bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal Levels in Delaware Bay Horseshoe Crab Eggs from the Surface Reflect Metals in Egg Clutches Laid beneath the Sand
Authors: Burger Joanna
Published: July 2023

Understanding variations in metal levels in biota geographically and under different environmental conditions is essential to determining risk to organisms themselves and to their predators. It is often difficult to determine food chain relationships because predators may eat several different prey types. Horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs form the basis for a complex food web in Delaware Bay, New Jersey, USA. Female horseshoe crabs lay thumb-sized clutches of eggs, several cm below the surface, and often dislodge previously laid eggs that are brought to the surface by wave action, where they are accessible and critical food for migrant shorebirds. This paper compares metal and metalloid (chromium [Cr], cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], arsenic [As] and selenium [Se]) concentrations in horseshoe crab eggs collected on the surface with concentrations in eggs from clutches excavated from below the sand surface, as well as examining metals in eggs from different parts of the Bay. The eggs were all collected in May 2019, corresponding to the presence of the four main species of shorebirds migrating through Delaware Bay. These migrating birds eat almost entirely horseshoe crab eggs during their stopover in Delaware Bay, and there are differences in the levels of metals in blood of different shorebirds. These differences could be due to whether they have access to egg clutches below sand (ruddy turnstones, Arenaria interpres) or only to eggs on the surface (the threatened red knot [Calidris canutus rufa] and other species of shorebirds). Correlations between metals in clutches were also examined. Except for As and Cd, there were no significant differences between the metals in crab egg clutches and eggs on the surface that shorebirds, gulls, and other predators eat. There were significant locational differences in metal levels in horseshoe crab eggs (except for Pb), with most metals being highest in the sites on the lower portion of Delaware Bay. Most metals in crab eggs have declined since studies were conducted in the mid-1990s but were similar to levels in horseshoe crab eggs in 2012. The data continue to provide important monitoring and assessment information for a keystone species in an ecosystem that supports many species, including threatened and declining shorebird species during spring migration.
De Sitter-Invariant Black Holes
Authors: López Diego F. , Abarghouei Nejad Salman , Pereira José G.
Published: July 2023

In the de Sitter-invariant approach to gravitation, all solutions to the gravitational field equations are spacetimes that reduce locally to de Sitter. Consequently, besides including a Schwarzschild event horizon, the de Sitter-invariant black hole also has a de Sitter cosmic horizon. Accordingly, it can lodge matter and dark energies. Owing to this additional structure concerning Poincaré-invariant general relativity, such a black hole can establish a link between the black hole dynamics and the universe’s evolution. Possible implications for cosmology are discussed, and a comparison with recent observations indicating the existence of a cosmological coupling of black holes is presented.
Identification of Critical Locations for Improvement of Air Quality Developing a Prioritized Clean Air Assessment Tool (PCAT)
Authors: Dubey Kanishtha , Verma Shubha , Santra Sauvik , Kumar Mukul
Published: July 2023

Fourteen Indian cities, including urban and rural locations, were chosen for the present study across India, with unhealthy air quality based on National Air Quality Index (NAQI > 100). However, it was found that NAQI values over the locations are driven by the undifferentiated mass concentration of particulate matter (PM, both PM10 and PM2.5) than other criteria pollutants. The PM2.5 and PM10 concentration during the winter violated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of India by two to five times at six urban locations, with the mean daily PM2.5 concentration averaged over the month; the the largest being at Patna (353 µg m−3) during the winter and lowest at Bengaluru (27 µg m−3) during the summer. The analysis of chemical species, in general, indicated NO2 (SO2, CO) as having a 25% to 70% (16% to 50%, 16% to 85%) increase in concentration from the summer to winter, which is adequately reflected in higher fuzzy scores during the winter. Thus, to provide a realistic approach to air quality management, the present study focuses on identifying priority-based locations requiring immediate mitigation measures by developing a Prioritized Clean Air Assessment Tool (PCAT). The tool utilizes a fuzzy-based algorithm to incorporate the cumulative effect of all six criteria pollutants, taking into consideration the severity of their expected health implications. Using PCAT, Delhi and Varanasi cities are identified for prioritized mitigation considering the NAAQS of India, unlike all cities (except Bengaluru) during the winter and nine out of fourteen cities during the summer, considering the NAQI. Using more stringent WHO guideline values in PCAT, six cities out of fourteen were identified requiring immediate mitigation during the winter and summer months; locations such as Solapur and Patna are identified to need season-specific mitigation measures during the summer and winter, respectively. The tool is simplistic, user-friendly, and quickly evaluates multiple locations simultaneously to provide priority sites.
Hyperimmune Globulins for the Management of Infectious Diseases
Authors: Pati Ilaria , Cruciani Mario , Candura Fabio , Massari Maria Simona , Piccinini Vanessa , Masiello Francesca , Profili Samantha , De Fulvio Lucia , Pupella Simonetta , De Angelis Vincenzo
Published: July 2023

