bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Spatial Distributions of Tidal Marsh Blue Carbon using Morphometric Parameters from Lidar
Authors: Turek Bonnie Rose , Teng Wenxiu , Yu Qian , Yellen Brian , Woodruff Jonathan D.
Published: June 2024

Tidal marshes serve as important “blue carbon” ecosystems that
sequester large amounts of carbon with limited area. While much
attention has been paid to the spatial variability of sedimentation
within salt marshes, less work has been done to characterize spatial
variability in marsh soil carbon density. Soil properties in marshes
vary spatially with several parameters, including marsh platform
elevation, which controls inundation depth, and proximity to the marsh
edge and tidal creek network, which control variability in relative
sediment supply. We used lidar to extract these morphometric parameters
from tidal marshes to map soil organic carbon at the meter scale. Fixed
volume soil samples were collected in 2021 at four northeast U.S. tidal
marshes with distinctive morphologies to aid in building predictive
models. Tidal creeks were delineated from 1-m resolution topobathy lidar
data using a semi-automated workflow in GIS. Log-linear multivariate
regression models were developed to predict soil organic content, bulk
density, and carbon density as a function of predictive metrics at each
site and across sites. Results show that modeling salt marsh soil
characteristics with morphometric inputs works best in marshes with
single connected creek network morphologies. Distance from tidal creeks
was the most significant model predictor. Addition of distance to the
inlet and tidal range as regional metrics significantly improves
cross-site modeling. Our mechanistic approach results in predicted total
marsh carbon stocks comparable to previous studies but captures
important meter level variation. Further, we provide motivation to
continue rigorous mapping of soil carbon at fine spatial resolutions.
Regimes of cloud vertical structure from active observations
Authors: Lee Dongmin , Oreopoulos Lazaros , Cho Nayeong
Published: June 2024

We introduce a new type of cloud class, which we call “active cloud
regime” (ACR), owing to its provenance from active (lidar and cloud
radar) spaceborne cloud observations. The ACR flavor of this work
describes prevalent monthly mixtures at ~400 km scales
of previously introduced cloud vertical structures (CVS) inferred from
instantaneous ~ 2 km observations. ACRs thus constitute
a gridded cloud dataset generated from the vertically-resolved cloud
mask available from the 2B-CLDCLASS-LIDAR CloudSat dataset fusing
CALIPSO (lidar) and CloudSat (cloud radar) cloud detections. We show
that the global classification of cloudiness under the ACR framework
provides valuable insights on how the world’s cloud systems affect the
two major components of atmospheric energetics, precipitation and
radiative cooling. Using NASA’s GEOS model, we also demonstrate that it
is possible to apply the ACR concept to Earth System Models that have
the capability to produce subgrid cloudiness obeying pre-specified
vertical overlap rules, providing thus another means to assess the
realism of simulated clouds.
Towards improved Arctic wetland classification: a clustering analysis of wetland carbon flux and environmental data
Authors: Ivanova Kseniia , Göckede Mathias , Virkkala Anna- Maria
Published: June 2024

Rapid environmental change in the Arctic raises concerns about the
future of wetland carbon dynamics. Current classifications may not
capture the diverse environmental conditions affecting these fluxes.
This study aims to fill this gap by identifying distinct wetland
clusters using a synthesis of field measurements (CO
and CH fluxes, soil moisture) and remote sensing and
other geospatial data (snow season length, annual precipitation, growing
degree days, normalized difference vegetation index, and potential peat
depth). Our dataset includes 862 individual measurements of tundra and
forest-tundra wetlands from 86 data sources covering the period 1988 -
2023 for a variety of Arctic regions, with dominant wetland types
including fens and polygonal bogs. Clusters for CO and
CH fluxes mostly did not overlap, indicating different
controls on these two carbon fluxes. CH flux clusters
depended on local moisture conditions, potential soil depth, and
vegetation characteristics, while CO flux clusters
varied significantly with climatic conditions and vegetation
characteristics. Notably, no single wetland type from the current
classification formed a distinct cluster in either carbon flux. This
study highlights the importance of high spatial resolution soil and
vegetation data for accurate scaling of wetland CH
fluxes. However, this may be less critical for the upscaling of wetland
CO fluxes.
Comparison of properties of HAp and CaTiO3-HAp ceramic composite fabricated by different sintering conditions
Authors: Chiengsorn Rawisada , Lioroongcharoen Supimkarn , Charoenpanich Adisri , Chanadee Tawat
Published: June 2024

A hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramic and a 20 wt% CaTiO3-HAp ceramic composite for potential application as biomaterials were produced using single-step sintering (SS) and twostep sintering (TSS) in air. The sample pellets were SS sintered at 1250?C with a holding time of 1 h. For TSS, the pellets were heated at 10?C/min to 1250?C (T1) and held at this temperature for 20 min (t1). The temperature was then rapidly lowered at 20?C/min to 1150?C (T2), and held at this temperature for 10 min (t2). The 20 wt% CaTiO3-HAp ceramic composite obtained from TSS had a fine grain of 0.56 ? 0.04 ?m due to the restraint of grain growth caused by the fast cooling from T1 to T2 and the hard CaTiO3 particles dispersed in the HAp matrix. The microstructure refinement of the 20 wt% CaTiO3-HAp ceramic composite fabricated by TSS produced suitable sintered density due to increased locking at triple junctions. This ceramic composite exhibited fracture toughness of 2.10 MPa.m1/2 with brittleness of 1.97 mm-1/2, indicating that crack propagation was suppressed. MG-63 osteoblast cells were able to adhere to the surface of both HAp and the 20 wt% CaTiO3-HAp ceramic composite produced by TSS and were no different between 3 and 7 days of culture. The alkaline phosphatase activity of MG-63 cells was higher on both ceramics cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium than in complete growth medium, which indicated more efficient osteoinductivity.
Learning Text Analytics: An Analysis of MD&A Disclosures during the Pandemic
Authors: Cheng Christine , Jones Lynn Comer , Mohapatra Partha
Published: June 2024

Not all relevant data come in structured formats. We created this teaching case to introduce students to an important data analysis technique that can be used on unstructured data: text analytics. This case focuses on why MD&A disclosures may provide auditors, regulators, and investors with decision-relevant information during the global pandemic. There are a wide variety of tools that can be used to introduce accounting students to text analytics. In the Teaching Notes, we provide instructions for Alteryx, a technology that offers a low-code solution to text analytics. Low-code solutions allow faculty and students to focus on critical thinking and applying text analytics to accounting. The learning objectives are (1) expand students’ understanding of text analytics in an accounting setting, (2) develop students’ skills necessary for performing text analytics, and (3) expand students’ critical thinking skills as they apply text analytics in accounting or business contexts.

Data Availability: Data are available from public sources cited in the text and materials that are available for download.
Navigating Unprecedented Times: How Managers’ Empathetic Adjustments in a Crisis Influence Employee Effort in a Competitive Environment
Authors: Berger Leslie , Guo Lan , Wick Sara
Published: June 2024

When organizational crises arise, one way that managers can help employees cope is to provide empathetic adjustments, where managers adjust downward performance expectations for all employees while communicating the adjustment with empathy. In a competitive environment, we explore whether providing an empathetic adjustment to employees during a crisis affects their postcrisis effort. We conduct an experiment and observe that an empathetic adjustment significantly improves the postcrisis effort of top and bottom performers. The increase in postcrisis effort of top performers can be attributed to the effect of the adjustment, whereas the increase in postcrisis effort of bottom performers can be attributed to the effect of empathy. In a supplemental survey, we find a range of positive effects of empathetic adjustment, including increased engagement, reduced burnout, and lower turnover intentions.

Data Availability: Data are available from the authors upon request.

JEL Classifications: G31; G32; G33; M21.
A Deep Learning Based on Automatic Cerebral Aneurysm Detection in Brain Computed Tomography Angiography Scan Images
Authors: Yavuz Çelikdemir Meltem , Akbal Ayhan
Published: June 2024

Cerebral aneurysms are an important disease that threatens human life. Rupture of these aneurysms causes hemorrhages in the cerebral arteries. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is widely used in the clinical diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms. Interpretation errors by radiologists in examining these Computed Tomography (CT) images are vital for patients. Based on this importance, deep learning-based studies aim to help keep these errors to a minimum. For this purpose, CTA images were used to detect cerebral aneurysms in this study. For CTA image analysis, deep learning methodology was preferred through Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The validation accuracy of the training obtained as a result of deep learningg has a high rate of validation with 99.54% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, 98.89% specificity and 100% precision. As a training dataset, it yielded 127 true positives and 1 false positive for patient images with aneurysm, 89 true negatives and 0 false negative for images of patients with non-aneurysms. In this trained network, results were obtained with a high accuracy of 86.6% on 75 CTA images for external test. Regional dimension analysis was also performed for an image with an aneurysm detected in the test process.
Comportamiento violento asociado a trastornos esquizofrénicos
Authors:   Investigador Independiente, Ortiz Ortiz Kevin Aldair , López Paredes Jennifer Carolina ,   Investigador Independiente, Romero Paredes Génesis Camila ,   Investigador Independiente, Estévez Angulo Andrés Robert ,   Investigador Independiente
Published: June 2024

La tasa de conductas delictivas en pacientes con esquizofrenia es más alta que la media en la población general. Este aumento está relacionado con otros factores además de trastornos derivados de la enfermedad en sí. La posible conexión entre violencia y enfermedad mental ha sido objeto de debate a lo largo de la historia de la Psiquiatría. Ha habido controversia sobre si la enfermedad mental predispone a cometer más actos violentos de lo que se esperaría en la población general, y se ha estudiado desde diferentes puntos de vista. Aunque muchos pacientes con esquizofrenia no son violentos y la mayoría de la violencia en la comunidad no se atribuye a la esquizofrenia, esta enfermedad se asocia con un mayor riesgo de violencia dentro de la comunidad.
Holograms or Hemorrhoids? Student Teachers’ Imaginings of the Digital Futures of Education
Authors: Teräs Hanna , Teräs Marko , Suoranta Juha
Published: June 2024

