bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Consumer Perceptions and Ethical Considerations in AI-Powered E-Commerce
Authors: Ara Aftab , Thomas Anisha
Published: September 2024

Consumer perceptions and ethical considerations in AI-powered e-commerce are influenced by various factors. The introduction of AI in e-commerce, as discussed by Sharma and Khrais, has the potential to predict customer behavior and personalize the shopping experience, but also raises ethical concerns. These concerns include the need for responsible and transparent use of AI and the development of explainable AI models to address issues of trust and privacy. By investigating the factors that shape consumer attitudes and behaviors towards AI-powered commerce, the study aims to provide insights into the ethical implications of AI adoption and inform businesses, policymakers, and researchers about the potential challenges and opportunities in this domain. This study implies that businesses and policymakers should be aware of the potential ethical implications of AI adoption and take appropriate action. Additionally, researchers should study further to understand the potential implications of AI-powered commerce.
Future Directions and Innovations in the Field of Business Operations Through Data Tools
Authors: Sharma Harshwardhani , Batra Disha , Bhardwaj Saket Kumar , Upmanyu Akshay , Raj Vaishali
Published: September 2024

In recent years, business operations have undergone a significant transformation, driven primarily by the advent of advanced data analytics and visualisation tools underpinned by artificial intelligence (AI). This chapter aims to achieve three main objectives: first, to explore new AI-driven data visualisation tools like Data Squirrel and PI Exchanges, highlighting their innovative features and applications in enhancing business operations; second, to investigate the latest AI advancements in established tools such as Power BI and Tableau, focusing on their capabilities like natural language processing, automated insights, and predictive analytics that contribute to more effective data visualisations; and third, to address future directions by exploring emerging trends such as enhanced NLP, real-time data processing, and integration with IoT and blockchain technologies, while providing recommendations for leveraging these innovations to stay ahead in the evolving landscape of AI in business data visualisation.
Framework to Analyse the Different Factors to Collaborate the Work and Team Relations
Authors: Kumar Praven , Singh Navdeep , Ahmed S. , Rao G Ananda , Kumar Yalla Jeevan Nagendra
Published: September 2024

Collaboration has played a crucial role in the advancement, progress, and continuation of humankind. According to studies, companies benefit more from cooperation than from employees working alone. Most people agree that working as a team is the best way to get things done. On a more individual level, teamwork is beneficial because it satisfies needs like social connection and attachment. There is a lot of evidence showing that teams are more productive, but many managers still don't do anything to foster collaboration. The study's authors looked at gender disparities in self-awareness and how collaborative preferences vary by ethnicity. An online survey with 33 questions was sent out to 225 people from all around the United States (n = 119 females, n = 106 men). Participants were conveniently recruited using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, emails, and snowball sampling.
Driving Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Authors: Rispal Alexandre
Published: September 2024

In this chapter, the author explores the intersection of innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on their definitions, significance, and impact on geopolitics and various industries. By examining case studies in financial services, digital sectors, and traditional industries, the author highlights the technologies driving innovation and the role of leadership and management methodologies, including agile practices. The chapter emphasizes the importance of education, research, and technologies such as artificial intelligence, alongside best practices for funding ventures from early stages ventures to initial public offering in the USA and Europe. Comparisons of venture funding practices provide additional insights. This synthesis aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among business professionals and academics.
Ethical Business Tightrope
Authors: Ghannam Yvette P.
Published: September 2024

In the digital age, the equilibrium between privacy and security is paramount. This chapter delves into the ethical integration of business practices within medical innovation and cell phone technologies. It underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards and privacy rights, while also highlighting the value of employee feedback in refining fair hiring processes. The text examines the complex ethical challenges faced in delivering medical services within a business context, such as maintaining patient confidentiality, managing conflicts of interest, and responsibly distributing resources to enhance patient care. The chapter emphasizes the pivotal role of ethical leadership in health tech and proposes a balanced approach through innovative solutions, legal protections, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders. This strategy is vital for navigating the dynamic technological environment while safeguarding individual privacy and security
Adoption of IFRS 15 in Brazilian companies and its consequences on analysts' forecasts
Authors: Pain Patrícia , Victor Fernanda Gomes , Bianchi Márcia
Published: September 2024

