bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
International legal protection of cultural property in peacetime and wartime
Authors: Puzyreva Yuliya
Published: December 2024

The monograph examines the complex of international legal foundations and institutional mechanisms for the implementation of the obligations of States in the field of ensuring respect, protection and protection of cultural heritage from criminal encroachments, threats of man-made and natural nature, as well as military operations.
The analysis of international legal regimes for the protection of cultural property during armed conflicts has been carried out, and trends in the development of international cooperation in this area have been identified. The international legal regulation of law enforcement cooperation for the protection of cultural property has been studied, as well as modern mechanisms and directions for improving the fight against illegal acts against cultural property have been studied.
It is intended for researchers, practicing lawyers, teaching staff, students and postgraduates of law schools.
COMPETENCE-BASED APPROACH TO PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE REGION
Authors: Dykina S. , Gagarinskaya G. , Eranosyan E. , Kurochkin N.
Published: December 2024

The authors of this article are engaged in the analysis of the current state of digitalization of society. They demonstrate the importance and necessity of ensuring the implementation of an advanced competence-based approach in the field of personnel management by small and medium-sized businesses operating in the Krasnodar Territory. This article presents the created competence profile, which includes the following elements: a set of professional knowledge and skills, a set of communicative competencies, a set of personal and business competencies, a set of managerial competencies. A model of the process of creating a competence profile was also proposed, along with the structure of the list of competencies of enterprises and SMEs.
Infliximab: Pharmacological Properties, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Applications in the Treatment of Selected Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Słowik Julia , Zapasek Daniel , Bajak Mateusz , Szczepański Michał , Mamczur Maciej , Kuliga Marcin , Inglot Julia , Inglot Jadwiga , Feret Dominik Maciej , Sowa Damian
Published: December 2024

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis. It functions by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a cytokine central to the inflammatory processes of these conditions. Since its approval in 1998, infliximab has significantly improved the management of patients who do not respond well to conventional therapies.
The article provides a comprehensive review of infliximab's pharmacological properties, its mechanism of action, FDA-approved uses, and its clinical benefits. It also discusses its safety profile, which includes potential risks like infections, infusion reactions, and long-term concerns such as an increased risk of malignancies. Regular monitoring of adverse effects is crucial for patient safety during treatment.
Infliximab has demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms like pain, swelling, and skin lesions, and it helps in maintaining remission in conditions like Crohn's disease and psoriasis. The drug is typically administered via intravenous infusion, and its dosing varies depending on the disease and patient response. Additionally, the article highlights the role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to optimize treatment outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
In conclusion, infliximab remains an essential therapeutic option for managing severe chronic inflammatory diseases, though its use requires careful monitoring due to potential risks. Ongoing research is expected to refine its use and expand its indications, further enhancing its clinical application in inflammatory disease management.
Engagement That Sells: Influencer Video Advertising on TikTok
Authors: Yang Jeremy , Zhang Juanjuan , Zhang Yuhan
Published: December 2024

This paper develops an algorithm to predict the effect of influencer video ads on product sales.
Segment Profit/Loss and the Limitations of a “Management Approach”
Authors: Durney Michael T. , Gee Kurt H. , Wiebe Zac
Published: December 2024

GAAP’s “Management Approach” to segment reporting (ASC 280) requires firms to report segment profit/loss as the measure managers use when allocating resources internally across segments under the assumption that investors benefit from viewing segment performance through the eyes of management. We examine how segment performance measurement aligns with the way that investors use segment profit/loss measures externally. We first survey professional investors and find that they primarily use segment profit/loss to assess firm value and therefore desire measures focused on persistent income items that help predict future performance. Next, for a sample of public multi-segment firms from 2003 to 2018, we hand-collect details on the construction of firms’ segment profit/loss measures and compare them to the same firms’ valuation-focused measures (i.e., non-GAAP earnings and non-GAAP segment profit/loss). Relative to non-GAAP measures, ASC 280 segment profit/loss is significantly more likely to include less persistent items (e.g., restructuring charges) and exclude more persistent items (e.g., interest expense). ASC 280 segment profit/loss is also less predictive of future performance and less value relevant than non-GAAP measures. These differences are attributable to ASC 280 yielding segment profit/loss measures that focus on the controllability of items by segment managers instead of items’ persistence. Overall, ASC 280’s segment profit/loss exhibits misalignment between its internal use by managers (i.e., internal resource allocation) and its primary external use by investors (i.e., valuation), which limits its usefulness for investors. Our study informs market participants and standard setters considering the usefulness of segment disclosures.

