bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Reconfigurable Chipless RFID Tag Based on Notch Filter
Authors: Zhang Li , Poddar Ajay K. , Rohde Ulrich L. , Tong Mei Song
Published: January 2025

A novel reconfigurable chipless RFID tag to enhance encoding capacity is proposed in this paper. The entire transmission network includes four non-interacting ports that are independent separately. The reconfigurability can be realized by combining different ports to get different encoding results. To increase the anti-interference capability of the tag, a method of cross-combination for unit coders is proposed according to the spacing distances of the unit coders. The encoding ability of about 8-bit information can be obtained by using the compact tag structure with a dimension of 70×70 mm2 and the encoding capacity can be increased by increasing the number of unit coders. Code “1” or “0” is defined by arranging the appearance or disappearance of a unit coder. Typical encoding examples are presented and the simulation results match well with the measurement results, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed tag. The proposed tag can be used for structural health monitoring with the advantages of battery-free, large information capacity, and flexible usage.
Atraumatic Bilateral Transcervical Femoral Neck Fractures in an Elderly Epileptic Patient: A Case Report
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Tawri Pratik , Malnas Mansoor ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Munshi Parag ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: The occurrence of non-traumatic bilateral femoral neck fractures is exceedingly rare, and their manifestation subsequent to an epileptic attack is an uncommon entity with very few cases reported globally.

Case Report: We present the positive outcome of a 68-year-old man who underwent staged bilateral constrained total hip arthroplasty following a fracture resulting from a generalized seizure. This unconventional decision was justified based on several factors, including fracture pattern, bone quality, seizure history, and advanced tribology.

Conclusion: Epileptic patients pose a potential high risk for hip dislocation or fracture neck of femur. In such cases, we advocate for primary constrained arthroplasties as a viable and durable option, considering the specific circumstances and challenges associated with these patients.

Keywords: Constrained acetabular liners, bilateral femoral neck fractures, atraumatic fractures, epilepsy and fractures, rare.
Development of Indigenous Language Orthographies: Setting Up English as the Torch Bearer
Authors: Matavire Juniel Shoko
Published: January 2025

The argument that Indigenous languages require revitalisation through more pronounced roles across the fabric of society remain a social justice and affirmative action issue since 1994. The need for language development remains a remnant of the liberation project that commenced with the dawn of freedom in 1994. While political freedom and other liberties were obtained, Indigenous languages remained under the chokehold of English and Afrikaans. Arguments have pointed to a lack of zeal on the part of the government of South Africa to deliberately promote, develop and intellectualise Indigenous languages, but the element of strategy for implementation appears to have been forgotten in the tracks. What has remained unclear are the strategies to develop and intellectualise Indigenous languages. Such strategies have to accommodate the multilateral issues of social, economic, cultural, racial and linguistic diversity in the country. What appears fuzzy is the role that international, developed and economically strong languages such as English have in this endeavor. From an orthographic depth hypothesis point of view, this literature paper posits that Indigenous languages stand to gain extensively from a terminological, lexical and pragmatic association with multinational languages. A deliberate approach is required to understand the trajectories followed by already developed languages and the lessons that can be drawn from them in implementing standardization and revitalisation of Indigenous languages. Such torch bearer role of English can assist in harnessing the benefits that extend to advancing the national thrust towards inclusivity in diversity and meeting constitutional obligations in parity of esteem.
The Economic Pyramid of Unequal Exchange within the European Union
Authors: Economakis George , Markaki Maria Socrates
Published: January 2025

In this article, the “mechanism” of unequal exchange, on the basis of Marx’s analysis and Emmanuel’s seminal contribution to the issue, is investigated. According to the analysis, the deeper cause of unequal exchange lies in the established differences in the labor skills between more and less advanced countries. The analysis reveals that behind the Ricardian “comparative advantage,” unequal exchange is hidden at the expense of the less advanced countries of lower wages. On the basis of the theoretical framework of the study, an empirical investigation of unequal exchange within the 27 countries of the European Union (EU27) is developed. According to the findings of this study, there is an economic pyramid of value extraction (unequal exchange) within the EU27. At the top of this, there are countries that extract value from other EU27 countries in the context of intra-EU27 trade and at the same time exhibit monetary surpluses in their trade balance. At the bottom of the economic pyramid, there are countries that experience value extraction from other EU27 countries in the context of intra-EU27 trade while they may run monetary surpluses or deficits in their trade balance.
Authenticating Neoliberalism: Korean Official Development Assistance in Uganda and the East African Region
Authors: Musasizi Joseph , Watson Iain
Published: January 2025

