bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pobreza multidimensional fuzzy nos municípios brasileiros em 2010
Authors: Brites Maríndia , Marin Solange Regina , Rohenkohl Júlio Eduardo
Published: March 2024

Este artigo, com base na abordagem das capacitações de Sen (1985; 1988; 2000; 2001), tem por objetivo medir a pobreza fuzzy para os municípios brasileiros em 2010. Utilizando-se dados do Censo Demográfico do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), foram selecionados dezesseis indicadores distribuídos nas dimensões condições de moradia, renda, acesso ao conhecimento e educação e saúde e condições sanitárias, com o objetivo de construir cinco índices de pobreza: os quatro primeiros para cada uma das dimensões e o último para o Índice Fuzzy de Pobreza Agregado – IFP (IBGE, 2011). A teoria dos conjuntos fuzzy permite abordar a pobreza como um fenômeno complexo e gerar o índice relativo de pobreza. Os resultados encontrados mostram que a pobreza não é restrita apenas à dimensão renda, que apresentou a menor privação nos municípios. Medidas multidimensionais permitem que a pobreza seja reduzida de forma mais eficaz, ao considerar as privações sofridas em outras dimensões não restritas à renda monetária. Os resultados indicam que existe maior pobreza na dimensão saúde, seguida por educação e moradia. Os indicadores com as maiores privações são microcomputador e máquina de lavar. As regiões Norte e Nordeste são as que possuem o maior número de municípios na situação de pobreza muito alta e alta.
Socioeconomic and demographic determinants of migration in brazilian municipalities: 2000-2010
Authors: Silva Filho Luís Abel da , Maia Alexandre Gori
Published: March 2024

Brazilian economic transformations are responsible for the dynamics of the population of its territory. There are many studies that attribute a substantial part of migration decisions to the labor market, without, however, considering other possible determinants. In this sense, this paper aims to analyze the determinants of the Brazilian migratory dynamics, considering multiple dimensions of analysis. Literature is reviewed and empirical treatment is given by the construction of the Migration Effectiveness Index (MEI) and the use of fixed effects panel data models, with municipalities as units of analysis. The results show that labor market variables, such as occupation, work in industry, commerce and services, explain to a greater extent the participation of migrants in the municipalities of the country. Regarding emigration, it is the negative effects of these variables that motivate people to leave their municipality. In this sense, it is, therefore, the labor market that shows the greatest relation with the migratory dynamics in Brazil.
Educação especial e inclusão social na trajetória escolar e laboral para pessoas com deficiência no Brasil
Authors: Pontes Raquel Pereira , Salvini Roberta Rodrigues , Silva Maria Micheliana da Costa
Published: March 2024

Este texto busca avaliar os impactos das políticas de educação especial e de inclusão social e fazer uma análise, para 1991, 2000 e 2010, sobre a trajetória escolar e laboral das pessoas com deficiência. Como estratégia empírica, foram estimadas sete equações com a utilização do método dos mínimos quadrados ordinários e do logit ordenado, com base nos dados dos censos demográficos de 1991, 2000 e 2010 do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Encontrou-se evidência de que tais políticas têm um impacto positivo na frequência escolar, na alfabetização, no nível educacional e na distorção idade-série das pessoas com deficiência. Ademais, foram constatados também resultados positivos no mercado de trabalho para indivíduos com deficiência.
Decomposição quantílica incondicional dos diferenciais de desempenho entre alunos de escolas privadas e públicas profissionalizantes
Authors: Arraes Ronaldo Albuquerque , Mariano Francisca Zilania
Published: March 2024

Este artigo contribui para a literatura ao trazer novas evidências sobre os diferenciais de desempenho entre os alunos de nível médio de escolas privadas regulares e escolas públicas, estas representadas pelas profissionalizantes, que detêm os estudantes com melhores resultados escolares. A aplicação empírica diferencia-se pela utilização de regressão quantílica incondicional com a aplicação da decomposição de Oaxaca-Blinder. Constatou-se haver uma superioridade dos alunos das escolas privadas em todas as áreas do Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem), principalmente em redação, cujos diferenciais de performance oscilaram entre 12% e 16% ao longo da distribuição. A decomposição detalhada dos efeitos indicou que a escolaridade e a renda dos pais se destacam para explicar tais diferenciais.
Editor’s note
Authors: Csomay Eniko
Published: March 2024

This article was published open access under a CC BY licence:
https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0
.
EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF MACHINE LEARNING APPROACHES IN PREDICTING ALBANIAN SHKUMBINI RIVER'S WATERS USING WATER QUALITY INDEX MODEL
Authors: Basha Lule , Shyti Bederiana , Bekteshi Lirim
Published: March 2024

