bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer and Genetics Training for Community Health Workers:  KEEP IT (Keeping Each other Engaged Program via IT) Community Health Worker Training
Authors: Allen Caitlin , Hatch Ashley , Qanungo Suparna , Ford Marvella , Price Sarah Tucker , Umemba Quisha
Published: April 2023

We developed a curriculum for community health workers (CHWs) using an innovative, community-engaged focus group and Delphi process approach. Equipping CHWs with knowledge of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) and genetics could help enhance identification of women at risk for HBOC, referral, and navigation through genetic services. Focus groups of five CHWs were conducted on two separate occasions. A three round Delphi process study involving eight experts was conducted. In Round 1 participants rated and commented on draft modules. The second round involved live video discussion to highlight points of confusion and concern in the modules. The third round followed the same process as Round 1. Eight individuals participated in the Delphi process. The curriculum was revised and refined based on quantitative and qualitative data and reassessed by the experts in Round 3. Agreement was achieved on eight of 10 modules when assessing for clarity of learning objectives, seven out of 10 when assessing for adult learning theory, and nine out of 10 when assessing for participants’ ability to learn desired knowledge and the Delphi process concluded. High levels of agreement were attained for most modules, and if not, they were altered accordingly. We plan to virtually deliver this curriculum to CHWs to enhance their HBOC and genomic competencies. By equipping CHWs to understand and participate in genomics education, we can enable more equitable participation in genomics-informed clinical care and research. Beyond this curriculum, the Delphi methodology can further be used to design content for new CHW curriculums.
Differences in Directives to Limit Treatment and Discontinue Mechanical Ventilation Between Elderly and Very Elderly Patients: A Multinational Observational Study
Authors: Burns Karen E , Cook Deborah J , Xu Keying , Dodek Peter , Villar Jesus , Jones Andrew , Kapadia Farhad N , Gattas David J. , Epstein Scott K , Pelosi Paolo , Kefala Kalliroi , Meade Maureen , Rizvi Leena
Published: April 2023

Purpose: To characterize differences in directives to limit treatments and discontinue invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in elderly (65 - 80 years) and very elderly (> 80 years) intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
Measurements: We prospectively described new orders to limit treatments, IMV discontinuation strategies [direct extubation, direct tracheostomy, spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), NIV use], and associations between initial failed SBT and outcomes in 142 ICUs from 6 regions (Canada, India, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, United States).
Results: We evaluated 788 (586 elderly; 202 very elderly) patients. Very elderly (vs. elderly) patients had similar withdrawal orders but significantly more withholding orders, especially cardiopulmonary resuscitation and dialysis, after ICU admission [67 (33.2%) vs. 128 (21.9%); p=0.002]. Orders to withhold reintubation were written sooner in very elderly (vs. elderly) patients [4 (2-8) vs. 7 (4-13) days, p=0.02]. Very elderly and elderly patients had similar rates of direct extubation [39 (19.3%) vs. 113 (19.3%)], direct tracheostomy [10 (5.0%) vs. 40 (6.8%)], initial SBT [105 (52.0%) vs. 302 (51.5%)] and initial successful SBT [84 (80.0%) vs. 245 (81.1%)]. Very elderly patients experienced similar outcomes, but had higher hospital mortality. Direct tracheostomy and initial failed SBT were associated with worse outcomes. Regional differences existed in withholding orders at ICU admission and in withholding and withdrawal orders after ICU admission.
Conclusions: Very elderly (vs. elderly) patients had more orders to withhold treatments after ICU admission and higher hospital mortality, but similar ICU outcomes and IMV discontinuation. Significant regional differences existed in withholding and withdrawal practices.
Unsupervised machine learning models reveal predictive markers of glioblastoma patient survival using white blood cell counts prior to initiating chemoradiation
Authors: Wang Wesley , Kumm Zeynep Temerit , Ho Cindy , Zanesco-Fontes Ideli , Texiera Gustavo , Reis Rui Manuel , Martinetto Horacio , Khan Javaria , Anderson Mark D. , Chohan M Omar , Beyer Sasha , Elder J Brad , Giglio Pierre , Otero José Javier
Published: April 2023

Purpose: Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor requiring careful clinical monitoring even after primary management. Personalized medicine has suggested use of various molecular biomarkers as predictors of patient prognosis or factors utilized for clinical decision making. However, the accessibility of such molecular testing poses a constraint for various institutes requiring identification of low-cost predictive biomarkers to ensure equitable care.
Methods: We collected retrospective data from patients seen at Ohio State University, University of Mississippi, Barretos Cancer Hospital (Brazil), and FLENI (Argentina) who were managed for glioblastoma—amounting to nearly 600 patient records documented using REDCap. Patients were evaluated using an unsupervised machine learning approach comprised of dimensionality reduction and eigenvector analysis to visualize the inter-relationship of collected clinical features.
Results: We discovered that white blood cell count of a patient during baseline planning for treatment was predictive of overall survival with an over 6-month median survival difference between the upper and lower quartiles of white blood cell count. By utilizing an objective PDL-1 immunohistochemistry quantification algorithm, we were further able to identify an increase in PDL-1 expression in glioblastoma patients with high white blood cell counts.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that in a subset of glioblastoma patients the incorporation of white blood cell count and PDL-1 expression in the brain tumor biopsy as simple biomarkers predicting glioblastoma patient survival. Moreover, use of machine learning models allows us to visualize complex clinical datasets to uncover novel clinical relationships.
A muti-substrate flavonol O-glucosyltransferases from safflower
Authors: Qi Shuyi , He Beixuan , Wang Haotian , Duan Yaqian , Wang Lunuan , Gao Yue , Guo Meili
Published: April 2023

