bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Συγκριτική μελέτη: διατροφικές συνήθειες γιατρών κατά τη διάρκεια εφημερίας σε γενικά νοσοκομεία και εκπαιδευτικών πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης
Authors: Τσόλης Κωνσταντίνος
Published: July 2024

Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει και συγκρίνει τις διατροφικές συνήθειες γιατρών κατά τη διάρκεια των εφημεριών σε γενικά νοσοκομεία με εκείνες των εκπαιδευτικών πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης κατά τη διάρκεια της εργασίας τους σε επαρχιακή πόλη της Ελλάδος. Στόχος της έρευνας είναι να αναδείξει τις διαφορές και τις ομοιότητες στη διατροφή αυτών των δύο επαγγελματικών ομάδων που εργάζονται σε απαιτητικά και στρεσογόνα περιβάλλοντα. Επίσης να διερευνηθεί η σχέση των διατροφικών επιλογών που κάνουν οι ιατροί κατά την διάρκεια της εφημερίας σε σύγκριση με τις διατροφικές συνήθειες των εκπαιδευτικών πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης κατά τη διάρκεια του εργασιακού τους ωραρίου. Να διερευνηθεί αν οι διατροφικές επιλογές τους επηρεάζουν τόσο την εργασιακή τους απόδοση, όσο και τις διατροφικές επιλογές ασθενών και μαθητών/τριών αντίστοιχα.Η έρευνα περιλαμβάνει δείγμα 418 γιατρών και 518 εκπαιδευτικών, οι οποίοι κλήθηκαν να συμπληρώσουν ένα αναλυτικό ερωτηματολόγιο σχετικά με τις διατροφικές τους συνήθειες, την ποιότητα και την ποσότητα της τροφής που καταναλώνουν, καθώς και τις ώρες των γευμάτων τους. Επίσης, καταγράφηκαν οι προτιμήσεις τους σε συγκεκριμένες κατηγορίες τροφίμων και ποτών. Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης έδειξαν ότι οι γιατροί κατά τη διάρκεια της εφημερίας έχουν την τάση να καταναλώνουν περισσότερο γρήγορο φαγητό και καφεΐνη, σε σύγκριση με τους εκπαιδευτικούς, οι οποίοι επιλέγουν πιο συχνά σπιτικά γεύματα και φρούτα. Οι γιατροί ανέφεραν επίσης συχνότερη παράλειψη γευμάτων λόγω των αυξημένων επαγγελματικών υποχρεώσεων και της έλλειψης χρόνου. Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι εκπαιδευτικοί ανέφεραν ότι έχουν πιο σταθερά ωράρια γευμάτων, αν και μερικές φορές καταναλώνουν πρόχειρα σνακ λόγω της έντασης της εργασίας. Η μελέτη αναδεικνύει την ανάγκη για καλύτερη ενημέρωση και ευαισθητοποίηση σχετικά με τη σημασία της υγιεινής διατροφής και για τις δύο επαγγελματικές ομάδες. Ειδικότερα, προτείνεται η ανάπτυξη προγραμμάτων στήριξης και παροχής υγιεινών επιλογών γευμάτων στα νοσοκομεία και στα σχολεία, ώστε να διασφαλιστεί η υγεία και η ευεξία των γιατρών και των εκπαιδευτικών. Συνολικά, η συγκριτική ανάλυση αναδεικνύει τις προκλήσεις που αντιμετωπίζουν οι επαγγελματίες υγείας και εκπαίδευσης όσον αφορά τις διατροφικές τους συνήθειες και την ανάγκη για στοχευμένες παρεμβάσεις που θα βελτιώσουν την ποιότητα της διατροφής τους.
Implementation of digital technologies in political campaigns
Authors: Matyukhin A. , Davydova Yu. , Denisenkova N.
Published: July 2024

The article reveals the specifics of the use of digital technologies in political campaigns. In particular, based on a comparative analysis, the experience of using these technologies in the political process of the USA, the EU and the Russian Federation is compared. It is noted that artificial intelligence technologies are most often used in political campaigns, namely targeted advertising, Big Data and the use of cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology to finance political campaigns. It is in this direction that the development of regulatory legal acts regulating the use of digital technologies is also underway. Insufficient elaboration of the issues of the use of digital technologies in the political sphere provides significant opportunities for research. The purpose of the article is to identify the main directions of using digital technologies in political campaigns. The following general scientific methods were used to analyze the results obtained: description, analysis, synthesis. An important role was played by the method of comparative analysis, which allows comparing the use of digital technologies in the USA, EU countries and Russia, as well as obtaining the most representative indicators. The authors have developed criteria and indicators for comparing the use of basic digital technologies by different countries and evaluated them on a 5-point scale. The article also used SWOT analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the introduction of digital technologies in political campaigns, as well as to demonstrate the opportunities and threats of their use. The results of comparative and SWOT analysis showed that the use of digital technologies in the Russian Federation and the European Union are approximately at the same level, with the exception of the introduction of Big Data - it is much higher in the EU. The highest degree of implementation of digital technologies is typical for the United States. The article reveals a direct relationship between the degree of regulatory regulation of end-to-end technologies and the level of their dissemination, which indicates the need to maintain a reasonable balance in the legislative regulation of innovative technologies. There is also a tendency to increase the use of digital technologies in Russian political practice, which increases the responsibility of political actors for ensuring the security of personal data of citizens. The article concludes that the development and implementation of digital technologies in modern Russian political life requires the development of a regulatory framework to protect the privacy of citizens and ensure the ethics and transparency of their application. The state should act as a coordinating intermediary between political actors and IT campaigns in order to develop and integrate digital technologies into political campaigns at various levels.
The Contemporary «clash of civilizations»: have S. Huntington’s predictions come true?
Authors: Savenkov Roman
Published: July 2024

