bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of environmental education on the knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and reconnection with nature in early childhood
Authors: Feio Maria João , Mantas Ana Isabel , Serra Sónia R. Q. , Calapez Ana Raquel , Almeida Salomé F. P. , Sales Manuela C. , Montenegro Mário , Moreira Francisca
Published: April 2022

Blue and green ecosystems are considered a key for the improvement of cities sustainability, providing numerous ecosystem services and habitat for many species. However, urban streams are still neglected and degraded, specially in southern European countries. One important step towards the rehabilitation of these ecosystems is the awareness of their importance by citizens. This study aimed to assess the effect of 1-year of activities (field and laboratory) of an environmental education project on primary school children, in improving their knowledge on urban stream ecosystems and their problems. We analyzed students’ questionnaires before and after field and laboratory activities, drawings and group interviews. Initially, most children had incipient contact with rivers and streams, showing fears and lack of knowledge about them. As the project progressed, their perceptions changed, with a clear increase in the proportion of students recognizing the biodiversity associated to rivers (e.g., names of riparian trees, aquatic plants and invertebrates). Also, their fears decreased significantly, while their awareness to the impacts of artificialization and lack of riparian vegetation increased. Our results show that direct contact with nature have a positive role in the way it is understood by children, as well as promoting responsible and sustainable behaviors, being effective from the early primary-school years.
Social norms and climate-friendly behavior of adolescents
Authors: Koessler Ann-Kathrin , Vorlaufer Tobias , Fiebelkorn Florian
Published: April 2022

Adolescents are the decision-makers of the future, and as educational research shows, behaviors, habits, and attitudes established at young age strongly shape behavior in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to understand what factors shape young people’s climate-relevant behavior. In this study, we examine how information about peer behavior affects adolescents’ perception of prevailing social norms and own decision-making. Experimentally, we manipulated whether adolescents received information about other young people’s (lack of) support for climate protection, operationalized as a donation to a CO2offsetting scheme. We find that empirical expectations shifted for all age groups when the information revealed that peers donated nothing or only small amounts. Donation behavior and the normative assessment, however, changed only in the younger age groups. Our study illustrates the caution that must be exercised when others’ behavior becomes visible or is deliberatively made salient in order to induce behavioral change, especially among young individuals.
Consumer attitudes and concerns with bioplastics use: An international study
Authors: Filho Walter Leal , Barbir Jelena , Abubakar Ismaila Rimi , Paço Arminda , Stasiskiene Zaneta , Hornbogen Marie , Christin Fendt Maren Theresa , Voronova Viktoria , Klõga Marija
Published: April 2022

The world production of plastic exceeded 360 million tonnes in 2020 alone, a considerable amount of which is not properly disposed of. The significant pressures and damages posed by conventional plastic to human and environmental health suggest that alternatives are urgently needed. One of them is “bioplastic”, which is defined as bio-based plastic that is (or not) biodegradable. This paper reports on a study on the perceptions of bioplastics among consumers in 42 countries to identify their levels of information and concerns. The results suggest that most respondents have positive expectations regarding the future of bioplastics to replace conventional plastics fully or partially, especially for food containers, kitchenware, and boxes and bags for packaging. They also reported that the low costs and increased availability of bioplastic products on the market are likely to be the main drivers for their wide-scale adoption. However, many participants are unsure whether they would buy bio-based and biodegradable products if they are expensive. Overall, whereas a rather positive attitude to bioplastics has been identified, greater efforts are needed to address the many information needs of consumers towards upscaling the adoption of bioplastics. Relevant policies are therefore needed to encourage investments in the large-scale manufacture and market uptake of bioplastics. The paper reports on an initial study of consumer behavior, in a sample of countries spread across all geographical regions.
Choking injuries: Associated factors and error-producing conditions among acute hospital patients in Japan
Authors: Akiyama Naomi , Uozumi Ryuji , Akiyama Tomoya , Koeda Keisuke , Shiroiwa Takeru , Ogasawara Kuniaki
Published: April 2022

Choking can lead to mortality and residual impairments. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with choking among acute hospital patients and examine error-producing conditions to suggest choking-prevention policies. Among 36,364 cases reported by hospital staff at an acute university hospital from 2012 to 2018 were examined using a retrospective study, 35,440 were analysis as the number of cases analysed for the study. We used descriptive statistics to present patient characteristics and conducted univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with choking. Additionally, we conducted content analysis (root cause analysis) to examine error-producing conditions and prevention policies. Sixty-eight cases were related to choking injuries; of these, 43 patients (63.2%) were male, and 38 (55.9%) were aged 65 years and older. Choking cases had a high percent of adverse outcomes involving residual impairment or death (n = 23, 33.8%). Mental illness (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.14 [1.39−7.08]), and hospitalisation in the general wards (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.13 [1.70−5.76]) were associated with an increased probability of choking. Error production was caused by food (n = 25, 36.8%) and medical devices or supplies (n = 13, 19.1%). Almost all contributory factors were associated with inadequate checking (n = 66, 97.1%) and misperception of risk (n = 65, 95.6%). Choking poses a highly significant burden on patients, and hospital administrators should minimise the risk of choking to prevent related injuries. Hospital administrators should provide training and education to their staff and develop adequate protocols and procedures to prevent choking.
Healthcare workers use of psychological support resources during COVID-19; a mixed methods approach utilising Pillar Integration Analysis
Authors: Richards Helen L. , Eustace Joseph , O’ Dwyer Amanda , Wormald Andrew , Curtin Yvonne , Fortune Dónal G.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

We sought to examine healthcare workers (HCWs) utilisation of formal and informal psychological support resources in the workplace during the first and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland.