A common technique for assessing the overall water quality state of surface water and groundwater systems globally is the water quality index (WQI) method. The aim of the research is to use four machine learning classifier algorithms: Gradient boosting, Naive Bayes, Random Forest, and K-Nearest Neighbour to determine which model was most effective at forecasting the various water quality index and classes of the Albanian Shkumbini River. The analysis was performed on the data collected during a 4-year period, in six monitoring points, for nine parameters. The predictive accuracy of the models, XGBoost, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbour, and Naive Bayes, was determined to be 98.61%, 94.44%, 91.22%, and 94.45%, respectively. Notably, the XGBoost algorithm demonstrated superior performance in terms of F1 score, sensitivity, and prediction accuracy, the lowest errors during both learning (RMSE = 2.1, MSE = 9.8, MAE = 1.13) and evaluating (RMSE = 0.0, MSE = 0.01, MAE = 0.01) stages. The findings highlighted that Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Bicarbonate (HCO3), and Total Phosphor had the most positive impact on the Shkumbini River’s water quality. Additionally, a statistically significant, strong positive correlation (r = 0.85) was identified between BOD and WQI, emphasizing its crucial role in influencing water quality in the Shkumbini River.
X-Ray Polarization Variability of High Spectral Peak BL Lacertaes: Cases of 1ES 1959+650 and PKS 2155–304
Authors: Hu Xin-Ke , Yu Yu-Wei , Zhang Jin , Wu Tan-Zheng , Lian Ji-Shun , Wang Xiang-Gao , Zhang Hai-Ming , Liang En-Wei
Published: March 2024

The high-energy-peaked BL Lacertae objects (HBLs) are the main targets of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) for investigating the mechanisms of radiation and particle acceleration in jets. In this Letter, we report the first IXPE observations of two HBLs, 1ES 1959+650 and PKS 2155–304. Both sources exhibit X-ray polarization with a confidence level exceeding 99%, as well as significant variability in polarization across different time intervals and energy ranges. Notably, PKS 2155–304 demonstrates the highest X-ray polarization among all blazars detected by IXPE within its entire energy band (2–8 keV), with a polarization degree of ΠX = 21.9% ± 1.9% (MDP99 ∼ 6.0%). An even higher polarization is observed in the 3–4 keV band, reaching ΠX = 28.6% ± 2.7% (MDP99 ∼ 8.1%) with a confidence level of 10.8σ. Furthermore, no polarization is detected above the 5 keV energy band. For 1ES 1959+650, the highest detected polarization degree in the 2–8 keV band is ΠX = 12.4% ± 0.7% (MDP99 ∼ 2.2%), with an electric vector position angle (EVPA) of ψ
X = 19.°7 ± 1.°6. The X-ray polarization of 1ES 1959+650 exhibits evident variability, accompanied by the variations of ψ
X, flux, spectrum, and energy bin. We discuss possible implications of these observational findings, including the variability in polarization, rotation of EVPA, and transition between synchrotron and synchrotron–self-Compton. We speculate that the X-rays observed during different IXPE observations originate from distinct regions in the jet and may involve diverse mechanisms for particle acceleration.
Meeting Report for the Phenoscape TraitFest 2023 with Comments on Organising Interdisciplinary Meetings
Authors: Girón Duque Jennifer C. , Balk Meghan , Dahdul Wasila , Lapp Hilmar , Mikó István , Alhajjar Elie , Wynd Brenen , Tarasov Sergei , Lawrence Christopher , Khakurel Basanta , Porto Arthur , Yan Lin , E Fluck Isadora , Porto Diego , Keating Joseph , Borokini Israel , Seltmann Katja , Montanaro Giulio , Mabee Paula
Published: March 2024

The Phenoscape project has developed ontology-based tools and a knowledge base that enables the integration and discovery of phenotypes across species from the scientific literature. The Phenoscape TraitFest 2023 event aimed to promote innovative applications that adopt the capabilities supported by the data in the Phenoscape Knowledgebase and its corresponding semantics-enabled tools, algorithms and infrastructure. The event brought together 26 participants, including domain experts in biodiversity informatics, taxonomy and phylogenetics and software developers from various life-sciences programming toolkits and phylogenetic software projects, for an intense four-day collaborative software coding event. The event was designed as a hands-on workshop, based on the Open Space Technology methodology, in which participants self-organise into subgroups to collaboratively plan and work on their shared research interests. We describe how the workshop was organised, the projects developed and outcomes resulting from the workshop, as well as the challenges in bringing together a diverse group of participants to engage productively in a collaborative environment.
Modelling foraging strategies of honey bees as agents in a dynamic landscape representation
Authors: Capela Nuno , Duan Xiaodong , Ziółkowska Elżbieta , Topping Christopher John
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Both intrinsic colony mechanisms and external environmental variables affect the honey bee colony development rates and response and a key aspect of this is the use of resources within the landscape by honey bees. Although several models have been developed to explore the foraging behaviour of bees, none fully considered the spatial and temporal dynamics of landscape resources and the role of the colony in the process.