This paper was accepted by Suraj Srinivasan, accounting.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.01224 .
How Does Flexibility Affect Environmental Performance? Evidence from the Power Generation Industry
Authors: Drake David F. , Muthulingam Suresh
Published: December 2024

Problem definition: It is well known that the power sector requires flexibility, especially from fossil fuel–based power-generating units, to balance demand side variability and supply side fluctuations. However, the environmental consequences related to possessing and exercising such flexibility remain relatively unexplored. In this study, we examine the environmental impact of two forms of flexibility pertinent to power generation: fuel flexibility—that is, the ability to utilize multiple fuel types, and volume flexibility—that is, the ability to alter production volumes quickly. Methodology/results: We assembled a data set that spans 1998–2016 and includes details on fuel usage, power generation, generating unit characteristics, and carbon dioxide (i.e., CO2) emissions for 3,135 fossil fuel power-generating units that account for more than 92% of the United States’ fossil fuel–generating capacity. Our empirical analysis reveals that power-generating units that possess fuel flexibility or volume flexibility generate greater CO2 emissions than comparable nonflexible generating units. Additionally, when power-generating units exercise fuel flexibility (i.e., they use multiple fuel types in a period) or volume flexibility (i.e., they vary production to a greater degree in a period), they generate greater CO2 emissions. By contrast, when power-generating units exercise both fuel and volume flexibility, we find that they diminish the aggregate emissions increases expected from exercising fuel or volume flexibility alone. Managerial implications: We add to the literature by exploring how flexibility affects environmental performance and by disambiguating the effects of possessing flexibility and exercising flexibility. These results are important when considering the penetration of renewables, the adoption of utility-grade storage, and demand response as each of these paths can significantly affect the flexibility burden placed on conventional sources of power. Thus, our results are relevant to policy makers and practitioners because they crystallize the environmental tradeoffs involved with deploying flexibility in fossil fuel–based power-generating units.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0522 .
Multiday User Equilibrium with Strategic Commuters
Authors: Wu Minghui , Yin Yafeng , Lynch Jerome P.
Published: December 2024

In the era of connected and automated mobility, commuters possess strong computation power, enabling them to strategically make sequential travel choices over a planning horizon. This paper investigates the multiday traffic patterns that arise from such decision-making behavior. In doing so, we frame the commute problem as a mean-field Markov game and introduce a novel concept of multiday user equilibrium to capture the steady state of commuters’ interactions. The proposed model is general and can be tailored to various travel choices, such as route or departure time. We explore a range of properties of the multiday user equilibrium under mild conditions. The study reveals the fingerprint of user inertia on network flow patterns, causing between-day variations even at a steady state. Furthermore, our analysis establishes critical connections between the multiday user equilibrium and conventional Wardrop equilibrium.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Grants CMMI-1854684, CMMI-1904575, CMMI-2233057, and CMMI-2240981].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0488 .
Cheating in relationships – literature review
Authors: Wdowiak Krystian , Maciocha Agnieszka , Wąż Julia , Słomka Paulina , Drogoń Justyna , Chachaj Weronika , Remiszewski Piotr , Konieczko Dawid
Published: December 2024

Defining the concept of infidelity in relationships has posed significant challenges for many researchers. By synthesizing their views, one can assume that infidelity encompasses any actions hidden from a partner, involving a third party, which violate the emotional, sexual, or romantic exclusivity of the relationship. Nowadays, it seems appropriate to categorize infidelity into sexual, emotional, mixed, and online types. Determining the frequency of infidelity is problematic due to discrepancies in various studies’ results, primarily stemming from cultural differences among the studied populations. Nonetheless, it is expected that this phenomenon affects 20-50% of relationships, occurring more frequently in non-marital relationships, although this difference appears to be gradually diminishing. The causes of infidelity are diverse, primarily arising from the unmet emotional or sexual needs of an individual by their partner. However, infidelity can also occur due to factors beyond the partner’s control, such as favorable circumstances. Factors that increase the likelihood of infidelity include being male and having higher education and income, as these factors lead to encountering more situations that facilitate infidelity. The impact of technological development on the occurrence of infidelity in relationships cannot be overlooked – practically every third internet user utilizes it for sexual purposes. Infidelity has consequences for relationships, often being the most common cause of their dissolution, as well as for the individuals involved. Those who are betrayed often experience anger and symptoms typical of a depressive episode and suicidal thoughts may also occur.
Front Matter: Volume 4
Authors: Hájek Petr , Vít Ondřej
Published: December 2024

This PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business Volume 4, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.
«Koly kvitne paporot» («When the fern blooms»): modern linguistic and song interpretation of the phytosymbol
Authors: Klieshchova Oksana
Published: December 2024

The article examined the modern Ukrainian song discourse, that is represented by the mini-album «Koly kvitne paporot» («When the Fern Blooms»). This is a collaboration between young Ukrainian musicians – ROXOLANA (Roksoliana Syrota) and Pylyp Kolyadenko as part of the creative union «Phil it». The mini-album «Koly kvitne paporot» («When the Fern Blooms») contains four songs: «Blukaiemo» («We wander»), «120» («120»), «Obiimai» («Hug »), «Meni tebe brakuie» («I miss you»). The work found out, firstly, that the song lyrics of the mini-album are: 1) exquisite music for modern and conscious people, 2) a lyrical love story without an ending, full of all possible moods and colors of the language-song palette. Secondly, we researched and analyzed the title of the album, which contains the phytosymbol «fern», «fern blossom», images and symbols of song texts. Thirdly: we found out that the legend of the fiery fern flower is a philosophical topic: not about material values, but rather about spiritual values (according to prof. S. Kylymnyk), as the fern flower is a flower of happiness - it is human self-knowledge, improvement, serving a high idea, which is to make people happy. Fourthly: the research concluded that the singers and authors of the song texts – Roksoliana Syrota and Pylyp Kolyadenko interpreted the ancient legend, modernizing it in the songs of the mini-album «Koly kvitne paporot» («When the Fern Blooms»), and gave the title of the music album new meanings.
Game technologies as a means of professional training of future teachers of the Polish language
Authors: Donia Valeriia
Published: December 2024