Methods

A convergent mixed methods approach was undertaken. Four hundred and thirty HCWs in the Mid West and South of Ireland responded to an online survey in terms of their use of psychological support resources during Wave 1 (April/May 2020) of COVID-19. Thirty-nine HCWs undertook in depth interviews at Wave 3 (January/February 2021), and a further quantitative survey was distributed and completed by 278 HCWs at this time. Quantitative data arising at Wave 1 and Wave 3, were synthesised with Qualitative data collected at Wave 3. A Pillar Integration Process (PIP) was utilised in the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data.

Results

Five pillars were identified from the integration of results. These were: a) the primacy of peer support, b) the importance of psychologically informed management, c) a need to develop the organisational well-being ethos, d) support for all HCWs, and e) HCWs ideas for developing the well-being path. These pillars encapsulated a strong emphasis on collegial support, an emphasis on the need to support managers, a questioning of the current supports provided within the healthcare organisations and critical reflections on what HCWs viewed as most helpful for their future support needs.

Conclusions

HCWs who utilised supportive resources indicated ‘in house’ supports, primarily collegial resources, were the most frequently used and perceived as most helpful. While formal psychological supports were important, the mechanism by which such psychological support is made available, through utilising peer support structures and moving towards psychologically informed supervisors and workplaces is likely to be more sustainable and perceived more positively by HCWs.
Prevalence of stress, burnout, and job satisfaction among mental healthcare professionals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alqarni Turki , Alghamdi Abdulrahman , Alzahrani Alhussain , Abumelha Khalid , Alqurashi Zahid , Alsaleh Ahmad
Published: April 2022

Objective

To assess the levels of stress, burnout, and job satisfaction among mental healthcare professionals in Jeddah City, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on mental healthcare professionals in Jeddah between January 2017 and October 2018. Sociodemographic characteristics and levels of stress, burnout, and job satisfaction were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS). Descriptive statistics were used. Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to assess for effects of demographic variables on the perceived stress score, emotional exhaustion (EE) score, depersonalization (DP) score, professional accomplishment (PA) score, and the job satisfaction score (JSS).

Results

A total of 107 participants were included (50.5% men; 49.5% women) with response rate of 79.2%. Prevalence of stress was 56.1%. High levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were present among 41 (38.3%) and 26 (24.3%) of the respondents, respectively, while high score of low personal accomplishment were present among 61 (57%) respondents. In terms of job satisfaction, 25 (23.4%) were satisfied and 74 (69.2%) were indecisive. Male participants’ emotional exhaustion score (27±12) was significantly higher than females (22 ±10), (t(105) = 1.99, p-value = 0.049). Also, participants with a monthly income above SR 20,000 had significantly higher total job satisfaction (p-value = 0.041).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest rates of stress and burnout among mental health professionals that warrant attention, with less than one-quarter of the participants being satisfied with their jobs. Further studies are needed to expand the findings and to explore the contributing factors. Additionally, interventions should be established by authorities to address the increasing rates of stress and burnout.
Differential immune landscapes in appendicular versus axial skeleton
Authors: Ahmed Aqila A. , Strong Michael J. , Zhou Xiaofeng , Robinson Tyler , Rocco Sabrina , Siegel Geoffrey W. , Clines Gregory A. , Moore Bethany B. , Keller Evan T. , Szerlip Nicholas J.
Published: April 2022

Roughly 400,000 people in the U.S. are living with bone metastases, the vast majority occurring in the spine. Metastases to the spine result in fractures, pain, paralysis, and significant health care costs. This predilection for cancer to metastasize to the bone is seen across most cancer histologies, with the greatest incidence seen in prostate, breast, and lung cancer. The molecular process involved in this predilection for axial versus appendicular skeleton is not fully understood, although it is likely that a combination of tumor and local micro-environmental factors plays a role. Immune cells are an important constituent of the bone marrow microenvironment and many of these cells have been shown to play a significant role in tumor growth and progression in soft tissue and bone disease. With this in mind, we sought to examine the differences in immune landscape between axial and appendicular bones in the normal noncancerous setting in order to obtain an understanding of these landscapes. To accomplish this, we utilized mass cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) to examine differences in the immune cell landscapes between the long bone and vertebral body bone marrow from patient clinical samples and C57BL/6J mice. We demonstrate significant differences between immune populations in both murine and human marrow with a predominance of myeloid progenitor cells in the spine. Additionally, cytokine analysis revealed differences in concentrations favoring a more myeloid enriched population of cells in the vertebral body bone marrow. These differences could have clinical implications with respect to the distribution and permissive growth of bone metastases.
Case Study of a Hybrid Geothermal-Solar System
Authors: Elsayed A. Nagy , Nasr M. M. Abo El , Aboelsoud W.
Published: April 2022

