bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of peripheral laser photocoagulation retinopexy on macular morphology and optic nerve fiber layer thickness; A prospective case series
Authors: Johari Mohammadkarim , Khani Salman , Amini Abdulrahim , Bolkheir Alireza
Published: April 2022

Purpose
The goal of the research was to determine the incidence of microstructural alterations in the macula and optic nerve head (ONH) occurred in eyes treated with peripheral laser photocoagulation retinopexy.
Methods
Patients with retinal breaks, retinal holes, retinal dialysis, and lattice degenerations who required peripheral laser photocoagulation retinopexy were recruited in this prospective case series investigation. We performed preoperative and postoperative evaluations, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, funduscopic examination, and macular and ONH optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Results
33 eyes of the 23 patients enrolled in this study, 14 of which were female. The mean age of the sample was 45.12 ± 9.12 years. The mean refractive error was − 2.45 ± 1.12 Diopters (D). The most prevalent reason for peripheral laser photocoagulation retinopexy was retinal thinning with symptomatic lattice degeneration (90%), followed by retinal hole and break (7%) and retinal dialysis (3%). Between preoperative and postoperative (6-month) evaluation, there was no statistically significant difference in BCVA (P = 0.82), IOP (P = 0.54), central foveal thickness in macular OCT (P = 0.39), or global retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (P = 0.51). There was no association between changes in central foveal and global RNFL thickness and total laser spot numbers (r = -0.17 P = 0.21, r = 0.06 P = 0.60, respectively). Our patients did not develop cystoid macular edema or epiretinal membrane.
Conclusion
Peripheral laser photocoagualation retinopexy is a safe procedure for treatment of retinal breaks that significantly minimizes the likelihood of development to retinal detachment.
Effects of Ultrasound Guided Caudal Epidural and Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Postoperative Analgesia in Pediatric Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgeries
Authors: Polat Hacer , Şentürk Emre , Karadeniz Meltem Savran , Bingül Emre Sertaç , Demirel Ebru Emre , Erginel Başak , Tuğrul Kamil Mehmet
Published: April 2022

Purpose
The study is aimed to compare ultrasound (US) guided caudal epidural block (CEB) and transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) on postoperative pain scores, additional analgesic requirement and chronic pain development in pediatric bilateral open IHR.
Methods
Seventy patients aged 1–7 years undergoing bilateral open IHR were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Patients were randomized into group T (Bilateral TAPB) and group C (CEB). Postoperative FLACC scores were evaluated for pain density. If the FLACC score is more than 3; paracetamol 15 mg/kg was administered and this was recorded as an additional analgesic requirement. Chronic pain is evaluated with the “revised Bieri faces pain scale” in the postoperative 2nd month.
Results
The study was completed with 60 patients. Postoperative 15th, 30th, 45th minute, 1st, 2nd, 12th hour FLACC scores were similar in both groups. 6th and 24th hour FLACC scores were significantly lower in Group T. Additional analgesic requirement was also lower in Group T. Chronic pain development did not differ between the groups.
Conclusion
For bilateral IHR, US-guided CEB and TAPB have similar analgesic efficacy in the first 6 hours, postoperatively. However, our results exhibited that TAPB provides superior analgesia than CEB during the postoperative 24 hours.
WITHDRAWN: Effects on growth and quality of reduced protein intake in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, Girard 1852) fed diets containing graded levels of purslane weed (Portulaca oleracea L.)
Authors: Martinoli Marco , Martini Arianna , Pulcini Domitilla , Renzi Gianluca , Tonachella Nicolò , Veroli Maxim , Capoccioni Fabrizio
Published: April 2022

In this study, 144 juveniles of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii, initial mean weight 3.9 ± 0.3 g) were fed for ten weeks diets containing graded levels of purslane weed (Portulaca oleracea) resulting in a decreasing percentage of crude protein (from 17.3–1.0%). Six diets were administered: four fishmeal-based diets containing 5, 15, 25, and 50% of purslane, one diet composed of 100% purslane, and one commercial diet as control. Growth performance, fatty acid, and pigments levels of crayfish were measured. Crayfish groups fed 25% and 50% P. oleracea diets showed optimal contents in fatty acids and astaxanthin, with no negative effects on growth. Fatty acid contents in the crayfish groups revealed significant differences for SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs. As for PUFAs, the highest levels of n-3 α-linolenic (ALA) and n-6 linoleic (LA) acids were found in the groups fed 25%, 50%, and 100% purslane diets. This study shows that the most appropriate P. oleracea inclusion in the crayfish diet should range between 25% and 50%. Although the overall nutritional value of purslane is relatively low, its high inclusion in the crayfish diet seems to improve the pigment content and fatty acids quality as well as reducing daily animal protein intake, without affecting growth performance, thus contributing to achieve the goal of a more sustainable crustacean aquaculture.
Selection of green carrier solvent for the effective creation of bio-inspired liquid formulation and anti-fungal potency evaluation
Authors: Purkait Aloke , Rana Debasish , Banerjee Argha , Hazra Dipak Kumar , Biswas Pabitra Kumar , Kole Ramen Kumar
Published: April 2022