The report attempts to identify the logic of world processes outlined in the mid-1990s by S. Huntington in the book “The Clash of Civilizations” and use it to analyze the current international situation on the basis of strategic documents of the Russian Federation, interviews and speeches of the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin. The selected sources determine the directions of the country's foreign policy, formally and concisely present an understanding of the challenges, threats and opportunities for Russian partnership. To achieve this goal, we need to solve the following problems using comparative analysis. First, to characterize changes in the balance of power on the geopolitical map of the world in the 1990s and 2020s. Secondly, to determine the driving forces of world processes (civilizations, political, economic interests). Thirdly, assess the strength and longevity of modern partnerships and alliances predicted by Huntington between countries representing different civilizations. Fourth, determine the reasons for the start of a special military operation in Ukraine from the perspective of the concept S. Huntington. Fifthly, in response to current geopolitical challenges, determine models for the future existence of Russia and Ukraine. Sixth, assess the role of modern Russia in destroying the dominance of Western civilization and building a multipolar world. According to our hypothesis, the simultaneous use of the conceptual optics of the civilizational approach and political realism makes it possible to more clearly and accurately explain the observed geopolitical changes. It is obvious that a number of S. Huntington’s forecasts came true, and the conclusions are repeated in the strategic documents of the Russian Federation. In the book of 1996 and in documents of the 21st century a permanent conflict is being reproduced between the core countries - the most powerful and culturally central states. The Russian Federation claims leadership in the formation of a new multipolar world order.
Possível uso de ninho de Mischocyttarus ypiranguensis Fonseca, 1926 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) para camuflagem de mãe-da-lua Ameropterus sp. (Neuroptera: Ascalaphinae: Ululodini)
Authors: Ferreira Eike Daniel Fôlha , Jacques Gabriel de Castro , Souza Marcos Magalhães de
Published: July 2024

A camuflagem é uma estratégia de sobrevivência para muitos insetos. Neste trabalho, o objetivo é apresentar informações sobre a etologia de Ameropterus sp. (Ascalaphinae), em relação a uma possível estratégia de camuflagem em ninho abandonado de vespa social. Observamos um indivíduo de Ameropterus sp. repousado sobre as células de um ninho abandonado da vespa social Mischocyttarus ypiranguensis Fonseca, 1926. O Ameropterus sp. encontrava-se com o corpo e antenas esticadas, assim como as asas sobre o tórax e abdome, o que dificultava a visualização de seu corpo. Além disso, também apresentava coloração e forma similar ao do ninho da vespa social, o que sugere uma possível estratégia de camuflagem. Este comportamento pode ser uma adaptação para dificultar sua visualização, fornecendo proteção contra predadores diurnos. Nossas observações permitem criar a hipótese de que algumas espécies de Ascalaphinae possam utilizar ninhos abandonados de vespas sociais como proteção baseada em camuflagem, mas são necessários mais estudos para melhor avaliação dessa possível condição, pois pode ser também uma situação casual.
Las prácticas de movilidad sostenible en la periferia urbana popular de Bogotá: factores facilitadores y obstaculizadores
Authors: Villar-Uribe José Ricardo , Demoraes Florent , Penagos-Ávila Laura Valentina
Published: July 2024

Este artículo analiza los factores que posibilitan u obstaculizan el uso de modos sostenibles en los viajes por motivo de trabajo o estudio en una zona popular de la periferia sur de Bogotá. Los resultados basados en material cuantitativo y cualitativo muestran que los habitantes de esta zona se trasladan mayoritariamente en modos sostenibles. También revelan el papel del transporte informal para facilitar el uso diario de la bicicleta. En contraste, la inseguridad, la invasión del espacio público, la infraestructura inadecuada, el costo del viaje y las normas que regulan el uso del transporte público aparecen como barreras. Esto sugiere que las políticas y proyectos de movilidad urbana en Bogotá pierden de vista algunas realidades que enfrentan los habitantes de los márgenes de la ciudad, lo cual restringe un mayor desarrollo de prácticas de movilidad sostenible.
Stigma and Discrimination Towards People Living With HIV/AIDS Among Myanmar Migrants in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Authors: Thant Kyaw Soe ,   Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand., Thongprachum Aksara , Chautrakarn Sineenart , Chantaklang Pannawich , Chariyalertsak Suwat ,   Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.,   Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.,   Nakornping Hospital, Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand,   Faculty of Public Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Published: July 2024