A glycosyltransferase CtUGT4 with flavonoid-O-glycosyltransferase activity was identified in safflower. The fusion protein of CtUGT4 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the target protein was purified. The recombinant protein can catalyze quercetin to form quercetin-7-O-glucoside and kaempferol to form kaempferol-3-O in vitro, and a series of flavones, flavonols, dihydroflavones, chalcones, and chalcone glycosides were used as substrates to generate new products. CtUGT4 was expressed in the tobacco transient expression system, and the enzyme activity results showed that it could catalyze kaempferol to kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, and quercetin to quercetin-7-O-glucoside. After overexpressing CtUGT4 in safflower, the content of quercetin-3-O-rutinoside in the florets of safflower increased significantly, and the content of quercetin-3-O-glucoside also tended to increase, which preliminarily proved the function of CtUGT4 flavonoid-O-glycosyltransferase. This work demonstrated the flavonoid-O-glycosyltransferase function of safflower CtUGT4 and showed differences in affinity for different flavonoid substrates and regioselectivity of catalytic sites in safflower in vivo and in vitro, which provides clues for further research on the function of UGT genes and new ideas for the cultivation engineering of directional improvement of effective metabolites in safflower.
A biologically inspired computational trust model for open multi-agent systems which is resilient to unwillingness and dishonesty in reporting of trust information
Authors: Lygizou Zoi , Kalles Dimitris
Published: April 2023

Selfish agents in highly dynamic and open multi-agent systems are usually unwilling to exchange information with each another and usually dishonest when doing so. Thus, the use of trust information provided by other agents makes most trust and reputation systems susceptible to various sorts of disinformation. To deal with this issue, we have proposed a computational trust model from the perspective of the trustee, inspired by aspects of the synaptic plasticity of the brain, in which the trustor does not choose a trustee to delegate a task, but it is the trustee who decides whether it has the skills to perform the task or not. The proposed trust model follows the decentralized approach, it is developed so as to deal with the requirements of highly dynamic and open multi-agent systems, and since agents do not exchange trust information, it is immune to various sorts of disinformation. We conducted an extensive empirical evaluation of our model comparing it with FIRE, an established trust and reputation model for open multi-agent systems, and observed that our model was able to perform consistently in various dynamic conditions, maintaining a high level of utility gain for the agents and being immune to unwillingness and dishonesty in reporting of trust information.
Erythrocytic cellular and nuclear abnormalities in fish Catla catla cultivated in water bodies located adjacent to rice paddy fields in Western Ghats, India
Authors: MV Chethankumar , SV Krishnamurthy
Published: April 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Identification of novel phytochemicals from Hibiscus rosa sinensis flower as a prospective inhibitor targeting the 3CLpro enzyme of SARS-CoV-2 using computational approaches.
Authors: Das Subhadeep , Satapathy Sagarika , Acharya Diptikanta , Sahu Sushil Kumar
Published: April 2023

Hibiscus rosa sinensis has an infinite resources of phytochemicals, which have emerged as solutions for different health-related issues such as anti-diabetic, anti-microbial and wound healing activity as proved in past clinical studies. Focusing on the current situation, an incessant increase in daily COVID-19 cases and struggles to discover effective treatment measures for SARS-CoV-2 have led to the global health catastrophe. Upsurge in COVID-19 cases has revealed a pattern characterised as a first, second, third wave and beyond, this cycle of new SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission needed to be terminated by selecting a propitious effective target, and the 3CL protease enzyme (3CLpro or Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 acts as a possible target. The objective of this study is to investigate the phytochemicals identified from Hibiscus rosa sinensis flower for their potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties virtually, targeting the 3CLpro or Mpro, which regulates viral pathogenesis. The present research protocol includes molecular docking of 34 phytochemicals identified from Hibiscus rosa sinensis flower and targeted against the active site of the 3CLpro enzyme. Computational analysis revealed that the top 3 ligands, cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside (-10.9 kcal/mol), 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid isodecyl octyl ester (-10.1 kcal/mol) and rutin (-9.3 kcal/mol) have better binding affinity as compared to the control inhibitor remdesivir (-8 kcal/mol). Further investigation in terms of ligand-protein interaction, physiochemical, ADMET and drug-likeness parameters showed that cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5-glucoside possessed promising properties and could act as a potential effective drug candidate. However, our study needs to be supported by in vitro and in vivo evaluation to determine the precise mechanism of inhibitory action.
Factors Predicting Recurrence After Left‑Sided Pancreatectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xia Tao , Xu Peng , Mou Yiping , Zhang Xizhou , Song Shihao , Zhou Yucheng , Lu Chao , Zhu Qicong , Xu Yunyun , Jin Weiwei , Wang Yuanyu
Published: April 2023