Neoliberalism—in the form of privatization, deregulation, and the creation of new spatial zones and legal arrangements of land ownership—is promoted by the state to ensure an investment climate for capital accumulation. Neoliberalism uniquely combines economic deregulation and state rollback with the rollout of state strategies that ensure surplus and rentier extraction. Foreign aid has typically been regarded as a means of ensuring economic growth and development provided by the donor state. Recently, there has been an interest in the role of the private sector in development studies. Korean foreign aid, based on the new village movement development model now being used in Uganda, represents a new phase of neoliberalism in Uganda and East Africa. The new village movement is a state-driven attempt to create new neoliberal subjects and identities to prepare for future neoliberal capital accumulation in a middle-income context. Aid-recipient states such as Uganda are using Korean official development assistance to legitimate a specific rollout of neoliberal state regulations. This marks a shift from the previous disciplinary neoliberalism to the preparation of selected populations as marketable neoliberal subjects under the guise of authentic culture, resilience, and productivity.
Mastery of the self: European moral and political thought in a mirror-for-princes by Eochaidh Ó hEódhasa
Authors: Corráin Ailbhe Ó
Published: January 2025

Abstract: I have three main aims in this article. The first is to offer a normalised text accompanied by an English translation of Deacair innreamh na hóige , a poem of moral and political advice by Eochaidh Ó hEódhasa which has not previously been translated nor been the subject of critical appraisal. My second aim is to offer a close reading of the poem in order to illuminate the main ideas, arguments and attitudes that it embodies. My third concern, and that which informs the title of the article, is to argue that the values and preoccupations of the poem are characteristic of European mirrors-for-princes as a whole and reveal the extent to which this bardic poet was influenced by European moral and political thinking in general.
Gofraidh Óg Mac an Bhaird cecinit: 9. Táinig tairngeire Chiaráin
Authors: Cárthaigh Eoin Mac
Published: January 2025

Abstract: This is the ninth and final instalment in a series of editions of poems attributed to Gofraidh Óg (son of Gofraidh son of Brian) Mac an Bhaird, who flourished in the 1640s and 1650s. Authorship in this case is not certain. The poem was composed in 1649 in the false belief that Eóin Ó Cuileannáin, Bishop of Raphoe, had died. It was previously edited from the same manuscript (Stonyhurst A II 20) by Fr John MacErlean S.J. over a century ago.
Further observations on reader's aids in Irish manuscripts
Authors: McLaughlin Roisin
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Scribes of Irish manuscripts used a variety of symbols to assist their readers by clarifying the layout of text on the page or by drawing attention to significant textual or codicological matters. While many of these take the form of standard technical signs, some scribes used ornamental symbols which are worthy of further examination as they may be of diagnostic significance for the identification of hands, schools or scribal networks. Reader's aids such as manicules can also provide evidence of Ireland's engagement with a wider European scribal culture.
Characterizing propagation and vortex-splitting dynamics of Bessel-Gaussian beams in short-range atmospheric conditions
Authors: Dong Kangjun , Tao Bowen , Cheng Mingjian , Al-Ahsab Hassan , Yi Xiang , Yan Xu , Liu Qian , Guo Lixin
Published: January 2025

This study explores the propagation dynamics of Bessel-Gaussian (BG) beams, focusing on vortex-splitting behavior under short-range atmospheric conditions with varying disturbances. Using the split-step beam propagation method, the research reveals that greater atmospheric turbulence and longer transmission distances enhance both the average vortex splitting distance and its variance while reducing the average topological charge of the received OAM mode. Conversely, laminar conditions promote beam stability. Results highlight the high sensitivity of vortex splitting to beam parameters, with topological charge playing a significant role in phase singularity formation and vortex complexity. Additionally, beam width and shape are critical, as larger widths intensify splitting under atmospheric disturbance. Notably, BG beams exhibit greater stability and less vortex splitting than Laguerre-Gaussian beams, particularly in turbulent environments at short distances. These insights advance the understanding of vortex beam dynamics, with important implications for atmospheric remote sensing applications.
Prior-image-filtered ghost imaging
Authors: Nakamoto Katsuhiro
Published: January 2025

