bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contabilidad Socio - Ambiental: retos y obstáculos
Authors: Chamorro González Candy
Published: November 2023

La investigación en Contabilidad Socio - Ambiental (CSA) es reconocida como una tendencia de discusión, propia de las disciplinas sociales, económicas y contables. Particularmente en el área contable se ha generado una amplia literatura a nivel teórico, empírico y político, sin embargo, las conceptualizacio­nes aun requieren un refinamiento. Así mismo se evidencian dificultades que impiden poner en marcha la combinación de otras perspectivas y enfoques que impulsen el desarrollo de nuevas temáticas en las investigaciones de contabilidad ambien­tal. Ante este panorama, el presente estudio busca reflexionar sobre la situación actual de las investigaciones en contabilidad ambiental a través de los diferentes retos y obstáculos de CSA, sustentado en una metodología cualitativa mediante la aplicación de entrevistas y la revisión documental. Se concluye que los retos y obstáculos de la CSA se en­fatizan desde las vinculaciones interdisciplinarias, por lo que es necesario realizar otras alianzas disciplinares que permitan construir conceptualizaciones y teorías alejadas del marco financiero. Desde los procesos académicos e investigativos es vital que las universidades dejen de priorizar investigaciones mercantilizadas que no permiten la financiación de estudios en CSA, y en la praxis es pertinente crear modeles de valoración, tener profesionales en CSA y analizar críticamente los nue­vos estándares que han surgido en relación con la contabilidad socio - ambiental.
Corrupción y transparencia: evidencia en partidos políticos de América Latina
Authors: Cristancho Chíquiza Julio César
Published: November 2023

La corrupción afecta la institucionalidad de los países causando situaciones que cuestionan la transparencia de los representantes políticos. De allí que se haya realizado un estudio que relaciona la corrupción con la transparencia de los partidos políticos en América Latina. Para ello se diseñó un índice de transparencia activa y se vinculó con el índice de percepción de la corrup­ción en cada país. Los resultados indican que la transparencia activa muestra niveles bajos y que existe una relación inversa y significativa con el nivel de corrupción, lo que evidencia que esta última limita las prácticas de divulgación de información y genera un escenario de opacidad en la gestión de los partidos políticos.
Divulgación de información corporativa: antecedentes de los factores que la determinan
Authors: Hernández Ramírez Yuly Marcela
Published: November 2023

El presente artículo tiene como propósito identificar y anali­zar los antecedentes de los determinantes de la divulgación de información de las empresas a partir de estudios previos. Para ello se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura. Como resultado se observa un crecimiento y mayor énfasis en el es­tudio de la divulgación de información asociada con los temas de sostenibilidad, dejando en un segundo plano el estudio de la divulgación del capital financiero. Además, se identificó que el tamaño, el apalancamiento y la rentabilidad son factores traba­jados y ampliamente contrastados en la literatura, encontrando una relación significativa y positiva con la divulgación de la información. A su vez, se identificaron factores emergentes, como la reputación y el sistema legal, los cuales cobran interés en estudios comparados. Finalmente, se concluye que es nece­sario ampliar el ámbito de los estudios empíricos, dado que la mayor cantidad de literatura se ha desarrollado en empresas ubicadas en Europa y América del Norte.
Wykorzystanie energii pochodzącej z farm wiatrowych do produkcji zielonego wodoru
Authors:   Instytut Nafty i Gazu – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Filar Bogdan , Kwilosz Tadeusz ,   Instytut Nafty i Gazu – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Miziołek Mariusz ,   Instytut Nafty i Gazu - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Moska Agnieszka ,   Instytut Nafty i Gazu - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
Published: November 2023

Zatwierdzona 2 lutego 2021 r. Polityka energetyczna Polski do 2040 r. (PEP2040) zakłada duży wzrost udziału energii pochodzącej z OZE we wszystkich sektorach gospodarki. Zgodnie z prognozą w 2030 r. udział OZE w końcowym zużyciu energii brutto powinien wynieść co najmniej 23%. Projekt PEP2040 zakłada rozwój energetyki wiatrowej i fotowoltaicznej, co wpłynie na wzrost zainstalowanej mocy elektrowni wiatrowych do około 8–11 GW oraz fotowoltaicznych do około 10–16 GW. Zgodnie z danymi publikowanymi przez Rynek Elektryczny sumaryczna moc zainstalowanych OZE w Polsce na koniec sierpnia 2022 r. osiągnęła 20,9 GW. Należy podkreślić, że sumaryczna moc zainstalowana w całej polskiej energetyce (OZE i konwencjonalna) w sierpniu 2022 r. wynosiła 59 GW. Spośród elektrowni OZE największy udział miała fotowoltaika (11 GW), co stanowiło 19,2% ogółu zainstalowanych mocy. Natomiast sumaryczna moc elektrowni wiatrowych wynosiła 7,7 GW (13,3%). W publikacji podkreślono również, że w 2022 r. moc zainstalowanej fotowoltaiki wzrosła w porównaniu z rokiem 2021 o 84%, a elektrowni wiatrowych – o 12,7%. Powodem szybkiego rozwoju OZE jest duży wzrost ceny konwencjonalnych nośników energii (paliwa kopalne), który wpłynął na wzrost ceny energii elektrycznej. W czerwcu 2022 r. cena kontraktów na dostawy energii elektrycznej wynosiła około 884,68 PLN/MWh. Dla porównania cena referencyjna energii elektrycznej produkowanej w elektrowniach wiatrowych, na podstawie wyników aukcji przeprowadzonej przez Prezesa Urzędu Regulacji Energetyki z grudnia 2021 r., wyniosła 250 PLN/MWh. Niestety produkcja prądu przez elektrownię wiatrową zależy od siły wiatru i cechuje się bardzo dużą zmiennością, często zmienia się z godziny na godzinę. Przykładowo w nocy elektrownie mogą pracować z mocą ponad 5 GW, a po południu wykorzystanie ich mocy będzie poniżej 1 GW. W związku z tym, że produkcja energii z OZE jest wysoce niestabilna, to jej nadwyżki powinny zostać zmagazynowane. Głównym celem publikacji jest określenie ilości wodoru, jaka może zostać wyprodukowana z nadwyżek energii pochodzących z elektrowni wiatrowej.
Co(II)-TiO2/Ti Thin Film as Antibacterial Photocatalysts Escherichia Coli Under Visible Light Ilumination
Authors: Aritonang Anthoni Batahan , Rozaqina Nuri , Harlia H.
Published: November 2023