This study reports preservice teachers’ perceptions of desirable and undesirable digital futures for education. Empathy-based stories were collected from 74 student teachers in Finnish professional teacher education. The findings were arranged into three positive and three negative future scenarios. In the positive scenarios, digital tools support human interaction and are subject to the teacher’s agency. Teaching and learning remain essentially human activities, whereas technology has a supportive role. In the negative scenarios, learning is reduced to the acquisition of mechanical competences managed by technology and teachers becoming machine operators. These results could guide the development of teacher education, decision-making, and education policy toward meaningful digital futures.
Teacher and Teaching-related Practices Student Teachers May Have Difficulty Believing They Can Enact/Engage in While in Field Practice: Perspectives from Student Teachers and Teachers in Field-practice Schools
Authors: Nielsen Tine , Munck Lindemann Dag , Toft Line , Pettersson Morten , Schou Jensen Laura , Heise Nielsen Emma , Gorm Larsen Gitte
Published: June 2024

Field practice is pivotal in teacher education, serving both as a bridge connecting the theoretical and practical dimensions of the teaching profession in real-world schools, and as a place for acquiring the complex core skills of the profession in their own right. While prior work has mainly explored general teacher self-efficacy, or broad student-related concerns in field practice, there is surprisingly little knowledge of the specific teacher and teaching-related practices that might challenge student teachers during field practice. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the issue both from the student teacher and the field-practice teacher perspective. Utilizing focus groups and individual interviews with students and field-practice teachers, the study employs content analysis, and an innovative agreement circle to identify which practices students may doubt they can enact/engage in while in field practice. The findings highlight four main areas of concern stemming from both students and field practice teachers: adaptability in teaching; balancing subject knowledge with pedagogical competence; classroom leadership; and teaching independently. The study also uncovers discrepancies between student teachers, who are preoccupied with their teaching performance, and field-practice teachers, who also emphasize the importance of collaborative practices with, for example, parents. The study opens a new field of inquiry and is the first step towards a theory of practice self-efficacy in education. Future research could focus on creating measurement tools to evaluate student teacher efficacy in field practice within the four identified areas, thereby enabling identification of early challenges, assessment of field-practice effectiveness, and the provision of tailored field-practice preparation.
A Study on the Accuracy of Micro Expression Based Deception Detection with Hybrid Deep Neural Network Models
Authors: Nikbin Sohiel , Qu Yanzhen
Published: June 2024

This article details a study on enhancing deception detection accuracy by using Hybrid Deep Neural Network (HDNN) models. The research, focusing on fear-related micro-expressions, utilizes a diverse dataset of responses to high-stakes questions. It analyzes facial action units (AUs) and pupil size variations through data preprocessing and feature extraction. The HDNN model outperforms the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a 91% accuracy rate. The findings’ implications for security, law enforcement, psychology, and behavioral treatments are discussed. Ethical considerations of deception detection technology deployment and future research directions, including cross-cultural studies, real-world assessments, ethical guidelines, studies on emotional expression dynamics, “explainable AI” development, and multimodal data integration, are also explored. The study contributes to deception detection knowledge and highlights the potential of machine learning techniques, especially HDNN, in improving decision-making and security in high-stakes situations.
Ellos también fueron a cine. Franz Kafka, Vicente Huidobro
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana, Saldarriaga Montoya José Fernando
Published: June 2024

En la urbe citadina de Paris, en 1895 un extraño aparato técnico, con los rayos de luz, proyectó en el plató de una blanca pared imágenes cóncavas, medio lúgubre. Algo muy parecido a los humanos. Pero no era más que un posible arquetipo de rostros, risas de caminantes capturados por el tiempo y el espacio. Tal acontecimiento, no solo asombraría al mundo de la ilustre racionalidad, sino al ser de la calle; a la joven etiqueta ciudadana. Lo llamaría cronofotografía, que más tarde denominaría cinematográfico, del griego; Kinema: movimiento, y Grafíen, escribir.
Pequeño relato sobre lo extraordinario
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana, Vallejo Piedrahita Catalina
Published: June 2024

¿Por qué sale la gente a las calles a animar a los ciclistas cuando compiten? Ellos van tan rápido que no se alcanza a ver a nadie en detalle. Sin embargo, la gente se pinta la cara, se viste para la ocasión, y escribe pancartas de ánimo. Los ciclistas de carrera son deportistas de alto rendimiento que están entrenados para resistir y llegar a la meta en el menor tiempo posible. ¿Pensarán quienes les hacen barra que su presencia y su voz le dará alguna ventaja a su ciclista predilecto? ¿Por qué esperar durante horas, bajo el sol o la lluvia, hasta que pasen los competidores?
Poemas
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana, Jaramillo Panesso Jaime
Published: June 2024

Del libro Poemas selectos. Medellín: Ediciones Unaula, 2016.
Jaime no es billarista
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana, Osorio Gómez Jairo
Published: June 2024