Objective: To verify the relationship between the adoption of IFRS 15 and the forecast of financial analysts for companies listed on the Brazilian stock exchange in the period from 2012 to 2021.Method: The sample included 1,013 observations (firm-year) of non-financial companies listed on the B3 - Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão -, and data collection took place from the availability of forecast information from financial analysts. Data were treated through descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression to verify the existence of a relationship between the adopted variables.Originality/Relevance: The quality of data provided by companies in their reports influences the forecasts of results made by financial analysts. The implementation of IFRS 15 had impacts on several market sectors. Among the advantages of adopting International Accounting Standards (IFRS), it can be highlighted that the countries that adopt them tend to have clearer accounting information and, consequently, credibility and integration with countries and institutions that apply the same method, such as a common language.Results: Among the results found, the mandatory adoption of the standard variables were related to the quality of profit forecasts. By adopting a progressive variable, the results obtained reveal that in relation to the application of IFRS 15, the more time has passed since the publication of the standard, the less accurate is the forecast made by financial analysts. Thus, the intended objectives of IFRS 15 formulated by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) were achieved, presuming the improvement of information asymmetry.Theoretical/methodological/practical contributions: This study contributes academically with the development of the little explored theme, with managers in understanding the applicability of the norm, with analysts in the importance of specializing in sectors and developing expertise, and with the market for the perception of the importance and activities developed by financial analysts.
N-Glycan Branching Regulates BTLA Opposite to PD-1 to Limit T Cell Hyperactivity Induced by Branching Deficiency
Authors: Mkhikian Haik , Zhou Raymond W , Saryan Hayk , Sánchez Christofer Daniel , Balakrishnan Aswath , Dang Justin , Mortales Christie-Lynn , Demetriou Michael
Published: September 2024

N-glycan branching is a potent and multifaceted negative regulator of proinflammatory T cell and B cell function. By promoting multivalent galectin–glycoprotein lattice formation at the cell surface, branching regulates clustering and/or endocytosis of the TCR complex (TCR+CD4/CD8), CD45, CD25, BCR, TLR2 and TLR4 to inhibit T cell and B cell activation/proliferation and proinflammatory TH1 and TH17 over TH2 and induced T regulatory cell responses. In addition, branching promotes cell surface retention of the growth inhibitory receptor CTLA-4. However, the role of N-glycan branching in regulating cell surface levels of other checkpoint receptors such as BTLA (B and T lymphocyte attenuator) and PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) is unknown. In this study, we report that whereas branching significantly enhances PD-1 cell surface expression by reducing loss from endocytosis, the opposite occurs with BTLA in both T cells and B cells. T cell hyperactivity induced by branching deficiency was opposed by BTLA ligation proportional to increased BTLA expression. Other members of the BTLA/HVEM (herpesvirus entry mediator) signaling axis in T cells, including HVEM, LIGHT, and CD160, are largely unaltered by branching. Thus, branching-mediated endocytosis of BTLA is opposite of branching-induced inhibition of PD-1 endocytosis. In this manner, branching deficiency–induced upregulation of BTLA appears to serve as a checkpoint to limit extreme T cell hyperactivity and proinflammatory outcomes in T cells with low branching.
A rare subclavian artery aneurysm potentially misidentified as the internal jugular vein in ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization -a case report-
Authors: Choi Dae Yun , Oh Daeseok
Published: September 2024

Background: Central venous catheterization by anesthesiologists carries risks such as accidental arterial puncture. This case report highlights a rare subclavian artery aneurysm (SAA) detected during ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein (IJV) access, emphasizing the importance of recognizing anatomical variations.Case: An 88-year-old female with hypertension and atrial fibrillation was scheduled for lumbar laminectomy and posterior fusion. Preoperative evaluation revealed right lower lobe atelectasis and mild aortic sclerosis. During ultrasonography for right IJV catheterization, two vessels of different diameters were observed on the common carotid artery’s lateral side. The larger vessel disappeared at the upper neck level, showing arterial pulsation on Color Doppler. Postoperative neck computed tomography confirmed a right SAA and a 5-mm saccular aneurysm in the left intracranial artery. The patient had no vascular disease, trauma, or relevant family histories.Conclusions: Anesthesiologists should be aware of anatomical variations during IJV catheterization. Ultrasound with Doppler is crucial for accurate artery identification.
Disclosure on the linkages between executive pay and sustainability in a highly unequal country
Authors: Mans-Kemp Nadia , Swartz Amy
Published: September 2024

Orientation: The allocation of incentives based on corporate financial performance is a longstanding phenomenon aimed at aligning the interests of executives and shareholders. Yet, given rising social and environmental concerns, shareholders are increasingly pressuring companies to link sustainability matters to executive compensation.Research purpose: Disclosures on the linkages between executive remuneration and sustainability considerations were explored in South Africa, a country that is notorious for income inequality.Motivation for the study: Despite offering a well-developed corporate governance framework, South Africa experiences several social ills. If pay-performance linkages are expanded to include sustainability considerations, directors will by implication be encouraged to focus on sustainable value creation.Research design, approach and method: Content analysis was conducted on the 2019 and 2022 integrated and remuneration reports of selected banks and telecommunications companies operating in South Africa. Focus was placed on how these companies have linked sustainability aspects to incentives over the short and long term.Main findings: Improvements were noted in terms of linking sustainability considerations to executive pay. Most companies related social aspects to short-term incentives. Yet, environmental pay-performance linkages warrant more attention.Practical and/or managerial implications: Remuneration and social and ethics committee members should reflect on how executive pay can be optimally linked to material sustainability considerations. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) could be used to develop fairer and more responsible director pay policies.Contribution and/or value-add: The considered companies progressively accounted for sustainability aspects when determining executive pay in a highly unequal country. Directors are thus increasingly rewarded for ensuring a more sustainable future.
Students’ reading self-concepts at an institution of higher learning in South Africa
Authors: Cekiso Madoda P.
Published: September 2024