A thin layer of TiO2 doped with Cobalt (II) immobilized on the surface of a titanium foil (Co(II)-TiO2/Ti) has been synthesized from a titanium foil (Ti) as a TiO2 precursor as well as a thin layer matrix and CoCl2.6H2O as a source of Co(II) on variations of 0.5%, 1% and 2%. Synthesis was carried out by anodizing method using ethylene glycol electrolyte solution with the addition of NH4F and followed by calcination treatment at 450ºC for 3 hours. The obtained Co(II)-TiO2 /Ti thin films were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Diffuse Reflectance UV-Vis (DRSUV-Vis) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. Doping Co(II) variations of 0.5%, 1.0% dan 2.0% in the TiO2 structure causes a shift in the vibrational absorption peak of Ti-O (460.99 cm-1) towards a smaller wave number of 459.06 cm-1 respectively ; 453.27 cm-1 and 451.34 cm-1. This is supported by the results of the DRUV-Vis analysis using the tauc plot method, which shows a decrease in the band gap energy of TiO2 (3.24 eV) to 2.57 eV, 2.47 eV and 2.28 eV. Based on XRD analysis, it is known that the Co(II)-TiO2/Ti photocatalyst has anatase phase with a crystal size of 15-17 nm. The photocatalytic activity of Co(II)-TiO2/Ti under visible light illumination was evaluated for inhibition of Escherichia coli bacterial growth. Co(II)-TiO2/Ti photocatalyst at 2.0% Co(II) concentration had the best inhibition (43.2%) compared to 0.5% and 1.0% Co(II) concentrations, respectively 18% inhibition and 27%.
Kadar Serat dan Tekstur Kue Kembang Goyang dengan Substitusi Beras Merah Organik
Authors: Anugrahati Nuri Arum , Sari Clarissa Dian Purnama
Published: November 2023

Kembang goyang is Indonesian traditional snack, but it has quite low of dietary fiber and resistant starch content. Organic and nonorganic red rice could be used to increase level of dietary fiber by transforming it into red rice flour and used as a substitute of white rice flour in the making of kembang goyang snack.  The purpose of this study is to determine type and substitution ratio of red rice flour into white rice flour to produce the best formulation of kembang goyang snack based on its dietary fiber content and texture. Kembang goyang snack is made by organic and nonorganic red rice flour with different ratios of red rice flour: white rice flour (0:100; 20:80; 40:60; 60:40; and 80:20). The result showed that organic red rice flour has lower yield (91,47 ± 0,23%) compared to nonorganic red rice flour's yield (92,80 ± 0,09%). In contrast, the dietary fiber content (8,09 ± 0,04%) and resistant starch content (3,95 ± 0,00%) of organic red rice flour is higher than the dietary fiber content (6,46 ± 0,07%) and resistant starch content (1,76 ± 0,03%) of non-organic red rice flour. Overall, the moisture content for both types of red rice flour ranged between 5,91 ± 0,08 to 6,35 ± 0,60%. The best formulation of kembang goyang snack is obtained by using organic red rice flour at ratio 40:60 of red rice flour and white rice flour. The product is classified as fiber-rich product and has similar texture (toughness and fracturability) to commercial product with 6,30 ± 0,01% of resistant starch content.
Perbedaan Keragaman Pangan dan Status Gizi Santri di Asrama dan Rumah Selama Pandemi COVID-19
Authors: Majida Lia Awwalia , Kartasurya Martha Irene , Nugraheni Sri Achadi , Margawati Ani , Noer Etika Ratna
Published: November 2023