Apartes del libro Jaime no es billarista, del periodista e historiador Jairo Osorio, publicado en octubre de 2009 [Fondo Editorial ITM].
Baldomero Sanín Cano (1861-1957) Cosmopolitismo intelectual, náufrago sobreviviente y luchador latinoamericano
Authors:   Universidad de Antioquia, Rubiano Muñoz Rafael
Published: June 2024

El artículo es producto de la investigación de tesis Doctoral, título: Baldomero Sanín Cano: Un intelectual liberal, humanista y transeúnte del siglo XX.
El ordenamiento territorial y la actividad minera: la inexequibilidad del artículo 37 de la Ley 685 de 2001
Authors:   Universidad de Antioquia, Cangrejo Bocanegra Carol Vanessa
Published: June 2024

El propósito del artículo fue evidenciar la situación actual que tiene en conflicto a los municipios y el Gobierno Central en relación con la actividad minera y el ordenamiento territorial, escenario que se materializa en la imposibilidad que, a hasta la fecha, han tenido los municipios de limitar o excluir de sus territorios esta actividad, como se evidenció en la sentencia T-445 de 2016, donde el municipio de Pijao realizó consulta popular, porque el desarrollo de los proyectos mineros amenazaban con cambiar significativamente la vocación del suelo de su territorio. Para esto se realizó una revisión de la normativa y la jurisprudencia, en relación con los temas que regulan el ordenamiento territorial y la minería, enfocada en la sentencia C-273 de 2016, con el propósito de analizar las alternativas normativas que tienen los municipios para regular la actividad minera con el instrumento de ordenamiento territorial, ejerciendo de manera efectiva su autonomía.
El concepto de “derechos sociales fundamentales” desarrollado en la obra de Rodolfo Arango: desde la crítica de Rudolph von Ihering a la jurisprudencia de conceptos
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Luna Blanco Tania
Published: June 2024

Rudolph Von Ihering se caracterizó por ser un alumno aplicado de la Jurisprudencia de Conceptos, y una promesa de continuación de la obra de sus maestros: Puchta y Savigny (Ihering; 1933: 263, 267). Sin embargo, una transformación de su pensamiento, materializada principalmente en sus obras: En el cielo de los conceptos jurídicos y La lucha por el Derecho, puede verse en dos momentos de su vida académica. El texto que se presenta propone traer a tiempo presente la crítica del primer Ihering realizada a la jurisprudencia de conceptos, en general y, particularmente, a su maestro Savigny, mostrando cómo muchos de sus argumentos siguen teniendo vigencia para algunos conceptualistas contemporáneos.
Mirada retrospectiva a los fundamentos de la creación de la jurisdicción contencioso administrativa en Colombia
Authors:   Universidad Autónoma Latinoamericana, Paz Valencia Margareth
Published: June 2024

En Colombia, con la ley 130 de 1913, se creó una jurisdicción especial para que controlara la actividad de la Administración Pública, lo cual obedeció a la influencia del Derecho Administrativo francés, según se desprende de los antecedentes de dicha ley. Los fundamentos de nuestra jurisdicción contencioso administrativa parten de premisas erróneas que final-mente dieron lugar a su creación. El presente artículo da una mirada retrospectiva a los fundamentos de la creación de la jurisdicción contencioso en Colombia y concluye que ella era innecesaria.
Evaluation of oryzalin-induced putative polyploids of Jasminum sambac cv. Ramanathapuram Gundumalli
Authors: Vishnupandi S , Ganga M , Rajamani K , Manonmani S , Manikanda Boopathi N
Published: June 2024

The aim of the research was to create genetic variations in Jasminum sambac using oryzalin as a polyploidizing agent. Rooted stem cuttings of J. sambac were treated with oryzalin (0.005, 0.01 and 0.05%) and their vegetative and flowering parameters were recorded on 150 days after treatment. The study revealed that the higher concentration of oryzalin (0.05%) caused reduction in plant height, internodal length, number of flowering cymes per plant and number of flower buds per cyme. However, the same treatment significantly enhanced certain vegetative parameters viz., number of secondary branches, stem girth, number of leaves and leaf area, and flowering parameters namely flower bud length, corolla tube length, flower bud girth, diameter of open flower and hundred flower bud weight. High GCV was recorded in major yield attributing traits, i.e. number of flowering cymes per plant and hundred flower bud weight. High heritability and genetic advance registered for the traits viz., plant height, number of secondary branches, internodal length, number of flowering cymes, flower bud girth and hundred flower bud weight per plant indicates least influence by environment and selection such characters may be useful.
The Multifaceted Impact of Music on Learning in Traditional and Music Schools
Authors:   Department for Educational Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Email: anca.simion@ubbcluj.ro., Simion Anca
Published: June 2024