This review is focused on the use of hyperimmune globulin therapy to treat some infectious diseases of viral or bacterial origin. Despite the introduction of antibiotics and vaccines, plasma immunoglobulin therapy from whole blood donation can still play a key role. These treatments provide passive transfer of high-titer antibodies that either reduces the risk or the severity of the infection and offer immediate but short-term protection against specific diseases. Antibody preparations derived from immunized human donors are commonly used for the prophylaxis and treatment of rabies, hepatitis A and B viruses, varicella-zoster virus, and pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium botulinum. The use of hyperimmune globulin therapy is a promising challenge, especially for the treatment of emerging viral infections for which there are no specific therapies or licensed vaccines.
Atypical Hepatitis B Virus Serology Profile—Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive/Hepatitis B Core Antibody-Negative—In Hepatitis B Virus/HIV Coinfected Individuals in Botswana
Authors: Phinius Bonolo B. , Anderson Motswedi , Mokomane Margaret , Gobe Irene , Choga Wonderful T. , Ratsoma Tsholofelo , Phakedi Basetsana , Mpebe Gorata , Ditshwanelo Doreen , Musonda Rosemary , Makhema Joseph , Moyo Sikhulile , Gaseitsiwe Simani
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) are a marker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) exposure; hence, a normal HBV serology profile is characterized by HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBc positivity. However, atypical HBV serologies occur, and we aimed to determine the prevalence of an atypical profile (HBsAg+/anti-HBc-) in a cohort of people with HIV-1 (PWH) in Botswana. (2) Methods: Plasma samples from an HIV-1 cohort in Botswana (2013–2018) were used. The samples were screened for HBsAg and anti-HBc. Next-generation sequencing was performed using the GridION platform. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-squared tests were used for the comparison of continuous and categorical variables, respectively. (3) Results: HBsAg+/anti-HBc- prevalence was 13.7% (95% CI 10.1–18.4) (36/263). HBsAg+/anti-HBc- participants were significantly younger (p < 0.001), female (p = 0.02) and ART-naïve (p = 0.04) and had a detectable HIV viral load (p = 0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in the number of mutations observed in participants with HBsAg+/anti-HBc- vs. those with HBsAg+/anti-HBc+ serology. (4) Conclusions: We report a high HBsAg+/anti-HBc- atypical serology profile prevalence among PWH in Botswana. We caution against HBV-testing algorithms that consider only anti-HBc+ samples for HBsAg testing, as they are likely to underestimate HBV prevalence. Studies to elucidate the mechanisms and implications of this profile are warranted.
Serology Identifies LIPyV as a Feline Rather than a Human Polyomavirus
Authors: Kamminga Sergio , van der Meijden Els , Pesavento Patricia , Buck Christopher B. , Feltkamp Mariet C. W.
Published: July 2023

The number of identified human polyomaviruses (HPyVs) has increased steadily over the last decade. Some of the novel HPyVs have been shown to cause disease in immunocompromised individuals. The Lyon-IARC polyomavirus (LIPyV) belonging to species Alphapolyomavirus quardecihominis was identified in 2017 in skin and saliva samples from healthy individuals. Since its initial discovery, LIPyV has rarely been detected in human clinical samples but has been detected in faeces from cats with diarrhoea. Serological studies show low LIPyV seroprevalence in human populations. To investigate the possibility that LIPyV is a feline rather than a human polyomavirus, we compared serum IgG responses against the VP1 major capsid protein of LIPyV and 13 other HPyVs among cats (n = 40), dogs (n = 38) and humans (n = 87) using an in-house immunoassay. Seropositivity among cats was very high (92.5%) compared to dogs (31.6%) and humans (2.3%). Furthermore, the median antibody titres against LIPyV were 100–10,000x higher in cats compared to dogs and humans. In conclusion, the high prevalence and intensity of measured seroresponses suggest LIPyV to be a feline rather than a human polyomavirus. Whether LIPyV infection induces diarrhoea or other symptoms in cats remains to be established.
Reduced Humoral and Cellular Immune Response to Primary COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Kidney Transplanted Children Aged 5–11 Years
Authors: Lalia Jasmin K. , Schild Raphael , Lütgehetmann Marc , Dunay Gabor A. , Kallinich Tilmann , Kobbe Robin , Massoud Mona , Oh Jun , Pietzsch Leonora , Schulze-Sturm Ulf , Schuetz Catharina , Sibbertsen Freya , Speth Fabian , Thieme Sebastian , Witkowski Mario , Berner Reinhard , Muntau Ania C. , Gersting Søren W. , Toepfner Nicole , Pagel Julia , Paul Kevin
Published: July 2023