Methodology: Here, we introduce a new honey bee foraging model being developed as a part of the ApisRAM honey bee colony model. Based on agent-based modelling, we used a dynamic ALMaSS landscape model enhanced with floral resource modelling to assess the impacts of weather conditions and resource availability on the possible foraging behaviour of honey bees. Several possible mechanisms (defined, based on honey bee traits) for scouting and foraging were investigated, separately for nectar and pollen collection, including prioritising foraging polygons for nectar foraging according to their distance to the colony, the quality or the energetic efficiency and, for pollen foraging, according to their distance to the colony and pollen quantity.

Results: If model foraging bees prioritised the polygons, based on their distance from the colony, the number of unsuccessful flights increased compared to other tested strategies and the total amount of sugar collected showed a high variability. Contrary to expectations, the energetic efficiency strategy did not provide the colony with the highest amount of sugar. Overall, the tested strategies provide different outcomes on the collection of resources, the number of performed flights and their success rate, evidencing that the model's outcome at the colony level arises from the individual types of behaviour.

Conclusions and Relevance: Variability in the mass of collected nectar and pollen was found mostly when scout bees applied the distance strategy. This higher variability in sugar collection means that model bees were not able to find the most profitable foraging sites at the landscape level, but only at the local level. Other strategies showed less dependence on the surrounding landscape (i.e. quality or random), but it comes at a cost (i.e. lower production for both nectar and pollen collection). These outputs help us evaluate which strategies could be used for future model development and confirm the models' ability to create dynamic responses. These responses at the colony level were only possible thanks to the implementation of a dynamic landscape model and dynamic spatiotemporal resource model, as well as implementing a social communication mechanism for bees to share information about the resources. Plant nectar production and quality information is essential to predict honey bee foraging distribution. In future model development, the implementation of pollen quality should also be explored to evaluate if it influences the overall pollen collection.
Pisachini planthoppers of Vietnam: new records of Pisacha and a new Goniopsarites species from Central Vietnam (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Nogodinidae)
Authors: Constant Jérôme , Pham Thai-Hong , Le Cuong Viet Canh , Vu Trung Thanh , Nguyen Hoai Thu Thi , Tran Hai Nam
Published: March 2024

Two planthopper species of the family Nogodinidae are added to the fauna of Vietnam, both from two localities in Thua Thien-Hue Province: Bach Ma National Park and Phong Dien District. The first species belongs to Goniopsarites Meng, Wang & Wang, 2014, G. mientrunganus Constant & Pham, sp. nov., and the second belongs to Pisacha Distant, 1906, P. yinggensis Meng, Wang & Wang, 2014. Pisacha yinggensis was previously recorded from Hainan Island, China. These new records greatly extend the distribution of both genera, which were known from southern China, Hainan and North Vietnam, to the south, reaching the mid area of Central Vietnam. Sexual dimorphism is reported in P. yinggensis for the first time. Illustrations of habitus and male terminalia of the new species are given as well as distribution maps and photographs of live specimens and their habitat. The family Nogodinidae now comprises nine species in Vietnam, with three of them present in Bach Ma National Park.
La dictature et l’autoritarisme en tant que spectres. Retour sur la théorie des pouvoirs de crise d’Eric Posner et d’Adrian Vermeule
Authors: Goupy Marie
Published: March 2024

Cet article porte sur la pensée des pouvoirs de crise d’Eric Posner et d’Adrian Vermeule, méconnue en France, mais influente aux États-Unis. Il souhaite en particulier interroger l’une des thèses centrales de leurs ouvrages respectifs consacrés aux pouvoirs d’urgence après le 11 septembre, puis après la crise économique de 2008 : selon ces auteurs, la crainte d’un glissement autoritaire ou d’une dictature en raison d’un usage répété des législations d’urgence est désormais anachronique dans le droit américain, où il relève d’un « spectre ». En prenant appui sur le concept de « spectre » de Derrida, on émettra l’hypothèse que la pensée des pouvoirs de crise de Posner et Vermeule engage une conception de la temporalité du droit contemporain qui convoque, autant qu’elle le nie, le spectre de l’autoritarisme.
Fractional tempered differential equations depending on arbitrary kernels
Authors: Almeida Ricardo , Martins Natália , Sousa J. Vanterler da C.
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we expanded the concept of tempered fractional derivatives within both the Riemann-Liouville and Caputo frameworks, introducing a novel class of fractional operators. These operators are characterized by their dependence on a specific arbitrary smooth function. We then investigated the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a particular class of fractional differential equations, subject to specified initial conditions. To aid our analysis, we introduced and demonstrated the application of Picard's iteration method. Additionally, we utilized the Gronwall inequality to explore the stability of the system under examination. Finally, we studied the attractivity of the solutions, establishing the existence of at least one attractive solution for the system. Throughout the paper, we provide examples and remarks to support and reinforce our findings.
Dynamic analysis of a stochastic vector-borne model with direct transmission and media coverage
Authors: Wu Yue , Chen Shenglong , Zhang Ge , Li Zhiming
Published: March 2024

