1-induced reductions in CYP7A1 and HMGCR expression. Furthermore, in MIC-1-treated mice, total biliary cholesterol levels increased together with increased ATP-binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG)5 and ABCG8 expression. Compared with PBS treatment, MIC-1 treatment did not affect expression of liver X receptors α and β, liver receptor homolog 1, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, or NR1I3 (also known as constitutive androstane receptor), which are upstream of ABCG5/8; however, MIC-1 treatment increased ABCG5/8 expression and promoter activities. Our study indicates that MIC-1 influences gallstone formation by increasing AMPK phosphorylation, reducing CYP7A1 and HMGCR expression, and increasing ABCG5 and ABCG8 expression.
Determinants of socioeconomic factors for quality of life and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older people: A cross-sectional study in Brazil and Portugal
Authors: Torres Larissa Silva Sadovski , Oliveira Adriana Catarina de Souza , Araújo Mayara Priscilla Dantas , de Carvalho Maria Débora Silva , Barbosa Lívia Batista da Silva Fernandes , Dantas Bruno Araújo da Silva , Martínez Carmelo Sergio Gómez , de Miranda Francisco Arnoldo Nunes , Mendes Felismina Rosa Parreira , Torres Gilson de Vasconcelos
Published: June 2023

Our aim was to analyze the association between socioeconomic status and quality of life (QoL) among older people with depressive symptoms treated through the Primary Health Care (PHC) system in Brazil and Portugal. This was a comparative cross-sectional study with a nonprobability sample of older people in the PHC in Brazil and Portugal conducted between 2017 and 2018. To evaluate the variables of interest, the socioeconomic data questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Short-Form Health Survey were used. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed to test the study hypothesis. The sample consisted of n = 150 participants (Brazil n = 100 and Portugal n = 50). There was a predominance of woman (76.0%, p = 0.224) and individuals between 65 and 80 years (88.0%, p = 0.594). The multivariate association analysis showed that in the presence of depressive symptoms, the QoL mental health domain was most associated with the socioeconomic variables. Among the prominent variables, woman group (p = 0.027), age group 65–80 years (p = 0.042), marital status “without a partner” (p = 0.029), education up to 5 years (p = 0.011) and earning up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037) exhibited higher scores among brazilian participants. The portuguese participants showed an association between the general health status domain and woman group (p = 0.042) and education up to 5 years (p = 0.045). The physical functioning domain was associated with income of up to 1 minimum wage (p = 0.037). In these domains, the portuguese participants exhibited higher scores than the brazilian participants. We verified the association between socioeconomic profile and QoL in the presence of depressive symptoms, which occurred mainly among woman, participants with low levels of education and low income, with QoL aspects related to mental, physical and social health and self-perceived health. The group from Brazil had higher QoL scores than the group from Portugal.
Multidimensional analysis of immune cells from COVID-19 patients identified cell subsets associated with the severity at hospital admission
Authors: Gil-Manso Sergio , Herrero-Quevedo Diego , Carbonell Diego , Martínez-Bonet Marta , Bernaldo-de-Quirós Esther , Kennedy-Batalla Rebeca , Gallego-Valle Jorge , López-Esteban Rocío , Blázquez-López Elena , Miguens-Blanco Iria , Correa-Rocha Rafael , Gomez-Verdejo Vanessa , Pion Marjorie
Published: June 2023

Background

SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a new coronavirus causing COVID-19, and it has been responsible for more than 760 million cases and 6.8 million deaths worldwide until March 2023. Although infected individuals could be asymptomatic, other patients presented heterogeneity and a wide range of symptoms. Therefore, identifying those infected individuals and being able to classify them according to their expected severity could help target health efforts more effectively.