The usage and management of renewable energy have become a topic of interest since existing literature suggests that it would replace fossil fuels. In this study, an analysis of a closed-loop hybrid geothermal-solar energy system is introduced to control air temperature. This can be used in different air-conditioning applications including greenhouses, living quarters, and buildings. Such a case study was carried out in Damanhur city, Beheira Governorate, Egypt. First, the air produced from the proposed hybrid system conditioned the air of a room with the dimensions of L 2m x W 2m x H 2m. Geothermal energy was used to transfer heat to/from an air stream flowing inside a 5 m long, 2 inches in diameter, and 5.3 mm thickness PVC pipe. The pipe was buried 2 m below the groundâ€™s surface and was supported by a solar chimney during the winter for the natural draft of air stream. In addition, a numerical model was built with 9 closed-loop geothermal cases of different design conditions. The pipeâ€™s diameter varied in different cases from 0.17, 0.35, and 0.65 m, while the total pipe length was 47, 64, and 87 m. After that, the air stream was supplied to a room with the dimensions of L 3m x W 3m x H 3m. The air was subject to a 1m long solar chimney at 45áµ’ angle on a horizontal plane. The results of the numerical model prove that the maximum room temperature difference, which is close to 5 áµ’C, can be achieved using a pipe with a diameter of 0.65 m, and a length of 87 m. The validation of the numerical model was carried out using experimental results.
Faktor yang mempengaruhi adopsi dengan mediasi peran intention to use mandiri mobile banking di Surabaya
Authors: Hari Pratama Putra Dimaz Brahmantyo , Rachmat Basuki
Published: April 2022

This study was aimed to determine the effect of the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived Trust, Social Influence, perceived risk, and Perceived Security on Adoption, with the Mediation Role of Intention to Use Mobile banking by Bank Mandiri Customers in Surabaya. This is a quantitative research with survey approach with the sample of 180 respondents. They were taken from from Bank Mandiri customers in Surabaya who have used Mobile banking services. The data were analyzed and the hypotheses were tested using the structural equation model method with the Smart-PLS program. The result showed that each of Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Trust, Social Influence, Perceived risk, and Perceived Security had a significant effect on Intention to Use. Meanwhile, Intention to Use has a significant effect on Adoption. Each independent variables, namely Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Trust, Social Influence, Perceived risk, and Perceived Security toward Adoption is mediated by Intention to Use. It can be implied that the important role of Intention to Use Mobile banking which must be continuously encouraged by Bank Mandiri. Intention to Use can push effect of Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Perceived Trust, Social Influence, Perceived risk, and Perceived Security on Mobile banking Adoption at Bank Mandiri in Surabaya.
Hubungan kompensasi CEO terhadap manajemen laba: Apakah kondisi pandemi Covid-19 ikut memengaruhi?
Authors: Christiawan Yulius Jogi , Jessica Elizabeth , Djaja Vania Nanda
Published: April 2022

The relationship between CEO compensation and earnings management has been studied by the researchers since Healy’s research in 1985. In its development, there are many conditions that can affect this relationship. One of the conditions is the condition of the Covid-19 pandemic. This Co-vid-19 pandemic has a significant role in the economic downturn, which in turn, it could affect the company’s profit target. Profits that do not reach the target may lead the CEOs to do earnings management. This study is aimed to determine the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the relationship between CEO compensation and earnings management. Earnings management is measured using discretionary accrual proxy with Modified Jones Model. The study was done on 217 non-financial companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2019 and 2020. The data analysis technique utilized panel data regression with the program GRETL. This study proved that the more compensation the CEOs receive, the less inclined they are to do earnings management. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, this relationship tends to weaken, meaning that the CEOs would be more willing to manage earnings. The result of this study is expected to help shareholders in deciding CEO compensation in the midst of a pandemic situation.
Handgrip Automotive Prototype of Polypropylene Reinforced Benzoyl Treated Kenaf and Sugar Palm Fibers: A Facile Flexural Strength and Hardness Studies
Authors: Shaharuddin Mohd Izwan , Salit Mohd Sapuan , Mohamed Yusoff Mohd Zuhri , Rahman Mohamed Abdul
Published: April 2022

Combining two or more different types of fibers within a polymer matrix is defined as hybrid composites. The requirements for an impressive hybrid composites include compatible weight ratio, good compressive strength, low-cost production and ease of fabrication. Moreover, hybrid composites provide a combination of remarkable mechanical properties including tensile modulus, compression, impact strength, flexural and hardness, which are comparable with the metal-based product materials. Recently, hybrid composites have been established due to their remarkable performance and efficiency. This study presents a facile analysis of polypropylene (PP) reinforced benzoyl treated kenaf and sugar palm fibers for handgrip prototype application. The materials were further analyzed for their materials molding modeling, and facile mechanical behavior including flexural strength, flexural modulus, Rockwell hardness (HRF), and also weight reduction percentage test. Hybrid composite T-SP7K3 shows higher flexural strength and flexural modulus compared to the ABS (Perodua Axia) at 339.5 MPa and 17.19 MPa, respectively. In addition, the HRF testing shows a higher value of hybrid composite (at 92.96 N/mm2) compared with the ABS handgrip with. Furthermore, the weight reduction percentage also recorded hybrid composite T-SP7K3 with the highest value at 22.7%.
Potential Antimalarial Activity of Artemether/Lumefantrine/Doxycycline: A Study in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Georgewill Udeme Owunari , Adikwu Elias
Published: April 2022