Existing pesticide formulation solvents emit VOCs, are flammable, and are classed as hazardous air pollutants (HAP), which means they are harmful to users and phytotoxic to crops. Regulations, health, and environmental concerns have created the need for green solvents in formulations. The "green chemistry" trend has resulted in the use of less toxic solvents in emulsifiable concentration (EC) formulations. The least dangerous carrier solvent among four commonly utilised organic solvents [dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), aromatic hydrocarbon (C9), and methyl oleate] was chosen in this study after a comprehensive and comparative fungal growth inhibition assessment. We used methyl cis-9-octadecenoate (60%) as the bio-based green reserver for the effective creation of bioinspired EC formulations (30%) of Pongamia pinnata L extract using emulsifier blends based on the established toxicity order (DMF > DMSO > C9 > methyl oleate) (10 percent). In terms of emulsion stability, cold test, accelerated storage stability, flash point, and other parameters, EC1 beat the other thirteen formulations (EC1-EC13), confirming its appropriateness for commercial manufacturing. In-vitro fungicidal activities against Alternaria solani and Phytophthora spp. were investigated using four therapeutically relevant dosages of agricultural use. At the highest dose (1%), A. solani (EC50 = 0.08 percent) demonstrated the greatest growth suppression (87.4 percent), followed by Phytophthora sp. (71.1 percent) (EC50 = 0.49 percent). The study demonstrated its relevance in the development of eco-friendly green solvent-based herbal formulations as a sustainable crop protection alternative to hazardous chemical pesticides.
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B infection risks of school employees in special schools for pupils with disabilities: Results of a cross- sectional study.
Authors: Lang Felix , Schoene Klaus , Goessler Felix , Rose Dirk-Matthias , Kegel Peter
Published: April 2022

BackgroundAim of this project was to assess occupational biological hazards with regard to the risk of HAV and HBV and the need for occupational health care in schools for pupils with special needs.MethodsTeachers and pedagogical staff were surveyed about activities potentially providing exposure to biological agents and their individual immune status regarding HAV and HBV by questionnaire. Descriptive analyses, group comparisons and logistic regression were performed to identify factors influencing the HAV and HBV immune status.Results1398 teachers and educational staff took part. 1381 respondents reported having physical contact with pupils at work (98.8%). Daily contact was reported by 54.5% to 84.4% of all employees, according to the school' s support focus. Being scratched, bitten or spat at was reported by 66.2% up to 92.7%. Hazardous activities such as assisting with food intake to intimate care occur in all types of schools and are performed by both teachers and educational staff. The vaccination rate was reported to be 57.7% for HAV and 64.3% for HBV. In regression analyses, failing to receive vaccine counselling (OR 0.36) or instruction on infection prevention (OR 0.68) were found to be significant predictors of lower vaccination rates.ConclusionsAt special schools with any support focus, large parts of workforce perform activities involving biological hazards due to HAV and HBV. Occupational health care, including instruction on infection prevention and vaccination against HAV and HBV, should be offered to all employees.
Role of Oncogenic Long Noncoding RNA KCNQ1OT1 in Colon Cancer
Authors: Liu Gang , Shi Lei , Wang Bin , Wu Zehui , Zhao Haiyuan , Zhao Tianyu , Shi Lianghui
Published: April 2022

lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis of various human cancers including colorectal. However, the role of KCNQ1OT1 in colon cancer requires further investigation. Retroviral vector pSEB61 was introduced to established HCT116-siKCN cells. Cellular proliferation was measured using crystal violet staining, and cell cycle was detected using flow cytometry (FCM). RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to analyze enriched functions and singlaing pathways. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to validate downstream genes expression. Tumor xenografts in BALB/c nude mice were used to evaluate tumorigenesis effects. Our data revealed that silencing KCNQ1OT1 in HCT116 cells slowed cell growth and decreased the distribution of cells in the G2/M phase. RNA-Seq analysis results indicated the transcript data of DEGs enriched in various GO and KEGG pathways, including DNA replication and cell cycle. RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blotting results validated the downstream CCNE2, PCNA, and BCL2. HCT116-siKCN cells markedly suppressed tumorigenesis in BALB/c nude mice. Our study suggest that lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for colon cancer.
An attention-based deep-learning system with fMRI functional connectivity optimized frequency EEG microstates classifies distinct temporal cortical communications of different cognitive tasks
Authors: Agrawal Swati , Chinnadurai Vijayakumar , Sharma Rinku
Published: April 2022