Methodology/Principal findings

Therefore, we wanted to develop a machine learning model to predict those who will develop severe disease at the moment of hospital admission. We recruited 75 individuals and analysed innate and adaptive immune system subsets by flow cytometry. Also, we collected clinical and biochemical information. The objective of the study was to leverage machine learning techniques to identify clinical features associated with disease severity progression. Additionally, the study sought to elucidate the specific cellular subsets involved in the disease following the onset of symptoms. Among the several machine learning models tested, we found that the Elastic Net model was the better to predict the severity score according to a modified WHO classification. This model was able to predict the severity score of 72 out of 75 individuals. Besides, all the machine learning models revealed that CD38+ Treg and CD16+ CD56neg HLA-DR+ NK cells were highly correlated with the severity.

Conclusions/Significance

The Elastic Net model could stratify the uninfected individuals and the COVID-19 patients from asymptomatic to severe COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, these cellular subsets presented here could help to understand better the induction and progression of the symptoms in COVID-19 individuals.
Co-creating film education: moments of divergence and convergence on Queen Margaret University’s Introduction to Film Education course
Authors: Munro Robert
Published: June 2023

This case study reflects on the first iteration of a new course in film education, titled Introduction to Film Education, which ran for the first time at Queen Margaret University in Scotland in 2021. It considers the upskilling of both teachers and film education practitioners in film education, while reflecting upon the co-creation of a film education curriculum through the course’s collaborative, peer-driven nature. Finally, it wonders whether any settled film education curriculum is possible, or even desirable.
Environmental attitudes among students at the University of Madeira, Portugal
Authors: Spínola Hélder
Published: June 2023

In the face of the present ecological crisis, improving environmental attitudes is crucial to encourage a cultural transformation that can rebalance the equilibrium between human activities and the planet. The New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale was used to measure the environmental attitudes of students at the University of Madeira, Portugal, and to unveil the challenges that need to be addressed at the local and global level through an environmental education effort. This article presents two dimensions of the NEP scale: the high levels of the ecocentric world view and the rejection of anthropocentrism. It also points out some inconsistencies in the NEP scale. For example, the belief in human ingenuity to properly manage natural resources and keep the planet habitable should be seen as supporting our ability to move towards sustainability, and not the opposite. However, the lack of concern about human population growth requires this to be brought to the centre of the environmental education effort.
هۆشياريى ئاكارى و پەيوەندى بە شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان
Authors: حامد کاروان مجید , رەسول جوان نوری
Published: June 2023

بوونى هۆشيارى ئاكاريى لە كۆمەڵگەدا دەبێتە هۆى لادانى ئاكاريى و فەرامۆشكردن لە بوارە جۆراوجۆرەكانى ژياندا، پێويستە هۆشياريى ئاكارى هاوتەريب لەگەڵ پێشكەوتنەكانى بوارە جۆراوجۆرەكانى ژياندا پەرەيپێبدرێت، بەپێچەوانەوە ڕوخانى كۆمەڵگە و بوارەكانى ترى ژيانى بەدوادادێت، كێشەى خراپ مامەڵەكردنى باوان لەگەڵ منداڵەكانيان پێچەوانەى نيازيان دەشكێتەوە و هيچ هاريكاريەك لە پەروەردەكردنى منداڵدا ناكات، گرنگە بزانين باشترين شێواز كام شێوازەيە بۆ مامەڵەكردن لەگەڵ منداڵدا بۆ بەرزكردنى ئاستى هۆشيارى ئاكارييان، ئامانجى ئەم توێژينەوەيە بريتييە لە، زانينى ئاستى هۆشياريى ئاكارى و زانينى ئاستى شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان و زانينى جياوازى هۆشياريى ئاكارى و شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان بەپێى گۆڕاوەكانى(ڕەگەز، لقى خوێندن، داهاتى مانگانەى خێزان) و زانينى پەيوەندى لە نێوان هۆشياريى ئاكارى و شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان لاى خوێندكارانى ئامادەييەكانى شارى كۆيە، توێژەر ميتۆدى وەسفى پەيوەستى(پەيوەندى) بەكارهێناوە، كۆمەڵگەى توێژينەوەكەى خوێندكارانى ئامادەييەكانى شارى كۆيەن بۆ ساڵى خوێندنى(٢٠٢١-٢٠٢٢ز)، توێژەر پێوەرى(هۆشياريى ئاكار)ى ئامادەكردووە، بۆ پێوانەكردنى شێوازى مامەڵەى باوانيش پشتى بە پێوەرى(جبار، ٢٠١٦) بەستووە، دوايى دەرهێنانى ڕاستگۆيى و جێگيرى بۆ پێوەرەكان، جێبەجێ كران، لە ئەنجامدا دەركەوت كە ئاستى هۆشياريى ئاكارى و شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان لاى سامپڵى توێژينەوەكە بەرزە، ئاستى هۆشياريى ئاكارى بەپێى گۆڕاوى(ڕەگەز، لقى خوێندن، داهاتى مانگانەى خێزان) جياوازى نييە بەڵام بۆ شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان بەپێى گۆڕاوى ڕەگەز بۆ شێوازى(توندوتيژى) لە ئاستى بەڵگەداريدا جياوازى هەيە بەلاى ڕەگەزى مێدايە، بۆ شێوازەكانى(هەماهەنگى، زاڵبون، فەرامۆشكردن) جياوازى نييە، جياوازى هەيە بەپێى گۆڕاوى داهاتى مانگانەى خێزان لە ئاستى بەڵگەداريدا بەڵام جياوازى نييە بەپێى گۆڕاوى لقى خوێندن، پەيوەندى هەيە لە نێوان هۆشياريى ئاكارى و شێوازى مامەڵەى باوان پەيوەنديەكەش پەيوەنديەكى ئەرێنى و ڕاستەوانەيە. لەكۆتايى توێژينەوەكەدا توێژەر كۆمەڵێك دەرئەنجام و ڕاسپاردە و پێشنيازى خستۆتەڕو.
Global policy mobilities in federal education systems
Authors: Beech Jason , Engel Laura , Savage Glenn C. , Lingard Bob
Published: June 2023