Latar Belakang: Selama pandemi COVID-19, santri Madrasah Aliah (sederajat Sekolah Menengah Atas) tetap melaksanakan kegiatan belajar di sekolah, namun mereka dapat tinggal di rumah atau asrama. Perbedaan kondisi tempat tinggal ini dapat mempengaruhi skor keragaman pangan dan status gizi.
Tujuan: Untuk membandingkan skor keragaman pangan dan status gizi antara santri yang tinggal di asrama dan rumah selama pandemi COVID-19.
Metode: Penelitian dengan desain cross-sectional dilakukan pada 232 (116 asrama dan 116 rumah) santri dan santriwati berusia 16-18 tahun di 8 pesantren di Kecamatan Mranggen, Kabupaten Demak. Subjek dipilih melalui clustered random sampling berdasarkan kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi. Data dikumpulkan dengan kuesioner recall 2x24 jam untuk mendapatkan Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS) serta pengukuran berat dan tinggi badan untuk menghitung skor-Z IMT/U. Data dianalisis dengan uji T Independent, Mann Whitney U, Chi Square, Rank Spearman dan General Linear Model.
Hasil: Tidak terdapat perbedaan usia dan jumlah subjek yang terkonfirmasi COVID-19 antar subjek yang tinggal di asrama dan rumah. Rerata skor IDDS (p<0.001) dan skor-Z IMT/U (p<0.001) subjek yang tinggal di rumah lebih tinggi daripada subjek yang tinggal di asrama. Rerata uang saku subjek yang tinggal di rumah juga lebih tinggi daripada subjek yang tinggal di asrama (p<0,001). Setelah dikontrol IDDS dan uang saku, skor-Z IMT/U subjek yang tinggal di rumah tetap lebih tinggi daripada subjek yang tinggal di asrama.
Kesimpulan: Selama pandemi COVID-19, santri yang tinggal di rumah mempunyai skor keragaman pangan dan skor-Z IMT/U yang lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan santri yang tinggal di asrama.
 
 Kata kunci: Skor Keragaman Pangan, Indeks Masa Tubuh, Asrama, Rumah, Pandemi COVID-19
The Examination of the Knowledge Level of Young Papuan Female Athletes about Female Athletes Triad (FAT)
Authors: Sinaga Evi , Padang John Toding , Womsiwor Daniel , Ita Saharuddin , Sinaga Eva
Published: November 2023

Background: Female Athletes Triad (FAT) is a syndrome characterized by impaired energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone density. FAT might interfere with the health and performance of young female athletes in training and competition, which causes a decrease in achievement. Research on FAT is still limited in Indonesia, especially on indigenous Papuans.
Objectives: To obtain a description of young Papuan female athletes' knowledge of FAT, including the three main components of FAT: danger, impacts, and risk factors for FAT.
Methods: The total sample was 61 young female athletes with a convenience sampling technique. The survey method used a questionnaire consisting of questions related to athlete characteristics (age, ethnicity, training duration, and sports) and eight questions about FAT knowledge; it includes the three main components of FAT (osteoporosis, menstrual disorders, eating disorders), dangers and impacts, and the risk factors (age and physical activity).
Results: Young Papua female athletes (80.33%) lacked knowledge about FAT. Most athletes (80.33%) had never heard of FAT. Most of the sample failed to identify FAT's three main components and risk factors correctly. Only five athletes (8.20%) correctly answered questions about fracture occurrence. Only six athletes (9.84%) could identify FAT components entirely and correctly, and about 11 (18.30%) answered correctly regarding the risk of excessive physical activity in athletes. Finally, only 23 athletes (37.70%) correctly answered questions about age.
Conclusions: Young female Papuan athletes lack knowledge about the FAT components and risk factors.
Stochastic stress response and dynamic reliability evaluation for transmission towers with semi-rigid behaviors
Authors: Tang Zhengqi , Wang Tao , Li Zhengliang , Lu Dagang , Tan Yiqiu
Published: November 2023

As a kind of typical wind-sensitive structure, transmission towers have attracted fast-growing attention in the field of their wind-induced dynamic response. Nevertheless, their dynamic response considering effects of semi-rigid connected joints and semi-rigid-constrained stability behaviors has not been investigated. To this end, based on the experimental and numerical study, this paper proposes a fitting formula for the stability coefficient of steel tube members with semi-rigid behaviors in transmission towers to determine the dynamic stress response. Then, the stiffness, mass, and damping matrices of steel-tube transmission towers (STTTs) with semi-rigid behaviors are determined to construct their stochastic dynamic finite element model. Subsequently, the integral form of the generalized density evolution equation is solved via a family of Dirac's sequences to conduct the stochastic stress response analysis for STTTs considering effects of semi-rigid connected joints and semi-rigid-constrained stability behaviors, and their dynamic reliability is evaluated by further introducing the extreme-value distribution method. Finally, an engineering example of an existing STTT is given, and the results indicate that the semi-rigid connected joints and semi-rigid-constrained stability behaviors would significantly affect the stochastic stress response and dynamic reliability of STTTs. Accordingly, taking into account semi-rigid connected joints and semi-rigid-constrained stability behaviors may be more applicable for analysis and design of STTTs.
THE PREVALENCE OF ORTHOREXIA IN TOURISM EDUCATION ASSOCIATE DEGREE STUDENTS
Authors: SORMAZ Ümit , ŞANLIER Nevin
Published: November 2023