Temporal analysis of global cortical communication of cognitive tasks in coarse EEG information is still challenging due to the underlying complex neural mechanisms. This study proposes an attention-based time-series deep learning framework that processes fMRI functional connectivity optimized quasi-stable frequency microstates for classifying distinct temporal cortical communications of the cognitive task. Seventy volunteers were subjected to visual target detection tasks, and their electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional MRI (fMRI) were acquired simultaneously. At first, the acquired EEG information was preprocessed, and the band passed to delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma bands and then subjected to quasi-stable frequency-microstate estimation. Subsequently, time-series elicitation of each frequency microstates is optimized with graph theory measures of simultaneously eliciting fMRI functional connectivity between frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices. The distinct neural mechanisms associated with each optimized frequency-microstate were analyzed using microstate-informed fMRI. Finally, these optimized, quasi-stable frequency microstates were employed to train and validate the attention-based Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) time-series architecture for classifying distinct temporal cortical communications of the target from other cognitive tasks. Based on the stability of transition probabilities of the optimized microstates, three different temporal sampling windows (200, 300, and 500 ms/segment) have been employed to collect the input microstates information for these time-series deep-learning systems. Our results revealed twelve distinct frequency microstates capable of deciphering target detections' temporal cortical communications from other task engagements. Particularly, fMRI functional connectivity measures of target engagement were observed significantly correlated with the right-diagonal delta (r=0.31), anterior-posterior theta (r=0.35), left-right theta (r=-0.32), alpha (r=-0.31) microstates. Further, neuro-vascular information of microstate-informed fMRI analysis revealed the association of delta/theta and alpha/beta microstates with cortical communications and local neural processing, respectively. The classification accuracies of the attention-based LSTM were higher than the traditional LSTM architectures. Particularly, the attention-based LSTM sampled microstates for 300 ms revealed a higher classification accuracy of 96% compared with other attention-based LSTM models with 200 ms (95%) and 500 ms (93%) temporal sampling windows. In conclusion, the study demonstrates reliable temporal classifications of global cortical communication of distinct tasks using an attention-based deep learning framework utilizing fMRI functional connectivity optimized quasi-stable frequency microstates.
Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram for adult patients with renal sarcoma: A retrospective study based on the SEER database
Authors: Zhu Yongkun , Mao Weipu , Zhang Guangyuan , Sun Si , Tao Shuchun , Jiang Tiancheng , Wang Qingbo , Wu Jianping , Chen Ming
Published: April 2022

Background
Renal sarcoma (RS) is rarely seen in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to develop a prognostic nomogram model, which could predict the probability of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in adult patients with RS.
Methods
Patients diagnosed with RS were recruited from the SEER database between 2004 and 2015, and randomized to two cohorts: the training cohort and the validation cohort. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses in the training cohort were used to screen independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Prognostic nomograms for OS and CSS were created separately for adult RS patients based on independent risk factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and DCA (Decision curve analysis) were used to validate the nomograms.
Results
A total of 232 eligible patients were recruited, including 162 in the training cohort and 70 in the validation cohort. Sex, histological type, SEER stage, and surgery were independent prognostic factors for OS, while histological type, SEER stage, surgery, chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for CSS. Based on the above independent prognostic factors, prognostic nomograms for OS and CSS were created respectively. In the training cohort, the AUCs of the nomograms for OS and CSS were 0.742 and 0.733, respectively. In the validation cohort, the AUCs of the nomograms for OS and CSS were 0.837 and 0.758, respectively. The calibration curves of the nomograms showed high consistencies between the predicted and actual survival rates. Finally, the DCA demonstrated that the nomograms in the wide high-risk threshold had a higher net benefit than the SEER stage.
Conclusion
A prognostic nomogram for renal sarcoma was created and validated for reliability and usefulness in our study, which assisted urologists in accurately assessing the prognosis of adult RS patients.
Risk of tick-borne pathogen spillover into urban yards in New York City
Authors: Gregory Nichar , Fernandez Pilar Maria , Diuk-Wasser Maria
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND: The incidence of tick-borne disease has increased dramatically in recent decades, with urban areas increasingly recognised as high risk for exposure to infected ticks. Green spaces may play a key role in facilitating the invasion of ticks, hosts and pathogens into residential areas, particularly where they connect residential yards with larger natural areas (e.g. parks). However the factors mediating tick distribution across heterogeneous urban landscapes remains poorly characterized. METHODS: Using generalized linear models in a multimodel inference framework with model averaging, we determined the residential yard- and local landscape-level features associated with the presence of three tick species of current and growing public health importance in residential yards across Staten Island, NY. RESULTS: We found that the amount and configuration of canopy cover immediately surrounding residential yards strongly predicted the presence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, but not that of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Within yards, we found limited evidence for a protective effect of fencing against I. scapularis and A. americanum, but not H. longicornis. For all species, the presence of log and brush piles strongly increased the odds of finding ticks in yards. CONCLUSIONS: We highlight considerable risk of tick exposure in residential yards in Staten Island and identify both yard- and landscape-level features associated with their distribution. In particular, the significance of log and brush piles for all three species supports recommendations for yard management as a means of reducing contact with ticks.
Vertical Changes in the Storm Tracks and Dynamics of Western Disturbances
Authors: Rao Vadlamudi Brahmananda , Pinheiro Henri , Attada Raju , Bhargavi V. S. L , Ramakrishna S. S.V.S , Govardhan Dandu , Gan Manoel Alonso , Karumuri Ashok , J Ramesh K
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the long-term horizontal and vertical changes of the storm tracks during the1979-2014 period using a cyclone tracking algorithm for all the boreal seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. During winter, the Atlantic and Pacific storm tracks are stronger and remain circumpolar. These winter storm tracks extend meridionally from polar region to 30°N, and vertically extend from the lower troposphere to the lower stratosphere. Characteristically, baroclinic instability is a common mechanism of generation associated with storm tracks and western disturbances (WDs), which often occur in northern parts of India, mostly in fall and winter. We found that observed WDs are generated by moist baroclinic instability of westerlies over Indian longitudes as their characteristics agree well with theoretically and numerically deduced ones. Indeed, these WDs observed during the boreal fall and winter seasons are ingredients of the storm tracks in the northern hemisphere, with strengthened relative vorticity at 500 hPa and moving zonally eastward towards the north Indian region triggering extreme precipitation. Thus, WDs over northern India is of great interest in the fall and winter seasons.
Identification of microstructures critically affecting material properties using machine learning framework based on metallurgists' thinking process
Authors: Noguchi Satoshi , Wang Hui , Inoue Junya
Published: April 2022