Background: South Africa’s reading problems are evident in tertiary education, particularly among students studying in a foreign language. Therefore, many reading researchers in South Africa have argued that poor reading skills among tertiary students are a direct result of poor reading skills at school. Some research has found that psychological factors such as test anxiety, self-concept, and attitude have a negative and significant impact on student academic performance.Objectives: Therefore, the current study focuses on self-concept as it specifically explores university students’ self-perceptions as readers.Method: The study followed a qualitative research approach, and a case study design was deemed relevant for the study. A targeted sample of 65 respondents was selected to answer the open-ended questionnaire. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected data.Results: The findings showed that university students defined themselves as readers in different ways and their reading self-concepts were based on their reading behaviour. The students specifically described themselves as readers who enjoy reading, analytic readers, or reluctant readers with poor and slow reading abilities displaying inconsistent reading habits; they admitted that they only read for academic purposes including tests and exams.Conclusion: Students’ reading self-concept has implications for reading instruction, student support, choice of reading material, reading motivation, and syllabus design.Contribution: The findings of the study provide data that could create English lecturers’ awareness of their students’ reading self-concepts so that they could change their students’ reading culture.
Influence of High-frequency Yoga Breathing (Kapalabhati) on States Changes in Gamma Oscillation
Authors: Budhi Rana Bal , Singh Deepeshwar , Goswami Jeetu , Manjunath N. K. , Vinchurkar Suhas
Published: September 2024

Background:

Yoga breathing has been shown to enhance neurocognitive function and positive emotions by increasing electrical power in several frequency bands and synchronizing interhemispheric brain waves. The current study examined the immediate impact of practicing Kapalabhati (KBH) on the electrical activity of the brain.

Methods:

Thirty-six individuals who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and ranged in age from 18 to 25 were randomly assigned, 1:1, to the KBH (n = 18) and breath awareness (BAW) (n = 18) groups. Before data collection, both groups received their respective practices for 10 min each day for a total of 15 days. The brain’s electrical activities were assessed using 128-channel EEG recording. The electrodes were placed on their scalps according to the international 10-10 system, ensuring optimal coverage of different brain regions. The EEG signals were amplified, digitized, and stored for offline analysis.

Results:

The EEG data showed that the practice of KBH significantly increased alpha waves in the frontal and temporal regions. Moreover, gamma waves increased significantly in the frontal, temporal, and occipital regions after the practice of KBH when compared with BAW.

Conclusion:

The results suggest the involvement of frontal and temporal regions, which highlights the importance of KBH in enhancing higher-order cognitive processes. These results provide valuable insights and support for the use of KBH as a potential intervention for individuals seeking to enhance their cognitive abilities.
Impact of Nada Yoga Music Therapy on Anxiety and Quality of Life in Ovarian Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Malik Sweta , Sehrawat Amit , Chaturvedi Jaya , Kumari Ranjeeta , Barnwal Suresh Lal , Kalra Sumit , Gupta Sweety
Published: September 2024

Background and Objective:

Nada yoga is a complementary therapy known for its potential to reduce anxiety. This study aimed to assess the effects of nada yoga music on anxiety management and quality of life (QoL) in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Materials and Methods:

In this randomized controlled trial, 58 ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups using a simple randomization procedure: Group A (control arm): Participants in this group listened to nada yoga music without any additional instructions. Group B (intervention arm): Participants in this group listened to the same nada yoga music with additional verbal instructions for meditation. Nada yoga music was delivered to both groups through a custom Android application developed for this study. Follow-up assessments were conducted every 3 weeks, and anxiety levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, whereas QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ (European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire)-C30 QoL questionnaire. Baseline data were collected just before the first chemotherapy session, and post data were collected after 12 weeks.

Results:

Data from 49 participants were included in the analysis. Both groups were found to be homogeneous with respect to age, weight, and clinical parameters. Significant differences were observed in anxiety scores (P = 0.026), fatigue (P = 0.039), nausea/vomiting (P = 0.009), dyspnea (P = 0.011), financial difficulties (P = 0.006), and global health status in between the two groups (P = 0.039) favoring intervention arm of nada yoga music without instructions (Group A). However, no significant changes were observed in physical functioning (P = 0.390), role functioning (P = 0.453), emotional functioning (P = 0.192), cognitive functioning (P = 0.190), and social functioning (P = 0.282).