In this study, a novel precise reconstruction method was proposed for ghost imaging. In traditional ghost imaging (TGI), image quality deteriorates in proportion to the ℓ2 norm of the observed object. However, the proposed method reduces the effective ℓ2 norm by filtering an unknown direct current component and an arbitrary alternating current component derived from a pre-measured rough image. Mathematical analysis demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed TGI in terms of precision. Numerical simulations and experiments validated that the mean squared error in the proposed method was considerably lower than that in existing online algorithms, demonstrating its effectiveness for high-resolution single-pixel imaging.
Simple Approach for Universal and Quantitative Enhancement Factor in Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) Microscopy
Authors: Kano Hideaki , Oda Atsuki , MURAKAMI YUSUKE , Oketani Ryosuke , Hiramatsu Kotaro , Leproux Philippe
Published: January 2025

We propose a simple approach to determine the coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) enhancement factor (EF), based on measurements of both CARS and spontaneous anti-Stokes Raman scattering (AS). Both CARS and AS signals can be obtained by simply switching between using two laser inputs for CARS and only one for AS. Since only the inputs differ while the measurement method remains the same, this approach is independent of the spectral sensitivity of the apparatus. We quantitatively evaluated the proposed CARS enhancement factor (CARS-EF). The CARS-EF for broadband CARS microscopy was calculated to be 250 ± 1 at a pump power of 93 mW and a broadband Stokes power of 130 mW, corresponding to ~0.2 mW/cm⁻¹. The CARS-EF serves as a universal benchmark for comparing the specifications of various CARS microscopes.
On the calculation of 1/f frequency noise effects on self-heterodyne linewidth measurements
Authors: Sun Haiyin
Published: January 2025

Numerical calculation errors are found in a widely cited paper published in Journal of Lightwave Technology, to our humble opinion. The errors result in the calculated 1/f noise linewidth much larger in heterodyne measurement and matching the measured linewidth. Our re-calculation results show that the 1/f noise linewidth in heterodyne measurement is about one order smaller than previously calculated and indicates a discrepancy between theory and measurements.
Fast yet force-effective mode of supracellular collective cell migration due to extracellular force transmission
Authors: Bagchi Amrit , Sarker Bapi , Zhang Jialiang , Foston Marcus , Pathak Amit
Published: January 2025

Cell collectives, like other motile entities, generate and use forces to move forward. Here, we ask whether environmental configurations alter this proportional force-speed relationship, since aligned extracellular matrix fibers are known to cause directed migration. We show that aligned fibers serve as active conduits for spatial propagation of cellular mechanotransduction through matrix exoskeleton, leading to efficient directed collective cell migration. Epithelial (MCF10A) cell clusters adhered to soft substrates with aligned collagen fibers (AF) migrate faster with much lesser traction forces, compared to random fibers (RF). Fiber alignment causes higher motility waves and transmission of normal stresses deeper into cell monolayer while minimizing shear stresses and increased cell-division based fluidization. By contrast, fiber randomization induces cellular jamming due to breakage in motility waves, disrupted transmission of normal stresses, and heightened shear driven flow. Using a novel motor-clutch model, we explain that such ‘force-effective’ fast migration phenotype occurs due to rapid stabilization of contractile forces at the migrating front, enabled by higher frictional forces arising from simultaneous compressive loading of parallel fiber-substrate connections. We also model ‘haptotaxis’ to show that increasing ligand connectivity (but not continuity) increases migration efficiency. According to our model, increased rate of front stabilization via higher resistance to substrate deformation is sufficient to capture ‘durotaxis’. Thus, our findings reveal a new paradigm wherein the rate of leading-edge stabilization determines the efficiency of supracellular collective cell migration.
Effect of health education in the control of schistosomiasis in Dass Emirate Council of Bauchi State, Nigeria: An intervention study
Authors: Adeyemo Sunday Charles , Oyedeji Gbadebo Jimoh , Atolagbe James , Opeyemi Oladunni , Olarewaju Sunday , Akinleye Calistus , Olagunju Funso , Olabode Eniola Dorcas , Maleka Abdulwaris Salisu
Published: January 2025

Objective

Schistosomiasis has been recognized by WHO as a major contributor to mortality and morbidity, particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa, where it is most prevalent. There is a lack of reliable data on the effectiveness of health education interventions in reducing the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Bauchi State. Hence, the study assessed the prevalence of schistosomiasis and the knowledge, attitude and practices of community members of Dass Emirate towards the prevention and control of schistosomiasis before and after health education intervention.