This paper attempts to delve more into the complex role that music education plays in both traditional and music schools. Beyond teaching skills, music education frames children’s personality and helps them fit in future working environments. Nurturing environments, modelled after music schools, emphasize comprehensive development, integrating cognitive, psychomotor, socioemotional, and artistic aspects. Beyond conventional lines, a holistic approach to education fosters creativity, emotional intelligence, and cross-cultural understanding. Music emphasizes the importance of self-expression and encourages individuals to explore their own unique voice. It also promotes collaboration and teamwork, as musicians often work together to create harmonious melodies. Additionally, music education has been shown to improve cognitive abilities such as problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which can be applied to various areas of life beyond the realm of music. Music schools emphasize immediacy and subjectivity, whereas traditional schools emphasize different feedback mechanisms. Aligning these components have the potential of enhancing learning opportunities and encourage a more comprehensive approach to learning and evaluation in the traditional school setting.
Keywords: music education, traditional schools, music schools, learning mechanisms.
Stylistic Correlations Between Serbian and European Music in the 20th Century
Authors:   Faculty of Music, Transilvania University, Brasov, Romania. Email: totan.v97@gmail.com., Totan Virðinia , Coroiu Petruța-Maria ,   Faculty of Music, Transilvania University, Brasov, Romania. Email: petruta.maniutcoroiu@unitbv.ro.
Published: June 2024

The Serbian musical culture was put late into connection with the European one. The fact that the first piano was introduced in Serbia in 1824 indicates that cultivating Serbian music was not possible under the Turkish domination. The spread of Serbian music in Europe made it possible to publish compositions by foreign authors and Serbian composers, which drew attention to the themes of Serbian music. The compositions were printed and published in Leipzig, Vienna, Prague, Paris, Budapest, London. The tours abroad performed by Serbian choirs and soloists popularized Serbian songs all over Europe. In the first half of the 20th century, almost 80 European composers wrote works with Serbian influences. Most of the foreign composers, especially those who lived and created among Serbians, embraced the mentality and cultural and musical needs of a people whose melodic essence they tapped into, using Serbian musical themes in their compositions.
Keywords: Serbian, composition, modernity, relations, influences.
The Evolution of the Harmonium: From Ancient China to Beloved Instrument in France
Authors:   Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music; Faculty of Reformed Theology and Music, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Email: fzksadam@gmail.com., Fazakas Ádám Sándor
Published: June 2024

The harmonium’s journey begins with ancient Chinese instruments like the sheng, which inspired European innovations such as the regal and later the Orgue expressif. These early instruments laid the groundwork for Alexandre-François Debain’s invention of the harmonium in 1842. Debain’s harmonium patent introduced a revolutionary instrument characterized by its blow-feed air system and distinct sound registers. This invention marked a significant advancement in musical instrument design, providing musicians with greater tonal control and expression. Harmonium’s history reflects centuries of experimentation and ingenuity, driven by the evolving needs of musicians and technological innovations. From its humble origins to becoming a staple of musical expression, the harmonium embodies the spirit of creativity and innovation in music history.
Keywords: Harmonium, Scheng, Regal, Organ, Instrument
Opportunities for Prevenar 13 ® vaccine in Campania region: a budget impact analysis
Authors: Liguori Giorgio , Parlato Antonino , Scaletti Alessandro , Belfiore Patrizia , Russo Paolo , Gallé Francesca , D’Ausilio Anna , Granata Maria Rosaria , Pecci Francesco , (SIHHS) Società Italiana di Health Horizon Scanning
Published: June 2024

Background: although the efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination for the more common serotypes ofStreptococcus pneumoniae has been demonstrated, the 13-valent vaccine (Prevenar 13 ® ) is still offeredin different ways in the Italian regional healthcare units, and in the region of campania, some localhealth authorities administer the vaccine free of charge whilst others practice a co-payment.MethodS: We performed a budget impact analysis of the possible free administration of Prevenar 13®vaccine to all newborns in the campania region, by comparing two different delivery settings, one havingan active vaccination program and another in which such program was absent. during the operation of thevaccination program, the number of expected cases with 50, 80 and 100% vaccine coverage in the popula-tion was considered. the economic advantage resulting from pneumococcal diseases deemed avoidablethanks to the vaccination was compared with the costs of the vaccination program.the analysis considered the direct costs in the 2 years after implementation of the vaccination program.costs were expressed in € euros 2010.reSultS: although we did not consider the benefits achievable in the 10 years following the vaccina-tion, nor the herd effects, we showed that offering anti-pneumococcal vaccination to all newborns couldgive economic advantages to the region, estimated as close to 1 million euros.concluSIon: the use of Prevenar 13® can be considered a greatly advantageous public health strategy.
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases: tackling the challenge on a global level
Authors: De Vito Corrado , Marzuillo Carolina , D’Andrea Elvira , Romano Ferdinando , Villari Paolo
Published: June 2024

After the Second World War the general feeling was to have solved almost all the most important problems of dealing with infectious diseases. This feeling appeared to be appropriate and supported by the identification of new allies such as new antibiotics and vaccines. However, in 1991 the Institute of Medicine of the National Research Council in the US appointed a 19-member multidisciplinary expert committee to study the old and new microbial threats to health.
Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of healthcare workers regarding influenza and vaccination in Salerno, Italy
Authors: Panico Maria Grazia , D’Anna Adele , Ronga Chiara
Published: June 2024