Healthy eating is not a pathological situation, but when it becomes a long-term and excessive preoccupation and causes negativities in daily life, it can cause personality and behavioural disorders. The study is aimed to determine the prevalence of orthorexia among tourism students with and without a nutrition education background and to develop recommendations accordingly. The research population consists of tourism students in associate degree programs (from junior colleges) at various public and private universities and the sample group consists of 581 volunteers. The measurement scale is composed of five constituents, namely, the demographics, nutrition properties, eating under emotional conditions (emotional eating), eating attitudes test and orthorexia test. In the light of the findings it is concluded that the prevalence of orthorexia is higher among tourism students who have nutrition education than those who have not. Eating attitudes test results have shown that tourism students who get nutrition education are at a moderate level compared to those who do not.
Microfinance and Poverty Reduction in Assam: Uncovering the Nexus between Access to Credit and Household Well-being
Authors: Das Tiken
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the impact of microcredit access on income and multidimensional poverty in rural Assam, India. Employing a quasi-experimental design and collecting primary data, the study utilises the probit model for empirical analysis. The findings indicate that equivalence factors influence individual welfare levels. Moreover, households receiving microcredit from semiformal and informal sources exhibit a higher incidence of poverty. Informal borrowers experience a more significant poverty gap compared to semiformal borrowers. However, the study does not find statistically significant evidence to confirm a poverty impact from pooled and formal credit sources. The prevalence of income and multidimensional poverty among semiformal and informal borrowers suggests that these individuals rely on borrowing to finance their children’s education and medical expenses. This points to a failure of the government’s universal education and health policies to uplift vulnerable segments of society. The study recommends providing credit facilities exclusively for productive economic activities to rural residents, accompanied by adequate market linkages.
The 2023 Austrian-Swiss-German Fellowship
Authors: Kutty S. , Mullis B.H.
Published: November 2023

The Austrian-Swiss-German Fellowship was set up in 1978 to facilitate a program through which surgeons from the German-speaking countries of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany could visit the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America. In 2023, surgeons Brian Mullis and Satish Kutty, representing the American Orthopaedic Association and the British Orthopaedic Association, respectively, visited centers in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany over the course of 4 weeks. This article describes their journey and experiences.
Sedimentary Characteristics and Depositional Model of Lacustrine Gravity Flows: A Case Study of Paleogene Shahejie Formation in the Gubei Sag, Eastern China
Authors: Zhang Zehua , Wang Hongliang
Published: November 2023

The genesis and sedimentary architecture of lacustrine gravity flow deposits include ongoing questions affecting the exploration and development of oil and gas, which require attention and investigation. Based on the core description, logging characteristics, and seismic facies in the third member of Paleogene Shahejie formation from the southern Bohai Bay Basin, this study provides some insights regarding lacustrine gravity flows by analyzing the characteristics, distribution patterns, and sedimentary processes of lacustrine gravity flow deposits. Twenty lithofacies are classified into eight bed types which are caused by cohesive flows, inflated flows, concentrated-density flows, or turbidity currents. The characteristics and distributions of different bed types in five sublacustrine fans with two provenance directions and in a slump olistolith reflect two sedimentary processes influenced by sediment supply, basin structure, and climate, including cohesive flow deposits covered by inflated sandflow deposits transforming into concentrated-density flow deposits into hybrid event beds and finally into turbidity current deposits from inner to outer fan, and cohesive flow deposits transforming into inflated sandflow deposits covered by turbidity current deposits into concentrated-density flow deposits into hybrid event beds finally into turbidity current deposits from proximal to distal lobe. Based on the results, a depositional model of lacustrine gravity flow deposits is established, which highlights the change from superimposed channels to anastomosing channels, the distributions and characteristics of hybrid event beds, and distinctive facies in different elements.
Multi-omic analysis reveals prognostic and immune characteristics of cuproptosis for lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xie Fuquan , Su Yongcheng , Xie Lei , Shen Qianwen , Lei Ziyu , Li Jiangquan , Zhang Wenqing , Xu Beibei , Hu Tianhui
Published: November 2023

Background: Cuproptosis is a newly defined form of regulated cell death triggered by excess copper and is distinct from other known types of cell death. Currently, reliable prognostic signatures based on cuproptosis-related regulators are underdeveloped. Herein, we aimed to investigate the cuproptosis landscape in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).
Materials and Methods:We downloaded gene expression data and corresponding clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus. Cuproptosis subtypes were identified using unsupervised clustering based on the expression of 10 cuproptosis-related regulatory genes, including seven positively (FDX1, LIAS, LIPT1, DLAT, DLD, PDHA1, and PDHB) and three negatively (CDKN2A, GLS, and MTF1) correlated genes. CDKN2A expression was detected using immunohistochemistry tissue microarrays.
Results: Unsupervised clustering revealed two LUAD cuproptosis-related subtypes (A and B). Patients with subtype B had a higher survival rate and were significantly enriched in innate immune cells compared to those with subtype A. We built a cuproptosis-related risk model (CRM) to calculate a risk score for each patient; the score was positively correlated with patient prognosis. Somatic mutation landscape analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between tumor mutational burden (TMB) and the CRM score. Patients with both a low CRM score and TMB had the worst prognosis. Immune landscape analysis revealed that patients with a high CRM score had a higher tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score, suggesting a poorer immunotherapy response rate.
Conclusion: Single-cell CRM score quantification revealed its correlation with the enrichment of different immune cell types in LUAD.
Influencing factors of the work engagement of healthcare workers in maternal and child health institutions: an online cross-sectional study.
Authors: Zhu Hongjin , Long Xin , Cao Limei , Chen Yanqiu
Published: November 2023