As an introduction to this special issue, this paper presents a discussion of different theoretical and methodological challenges in analyzing the ways in which global policy flows are shaping education policies and practices within and across federal systems. We argue that the dynamics between the global and the federal systems are complex, non-linear, multi-directional and ever changing. We start by discussing the notion of global policy mobilities and the kinds of theoretical approaches that we suggest can be productive in understanding the flows of power in education across spaces. We then move on to conceptualize “the federal” in education. While global flows do not lead toward universal results or linear policy convergence across nations, we also stress the necessity to think about federalism not as singular but in the plural, as federalisms, given the different configurations and historical developments of federal systems of education. To conclude, we highlight four analytic tensions and new directions for future research on global policy mobilities in federal education systems.
ENDÜSTRİ 4.0 İLE KATMANLI ÜRETİMİN BÜTÜNLEŞMESİNİ KOLAYLAŞTIRAN FAKTÖRLERİN YORUMLAYICI YAPISAL MODELLEME İLE ANALİZİ
Authors: CAN SAĞLAM Yeşim
Published: June 2023

Hızlı prototipleme veya üç boyutlu (3B) baskı isimleriyle de anılan katmanlı üretim, geleneksel bilgisayar destekli üretimin aksine malzemelerin birleştirilerek üst üste eklenmesi felsefesine dayanan ve karmaşık geometrili nesnelerin üretilmesini mümkün kılan bir üretim yöntemidir. Bilişim teknolojilerinin endüstriyi bir araya getirmesiyle ortaya atılan endüstri 4.0 ise, nesnelerin ortak bir iletişim ağıyla birbirleriyle haberleşmesini mümkün kılan 4. Sanayi devrimi olarak nitelendirilmektedir. Endüstri 4.0’ın temel amacı, insan gücüne bağımlılığı azaltmak, daha az maliyetle üretim çizelgesi oluşturarak daha etkili, hızlı ve esnek yapı inşa etmektir. Mevcut literatür her ne kadar katmanlı üretimin endüstri 4.0 ile bütünleşmesinin ortaya çıkaracağı avantajlardan bahsetse de, endüstri 4.0 ve katmanlı üretimin bütünleşmesini mümkün kılan faktörlerin taşıdığı önemi derecelendirme bağlamında oldukça az sayıda çalışma vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, endüstri 4.0 ile katmanlı üretimin bütünleşmesini kolaylaştıran faktörleri literatür incelemeleri ile elde etmek ve uzman görüşleri yardımıyla bu faktörler arasındaki ilişkiyi Yorumlayıcı Yapısal Modelleme ile analiz etmektir. Yorumlayıcı Yapısal Modelleme yöntemiyle faktörler arasındaki ilişkiler tespit edilmiş ve MICMAC analiziyle ise belirlenen faktörlerin endüstri 4.0 ile katmanlı üretimin bütünleşmesini kolaylaştırması açısından önemi bağımlılık ve etkileme seviyelerine göre ortaya konulmuştur. Analizler sonucunda ortaya çıkan hiyerarşik ilişkiler modeline göre, endüstri 4.0 ile katmanlı üretimin bütünleşme sürecini kolaylaştıran en önemli faktör olarak nesnelerin interneti bulgulanmıştır.
Jordanian Patients’ Perspectives of the Role of Complementary Medicine in the Treatment of Cancer
Authors:   Jordan University of Science and Technology, Omran Suha , Barakat Husam
Published: June 2023