Results

At pre-intervention, the majority of the respondents 234 (66.9%) have been diagnosed, or have family members or community members who have been diagnosed with schistosomiasis. Ninety-six (27.5%) of respondents have good knowledge about schistosomiasis. 79 (22.6%) of the respondents strongly agree that they can confidently recognize symptoms of schistosomiasis. Only 91 (26.0%) strongly agreed to taking responsibilities for taking preventive measures. At post-intervention, the prevalence of schistosomiasis dropped to 55.1%. This was statistically significant at p = 0.043 using McNemar’s test as a test of significance. Knowledge about schistosomiasis increased from 27.5% to 87.0% at post-intervention. This was statistically significant at p <0.05. Regarding attitudes and practices, good attitudes and practices increased from 59.1% at pre-intervention 71.0% at post-intervention. However, this was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Health education and education level of respondents were predictors of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices scores.
Exploration of designing an automatic classifier for questions containing code snippets—A case study of Oracle SQL certification exam questions
Authors: Chen Hung-Yi , Shih Po-Chou , Wang Yunsen
Published: January 2025

This study uses the Oracle SQL certification exam questions to explore the design of automatic classifiers for exam questions containing code snippets. SQL’s question classification assigns a class label in the exam topics to a question. With this classification, questions can be selected from the test bank according to the testing scope to assemble a more suitable test paper. Classifying questions containing code snippets is more challenging than classifying questions with general text descriptions. In this study, we use factorial experiments to identify the effects of the factors of the feature representation scheme and the machine learning method on the performance of the question classifiers. Our experiment results showed the classifier with the TF-IDF scheme and Logistics Regression model performed best in the weighted macro-average AUC and F1 performance indices. The classifier with TF-IDF and Support Vector Machine performed best in weighted macro-average Precision. Moreover, the feature representation scheme was the main factor affecting the classifier’s performance, followed by the machine learning method, over all the performance indices.
From union clout to corporate couture: Unveiling the impact of trade unions on corporate social responsibility
Authors: Mandliya Anshul , Pandey Jatin , Sohani Shrihari Suresh , Sheikh Rayees Ahmad
Published: January 2025

Trade unions and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are important institutional mechanisms through which corporations undertake responsibility for their for-profit as well as not-for-profit actions. This study explores the roles of trade unions, management, and shareholders in influencing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) controversies and CSR reporting. Drawing on instrumental stakeholder theory, we argue that while management and shareholders typically focus on governance, profitability, and operational efficiency, trade unions act as critical relational stakeholders advocating for employee welfare and social sustainability. Using a sample of 416 firms over a period of 10 years, our findings reveal that trade unions significantly reduce ESG controversies and enhance CSR reporting by advocating for employee welfare and social sustainability. In contrast, management significantly impacts CSR reporting but notably does not influence ESG controversies. Lastly, shareholders, who are important for governance and profitability, exhibit minimal impact on both ESG controversies and CSR reporting.
A genomics learning framework for undergraduates
Authors: Reed Laura K. , Kleinschmit Adam J. , Buonaccorsi Vincent , Hunt Arthur G. , Chalker Douglas , Williams Jason , Jones Christopher J. , Martinez-Cruzado Juan-Carlos , Rosenwald Anne
Published: January 2025

Genomics is an increasingly important part of biology research. However, educating undergraduates in genomics is not yet a standard part of life sciences curricula. We believe this is, in part, due to a lack of standard concepts for the teaching of genomics. To address this deficit, the members of the Genomics Education Alliance created a set of genomics concepts that was then further refined by input from a community of undergraduate educators who engage in genomics instruction. The final genomics concepts list was compared to existing learning frameworks, including the Vision and Change initiative (V&C), as well as ones for genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology, and bioinformatics. Our results demonstrate that the new genomics framework fills a niche not addressed by previous inventories. This new framework should be useful to educators seeking to design stand-alone courses in genomics as well as those seeking to incorporate genomics into existing coursework. Future work will involve designing curriculum and assessments to go along with this genomics learning framework.
Clinical, histopathological and parasitological follow-up of dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum before and after miltefosine treatment and associated therapies
Authors: Rosar Amábilli de Souza , Martins Carolina Leite , Menin Álvaro , Reck Carolina , Grisard Edmundo Carlos , Wagner Glauber , Steindel Mário , Stoco Patricia Hermes , Quaresma Patricia Flavia
Published: January 2025