The article examines the role of game technologies in the process of students’ education as a means of their professional training. The analysis covers both the modern stage of the development of educational technologies and outlines the historical aspect of the formation of game technologies and their introduction into the educational process, demonstrating the development of this concept over the centuries. The definition of “game technologies” is also revealed, covering its content and functions in the educational process. In addition, the main stages of preparation and implementation of game technologies in foreign language classes are highlighted. The article emphasizes that, foremost, the use of this or that game depends on the pedagogical goal and the results to be achieved. The main tasks of the game are highlighted. Approaches to the classification of gaming technologies are given and considered, based on various criteria: by form, purpose, by type of tasks, by the type of development of speech abilities, etc. It is described in detail using specific examples how game technologies affect the formation of professional competence and what place they occupy in the learning process. The significant advantages of using these technologies are a high level of motivation and interest on the part of students, it develops the ability to quickly adapt to given conditions, the role of the teacher and student changes, and the relationship between them during classes. In addition, certain difficulties that may arise in the educational process when using game technologies are indicated and, as a result, what should be taken into account to prevent them. Further research on the topic will concern specific game technologies and their impact on the professional competence of students, the development of their own games and their application in practice.
Development of the administrative culture of the head of the educational institution by using a team approach
Authors: Koroliuk Svitlana
Published: December 2024

The article examines the issue of the introduction of a team approach in the management of an educational institution and its role in the development of the manager’s managerial culture. An analysis of the concepts “management culture”, “team”, “team approach” was carried out; the importance of developing one’s own level of management culture by heads of educational institutions is emphasized, as it affects the quality of education, professional and personal growth of participants in the educational process. The strengths of team work in the institution were identified: creation of a positive atmosphere among the participants of the educational process, unity of teachers, students, parents, administration, establishment of positive communication, trust, development of initiative and responsibility of each member of the school community. The challenges faced by heads of educational institutions regarding the application of a team approach are described: the head must be a member of the team and manage it at the same time; management from above, use of methods of authoritarian style of team management; low level of motivation of participants; time spent on organizing the work of the team; distrust in the competences of participants, in particular students and parents; work in conditions of uncertainty (quarantine restrictions, military actions in Ukraine). Ways of developing the managerial culture of the manager to support teams are revealed: establishing partnership and cooperation between participants, trusting everyone, implementing project activities in the institution with the involvement of different categories of participants, forming mixed teams (teachers, students, parents), applying team development methods appropriate to the situation, including facilitation. The importance of continuous development of the manager’s own level of management culture is emphasized, an example of a facilitated course for managers on team leadership is given.
WİLHELM DİLTHEY VE CLİFFORD GEERTZ KARŞILAŞTIRMASINDA HERMENÖTİKTEN YORUMCU ANTROPOLOJİYE GÖRSEL MEDYA TOPLUMU-METİN-DİL İLİŞKİSİ
Authors: Bazancir Recai , Bulduk Nurten
Published: December 2024

Antropolojinin insanlığa yaptığı en önemli katkılardan birinin “öteki”ni anlamaya yardımcı olabilecek yolları sunmak olduğu iddia edilebilir. Bu anlama girişimine yönelik farklı yaklaşımlar ve paradigmalar, farklı epistemolojik ve metodolojik yollar önerilmektedir. Evrensellik-tikellik, kuramsal-empirik gibi kimi sorunsalların ve tartışmaların, antropoloji bir bilim olarak adlandırılmadan önce felsefe ve bilim içinde tartışıldığı görülmektedir. Bu tür tartışmalar sosyal/kültürel bilimcilerin kültür nosyonunu nasıl inşa ettiklerine ilişkin konularda yol gösterici olmaktadır. Dijital Çağ’ın getirisi olan görsel medya toplumunda dijital ve medya kültür nosyonun inşa ediliş şekillerine ve bugün öteki gibi görünen Z, Alfa kuşağına paralel bu yeni toplumun ve kültürünün metin ile olan ilişkisi irdelenmiştir. Wilhelm Dilthey’ın hermenötik kuramını etnografide ilk kez uygulayan Clifford Geertz’in yorumcu antropoloji yaklaşımından yararlanılarak elde edilen veriler çerçevesinde dijitalleşme, yeni medya ve yeni gerçeklik türlerinin ilişkisiyle şekillenen “metin” kavramının artık bilinegelen “metin” kavramı ve anlayışından “hiper-metin” veya “elektronik metin” kavramına evirildiği söylenebilir. Dolaysıyla 21. yüzyılda “metin” kavramı ele alınırken dijital çağın yeni medyalarının etkisiyle görselliğin öne çıktığı, görsel dilin başat kılındığı elektronik zeminde üretilen “hiper-metin” şeklinde düşünülmelidir. Bu yeni “metin” Dilthey’ın ve Geertz’in dikkat çektiği kültür-gerçeklik ilişki kapsamına giren bir yapı sergileyerek dijital kültür içinde algılamaya çalışmaktan ziyade anlamayı gerektiren bir sistemi işaret eder.
DİJİTAL ÇAĞDA GELENEKSEL ZANAATLARIN YAŞATILMASINDA KADIN KOOPERATİFLERİ
Authors: İştar Işıklı Emel
Published: December 2024