Objectives: To explore the level of work engagement and its influencing factors of healthcare workers in maternal and child health institutions.
Methods: In January 2023, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 411 healthcare workers working in maternal and child health institutions in Chongqing, China. Data were collected using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the Perceived social support scale (PSSS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and other personal and job factors. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs), Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between variables.
Results: Healthcare workers’ overall work engagement is at a medium level, with a score of 3.51 ± 1.49. The dedication subscale showed the highest mean score (3.76 ± 1.56), followed by the vigor (3.50 ± 1.54) and absorption (3.33 ± 1.53) subscales. Gender was associated with absorption. Employment form was associated with work engagement and its two dimensions. Hospital preparedness and perceived social support were positively associated with work engagement and its three dimensions.
Conclusions: Healthcare managers should provide a supportive work environment to increase employees’ work engagement, and formulate strategies and measures by considering influencing factors.
Infection of Omicron BA.5.2 in patients provides broad immune responses against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Li Le , Feng Tang , Shen Quan , Wang Ning , Shi Xiaoshan , Wei Zhigong , Chen Wanze , Yang Fan , Zhu Yueting , Zhang Chengxin , Zhang Shuang , Xie Xin , Bai Haiqing , Fu Shengwei , Liu Jiyan , Si Longlong
Published: November 2023

The host immunity induced by wide spread of Omicron variants and its influence on emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants are attracting broad attention. Here we report that the natural infection with Omicron BA.5.2 induce broad cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 variants, which could reduce the risk of next wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Do summaries of evidence enable informed decision-making about COVID-19 and flu vaccination equitably across more and less disadvantaged groups? - Study protocol for a multi-center cluster RCT with ‘fact boxes’ in health and social care in Germany
Authors: Ellermann Christin , Savaskan Nicolai , Rebitschek Felix G.
Published: November 2023

Introduction
Summaries of the best available evidence on the benefits and harms of different treatment options support informed decision making of well-educated participants under controlled conditions. However, few studies have investigated how such formats support decision-making across different social groups. There is a risk that these evidence summaries will only help less disadvantaged people to make informed health decisions – possibly increasing the health equity gap. It is also unclear whether they support decision-making in the field at all. The aim of our study is to assess whether evidence summaries based on the fact box format can help people from different social groups make informed decisions about COVID-19 and influenza vaccination, and to investigate whether these fact boxes can help reduce inequities in health communication.
Methods and analysis
In a multicentre, cluster-randomised, controlled trial, health educators (HEs) from usual care (e.g. physicians) and outreach work (e.g. social services) in Germany will be randomised to provide either usual health communication plus an evidence summary (‘fact box’) or usual health communication. As part of their health education programme, HEs provide people who are about to make a decision about COVID-19 or flu vaccination with a flyer containing a link to an online study either with (intervention) or without (control) fact box on the reverse side. The flyer and online study will be available in Arabic, German, Turkish and Russian language. The primary outcome is informed vaccination intention, based on vaccination knowledge, attitudes, intentions and behaviour. Secondary outcomes include risk perception, decisional conflict and shared decision making. Data analysis will initially be based on descriptive statistics as well as frequency distributions and histograms to identify outliers and missing data. We will use linear mixed models to analyse the influence of both individual (e.g. education status, health literacy) and cluster level factors (e.g. setting) and account for the expected cluster variability in realising usual health communication or the intervention. The statistical analysis plan includes the selection of appropriate measures of effect size and power calculation.
Ethics and dissemination
The study and its pre-studies have been reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the University of Potsdam, Germany (application numbers: 34/2021 and 57/2022).
We plan to disseminate our findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals, national and international conferences, and relevant working groups and networks, also targeting relevant community stakeholder.
Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06076421)
Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of poultry in rural and peri-urban farms of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Authors: ZONGO André , PAGABELEGUEM Soumaïla , SOMDA Martin Bienvenu , OUEDRAOGO Xavier Souleymane , DOULKOUM Daniel , BENGALY Zakaria , BELEM Adien Marie Gaston
Published: November 2023