This paper presents a stochastic vector-borne epidemic model with direct transmission and media coverage. It proves the existence and uniqueness of positive solutions through the construction of a suitable Lyapunov function. Immediately after that, we study the transmission mechanism of vector-borne diseases and give threshold conditions for disease extinction and persistence; in addition we show that the model has a stationary distribution that is determined by a threshold value, i.e., the existence of a stationary distribution is unique under specific conditions. Finally, a stochastic model that describes the dynamics of vector-borne diseases has been numerically simulated to illustrate our mathematical findings.
The problem of determining source term in a kinetic equation in an unbounded domain
Authors: Kaytmaz Özlem
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we deal with an inverse problem of determining the source function in a kinetic equation that is considered in an unbounded domain with Cauchy data. We prove the uniqueness of the solution of an inverse problem by means of a pointwise Carleman estimate. In recent years, kinetic equations have occurred in a variety of important fields and applications, such as aerospace engineering, semi-conductor technology, nuclear engineering, chemotaxis, and immunology.
2-SAT discrete Hopfield neural networks optimization via Crow search and fuzzy dynamical clustering approach
Authors: Feng Caicai , Sathasivam Saratha , Roslan Nurshazneem , Velavan Muraly
Published: March 2024

Within the swiftly evolving domain of neural networks, the discrete Hopfield-SAT model, endowed with logical rules and the ability to achieve global minima of SAT problems, has emerged as a novel prototype for SAT solvers, capturing significant scientific interest. However, this model shows substantial sensitivity to network size and logical complexity. As the number of neurons and logical complexity increase, the solution space rapidly contracts, leading to a marked decline in the model's problem-solving performance. This paper introduces a novel discrete Hopfield-SAT model, enhanced by Crow search-guided fuzzy clustering hybrid optimization, effectively addressing this challenge and significantly boosting solving speed. The proposed model unveils a significant insight: its uniquely designed cost function for initial assignments introduces a quantification mechanism that measures the degree of inconsistency within its logical rules. Utilizing this for clustering, the model utilizes a Crow search-guided fuzzy clustering hybrid optimization to filter potential solutions from initial assignments, substantially narrowing the search space and enhancing retrieval efficiency. Experiments were conducted with both simulated and real datasets for 2SAT problems. The results indicate that the proposed model significantly surpasses traditional discrete Hopfield-SAT models and those enhanced by genetic-guided fuzzy clustering optimization across key performance metrics: Global minima ratio, Hamming distance, CPU time, retrieval rate of stable state, and retrieval rate of global minima, particularly showing statistically significant improvements in solving speed. These advantages play a pivotal role in advancing the discrete Hopfield-SAT model towards becoming an exemplary SAT solver. Additionally, the model features exceptional parallel computing capabilities and possesses the potential to integrate with other logical rules. In the future, this optimized model holds promise as an effective tool for solving more complex SAT problems.
Stochastic evolution game analysis of the strategic coalition of enterprise pollution control
Authors: Lu Zuliang , Xing Lu , Xu Ruixiang , Li Mingsong , Li Junman
Published: March 2024

To address pollution control, cooperation among interested parties is essential. This paper examines a stochastic evolution game model involving a strategic coalition of three enterprises for pollution control. The model incorporates decision-making factors to construct a strategic coalition model of enterprise pollution control between enterprises. The study analyzes the evolution process of pollution control strategies within the coalition and determines the final stable strategy. Additionally, numerical simulations are conducted to explore the evolution paths of enterprises under various circumstances. Results from a case-based numerical example validate the theoretical findings, supporting the following insights: (1) the coalition requires an effective mechanism for incentivizing and penalizing actions, (2) the government should establish and improve coordination and management mechanisms, (3) citizens are urged to develop social oversight mechanisms for reporting environmental violation, and (4) a fair and equitable distribution mechanism should be implemented within the coalition.
Massive Online Open Courses for Continuous Career Development in Health Professionals
Authors: Murillo María Valentina Toral , Contreras Mariana Dorbecker
Published: March 2024

The entry of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the different teaching and learning processes has created a radical transformation in education. In order to adapt to the demand for knowledge that today's society requires for continuous professional development, it is required that the professional himself is the main actor of his training process. This is why online courses arise, massive and open (MOOC), that is to say, distance courses, accessible via the internet, where anyone can join with practically no limit of participants. This allows learners to acquire, exchange, and create knowledge networks in a flexible format by generating constant training with people and institutions around the world. However, these courses are constantly changing, especially due to the emergence of artificial intelligence and tools such as ChatGPT, so they will always be a great option for innovation either by implementing them or training through them.
Global Economic Consequences of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: March 2024

This chapter investigates the global economic consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war over a four-month period from December 2021 to March 2022. Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022. The study used the Pearson correlation and two-stage least square regression methods to assess the impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on the global economy. It was observed that stock prices plunged on the day of the invasion. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic jointly led to a significant increase in the world price of food and crude oil. The rise in the world food price index after the invasion was driven by a significant increase in the price of dairy and oils. The rise in inflation in Russia and Ukraine after the invasion was followed by a rise in inflation in countries that imposed severe sanctions on Russia, and in countries that were not involved in the conflict in any way.
Money Laundering and Its Reflection on Global Development
Authors: Chitadze Nika
Published: March 2024