Conclusion:

The 12-week nada yoga music therapy intervention offers a cost-effective approach to reducing anxiety and improving the QoL for ovarian cancer patients. This study highlights the result that Nada yoga simple music is more effective in ovarian cancer patients than the nada yoga music with verbal instruction of meditation. This study showed the potential of nada yoga music therapy as a valuable addition to comprehensive cancer care, emphasizing its positive impact on emotional well-being and symptom management.
Efficacy of Standardized Yoga Asanas as Add-on Therapy in the Management of Hypothyroidism: A Randomized, Open-label, Controlled Clinical Study
Authors: Sharma Tanu , Goyal Bhavy , Ahmed Khan Afreen Mustaq , Deo Guru , Kaushik Ishita , Malik Rohit , Jain Vineet , Singh Dharmander , Kohli Sunil , Chandra Kailash
Published: September 2024

Background:

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce an adequate amount of thyroid hormones. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of yoga asanas as an add-on therapy for the management of hypothyroidism.

Materials and Methods:

For this interventional clinical study, a total of 450 study participants were screened for eligibility. Out of this, 170 study participants were found fit for preliminary eligibility following stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Further, 58 participants were excluded before randomization. A total of 112 hypothyroidism patients (57 in the control group and 55 in the yoga group) participated in this study. The study participants were further followed up for 8 weeks in both the yoga practice (yoga+ standard care of treatment) and control group (standard care of treatment only). The markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and thyroid hormones were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of follow-up/intervention.

Results:

After 8 weeks, the study participants in yoga group showed a significant reduction in serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and malondialdehyde levels as compared to baseline (P < 0.05). There was also a positive trend of improvement in other oxidative markers (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione), and a significant reduction in interleukin-6 levels (P < 0.05) was found in the yoga group as compared to the baseline. However, there was no significant change found in the control group of subjects.

Conclusion:

Frequent yoga practice can be an effective lifestyle intervention for hypothyroidism, reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and potentially improving overall well-being.
Retinopathy of Prematurity in Extreme Preterm and Extreme Low-birth-weight Infants: Incidence, Course, and Risk Factors
Authors: Lekha T. , Balakrishnan Divya , Giridhar A. , Alex Divya , Goyal Anubhav
Published: September 2024

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), treatment requiring ROP (TROP), course, and systemic risk factors in extreme preterm or extreme low-birth-weight babies.

METHODS:

A retrospective analysis of neonatal intensive care unit-based ROP screening from January to December 2021 in a tier-2 city in Kerala, India, was done. Inclusion criteria were gestational age (GA) ≤28 weeks or birth weight ≤1000 g. ROP screening and treatment were done according to the International Classification of ROP guidelines. Treatment was indicated in babies with type 1 ROP or aggressive ROP. Details of ROP screening, treatment, and neonatal risk factors were collected from the records. The results were statistically analyzed, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The study included 54 babies with a mean GA of 27.47 ± 1.76 weeks and a mean BW of 847.43 ± 189.22 g. ROP was detected at an average postmenstrual age of 33.8 ± 1.7 weeks. The incidence of any ROP and TROP was 87% and 19.14%, respectively. All babies with TROP were managed with laser or intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injection or both. ROP resolved spontaneously in 60%, but those with Zone 2 disease had delayed regression. Inotropic support and anemia were found to increase the risk for ROP.

CONCLUSION:

The incidence and outcome of any ROP and TROP in this study are comparable to the rates reported globally, and this reflects the improvement in neonatal care. The use of inotropes and anemia may increase the risk for ROP and needs to be managed judiciously.
A Novel Snake-chain Metal Probed Silicon Intubation Set for Nasolacrimal Duct Intubation: A Cadaveric Feasibility Study
Authors: Solyman Omar M. , Rajak Saul N.
Published: September 2024

PURPOSE:

A fresh-frozen human cadaveric feasibility study to investigate the feasibility of probing and stenting the nasolacrimal ducts (NLDs) of human cadavers with a novel flexible bicanalicular nasolacrimal stent.

METHODS:

A custom-designed bicanalicular nasolacrimal stent was made by connecting a 250 mm long, 0.9 mm diameter silicone tube to a 200 mm long stainless-steel, snake-chain probe at each end. The punctum was dilated, and the snake-chain stent fed into the nasolacrimal drainage system. The emergence of the stents from the terminal end of the NLD and retrieval with a ball probe was conducted under endoscopic guidance.

RESULTS:

Bicanalicular nasolacrimal stenting with intranasal retrieval under endoscopic guidance was successfully achieved in six NLDs of three adult cadaveric nasolacrimal drainage systems.