In Brazil, Visceral Leishmaniases is caused by Leishmania infantum, and domestic dogs are the main reservoirs in its urban transmission cycle. As an alternative to euthanizing dogs, miltefosine has been used to treat canine visceral leishmaniasis since 2016. In this study, we have assessed the efficacy of miltefosine for treating canine visceral leishmaniasis in a new endemic area through follow-up of naturally infected dogs was evaluated. The clinical, parasitological, and histopathological characteristics of 21 dogs naturally infected with L. infantum were assessed at three time points: on the day before initiating miltefosine treatment (T0), immediately after treatment completion (T1), and 6 months after treatment completion (T2). Three dogs were treated exclusively with miltefosine, while eighteen received combination therapy with miltefosine with other treatments such as allopurinol, domperidone and immunotherapy. Skin biopsies were obtained from the abdomen to assess inflammatory responses and to quantify parasite loads using qPCR. The parasites were isolated using aspirates acquired from popliteal lymph nodes. Molecular and parasitological analyses confirmed the presence of L. infantum in all dogs, validating the effectiveness of skin and lymph node samples for diagnosis. The clinical conditions of the infected animals were improved and the skin parasite load decreased after treatment, even when distinct combination therapies were performed. The histopathological assessment revealed a miltefosine-induced reduction in the inflammatory response and a decrease in amastigotes number. Furthermore, a positive correlation was established between the reduction in parasite load and the enhancement of clinical scoring, as well as a reduction in the skin inflammatory response. Our findings suggest that miltefosine-based combination therapies reduce skin parasite load and improve clinical outcomes, while the dogs treated with miltefosine alone showed increased parasitic load and worsened clinical staging at T2. Considering this data belonging to a recent transmission area, treatment strategy suggests effective in controlling canine visceral leishmaniasis.
How traditional cultural load affects tourists’ purchasing intention of tourist souvenirs
Authors: Huang Qingxi , Yang Dajun , Xie Yixin , Tan Fuqiang , Kuang Tingyue
Published: January 2025

Based on the previous studies on the impact of traditional culture on tourists’ purchasing intentions, this study aims to further explore the mechanism and boundary conditions regarding the traditional cultural load in tourist souvenir packaging. Through seven simulated experiments (N = 3203), the impact of different degrees of traditional cultural load on tourists’ purchasing intentions has been examined, with value perception, cultural identity, and purchase purpose, advancing the research in the field of traditional culture and tourism marketing. The findings provide insights for managers in the industry of tourism and souvenir marketing for their package design.
Effects of body weight-supported Tai Chi Yunshou training on upper limb motor function in stroke patients: A three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Liying , Yu Xiaoming , Liao Wangsheng , Wang Jiening , Lu Yan , Wang Naizhen , Huanxia Zhou
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To form a unique body weight support-Tai Chi Yunshou (BWS-TCY) training method, apply it to the treatment of upper limb dysfunction after stroke, and provide a new safe and effective treatment method for the clinic.

Methods

A total of 93 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into conventional rehabilitation treatment (CRT) group, BWS-TCY group and traditional robot-assisted training (RAT) group in equal proportions. Subjects in the CRT group received 60 minutes of CRT daily. Subjects in the BWS-TCY group received 30 minutes of CRT and 30 minutes of BWS-TCY. Subjects in the RAT group received 30 minutes of CRT and 30 minutes of RAT. All interventions were conducted 5 days per week for 12 weeks. Outcome assessments included the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Function Assessment (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), absolute angular error (AAE), joint range of motion (JMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), and stroke-related quality of life. Table (SS-QOL). Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks later, and statistical analyzes were performed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results

After 12 weeks of intervention, significant improvements were observed in all evaluation indicators for the three groups of subjects compared to before the intervention. The upper limb motor function (FMA-UE and WMFT) and proprioception (AAE) showed time effects, time × group interaction effects, and group effects. When comparing the groups, the FMA-UE in the BWS-TCY group, as well as the WMFT and MBI, showed statistically significant differences compared to the CRT group (P<0.05), but not statistically significant compared to the RAT group (P>0.05). The AAE of the BWS-TCY group showed no statistical difference (P>0.05) when compared to the CRT group and RAT group. Furthermore, a time effect was observed on the rotation direction (P<0.05), and pairwise comparison between groups revealed that the BWS-TCY group performed better than both the CRT group and the RAT group. After 12 weeks of intervention, there were time effects and interaction effects between BWS-TCY and daily living activities (MBI) and quality of life (SS-QOL), but no group effect was observed. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in SS-QOL. However, there was a statistical difference (P<0.01) in MBI between the two groups.