In materials science, machine learning has been intensively researched and used in various applications. However, it is still far from achieving intelligence comparable to that of human experts in terms of creativity and explainability. In this paper, we investigate whether machine learning can acquire explainable knowledge without directly introducing problem-specific information such as explicit physical mechanisms. In particular, a potential of machine learning to obtain the capability to identify a part of material structures that critically affects a physical property without human prior knowledge is mainly discussed. The guide for constructing the machine learning framework adopted in this paper is to imitate human researchers' process of thinking in the interpretation and development of materials. Our framework was applied to the optimization of structures of artificial dual-phase steels in terms of a fracture property. A comparison of results of the framework with those of numerical simulation based on governing physical laws demonstrated the potential of our framework for the identification of a part of microstructures critically affecting the target property. Consequently, this implies that our framework can implicitly acquire an intuition in a similar way that human researchers empirically attain the general strategy for material design consistent with the physical background.
The skin microbiota of the axolotl Ambystoma altamirani is highly influenced by metamorphosis and seasonality but not by pathogen infection
Authors: Martínez-Ugalde Emanuel , Ávila-Akerberg Víctor D. , Martínez Tanya M. González , Trejo Montserrat Vázquez , Hernández Dalia Zavala , Morales Sara Anaya , Rebollar Eria A.
Published: April 2022

Background: Microbiomes have been increasingly recognized as major contributors to host health and survival. In amphibians, bacterial members of the skin microbiota protect their hosts by inhibiting the growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Even though several studies describe the influence of biotic and abiotic factors over the skin microbiota, it remains unclear how these symbiotic bacterial communities vary across time and development. This is particularly relevant for species that undergo metamorphosis as it has been shown that host physiology and ecology drastically influence diversity of the skin microbiome. Results: We found that the skin microbiota of the axolotl A. altamirani is largely influenced by the metamorphic status of the host and by seasonal variation of abiotic factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity. Despite high Bd prevalence in these samples, the bacterial diversity of the skin microbiota did not differ between infected and non-infected axolotls, although particular bacteria were correlated with Bd infection intensity. Conclusions: Our work shows that metamorphosis is a crucial process that shapes skin microbiota and that axolotls under different developmental stages response differently to environmental seasonal variations. Moreover, this study greatly contributes to a better understanding of the factors that shape amphibian skin microbiota, especially in a largely underexplored group like axolotls (Mexican Ambystoma species).
Effect of Work Place Environment Factors on Performance of Employees: Empirical Study on Wollo University Staffs
Authors: Alemu Kidanie Aragaw
Published: April 2022

Workplace environment is the environment in which people work that include physical setting, job profile, culture and market condition while performance is the development of quantified objectives. This study focuses on measuring the effect of workplace environment factors on performance of Wollo University: the case of College of Business and Economics employees. The researcher would use a causal research design and apply multistage sampling technique, and collect data from 66 selected employees by adopting questionnaire data collection method. The researcher planned to analyze the research data by using simple descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Forty seven percent of the respondents had worked with the university for less than 5 years; 28.8% of the respondents had worked for the university between 6–10 years, and 24.2% of the respondents had worked for the university for more than 10 years. The findings indicated all workplace environment factors had positive linear relationship with their work place performance in the university. The findings on the modeling of the employees’ performance against the workplace environment factors showed at 5% significant level the multiple linear regression model was statistically significant (p-value 0.001). Among the workplace environment factors at 5% significant level employees’ performance was affected by their work life balance (p-value 0.002). Most of the respondents had worked in the university for more than six years. Work life balance of employees and reward for employees had strong linear association with their workplace performance. In the university the employees’ performance was affected by their workplace environment factors.
Mitigating health disparities in hospital readmission
Authors: raza shaina
Published: April 2022