HIV remains a significant public health concern among migrants in Thailand, a central migration hub in Southeast Asia. Reducing HIV-related discrimination is a major goal of Thailand’s National Strategy to End AIDS: 2017-2030. The study aimed to examine the level of stigma towards people living with HIV and associated factors among Myanmar migrants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Myanmar migrants in Chiang Mai province from October to December 2023. A total of 424 migrants attending hospital health screening and community gatherings were recruited by a convenience sampling method. Average age of participants was 29.92 ± 7.9 years, married (56.8%), and primary or lower education (67.5%). 85.1% had discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS. Significant factors associated with discriminatory attitudes included being of Shan ethnicity (aOR=2.419) and having a low education level (aOR=2.559). HIV preventive strategies should include inclusive health education and accessible health care that are culturally sensitive among migrants.
Solar Materialism in Billy Budd, Sailor
Authors: Bates Christopher
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This essay builds upon recent discussions of the nonhuman in Melville studies by foregrounding the materiality of the sun and its accompanying meteorological effects as vital nonhuman forces in Billy Budd , Sailor . This reading has three key implications: firstly, that, behind the text’s metaphorical figurations, the sun is embodied within Billy himself, who acts as a conduit for its energies; secondly, through a solar material lens, Billy Budd and John Claggart form a solar assemblage, creating a confederacy with the nonhuman and signaling a non-hierarchical and open ontology. The final section turns to Captain Vere and the questions of judgment that have perpetually been asked of the text in order to posit instead, following Jane Bennett, a “solar judgment” that is sympathetic to and incorporates the nonhuman. As a result of these implications, I argue that Captain Vere, in his hasty decision to execute Billy, disavows and suppresses the vital force of the sun that permeates the Bellipotent , an attempt that ultimately fails. The essay thus affirms the omnipresence and potency of nonhuman forces within Melville’s texts and beyond, advocating for an empathetic and open reading that accounts for such forces, especially those related to the sun.
“Past All Speech”: The Enactment of Proto-Modernist Literary Aesthetics in Herman Melville’s “Benito Cereno”
Authors: Keim Robert
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Written after the proto-modernist novels Moby-Dick and Pierre , both of which elicited censure from contemporary critics, Herman Melville’s “Benito Cereno” is recognized as an enigmatic and symbolic work that invites deep reflection on the status of literature, language, and signification. However, critics have not presented “Benito Cereno,” and more specifically the dramatic narrative that occurs aboard the slave ship San Dominick , as a crucial text vis-à-vis Melville’s experimental progression toward the genesis of the modern novel. This essay argues that in “Benito Cereno,” Melville avoided the bold stylistic unconventionality found in Moby-Dick and Pierre and continued exploring innovative prose fiction by inscribing his proto-modernist literary aesthetic into an enacted text encountered by a character who represents an uncomprehending traditional reader. In this analysis of “Benito Cereno,” the San Dominick narrative illustrates how a new literature can be written and how it must be read, such that the novella provides crucial insight into Melville’s exceptional contribution to the proto-modernist literary aesthetics that were emerging during the transition from realism to modernism.
Claude Fleury’s Ecclesiastical History , A Newly Identified Source for Melville’s Reading
Authors: Norberg Peter
Published: July 2024

Abstract: In preparing Melville’s copy of William Rounseville Alger’s The Solitudes of Nature and of Man (Boston: Roberts, 1867) for mounting at Melville’s Marginalia Online , the transcription of one of Melville’s annotations was corrected to reveal a direct reference to Claude Fleury’s The Ecclesiastical History of M. L’ Abbé Fleury (Oxford: Rivingston, London, 1842). Fleury’s Ecclesiastical History adds to the evidence of Melville’s comprehensive study of religious history in the Near East while composing Clarel , a course of study comparable to that which his eponymous protagonist would have received in divinity school. Melville’s annotation identifies Fleury’s history as the source for Alger’s reference to Arsenius the Great, an ascetic monk who fled the court of the Emperor Arcadius, joined a desert monastery and “for fifty years made his life one long solitary prayer” ( MMO Alger 180). Melville’s familiarity with Fleury’s history adds to the evidence of his interest in hagiography and the relationship between ascetic practices and aesthetic theory. As he continued to study poetry and aesthetics in the latter stages of his career, ascetic practices and aesthetic contemplation were increasingly interrelated in Melville’s conception of the creation and experience of art.
Ethical Considerations of Unsedated Esophagogastroduodenoscopy in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Calciano Christopher S. , Liphart Colin R. , Friedrich Annie B. , Diaz Christina D.
Published: July 2024

A 10 year-old child requires an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). One of the child’s parents is requesting an unsedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy, citing their experiences in a different country and concerns about anesthetic medications. The child is assenting to the procedure. The patient previously had multiple sedated EGDs without complications. Concerns are raised by the anesthesia, GI, and operating room teams about the ethics and child safety of performing an unsedated EGD, given this is not the typical standard of care at the performing hospital. In this paper we analyze prior literature and ethical principles, and explore whether unsedated EGD with appropriate monitoring is an ethically acceptable alternative to sedated EGD in this instance.
Tenure Bans: An Exploratory Study of State Legislation Proposing to Eliminate Faculty Tenure, 2012-2022
Authors: Taylor Barrett J. , Watts Kimberly
Published: July 2024