Background Recurrence after resection is the main factor for poor survival. The relationship between clinicopathological factors and recurrence after curative distal pancreatectomy for PDAC has rarely been reported separately.Methods Patients with PDAC after left‑sided pancreatectomy between May 2015 and August 2021 were retrospectively identified.Results 141 patients were included. Recurrence was observed in 97 patients (68.8%), while 44 (31.2%) patients had no recurrence. The median RFS was 8.8 months. The median OS was 24.9 months. Local recurrence was the predominant first detected recurrence site (n = 36, 37.1%), closely followed by liver recurrence (n = 35, 36.1%). Multiple recurrences occurred in 16 (16.5%) patients, peritoneal recurrence in 6 (6.2%) patients, and lung recurrence in 4 (4.1%) patients. High CA19-9 value after surgery, poor differentiation grade, and positive lymph nodes were found to be independently associated with recurrence. The patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had a decreased likelihood of recurrence. In the high CA19-9 value cohort, the median PFS and OS of the patients with or without chemotherapy were 8.0 VS. 5.7 months and 15.6 VS. 13.8 months, respectively. In the normal CA19-9 value cohort, there was no significant difference in PFS with or without chemotherapy (11.7 VS. 10.0 months, P = 0.147). However, OS was significantly longer in the patients with chemotherapy (26.4 VS. 13.8 months, P = 0.019).Conclusions Tumor biologic characteristics, such as T stage, tumor differentiation and positive lymph nodes, affecting CA19-9 value after surgery are associated with patterns and timing of recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy significantly reduced recurrence and improved survival. Chemotherapy is strongly recommended in patients with high CA199 after surgery.
Evaluation of the mechanisms acting on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in CESM2 for the 1pctCO2 experiment
Authors: Sancho Lívia , Passos Elisa , Assad Luiz Paulo de Freitas , Landau Luiz
Published: April 2023

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a crucial component of the Earth’s climate system due to its fundamental role in the uptake and distribution of important tracers such as heat, carbon, and oxygen. Evaluating changes in AMOC in a warming climate is paramount to understanding the potential influence on global climate. In this study, we utilized outputs produced by the Community Earth System Model for Phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, in addition to in situ data, to investigate changes in AMOC and the associated physical processes. Two experiments were carried out: a control experiment and an experiment with an annual increase of 1% CO2. Our analysis revealed a significant decrease in AMOC, with the upper branch weakening more than 60% and shallowing more than 600 m, compared to in situ data, leading to a reduction in heat transport to high latitudes in the North Atlantic. This decline was associated with changes in mixed layer depth and buoyancy in high latitudes of the North Atlantic, resulting in the shutdown of deep convection and potentially affecting the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water. Furthermore, the increase in CO2 levels altered the pattern of several parameters and the way they determine the flow of freshwater to the North Atlantic Ocean. Our findings suggest that continued warming may further weaken AMOC, with significant implications for global climate.
Potential zoonotic malaria transmission in five areas inhabited by non-human primate in Indonesia
Authors: Permana Dendi Hadi , Hasmiwati Hasmiwati , Suryandari Dwi Anita , Rozi Ismail Ekoprayitno , Syahrani Lepa , Setiadi Wuryantari , Irawati Nuzulia , Rizaldi Rizaldi , Wangsamuda Suradi , Yusuf Yenni , Irdayanti Irdayanti , Aswad Hijral , Syafruddin= Din , Asih Puji Budi Setia
Published: April 2023

Background Indonesia is home for many species of non-human primate (NHP). The current deforestation has substantially reduced the habitat of the NHPs and intensifies interaction with human being and thus open the possibility of pathogen spill over. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of malaria parasite infection among the NHPs in five provinces of Indonesia during the period of 2022 through the capture and release of wild NHPs using a trap installed in several localities surrounding the sanctuary that border the human settlement. The potential Anopheles sp. mosquito that may transmit the pathogen to human was also explored.Methods Epidemiologic surveys were conducted through the capture and release of wild NHPs using a trap installed in several localities surrounding the wildlife sanctuary that border the human settlement. Captured NHP was anesthetized and blood samples were aseptically drawn using phlebotomy to make blood smear and dried blood spot (DBS) on filter paper. Infection of the captured NHPs with malaria was determined using light microscopy on Giemsa-stained blood smears and PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the amplicons using the rPLU oligos. The species of the NHP was determined using the barcoding DNA markers, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (COI) and Internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) gene of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. Mosquito surveillance included larval collection on breeding sites and adult collection using human landing catch (HLC) and light traps.Results Analysis of the DNA extracted from the DBS of the 110 captured NHPs, revealed positive Plasmodium, namely P. cynomolgi, P.coatneyi, P. inui, P. knowlesi and Plasmodium sp. at the prevalence rate of 42% and 50% by microscopy and PCR, respectively. Molecular analysis on the captured NHPs identified several species of Macaca sp. and Hylobates sp. Mosquito surveillance identified several common breeding sites such as ditch, piddle, and natural ponds. Anopheles letifer was found during HLC carried sporozoites of primate malaria.Conclusion The findings indicate a high prevalence of primate malaria infection among the NHPs and in certain areas the Anopheles sp. vector that potentially transmit zoonotic malaria such as An. letifer were identified during HLC. Overall, the zoonotic malaria transmission in several areas is immense.
Employment Prospects and Health Insurance Among Legal Permanent Residents: a Longitudinal Assessment of the Influence of Visa Type and Job Skill Level
Authors: Kibibi Niclette , Story William , Oleson Jacob , Platt Jonathan , Charlton Mary , Ryckman Kelli
Published: April 2023