Background: The management of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients has a significant impact on both morbidity and mortality. This study used a large clinical database to predict the need for diabetic patients to be hospitalized, which could lead to improvements in patient safety. These predictions, however, may be vulnerable to health disparities caused by social determinants such as race, age, and gender. These biases must be removed early in the data collection process, before they enter the system and are reinforced by model predictions, resulting in biases in the model’s decisions. In this paper, we propose a machine learning pipeline capable of making predictions as well as detecting and mitigating biases. This pipeline analyses clinical data, determines whether biases exist, removes them, and then make predictions. We demonstrate the classification accuracy and fairness in model predictions using experiments Results: The results show that when we mitigate biases early in a model, we get fairer predictions. we also find that as we get better fairness, we sacrifice a certain level of accuracy, which is also validated in the previous studies. Conclusion: We invite the research community to contribute to identifying additional factors that contribute to health disparities that can be addressed through this pipeline
From Measuring User Satisfaction to Improving Quality of Care: Community Verifications and Performance-Based Financing in District Hospitals in Mali
Authors: ZITTI Tony , RIDDE Valéry , COULIBALY Abdourahmane
Published: April 2022

Context: User satisfaction in health facilities is increasingly taken into account to improve the quality of care. In Mali, performance-based financing (PBF) aims to improve the quality of care by increasing the motivation, responsibility, and accountability of health workers. Community verification (CV) is one of the main functions of the PBF. CV makes it possible to monitor the effectiveness of the services reported by the health facilities and to conduct satisfaction surveys of the users who have received care. This paper aims to analyze the CV process during the implementation of the PBF in the Koulikoro region of Mali.Methods: We adopted a qualitative approach based on a multiple case study design corresponding to the district hospitals (DH) and stakeholder groups. We conducted thirty-nine semi-structured interviews with investigators, patients, and health workers in three of the ten DHs in the Koulikoro region. We designed three interview guides and inductively analyzed our data.Results: The CV process was well perceived and welcomed. However, the vast majority of interviewers reported difficulties locating some patients in the community for several reasons: incorrect spelling of names, illegible cards, lack of telephone contact information and incomplete information on the cards, and cases of homonymity. All of this was due to poor record-keeping at the health facilities. Some investigators fraudulently filled out forms without investigating users in the communities. They justified this by the lack of time available to them to conduct the CV. No feedback on the results of the CV was possible from the health workers.Conclusion: The CV is an essential component of PBF implementation. The validity, reliability and efficiency of the measurement instruments must be considered in user satisfaction surveys. In addition, emphasis should be placed on data analysis and the use of CV results.
Area deprivation and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Bavaria, Germany: a Bayesian geographical analysis
Authors: Manz Kirsi Marjaana , Mansmann Ulrich , Schwettmann Lars , Maier Werner
Published: April 2022

Background
Area deprivation has been shown to be associated with various adverse health outcomes including communicable as well as non-communicable diseases. Our objective was to assess potential associations between area deprivation and COVID-19 standardised incidence and mortality ratios in Bavaria over a period of nearly two years. Bavaria is the federal state with the highest infection dynamics in Germany.
Methods
In this retrospective, observational ecological study, we estimated the strength of associations between area deprivation and standardised COVID-19 incidence and mortality ratios (SIR and SMR) in Bavaria, Germany. We used official SARS-CoV-2 reporting data aggregated in monthly periods between March 2020 and December 2021. We employed unstructured random effects models to study global trends and the Besag-York-Mollie (BYM) model to account additionally for neighbourhood structures. Area deprivation was assessed using the quintiles of the 2015 version of the Bavarian Index of Multiple Deprivation (BIMD 2015) at district level, analysing the overall index as well as its single domains.
Results
SIRs and SMRs were higher in more deprived than in less deprived districts. Aggregated over the whole period, the SIR increased by 1.04 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01 to 1.07, p = 0.002), and the SMR by 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.16, p < 0.001) per BIMD quintile. Looking at individual months revealed clear linear association between the BIMD quintiles and the SIR and SMR in the first, second and last quarter of 2021. During the summer periods in 2020 and 2021 no effect could be assessed. Effects were also observed for the domains income, employment, and social capital deprivation.
Conclusions
In more deprived areas in Bavaria, Germany, higher incidence and mortality ratios were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic with particularly strong associations during infection waves 3 and 4 in 2020/2021. Only high infection levels reveal the effect of causal risk factors and socioeconomic inequalities. There may be confounding between the high BIMD and border regions in the north and east of Bavaria, making the relationship between area deprivation and infection burden more complex.
Secure Connectivity Protocol (SCP): A game theory approach to mitigate malicious activity in Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks
Authors: J naskath , B Paramasivan , Begum Alif Siddiqa
Published: April 2022