Money laundering — the legalization of cash or other forms of property obtained through illegal means, that is, their transfer from the shadow, informal economy to the formal economy, in order to make it possible to use these funds openly (publicly). In the process of money laundering, the true source of income is concealed by replacing real transactions with formal ones, e.g. By falsifying verification documents, using documents of third parties, etc. In the conditions of economic globalization, offshore zones are often used for money laundering, these are the so-called countries. With a tax haven, where the confidentiality of the beneficiaries is ensured in the banking systems.
In the Name of the Holy Cow!
Authors: Som Bodhisattwa
Published: March 2024

India's constitutional ethos establishes itself to be a secular country, believing in every citizen's right to follow their own religious beliefs. However, in the recent past, the evolution of Hindu nationalistic politics of hate, coupled with a monolithic and myopic viewpoint of construing the nation as a Hindu entity, has fanned the growth of fundamentalistic ideals of cow worship and cow protection. This has significantly led to the rise of non-state actors who employ any or all means possible of strong-arming minorities and the vulnerable sections of society in the name of cow protection. Thus, through this chapter, the author shall at the first instance argue the reasons for the rise of cow-vigilantism in India, situating it in a historical and socio-political context. The author's second argument would be to demonstrate how cow vigilantism has elevated to the status of organised crime in India. Finally, the author shall conclude with arguments suggesting ways to put an end to such heinous incidents of vigilantism and forge a way forward.
Sustainable Green Supply Chain Management for Organizational Performance and Carbon Reduction
Authors: Bhattacharjee Amitab , Ghosh Abhijit
Published: March 2024

Amalgamating green energy and green technologies can ensure sustainable green supply chain management practices through boosting organizational performance and reducing carbon footprint around the world. The traditional supply chain system is one of the major sources for global emissions. To establish eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable GSCM, this chapter proposes a renewable energy and low carbon technology-based green supply chain simulation design. Adopting GSCS will ensure maximum utilization of resources but significantly reduce lead-times and climate emissions. The GSCS defines the green techniques for executing RE plants without leverage risk. An exploratory approach has been applied to demonstrate green policies with realistic evidence, which will help to gain knowledge of successful implementation of GSC policies to intensify financial growth and green environmental safety. In addition, executable eco-friendly directions chronicled in this chapter would also be beneficial for the firms including SMEs, especially those in the embryonic stage of GSCM practices.
Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management in Hotels
Authors: Seal Partho Pratim , Gupta Parul
Published: March 2024

The advance in technology has influenced human beings and artificial intelligence (AI) is most discussed considering the similarity of human-like thinking process. AI has become inevitable in the hospitality industry both for the customers and the employees. Human resource management in hospitality has enormous challenges including high turnover rate, recruitment and retention, training, and development of the employees. A considerable gap is found between the expectations and the reality of artificial intelligence in human resource management. The study aims to find how human resource managers in hospitality effectively use artificial intelligence in their regular operations and in the well-being of the employees. The study takes a qualitative research approach to state how artificial intelligence is incorporated into regular functions of hospitality human resources and its impact on the organization. The findings of the study will state how AI will assist in redefining the role of hospitality human resources management in enhancing their efficiency and agility.
Customer Consciousness Towards Food Wastage in the Indian Hospitality Industry
Authors: Venugopal Koppala , Das Saumendra , Gopalakrishna Vakamullu , Bansal Rohit
Published: March 2024

Customer consciousness towards food wastage in the Indian hospitality industry encapsulates a study exploring the awareness and attitudes of customers in the Indian hospitality sector regarding food wastage. By examining various factors, including cultural norms, economic considerations, and communication strategies, the research aims to discern the level of consciousness among customers in mitigating food waste. A method mix of descriptive design, mixed approach, convenience sampling, and cross-sectional survey method was carried out. The analysis associated with classification with ML applications, factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. Insights from this investigation contribute to fostering sustainable practices within the hospitality industry and addressing the broader issue of food wastage in India. This chapter highlights the significance of understanding customer perspectives in developing effective strategies for reducing food waste in the dynamic landscape of the Indian hospitality sector.
Salvaging Responsible Consumption and Production of Food in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Singh Bhupinder , Kaunert Christian
Published: March 2024

The hospitality industry stands at the forefront of addressing critical challenges in responsible consumption and production of food, and this research endeavors to spearhead transformative solutions by harnessing the power of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) technologies. In the contemporary context, where issues like global hunger, malnutrition, and the intricate dynamics of food adulteration significantly impact the industry's demand-supply mechanism, the integration of advanced technological strategies becomes paramount. This chapter strategically examines the role of ML and DL in achieving zero waste within the hospitality sector, offering a nuanced exploration of challenges and presenting innovative strategies to thwart food loss-waste management.
Societal Sustainability
Authors: Kanwal Nayan Deep S. , Panda Tapaswini , Patro Udaya Sankar , Das Saumendra
Published: March 2024