The situation of limited data concerning the response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations in immunocom-promised children hinders evidence-based recommendations. This prospective observational study investigated humoral and T cell responses after primary BNT162b2 vaccination in secondary immunocompromised and healthy children aged 5–11 years. Participants were categorized as: children after kidney transplantation (KTx, n = 9), proteinuric glomerulonephritis (GN, n = 4) and healthy children (controls, n = 8). Expression of activation-induced markers and cytokine secretion were determined to quantify the T cell response from PBMCs stimulated with peptide pools covering the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan Hu-1 and Omicron BA.5. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain were quantified in serum. Seroconversion was detected in 56% of KTx patients and in 100% of the GN patients and controls. Titer levels were significantly higher in GN patients and controls than in KTx patients. In Ktx patients, the humoral response increased after a third immunization. No differences in the frequency of antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells between all groups were observed. T cells showed a predominant anti-viral capacity in their secreted cytokines; however, this capacity was reduced in KTx patients. This study provides missing evidence concerning the humoral and T cell response in immunocompromised children after COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal and Medical Distrust Held by Correctional Officers
Authors: Kerrison Erin Michelle Turner , Hyatt Jordan M.
Published: July 2023

This study explores COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among prison security staff and the extent to which they trust varied sources of information about the vaccines. Cross-sectional survey data were obtained from a state-wide sample of corrections officers (COs, hereafter; n = 1208) in February 2021. Group differences, disaggregated by demographic characteristics, were examined using F-tests and t-tests. Despite the comparatively limited risk of contracting the virus, non-security staff reported they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost (74%), compared to their more vulnerable CO counterparts (49%). We observed vaccine refusal correlations between COs’ reported gender, age, and length of time working as a CO, but none with their self-reported race. Vaccine refusal was more prevalent among womxn officers, younger officers, and those who had spent less time working as prison security staff. Our findings also suggest that the only trusted source of information about vaccines were family members and only for officers who would refuse the vaccine; the quality of trust placed in those sources, however, was not substantially positive and did not vary greatly across CO racial groups. By highlighting characteristics of the observed gaps in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance between COs and their non-security staff coworkers, as well as between corrections officers of varied demographic backgrounds, these findings can inform the development of responsive and accepted occupational health policies for communities both inside and intrinsically linked to prisons.
Attitude and Acceptance towards COVID-19 Booster Doses among Literacy Advantaged Population in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ahmad Mehmood , Sattar Adeel , Aroosa Sadaf , Majeed Arfa , Rasheed Muhammad Adil , Ahmad Waqas , Iqbal Asif , Omer Muhammad Ovais , Beg Bilal Mahmood , Mushtaq Rana Muhammad Zahid
Published: July 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected billions of lives and is expected to impose a significant burden on the economy worldwide. Vaccination is the only way to prevent the infection. However, convincing people to get themselves vaccinated is challenging in developing countries such as Pakistan. Therefore, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted (n = 982 participants) all over Pakistan to evaluate the perception, knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of the general public towards the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, in general, and a booster dose of SARS-CoV-2, in particular. The highest number of participants were from the province of Punjab (84.5%), followed by Islamabad (3.8%), Sindh (3.7%), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2.7%), Baluchistan (2.6%), Gilgit Baltistan (1.4%), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1.4%). A total of 915 participants were vaccinated against COVID-19, out of which 62.2% received one booster dose, followed by double booster doses (25.5%) and single vaccine shots (12.3%). The highest number of vaccinated participants were from Punjab (85.8%), followed by Islamabad (3.9%), Sindh (2.8%); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2.6%); Baluchistan (2.3%); Gilgit-Baltistan (1.3%); and Azad, Jammu, and Kashmir (1.2%). Among the vaccinated individuals, 71.4% were unemployed, 27.4% were employed (653), and 1.2% were retired from service. However, no significant association was observed among genders and educational levels in regard to acceptance of the booster vaccine. The outcomes of the study revealed that the increased acceptance of booster doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among the public was associated with the intent of personal and family protection. Moreover, individuals with low socioeconomic status and pregnant females showed the least acceptance towards the vaccine inoculation. The study also revealed a decline trend of accepting SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among children.
Therapeutic Applications of Botulinum Neurotoxins in Veterinary Medicine
Authors: Turin Lauretta , Piccione Marina Michela , Crosa Fabio , Dall’Ara Paola , Filipe Joel , Zarucco Laura
Published: July 2023

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are emerging as multipurpose therapeutic compounds for the treatment of several different syndromes involving peripheral and central nervous systems, and muscular and musculoskeletal disorders both in human and veterinary medicine. Therefore, the study of BoNTs is rapidly developing and identifying newly produced BoNT variants. Efforts should be made to clarify the biological and pharmacological characteristics of these novel BoNTs as well as the natural ones. The high potential of BoNTs as a therapeutic compound for medical syndromes lies in its ability to reach a specific cell type while bypassing other cells, thus having mild or no side effects. In this paper the recent developments in BoNTs are reviewed with the aim of analyzing the current knowledge on BoNTs’ biological mechanisms of action, immunogenicity, formulations, and therapeutic applications in the veterinary field, highlighting advantages and drawbacks and identifying the gaps to be filled in order to address research priorities.
A Battery Cell Equalisation System Based on a Supercapacitors Tank and DC–DC Converters for Automotive Applications
Authors: Dimitrov Borislav , Konaklieva Sylvia
Published: July 2023