Background Immigrants have disparate access to employment and health insurance, but it is unclear whether differences in access exist by visa types and job skill. We examined the relationship between visa type and employment, and the association between job skill and health insurance.Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the 2003 to 2004 and 2007 to 2009 longitudinal data from the New Immigrant Survey. Using logistic regression, we compared the odds of employment by visa type (immediate relatives/family sponsored; diversity; refugee/asylee/parolee; and legalization) and the odds of insurance by job skill level (high, medium, and low), at each survey wave and assessed the change in each outcome over time.Results More immigrants were employed in wave 2 than in wave 1 (74% vs. 58%). Those with refugee/asylee/parolee visas had the highest rate of employment (82%) in wave 1 but decreased in wave 2 (76.4% ). Those with diversity visas had the highest increase in employment over time (56.6% in wave 1 vs. 85.5% in wave 2). The odds of insurance were consistently high among immigrants in high skill level jobs compared to those in lower skill level jobs over time.Conclusion Those with the diversity visa may be most vulnerable to unemployment and those in medium and low skill level jobs may be most vulnerable to uninsurance. They may benefit the most from job placement support in industries offering skill building, career advancement and health insurance to ensure best use of their human capital and continued upward mobility.
Epidemiological Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in White-tailed Deer
Authors: Hewitt Joshua , Wilson-Henjum Grete , Collins Derek , Linder Timothy , Lenoch Julianna , Heale Jonathon , Quintanal Christopher , Pleszewski Robert , McBride Dillon , Bowman Andrew , Chandler Jeffrey , Shriner Susan , Bevins Sarah , Kohler Dennis , Chipman Richard , Gosser Allen , Bergman David , DeLiberto Thomas , Pepin Kim
Published: April 2023

Understanding pathogen emergence in new host species is fundamental for developing prevention and response plans for human and animal health. We leveraged a large-scale surveillance dataset coordinated by United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and state natural resources agencies to quantify infection of SARS-CoV-2 in North American white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; WTD) using a hierarchical epidemiological model in the eastern half of the United States. Our model found that male deer had higher positivity than female deer, and positivity was higher in counties with higher human population density or deer habitat. Estimated SARS-CoV-2 local epidemiological reproduction numbers were between 1 and 2.5 in most well-sampled counties, with local epidemics in WTD peaking earlier in the northeast and mid-Atlantic relative to the Midwest and Southeast. Similar peak infection prevalence times across many counties provided indirect evidence for widespread transmission via human-to-deer spillover, while the widespread high estimates of local epidemiological reproduction number suggested that sustained deer-to-deer transmission is also probable. The model estimated 10% of infected WTD were infected due to human infection pressure.
The Mediating Role of Human Capital in the Relationship between Education Expenditure and Science and Technology Innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Yu Yang , Xinxin Wang , Ruoxi Li , Tingting Yin
Published: April 2023