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the helminth parasites encountered in poultry farms in the peri-urban and rural areas of Bobo-Dioulasso. A total of 160 fecal samples were collected from poultry breeding farms in 2 chicken breeds (exotic and local) and 2 areas (rural and peri-urban). The fecal samples was examined by the flotation method using saturated sodium chloride solution. McMaster technique was used to observe and quantify the oocysts of the different gastrointestinal parasites on the slide. The actors surveyed are all male literate with an average age of 48 ± 8.50 years. The average number held by the actors is 3023 ± 1865 chicken heads. They all have poultry farming as their main activity with an average of 12 ± 5.50 years, only 5% practice agriculture in addition to poultry activity. Of the 160 samples tested, 114 were positive, given an overall prevalence rate of 71.25%. The prevalence rate was significantly influenced by the area (𝜒2 = 11.06, df = 1, 𝑃 < 0.001) and the type of intestinal parasite (𝜒2 = 155.65, df = 2, 𝑃 < 0.001). Three types of gastrointestinal nematodes were responsible of these infections therefore Eimeria sp (53.13 ± 50.06%), Heterakis sp (43.13 ± 49.68%) and Ascaris sp (0.63 ± 7.91%). In positive samples, the number of parasites was found to be between 10 and 85000 for oocysts of Eimeria sp, 15 and 2300 for Heterakis sp and 100 for Ascaris sp. The majority of infections in urban area were caused by Eimeria sp (94.12%, p = 0.003), except on one farm where a Heterakis sp infection was encountered. However, in rural area, all intestinal parasites were encountered, with similar level of infections (p = 0.9) between Eimeria sp (50%) and Heterakis sp (49.30%), and which were significantly higher than infections due to Acaris sp (0.07%, p < 0.001). In rural area, mixed infections with Eimeria sp and Heterakis sp or Eimeria sp, Heterakis sp and Ascaris sp were observed in 41.24% and 1.03% respectively of the positive farms. The chicken breed has no significate on the prevalence (𝜒2 = 0.98, df = 1, 𝑃 = 0.3) but the local breed had the high prevalence of intestinal parasites of 77.92% as compared with exotic breed 65.06%. The results showed a high rate of intestinal parasites in poultry farm in rural and peri-urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso. Therefore, further investigations and design appropriate control strategies in improving management of farms are necessary and strongly recommended.
Large-scale calcium imaging reveals a systematic V4 map for encoding natural scenes
Authors: Tang Shiming , Wang Tianye , Yao Haoxuan , Lee Tai Sing , Hong Jiayi , Li Yang , Jiang Hongfei , Andolina Ian
Published: November 2023

Biological visual systems have evolved to process natural scenes. A comprehensive understanding of visual cortical functions requires characterizing how natural stimuli are encoded by the massive population of neurons in each visual area. Here, we utilized widefield calcium imaging to sample primate V4 cortical response to tens of thousands of natural images. With this large dataset, we developed a deep-learning model of a substantial region of V4 that allowed us to map the natural image preference of neural populations at 100-µm scale. This map contains a variety of domains encoding distinct shape and surface features of natural scenes, including both previously reported attributes and previously missed ones like facial features or textures. We validated these model predictions with additional widefield calcium imaging and single-cell resolution two-photon imaging. Our study illuminates the V4 representation for natural scenes and provides an unbiased approach for characterizing the functional organization of primate visual cortex.
Investigation of the risk factors associated with prediabetes in normal-weight Qatari adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Elmagarmid Khadija , Fadlalla Mohamed Abbas , Jose Johane , Arredouani Abdelilah , Bensmail Halima
Published: November 2023

Background: Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world, and more people than ever before have impaired glucose tolereance, or prediabetes. Many patients with impaired glucose tolerance and undiagnosed diabetes do not know that their glucose metabolism system has been in a state of disorder. Every year, about 5%-10% of prediabetics develop diabetes. One of the important achieving factors may be the increase in blood lipids. However, it is not clear whether triglyceride is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and prediabetes in the Qatari population. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the first several clinical variables and prediabetes status in normal and overweight populations.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Qatar Biobank program. The study included 5,996 participants who were adults over the age of 20. We collected information about participants’ fasting blood glucose levels with other clinical measurements and used various machine learning models and logistic regression to study the association between the clinical measurements and prediabetes for normal and over&obese weight groups.
Results: The use of several machine learning models showed that, after adjusting the potential confounding factors such as age and sex, Triglyceride has been demonstrated to be positively correlated with prediabetes, and there was a special population dependence phenomenon. Among them, non-obese people (p<0.05). The effect value and 95% confidence interval and OR of triglyceride on prediabetes was 2.79 and (e0.78, e1.28), respectively.
Analysing the factors influencing groundwater quality using the Leachate Pollution Index (LPI), Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), and Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) in the vicinity of an open dumping yard in Saduperi, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Authors: Venkatesh Arumugasamy Thangapandian , Rajkumar Sujatha , MASILAMANI UMA SHANKAR
Published: November 2023

Open dumping is the prevailing municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal technique in India. Unsanitary landfill system results in the release of leachate, a substance that has the potential to contaminate the nearby environment, including groundwater. Hence, the present study was carried out in the vicinity of the Saduperi open dumpsite, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, to explore the key factors that influence groundwater contamination. 18 sample wells were identified near the dumpsite and a total of 216 groundwater samples were collected between May 2021 and April 2022. These samples were categorized into four different seasons such as summer, southwest monsoon (SWM), northeast monsoon (NEM), and winter. The groundwater contamination is assessed using hydrogeochemical methods such as Piper and Gibbs diagrams. The leachate pollution index (LPI) and Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were used to evaluate the contamination potential. The calculated LPI > 35 in all seasons indicates the prevailing poor environmental condition. It was observed that about 56% of the sampling site was affected by heavy metal concentrations such as Cd, Cr, and Ni. The HPI value was found to be more than the critical value of 100 in the 10 sampling wells for all seasons. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) offers a novel approach to assessing the intricate link between several influencing elements and groundwater quality, in contrast to the conventional multivariate statistical technique. The PLS-SEM creates the link between Latent variables such as “IOT Parameters”, “Leachate Parameters”, “Heavy Metal” and “Groundwater Quality” which was quantified by the yield of R2 value. The R2 value of the sampling well ahead of the dumpsite and along the direction of the groundwater flow values ranging from 24.7–86.5% than the wells located behind the dumpsite are prone to get more contamination due to migration of leachate. Hence this present study shows various influencing factors that affect the groundwater quality.
Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus:a single center studyMaternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus:a single center study
Authors: Zeng Wen , Lei Ling , Zhang Lan , Zhao Cheng , Qin Fang , Chen Zhanrui , Wen Jing , Dong Fei , Wei Wanling
Published: November 2023