Background: Influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) is unacceptably low despitethe recommendations of health authorities.Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge base of healthcare workers in Local HealthServices (LHS) regarding influenza vaccination and to identify the factors that inhibit or motivate vaccinationamong HCWs.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out between July and October 2003 within the five Hospitals ofthe LHS “Azienda Sanitaria Salerno2”, Salerno, Italy. In July 2003, we prepared a standardized anonymousquestionnaire for a sample of 280 healthcare workers aimed at surveying their knowledge base and attitudestowards influenza and vaccination. The HCWs were recruited by random selection using the stratifiedlayered sampling method. On the basis of the results of our survey, a hospital vaccination campaign wasundertaken. Statistical analysis was carried out using the EpiInfo 6.06 program. Data were analyzed throughfrequency distribution. Statistical comparison was performed using the Chi-square tests and a p-value <0,05was considered statistically significant*.Results: During the 2003-2004 influenza season, 230 (81%) out of 280 employees answered thequestionnaire. 31 respondents (13.5%) were physicians, 94 (40.9%) were nurses and 105 (45.6%) wereworkers employed in supporting services. The vaccination rate among Health Care workers of this LocalHealth Service (LHS) unit was about 15.0%. The reasons most frequently cited by HCWs for noncompliancewith vaccination were confidence in their own personal health, the fear of adverse reactions to the vaccineand the doubt they had about vaccine efficacy.Conclusions: We conclude that those responsible for influenza vaccination programs might consider aspecifically tailored intervention strategy aimed at improving coverage. The answers collected can be usedto refine the following season’s campaign.
Clinical research and prevention: fundamental elements of sustainable health care systems based on patients’ needs
Authors: De Santo Natale G. , Perna Alessandra F. , Cirillo Massimo
Published: June 2024

Problems in health care systems are present on a planetary scale due to a discrepancy between scarceresources and vast needs. These are mainly generated by the aging of the population. Everywhere in the world,state health care agencies simply reduce the quantity and eventually the quality of available services. Thisapproach is unacceptable, at least in Europe, where health care is a legal right, granted from birth to death.This paper departs from the poor support available nowadays for clinical research and the trivial investmentson prevention, and hypothesizes a new approach based on clinical research and prevention which, in the longterm, would generate a just, efficient, sustainable health care system stemming from patients’ needs. This isdiscussed from various viewpoints. It emerges that there is a need to switch the focus of health systems awayfrom cures towards prevention and as well as a need for better translational research. It is of note that inFrance such a program based on clinical research and prevention was launched in 2008
Health status and public health in Asia
Authors: Bontempi Claudio , La Torre Giuseppe
Published: June 2024

After the thematic issues devoted to Public Health in Eastern Europe [1] and in the Americas [2], in the current issue the Italian Journal of Public Health six articles will face different aspects regarding themes of health status and public health in Asia, giving a description of infection, nutritional and health care organization problems, and linking them to social, demographic and religious features. In each article indeed strictly health topics can be understood considering the peculiar and heterogeneous characteristics of the developing countries.
Diabetes mellitus and Ramadan. A narrative review of literature
Authors: Das Rajdeep
Published: June 2024

Background: The medical ramification of fasting among patients with diabetes is largely unknown; thepurpose of the review is to find out how diabetes mellitus is managed during the month of Ramadan.Methods: Literature published on diabetes management during the month of Ramadan in the Middle-Eastare aimed at getting a global picture of this condition at a time when diabetes is having an adverse effect onhealth care delivery. I hope the review will be a useful and comprehensive source on the subject (diabetesmellitus) for researchers, academics and clinicians who care for the increasing number of diabetic patientsand help health care providers curb the tide of the diabetes epidemic. The search includes available articlespublished, by using the keywords “Diabetes Mellitus”, “Ramadan” and “fasting” covering epidemiology,clinical, management and complication profile.Results: Studies have shown that fasting among diabetic patients carries the potential risk of dangeroushypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis and thrombosis. The EPIDIAR study was thelargest study where 50% of the whole sample changed their treatment and hypoglycemia was the onlyobserved event. There are also few studies which evaluated specific management modalities.Conclusion: It follows from this review that Ramadan fasting is acceptable for well balanced diabeticpatients, conscious of their disease and compliant with their diet and drug intake. Patients willing to fastmust be advised to undertake control of their glycaemia several times a day to prevent hypoglycemia risksduring daytime fasting or hyperglycemia during the night.
A survey on medicine consumption in the mega cities of Iran
Authors: Rahimpour Mehdi , Saremi Kamelia , Shirvani Elham , Gomari Hosna , Rahimpour Mahmoud , Niroumanesh Amin , Sardari Soroush
Published: June 2024