In recent years, China’s rapid economic development has been accompanied by an increase in education spending, resulting in the accumulation of human capital. However, there is ongoing debate regarding whether and how education expenditures have fostered innovation in science and technology (S&T). This study uses panel data from 31 Chinese provinces, cities, and autonomous regions from 2006 to 2015 to look at the relationship between education spending, human capital development, and S&T innovation. It seeks to shed light on this problem. Our results reveal that education expenditure has a significant positive impact on S&T innovation, and human capital accumulation plays a mediating role in this relationship. Specifically, an increase in education expenditure can not only enhance the innovation ability of the educated but also strengthen their ability to accept and apply new technologies, leading to the transformation and transmission of knowledge. Furthermore, our study shows that education expenditure has a greater impact on S&T innovation than capital formation. The findings of this study have important policy implications. Given that education expenditure is an effective means of promoting S&T innovation, it is recommended that the Chinese government continue to boost investment in education, enhance the convenience of education consumption, and advance education supply-side reform. Additionally, policymakers should consider the structure of education expenditures and how it affects innovation, as well as the different impacts of household and public expenditures, education consumption, and education investment on the economy. In conclusion, this study provides evidence supporting the important role of education expenditure in fostering S&T innovation in China. By investing in education, China can continue to build its human capital, promote economic development, and advance social progress.
Systematic literature review of сarbon-neutral economy concept
Authors: Vakulenko Ihor , Saher Liudmyla , Shymoshenko Anastasiia
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the article is to study trends in the development of scientific interest in the issue of implementing a carbon-neutral economy. The authors performed a bibliometric analysis of the publications indexed in the Scopus database using VOSviewer 1.6.16 software and Microsoft Excel. This analysis contributes to determining prospects for transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy and priority areas requiring special attention to accelerate this process. The obtained results of the study of the patterns of the development of the carbon-neutral economy indicate that this concept has a dynamic development, which traces the prerequisites for the formation of a powerful scientific school that investigates the influence of changes in the level of energy efficiency in the process of carbon-neutral development of the national economy. Analysis of the dynamics of publication activity demonstrates a reasonably rapid growth in the number of publications. From 1992 to March 2023, the average growth rate of published research results in the analyzed field was 28.50%. A comparison of subject areas in the study of the carbon-neutral economy shows the predominance of energy, ecology, and socio-economic studies. As a result of the bibliometric analysis of 654 publications indexed by the scientometric database Scopus during 1992-2023 on the topic of the carbon-neutral economy using the software VOSViewer v. 1.6.10, six scientific clusters were identified, which study the possibilities of building an economic system with minimal carbon emissions, taking into account the technical, technological, climatic, social and economic aspects of this issue. However, there is an urgent need to study the organizational and economic mechanisms of replacing non-renewable energy resources with renewable ones in the conditions of rapid changes in the global energy market. The study of the geographical affiliation of the authors of scientific works in this area showed that scientists from China, the USA, Great Britain, Germany, India, Canada, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, and Spain published the most significant number of publications. The share of publications by geographical affiliation to these countries is 75%. At the same time, the number of publications in the Scopus database published by domestic authors is relatively small, which once again confirmed the lack of research and timeliness of the study carried out in Ukraine.
NGOS and stakeholder cooperation in long term care organizing and delivery: an equal player or an outlier?
Authors: Ramonienė Lineta
Published: April 2023

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of inter-sectoral and inter-organizational cooperation in long-term care service policy-making, organizing and delivery with a specific focus on NGO role in it. The main purpose of the research is to explore the current situation, with a specific focus on NGO role in it, and look into some drivers of stakeholder cooperation in LTC organising and delivery and to compare them across public and private LTC providers and NGOs. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches indicates that NGOs’ role in stakeholder cooperation is unique due to the nature of their non-profit philosophy. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that inter-organisational LTC cooperation with and by tertiary sector organisations has to date received very modest research attention, and is inconclusive and fragmented. This leads to not meeting growing needs for LTC services and increasing public costs. Investigation of the topic first offers empirical evidence on stakeholder cooperation in LTC policy development, organising and delivery across multiple stakeholder groups in three sectors – public, private and NGOs. In addition, it pays specific attention to NGOs role and engagement in LTC and identifies stronger and weaker areas of cooperation with other stakeholders. The paper also identifies several cooperation drivers and measures them in LTC field. The study builds on the findings of a survey of key LTC stakeholders in Lithuania (n=215). Results show that current NGO engagement in cooperation is lower in comparison to public and private LTC service providers and their cooperation is mainly limited to the sphere of LTC service delivery at an individual level, and family members, social workers and other NGOs make key stakeholder groups they cooperate with. The research empirically confirms that NGOs are outliers in cooperation in long-term care policy development, organising and delivery across multiple stakeholder groups. The results of the research can be useful for all the stakeholders in LTC policy field and service provision.
The impact of the 2008-2009 global crisis on the collateral requirement for loans: the case of manufacturing firms
Authors: D. Kaya Halil
Published: April 2023

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of changes in financing conditions due to a global financial or economic crisis. The main purpose of the research is to examine how the loan collateral requirement for manufacturers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia had changed after the 2008-2009 Global Crisis. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of changes in collateral requirement after the 2008-2009 Global Crisis indicates that there were some significant changes in terms of the collateral requirement and the type of collateral used post-crisis. The study is important because its findings will guide manufacturing firms, as well as lenders and government agencies in the region in case of an upcoming financial or economic crisis. Investigation of the topic of collateral requirement in the paper is carried out in the following logical sequence: First, the percentage of manufacturers that were required to show a collateral for obtaining a new loan is examined pre- and post-crisis. Then, the type of collateral that was used pre- and post-crisis is examined. The study uses six years of research data: the 2007 survey responses were used as the pre-crisis data and the 2010-2014 data were used as the post-crisis data. We focus on manufacturing firms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia because we have detailed data from the BEEPS IV and BEEPS V surveys of EBRD-World Bank. The paper presents the results of an empirical analysis of collateral requirement and type of collateral used, which shows that fewer manufacturers reported a collateral requirement for new loans post-crisis. When we examine the different types of assets that were used as collateral, we find that there were some significant changes from the pre-crisis period to the post-crisis period. We find that, post-crisis, fewer manufacturers used lands and buildings, machinery and equipment, or other items as collateral for new loans. There was no significant change in the percentage of manufacturers that used accounts receivable and inventories as collateral. On the other hand, our results show that, post-crisis, more manufacturers used personal assets of the owner as collateral. Overall, although fewer firms reported a collateral requirement for new loans post-crisis and fewer firms needed to show lands and buildings, machinery and equipment, or other items as collateral, more firms had to show their owner’s personal assets. The research empirically confirms and theoretically proves that governments and lenders reduced the collateral requirement in this region and that in these times of deteriorating financial conditions, as a last resort, manufacturers had to use the owner’s personal assets as collateral. The results of this research can be useful for manufacturing firms, as well as for lenders and government agencies in the region.
University-company collaboration: what are the obstacles in Algeria?
Authors: Nahla Naga
Published: April 2023