In multifaceted systems like Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs), vehicles are mobile in nature. Coordination among mobile vehicles is tremendously high in VANETs, incorporated with abundant security and resource utilization challenges. Hence, it is obligatory to design a secure connectivity conventionality to safeguard the normal vehicles from malicious attacks. Game theory assists to solve selfishness issues between the vehicles that deal with the rational and strategic behavior of the vehicles. For each vehicle, the game theory approach publishes the best actions of their strategies. The strategy profile of regular and malicious vehicle is revealed using dynamic Bayesian signaling game. Perfect Bayesian equilibrium (PBE) gives an unmistakable answer for flagging games to solve the problem of inadequate data by joining methodologies and result of players that establish harmony. Normal vehicles ought to be helpful during steering and update their result, while malevolent vehicles try to limp out of the game or behave as a regular vehicle. To identify and visualize this malicious activity, the proposed game theory model portraits a Bayesian signaling game to induce better data exchange and communication among the vehicles with high efficiency. Ordinary vehicles screen constantly the behavior of their neighboring vehicles utilizing the substructure of Bayes rule.
Thermodynamic characterization of synthetic lead-arsenate apatites with different halogen substitutions
Authors: Puzio Bartosz , Zhang Lei , Szymanowski Jennifer E.S. , Burns Peter C. , Manecki Maciej
Published: April 2022

Thermodynamic parameters have been measured for synthetic analogs of the mimetite-group minerals Pb5(AsO4)3X (X = OH, Cl, Br, I) belonging to the apatite supergroup. Phases precipitated from aqueous solutions under ambient conditions with well characterized structures and compositions were studied. For each phase, dissolution enthalpy was experimentally determined by oxide melt drop solution calorimetry in a molten solvent of sodium molybdate (3Na2O·4MoO3) at 976 K. The enthalpy of formation from the elements ΔHf,elo was calculated using thermochemical cycles and was −3030.6 ± 11.5, −3026.6 ± 15.8, −2967.6 ± 25.0, and −2993.1 ± 12.2 kJ/mol for Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00OH0.86(CO3)0.07, Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00Cl0.80(CO3)0.10, Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00Br0.80(CO3)0.10, and Pb5.00(AsO4)3.00I0.45OH0.35(CO3)0.10, respectively. These ΔHf,elo values exhibit typical trends for apatites: they increased (were less negative) with the increasing molar mass and ionic radius of X and decreased with the electronegativity and ionization energy of X. The compilation and comparison of data for Ca-, Pb-, P-, and As-apatites revealed correlations indicating that thermodynamic enthalpic stability is largely influenced by chemical factors (e.g., differences in electronegativities of the elements, ionization energy, or ionic characteristics of the bonds) and to a lesser extent by physical and geometric parameters in the crystal structure related to the mass and size of the X anion. Using the correlations, it was possible to estimate the value of hitherto unknown ΔHf,elo for Pb5(AsO4)3F, −3144.3 ± 66.5 kJ/mol. The observed relationships apply to the entire apatite supergroup and can be used to predict the values of ΔHf,elo for phases that have not been studied experimentally. The new data on environmentally significant phases will contribute to the modeling of mineral-water interactions, particularly for potential use in the remediation of soils and wastes contaminated with Pb and As and in the immobilization of radioactive waste containing I-129.
Laundry Wastewater Treatment by Hybrid System of Biofilter and Vertical Surface Flow Constructed Wetland with Equisetum hyemale
Authors: Violenta Nadya , Bawole Sutanto Haryati , Prihatmo Guruh
Published: April 2022

Laundry activity or washing clothes is an activity that almost all people in the world do. Like other human activities, laundry activity also produces waste or filth. But, the waste is often directly disposed of any treatment to the water like rivers or lakes. It finally causes contamination to the nature, one of them is known as eutrophication or nutrition enrichment, then it will harm the growth of aquatic organisms. To overcome the problem, the laundry waste needs to be treated before it is disposed of the nature. Biofilter and Constructed Wetland are low cost systems and easily handled, so this system is suitable to be applied on small or household scale. Equisetum hyemale is a decorative plant which has already been used to treat many wastewater, and proves it’s effectiveness in reducing the pollutant in wastewater. In this research a hybrid system of Biofilter with additions of activated carbon and Constructed Wetland with Equisetum hyemale is used to treat laundry wastewater, with HRT of 4 days we found a decrease of tested parameters, TDS 346.94 mg/L (21.15 %); TSS 11.25 mg/L (88.88 %); BOD 31.86 mg/L (63.68 %); Phosphate 3.41 mg/L (83.28 %); and Detergent 1.10 mg/L (93.1 %).
The Effect of Thesis Writing on Paraphrasing Ability of the EFL Alumni of the University of Mataram Lombok
Authors: Arifuddin Arifuddin
Published: April 2022