Antimalarial drug resistance is one of the greatest challenges towards eradicating malaria. Exploring new combination therapies can overcome resistance challenges. The present study examined the antiplasmodial effect of artemether/lumefantrine/doxycycline (A/L/D) on a mouse model infected with Plasmodium berghei. Adult Swiss albino mice (22-30g) intraperitoneally infected with blood containing 1x107 Plasmodium berghei were randomly grouped and orally treated daily with D (2.2 mg/kg), A/L (1.71/13.7 mg/kg) and A/L/D. The negative control was treated daily with normal saline (0.2ml) whereas the positive control was treated daily with chloroquine (CQ) (10mg/kg). After treatment, blood samples were assessed for percentage parasitemia and biochemical parameters. Mice were observed for mean survival time (MST). D, A/L and A/L/D produced significant decreases in percentage parasitemia levels at p<0.05; p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively when compared to negative control. In the curative test, D, A/L and A/L/D produced 60.4%, 70.3%, and 90.0% parasitemia inhibitions, respectively whereas CQ produced 76.0% parasitemia inhibition. D, A/L, A/L/D and CQ produced 63.2 %, 80.1%, 92.3% and 83.6% parasitemia inhibitions, respectively in the suppressive test. D, A/L, and A/L/D prevented Plasmodium berghei-induced alterations in biochemical parameters by increasing packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and high-density lipoprotein and decreasing white blood cells, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels significantly at p<0.05 and p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively when compared to the negative control. A/L/D produced significant antiplasmodial activity therefore, it may be used clinically for the treatment of malaria.
Movimiento sobre el tablero: el golpe de Estado como ventana de oportunidad para la transformación del conflicto en Myanmar
Authors: Álvarez Quintáns Sara
Published: April 2022

Con el golpe de Estado llevado a cabo por el Tatmadaw el 1 de febrero de 2021, el conflicto en Myanmar ha tomado una nueva ruta. La violencia desproporcionada empleada contra los manifestantes contrarios al golpe ha contribuido a la movilización de la población, tanto miliciana como civil.

El objetivo del presente artículo es evaluar si el golpe ha sido un factor determinante en la reactivación de las resistencias étnicas armadas en el país, y en qué grado. Para ello, se analizará la situación de los grupos armados más importantes antes y después del golpe militar, teniendo en cuenta los factores que hayan podido contribuir a ciertas modificaciones de los estatus de actividad, así como los nuevos actores implicados.
Las relaciones de la UE en el marco de un orden internacional híbrido
Authors: Berg-Rodríguez Alexis
Published: April 2022

El artículo compara el impacto de los Acuerdos firmados por la Unión Europea (UE) con los antiguos países socialistas del Este en 1999 y con Cuba en 2016 para garantizar una relación institucional y con las sociedades de estos países. Con el objetivo de analizar si el Nuevo Modelo Diplomático (NMD) de la UE puede ser más efectivo que las condicionalidades implementadas en la política exterior de la UE antes de la entrada del Tratado de Lisboa con los países que realicen la transición o cambios desde el sistema socialista a un sistema democrático liberal; o con los Estados cuyos regímenes políticos y sus sistemas económicos no son homologables a las democracias liberales en el siglo XXI. Nos preguntamos si el NMD UE-Cuba puede ser utilizado en el caso de Bielorrusia, Birmania, Rusia, Vietnam, la India, Mongolia o Afganistán para acompañar a las sociedades civiles en estos procesos.
La inasistencia escolar. Un problema secular de la Educación Colombiana del siglo XIX El caso del Estado Soberano del Magdalena.
Authors: Alarcón Meneses Luis
Published: April 2022

En este trabajo el autor da cuenta de uno de los problemas seculares que más ha afectado la educación colombiana, como efecto es la inasistencia escolar. Para ello efectúa un estudio de caso del Magdalena durante el periodo federal, tiempo en el cual el llamado liberalismo radical asumió el poder del Estado y desde allí agenció una serie de reformas que tenían como propósito la modernización del país en lo que se refiere a las instituciones políticas, la educación y la economía entre otros aspectos, lo que significaba romper con las viejas estructuras coloniales que hasta mediados del siglo XIX aun estaban presentes en la sociedad colombiana.
La sociedad barranquillera: entre elementos tradicionales y modernos (1850-1885)
Authors: Castro Vargas Hernando
Published: April 2022

En este trabajo se analiza la formación de la sociedad barranquillera a partir de los cambios económicos que sufrió Colombia entre 1850 y 1885. Para mediados del siglo XIX, la ciudad de Barranquilla logró establecerse como un importante centro económico gracias al dominio portuario que ejerció dentro del país. El dinamismo comercial ayudó a que se conformara un tipo de sociedad en la cual los valores religiosos, la relación entre las clases sociales, la movilidad social entre otros, tenían unos patrones característicos de una sociedad moderna. Debido a que éste proceso dependía de las condiciones externas del comercio, la crisis capitalista de 1873 afectó la dinámica de la sociedad barranquillera adquiriendo características de una sociedad tradicional.
Guardias nacionales y soldados regulares en la provincia de Cartagena: Una mirada desde el mundo socio-racial. (1832-1853)
Authors: Montiel Del Río Alberto , Córdoba Salas Eva , Flórez Bolívar Francisco Javier
Published: April 2022