Partnership with companies is particularly important in the higher education and research sectors in Algeria. Indeed, the university-company partnership is part of the university’s mission to enable it to be in symbiosis with its economic environment through multiple gateways from the university to the industrial companies and conversely. This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue the reality of the research partnership between university institutions and industrial companies. The main purpose of the research is to identify the most important requirements of the research partnership and its obstacles. This article will address three (03) essential points: First, we present the literature review on the university/business relationship by addressing its importance for development. Second, we will present the methodological approach. The choice of a qualitative survey by interviews is due to the objective of our research, which is to obtain in-depth information, difficult to express quantitatively on the subject of study. The interviews were conducted with higher education professors and officials of economic companies. Thirdly, we will advance results and some elements of appreciation on the reality of this relationship. The research empirically indicated that the level of research partnership between university institutions and industrial institutions was low. The study also showed that although cooperation between universities and industrial institutions has become an urgent and confirmed necessity in political discourses and in legislative laws and has been the subject of discussions for several years. This relationship is distinguished Fragility and superficiality The study recommended the need for university institutions to adopt the concept of research partnership within their strategic directions, as well as work to consolidate the mutual relationship between university leaders and officials in economic institutions.
Ruizhongite, (Ag2☐)Pb3Ge2S8, a thiogermanate mineral from the Wusihe Pb-Zn deposit, Sichuan Province, Southwest China
Authors: Meng Yu-Miao , Gu Xiangping , Meng Songning , Huang Xiao-Wen
Published: April 2023

Ruizhongite (IMA2022-066), (Ag2☐)Pb3Ge2S8, is a thiogermanate of economic importance discovered in the Wusihe Pb-Zn deposit in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. This mineral occurs as anhedral grains 1–10 μm in size. It is gray and opaque, with a metallic luster and black streak, closely associated with galena and pyrite in a sphalerite matrix. Under reflected light, it displays a greenish-gray color without internal reflection. Its reflectance values in air (R %) based on SiC as the reference material are 30.5, 32.2, 34, and 34.1 for corresponding wavelengths of 650, 589, 470, and 546 nm, respectively. According to the average of 18 electron microprobe analyses, Pb (57.37 wt%), S (21.39 wt%), Ge (11.53 wt%), Ag (7.34 wt%), Zn (1.57 wt%), and Fe (0.27 wt%) constitute 99.46 wt% of ruizhongite. The empirical formula based on the 8 S apfu is (Ag0.82Pb0.32Zn0.28Fe0.06)Σ1.48Pb3Ge1.9S8, and (Ag2☐)Pb3Ge2S8 is its ideal formula. Ruizhongite displays a cubic structure, space group I43d (#220), with the unit-cell parameters a = 14.0559(2), V = 2777.00(7), Z = 8, and the calculated density is 5.706 g/cm3. The strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are 3.755 (100) (123), 3.511 (76) (004), 2.992 (73) (233), 2.574 (21) (125), 2.482 (79) (044), 2.276 (46) (235), 1.784 (39) (237), and 2.075 (24) (136). The structure of ruizhongite was determined using single-crystal XRD and was refined to an R1 of 0.0323 for all 2594 (474 unique) reflections. The structure comprises a non-centrosymmetric arrangement of [GeS4]4− tetrahedra, forming two interstice sites: fully occupied Pb1 and partially occupied Ag1, aligned in the directions of a-, b-, and c-axes. Ruizhongite was named in honor of Ruizhong Hu (1958), an eminent Chinese ore geochemist. The discovery of ruizhongite has significant implications for the occurrence and enrichment mechanism of Ge in sphalerite and other metallic minerals.
Utilité des Fonctions d’Aide Technologique sur les Performances en Lecture et en Écriture et sur le Concept de soi Scolaire Auprès d’élèves du Primaire qui ont des Difficultés d’Apprentissage
Authors: Bourget-Piché Gabrielle , Leroux Chemla Céline , Bigo Clélie , Guay Marie-Claude
Published: April 2023