CONCLUSION:

Despite being soft and flexible, the snake-chain silicon stent passes smoothly and freely through cadaveric human NLD and is easily retrieved from the nasal cavity. This novel NLD stent design may make stenting of the NLD easier and less traumatic.
Isolated Tuberculosis of the Rib in a 12-year-old Adolescent Boy: A Case Report from Iraq
Authors: Abdullah Wasnaa Hadi , Alabedi Rihab Faisal
Published: September 2024

One of the major global health issues that still exist is tuberculosis (TB); primary tubercular osteomyelitis of the rib is an extremely rare entity. We present a case of isolated TB of the anterior fourth rib as the initial presentation, without any lung lesions. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis of tubercular rib osteomyelitis. Usually, there is no significant morbidity and full remission following surgical removal of the affected rib in conjunction with the proper antitubercular therapy.
Dr. Google will see you now: But will he make you sick?
Authors: Goldberg Ivan
Published: September 2024

Advances in technology have empowered patients to seek health information and to self-diagnose online. They do so, increasingly. Instead of shying away from patients’ online-gained health information, clinicians can use it to fuel discussion, answer their questions, and, thereby, reinforce the all-important doctor–patient therapeutic alliance. Through patient-centered communication, clinicians can increase patient trust and generate better health outcomes.
Effectiveness of artificial intelligence for diabetic retinopathy screening in community in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam
Authors: Van Thanh Nguyen , Thi Hoang Lan Vo
Published: September 2024

PURPOSE:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) for diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening in community in Binh Dinh Province in Vietnam.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study assessed the DR screening efficacy of EyeArt system v2.0 by analyzing 2332 nonmydriatic digital fundus pictures of 583 diabetic patients from hospitals and health centers in Binh Dinh province. First, we selected thirty patients with 120 digital fundus pictures to perform the Kappa index by two eye doctors who would be responsible for the DR clinical feature evaluation and DR severity scale classification. Second, all digital fundus pictures were coded and then sent to the two above-mentioned eye doctors for the evaluation and classifications according to the International Committee of Ophthalmology’s guidelines. Finally, DR severity scales with EyeArt were compared with those by eye doctors as a reference standard for EyeArt’s effectiveness. All the data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 20.0. Values (with confidence interval 95%) of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were calculated according to DR state, referable or not and vision-threatening DR state or not. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

The sensitivity and specificity of EyeArt for DR screening were 94.1% and 87.2%. The sensitivity and specificity for referable DR and vision-threatening DR were 96.6%, 90.1%, and 100.0%, 92.2%. Accuracy for DR screening, referable DR, and vision-threatening DR were 88.9%, 91.4%, and 93.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

EyeArt AI was effective for DR screening in community.
Contrasting income-based inequalities in incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Korea, 2006-2015
Authors: Bahk Jinwook , Kang Hee-Yeon , Khang Young-Ho , Jung-Choi Kyunghee
Published: September 2024

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in Korea are increasing. This study analyzed income-based inequalities in the incidence and mortality of women breast cancer from 2006 to 2015, using national data that covered all Korean women.METHODS: We used the National Health Information Database from 2006 to 2015. For women aged 20 and older, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 by income quintile per year were calculated using the direct method. The rate ratio and rate difference (RD) of the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer per 100,000 between the top and bottom income quintiles were calculated as relative and absolute measures for inequalities.RESULTS: When comparing 2006 and 2015, both the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer increased. The lowest income quintile experienced higher mortality rates despite having lower incidence rates. In 2015, the income-based RD in incidence and mortality rates between the highest and lowest income quintiles (Q1-Q5) was -19.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], -24.3 to -15.5) and 4.4 (95% CI, 2.9 to 5.8), respectively. Throughout this period, there was no statistically significant trend in income-based disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality. The age-specific contributions to the absolute magnitude of inequality (RD) in incidence and mortality were more pronounced among middle-aged women than among older women.CONCLUSIONS: This study found that breast cancer in Korea exhibited pro-rich inequalities in mortality despite pro-poor inequalities in incidence. More equitable policies for screening and treatment of breast cancer are needed.
Homelessness and mortality: gender, age, and housing status inequity in Korea
Authors: Park Gum-Ryeong , Jeong Dawoon , Lee Seung Won , Sohn Hojoon , Kang Young Ae , Choi Hongjo
Published: September 2024

OBJECTIVES: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age.METHODS: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status.RESULTS: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.6 per 100,000 compared to 645.8 per 100,000, respectively. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases were the primary causes of death. Furthermore, individuals residing in shelter facilities faced a significantly higher risk of death than those who were rough sleeping, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 2.11). This increased risk was especially pronounced in older adults and women.CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions, as the homeless population faces significantly higher mortality rates. Older adults and women in shelter facilities are at the highest risk.
Распространение волн в уравнении Колмогорова-Петровского-Пискунова-Фишера с запаздыванием
Authors: Aleshin Sergei Vladimirovich , Glyzin Dmitrii Sergeevich , Kaschenko Sergey Aleksandrovich
Published: September 2024