Bu çalışma, geleneksel zanaatları sürdüren kadın kooperatiflerinin dijital dönüşüm süreçlerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Kadın kooperatiflerinin genellikle toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri ve sınırlı iş yönetimi becerileri nedeniyle "kadın işi" olarak değerlendirilen alanlarda faaliyet gösterdiği gözlemlenmiştir. Kooperatifler, el işi ürünleri, tekstil, gıda ve kozmetik ürünleri gibi çeşitli alanlarda üretim yapmakta ve genellikle pazar bulmakta zorluk çeken kadınları desteklemektedir. Bu bağlamda, çeşitli örnekler ve projeler üzerinden kadın kooperatiflerinin geleneksel zanaatları nasıl koruduğu ve yaşattığı incelenmiştir. Örneğin, Kastamonu'daki kadın kooperatifi taş baskı ürünlerinin tanıtımını yaparken, Mersin'deki kooperatif geleneksel iğne oyasını sürdürmektedir. Ayrıca, kadın kooperatiflerinin dijital dönüşüm süreçlerine etkisi, e-ticaret platformlarının bu süreçteki rolü detaylandırılmıştır. E-ticaret, kooperatiflerin pazar genişletme ve ekonomik sürdürülebilirliklerini artırma açısından önemli bir araç olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Ayrıca, kadın kooperatiflerine yönelik ulusal ve uluslararası destek projeleri ve e-ticaret platformlarıyla yapılan işbirlikleri incelenmiş, bu projelerin kadın kooperatiflerinin dijital ortamda güçlendirilmesine nasıl katkı sağladığı ortaya konmuştur. Çalışma, kadın kooperatiflerinin dijital dönüşüm süreçlerinin ve e-ticaretin bu kooperatifler için sunduğu fırsatların önemini vurgulamaktadır.
TUVA TÜRKLERİNİN DESTANLARINDAN TAHTACI TÜRKMENLERİN ADETLERİNE: BAŞ YÜLÜME
Authors: Kızıldağ Hasan
Published: December 2024

Tarihin arkaik devirlerinden modern devirlerine Türk kültürü, sürekli bir devinim ve devamlılık arz etmektedir. Altaylardan Anadolu’ya ve Balkanlara doğu-batı, kuzey-güney ekseninde farklı bölgelere göç etmiş olan Türkler, farklı dinlere ve mezheplere tabi olsalar bile kültürel bir bütünlük sergilerler. Bu sebeple kültürel unsurların takip ve tespitinin bu bakış açısıyla gerçekleştirilmesi gerekmektedir. Bu kültürel birlikteliğin en önemli unsurlarından biri de geçiş dönemi uygulamalarındaki ortaklıklardır. Bu çalışmada Tuva Türkleriyle Anadolu’da yaşayan Tahtacı Türkmenlerin “baş yülüme” adı verilen uygulamaları karşılıklı olarak incelemeye tabi tutulmuştur. Tuva Türklerinin geçiş dönemi uygulamalarında yer alan ve Tuva destanlarına da yansıyan baş yülüme uygulamasının Tahtacı Türkmenlerce hangi şekillerde icra edildiği örneklerle ele alınmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Tuva Türklerinin “baş yülüme” geleneğiyle Tahtacı Türkmenlerin dinî bir karaktere büründürdüğü uygulamanın pek çok benzerlik içerdiği tespit edilmiştir. Tuva destanlarından alınan örneklerin Tahtacı Türkmenlerden yapılan derlemelerle mukayesesi sonucunda bulunan unsurların, Türk kültürünün coğrafya ve din değişikliklerine rağmen bir süreklilik arz ettiğini göstermesi bakımından örnek teşkil edeceği düşünülmektedir.
GEÇMİŞTEN GÜNÜMÜZE SOSYO-KÜLTÜREL DEĞİŞİM EKSENİNDE GELENEKSEL OYUNCAK KÜLTÜRÜ
Authors: Avşar Muhammed
Published: December 2024