Objective: Identify risk factors associated with maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: Retrospective analysis of the characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of 283 women with SLE.
Results: The mean age at delivery was 29.3±4.7 years, the mean SLE duration was 6.1±4.6 years, and 151 women (53.3%) had adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). The APO group had lower levels of C3 and C4, greater level of anti dsDNA antibodies, higher albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), greater frequent history of lupus nephritis (LN), greater use of cyclosporine A (CsA), used higher doses of glucocorticoids (GCs), and had higher disease-activity scores (SLEDAI-2000; all p<0.05). Pregnancy loss (PL) and low birth weight (LBW) infants were also associated with several maternal factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low C3 level and CsA use increased the risk of APO, and disease remission for more than 6 months was a protective factor (all p<0.05). A low C3 level increased the risk for PL, and CsA use increased the risk for premature birth (PB; both p<0.05). The dose of GC was associated with APO and PL (both p<0.05), with cut-off values of 8.5 and 9.5 mg/day, respectively.
Conclusion: Pregnant women with SLE who have a low level of C3, use CsA, and use higher doses of GCs have an increased risk of APO. Decreased C3 and use of higher doses of GCs increased the risk for PL, and CsA use increased the risk of PB. Pregnancy after 6 months of SLE remission was protective.
A novel defined ferroptosis-related gene signature for predicting the prognosis of Osteosarcoma
Authors: Pan Chongzhi , Huang Guanfeng , Zhu Wenjie , Chen Zhaojun , Liu Yuchi , Pan Huajun , Wu Tianlong , Cheng Xigao
Published: November 2023

Background
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that is harmful to adolescents and has a poor prognosis. There is no effective treatment at now. This study aimed to construct a prognosis based on ferroptosis-related genes to provide guidance for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Methods
In this study, we identified three ferroptosis-regulating genes that were distinctly expressed in osteosarcoma and normal tissues. Osteosarcoma patients from three datasets were classified using consensus clustering of these three ferroptosis-regulated genes, and gene differences among the three subtypes were analyzed in one step, and these differentially expressed genes were analyzed by univariate regression (DEGs), the ssGSEA method was used to assess the tumor microenvironment (TME), and the principal component analysis algorithm was used to quantitatively construct a predictive model. Finally, we use qRT-PCR to detect gene expression to validate the model.
Results
We identified three distinct ferroptosis genotypes, and the differences between the three subtypes were used to build a prognostic model, which we termed the "Ferroptosis-Score". The score can predict the prognosis and overall survival time of patients with osteosarcoma. The survival of patients with high scores is higher than that of patients with low scores (P < 0.05). At the same time, it is observed that immune cell infiltration in patients with high scores is significantly higher than that in patients with low scores.
Conclusion
We constructed a Ferroptosis-Score scoring system, the higher the score, the better the prognosis of the patient. And found that cluster C may activates ferroptosis through autophagy and JAK-STAT signaling pathway, so the patients of cluster C have better prognosis.
Quantifying post-saccadic macroscopic traveling brain waves in marmosets with graph-based algorithm
Authors: Chen Chih-Yang , HO KUAN-TING , Onoe Hirotaka , Isa Tadashi
Published: November 2023

Saccades are rapid eye movements that also strongly influence the visual processing. A variety of perisaccadic modulations of neuronal activity have been widely studied in many visual areas, yet the relationship between these modulations remains unclear. In this study, we recorded hemispheric electrocorticogram from marmosets performing visually-guided saccade task. We found that the 20 ~ 50 Hz phase-locked activities in the occipital cortex during 0 ~ 100 ms after saccade offset actually form a macroscopic traveling wave (TW) which originated from the primary visual area and propagated rostrally, occasionally to the parietal and temporal cortex. We designed an algorithm based on graph theory that can flexibly identify TWs and quantify wave parameters in data from large-scale recording systems. The results showed that latency, source, and other parameters of these TWs were modulated by saccade direction. We suggest this TW may function to sequentially reset the neuronal excitability along the cortical visual pathways after saccades.
Business Model Innovation of Chinese Logistics Enterprises from the Perspective of Ecosystems: The Case of Cainiao Network
Authors: Wang Jian , Si Fan , Yang Siyu , Wang Lin
Published: November 2023

With the development and application of digital technology, a new logistics ecology based on the internet and big data is emerging through collaborative innovation models and advanced Artificial Intelligence technology. Building on the event system theory, we analyze Cainiao’s business model innovation from the perspective of ecosystem research through three aspects: value proposition, value co-creation, and value capture. The research concludes that Cainiao should realize business model innovation from the following three aspects: (1) clearing value proposition, (2) co-creating value through ecological cooperation and an open platform, and (3) capturing value by positioning precisely, distributing legitimately, and managing the supply chain.
Distinct clinical characteristics and outcome caused by a novel deletion mutation in XIAP/BIRC4 gene: a case report
Authors: Wang Junyan , Ma Hanwei , Li Ye , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Juanli
Published: November 2023