Research on the sustainability of society, both theoretically and practically, is lacking. Research indicates that discussions on environmentally friendly growth did not fully incorporate the “societal” aspect until much later. To close this hole, the present research suggests a novel conceptualization of the sustainability of society. Researchers argue that danger is a fundamental component of environmental sustainability and that modern human societies and their living environments face grave interpersonal, geographical, fundamental, and physical hazards as a consequence of the uncertainty surrounding warming temperatures. The authors suggest that a sustainable society works to face risk while addressing social issues in the context of sustainability. As a result, they offer a thorough conceptual framework of social sustainability that consists of four interconnected conceptions of environmentally conscious practises—every one of them integrates important societal components and serves a specific purpose within the overall structure.
First-degree atrioventricular block in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients: an easy and worthy prognostic marker?
Authors: Amador Ana Filipa , Martins da Costa Catarina , Da Silva Santos João , Dias Cláudia Camila , Martins Elisabete
Published: March 2024

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited cardiac disease. Recently, a connection has been observed between the presence of first-degree atrioventricular block (FDAVB) and cardiovascular outcomes, although the pathophysiology of this association remains poorly understood. Considering the period 2000-2023, we retrospectively included HCM patients at sinus rhythm at the first appointment and sought possible interactions of FDAVB (defined as PR interval >200 ms) with different clinical and imaging variables and with the occurrence of cardiovascular events, including atrial fibrillation (AF). A total of 97 patients were included, of whom 57 (58.8%) were men, with a mean age of 51±19 years, and 14 (14.4%) had FDAVB. During a median of 4.29 (P25 1.92, P75 7.67) years of follow-up, 35 cardiovascular events occurred, including 13 de novo diagnoses of AF, 8 hospitalizations due to heart failure, 8 new-onset strokes, 4 myocardial infarctions, and 2 implantations of cardio defibrillators in secondary prevention; no HCM-related death occurred. We did not find any association between outcomes and the presence of FDAVB. The role of FDAVB as a prognostic marker in HCM patients requires further investigation. We found that FDAVB patients were older, more frequently reported dyspnea, had a larger QRS duration, a higher E/e' ratio, and lower maximal left ventricle wall thickness by magnetic resonance (p<0.05). After multivariable analysis, FDAVB was independently associated with a higher echocardiographic E/e' ratio (p=0.039) (odds ratio=1.588). This is the first paper to document an independent association between FGAVB and a higher E/e' ratio in HCM patients.
Psychological Responses During Latter Rehabilitation and Return to Sport After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery
Authors: Russell Hayley C. , Arendt Elizabeth A. , Wiese-Bjornstal Diane M.
Published: March 2024

Context

Despite positive physical outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), many athletes do not return to sport afterward.

Objective

To determine if there were differences between athletes who returned to play and those who did not return to sport after ACLR in patterns of psychological responses to injury over the latter course of rehabilitation and return to sport.

Design

Case-control study.

Setting

Comprehensive orthopedic medical center referrals.

Patients or Other Participants

Thirty-nine recreational and competitive athletes (13 to 58 years, 21 males) with a first ACL tear were observed over the course of the study.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Return to sport.

Results

Fifty-two percent of participants returned to play by 9 months post-ACLR. Those who returned showed a linear decrease in reinjury anxiety from 4 to 9 months post-ACLR, whereas those who did not return showed a linear decrease from 4 to 6 months post-ACLR and then a leveling off from 6 to 9 months. Those who returned showed linear and quadratic effects on perceived limitations of ability with a decrease from 4 to 9 months post-ACLR that accelerated over time, whereas nonreturners showed a linear decrease over time. No significant differences were found between returners and nonreturners in knee self-efficacy, perceived percent recovery, and psychological distress.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that reinjury anxiety and perceived limitations of ability are psychological constructs on which returners and nonreturners differ and therefore may be points of intervention to increase the likelihood of return to sport.
Intermarried Couples: Transnationalism, and Racialized Experiences in Denmark and Canada
Authors: Rashmi Rashmi , Ganapathy-Coleman Hema
Published: March 2024