This article explores introduced tenure bans, meaning state-level legislation proposing eliminating tenure protections within all or part of a public higher education system. We describe such bills 2012-2022 and explore state-level political, economic, social, and higher education conditions associated with introducing a tenure ban. Tenure bans were linked to underlying political and social conditions, not to economic variation, suggesting that efforts to undermine faculty tenure reflected underlying mistrust in higher education rather than efforts to cope with financial uncertainty
Affordable ultra-widefield smartphone PedCam for comprehensive pediatric retinal examination
Authors: ROSSI ALFA , Toslak Devrim , Erol Muhammet , Rahimi Mojtaba , Son Taeyoon , Chan R.V. , Yao Xincheng
Published: July 2024

Widefield fundus photography is critical for the detection, documentation, and management of pediatric eye diseases. Existing clinical pediatric fundus cameras offer a limited field of view (FOV) and suboptimal image contrast, hindering comprehensive peripheral retina examination. Additionally, the high cost and lack of portability of commercial devices restrict their use in resource-limited settings. We present a cost-effective smartphone-based pediatric camera (PedCam) capable of providing a 180° eye angle (126° visual angle) snapshot FOV without the need for pharmacological pupillary dilation. The device employs trans-pars planar illumination for uniform retinal illumination. By adjusting the optical axis of the PedCam relative to the ocular axis, the effective FOV can be expanded up to 240° eye angle (180° visual angle), enabling complete retinal evaluation. This innovative smartphone PedCam represents a significant advancement in affordable telemedicine for the screening, monitoring, and management of retinopathy of prematurity and other pediatric eye conditions.
Imbalance polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in miscarried uterus
Authors: Feng Jun , Gao Ping , Wu Ting , Hou Wenjie , Zhang Yueming , Li Lili
Published: July 2024

Background

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) is well known to manifest a miscarriage-inducing effector during early pregnancy and activate macrophage to induce M1 macrophage polarization. However, the role of macrophage polarization in LPS-related miscarriage-inducing effect is not apparent.

Methods

In this work, gene expression changes and the percentage of M1/M2 macrophages and monocytes in LPS-induced miscarried uterus were firstly analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and Flow Cytometry. To explore the origin that contributes to M1/M2 macrophage differentiation, the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1), CCL3, and CCL4, chemokines related to monocyte/macrophage migration, was tested by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Results

We found that percentage of M1 macrophages rose, while the percentage of M2 macrophages declined down in the injected mice uterus. Meanwhile, the percentage of M1 and M2 macrophages showed no significant difference in the spleens of LPS injected mice compared to PBS injected control mice. Expression of Mcp-1, Ccl3, and Ccl4 and numbers of monocytes were remarkably up-regulated in LPS-induced miscarried mice uterus.

Conclusion

These results indicated that polarization and proportion changes of macrophage in the uterus may contribute to miscarriage. Our work provides new evidence correlating the aberrant regulation of M1/M2 macrophage polarization with deleterious miscarriage-inducing effects. This will help us understand the roles of critical immune cell differentiation in maintaining normal pregnancy.
Polyamines (PAs) but not small peptides with closely spaced positively charged groups interact with DNA and RNA, but they do not represent a relevant buffer system at physiological pH values
Authors: Rieck Julian , Derst Christian , Veh Rüdiger W.
Published: July 2024

Polyamines (PAs) including putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) are small, versatile molecules with two or more positively charged amino groups. Despite their importance for almost all forms of life, their specific roles in molecular and cellular biology remain partly unknown. The molecular structures of PAs suggest two presumable biological functions: (i) as potential buffer systems and (ii) as interactants with poly-negatively charged molecules like nucleic acids. The present report focuses on the question, whether the molecular structures of PAs are essential for such functions, or whether other simple molecules like small peptides with closely spaced positively charged side chains might be suitable as well. Consequently, we created titration curves for PUT, SPD, and SPM, as well as for oligolysines like tri-, tetra-, and penta-lysine. None of the molecules provided substantial buffering capacity at physiological intracellular pH values. Apparently, the most important mechanism for intracellular pH homeostasis in neurons is not a buffer system but is provided by the actions of the sodium-hydrogen and the bicarbonate-chloride antiporters. In a similar approach we investigated the interaction with DNA by following the extinction at 260 nm when titrating DNA with the above molecules. Again, PUT and tri-lysine were not able to interact with herring sperm DNA, while SPD and SPM were. Obviously, the presence of several positively charged groups on its own is not sufficient for the interaction with nucleic acids. Instead, the precise spacing of these groups is necessary for biological activity.
Remote working and experiential wellbeing: A latent lifestyle perspective using UK time use survey before and during COVID-19
Authors: Chen Jerry , Wan Li
Published: July 2024