X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP), as a disorder of the immune system and blood-forming cells, is closely related to the infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in most cases. XLP was found almost exclusively in males and it was estimated that around two million of males in the world are affected by this disease. Although intensive research work has been conducted on revealing the symptoms, pathology and the relevant contributing factors of XLP, a review of the reported literature shows that the reports of the asymptomatic state associated XLP or full recovery after treatment are relatively rare. In this paper, a case of XLP-2 with a novel deletion mutation in China is reported and discussed. From the Sanger sequencing analysis, it is found that the XIAP deficiency was caused by the deletion mutation (c.993 (exon4) _c.997 (exon4) del AGACE) in the XIAP gene however this novel mutation had not been reported. The evidence found in this case report implies that EBV infection is still a key stimulant. Besides, it can be inferred from the analysis of the results that peculiar gene mutation may lead to better prognosis. *Corresponding author: Junyan Wang Email: jywang@lzu.edu.cn
Utility of Adrenal Vein Sampling (AVS) with and without ultra-low dose ACTH infusion in the diagnostic evaluation of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Preston Christopher , Yong Eric , Marginson Benjamin , Farrell Stephen , Sawyer Matthew , Hahimura Hikaru , Derbyshire Maresa , MacIsaac Richard , Sachithanandan Nirupa
Published: November 2023

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS), integral to identifying surgically remediable unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA), is technically challenging and subject to fluctuations in cortisol and aldosterone secretion. Intra-procedural adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), conventionally administered as a 250mcg bolus and/or 50mcg per hour infusion, increases cortisol and aldosterone secretion and can improve AVS success, however, may mask lateralisation of unilateral PA. Here we describe our AVS experience using an ultra-low dose ACTH infusion protocol. We retrospectively reviewed the results of consecutive AVS procedures (n = 37) performed with and without ultra-low dose ACTH (1mcg bolus followed by 1.25mcg per hour infusion). Bilateral AV cannulation was successful in 70% of procedures pre-ACTH and 89% post-ACTH (p < 0.01). Sixty-nine percent of studies lateralised pre-ACTH and 55% post-ACTH, improving to 79% when both groups were combined. Lateralisation was discordant in 11 cases, including eight in which ACTH masked lateralisation, and three in which lateralisation occurred only with ACTH stimulation. Overall, the decrease in lateralisation rates with ACTH was similar to previously reported rates for high dose protocols. Of 21 operated patients, 86% had an adrenal adenoma and 10% had adrenal hyperplasia on histology. Our results suggest that AVS performed with ultra-low dose ACTH masks lateralisation and does not obviate the need for non-ACTH AVS. We conclude, combined AVS with and without ultra-low dose ACTH improved the overall diagnostic yield of the procedure, identifying additional cases of unilateral PA. Studies directly comparing low and high dose ACTH AVS protocols may help define the optimal ACTH dose for accurate PA subtyping.
Seroprevalence and risk factors of STIs among rejected blood donors at the National Blood Transfusion Service in Angola
Authors: Sebastião Cruz S. , Jandondo Domingos , Vigário António , António Felícia , Vienga Pedro , Sebastião Joana , Pimentel Victor , Abecasis Ana , Sacomboio Euclides , Vasconcelos Jocelyne , Morais Joana
Published: November 2023

Background
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a global health concern. Blood donation centres employ comprehensive screening measures to identify donors with STIs, including HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis ensuring the safety of the donated blood and protecting the recipients. Herein, we investigated the seroprevalence of STIs and risk factors related to multiple infections among rejected blood donors at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) in Angola.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 1668 rejected blood donors serologically screened for anti-HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and anti-TP at the NBTS, located in Luanda, the capital city of Angola, between March 2022 to July 2023.
Results
Overall, HIV (11.2%), HBsAg (71.7%), HCV (9.30%), and Syphilis (8.80%) were detected. The multiple infection rate was 2.30%, from these, HIV/HBV (1.10%), HIV/HCV (0.60%), HIV/Syphilis (1.20%), HBV/HCV (8.0%), HBV/Syphilis (5.50%), and HCV/Syphilis (1.80%) coinfections, were detected. HIV and syphilis were related to age groups (p < 0.05). HBV was related to age group, areas of residence, occupation, and Rh factor (p < 0.05). HCV was related to areas of residence and educational level (p < 0.05). No relationship was observed between demographic characteristics with multiple infections (p > 0.05). Individuals aged over 40 years (OR: 2.48, p = 0.393), males (OR: 1.33, p = 0.639), non-urbanized regions (OR: 1.18, p = 0.594), low educational level (OR: 3.46, p = 0.222), and employed (OR: 1.34, p = 0.423), presented a higher likelihood of having multiple infections.
Conclusions
Our results demonstrate a high rate of circulation of STIs among young blood donation candidates in Luanda. However, the prevalence, particularly that of HBV, is one of the highest in the sub-Saharan African region, suggesting that priority should be given to strengthening donor screening and considering the possibility of including nucleic acid-based screening techniques.