Conclusions

The 12-week BWS-TCY intervention has been shown to effectively improve upper limb motor function.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered at chictr.org.cn on August 31, 2022 [ChiCTR2200063150] https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=176229.
Factors influencing chopstick use and an objective identification of traditional holding techniques in children
Authors: Choji Yuki , Hirokawa Nanami , Morimoto Chie , China Norihito , Nakai Akio , Miyata Kazunori
Published: January 2025

The acquisition of chopstick skills is considered essential for child development and etiquette in many Asian cultures. However, a decline in chopstick education has been observed in Japan, and the underlying causes of this phenomenon remain elusive. This study aims to investigate children’s chopstick skills and develop an objective method to evaluate them using a hand posture estimation model. In this study. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 165 first-grade elementary school students (aged 6–7) and their parents to investigate factors influencing chopstick proficiency. To complement this, video analyses were performed using a hand posture estimation model to assess the accuracy of chopstick grip classification. The findings showed that children’s chopstick-holding styles could be classified into four categories: four-finger prehension (64 participants), three-finger prehension (49 participants), palm prehension (20 participants), and others (32 participants). Despite the fact that over 80% of parents reported teaching their children how to use chopsticks, a mere 9.7% of children exhibited correct chopstick-holding technique. Interestingly, factors such as intergenerational cohabitation with grandparents and child’s age significantly influenced chopstick proficiency. These results indicate that a gap exists in the intergenerational transmission of chopstick skills, with parents potentially lacking sufficient knowledge to teach their children. The hand posture estimation model had a high accuracy rate of 85%, precision of 83%, and recall of 88% to identify whether children use chopsticks traditionally. While chopstick education is predominantly conducted within Japanese households, the increasing prevalence of nuclear families and dual-income households suggests a decline in intergenerational transmission of chopstick education. To address this issue, it is imperative to develop web applications that can integrate chopstick education into school curricula and promote chopstick skills among students.
Exploring the perceptions of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental well-being and medical education of medical students in Northern Ireland, in addition to the perceived barriers to seeking support; a qualitative study
Authors: Whiteside Claire , Klabbers Gonnie
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on population mental health. Medical students may have been particularly affected, whom prevalence of mental health conditions was already high before the pandemic hit, due to the difficult and stressful academic programme. In Northern Ireland specifically, mental well-being levels are the lowest across the UK; however limited research exists examining the medical student cohort. This study explores Northern Irish medical students’ perceptions on how the pandemic affected their mental health, their progress within medical education and perceived barriers to accessing support services in Northern Ireland.

Methods

A qualitative study of phenomenological design involving 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted amongst individuals who were 1st-4th year medical students when the pandemic was officially declared in Northern Ireland in March 2020. The interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was carried out using NVivo V12 qualitative data analysis software.

Results

Results demonstrated the COVID-19 pandemic had a considerable negative impact on participants’ mental health; a variety of interlinked social, individual and/or psychological and organisational factors led to increased levels of stress, anxiety and depression. This had a secondary negative impact on participants’ medical education progress through reducing motivation, causing burnout and impostor syndrome. Unexpectedly; there were some perceived positive outcomes, including improved appreciation for work-life balance and resilience. Participants reported various barriers to seeking help amongst this difficult time period; also categorizable into social, individual and/or psychological and organisational factors, for example; stigmatisation, fear and perfectionistic tendencies.

Discussion and conclusion

There is a pressing demand for heightened support availability, personally tailored mental health assistance and an effort to reduce mental health stigma in Northern Ireland. This study highlights the complex multifactorial nature of mental health. Medical schools must provide additional services to protect well-being during particularly challenging periods and dismantle the barriers preventing individuals from accessing vital support.
Determinants of agricultural employment during the COVID-19 pandemic: A spatial analysis of Brazilian municipalities
Authors: Batistella Patrícia , Marca Luan , Vasconcellos Fernanda Castilhos França de , Sanguinet Eduardo Rodrigues , Alvim Augusto Mussi , Fochezatto Adelar
Published: January 2025