Oyun ve oyuncak kültürü, tarihin en eski dönemlerinden itibaren bütün toplumların hayatında önemli bir yer tutmuştur. Oyuncaklar, sadece çocukların oyun kültürüne ait nesneler olmayıp ait oldukları toplumun sosyal, kültürel, ekonomik ve coğrafik özelliklerini yansıtır. Oyuncaklar, ait oldukları toplumla birlikte tarihi süreç içerisinde sürekli bir değişim süreci yaşamıştır. Bu değişim süreci, genellikle sosyo-kültürel gelişmeler ve teknolojik ilerlemelere göre şekillenmiştir. Önceleri tabiatta kolayca bulunan malzemeler oyuncak hammaddesi olarak kullanılırken sonrasında madenlerden faydalanılmıştır. Sanayi devrimiyle birlikte oyuncakta seri üretim başlamış ve oyuncaklara erişim kolaylaşmıştır. 20. yüzyılda plastik ve sentetik ürünlerden yapılan endüstriyel oyuncaklar yaygınlaşmış, elektronik kültür ortamlarında yaratılan kahramanların oyuncakları yapılmıştır. Günümüzde ise oyuncak ve oyun kültüründe dijital ortamların etkisi ön plana çıkmış, toplum hayatında geleneksel oyuncakların rolü azalmıştır. Türk kültüründe de geçmişten bugüne kadar eğlenme/ eğlendirme, eğitim, kültürü aktarma, sosyalleş(tir)me işlevleriyle birçok geleneksel oyuncak tespit edilmiştir. Bu oyuncaklar çocukların bilişsel, duyuşsal, sosyal ve psikomotor gelişiminde etkin rol oynamıştır. Oyuncaklar aracılığıyla çocukların benlik tasarımı geliştirmesi, yaratıcılığının artması ve sosyalleşmesi amaçlanmıştır. Toplumsal cinsiyet rollerine göre de farklılaşan oyuncaklar, bir kültürel aktarım aracı olarak toplumun millî kodlarını geçmişten geleceğe taşıma rolünü de üstlenmiştir. Bu kodlar sayesinde, oyuncaklardaki değişimlerden hareketle Türklerin Anadolu’daki sosyo-kültürel yaşamının izlerini sürmek de mümkündür. Bu çalışmada, tarihî süreç içerisinde sosyo-kültürel değişimlerin oyuncaklar üzerindeki etkisi tartışılmış, Türklerin Anadolu’daki varlığından itibaren yaygın olarak kullanılan geleneksel oyuncaklar hakkında genel bilgiler ve örnekler verilmiştir. Çalışmayla; geçmişten bugüne Anadolu’da kullanılan geleneksel oyuncakları tanıtmak, oyuncak kültüründeki değişimlerin izlerini sürmek; günümüz çocuklarının, dijital dünyanın sınırları dışında kalan geleneksel oyuncakları tanıması ve kullanması için bir farkındalık oluşturmak amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada konuyla ilgili ayrıntılı bir literatür taraması yapılmış; geleneksel ve modern oyuncakları konu edinen kitap, makale, tez vb. malzemelerden faydalanılmıştır.
Improvement in Neisseria gonorrhoeae culture using modified fastidious broth
Authors:   Graduate Program in Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand., 2 Department of Medical Technology, Mae Sot Hospital, Tak Province, Thailand., Simmawong Wiriya , Teeraputon Sirilak ,   Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Province, Thailand., Wongsena Wachanan ,   Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Province, Thailand.
Published: December 2024

Background: Culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is essential for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and drug resistance surveillance. However, the success rate for N. gonorrhoeae culture from samples collected at sexually transmitted disease clinics is low. Moreover, culturing this fastidious organism can be challenging.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a modified fastidious broth (mFB) for improved preservation and culture of N. gonorrhoeae that would serve as both a transport medium for specimen collection from patients with suspected gonococcal infections and a growth enhancer for N. gonorrhoeae culture.

Materials and methods: The mFB was evaluated using five standard bacteria strains at a concentration of 105 , 103 , and 101 CFU/ml: N. gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. After that, the mFB was used to collect specimens from 29 patients (77 samples) at the Venereal Disease Clinic at Mae Sot Hospital in Tak Province, Thailand, between October 2023 and February 2024. A total of 77 specimens were divided into 2 groups according to the gram-negative diplococci in Gram stain: 1) positive results (8 specimens) and 2) negative results (69 specimens). Furthermore, the N. gonorrhoeae culture was compared by using mFB on Chocolate agar (CA) and the direct plate specimen culture on Thayer Martin agar (TMA).

Results: The results showed that the mFB could inhibit the growth of E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. agalactiae, and S. saprophyticus but did not affect the growth of N. gonorrhoeae and significantly enhanced its growth. Using mFB, N. gonorrhoeae recovered 100% (8/8) of the positive Gram stain results from 77 clinical specimens, while direct TMA culture only recovered 75% (6/8). In addition, mFB enabled the detection of N. gonorrhoeae in 2 of the 69 Gram stain-negative specimens that were negative by direct TMA culture.

Conclusion: N. gonorrhoeae culture using mFB, followed by subculture on CA, indicated that the mFB can preserve N. gonorrhoeae in clinical specimens during delivery to the laboratory and promote its growth. This has the potential to improve gonorrhea diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antibiotics, as well as enhance surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea.
Effect of Extraction and Detannification Methods on Cashew Apple Juice and Wine Quality in Vietnam
Authors:   Department of Food Technology, Nha Trang University, Khanh Hoa 650000, Vietnam, Phan Thi Khanh Vinh , Tran Thi Phuong Anh ,   Department of Chemical Engineering, Nha Trang University, Khanh Hoa 650000, Vietnam, Nguyen Bao ,   Department of Aquatic Processing, Nha Trang University, Khanh Hoa 650000, Vietnam
Published: December 2024

The cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.), is a pseudofruit that grows alongside the cashew nut (true fruit) on the cashew tree. The cashew apple is a good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, it is highly perishable and has an astringent, unpalatable taste, which has limited the utilisation of cashew apples in the food industry. The study focused on evaluating the impact of various extraction methods (hydraulic pressing, screw pressing, and blending) on the quality of cashew apple juice and wine and also aimed to compare the effects of using gelatin powder versus gelatin solution for astringent tannin removal. The results showed that the hydraulic pressing had the least impact on the fruit skin, resulting in the highest clarity for both the hydraulic pressing juice and the treated hydraulic pressing juice. A gelatin solution was more cost-effective than a gelatin powder to achieve the same desired level of tannin reduction. A strong correlation (r=0.992) was established between the gelatin dosage required and the initial total tannin content of the cashew apples to remove tannins effectively. The cashew apple wine, which was fermented from specific dry yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae RV-002 in treated hydraulic pressing juice, is classified as a low-alcohol (ABV<10%), sweet wine (residual sugar 35-120 g/L), with antioxidant activities comparable to Vietnamese commercial red wine.
YOLOv5-CCM: A YOLOv5-Based Approach for Posture Recognition of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco in High-Density Aquaculture
Authors: Sun Chaoqi , Song Junqi , Li Lu , Zhou Yufan , Zhou Chengyu , Kou Shengzhou , Chen Yanqi , Wan Peng
Published: December 2024

Highlights

Fish posture recognition under high-density aquaculture conditions is realized.

The improved model demonstrated good robustness to different light intensities and fish densities.

The YOLOv5-CCM model indices mAP@0.5 improved by 5.03%.

Abstract. The precise recognition of fish posture is crucial for monitoring their behavior, serving as a key indicator of well-being and early detection of diseases. This study introduces a gesture recognition model specifically designed for Pelteobagrus fulvidraco in dense aquaculture environments, utilizing an improved version of the YOLOv5s architecture. An underwater camera with a resolution of 1920×1080 captured the initial image of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. To improve dataset quality in the challenging underwater environment, characterized by low visibility, the Multi-Scale Retinex with Color Restoration (MSRCR) algorithm enhanced the original image, forming the base image dataset. To preserve essential image features during convolution, the study replaced all incremental convolutional layers in the YOLOv5 feature extraction network with the Channel Conversion Module (CCM). The model further refined the fish posture recognition by incorporating a cross-attention mechanism and replacing the CIoU_Loss function with the SIoU_loss function, thereby improving detection accuracy. To reduce model complexity and increase inference speed, the detection header was decoupled. Experimental results reveal that the YOLOv5-CCM model achieves a significant 5.03% increase in detection mean average precision (mAP) compared to the standard YOLOv5s model. Compared to other target detection algorithms such as SSD, Faster R-CNN, YOLOv4, YOLOX, and YOLOv8s, the mAP@0.5 showed improvements of 10.74%, 4.63%, 7.39%, 5.42%, and 1.61%, respectively. The YOLOv5-CCM model notably enhances detection accuracy, proving highly effective in identifying the underwater posture of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco and advancing fish status monitoring efforts. Keywords: Attention mechanism, Channel conversion module, High-density farming, Pose recognition, YOLOv5s.
Resilience redefined: the cultural myth of ‘toughness’ in the NHS
Authors: Chauhan M
Published: December 2024

Why the idea of ‘toughness’ can actually be harmful for surgeons and how we can transform our approach to wellbeing.
The abstraction of labour from the factory to the platform
Authors: Hristova Tsvetelina
Published: December 2024

In this article, I argue that the entanglements between visuality and automation need to be situated and analysed as part of the abstraction of labour and the labour process in capitalism. The striving to standardise, control and optimise the labour process is the original drive behind the operationalisations of visuality in service of capitalist industrial technology. This includes contemporary AI systems, which, despite their increasing complexity, can and should be traced back to the division of labour (Pasquinelli, 2023). My work focuses on the process diagram and its uses in low-code and no-code tools for robotic process automation (RPA), where it is instrumentalised as a form of labour abstraction for the automation of white-collar work. I show how visuality can help us trace the transformation between the techniques of labour abstraction in early scientific management, on the one hand, and data and algorithms as a particular type of abstract labour, on the other hand. Building on Jathan Sadowski’s (2019) point that data is manufactured through the agency of labour as a ‘recorded abstraction of the world created and valorised by people using technology’ (ibid.:2), I argue that the process diagram serves as a vantage point through which this process of abstraction and the role of visuality in enabling and obscuring this process can be investigated.
From the Girmitiya to the Makful
Authors: Katyayani Shreya
Published: December 2024

This article seeks to draw parallels between two different migration systems – the Girmitiya system, also known as the Indian indentureship of the nineteenth century and the Kafala system, under which migration in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations take place – by studying the common elements in both systems such as a binding contract, immobility and racial segregation of living quarters. Contractual arrangements of this nature in these systems typically involve agreements that commit workers for extended periods to specific locations while simultaneously imposing legal or practical limitations on their ability to terminate the contract or exercise freedom of movement. Debt relations often play a significant role in shaping these forms of labour. Indebtedness forces individuals into such contracts, while the accumulation of debt often traps them, preventing them from leaving coercive agreements. Instead, they are compelled to extend their stay by signing new contracts. Labourers are, thus, confronted with risky choices and temporary suspensions of basic human rights. The article also examines how migrants historically circumvented the Girmitiya system through everyday acts of resistance – such as indolence and absence from work – drawing on James C. Scott’s (1990) concept of ‘infra politics’. It then compares these tactics with those employed today under the Kafala regime by the Makfuls (migrants working under the Kafala), including strategies like the Khalli-Walli (free visa system), Azaad visa and care or ethnic/social networks, focusing specifically on migrants from Bihar in North India.
Trajectories of precariousness of tuk-tuk drivers in Portugal
Authors: Roque Isabel , Carmo Renato Miguel do , Caleiras Jorge , Assis Rodrigo Vieira de
Published: December 2024