Until recently, no study focused on analyzing the effect thesis writing program on paraphrasing ability of the alumni. Generally, some studies focused on the reversed direction, that is, the effect of paraphrasing ability on thesis writing. This is the novelty of the present study. The present study aimed at testing the effect of thesis writing program at the end of the EFL study on paraphrasing ability of the alumni an EFL education, identifying the types of paraphrasing, and exploring weaknesses in paraphrasing and causes of not paraphrasing. This evaluative ex-post facto research employed Mixed-methods. The participants were 68 alumni of the University of Mataram Indonesia, those who undertook thesis writing program during their study in EFL education and the others who did not write undergraduate thesis. They were selected purposively from 37 schools in West Nusa Tenggara province. Data were collected with writing tasks, questionnaire, interview, and recording. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. It shows: 1) The level of the alumni’s paraphrasing ability is ‘medium’; 2) Thesis writing program affects paraphrasing ability of the EFL alumni; 3) Synonym and Change of Word Orders are the dominant techniques; 4) The teachers’ weaknesses involve lack of vocabulary, limited conversions, deviation from the authentic ideas, summarizing, and unclear paraphrasing, 5) The causes of not paraphrasing include limited knowledge of paraphrasing and grammatical understanding. It is suggested that teacher education institutions implement curriculums that support teachers’ writing skills. In turn, plagiarism could be minimized which leads to the production of teachers’ quality academic writing.
EFL Teachers’ Beliefs in Learner Autonomy: A Study on Non-Formal Education Context in Indonesia
Authors: Ma'wa Jannatul , Madya Suwarsih
Published: April 2022

This descriptive quantitative study aims to describe teachers’ beliefs in learner autonomy (LA) with participants who are senior high school teachers of non-formal education (Paket C) in Indonesia. Applying a survey method, this research involved 126 teachers fill a questionnaire. The research uncovers that teachers were knowledgeable about the notion of LA. Teachers were convinced that LA contributes to successful language learning. This research also uncovered that among four perspectives (psychological, technical, sociocultural, political critical) in viewing LA, teachers’ beliefs lean more toward psychological perspective than others. Although teachers were knowledgeable about LA, the research found that they were less optimistic in the implementation of LA. In addition to this, teachers’ beliefs in LA were not significantly different across their education backgrounds and length of teaching.
Understanding Business Intelligence and Analytics System Success from Various Business Sectors in Indonesia
Authors: Candra Sevenpri , Nainggolan Ambi
Published: April 2022

Many studies have shown the impact of the Business Intelligence and Analytics (BI&A) system on decision-making. Many organizations have invested heavily in BI technology and the growth of analytical skills and made the BI&A system a strategic priority over the last eight years by citing it as the largest IT investment. The research aims to determine the relevant constructs contributing to the organization’s BI&A system success. Survey research is applied to collect quantitative data for the research questions. The questionnaire is developed in English, which is translated into bahasa Indonesia later. The research obtains 208 decision-makers who use and utilize the BI&A system in various business sectors in Indonesia to achieve this goal. Then, PLS-SEM is used for measurement validation and hypothesis testing. About 8 out of 11 hypothesized relationships between 7 success factors are significantly supported. The findings demonstrate that the model constructs significantly improve decision-making quality in the BI&A system environment. Service quality is found to be the highest predictor of system use. Meanwhile, information quality is the highest predictor of user satisfaction. The research presents practical implications for organizations to adopt the essential factors of BI&A system finding to realize organizational success. Moreover, organizations that have already implemented the BI&A system can use the research as a theoretical basis to measure the ability of the BI&A system to improve decision-making quality.
Understanding Mobile Payment Continuance in Indonesia: A Brand Equity Perspective Continuance Model
Authors: Sarassina Raden Roro Fosa
Published: April 2022

As the Indonesian government promotes cashless transactions, more and more efforts are put to make people adopt and keep using electronic money, including mobile payment (m-payment). The research focuses on investigating factors that influence people’s intention to keep using m-payment using two robust theories in the continuance intention: Technology of Acceptance Model (TAM) and Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM). Despite the robustness, the two models do not consider the user’s judgement of the issuer’s brand influence, which is reflected through its brand equity. Then, to fill this gap, A Continuance Model-Brand Equity Perspective (CMBEP) is proposed. The research applies a quantitative approach to validate the model. The data are collected using an online questionnaire to m-payment users. Then, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with SmartPLS software test the four hypotheses. Based on the analysis of 420 respondents, it is found that all the hypothesis is supported, and the model is validated. It shows the strongest to weakest relationships: perceived usefulness to satisfaction, perceived ease of use to satisfaction, satisfaction to continuance intention, and brand equity to continuance intention. The findings shed light on m-payment issuers for not only focusing on creating satisfaction for their users but also building a brand with strong equity.
Rabies in Poland in 2021
Authors: SMRECZAK MARCIN , ORŁOWSKA ANNA , TRĘBAS PAWEŁ , ROLA JERZY
Published: April 2022