A battery cell equalisation system for automotive applications based on a supercapacitors energy storage SCES tank is proposed. The main advantages of the developed system are the utilisation of the regenerative brake energy for battery cell equalisation, reduction in the number of DC–DC converters, the flexible operation expressed by the possibility to address each battery cell with bi-directional switches, and acceptable efficiency in all modes of operation. The energy transfer between the SCES and battery cells is precisely analysed with modelling and simulations in steady-state and transient conditions. Power loss is estimated per sub-system, systemising the loss reduction techniques and achieving the maximum efficiency. The required DC–DC converters are described and designed according to the specific modes of operation in the developed application. Finally, the experimental verification is provided using a small physical model.
Building towards Supercapacitors with Safer Electrolytes and Carbon Electrodes from Natural Resources
Authors: El Halimi Mohammad Said , Zanelli Alberto , Soavi Francesca , Chafik Tarik
Published: July 2023

The growing interest in energy storage devices, both batteries and capacitors, could lead to the improvement of electrochemical properties such as extended charge/discharge cycles, high specific capacitance, and power density. Furthermore, the use of easily available raw materials for the production of carbon electrodes has attracted interest due to the criticality of the resources related to the current technologies of high-performance capacitors. The present article reviews carbon-based materials for supercapacitors derived from affordable coal deposits or crop waste with appropriate characteristics in terms of specific surface area, electrical conductivity, and charge/discharge stability. In addition, the substitution of organic liquids electrolytes with less dangerous solutions, such as aqueous electrolytes containing high concentrations of salt, is a valuable strategy for the design of green devices that is discussed in this review. Finally, the present article reviews the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors based on carbon electrodes obtained from various natural resources and their compatibility with safer and cheaper electrolytes.
The concept of lean manufacturing in the management of a medical clinic. How to beat the competition through lean manufacturing
Authors:   educational programs for business schools on medical business management in Russia and abroad, Volkov A.E.
Published: July 2023

The introduction of the concept of lean manufacturing in a medical clinic allows you to quickly achieve a strong competitive advantage by increasing the efficiency of resource management, including reducing labor costs, the efficiency of space and capacity, downtime to normalized KPIs, increase overall customer satisfaction and loyalty (NPS). The introduction of the lean manufacturing concept at the first stage does not require significant organizational efforts or investments. But it allows you to achieve results due to industry novelty: so far, SMEs and large clinics in Russia are not seriously engaged in studying and debugging life cycles, limiting themselves to individual sections, for example, promotion.
SOCIAL AND TRANSPORT RATING OF ITS SERVICES
Authors:   Moscow Automobile and Road Engineering State  Technical University (MADI), Marina Nikolaevna Vrazhnova , Maksim Gennad`evich Pletnev ,   Moscow Automobile and Road Engineering State  Technical University (MADI), Aleksandra Aleksandrovna Pahomova ,   Moscow Automobile and Road Engineering State  Technical University (MADI)
Published: July 2023

The article considers the system of social and transport rating. The analysis of the service system operation is carried out on the example of the Kashirskoye highway section. For the analysis of the proposed system, a service was selected – «Service lane». According to the results of simulation modeling, this service showed better results compared to the event to increase the capacity of the site. The use of rating will allow for a high-quality selection of users for the service, which will improve road safety indicators.
COMPREHENSIVE INDICATOR OF THE QUALITY OF PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION BY ROAD
Authors:   Lipetsk State Technical University, Vladimir Ernstovich Klyavin , Yulia Nikolaevna Rizaeva ,   Lipetsk State Technical University, Alexander Viktorovich Grinchenko ,   Lipetsk State Technical University
Published: July 2023

Most of the existing assessments of the quality of passenger transportation by road have two significant drawbacks. On the one hand, existing quality assessments require the collection of a large amount of data. This is due to high labor intensity and significant time costs. On the other hand, the existing quality assessments do not take into account the interests of all parties involved in the organization, implementation and use of the passenger transportation system. In this regard, it is proposed to use a comprehensive indicator for assessing the quality of passenger transportation. The proposed quality assessment takes into account the interests of all parties and is characterized by low labor intensity.
DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOINFORMATION BASE OF PEDESTRIAN STREAMS IN THE ROSTOV AGGLOMERATION
Authors:   Don State Technical University, Angelika Vaganovna Dombalyan , Vladimir Vasilyevich Zyryanov ,   Don State Technical University, Elena Egorovna Shatalova ,   Don State Technical University, Olesya Vyacheslavovna Proskurina ,   Don State Technical University
Published: July 2023