Mental health in the UK had deteriorated compared with pre-pandemic trends. Existing studies on heterogenous wellbeing changes associated COVID-19 tend to segment population based on isolated socio-economic and demographic indicators, notably gender, income and ethnicity, while a more holistic and contextual understanding of such heterogeneity among the workforce seems lacking. This study addresses this gap by 1) combining UK time use surveys collected before and during COVID-19, 2) identifying latent lifestyles within three working mode groups (commuter, homeworker and hybrid worker) using latent class model, and 3) quantifying nuanced experiential wellbeing (ExWB) changes across workers of distinct lifestyles. The direction and magnitude of ExWB changes were not uniform across activity types, time of day, and lifestyles. The direction of ExWB change during the daytime activities window varied in accordance with lifestyle classifications. Specifically, ExWB decreased for all homeworkers but increased significantly for certain hybrid workers. Magnitude of ExWB change correlated strongly with lifestyle. To understand the significant heterogeneity in ExWB outcomes, a spatial-temporal conceptualisation of working flexibility is developed to explicate the strong yet complex correlations between wellbeing and lifestyles. The implications to post-pandemic “back-to-work” policies are 1) continued expansion of hybrid working optionality, 2) provide wider support for lifestyle adaptation and transitions.
Analysis of the effect of motion on highly accelerated 3D FatNavs in 3D brain images acquired at 3T
Authors: Marchetto Elisa , Gallichan Daniel
Published: July 2024

Purpose

3D FatNavs are rapid acquisitions of MRI fat-volumes within the head that can be used for retrospective motion correction for brain MRI. 3D FatNavs typically use very high acceleration factors and are reconstructed with the GRAPPA parallel imaging technique. However, the GRAPPA reconstruction is not expected to perform well on 3D FatNavs volumes in the presence of strong motion due to the mismatched calibration data acquired once at the start of the scan, leading to motion-parameter misestimation. This study aims to assess the accuracy and precision of 3D FatNav-derived motion-estimates in the presence of large changes in head position.

Methods

Rigid motion parameters were simulated and applied retrospectively to the 3D FatNav volumes from MPRAGE datasets acquired at 3T. The transformed images were then re-reconstructed using GRAPPA to simulate real motion deterioration of the fat-navigator, and used to estimate the motion applied and evaluate the tracking inaccuracy. This information was then used to estimate the residual motion after 3D FatNav-based motion correction and applied to the original MPRAGE volumes. The effect of the misestimation was assessed using an image quality metric and the evaluation scores from two observers. Quality boundaries were then estimated to assess the motion tolerance when 3D FatNavs are used.

Results

The GRAPPA reconstruction was shown to deteriorate for large changes in the head position, affecting the quality of 3D FatNav volumes and consequently degrading the accuracy of the motion-estimates. Based on our simulations, the estimated threshold of motion that led to a noticeable degradation in the MPRAGE image quality was up to RMS values of 3.7° and 3 mm for rotations and translations respectively.

Conclusions

3D FatNavs were shown to be able to correct for a wide range of motion levels and types. Boundaries of acceptable motion magnitudes for different levels of acceptable loss of image quality were determined.
The impact of digital economy on the upgrading of manufacturing structure
Authors: Chen Ting , Zhou Songlan
Published: July 2024

The global economic situation is in a downturn, and the upgrading of manufacturing structure is a necessary transformation path for the manufacturing industry to achieve high-speed and stable development. The article analyzes the theoretical mechanism of the digital economy affecting the upgrading of manufacturing structure through the endogenous economic growth model, constructs a three-stage mediation effect model, and empirically researches the path of the digital economy affecting the upgrading of manufacturing structure in the Pearl River Delta. The study finds that the digital economy has a significant positive promoting effect on the upgrading of manufacturing structure. In terms of the influencing mechanism, the enhancement of the level of independent innovation and the advancement of the human capital structure are the important paths of the digital economy in promoting the upgrading of manufacturing structure. Among them, the mediating effect is 17.5% for the level of independent innovation and 17.4% for the level of the advancement of the human capital structure. The results of the study also found that the upgrading of manufacturing structure cannot be separated from government support, and the influence of government support on t the upgrading of manufacturing structure reaches 44.9%, and government deployment and control is conducive to accelerating the process of advanced manufacturing structure.
Minding the margins: Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 among Latinx and Black communities with optimal qualitative serological assessment tools
Authors: Binder Raquel A. , Matta Angela M. , Forconi Catherine S. , Oduor Cliff I. , Bedekar Prajakta , Patrone Paul N. , Kearsley Anthony J. , Odwar Boaz , Batista Jennifer , Forrester Sarah N. , Leftwich Heidi K. , Cavacini Lisa A. , Moormann Ann M.
Published: July 2024

COVID-19 disproportionately affected minorities, while research barriers to engage underserved communities persist. Serological studies reveal infection and vaccination histories within these communities, however lack of consensus on downstream evaluation methods impede meta-analyses and dampen the broader public health impact. To reveal the impact of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake among diverse communities and to develop rigorous serological downstream evaluation methods, we engaged racial and ethnic minorities in Massachusetts in a cross-sectional study (April—July 2022), screened blood and saliva for SARS-CoV-2 and human endemic coronavirus (hCoV) antibodies by bead-based multiplex assay and point-of-care (POC) test and developed across-plate normalization and classification boundary methods for optimal qualitative serological assessments. Among 290 participants, 91.4% reported receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 41.7% reported past SARS-CoV-2 infections, which was confirmed by POC- and multiplex-based saliva and blood IgG seroprevalences. We found significant differences in antigen-specific IgA and IgG antibody outcomes and indication of cross-reactivity with hCoV OC43. Finally, 26.5% of participants reported lingering COVID-19 symptoms, mostly middle-aged Latinas. Hence, prolonged COVID-19 symptoms were common among our underserved population and require public health attention, despite high COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Saliva served as a less-invasive sample-type for IgG-based serosurveys and hCoV cross-reactivity needed to be evaluated for reliable SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey results. The use of the developed rigorous downstream qualitative serological assessment methods will help standardize serosurvey outcomes and meta-analyses for future serosurveys beyond SARS-CoV-2.
Teachers’ judgment accuracy: A replication check by psychometric meta-analysis
Authors: Kaufmann Esther
Published: July 2024