Для логистического уравнения с запаздыванием и диффузией рассматривается задача о распространении волн плотности. Это уравнение, называемое уравнением Колмогорова-Петровского-Пискунова-Фишера с запаздыванием, исследуется с помощью асимптотических и численных методов. Изучены локальные свойства решений, соответствующих рассматриваемому уравнению с периодическими граничными условиями. Показано, что увеличение периода влечет возникновение устойчивых решений с более сложной пространственной структурой. Выполнен численный анализ процесса распространения волны от одного и от двух начальных возмущений, что позволило во втором случае проследить за процессом взаимодействия волн. Сложная пространственно неоднородная структура, возникающая при распространении и взаимодействии волн, может быть объяснена свойствами соответствующих решений периодической краевой задачи с увеличивающимся интервалом изменения пространственной переменной.
Evaluation and Prediction of Vibration Comfort in Engineering
Machinery Cabs Using Random Forest with Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Jian , Yin Yingqi , Chen Jiangfei , Zhao Weidong , Ding Weiping , Huang Haibo
Published: September 2024

Vibration comfort is a critical factor in assessing the overall performance of
engineering machinery, with significant implications for operator health and
safety. However, current evaluation methods lack specificity for construction
machinery, impeding accurate prediction of vibration comfort and hindering the
optimization of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance. To address
this challenge, this article proposes a model that combines a random forest with
a genetic algorithm (GA-RF) to enable rapid and accurate prediction of vibration
comfort in construction machinery cabins. The approach begins with an improved
objective evaluation methodology for extracting key features from vibration
signals at five measurement points: seat, floor, back, and left and right
armrests. Additionally, subjective evaluation technology, combining semantic
differential and rating scales, is employed to capture operators’ personal
comfort perceptions. The implementation of the GA-RF model constructs a
nonlinear mapping between vibration characteristics and perceived comfort,
significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of the vibration comfort
evaluation process. Testing indicates that the objective evaluation method
effectively refines vibration data features relevant to practical engineering
applications. The proposed GA-RF model demonstrates robust predictive
capabilities. These results provide valuable insights for the evaluation and
enhancement of vibration comfort in the engineering machinery sector, laying a
substantial foundation for future research and application.
Początki naukowej toksykologii roślin i jej wpływ na narodziny koncepcji drobnoustrojowego pochodzenia chorób
Authors: Drobnik Jacek
Published: September 2024

This work shows the birth of the concept of the microbial origin of disease in the 19th century, as influenced by earlier advances in the knowledge of drugs and poisons. It attempts to understand the essence of ancient medical theories (about miasmas, contagions, hospital infections, venoms of infectious diseases) by understanding the dosage forms of old anti-plague remedies and prophylactic behaviours. The ancient term miasma represented a pathogenic gas. It was considered a chemical poison and called aër, vapor or halitus in the 18th-century toxicology. Such a nature demanded to admit that gas retained its infectious nature in significant dilutions, which contradicted chemical knowledge. The 16thcentury term cont agium was an idea of contact infection and any other one caused by visible pathogenic matter. In the 19th century, hospital-acquired gangrene was thought to be transmitted by evaporating excretions and thus ultimately by the polluted air of hospital wards. This delayed the recognition of contagion as both contact infection and contamination of objects. In 1785, J. Plenck divided poisons into dose-dependent and dose-independent ones. The former were vegetable and inorganic chemical poisons. The latter caused infectious diseases, which he called virus. The idea of microorganisms was born only after the multiplication of chemical poisons was questioned. This required to assume that a pathogenic “poison” is produced in minute cells, living and able to reproduce. Hahnemann’s theory did not fi t with the concept of the microbial origin of disease.
Terapia podczas pierwszej epidemii cholery w Warszawie w 1831 roku
Authors: Paliga Renata
Published: September 2024

The first cholera epidemic in Warsaw occurred during the November Uprising in April 1831. It was a disease unknown to Polish doctors. Answers to questions about etiology, properties (infectious – non-infectious) and effective methods of prevention and treatment were sought. The conditions of war and epidemics highlighted the organizational shortcomings of the health service and the shortage of doctors. Doctors from abroad came to the capital of the Kingdom of Poland to supplement the medical staff and learn about the unknown disease before it spreads to the entire European continent. The aim of the article is to present the methods of treating cholera in Warsaw during the first cholera epidemic and to emphasize its impact on the development of world medicine.
Siła roślin w twórczości Miguela de Cervantes
Authors: Moreno-Szypowska Jadwiga Clea
Published: September 2024