Across the entire territory of the Rostov agglomeration, a survey of regulated pedestrian crossings was carried out, field surveys of the intensity of pedestrian traffic at regulated pedestrian crossings were carried out in order to identify places of concentration of maximum pedestrian flows for the development of an intelligent transport system (ITS), to reduce conflict situations at city intersections, and a geoinformation base was developed.
ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE RISKS FOR THE ROAD NETWORK OF THE RUSSIAN NORTHERN REGION
Authors:   Moscow Automobile and Road Transport State Technical University (MADI), Anatoly Nicolaevich Yakubovich , Irina Anatolievna Yakubovich ,   Moscow Automobile and Road Transport State Technical University (MADI)
Published: July 2023

Based on the simulation results, quantitative assessments of the risks of reduced functionality for the basic segments of the road network of the Magadan region were obtained.In the presence of sandy soil at the base of the highway, the climatic risks of warming up to 2 degrees are low and are at the level of 150 points (with the maximum possible risk of 1000 points).In the presence of clay soils with high humidity, climatic risks in the continental part of the region are predicted to be up to 250 points, and in the coastal zone may exceed 400 points.
UK general practice service delivery research priorities: an adapted James Lind Alliance approach
Authors: Abrams Ruth , Blake Sharon
Published: July 2023

Background

General practice is in a state of crisis in a number of countries. In the UK, a range of measures have been introduced to address the situation, including innovations such as practice networks, multidisciplinary roles, and digital technologies. However, identifying what still needs fixing could benefit from more evidence, particularly in relation to day-to-day service delivery.

Aim

To identify the general practice workforce’s top 10 research priorities to improve service delivery.

Design and setting

This priority-setting study used an adapted James Lind Alliance methodology and involved staff working in general practice across the UK.

Method

The study comprised four phases: an online qualitative survey issued to the general practice workforce (clinical and non-clinical groups); thematic analysis of free-text responses; generation of indicative research questions; and the undertaking of ranking exercises with responders of the original survey. An online workshop was held with participants at the final stage of prioritisation.

Results

In total, 93 staff completed a survey in Phase 1, from which 20 themes were categorised and developed into research questions. Twenty- two staff responded to the first ranking activity and 11 took part in a second ranking activity to discuss themes that had a tied vote. The final top 10 research priorities were: volume of work; patient behaviour; consultations; employment pay and conditions; workload dumping and care of patients on waiting list; funding; overwhelming pressure; patient health education; complex patient needs; and interfaces with secondary care. However, there was no clear ranking of these 10 priorities; instead, they carried equal weight and were closely interconnected.

Conclusion

Applying a marginal-gains approach, by seeking to explore all 10 priorities simultaneously as opposed to concentrating on one area at a time, may provide more noticeable improvements overall. Systems-based approaches that take account of the marked role that context has may be a particularly useful lens for future research.
Transformative Learning in Practice: Examples from Extension Education
Authors: Reichenbach Michael , Muth Allyson , Smith Sanford
Published: July 2023

Transformative learning can lead to great awareness of one's own and others' personal perspectives and result in changes in how participants understand important social issues and how they choose to take action or not. Three examples of Extension teaching that embrace transformative learning are presented: a phenomenological approach to interaction with landowners; forest story cards; and scenario planning. These tools have been shown to be useful in forestry and may be useful in many Extension disciplines.
African-American Land Loss and Sustainable Forestry in the Southeast: An Analysis of the Issues, Opportunities, and Gaps
Authors: Christian Colmore , Fraser Rory , Diop Amadou
Published: July 2023

African-Americans' connection to the land is rapidly disappearing, and with it goes the cultural, political, and socio-economic capital that has helped this population, especially in southern states. There has been a severe decline in black landownership since 1910, resulting in rural counties with predominantly black populations becoming pockets of enduring poverty. Judicious investments in efforts to solve black land loss may lead to solutions to a larger problem: engagement of non-industrial private forestland owners in sustainable land management. Strengthening black forest-based communities as places to invest and live can build on this rich Southern heritage.
Building Supportive Networks Among Agricultural Innovators Through a Symposium on Dryland Organic Farming
Authors: Piaskowski Julia , Weddell Bertie , Fuerst Patrick , Roberts Diana , Boggs Lynne
Published: July 2023

Extension can play a valuable role by bringing together those who are pioneering innovative practices. We planned, built, and evaluated an Extension symposium on dryland organic agriculture. Post-symposium evaluations indicated that this process disseminated regionally relevant information; fostered networks among producers, researchers, and the organic processing and feed industries; enhanced trust among stakeholders; and increased interest in expanding organic production. Ninety-five percent of respondents indicated that they established new business relationships within 6 months of the symposium. A unique aspect of our project was the enhancement of social capital between geographically separated rural localities.
The Similarities Between Volunteer Behavior and Consumer Behavior: A Study of Volunteer Retention
Authors: Terry Bryan , Pracht Dale , Fogarty Kate , Pehlke Tim , Barnett Lauren
Published: July 2023