Teachers’ judgment accuracy is a core competency in their daily business. Due to its importance, several meta-analyses have estimated how accurately teachers judge students’ academic achievements by measuring teachers’ judgment accuracy (i.e., the correlation between teachers’ judgments of students’ academic abilities and students’ scores on achievement tests). In our study, we considered previous meta-analyses and updated these databases and the analytic combination of data using a psychometric meta-analysis to explain variations in results across studies. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering aggregation and publication bias as well as correcting for the most important artifacts (e.g., sampling and measurement error), but also that most studies fail to report the data needed for conducting a meta-analysis according to current best practices. We find that previous reviews have underestimated teachers’ judgment accuracy and overestimated the variance in estimates of teachers’ judgment accuracy across studies because at least 10% of this variance may be associated with common artifacts. We conclude that ignoring artifacts, as in classical meta-analysis, may lead one to erroneously conclude that moderator variables, instead of artifacts, explain any variation. We describe how online data repositories could improve the scientific process and the potential for using psychometric meta-analysis to synthesize results and assess replicability.
Anxiety and depression symptoms among a sample of Khartoum civilians during the 2023 Sudan armed conflict: A cross-sectional study
Authors: M. Ahmed Ahmed Balla , Yeddi Ahmed A. , Alrawa Salma S. , Alfadul Esraa S. A.
Published: July 2024

Background

Mental health during armed conflicts is of paramount importance, as such situations often lead to increased risks of anxiety and depression symptoms among civilians. The military conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces, which began on April 15, 2023, is currently ongoing mainly in Khartoum State. Despite the significant impact of the conflict on the region, there is a lack of data regarding the mental health status of the residents. The aim of this study is to assess anxiety and depression symptoms among residents of Khartoum State during the first months of the 2023 military conflict.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional study among residents of Khartoum State between May 27 and June 19 using an online questionnaire. We used standardized screening questionnaires, namely the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic factors that are associated with anxiety and depression symptoms.

Results

Out of the 393 participants in the study, 70% had symptoms suggestive of depression and 57.3% suffered from anxiety symptoms. Both anxiety and depression were associated with being female (p < 0.001). Being married was a predictor of anxiety (p = 0.028) but not depression (p = 0.3). Other predictors were not significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

High levels of anxiety and depression symptoms were prevalent among Khartoum residents during the conflict, with females and married individuals at higher risk. Immediate medical assessment is essential for identifying cases and providing support. Mental health services should be integrated into emergency response efforts, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups. Future research should address study limitations and explore coping strategies for anxiety and depression in Sudanese adults.
Field pea leaf disease classification using a deep learning approach
Authors: Girmaw Dagne Walle , Muluneh Tsehay Wasihun
Published: July 2024

Field peas are grown by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia for food, fodder, income, and soil fertility. However, leaf diseases such as ascochyta blight, powdery mildew, and leaf spots affect the quantity and quality of this crop as well as crop growth. Experts use visual observation to detect field pea disease. However, this approach is expensive, labor-intensive, and imprecise. Therefore, in this study, we presented a transfer learning approach for the automatic diagnosis of field pea leaf diseases. We classified three field pea leaf diseases: Ascochyta blight, leaf spot, and powdery mildew. A softmax classifier was used to classify the diseases. A total of 1600 images of both healthy and diseased leaves were used to train, validate, and test the pretrained models. According to the experimental results, DenseNet121 achieved 99.73% training accuracy, 99.16% validation accuracy, and 98.33% testing accuracy after 100 epochs. we expect that this research work will offer various benefits for farmers and farm experts. It reduced the cost and time needed for the detection and classification of field pea leaf disease. Thus, a fast, automated, less costly, and accurate detection method is necessary to overcome the detection problem.
Navigating persuasive strategies in online health misinformation: An interview study with older adults on misinformation management
Authors: Peng Wei , Meng Jingbo , Issaka Barikisu
Published: July 2024

Online health misinformation commonly includes persuasive strategies that can easily deceive lay people. Yet, it is not well understood how individuals respond to misinformation with persuasive strategies at the moment of exposure. This study aims to address the research gap by exploring how and why older adults fall into the persuasive trap of online health misinformation and how they manage their encounters of online health misinformation. Using a think-aloud protocol, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-nine older adults who were exposed to articles employing twelve groups of common persuasive strategies in online health misinformation. Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed that some participants fell for the persuasive strategies, yet the same strategies were detected by others as cues to pin down misinformation. Based on the participants’ own words, informational and individual factors as well as the interplay of these factors were identified as contributors to susceptibility to misinformation. Participants’ strategies to manage misinformation for themselves and others were categorized. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Application of machine learning in in vitro propagation of endemic Lilium akkusianum R. Gämperle
Authors: Tütüncü Mehmet
Published: July 2024