Background: In recent years, Jordan has seen a rise in the prevalence of cancer cases. Many Jordanian cancer patients have reported a readiness to try to alleviate their symptoms, and thus improve their quality of life by adopting a blend of traditional, complementary and integrative (TCI) medicines. Currently, hospitals in Jordan offer no or limited complementary medicine (CM) services as part of oncology or palliative cancer care. Purpose: This study examines the perspectives of Jordanian cancer patients regarding the desirability of integrating a range of CM approaches with the conventional treatments offered by hospitals. Methods: In this descriptive study, 253 patients formed a convenient sample and were asked to complete the Questionnaire on Integrating Complementary Medicine in Oncology Treatment. Results: More than 40% of the patients were found to have used CM during chemo or radiotherapy. Different types of herbal medicine were the most used treatments. More than a half of the participants showed willingness to seek advice from healthcare professionals on the use of CM for cancer treatment if it was integrated into their oncology treatment. Participants expected CM to improve their symptoms of pain, nausea and vomiting, as well as changes in appetite. Conclusion: Since there can be some safety issues involved with CM approaches, training should be given to care providers on how to best help their cancer patients based on evidence-based culturally sensitive consultation. Implications for Nursing: More research is needed to be done into the perspectives of healthcare providers and care givers on CM use and its usefulness alongside the conventional medical treatments.
Force sensor reduced measurement error compared with verbal command during sit‐to‐stand assessment of cerebral autoregulation
Authors: Whitaker Alicen A. , Vidoni Eric D. , Montgomery Robert N. , Carter Kailee , Struckle Katelyn , Billinger Sandra A.
Published: June 2023

Current methods estimate the time delay (TD) before the onset of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) from verbal command to stand. A force sensor used during a sit‐to‐stand dCA measure provides an objective moment an individual stands (arise‐and‐off, AO). We hypothesized that the detection of AO would improve the accuracy of TD compared with estimation. We measured middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) for 60 s sitting followed by 2‐min standing, three times separated by 20 min. TD was calculated as the time from: (1) verbal command and (2) AO, until an increase in cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi = MCAv/MAP). Sixty‐five participants were enrolled: young adults (n = 25), older adults (n = 20), and individuals post‐stroke (n = 20). The TD calculated from AO ( = 2.98 ± 1.64 s) was shorter than TD estimated from verbal command ( = 3.35 ± 1.72 s, η2 = 0.49, p < 0.001), improving measurement error by ~17%. TD measurement error was not related to age or stroke. Therefore, the force sensor provided an objective method to improve the calculation of TD compared with current methods. Our data support using a force sensor during sit‐to‐stand dCA measures in adults across the lifespan and post‐stroke.
Wenn es kritisch wird
Authors: Pieper Carina , Vogel Martin , Nielsen Celia , Arkenberg Julia
Published: June 2023