The study reported here sought to determine if volunteer behavior mirrored consumer behavior with respect to loyalty. It was established that in the same way that consumer satisfaction with a good or service leads to repurchase, satisfaction from a volunteer experience leads to higher volunteer retention and commitment to the organization. Recommendations are made to: (1) clearly and continuously communicate the significant role volunteers play in a young person's life; (2) provide new and challenging experiences for existing volunteers; and (3) ensure that all volunteers feel accepted by all members of the Extension office.
Case Study of Senior Cohousing Development in a Rural Community
Authors: Lyon Melinda , Kang Mihyun , Kramp Jessy
Published: July 2023

Senior cohousing, a type of cohousing that focuses on adults age 55 or older, is recent information to Extension educators. The study reported here examined the development of senior cohousing in a rural community. The programming stage of the development of a rural senior cohousing located in a town in the Midwest was observed for the study. The six components of senior cohousing: Participatory Process; Deliberate Neighborhood Design; Extensive Common Facilities; Complete Resident Management; Non-Hierarchal Structure; and Separate Income Sources (Durrett, 2009) were observed. Introducing senior cohousing to Extension educators may help them to present housing options for older adults.
Measuring the Impact of Termite Prevention Curricula in Hawaii Public Schools in an Area-Wide Extension Program
Authors: Mason Makena , Sasaki Maria , Grace Kenneth
Published: July 2023

The efficacy of Educate to Eradicate, a K-12 service-learning science curricula developed as part of a statewide, community-based Extension effort for termite prevention, was evaluated. The curricula use termite biology and control as the basis for science education and have been implemented in over 350 Hawaii public school classrooms with more than 12,530 students from 2001 to present. Student surveys and work samples were used to measure changes in student knowledge, behavior, and engagement. Use of school curricula in Extension programs reaches a large public audience and encourages long-term continuation of community pest prevention efforts.
The University of Florida IFAS (UF/IFAS) Aquatic Weed Control Short Course: A Statewide Training Program for Pesticide Applicators
Authors: Gettys Lyn , Fishel Fred , Haller William , Gilbert Jhanna
Published: July 2023

The University of Florida IFAS Aquatic Weed Control Short Course is an Extension program that has been in existence since the 1980’s. A primary goal of the program is to provide training to Florida’s licensed pesticide applicators and individuals seeking initial licensing. Historically, surveys reveal that the vast majority gained useful knowledge and insights applicable to their situations, their expectations for learning were met, and they were overwhelmingly satisfied with their experience. Stakeholders include individuals from a diversity of employment sectors with varying levels of experience. Results show that the needs of these stakeholders are being met by the annual event.
Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Their Effective Communication by Extension Agents
Authors: James Annette , Estwick Noel , Bryant Audrey
Published: July 2023

Agriculture is an important sector of the U.S. economy, contributing at least $200 billion to the economy each year. It is considered to be one of the sectors most vulnerable to climate change and represents a key sector for international trade. Climate change is a global problem with widespread effects and implications. This phenomenon could make it more difficult to grow crops, raise animals, and catch fish in the same ways and same places as in the past. Therefore, it is critical that climate change messages are communicated effectively by Extension agents to farmers and the farming community.
Training Materials Developed for Latino Entrepreneurs
Authors: Abreo Christina , Miller Wayne , Farmer Frank , Moon Zola , McCullough Stacey
Published: July 2023

This article describes the materials and training program that Extension created to assist current and potential Latino immigrant entrepreneurs in starting businesses in Arkansas. The content-based educational materials describe the process for starting a new business, government regulatory requirements, start-up costs and considerations, and how to organize important documents. All items were designed with the ultimate goal of providing business owners with worksheets and an organizational system that can be used to write a business plan.
Using Turning Point to Conduct an Extension Needs Assessment
Authors: Carlson Bradley
Published: July 2023

Turning Point has the capability to collect market research data from an audience. This use is not supported by Turning Point, making the analysis challenging. A method for downloading raw data into a spreadsheet was identified. Once in the spreadsheet, the data could be cleaned and sorted. Although not straightforward and somewhat time consuming, it is believed that this method is superior to using paper surveys.
Student Interest in STEM Disciplines: Results from a Summer Day Camp
Authors: Dillivan Douglas , Dillivan Mary
Published: July 2023

Research shows student participation in science programming can affect scientific interest, academic performance, college majors, and careers. This article reports a study where results obtained from questionnaires completed by participants, parents, and guardians assessed whether interest in STEM disciplines was advanced by a summer day-camp attended by elementary and middle school students. Participants indicated that most activities positively affected their interest in STEM subjects. Parents and guardians also reported that student subject-matter interest was noticeably enhanced following the camp. Results indicate that inquiry-based but non-mathematical STEM activities were most successful at stimulating interest.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Professionals' Climate Change Perceptions, Willingness, and Perceived Barriers to Programming: An Educational Needs Assessment
Authors: Burnett Rachel , Vuola Aaron , Magalos Mark , Adams Damian , Monroe Martha
Published: July 2023