Background: Studying medicine consumption is a significant parameter in the estimation of the health caresystem of a country. This study evaluates the amount of medicine consumption in the mega cities of Iranand indentifies individual factors that influence this consumption.Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional survey of public medicine consumption was directed at randomsamples that counted 628 persons of fifteen years and older in several public places in the mega cities ofIran. The data were collected through questionnaires administered at the public vaccination department ofthe Pasteur institute of Iran in Tehran, and in other public places in Esfahan. A multiple regression modelwas utilized to analyze individual information.Results: Our results showed that 59.4% of the respondents were current medicine consumers. Women usedmedicines less frequently. The rates of medicine consumption among the surveyed population, for dailyand weekly-monthly consumption, were 21.8% and 37.6% respectively. In Iran, it emerged that 52.4% ofthe respondents obtained their medicines, such as acetaminophen antibiotics, and pain-killers, without aprescription.Conclusions: the study clearly showed that more than 53% of the medicine consuming persons undertakeself-treatment. Three factors gender, age and income level are the main factors influencing medicinesconsumed without physicians’ prescription in the mega cities of Iran.
Ante Natal Care (ANC) seeking behavior among women living in an urban squatter settlement: results from an ethnographic study
Authors: Jalal Sabeena , Shah Nasreen Aslam
Published: June 2024

Background: Pakistan’s population is estimated to be 160,943,000. It ranks third among the ten high burdencountries and accounts for up to 7% of worldwide neonatal deaths. According to the Pakistan’s World HealthOrganization (WHO 2010) health profile, only 28% of Pakistani women have used ante natal care services(4 plus visits), whilst 39% of reported births in Pakistan had used skilled birth attendant services, whereas59% fell within the WHO’s regional average. There is also a significant disparity, reported by the WHO, interms of inequity between the poor and the rich in the use of skilled birth attendant services: 16% and 77% respectively.Objective: This ethnographic study explores the perceptions about the need for antenatal care (ANC) in adisadvantaged population in Pakistan.Method: This is an Ethnographic study which makes use of standard methods such as non-participantobservation, semi structured interviews, and documentary review. Data was collected over 14 months andwas analyzed thematically. Key informants assisted in understanding the community norms. Open endedanswer options were used in the questionnaire.Setting: The community in this case was an urban squatter settlement by the name of Ghazi Goth, which isthe neighborhood of the poor people.Results: We found that 41% of the women did not receive ANC because of lack of financial support. 33% saidthat family did not support the decision. In 43% of the cases, the husband was the decision maker regardingwhere the delivery of the baby should take place. 31% of the respondents also reported that their mother-in-laws were the decision makers for the baby’s delivery. Only 3% reported a self decision.Conclusions: This a qualitative study which helps explore perceptions and attitudes of women towards ANC,through contextual data. The study shows that denied access to ANC services is a result of lack of resources,limited mobility and cultural factors.
Athleticogenomics and elite athletes: a review of the state of the art and a possible relationship with inflammatory response
Authors: Colombini Alessandra , Lombardi Giovanni , Banfi Giuseppe , Arpesella Marisa , Pelissero Gabriele
Published: June 2024

Background: Recent research in athleticogenomics has begun to reveal how particular genetic polymorphismsmay influence athletic status and confer an individual predisposition for better sports performances. Thisis of particular interest for elite athletes because it could help to assess an athlete’s potential, to enhancespecific training protocols for selected performances, to monitor the individual response to training load andrecovery and, finally, aid in the prevention of accidents.Methods: Using a topics search in the PubMed database, the search strategy included studies examiningthe relationship between the presence of polymorphisms in genes influencing selected physiologicalparameters and the elite athletic status. English written case (elite athletes) -control (general population)studies were selected.Results: 26 research articles concerning polymorphic genes involved in muscle physiology, cell respiratoryfunction, substrate supply and inflammatory response, significantly associated with a predisposition of eliteathletes for sports respect to their control counterparts were registered. The majority of the included genesare functionally linked but the gene involved in inflammatory responses and represents the first evidence ofan association between this gene polymorphism and elite athletic status.Conclusions: The identification of these polymorphisms could be potentially useful to evaluate an individual’spotential for elite sports disciplines. Moreover, as recently observed for the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist(IL-1RN) polymorphism, since there are genetic variants having a relevant role not only in sports medicine, butalso in the development of medical disorders, their study could help to better understand how a particularpolymorphism could influence the pathogenesis of a specific gene related disease.
Prevalence and determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among sexually active women in Turin, Italy
Authors: Salfa Maria Cristina , Latino Maria Agnese , Regine Vincenza , De Maria Daniela , De Intinis Gianfranco , Camoni Laura , Raimondo Mariangela
Published: June 2024