Aktuelle Diskussionen um zeitgemäße Formen der Büroarbeit und der Organisation von Arbeit insgesamt fokussieren einerseits den vermehrten Einsatz digitaler Kommunikationstechnik, andererseits geht es um den Abbau formaler Hierarchien und den Ausbau selbstorganisierter Teams. Dass auch diese mediatisiert arbeitenden Teams Führung brauchen, steht dabei außer Frage. Dieser Umstand aber stellt die herkömmliche, vor allem an formalen, hierarchischen Positionen orientierte Führungsforschung vor eine Schwierigkeit: Wie lässt sich Führung noch beobachten, wenn unklar bleibt, von wem sie ausgeht? Der Artikel schlägt eine Alternative vor, die Führung als sozialen Prozess beschreibt. Denn es ist bemerkenswert, dass in den einschlägigen Publikationen zu Führung unklar bleibt, wie sich Führung eigentlich ereignet. Die Studie liefert hierfür erste Hinweise, indem sie beobachtet, inwiefern Führung in virtuellen Teambesprechungen erforderlich wird. Dazu wird ein sequenzielles Führungsverständnis zugrunde gelegt und erstmals empirisch untersucht, das Führung als „situativ erfolgreiche Einflussnahme in kritischen Momenten“ definiert. Das Ergebnis ist eine erste Typisierung solcher kritischen Momente, welche zukünftiger Forschung als Grundlage dienen kann.
Home sweet home? Arbeits(t)raum Homeoffice
Authors: Lübcke Stefanie , Ohlbrecht Heike
Published: June 2023

Spätestens seit Beginn der COVID-19-Pandemie wurde öffentlich vielfach diskutiert, welche Auswirkungen die Arbeit im Homeoffice auf die Beschäftigten hat und ob die Zunahme des mobilen Arbeitens neue Chancen für die Geschlechtergerechtigkeit birgt. An diesen Diskurs knüpft die Untersuchung an und widmet sich der Frage, wie das Homeoffice von den Beschäftigten erlebt wird. Auf der Grundlage der Auswertung von 28 qualitativen Interviews mit der Grounded Theory werden die Chancen und Risiken des Homeoffice betrachtet. Die zentralen Ergebnisse der Untersuchung sind, dass dieselben Elemente des Homeoffice sowohl als Belastung als auch als Entlastung wahrgenommen werden, dass das Erleben des Homeoffice von arbeitsbezogenen und von personenbezogenen Bedingungen beeinflusst wird und dass sich die Geschlechterungleichheit in traditionellen Paarbeziehungen mit Kind im Homeoffice verstärken kann.
Relative entropy of hypersurfaces in hyperbolic space
Authors: Yao Junfu
Published: June 2023

We study a notion of relative entropy for certain hypersurfaces in hyperbolic space.
We relate this quantity to the renormalized area introduced by Graham–Witten.
We also obtain a monotonicity formula for relative entropy applied to mean curvature flows in hyperbolic space.
A case study examining the Turkish language skills of bilingual children according to adverse teaching conditions
Authors: Sönmez Hülya
Published: June 2023