The educational needs assessment reported here measured North Carolina Cooperative Extension (NCCE) professionals' perceptions of global warming and identified barriers to climate change programming. Survey results from 400 NCCE professionals show 70% are cautious, concerned, or alarmed about global warming. Liberal and female Extension professionals were more likely to be alarmed and concerned than their conservative and male counterparts. Respondents indicated willingness to engage in programming, but need in-service training to address conflicts, gather information, and emphasize relevancy. NCCE professionals perceive lack of audience interest, conflicts within available information, and lack of applied information as the greatest barriers to climate change programming.
Increasing Parent Involvement with Parent Progress Reports
Authors: Catchpole Kimberly , Arnett Nate
Published: July 2023

Youth service providers recognize that involving families in children's learning is critical to academic achievement and overall healthy development. Yet youth service providers face ongoing challenges engaging families in out-of-school time programs. The authors, administrators of a nationally recognized youth development program, share their success using a tool to provide parents with expectations, feedback, and motivation: The Parent Progress Report. Tips for replicating the Parent Progress Report are provided along with lessons learned.
Developing a Successful Asynchronous Online Extension Program for Forest Landowners
Authors: Zobrist Kevin
Published: July 2023

Asynchronous online Extension classes can reach a wide audience, is convenient for the learner, and minimizes ongoing demands on instructor time. However, producing such classes takes significant effort up front. Advance planning and good communication with contributors are essential to success. Considerations include delivery platforms, content development strategies, copyright issues, peer review, user registration, pricing, and marketing. This article shares experiences from developing a comprehensive asynchronous online education program for forest landowners in Washington and suggests strategies for institutions considering the development of similar programs.
Interacting with Law Enforcement Audiences in Livestock Management
Authors: Boyles Stephen , Cole Kimberly , Dorman Leah
Published: July 2023

An Ohio voter initiative was passed to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. The board established livestock animal care regulations. Eight workshops were held for humane officers and others who deal with livestock animal care complaints. A total of 127 participants were trained on beef, dairy, swine, sheep/goat, equine and poultry husbandry; body condition scoring; farm animal behavior and handling; and biosecurity. The OPOTA has authority over training the County Humane Agents. OPOTA put together a team, including instructors from Animal Agriculture 101, to edit this section of their training on how to determine animal abuse related to livestock.
Use of an Extension Horse Conference to Improve Profitability for the Horse Industry
Authors: Anderson Kathleen
Published: July 2023

An annual horse training conference has been used to improve profitability for horse owners through providing owners an affordable opportunity to learn from high-profile equine professionals. This conference has contributed to $9,300,000 increase in value of horses over its 21-year history. Furthermore, by attracting the country's elite equine professionals and designing an annual quality even that is unmatched in the region, equine Extension and teaching programs can gain much credibility to the horse industry regionally and nationally.
Cooperative Extension and Climate Change: Successful Program Delivery
Authors: Morris Hilary , Megalos Mark , Vuola Aaron , Adams Damian , Monroe Martha
Published: July 2023

The politically charged debate surrounding climate change poses a challenge to outreach and education. A 2011 survey revealed that NC Extension professionals have approached climate change programming cautiously, citing lack of audience interest as the primary barrier—perhaps because the Southeast region has experienced relatively mild climate change impacts, to date. We propose a tiered approach to effectively communicate climate change adaptation strategies to agriculture and natural resource Extension clients: Extension should provide climate science information to early adopters and emphasize risk management of specific threats to clients not convinced about climate change, focusing on local solutions and familiar management tools.
New Problems, New Day
Authors: Sparks Beverly
Published: July 2023

New challenges are constantly on the horizon for America's agricultural producers. Cooperative Extension has, historically, played a significant role in the success of agricultural production and communities across the United States by providing science-based information and education. From Extension's role in addressing devastation affecting cotton production by the boll weevil in the late 1800s, to today's concerns regarding kudzu bugs, it is clear Extension remains not only relevant but is essential to agricultural endeavors. As we ramp up for a world population of 9 billion by 2050, the need for Extension remains.
Reader Time Investment as a Partial Impact Measure of Online Extension Content
Authors: Stafne Eric , Fidelibus Matthew
Published: July 2023

Information published online can help many vineyard workers better understand concepts that relate to job performance. The eXtension Grape Community of Practice (GCoP) created numerous articles and other content to extend information to their community of interest. Assessing impact of these interactions is difficult; however, using economic models such as opportunity cost could help assign monetary value to each page view. Although it presents an incomplete picture of the impact of the article, deriving the opportunity cost allows authors of online articles to assess how readers value their time and the investment they are willing to make to read online information.
Mobile and Web-Based Applications to Determine the Most Economical Feedstuffs for Livestock
Authors: Rusche Warren , Renelt Tracey
Published: July 2023