Cette étude pilote porte sur l’utilisation des fonctions d’aide technologique (FAT) par des élèves du primaire, scolarisés en français et ayant des difficultés en lecture et en écriture (groupe FAT, n = 25). L’objectif est d’évaluer si les FAT améliorent leur compréhension de lecture et leur concept de soi scolaire (CSS) et si elles permettent de réduire le nombre de fautes à l’écrit. Un groupe de comparaison d’élèves tout-venant (n = 22) est inclus pour examiner si les scores des deux groupes se rapprochent au fil du temps. Les résultats montrent qu’après seulement cinq mois d’utilisation des FAT les élèves du groupe FAT réduisent leurs fautes à l’écrit et ils obtiennent même des performances comparables à celles de leurs pairs tout-venant. Pour la compréhension de lecture et le CSS, les effets d’interaction ne sont pas significatifs. Les implications pour la réussite scolaire et les recherches futures sont discutées.
Time Scarcity and Student Performance: Instructional Strategies for Busy Adult Online Students
Authors: Holmes Melanie
Published: April 2023

Adult online college students often suffer from time scarcity, which results in a drain on cognitive capacity and executive function, thus lowering their ability to plan, reason, and multitask. Busy students often engage in tunneling, ignoring everything but the most pressing concern. To support these students, educators should recommend timelines for task completion and divide larger assignments into smaller tasks. To reduce feelings of time scarcity, classrooms should have a predictable rhythm of regular assignments, a clear syllabus, meaningful assignments, and no busywork. Allocating points for preparatory tasks affirms their value and demonstrates respect for students’ time. Educators can help students build slack into their schedules so that they can better navigate disruptions by recommending multitasking strategies, suggesting rules of thumb, highlighting key points in instructions, and distinguishing essential from non-essential resources. Better understanding the challenges of the busy adult online student can help educators more effectively support their success.
Editorial
Authors: Cleveland-Innes Martha
Published: April 2023

In this issue of the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, evidence-based practice continues to be emphasized, in addition to providing information reflecting trends in a rapidly evolving education space. According to the most recent Horizon Report, multiple trends overlap specifically with topics addressed in our journal: the widespread adoption of hybrid learning models, increased use of learning technologies, online faculty development, and quality online learning. We invite you to review the content summary of this journal issue.
Topological-insulator nanocylinders
Authors: Governale Michele , Taddei Fabio
Published: April 2023

Nanostructures, such a quantum dots or nanoparticles, made of three-dimensional topological insulators (3DTIs) have been recently attracting increasing interest, especially for their optical properties. In this paper we calculate the energy spectrum, the surface states and the dipole matrix elements for optical transitions with in-plane polarization of 3DTI nanocylinders of finite height LL and radius RR. We first derive an effective 2D Hamiltonian by exploiting the cylindrical symmetry of the problem. We develop two approaches: the first one is an exact numerical tight-binding model obtained by discretising the Hamiltonian. The second one, which allows us to obtain analytical results, is an approximated model based on a large-RR expansion and on an effective boundary condition to account for the finite height of the nanocylinder. We find that the agreement between the two models, as far as eigenenergies and eigenfunctions are concerned, is excellent for the lowest absolute value of the longitudinal component of the angular momentum. Finally, we derive analytical expressions for the dipole matrix elements by first considering the lateral surface alone and the bases alone, and then for the whole nanocylinder. In particular, we focus on the two limiting cases of tall and squat nanocylinders. The latter case is compared with the numerical results finding a good agreement.
From E-Government to Good Governance: Examining the Impact of Digitalization on Public Service Delivery in Indonesia
Authors: Najich Alfayn Mukhammad Akhmad
Published: April 2023

E-government merupakan pemanfaatan teknologi informasi dalam pemerintahan yang diharapkan dapat meningkatkan Good Governance. Implementasi e-government di Indonesia masih belum optimal dan masih menghadapi berbagai kendala. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis implementasi e-government di Indonesia dan pengaruhnya terhadap Good Governance. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Data dikumpulkan melalui studi pustaka dan wawancara. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa implementasi e-government di Indonesia belum sesuai dengan standar e-government dan belum mampu meningkatkan Good Governance secara signifikan. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi keberhasilan implementasi e-government di Indonesia adalah kualitas pelayanan publik, tingkat kepercayaan masyarakat, dan tingkat partisipasi masyarakat. Kendala yang dihadapi dalam implementasi e-government di Indonesia antara lain aksesibilitas, infrastruktur, kualitas pelayanan, dan integrasi sistem. Solusi yang dapat diterapkan untuk mengatasi kendala tersebut adalah peningkatan aksesibilitas, pengembangan infrastruktur, peningkatan kualitas pelayanan publik dan peningkatan partisipasi masyarakat dalam proses implementasi e-government
Fruit and vegetable purees as cryoprotectants for vacuum freeze-dried fermented milk products
Authors: Krasnova Irina , Ganina Vera , Semenov Gennadiy
Published: April 2023

Fresh fermented milk products have a limited shelf life that can be extended by vacuum freeze-drying. Cryoprotectants are used to increase the survival of lactic acid microorganisms during freeze-drying. The most effective cryoprotectants are those of natural origin. Literature offers little information on the cryoprotective effects of fruit and vegetable purees. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of fruit and vegetable purees in increasing the survival of lactic acid microorganisms during the freeze-drying and storage of fermented milk products.