Despite an increase in interracial or mixed marriages (intermarriages) globally, the experiences of couples in such marriages are generally under-researched, particularly within psychology. Using a cultural psychological framework and qualitative methods, this paper studies the psychosocial experiences of couples in intermarriages. It focuses on four South Asians in ethnically intermarriages in two settings: two Indian-origin men married to native Danish women in Denmark, and two Indian-origin women married to Euro-American men in Canada. Data from in-depth interviews were subjected to a thematic analysis yielding an array of themes, of which this paper presents the two most dominant themes across the two contexts: ‘transnationalism’ and ‘racialized experiences in social situations’. The results demonstrate that the participants lived transnational lives to varying degrees depending on their gender, socio-economic status and age, which in turn intersected with variables such as the nature of the transnational relationships they were attempting to sustain, and their own motivations and agency in maintaining these ties. While in some cases participants maintained a high level of contact with India through visits and digital technology, others kept up limited ongoing contact with the country of origin. Furthermore, varying racialized experiences emerged from the narratives, with differences in how these experiences were interpreted. While some participants recognized them as racial discrimination, others chose to rationalize these experiences in various ways. After offering an account of these results, the paper reflects briefly on the implications of these findings.
Blood Donor Selection Profile an Important Tool for Blood Safety: An Institutional Experience
Authors: Khetrapal Shaan , Bisht Pushpa , Jairajpuri Zeeba Shamim , Rana Safia , Jetley Sujata
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim:

Blood transfusions can be a crucial, life-saving treatment in modern medical and surgical practice. The primary objective of blood transfusion services worldwide is to guarantee the availability of a sufficient and safe supply of blood and blood products. Meticulous donor screening and use of highly sensitive techniques for the detection of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) may help reduce the risk of TTIs and, hence, are important steps to ensure safety for both donor and recipient.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective record-based study done at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. The blood donors’ data from January 2012 to December 2022 (10 years) were collected from the blood bank registry at the study site and were analyzed.

Results:

Males dominated the donor population (98.2%) with females comprising only (1.8%). In total, 10.9% were found unfit for donation for various reasons. Voluntary donors were (6.3%) and replacement donors were (93.7%). Out of the reasons for deferral, majority 497/1223 (40.6%) donors were deferred due to hemoglobin <12.5 g/dl, followed by 156/1223 (12.8%) deferrals due to alcohol intake within the past 72 h.

Conclusion:

Safe donor selection is the first step toward safe transfusion services. Identification of population groups that can be targeted to enhance the pool of willing blood donors is made easier by studying and analyzing the blood donor profile.
Incidence of QT interval prolongation during arsenic trioxide-based therapy in a sample of Iraqi adult patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (a single-center experience)
Authors: Hassan Aseel Abd Ul Sahib , Almothaffar Ali M. Jawad
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) regimen is now the standard of care for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). The complete remission and possible cure are reported to be 50%–80% of APL patients. Prolongation of the QT interval has been consistently observed in clinical trials with ATO, which is known to have a direct effect on cardiac repolarization with the recommendations for management include electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, discontinuation of drugs that prolong the QT interval, and careful repletion of serum potassium and magnesium.

OBJECTIVES:

To study the incidence and clinical consequences of QT prolongation in a sample of Iraqi APL patients treated with ATO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 24 adult patients with newly diagnosed APL at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. ECG was performed at baseline and twice weekly till the end of induction treatment course. Corrected QT interval was calculated based on Bazett and Fridericia formulas (QTc interval of more than 500 ms is considered dangerous): Serum potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels were also measured simultaneously.

RESULTS:

The mean QT at baseline was 424 ± 18 ms and 402 ± 15 ms by Bazett and Fridericia, respectively, and at the end of induction, the mean QT was 436 ± 20 ms and 418 ± 20 ms by Bazett and Fridericia, respectively. The rate of developing prolonged QT was 62.5% by Bazet, in which 15 patients developed prolonged QT (at any time point). The comparison between prolonged and dangerous QT groups by Bazet showed significant difference, in which QT-related complications were associated with dangerous QT (>500 ms) prolongation significantly, while Fridrica method did not label these patients as having dangerous QT prolongation. The change in QT started as early as 1 week after treatment, the comparison between baseline QT and QT at week 1 showed that there was significant increase in QT. The electrolytes analysis and comparison with baseline results for potassium, magnesium, and calcium showed that there were no significant differences over time for tested electrolytes.

CONCLUSION:

Bazett formula is useful to monitor Iraqi patients with APL who are treated with ATO for the detection of dangerous prolongation of QT.
Role of Optical Coherence Tomography in Predicting Visual Outcome after Surgery for Sellar and Supra-Sellar Tumors
Authors: Singha Souvik , Beniwal Manish , Mailankody Pooja , Battu Rajani , Saini Jitender , Tyagi Gaurav , Srinivas Dwarakanath
Published: March 2024

Background:

Almost one-fifth of patients undergoing surgery for sellar/supra-sellar tumors do not gain a significant improvement in their vision. Various methods have been described to predict prospective visual outcomes in them, although they lack uniformity.

Objective:

The study was conducted to predict visual outcomes following surgery for sellar and supra-sellar tumors compressing the anterior optic pathway based on pre-operative optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters.

Methods and Materials:

This was a record-based observational descriptive longitudinal study done in a tertiary care center in India. Thirty-seven patients (74 eyes) diagnosed with sellar supra-sellar lesions were included in the study. Patients’ ophthalmic evaluations, done pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively, were reviewed. Spectral-domain OCT and segmentation were done using the automated segmentation technology of Spectralis software. The thickness of the respective layers was measured.