Producers are turning to mobile and Web-based decision-making tools in increasing numbers to better manage their businesses. To assist livestock producers in evaluating feed options, a "Feed Cost Calculator" was developed as an app for iOS, Android, and Web-based platforms. Mobile applications are a viable alternative to spreadsheet tools to address the needs of Extension clientele; however, there are certain inherent limitations to using mobile technology that must be considered.
ShoWorks, There's an App for That!
Authors: Davis Jamie , Rice Laurie
Published: July 2023

The county fair is a large part of the traditional 4-H program. The ShoWorks 2012 update includes an app for iPads that allows staff to use volunteers in new ways, recruit new volunteers, and significantly reduces post-show data entry time. Using technology greatly increases staff efficiency and organizational ability, a requirement during the packed schedule and quick turn-around times of county fair.
Targeted Food Marketing to Youth: Engaging Professionals in an Online Environment
Authors: Katras Mary , Kunkel Kelly , Croymans Sara , Routh Brianna , Schroeder Mary , Olson Carrie
Published: July 2023

The use of technology provides unique ways to create an engaged online community of learning for professionals that can be integrated into existing and future Extension programming. The Targeted Food Marketing to Youth online professional development course uses strategies and tools to create and support an engaged online community.
Early and Sensitive Detection of Pathogens for Public Health and Biosafety: An Example of Surveillance and Genotyping of SARS-CoV-2 in Sewage Water by Cas12a-Facilitated Portable Plasmonic Biosensor
Authors: Li Tianzhong , Chen Yuzhi , Chen Zhi , Hao Yuan , Liang Minyi , Liu Yingxia , Ou Guanyong , Zhang Huanian , Tang Yuxuan , Hao Yabing , Wageh Swelm , Al-Hartomy Omar A. , Kalam Abul , Zhang Bin , Shi Xin , Li Xuejin , Zhang Han
Published: July 2023

Infectious diseases severely threaten public health and global biosafety. In addition to transmission through the air, pathogenic microorganisms have also been detected in environmental liquid samples, such as sewage water. Conventional biochemical detection methodologies are time-consuming and cost-ineffective, and their detection limits hinder early diagnosis. In the present study, ultrafine plasmonic fiber probes with a diameter of 125 μm are fabricated for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas)-12a-mediated sensing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Single-stranded DNA exposed on the fiber surface is trans-cleaved by the Cas12a enzyme to release gold nanoparticles that are immobilized onto the fiber surface, causing a sharp reduction in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) wavelength. The proposed fiber probe is virus-specific with the limit of detection of ~2,300 copies/ml, and genomic copy numbers can be reflected as shifts in wavelengths. A total of 21 sewage water samples have been examined, and the data obtained are consistent with those of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In addition, the Omicron variant and its mutation sites have been fast detected using S gene-specific Cas12a. This study provides an accurate and convenient approach for the real-time surveillance of microbial contamination in sewage water.
DEVELOPMENTS IN ENERGY POLICIES IN TURKIYE AND INVESTIGATION OF PRIMARY ENERGY SUPPLY WITHIN NUTS 1 REGIONS
Authors: SAĞLAM Büşra , OĞUZTİMUR Senay
Published: July 2023

Energy is a vital issue, which is directly related to development. There are many publications on energy and development, renewable energy, and sustainable development. As of 2021, Türkiye is foreign dependent at a rate of 70% in energy. Therefore, energy imports constitute a tremendous economic charge for Türkiye. For this reason, within the scope of this research, energy policies and the process of Türkiye in energy are discussed.

First, the policies developed regarding energy policies in eleven development plans were examined. Then, by focusing on the recent past, fundamental economic indicators and energy indicators in Türkiye’s NUTS1 regions, a regional analysis was carried out. Finally, the regions' energy installed capacities, energy consumption, and production data are emphasized and maps were made.

"How is the energy sources distribution in NUTS1 regions in Türkiye?" and "What kind of path has been followed in the last 20 years on renewable energy, and what is the latest situation?" questions were answered in this study.
Analysis of human factors in aircraft maintenance from a language perspective
Authors: Sekelová Ingrid , Korba Peter , Koščáková Martina , Tymofiiv Volodymyr
Published: July 2023

This paper deals with diverse human factors that affect the work of aircraft mechanics. The focus is centred on the role of knowledge of the language and its effects on safety in aircraft maintenance. The research of literature on human factors in maintenance proved that communication, and thus language, constitute an important part of them. Various models of human factors are presented, and their essence is compared in relation to communication and language. Communication can be done without words, but language is inseparable from communication, every time we use language we communicate. The communication present in aircraft maintenance is necessary for smooth and effective operation and language is used for communicating daily.