A successful regeneration protocol was developed for micropropagation of Lilium akkusianum R. Gämperle, an endemic species of Türkiye, from scale explants. The study also aimed to evaluate the effects of Meta-Topolin (mT) and N6-Benzyladenine (BA) on in vitro regeneration. The Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with different levels of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)/BA and NAA/mT were used for culture initiation in the darkness. The highest callus rates were observed on explants cultured on MS medium with 2.0 mg/L NAA + 0.5 mg/L mT (83.31%), and the highest adventitious bud number per explant was 4.98 in MS medium with 0.5 mg/L NAA + 1.5 mg/L mT. Adventitious buds were excised and cultured in 16/8 h photoperiod conditions. The highest average shoot number per explant was 4.0 in MS medium with 2.0 mg/L mT + 1.0 mg/L NAA. Shoots were rooted with the highest rate (90%) in the medium with the 1.0 mg/L IBA, and the highest survival rate (87.5%) was recorded in rooted shoots in the same medium. The ISSR marker system showed that regenerated plantlets were genetically stable. Besides traditional tissue culture techniques used in the current study, the potential for improving the effectiveness of L. akkusianum propagation protocols by incorporating machine learning methodologies was evaluated. ML techniques enhance lily micropropagation by analyzing complex biological processes, merging with traditional methods. This collaborative approach validates current protocols, allowing ongoing improvements. Embracing machine learning in endemic L. akkusianum studies contributes to sustainable plant propagation, promoting conservation and responsible genetic resource utilization in agriculture.
“Le Portugal Gastronomique” e a exposição internacional de Paris de 1937
Authors: De Gomensoro Patrícia
Published: July 2024

Em 1937, o Secretariado da Propaganda Nacional do governo Salazar editou um folheto intitulado Le Portugal gastronomique. Produzido para distribuição na Exposição Internacional de Paris daquele ano, trazia uma “digressão” do escritor Albino Forjaz de Sampaio que visava atrair turistas a Portugal, pela divulgação de suas especialidades culinárias. Neste artigo, apresenta-se uma análise do documento, cujo objetivo foi perceber seus possíveis contributos para a afirmação de uma identidade culinária portuguesa, na época. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, com abordagem descritiva e exploratória e recurso ao levantamento bibliográfico com vistas ao seu enquadramento histórico e cultural. Na primeira metade do artigo, atentamos para o documento enquanto objeto e para o seu conteúdo textual. Na segunda metade, buscamos compreender a relevância da peça, enfocando a identificação comida-lugar que ela subscreve e considerando o contexto político nacional e o cenário gastronómico internacional em que estava inserida. Concluímos que o documento permite-nos observar um processo de codificação culinária informado pela gramática gastronómica sua contemporânea, ao mesmo tempo em que ecoa uma dinâmica de construção identitária que não era exclusiva a Portugal.
Synthesis of Zinc-based Bimetallic Nanoparticles for the Degradation of Industrial Dyes
Authors: Srivastava N. , Raees K.
Published: July 2024

Textile dyes are a prominent source of coloured organic substances that present an increasingly concerning risk to biodiversity. This problem could be remediated by incorporating nanoparticles as photocatalysts in photodegradation activities. The photocatalytic degradation of brilliant blue and Amaranth dyes has been investigated using ZnO-Fe2O3 bimetallic nanoparticles (Zn-Fe BN) in an aqueous media under sun rays. The Zn-Fe BN was synthesized using a chemical synthesis technique utilizing FeCl3 and ZnSO4·7H2O as starting materials and further characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDAX and DLS techniques. The degradation rate was examined by recording the absorbance value via a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The experimental results demonstrated that the synthesized Zn-Fe BN was an effective catalyst in removing the dyes from water. The decomposition rate was effective with variations in the reaction parameters. As the concentration of the NaOH solution was increased, an increment in the rate of degradation was observed simultaneously, as well as for different amounts of catalyst. Hence, the removal of textile dyes could be made easier by adopting the methodology.
Unveiling the Issues on Water Pollution Narrative, Focus on Quality and Quantity Dynamic: Mini Review
Authors: Fayomi Gloria U. , Onyari Ednah K.
Published: July 2024

The 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aims to solve the global water concerns by emphasising access to safe drinking water, sanitation and wastewater management. Significant populations, however, continue to lack these basics, contributing to child mortality and waterborne illnesses. Water pollution exacerbates the worldwide water problem, having an impact on ecosystems and human health. This study delves into the intricate problems of water pollution, including its causes, health consequences and ecological disruptions. It also looks at worldwide policies and legislative attempts like the Safe Drinking Water Act and international mandates like the Water Framework Directive. These regulations indicate a shift towards more comprehensive approaches, such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which strike a balance between fairness, ecological integrity and efficiency principles.
Multi Receptor Targeting of Potential Bioactive Compound Obtained from Chloroform Extract of Asparagus racemosus by GC-MS Analysis: A in silico Based Approach
Authors: Rasheed Shaik Harun , Mustak Sayyad , Mohanty Chandan , Vakkalagadda Ravi Kumar , Sen Sandip
Published: July 2024