Background: According to the World Health Organisation, Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most commonsexually transmitted bacterial agent worldwide.The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for genital infection with Ctamong sexually active women (14-60 years of age), in Turin (northern Italy).Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed between January 2002 and December 2007 among sexuallyactive women in Turin. All women were tested for Ct infection using the Amplified Ct Assay (Gen-Probe) onan endocervical specimen. The prevalence was calculated as the proportion of Ct-positive women out of thetotal study population. Associations between Ct infection and risk factors (socio-demographic, behavioural,and clinical-gynaecological) were analyzed using the Chi-square test. The level of significance was set at0.05. Risk factors independently associated with Ct infection were determined using a multivariate logisticregression model. The statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 17.0).Results: The study included 25,289 women, of whom 1.8% were found to have Ct infection. The prevalenceof Ct infection increased significantly from 1.5% in 2002 to 2.2% in 2007 (χ2 =5.6; p-value <0.05). Theprevalence significantly increased by decreasing age (χ2 linear trend 213.7; p-value <0.001) and wassignificantly higher among non-Italian women compared to Italian women (3.3% vs. 1.6%, p-value <0.001).In the multivariate analysis, Ct infection was significantly associated with an adjusted odds ratio higher than2 for young age (14-24 years), being non-Italian, having had 2 or more lifetime sexual partners, and havinghad more than 1 partner in the previous six months.Conclusions: Our results showed an increase in Ct prevalence in Turin between 2002 and 2007. A significantassociation between Ct infection and young age, multiple sexual partners, and originating from EasternEurope was observed. To reduce the spread of the infection, women with at least one of the above mentionedrisk factors, should be encouraged to undergo a free-of-charge Ct testing.
Workplace health promotion in the context of public health
Authors: Masanotti Giuseppe M. , Briziarelli Lamberto
Published: June 2024

In modern societies, work is the source of most individual, corporate and community wealth. The level ofeach society’s health is therefore particularly vulnerable to disruption caused by employee illness. Todayhealthy workplaces are one of the most important determinants of health. However, public health has tendedto completely ignore health in the workplace and occupational medicine has tended to ignore it in part. Thisarticle refers to the Italian and European context and, through a review of international recommendations,research and direct field experiences, presents workplace health promotion as an important tool in the fieldof public health.Through the years, several initiatives have been tested. One of the platforms that has demonstrated to becost effective is based on the principles included in the Ottawa Charter which, when applied to the workplace,define workplace health promotion. In the last twelve years, the European Commission has recognized theworkplace as a key determinant of health and has outlined a methodology of workplace health promotion asdefined in the Luxemburg Declaration. The basis of this methodology is planning. Without correct strategyand policy development it will not be possible to create a sustainable society. The enforcement of Lisbontreaty seems to be a substantial step forward for Europe.
Public Health Observatories in England – the first three years
Authors: Wilkinson John , Chappel David
Published: June 2024

Public health observatories (PHOs) were created in England in 2000. Since then they have been engaged ina variety of activities to support the health improvement agenda in England. This article describes theseactivities, the key responsibilities and outputs of PHOs. It also describes the links with other observatoriesin Europe.
European public health reports between expectations and reality
Authors: Cornelius-Taylor Birgit , Brand Helmut
Published: June 2024

Despite the great variety of regional and national health reports that have been drawn up in the EuropeanRegion, authors and users demand that health reports should be conceived as an instrument for healthpolicy.Under the research project “Evaluation of national and regional health reports (Eva PHR)” within the HealthMonitoring Programme of the European Union, the policy impact of health reports drawn up in 19 Europeancountries has been analysed with the objective of identifying best practice models. Modelled on an agreedlist of criteria, regional and national health reports were analysed with regard to their contents, structureand political relevance. Simultaneously, a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews held with policymakers (politicians, decision-makers in administration and stakeholders) on the experiences, ideas andexpectations they have with regard to health reporting was carried out.The presently prevailing practice of descriptive health reporting is characterised by a great heterogeneityamong all received reports and by a discrepancy between the expectations of policy makers and actualhealth reporting. Whereas most health reports in Europe focus on covering the widest possible range ofissues and on presenting existing data and indicators accordingly, most decision makers attach considera-ble importance to linking epidemiology with information about health care provision, financing and evalua-tion of programmes and activities.To increase the policy relevance of public health reporting, authors should work in close collaboration withpolicy makers and consider different kinds of products with differing forms and content. Furthermore, thedevelopment of methodical instruments for routine policy oriented health reporting could close the currentgap between the perceptions of authors and users.
Use of Disease Staging and analysis of untimely admissions in the Abruzzo Region, Italy: implications for clinical management
Authors: Manzoli Lamberto , Louis Daniel Z. , Romano Ferdinando , Gonnella Joseph S.
Published: June 2024

Dear Sir;The Section of Epidemiology and Public Health of the University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Medical Education and Health Care of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA, USA, has analysed 350,000 hospital admissions for the year 2001 in the Abruzzo region. Four diseases were chosen for an in-depth analysis. These were: diabetes mellitus;cholecystitis/cholelithiasis; cancer of the female breast and bacterial pneumonia.The total admissions for these conditions were 11,000.Using the Disease Staging methodology to control for severity, a number of variables were analysed:length of hospital stay, hospital mortality, complications and repeated admissions. In addition, the timeliness of hospitalisation was analysed by grouping admissions into three categories: premature or medically unnecessary, timely, and late.An example of the first type is a patient with an elevated blood sugar but no other complications (Stage 1 Diabetes Mellitus).