Results and Conclusions:

The mean age of the study population was 42.68 years. Eyes with a pre-operative visual acuity component of VIS (visual impairment score) ≤61, pre-operative ganglion cell layer thickness ≥26.31 um, a pre-operative inner plexiform layer thickness of ≥25.69 um, a pre-operative ganglion cell inner plexiform layer thickness of 52.00 um, pre-operative ganglion cell complex thickness ≥84.47 μm, and a pre-operative inner retinal layer thickness of ≥205.25 μm were more likely to have an improved visual outcome. Eyes with a pre-operative duration of visual symptoms of ≥15 months, VIS ≥126.50, a pre-operative decimal visual acuity of <0.035, a pre-operative visual field index of ≤8%, a pre-operative macular thickness of ≤287.06 um, a pre-operative macular RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layer) thickness ≤66.00 μm, and a pre-operative peri-papillary RNFL thickness ≤64.62 μm were unlikely to have visual improvement.
A Systematic Review Unraveling the Intricate Neurological Spectrum of COVID-19: Manifestations, Complications, and Transformative Insights for Patient Care
Authors: Pitliya Aakanksha , Dhamecha Jatin , Kumar Deepak , Anusha KVN , Kancherla Neeraj , Kumar Lakshya , Singla Ramit , Pitliya Anmol
Published: March 2024

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained global healthcare and financial infrastructures. Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 have gained recognition, emphasizing the need for comprehensive research in this area. This systematic review aims to comprehensively examine the neurological manifestations and complications associated with COVID-19 and assess their prevalence, impact on patient outcomes, and potential relationships with comorbidities, while emphasizing the significance of ongoing research in this field. We conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and ResearchGate databases was conducted to identify eligible studies focusing on COVID-19 patients, reporting neurological symptoms or complications, and published between 2020 and 2022 in English. The data extracted is performed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Two independent reviewers assessed study quality and bias using the AMSTAR 2 scale before inclusion. This systematic includes 12 systematic reviews and meta-analysis with 191,412 participants and average age of 60 years. Neurological symptoms included headaches, dizziness, anosmia, and ageusia. Complications ranged from cerebrovascular events to Guillain–Barré syndrome. Comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes, exacerbated severity. Mortality rates associated with neurological manifestations varied from 29.1% to 84.8%. The study underscores the complex neurological impact of COVID-19, affecting patients across age groups. Ongoing research is vital to understand mechanisms and develop targeted interventions, improving patient care and addressing pandemic consequences. This review provides a holistic view of COVID-19’s neurological effects, emphasizing the need for sustained research efforts and collaborative endeavors to combat the neurological issues.
Challenges in Occipitocervical Fusion in a 9-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Thirugnanam Balamurugan , Kukreja Ashish , Mandanna Bopanna K , Kishen Thomas J
Published: March 2024

Traumatic cranio-cervical junction injuries in infants are rare and require early surgical stabilization. In view of the unique anatomy of the occipitocervical junction in infants, the creation of a fusion construct that is both safe and biomechanically sound is challenging. A 9-month-old male infant involved in an accident presented with weakness in both upper limbs. Imaging revealed a displaced odontoid synchondrosis fracture with combined occipitocervical and atlantoaxial dissociation. Due to the unstable nature of the injury, occiput to C2 arthrodesis using dual distal radius locking plates and autologous full-thickness parietal region calvarial bone graft was performed. Minerva jacket was applied. Computed tomography (CT) scan obtained at 12 weeks demonstrated evidence of bony fusion. Combined injuries to the occipitocervical and atlantoaxial joint in an infant can be fatal. A thorough assessment of multiple imaging modalities helps to make an early and accurate diagnosis.
Recreational Fishing and Biodiversity in Mostaganem: Species Richness, Trophic Level, and Ecological Status of the Population Caught
Authors: Daoudi Mohamed , Bouiadjra Benabdellah Bachir , Behmene Ibrahim Elkhalil , Charton Jose Antonio Garcia
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of recreational fishing on the marine ecosystem in the Mostaganem region, through the assessment of targeted and captured biodiversity, based on annual monitoring, using different statistical tools. The results show a wide range of species caught by boaters, with a total of 79 species belonging to 38 families and 24 orders, dominated by bony fish (86%).
Biodiversity varies seasonally, due to the opportunistic behavior of boaters in targeting species according to their availability in the fishing grounds by using different gears and techniques at different seasons of the year.

These boaters mainly target predators at high trophic level and high economic value, in order to maximize their income, which has negative effects on the top of the food chain, thereby creating a cascading effect on species at a lower trophic level. Thus, 12% of these species are classified as endangered or vulnerable, indicating considerable risks to fisheries resources and the marine ecosystem and its sustainability, suggesting effective management measures to ensure the sustainability of this recreational activity by minimizing environmental impacts.