In the aftermath of the Great Recession, the gig economy expanded in Portugal as an alternative form of income generation to overcome the accumulation crisis, especially in the tourism sector. One component of this, less well studied than platform labour in the delivery and accommodation sectors, was the introduction of tuk-tuks, or auto-rickshaws for passenger transport, using a hybrid business model combining a face-to-face approach on the streets, the use of internet websites that function as marketplaces, and digital platforms which connect them to the demand and supply of labour for other forms of local transport. Tuk-tuk drivers can experience precariousness, uncertainty, informality and intermittence and generally work as (bogus) independent workers. Drawing on in-depth and follow-up interviews, conducted between 2019 and 2020, this article aims to understand the structure of this service and to analyse the tuk-tuk drivers’ occupational trajectories in Portugal. It concludes that these workers are trapped in a permanent condition of precariousness, with continuous reinforcement of trajectories of vulnerability and suffering.
A Q&A with Dominic Pettman
Authors: Pettman Dominic
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The following exchange took place during the Question and Answer period of Dominic Pettman’s (DP) talk, “The Observational Eros: Time, Libido, and the Attention Ecology.” The talk was given digitally on 3 February 2022 as part of Relative Time/Little Time, a speaker series designed collaboratively by Dutch artist duo Bik Van der Pol (LB and JVdP) and Mosaic. The Question and Answer session was moderated by Mosaic editor Shepherd Steiner (SS).
A Q&A with Sean Singh Matharoo
Authors: Matharoo Sean Singh
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The following exchange took place during the Question and Answer period of Sean Singh Matharoo’s (SSM) talk, “An Artificial Anthropology of Noise.” The talk was given digitally on 5 February 2022 as part of Relative Time/Little Time, a speaker series designed collaboratively by Dutch artist duo Bik Van der Pol and Mosaic. The Question and Answer session was moderated by Mosaic editor Shepherd Steiner (SS).
Goose poems
Authors: Unrau Melanie Dennis
Published: December 2024

Abstract: “Goose” is a series of hand-traced poems made using found text and images by “father of the tar sands” S.C. Ells (1878-1971), whose work for the Canadian Mines Department from 1913 to 1945 focused on developing a tar-sands industry in northern Alberta.
Acousto-optically induced single-frequency Nd:YAG ring laser based on double corner cube retroreflectors
Authors: Yang Xingbang , Fan Jiawei , Hu Guanqu , Yan Dong , Yao Zhiyuan , Dai Tongyu , Yao Baoquan , Duan Xiaoming , Ju Youlun , Wu Jiaze
Published: December 2024

Using an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) to enforce the unidirectional operation of a Nd:YAG ring laser based on double corner cube retroreflectors (CCRs) was demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. By tilting the AOM with RF applied to deviate from the Bragg angle, a different diffraction loss was introduced between the counterpropagating beams in the ring cavity. A continuous wave single-frequency laser with a maximum output power of 2.99 W was successfully obtained at 1064.5 nm, with a tunable wavelength range from 1064.3 nm to 1064.7 nm. The experimental results indicated the unidirectional operated ring cavity comprising the double CCRs performed significant tolerance to the misalignment of the cavity. By changing the RF to pulsed mode and adjusting the angle of the AOM closer to the Bragg angle, the unidirectional Q-switched operation was achieved with the increase of the diffraction loss of the oscillating light. At the repetition frequency of 110 Hz, a 0.882 mJ single-frequency pulse energy with a pulse width of 70.2 ns was obtained, corresponding to a peak power of 12.6 kW. Sngle-frequency pulses with energy of 0.761 mJ and pulse width of 72.4 ns were also obtained at the repetition frequency of 1 kHz, corresponding to a peak power of 10.5 kW.
Freeform aplanatic reflective imaging systems with several stigmatic pairs
Authors: González-Acuña Rafael G.
Published: December 2024

This manuscript introduces a method to design a freeform reflective optical system with the particularity of being aplanatic and having several stigmatic pairs. To achieve this goal the mathematical expressions in [Appl. Opt. 63, 8068 (2024)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.540494; Appl. Opt. 62, 5260 (2023)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.489061] are merged into a single set of expressions that leads to a system of differential equations that can be solved. The paper shows an illustrative example that explains how the method works. The resulting design is as expected by the theory proposed.
Full-color holographic encryption system using the hierarchical chaotic algorithm
Authors: Han Bing , Zhao Yu , Ji Jia-Hui , Xu Zhong , Yin Xiang , Qin Xiao-Yan
Published: December 2024