Until 2020, the rabies epizootic situation in Poland was favourable. This was interrupted, however, by a rabies outbreak in Mazowieckie voivodeship, which caused a drastic increase in rabies cases among animals, mainly red foxes. Here, we present data on the species and geographical distribution of rabies cases in domestic and wild animals, including bats, in Poland in 2021. In order to limit the transmission of the rabies virus, the Veterinary Inspectorate has introduced appropriate measures, including emergency vaccination and additional oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns for foxes. Nevertheless, strict and comprehensive ORV and rabies surveillance are required to eliminate rabies from the area of rabies outbreak in 2021.
Mobilidade na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro e o Transporte Aquaviário
Authors: Barros Gabriel Teixeira
Published: April 2022

Neste artigo, faço um levantamento, por meio de da-dos coletados no Censo Demográfico 2010, das áreas mais deficitárias em termos de acessibilidade ao cen-tro do Município do Rio de Janeiro, onde o transporte aquaviário de passageiros poderia aparecer como uma possível alternativa de integração no sistema, tendo em vista a sua configuração em tempos passa-dos. Apresentarei dados relativos à dinâmica ambien-tal do recorte, a fim de verificar se estes comprometem de alguma forma a organização do sistema. Verifica-remos como os dados de deslocamento para trabalho e estudo demonstram o afastamento progressivo entre a Baía de Guanabara e a metrópole do Rio de Janei-ro, sendo essa relegada a mera coadjuvante no sis-tema de transportes metropolitano. Criticamente, es-tando afastada das áreas prioritárias para o poder público em termos de valorização ambiental, a baía recebe altas cargas de poluição residencial e industri-al não tratadas permanentemente.
Associação entre rotas fluviais e terrestres na ligação entre o litoral e os sertões de Minas Gerais
Authors: Silveira Patrícia Gomes da
Published: April 2022

No apartado espaço colonial, os rios condicionaram o traçado, a alternância e a predominância de algumas rotas. Neste artigo analisamos a associação entre rotas fluviais e terrestres que abriram e ampliaram a circulação entre o litoral e os sertões de Minas Gerais no século XVIII. Esse recorte temporal justifica-se pela recuperação de informações de arquivo que nos possibilitaram analisar determinados trechos das principais rotas que articularam litoral e sertão a partir da descoberta de ouro nas minas gerais. Percebe-se nesta análise que a rede de drenagem foi o quadro natural que orientou e permitiu a circulação, sendo esta apoiada em aglomerados. A associação dos caminhos fluviais com os terrestres viabilizou os deslocamentos responsáveis por articular um diversificado e amplo conjunto de núcleos de povoamento e que evidenciam a constituição de uma rede de circulação no passado.
Drought monitoring and its effects on vegetation and water extent changes using remote sensing data in Urmia Lake watershed, Iran
Authors: Helali Jalil , Asaadi Shahab , Jafarie Teimour , Habibi Maral , Salimi Saadoun , Momenpour Seyed Erfan , Shahmoradi Salah , Hosseini Seyed Asaad , Hessari Behzad , Saeidi Vahideh
Published: April 2022

The assessment of drought hazards is important due to their socio-economic impacts on water resources, agriculture, and ecosystems. In this study, the effects of drought on changing water area and canopy of the Lake Urmia watershed in the northwest of Iran have been monitored and evaluated. For this purpose, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was calculated in short and medium periods (1-month and 3-month) to determine the dry-spell periods in the Lake Urmia basin. In reviewing this analysis, the annual average has been examined and evaluated. Furthermore, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and remote sensing data were used to calculate the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and the Temperature–Vegetation–Dryness Index (TVDI) to identify the area of water body, water level, and vegetation changes during 20 years (2000–2020). The Pearson correlation coefficient was also employed to explore the relationship between the drought and the remote sensing-derived indices. According to the results of drought analysis, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 had experienced dry spells in the Lake Urmia basin. The NDWI changes also showed that the maximum area of the Lake Urmia happened in 2000, and its minimum was recorded in 2014. The variation of NDVI values showed that the highest values of vegetation cover were estimated to be 2,850 km2 in.2000, and its lowest value was 1,300 km2 in.2014. The maximum EVI and TDVI were calculated in 2000, while their minimum was observed in 2012 and 2014. Also, the correlation analysis showed that the SPI had the highest correlation with NDVI. Meanwhile, 1-month SPI had a higher correlation than the 3-month SPI with NDVI and EVI. As a concluding remark, NDVI and NDWI were more suitable indices to monitor the changes in vegetation and drought-related water area. The results can be used to make sound decisions regarding the rapid assessment of remote sensing-derived data and water-related indices.