En este artículo analizamos dos de las instituciones militares más importantes durante el siglo XIX en Colombia: las guardias nacionales y los soldados regulares: Nos interesa sustentar que estas instituciones en la Provincia de Cartagena entre 1832 y 1853 estuvieron caracterizadas por unas marcadas jerarquías socio-raciales, expresadas en el hecho de que la gran mayoría de los individuos que se alistaban en estos cuerpos militares pertenecían a los sectores negros y mulatos pobres de la sociedad.
Discovering Elements and Developing Strategies to Implement the Tailored Care Education for Patients with Diabetes through A Systematic Review
Authors: Pranata Satriya , Wu Shu-Fang Vivienne , Wang Tsae-Jyy Tiffany , Liang Shu-Yuan , Chuang Yeu-Hui , Lu Kuo-Cheng , Khoiriyah Khoiriyah
Published: April 2022

Background: The popular intervention in avoiding diabetes complications in several countries is health education. However, a tailored care education approach based on the phenotyping of patients’ abilities, preferences, cultural orientation is still unclear.Purpose: To discover elements and develop strategies to implement tailored care education for patients with diabetes through a systematic review.Methods: This two-stage systematic review was conducted. The first stage was primary search and assessed the quality of articles followed by discovering elements and developing strategies of tailored care education for patients with diabetes in the second stage.Results: This review included 44 out of 1421 articles that were published in English and focused to discuss on tailored care education for patients with diabetes. Self-management, patient preferences, patient value, interprofessional collaboration, tailored support, glycemic control, and patient centre were among the elements. These factors were utilized to develop seven step strategies for providing diabetes patients with tailored care education.Conclusion: Traditional clinical intervention, decision-making, and future research trends are predicted to be transformed into a personalized care approach. Establishing the effectiveness of tailored care education programs in reducing the risk of diabetes complications among diabetic patients is needed.
A cohort analysis of SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG levels and neutralizing antibodies in fully vaccinated healthcare workers
Authors: Padoan Andrea , Cosma Chiara , della Rocca Foscarina , Barbaro Francesco , Santarossa Claudia , Dall’Olmo Luigi , Galla Luisa , Cattelan Annamaria , Cianci Vito , Basso Daniela , Plebani Mario
Published: April 2022

Objectives

The waning of humoral immunity after COVID-19 vaccine booster (third dose) has not yet been fully evaluated. This study updates data on anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (S-RBD) binding antibodies (bAb) and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) levels in individuals with homologous vaccination 3–4 months after receiving the booster dose.

Methods

Fifty-five healthcare workers (HCW) from Padova University-Hospital were asked to collect serum samples for determining antibodies (Ab) at 12 (t12) and 28 (t28) days, at 6 months (t6m) after their first Comirnaty/BNT162b2 inoculation, and 3–4 months after receiving the 3rd homologous booster dose. HCW were monitored weekly for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ab titers were measured by two chemiluminescent immunoassays, one targeting the S-RBD immunoglobulin G (IgG), and one surrogate viral neutralization test (sVNT), measuring NAb.

Results

Twenty of the HCW had natural COVID-19 infection (COVID+) at different times, before either the first or the second vaccination. Median S-RBD IgG and NAb levels and their interquartile ranges 3–4 months after the 3rd dose were 1,076 (529–3,409) kBAU/L and 15.8 (11.3–38.3) mg/L, respectively, for COVID−, and 1,373 (700–1,373) kBAU/L and 21 (12.8–53.9) mg/L, respectively, for COVID+. At multivariate regression analyses, with age and gender included as covariates, S-RBD IgG bAb and sVNT NAb levels were closely associated with the time interval between serological determination and the 3rd vaccine dose (log10 βcoeff=−0.013, p=0.012 and log10 βcoeff=−0.010, p=0.025) for COVID+, whereas no such association was found in COVID− individuals.

Conclusions

The third booster dose increases anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab levels, elevated levels persisting for up to 3–4 months. Waning of Ab levels appears to be less pronounced for COVID+ individuals.
Fabrication of two multifunctional phosphorus–nitrogen flame retardants toward improving the fire safety of epoxy resin
Authors: Yang Yunxia , Xiao Dan
Published: April 2022

To improve the fire safety of epoxy resin (EP), two novel phosphorus–nitrogen flame retardants, which named as diphenyl allylphosphoramidate (DPCA) and N-allyl-P, P-diphenylphosphinic amide (DCA), were synthesized by acyl chloride reaction and introduced into EP for fabricating EP composites. The combustion tests showed that incorporation of 5 wt% DPCA or 5 wt% DCA into EP led to the exceptional limited oxygen index (LOI) value (27.1% or 31.6%). Besides, the peak of heat release rate of EP-5 wt% DPCA and EP-5 wt% DCA was reduced by 40.69% and 36.69%, respectively, compared to pure EP. The enhanced fire resistance of EP was ascribed to the trapping effect of fillers in the gas phase and the charring effect in the condensed phase. Furthermore, ultraviolet-visible spectra revealed that both EP-5 wt% DPCA and EP-5 wt% DCA have considerable transparency. This study is expected to broaden the application of EP in the industrial area.
Commutativity of prime rings with generalized derivations and anti-automorphisms
Authors: Rehman Nadeem ur , Alnoghashi Hafedh M.
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this paper is to study the commutativity of a prime ring