In the context of increasing demand for secure 3D object encryption and the development of holographic technology, this paper proposes a multi-depth, full-color holographic encryption system based on a hierarchical chaotic algorithm (HCA). A high-quality three-dimensional mesh is automatically generated from a two-dimensional image, which is more efficient and versatile than using a depth camera to generate a 3D mesh. The 3D information is divided into multiple layers by point cloud gridding (PCG) processing, and then these layers are encoded into computer-generated holograms (CGHs). The HCA utilizes a 2D chaotic mapping to encrypt the holograms in each layer, which ensures high key sensitivity and a large key space and enhances the security of 3D image encryption. The simulation results demonstrate the robustness and efficiency of our proposed method, and optical experiments verify the feasibility of the method.
Nonreciprocal unconventional magnon blockade induced by Barnett effect and parametric amplification
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liu Shutian , Zhang Shou , Wang Hong-Fu
Published: December 2024

We propose a scheme to achieve nonreciprocal unconventional magnon blockade (UMB) via the Barnett effect in a spinning ferrimagnetic yttrium-iron-garnet sphere coupled to a microwave cavity that interacts with a parametric amplifier. We show that, with a strong cavity-magnon coupling regime, giant nonreciprocal UMB can emerge by appropriately choosing two sets of parameters in this system, i.e., strong magnon antibunching occurs only from one direction of the magnetic field but not from the other side. This nonreciprocity originates from the fact that the Barnett shift induced by the Barnett effect can be adjusted from positive to negative values by changing the magnetic field direction, resulting in different frequencies of the magnon mode. Moreover, we demonstrate that parametric amplification is an indispensable factor for constructing the pathways of quantum destructive interference to achieve strong UMB. Furthermore, we give analytical parameter conditions to realize strong UMB, which is proven to be in great agreement with numerical results. Interestingly, the nonreciprocity against magnon thermal occupation is remarkably enhanced by increasing the amplitude of the driving field. Notably, the critical temperature for observing nonreciprocal UMB is as high as 133 mK, and the sphere needs to spin at MHz values to achieve the UMB effect. Our work provides an avenue to realize nonreciprocal single-magnon devices and has potential applications in quantum information processing and quantum communication.
Controllable antibunching of two-magnon bundle in a hybrid ferromagnet-superconductor system
Authors: Liu Jiajun , Hu Shuqi , Zhong Wenxue , Cheng Guangling , Chen Aixi
Published: December 2024

We propose an alternative scheme for implementing the antibunching effects of two-magnon bundle in a hybrid ferromagnet-superconductor system, where a magnon mode from the yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere interacts with a three-level superconducting qubit via photon virtual excitation in the microwave cavity. With the help of the qubit driving from the ground state to the excited state, the cascaded emission of magnon occurs and then the two-magnon bundle is formed. By analyzing the ordinary and generalized second-order correlation functions, it is found that the antibunched two-magnon bundle could be achieved via properly choosing the system parameters, which is originated from the anharmonicity of dressed energy levels induced by magnon–qubit couplings. The distinct feature is that high-proportion n-magnon emission could be obtained via relaxing the restriction on the strong qubit driving and magnon–qubit coupling, which may provide a feasible method to realize the high-quality multimagnon source for quantum metrology and quantum information processing.
Disparities in kidney care in vulnerable populations: A multinational study from the ISN-GKHA
Authors: Erickson Robin L. , Kamath Nivedita , Iyengar Arpana , Ademola Adebowale , Esezobor Christopher , Lalji Rowena , Hedin Erin , Arruebo Silvia , Caskey Fergus J. , Damster Sandrine , Donner Jo-Ann , Jha Vivekanand , Levin Adeera , Nangaku Masaomi , Saad Syed , Tonelli Marcello , Ye Feng , Okpechi Ikechi G. , Bello Aminu K. , Johnson David W.
Published: December 2024

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, displaced people, and refugees, often encounter challenges in accessing healthcare. In this study, we used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to describe kidney care access and delivery to vulnerable populations across countries and regions. Using data from an international survey of clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates, we assessed the funding and coverage of vulnerable populations on all aspects of kidney replacement therapies (KRT). Overall, 167 countries or jurisdictions participated in the survey, representing 97.4% of the world’s population. Children had less access than adults to KRT: hemodialysis (HD) in 74% of countries, peritoneal dialysis (PD) in 53% of countries, and kidney transplantation (KT) in 80% of countries. Available nephrologist workforce for pediatric kidney care was much lower than for adults (0.69 per million population [pmp] vs 10.08 pmp). Refugees or displaced people with kidney failure did not have access to HD, PD, or KT in 21%, 33%, and 37% of the participating countries, respectively. Low-income countries (LICs) were less likely to provide KRT access to refugees compared to high-income countries (HICs): HD: 13% vs 22%; PD: 19% vs 61%; KT: 30% vs 44%. Testing for kidney disease was routinely offered to elderly people in only 61% of countries: LICs (45%), lower-middle-income countries (56%), upper-middle-income countries (54%), and HICs (75%). Equitable access to kidney care for vulnerable people, particularly for children and displaced people, remains an area of unmet need. Strategies are needed to address this issue.