In the research, the effect of adverse teaching conditions on the Turkish listening comprehension, speaking, written expression, and reading comprehension skills of bilingual students was investigated. In the study, some indicators of the basic language skills of bilingual children were examined according to the multi-grade classroom and COVID-19 factors. The universe of the study is bilingual children studying in multi-grade classrooms of primary education in Muş province. The population is made up of sixty-nine third and fourth-year students from four different primary schools. Three questions were analyzed: (1) What is the level of students’ listening comprehension, speaking, written expression, and reading comprehension skills? (2) How is the effect of independent variables (gender, age of acquisition of Turkish, school level, parents’ education, and school) on students’ language skills? (3) How is the relationship between students’ listening comprehension, speaking, written expression, and reading comprehension skills? The study adopted a multiple-case study design. The data were collected using two rubrics and two achievement tests. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple group comparisons, nonparametric tests, and correlation. The results revealed findings regarding participants’ listening comprehension, speaking, written expression, and reading comprehension skills. It was observed that the independent variables did not significantly affect the language skills of the participants. According to the findings, students’ language indicators of written expression are weak and relatively inadequate. Alike students’ language indicators of reading comprehension are partially inadequate. On the other hand, the indicators in speaking and listening comprehension skills were observed to be good but partially insufficient. The results show that the performance of bilingual students in multi-grade classrooms on Turkish language indicators observed during the COVID-19 outbreak is not at an adequate level completely.
Development of an H
∞ controller for a microgrid using LabVIEW
Authors: Yadav Neeta , Sunil Arunima , Subudhi Bidyadhar
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses on designing a simple yet efficient H
∞ controller for regulating the voltage/frequency, output current, and active/reactive power-sharing in a microgrid (MG). The purpose of designing the robust H
∞ controller is to regulate the frequency and voltage in face of the uncertainties in the microgrid and load variation. The studied DC MG test bed includes an SMPS (switching-mode power supply) and DC-DC converter, necessary sensor and data acquisition systems. The proposed control scheme is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink and is then verified in real-time using LabVIEW. The control scheme is developed in the LabVIEW software’s block diagram panel of the virtual instrumentation interface. From both simulation and LabVIEW implementation, load sharing among the DGs, and voltage and frequency regulation at the nominal values are achieved by employing the proposed H
∞ controller. The robustness of the proposed controller is evaluated by comparing it with a robust observer-based controller (Zarei A, Mousavi Y, Mosalanezhad R, Atazadegan MH. Robust voltage control in inverter-interfaced microgrids under plug-and-play functionalities. IEEE Syst J 2020;14:2813–24) under balanced, unbalanced, and non-linear loads. The comparison results envisage that the proposed controller provides improved voltage/frequency regulation and power-sharing during disturbances including the addition of non-linear load to the MG system.
Stereocomplex formation of a poly(D-lactide)/poly(L-lactide) blend on a technical scale
Authors: Marx Boris , Bostan Lars , Herrmann Axel S. , Schmidt Ella M. , Murshed M. Mangir
Published: June 2023

Poly(D-lactide) (PDLA) and poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), both available on the market, are blended on a technical scale. Using a special process control, the two materials are blended in a twin-screw extruder at a mass throughput rate of 2 kg/h, resulting in a stereocomplex Poly(-lactide) (PLA) blend. Thermal analysis indicates only one melting point at 235 °C. Both the Raman spectra and X-ray powder diffraction patterns show characteristic features for the stereocomplex PLA. With the available amount of this blend PLA fibers with technical strengths can be developed by melt spinning. As such, the application of the biopolymer PLA can be expanded, leading to substitute the conventional plastics for conserving both the resources and the environment.
A novel hybrid ensemble convolutional neural network for face recognition by optimizing hyperparameters
Authors: Anwarul Shahina , Choudhury Tanupriya , Dahiya Susheela
Published: June 2023

A fully fledged face recognition system consists of face detection, face alignment, and face recognition. Facial recognition has been challenging due to various unconstrained factors such as pose variation, illumination, aging, partial occlusion, low resolution, etc. The traditional approaches to face recognition have some limitations in an unconstrained environment. Therefore, the task of face recognition is improved using various deep learning architectures. Though the contemporary deep learning techniques for face recognition systems improved overall efficiency, a resilient and efficacious system is still required. Therefore, we proposed a hybrid ensemble convolutional neural network (HE-CNN) framework using ensemble transfer learning from the modified pre-trained models for face recognition. The concept of progressive training is used for training the model that significantly enhanced the recognition accuracy. The proposed modifications in the classification layers and training process generated best-in-class results and improved the recognition accuracy. Further, the suggested model is evaluated using a self-created criminal dataset to demonstrate the use of facial recognition in real-time. The suggested HE-CNN model obtained an accuracy of 99.35, 91.58, and 95% on labeled faces in the wild (LFW), cross pose LFW, and self-created datasets, respectively.