We studied bioyogurt samples containing pumpkin, fig, and banana purees. Rational modes of freezing and freeze-drying were established on the basis of thermal analysis. The cryoscopic temperature was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The proportion of frozen moisture was calculated using the Nagaoka formula. Standard methods were employed to evaluate the sensory characteristics of bioyogurts and determine their protein, fat, and non-fat milk solids contents, as well as titratable acidity and microbiological indicators.

The addition of pumpkin puree increased the cryoscopic temperature and reduced the freeze-drying stage and the total drying time by 13 h, depending on the amount of puree. However, the addition of sweet fig and banana purees decreased the cryoscopic temperature and increased the freeze-drying stage and the total drying time by 0.5–1.5 and 1.5–3 h, respectively. Based on the sensory evaluation of the freeze-dried bioyogurts, we selected the formulations with 15% of pumpkin and fig purees and 10% of banana puree. We found that the freeze-dried bioyogurts with puree had higher counts of lactic acid bacteria compared to the control. In the freeze-dried samples, the counts were higher at a storage temperature of 4 ± 2°C than at 20 ± 2°C.

Pumpkin puree provided the best survival of lactic acid microorganisms during freeze-drying and storage.
Thymoquinone-related knowledge (1915–2022): A comprehensive bibliometric analysis
Authors: Abdelwahab Siddig I. , Taha Manal M. E. , Mariod Abdalbasit Adam
Published: April 2023

Nigella sativa L. and its active component, thymoquinone, attract a lot of scientific attention. However, very few review articles on this issue have been published so far, and no review relied on the method of bibliometrics, which is currently the most prominent technique for citation mapping.
This review involves a total of 2072 studies on thymoquinone reported in the Scopus database between 1915 and September 15, 2022. The data obtained were processed using the VOSviewer software, MS Excel, and Scopus Analytic. The review introduces some prospective research areas based on theme mapping, knowledge trending, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrence networks. The authors, documents, journals, institutions, and countries were ranked based on the knowledge impact and the number of publications.
The 2072 selected publications belonged to 7605 scholars, with 3.67 authors per document on average. The average number of citations per document was 68.84. The Phytotherapy Research Journal scored as the top source. M.N. Nagi proved to be the top-cited author with 2076 citations, while Saudi Arabia appeared to be the most productive and cited country. The best-studied areas were represented by such topics as anti-inflammatory properties of thymoquinone, cytokine network, and arthritic disease model.
Molecular-based approaches in conjunction with ethno-knowledge may be of assistance in comprehending the cellular mechanisms of thymoquinone and establishing its efficacy against a variety of diseases.
The Pharmacoeconomic Impact of Pharmaceutical Care in the Hospital: Protocol for an Overview of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Amorim Fábio Jorge Ramalho de , Valença-Feitosa Fernanda , Rios Marcos Cardoso , Santos Souza Carlos Adriano , Barros Izadora Menezes da Cunha , Oliveira-Filho Alfredo Dias de , Lyra-Júnior Divaldo Pereira de
Published: April 2023

Background

The clinical activities developed by pharmacists in a hospital environment can improve health outcomes and generate savings for hospitals. However, to determine whether pharmaceutical interventions are cost effective, it is essential to define a method according to which cost-effectiveness is intended to be measured. In addition, the quality of economic assessments and the amount of information present in systematic reviews in the literature make it difficult to analyze the effects of this intervention.

Objective

This paper aims to provide an overview of systematic reviews on the pharmacoeconomic impact of the performance of pharmaceutical care in hospitals.

Methods

A systematic search of the Cochrane Library databases, PubMed or MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Open Thesis will be performed using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. The search will involve the use of keywords determined using the Medical Subject Headings database to define the search terms and include the following terms: “pharmacoeconomics,” “pharmaceutical care,” and “hospital.” The study designs to be included will be systematic reviews of good quality. Studies will be included that address pharmacoeconomics; studies that evaluated pharmaceutical care in hospitals; and studies published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. The primary outcome sought in the systematic reviews will be the cost ratio in monetary units and the outcomes in monetary or natural units. The secondary economic outcomes considered will be determined based on factors associated with the drugs and translated into benefit, efficacy, or utility.

Results

It is intended to start this overview in January 2023. Thus far, only previous searches have been carried out to contextualize the theme and build the protocol.

Conclusions

This overview will determine the pharmacoeconomic impact of pharmaceutical care interventions in the hospital environment. In addition, this study will point out which clinical outcomes in natural units are impacted by the performance of pharmaceutical care and the strengths and limitations of each approach. It will also identify gaps in the literature and areas for future work.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42019140665; https://tinyurl.com/bddwnz43