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra has been associated with medicine since his very birth in Alcalá de Henares, in a house adjacent to the hospital where his father worked. From him, the future writer inherited an extensive library, in which a prominent place was occupied by the work De Materia Medica by Dioscorides, translated and completed by Andrés Laguna, a prominent physician and botanist, the initiator of the establishment of the first botanical garden in Spain. Thus, from his youth, the author of Don Quixote had the opportunity to learn in detail about the healing effects of plants. It was not only his background that influenced Cervantes’ interest in herbalism in the broadest sense, for his works present a full cross-section of the society of the time, which had no shortage of folk “miracle workers” practicing magic with the help of herbs. Fearing the Inquisition – particularly interested in combating practices that were considered to be deviant from the prevailing faith – the author of Don Quixote avoided naming the plants that his characters used in various ointments and decoctions in his works, lest it be assumed that he himself possessed some “secret”, i.e. forbidden, knowledge. However, the mere description of their “bizarre” behavior is enough for specialists to determine the ingredients of the stimulants, in which hallucinogens such as black loosestrife (Hyoscyamus niger), medicinal verbena (Verbena officinalis) and poppy (Papaver somniferum) predominated. This fact sheds new light on many of the heroes of Cervantes’ works, who, considered madmen or witches in their time, were in fact drug addicts. It is noteworthy that magic in the popular imagination of Cervantes’ time, was associated with a socially excluded group of descendants of converted Jews and Moors, from such families also came mostly doctors, like the writer’s father. This work focuses on presenting the nontherapeutic use of plants in selected works by Spain’s most prominent writer.
Od lekarstwa do trucizny. O ambiwalencji roślin w powieści Hrabia Monte Christo Aleksandra Dumasa: kulczyba wronie oko i bób św. Ignacego
Authors: Bizek-Tatara Renata
Published: September 2024

This article is devoted to the ambivalence of medicinal plants in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, using the examples of the crow’s eye tree and the St. Ignatius bean. The author analyzes descriptions of the properties of alkaloids obtained from them – strychnine and brucine – which, when properly used, can be a disease-curing medicine and an effective lethal poison. She also discusses the sources from which the writer obtained medical and pharmaceutical knowledge about plant toxins, their action and the symptoms they cause.
Characterizing and tracing the heavy metals' spatial distribution in karst surface river affected by acid mine drainage
Authors: Zou Shanshan , Liu Pu , Wang Jingyi , Lu Hao , Zhang Yingdan , Wang Yidan , Li Bo
Published: September 2024

A series of pollution problems have been caused by the drainage of closed coal mines. This study focuses on the XZ River in Guizhou Province, employing a comprehensive approach involving hydrochemical analysis, mathematical statistics, and one-dimensional water quality modeling to investigate the spatial evolution and source apportionment of heavy metals in karst surface rivers affected by AMD. The average pH, EC, and Eh values of groundwater and surface water in the XZ river basin were 6.27, 331 μs/cm, 230 mV and 3.86, 1671.57 μs/cm, 412.71 mV, respectively, indicating severe pollution of surface water by AMD. The study reveals that groundwater in the XZ River Basin is predominantly of the HCO3-Ca-Mg type, shifting to HCO3-SO4-Ca-Mg type with the influx of acid mine wastewater. Utilizing statistical methods for source apportionment analysis indicated that downstream concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, As, and Sr most likely originate from tributaries. Further analysis through one-dimensional water quality simulation confirmed that downstream concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, As, and Sr are attributed to tributaries. This suggests that XZ River is affected by pollution from different coal mines, primarily from coal mine M4, followed by coal mine M1.
Transposed Poisson structures on solvable Lie algebras with filiform nilradical
Authors: Abdurasulov Kobiljon , Adashev Jobir , Eshmeteva Sabohat
Published: September 2024

In this article, we described 1/2-derivations of solvable Lie algebras with a
thread-like nilradical. Nontrivial transposed Poisson algebras with solvable
Lie algebras are constructed. That is, by using 1/2-derivations of Lie
algebras, we have established commutative associative multiplication to
construct a transposed Poisson algebra with an associated given Lie algebra.
Floral biology, pollination and reproductive success of Campanula tomentosa Lam. in west Anatolia
Authors: Subaşı Ümit , Güvensen Aykut
Published: September 2024

Campanula tomentosa, an endemic species, has a limited distribution with a total of 5 populations only in the Western Anatolia Region of Turkey. Research on the reproduction and conservation biology (pollination biology and reproductive success) of the plant was carried out for the first time by us. Within this context, pollen and stigma viability (floral biology), pollination biology, flower visitation, pollinator identification and reproductive success were investigated. The results of the pollen viability test in which 1% TTC (1,2,3-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) was used indicated that 100% of the pollen grains were viable at the loading stage. In Peroxidase Test Papers and DAB stigma viability tests, the stigmas were completely curled and they were viable during the pollen presentation phase. The main pollination in the plant was realized by Xylocopa valga (Gerstacker, 1872) and Evylaeus setulellus (Strand, 1909). In C. tomentosa, fruit set and seed setting rates were 93.42% and 73.12%, respectively. On the other hand, it was revealed that the total area where it was distributed was 28.7 km2 and that it was classified as endangered.
Teucrium polium L. subsp. polium ve Teucrium scordium L. subsp. scordioides (Schreb). Arcang taksonlarının kimyasal profili ve antioksidan aktivitesi
Authors: Çakır Tuğba , Çeçen Ömer , Maral Hasan
Published: September 2024