Previous reports indicate that the medicinal plants and their components have been utilized for treating diverse conditions since antiquity. Asparagus racemosus, in particular, demonstrates a broad spectrum of therapeutic possibilities. This study aimed to underscores the potential bioactive compounds found within the chloroform extract of Asparagus racemosus. Gas-chromatography employed to identify the presence of various molecules, while mass spectrometry and FTIR analysis validated their molecular structures. The molecules were analyzed to assess its suitability as a therapeutic candidate, their biological activity and predicted targets using in silico techniques. The chloroform extract stands out as the richest reservoir of carbohydrates and steroidal alkaloids. Molecule (5β)-pregnane-3,20β-diol, 14α,18α-[4-methyl-3-oxo-(1-oxa-4-azabutane-1,4-diyl)]diacetate was found in the highest concentration (42.28 %). The identified molecule is a steroidal alkaloid in nature and the computational analysis revealed promising drug-like properties and therapeutic potential for the investigated molecule.
Molybdate-based Nanocrystalline Materials for Efficient Environmental Remediation and Electrochemical Energy Conversion Applications: An Update
Authors: Akash Ravi , Nesaraj Arputharaj Samson
Published: July 2024

Molybdate-based nanocrystalline materials have been considered as promising candidates in various energy and environmental remediation applications owing to their distinct characteristics and versatile functionalities. This article furnishes a comprehensive overview of recent advancements that have been made in synthesis techniques, characterization and applications of molybdate-based nanocrystalline materials in the realm of energy transformation and ecological restoration technologies. Molybdate-based nanomaterials may be classified as sulfides, phosphates and mixed-metal compounds which can be synthesized effectively by wet chemical method. The mechanisms underlying the enhanced performance of molybdate-based nanocrystalline materials are interpreted, along with strategies for improving their efficiency and stability.
Impact of Ho3+ Substitution on Structural, Morphological, Optical, Electrical, Thermoelectrical and Magnetic Properties of MgCuHoxFe2-xO4 (0 < x < 0.030) System
Authors: Bhanu M. , Ravinder D. , Reddy Police Vishnuvardhan , Rajashekhar K. , Sunitha G. , Kumar G. , Naik J. Laxman , Vinod G.
Published: July 2024

A series of rare earth (Ho3+) doped magnesium-copper nanoferrites with the general chemical compositions of Mg0.5Cu0.5HoxFe2-xO4 (where x = 0.000, 0.005, 0.010, 0.015, 0.020, 0.025 and 0.030) was fabricated by citrate sol-gel auto-combustion technique. The fabricated materials were investigated through powder XRD, FESEM, EDX, HRTEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, DC resistivity, TEP and VSM for magnetic properties. The crystallite size of the samples was determined to be in the range of 33-40 nm with increased Ho3+ content and the powder-XRD investigations validated the spinel cubic structure of the samples with the space group Fd3m. The analysis demonstrated that the lattice constant was reduced from 8.403 to 8.356 Å and according to the FE-SEM micrographs, the morphology of the samples were found to be spherical. The HR-TEM micrographs show that average particle size decreases from 64 to 48 nm. The FTIR examination revealed that their ν1 and ν2 absorption bands were located between 412-401 cm–1 and 562-547 cm–1, respectively and the optical band gap was found to be 2.77-3.28 eV. In Mg-Cu nanoferrites with Ho doping, there was no obvious increase in the elasticity moduli. It was observed that the thermal energy required to transform the p-type Mg-Cu nanoferrites from semiconducting to n-type semiconducting behaviour increases with increasing Ho doping and composition. The M-H loop saturation magnetization (Ms), coercivity (Hc) and retentivity (Mr) values were all enhanced when the Ho3+ concentration increased and varied anisotropically with Ho doping. The findings of this study suggested that Mg-Cu ferrites doped with Ho3+ might be beneficial for magnetic resonance imaging in biomedicine.
Design and Synthesis of Novel Quinazolin-4(3H)-One Appended 1,2,4-Oxadiazoles as Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Myakala Nagaraju , Kandula Kotaiah , Rayala Nagamani , Kuna Sateesh , Thumma Vishnu , Bhavani A.K.D.
Published: July 2024

A novel series of hybrid heterocycles having quinazolinone based 1,2,4-oxadiazoles scaffold with methylamino linkage were obtained in two synthetic pathways. In method I, quinazolinone based ester reacted with amidoximes and gave the corresponding hybrid products in poor yields. To reduce the duration of reaction time and increase the yields of the products, dehydrochlorination reaction of 6-aminoquinazolinone was carried out with 5-chloromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles in other synthetic method, which furnished the products in good to excellent yields. The synthesized 1,2,4-oxadiazole hybrids were characterized using spectroscopic techniques and also screened for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, among which chloro-substituted analogues 6d and 6e presented potent activity against all strains whereas other analogues proven to have moderate activities.