ℛ

{\mathscr{R}}

with
anti-automorphism ψ and generalized derivation

(
ℱ
,
ξ
)

{(\mathscr{F},\xi)}

satisfying certain algebraic
identities. Furthermore, we describe the structure of any additive map which is ψ-centralizing on
a 2-torsion free prime ring with anti-automorphism ψ. We also provide examples to show that
various conditions imposed on the hypotheses of our results are essential.
Two independent and consecutive Michael addition of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid to (2,6-diarylidene)cyclohexanone: Flying-bird-shaped 2D-polymeric structure
Authors: Pesyan Nader Noroozi , Mousavi Saman , Şahin Ertan
Published: April 2022

Two independent and consecutive intermolecular Michael addition of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid to 2,6-diarylidenecyclohexanone as an α,β-unsaturated ketone leads to synthesis of a new type of meso form 5,5′-((2-oxocyclohexane-1,3-diyl)bis(arylmethylene))bis(1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione) in good yield. These compounds showed a 2D-polymeric structure via intermolecular H-bonds. Structure elucidation is carried out by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction analyses. A plausible reaction mechanism is discussed.
Policy Space for Building Production Capabilities in the Pharmaceuticals Sector in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mustafizur , Wirtz Veronika J. , Kaplan Warren A. , Thrasher Rachel Denae , Gallagher Kevin P.
Published: April 2022

Over the past four decades Bangladesh has built enough domestic productive capacity in the pharmaceuticals and related industries to generate manufacturing capacity and employment to provide access to medicines in the country and to become a modest exporter of medicines as well. This paper traces the role played by government policy in fostering Bangladesh’s burgeoning pharmaceuticals sector and then examines the extent to which such policies would have been permissible under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the rules of recent trade and investment treaties. Bangladesh has not had to adhere to such rules given its status as a Least Developed Country (LDC) but will face those rules as it may graduate from LDC status in the coming years. We find that a significant amount of Bangladesh’s policies would not have been permitted under the WTO, and even more policy space would be constrained under other regional and bilateral trade and investment treaties. These findings reveal that Bangladesh will face a series of challenges as it graduates from LDC status in its efforts to build its domestic pharmaceutical industry moving forward. Our findings also pinpoint challenges for current WTO and other trade and investment treaty members who now seek to build domestic productive capacity in this sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experimental and theoretical investigation of forced convection heat transfer with CNTs and CuO water based nano-fluids
Authors: Abdel-Latif Salwa H. , Refaey Ahmed M. , Elnaggar Sayed A. , Abdelrihem Nehad A. , Wasfy Samaa A.
Published: April 2022

Improving efficiency of the nuclear power plants has always been of interest for researchers. Recently, Nanofluid technology are developed to increase the heat extraction from a hot surface. Throughout this work, the thermal hydraulic behavior of Nanofluid was experimentally investigated and theoretically predicted. For this purpose, an experimental apparatus (setup) was designed and constructed to study the effect of the kind of Nanomaterial and the concentration of nanoparticles. Two kinds of Nanomaterial, Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) and Copper Oxide (CuO) were used. In an experimental investigation of CNTs, two nanoparticles concentration was used; 0.05 and 0.1% vol. CNTs/Water. CuO nanofluid was investigated experimentally with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% vol.CuO/Water. These concentrations of nanofluid were investigated at a constant mass flow rate and different heat fluxes, (1000, 3000 and 5000 W/m2). The test rig was modeled theoretically using ANSYS FLUENT 17.2 code and validated to predict the thermal hydraulic performance of the Nanofluid. The five concentrations of CNTs and CuO nanofluids were theoretically investigated. It was found that the measured wall surface temperatures of CNTs and CuO nanoparticles decreased remarkably as heat flux decreased and the nanoparticles concentrations increased. There was an increase in forced thermal efficiency of nanofluids as compared to base fluid. The experimental results showed a maximum heat transfer coefficient enhancement of 26.55% for a nanofluid prepared with 0.1% vol. CNTs and 20.6% with 0.5% vol. CuO. A good agreement was detected after comparing experimental results with the investigated model.
Movements of three mormoopid bat species (Chiroptera, Mormoopidae) among three underground roosts in southeastern Mexico
Authors: Santos-Moreno Antonio , Hernández-Aguilar Itandehui
Published: April 2022