Lamiaceae familyası geniş bir coğrafi yayılım kapasitesine sahip olmakla beraber kimi yerde endemik olarak bulunan türleri bünyesinde barındırmaktadır. Teucrium türleri, bu familyanın bir üyesi olup, tıbbi özelliklerinden dolayı geleneksel yöntemlerde kullanılabilmektedirler. Bu çalışmada da endemik iki Teucrium türünün uçucu yağı içeriği, bileşenleri ve antioksidan aktivitelerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Clevenger aparatı kullanılarak elde edilen uçucu yağların bileşenleri GC-MS ile belirlenmiştir. Antioksidan tayininde: 2,2-difenil-1- pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) serbest radikal süpürme metodu, toplam fenolik madde miktarının belirlenmesinde ise Folin-Ciocaltaeu yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarına göre T. polium subsp. polium ’ un uçucu yağ oranı %0.80 olarak belirlenmiş, uçucu yağın ana bileşenlerinin ise β-pinene (%27.85), germacrene D (%18.84),α-pinene (%14.73) olduğu tespit edilmiştir. T. scordium subsp. scordioides' türünün ise % 0.32 uçucu yağ içerdiği belirlenmiştir. Uçucu yağın major bileşenlerinin ise β-pinene (%16.83), caryophyllene oxide (%13.06),α-pinene (%10.96)olduğu tespit edilmiştir. T. polium subsp. polium ’ un DPPH antiradikal aktivitesi %16.99±0.16, gallik asit bakımından fenolik madde içeriği ise 11.60±2.45mg/100 mlolduğu tespit edilirken, T. scordium subsp. scordioides’in DPPH antiradikal aktivitesi %17.09±1.95, gallik asit bakımından fenolik madde içeriği ise 10.46±2.32 mg/100 ml olarak tespit edilmiştir.
High-speed whole-genome sequencing of a Whippet: Rapid chromosome-level assembly and annotation of an extremely fast dog’s genome
Authors: Nebenführ Marcel , Prochotta David , Ben Hamadou Alexander , Janke Axel , Gerheim Charlotte , Betz Christian , Greve Carola , Bolz Hanno Jörn
Published: September 2024

The time required for genome sequencing and de novo assembly depends on the interaction between laboratory work, sequencing capacity, and the bioinformatics workflow, often constrained by external sequencing services. Bringing together academic biodiversity institutes and a medical diagnostics company with extensive sequencing capabilities, we aimed at generating a high-quality mammalian de novo genome in minimal time. We present the first chromosome-level genome assembly of the Whippet, using PacBio long-read high-fidelity sequencing and reference-guided scaffolding. The final assembly has a contig N50 of 55 Mbp and a scaffold N50 of 65.7 Mbp. The total assembly length is 2.47 Gbp, of which 2.43 Gpb were scaffolded into 39 chromosome-length scaffolds. Annotation using mammalian genomes and transcriptome data yielded 28,383 transcripts, 90.9% complete BUSCO genes, and identified 36.5% repeat content. Sequencing, assembling, and scaffolding the chromosome-level genome of the Whippet took less than a week, adding another high-quality reference genome to the available sequences of domestic dog breeds.
Escribir la caricatura. Balzac, Dickens y la formación de las poéticas realistas
Authors: Bernini Emilio
Published: September 2024

Este trabajo se propone demostrar que las literaturas de Honoré de Balzac y Charles Dickens, casi hacia los mismos años, en la década de 1830, definieron sus poéticas en una relación constitutiva con la ilustración caricaturesca, una modalidad de representación visual de gran productividad comercial en los mercados literarios francés e inglés. Esa relación permite considerar de otro modo los “realismos” -como se los denominó a posteriori- de esas poéticas, en la medida en que presuponen diversas negociaciones de la escritura y de los proyectos literarios de cada uno de los autores con las demandas de los mercados literarios, que suelen implicar ciertas tensiones con los artistas dibujantes, cuyas ideas en torno a la representación mimética no siempre acuerdan con las de los escritores. Con ese objetivo, este artículo estudia las diferentes dinámicas de los dispositivos literario-visuales en Balzac y en Dickens y la constitución de una nueva novela, “realista”. Está dividido en dos grandes partes: la primera indaga la presencia de la caricatura, en el sentido epistémico, en uno de los primeros textos Balzac, la Fisiología del matrimonio (Physiologie du mariage, 1829), y en el conjunto del sistema de La Comedia humana (La Comédie humaine, 1842), así como sus colaboraciones en revistas ilustradas, en particular La Caricatura (La Caricature, 1830). La segunda revisa el lazo constitutivo de la imagen con la literatura de Dickens en sus dos primeros textos: los Esbozos de Boz (Sketches by Boz. Illustrative of Every-day Life and Every-day People, 1836) y las caricaturas de George Cruikshank; y Los documentos póstumos del Club Pickwick (The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, 1837) y los dibujos de Robert Seymour y Phiz.