The movement of individuals between roosts allows gene flow and influences the spatial distribution, dynamics, and genetic structure of populations. The objectives of this study were to describe the patterns of movement of the bats Mormoops megalophylla, Pteronotus fulvus, and Pteronotus mesoamericanus, between a mine (La Mina) and two caves (El Apanguito and Cerro Huatulco) and explore some drivers for the movements in Oaxaca, México using capture-recapture methods. From July 2016 to June 2017, we captured 5082 individuals (2369 P. fulvus, 1868 P. mesoamericanus, and 845 M. megalophylla). We obtained 292 recaptures, including 57 recaptures represented inter-roost movements (34 by P. fulvus, 18 by P. mesoamericanus, and 5 by M. megalophylla). Brownie’s Multistate model showed that the movements among roosts were species-specific and were determined only by the roost occupied before capture for P. mesoamericanus, by the roosts used before and after capture for P. fulvus, or only by seasonality for M. megalophylla. The results showed that the reproductive condition could have influenced the movements between roosts in the three mormoopids, mainly due to the formation of maternity colonies of P. mesoamericanus and P. fulvus in the El Apanguito cave and exclusive colonies of M. megalophylla males in Cerro Huatulco. Due to the importance of the reproductive events that occur in the roosts studied, we suggest that the three roosts should be considered as part of the group of Important Sites for the Conservation of Bats in the state of Oaxaca.
Nietzsche and Normativity
Authors: Constâncio João
Published: April 2022

The article is divided in three main parts. The first part shows that the first three chapters of the second essay of On the Genealogy of Morality (1887) give a genealogical account of the emergence of reason in human history, and that this account involves the claim that reason is a development of human engagement with social rules: Nietzsche understands the emergence of reason as the emergence of a normative space of reasons. The second part interrogates Nietzsche’s conception of value, purpose, and meaning in order to show that he is not a proponent of any version of “bald naturalism”: he does not equate what is “really real” with a natural world of causation devoid of value, purpose, and meaning. The third part of the article shows that, although Nietzsche’s perspectivism does not assign to the space of reasons the status of a purely autonomous realm of justification, he does not dismiss rational normativity, or the space of reasons, as merely illusory. Nietzschean genealogy is shown to be a reflective questioning of our values that investigates the reasons behind our deeper normative commitments.
Peacekeeping and Economic Recovery from Conflict
Authors: Jensen Lars
Published: April 2022

To better understand the large country-level heterogeneity found with respect to post-conflict economic recovery, this paper examines the potential role and impact of UN peacekeeping operations (PKOs) using a dataset which includes key information on civil conflicts and UN PKOs spanning 124 developing economies from 1990 to 2018. Analytical results provide evidence in support of PKOs’ positive impact on post-conflict economic recovery. Recovery growth (defined as a real GDP growth above peacetime growth) is found to only occur when a PKO is deployed and the relationship is stronger for, and likely driven by, the so-called transformative PKOs. Across robustness tests results imply that PKOs are, on average, associated with recovery rates of growth between 2 to 4 percentage points, and thus that peacekeeping could be an important factor in reducing and eliminating conflict-attributable macroeconomic losses. Foreign direct investments (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) are explored as two potential channels that could help explain the growth results. While results for FDI are inconclusive, ODA results imply that there is a strong association between periods of recovery and ODA (as a percentage of GDP) when recovery periods coincide with the presence of a PKO, and again much stronger for transformative PKOs.
A Suggestion for Making the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the U.S. Sentencing Commission Reflect the Realities of Post-Booker Sentencing
Authors: Bolitho Zachary C.
Published: April 2022

It has been approximately seventeen years since the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in United States v. Booker. In Booker, the Court transformed the Federal Sentencing Guidelines from mandatory to advisory. Nonetheless, the front-end of federal sentencing looks the same today as it did pre-Booker—the U.S. Probation Office prepares a presentence report (PSR), the parties litigate over the guidelines calculations set forth in the PSR, and the judge makes a ruling as to the appropriate guidelines range. The work of the U.S. Sentencing Commission also looks largely the same today as it did pre-Booker. This essay argues that it is time to change the guidelines to reflect the realities of post-Booker sentencing. More specifically, this essay argues that the complex and intricate guidelines need to be radically simplified. If the guidelines are simplified in the manner proposed, then the Sentencing Commission’s primary function would become the collection, analysis, and dissemination of sentencing data. Although the changes discussed in this essay would not result in a perfect federal sentencing system (far from it), they would result in a more efficient one that better reflects the practical realities of post-Booker sentencing.
Adapting Race
Authors: Fornoff Carolyn
Published: April 2022

This article considers how Mexican cinema has engaged with and dramatized global political conversations about Black oppression and power. It builds off recent scholarship that analyzes the visual representation of Afro-Mexican subjectivities, as well as scholarship that criticizes Mexican cinema’s long history of privileging whiteness, justified through the ideology of mestizaje. Analyses of Blackness in Mexican cinema have so far focused on its Golden Age (1930s–1950s). This article extends this area of inquiry by looking at the 1970s, a period that is generally dismissed by Mexican film scholars for its inferior quality. I argue that the exploitation genres that proliferated in the seventies allowed Mexican filmmakers to play with race in notable ways. As evidence, I consider one film in depth, El hombre de los hongos (1976, dir. Roberto Gavaldón). This film innovatively translates the blaxploitation subgenre to the Mexican context, giving rise to what I call Mex-blaxploitation. It interweaves references to the Black Panther movement with examples of colonial Black resistance in Latin America, articulating a hemispheric account of antiracist revenge. I signal how certain elements of the film reify existing stereotypes of Blackness in Mexico, but also note its innovative framing of the Afro-Mexican subject as the only viable hero of postindependent Mexico.
Accentuating Latin American Art’s African Dimensions
Authors: Chambers Eddie
Published: April 2022

What theoretical and political exigencies framed the discussions of Latin American art in the 1970s, and what are the afterlives of those formations today? This Dialogues traces a constellation of curators and scholars that participated in the articulation of the field of modern and contemporary Latin American art, paying attention to experimentation and the ways coloniality haunt its development. Authors analyze episodes in the formation of the field, including a prominent international symposium, an audiovisual display as curatorial intervention, and the redefinition of popular art, as well as troubling the subordination of Black art. George Flaherty and Adele Nelson discuss the intensive questioning that constituted the Austin Symposium in 1975, drawing on the previously understudied audio recordings of the conference. Camila Maroja reconsiders the controversial audiovisual presentation by Ángel Kalenberg at the Tenth Paris Biennial (1977) with a view to the transnational cultural politics of the period. Karen Benezra offers that Ticio Escobar’s multidecade reconception of popular art grants space for art by communities historically excluded from both art and the mestizo nation, notably the Ishir Indigenous people of Paraguay. Eddie Chambers issues a challenge and reflects on the limited degree to which the contributions of African-descended artists have been recognized by historians of Latin American art, focusing on Brazil and Cuba. Together these texts propose that questioning and unresolvability can serve as both tools and reminders of the size and significance of the continued work required of the field of modern and contemporary Latin American art.
Verbraucherverhalten und Verbraucherpolitik aus Sicht der Informationsökonomik
Authors: Döring Thomas
Published: April 2022

Für eine ökonomische Rechtfertigung von Verbraucherpolitik liefert die Informationsökonomik eine wichtige theoretische Grundlage. Dies betrifft sowohl ihren Beitrag zur Erklärung des Verbraucherverhaltens als auch die sich daraus ableitenden Implikationen für die Gestaltung von Verbraucherpolitik. Gleichwohl bleiben bestimmte Fragen offen, für die der Ansatz keine zufriedenstellenden Antworten bereithält.
Analyse von Stellenprofilen mit kooperativer Spieltheorie
Authors: Hiller Tobias
Published: April 2022

In diesem Beitrag wird für in Stellenprofilen aufgeführte Tätigkeiten deren Einfluss auf das arbeitsrechtliche Gesamtrisiko sowie zur Eingruppierung der Gesamttätigkeit mit Hilfe der kooperativen Spieltheorie analysiert. Als bekanntestes Lösungskonzept der kooperativen Spieltheorie kommt dabei das Shapley-Lösungskonzept (Shapley 1953) zur Anwendung. Der Beitrag ist dabei wie folgt aufgebaut: Zunächst werden der Aufbau und mögliche Aufgaben von Stellenprofilen erläutert. Anschließend werden die für die Analyse notwendigen Begriffe und Methoden der kooperativen Spieltheorie eingeführt. Daran anschließend folgt die angesprochene Analyse, die auf Hiller (2020b) basiert.
Fallstudie zur Fabrikplanung im Greenfield
Authors: Berneis Moritz , Winkler Herwig
Published: April 2022

Das fiktive regionale Unternehmen „SMB“ plant die Schubkarrenproduktion eines Kunden zu übernehmen und benötigt dafür eine neue Fertigungshalle. In der vorliegenden Fallstudie planen Sie als Projektleiter eines Beratungsunternehmens der SMB eine neue Produktion im „Greenfield“. Nachfolgend wird eine mögliche Lösung zu den im Teil 1 in der WiSt, Nr. 1/2022 gestellten Aufgaben skizziert.
Systematisches Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement beim BR – Nachhaltige Orientierung an Werten, Zielen und Handlungsfeldern
Authors: Riese Markus
Published: April 2022

Der Bayerische Rundfunk hat ökologische Nachhaltigkeit prominent auf seine Unternehmensagenda gesetzt und ein umfassendes und systematisches Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement eingeführt, das die Klimabilanz des Senders perspektivisch verbessern soll. Das Vorgehen ist dabei ganzheitlich und kooperativ. Ganzheitlich, weil die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette von der Beschaffung über die Programmproduktion bis hin zu Technik, Verwaltung und Marketing nachhaltig ausgerichtet werden muss. Wesentliche soziale, ökologische und wirtschaftliche Aspekte müssen dabei Berücksichtigung finden. Kooperativ, weil der BR gemeinsam mit dem ARD-Generalsekretariat unlängst die Koordination der Nachhaltigkeitsanstrengungen im gesamten ARD-Medienverbund übernommen hat. Für diese Gemeinschaftsaufgabe wurde das ARD-Board „Ökologische Nachhaltigkeit" ins Leben gerufen. Diese Einheit soll ARD-weit die Anstrengungen auf den Themenfeldern "Nachhaltige Medienproduktion", "Nachhaltiges Betriebsmanagement", "Nachhaltiges Eventmanagement", "Nachhaltige Verbreitung", "Green IT" und „Nachhaltiges Programm“ bündeln und weiter vorantreiben. Übergreifendes Ziel ist eine umwelt- und ressourcenschonendere Gesamtbilanz des ARD-Medienverbunds.