The impact of COVID-19 has extended beyond the health toll it has taken on populations. The global economy has experienced significant downturns, with unemployment rates reaching unprecedented highs for this century. Nonetheless, the agricultural sector has been uniquely affected by the pandemic, particularly given its crucial role in food supply. This study sought to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural employment in Brazilian municipalities. To achieve this, we employed a dataset spanning the period before and during the pandemic (2018–2021). Spatial econometrics was utilized to identify potential spatial factors linked to this occurrence. Notably, the findings reveal that the transfer policies implemented by the Brazilian Federal Government have had a positive impact on agricultural employment in Brazilian municipalities, challenging the common assumption that such measures might discourage job-seeking efforts. Moreover, the results suggest that the agricultural sector has managed to absorb individuals displaced from other sectors of the economy, demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of economic challenges.
Integrative physiological, biochemical, and proteomic analysis of the leaves of two cotton genotypes under heat stress
Authors: Perveen Asia , Sheheryar Sheheryar , Ahmad Fiaz , Mustafa Ghazala , Moura Arlindo Alencar , Campos Francisco A. P. , Domont Gilberto B. , Nishan Umar , Ullah Riaz , Ibrahim Mohamed A. , Nogueira Fábio C. S. , Shah Mohibullah
Published: January 2025

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), a crucial global fibre and oil seed crop faces diverse biotic and abiotic stresses. Among these, temperature stress strongly influences its growth, prompting adaptive physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes. In this study, we explored the proteomic changes underscoring the heat stress tolerance in the leaves of two locally developed cotton genotypes, i.e., heat tolerant (GH-Hamaliya Htol) and heat susceptible (CIM-789 Hsus), guided by morpho-physiological and biochemical analysis. These genotypes were sown at two different temperatures, control (35°C) and stress (45°C), in a glasshouse, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications. At the flowering stage, a label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics of cotton leaves revealed the differential expression of 701 and 1270 proteins in the tolerant and susceptible genotypes compared to the control, respectively. Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that the heat-tolerant genotype responded uniquely to stress by maintaining the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (25.2–17.5 μmolCO2m-2S-1), chlorophyll (8.5–7.8mg/g FW), and proline contents (4.9–7.4 μmole/g) compared to control, supported by the upregulation of many proteins involved in several pathways, including photosynthesis, oxidoreductase activity, response to stresses, translation, transporter activities, as well as protein and carbohydrate metabolic processes. In contrast, the distinctive pattern of protein downregulation involved in stress response, oxidoreductase activity, and carbohydrate metabolism was observed in susceptible plants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proteomic study on cotton leaves that has identified more than 8000 proteins with an array of differentially expressed proteins responsive to the heat treatment that could serve as potential markers in the breeding programs after further experimentation.
Assessing indirect biodiversity conservation benefits of fisheries closures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada
Authors: Bryndum-Buchholz Andrea , Eddy Tyler D. , Fisher Jonathan A. D.
Published: January 2025

Marine biodiversity loss is a pressing global issue, intensified by human activities and climate change. Complementary to marine protected areas (MPAs), Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) have emerged as a key tool to mitigate this loss by providing long-term biodiversity protection. However, while OECMs primarily target specific taxa, they can also offer indirect biodiversity conservation benefits (BCBs) to a wider range of taxa. In this study, we assess the indirect BCBs of eleven OECMs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, focusing on their role in supporting the life-history processes of commercially important species such as Atlantic halibut, Greenland halibut, and redfish. We apply an integrated assessment that combines knowledge and data previously unconnected to provide information to support OECM management. Our analysis reveals that eight of the eleven OECMs overlap with potential spawning habitats for these species, suggesting important life-history benefits. However, projected climate-driven changes in bottom temperature, oxygen concentration, and pH levels pose a threat to these habitats, potentially undermining the long-term effectiveness of OECMs. These findings underscore the need for adaptive management strategies that incorporate climate-informed ecosystem indicators and broaden the conservation focus beyond economically important species. Such approaches are crucial to ensuring that OECMs continue to provide both direct and indirect BCBs in the face of accelerating climate change, thereby contributing to global marine biodiversity conservation efforts.
English major students’ satisfaction with ELSA Speak in English pronunciation courses
Authors: Pham Vi Thi Tuong , Pham Anh Tuan
Published: January 2025

Clear and accurate pronunciation plays an essential role in communicating effectively and significantly affects English learners’ proficiency. ELSA Speak has been used in some schools due to its benefits to help learners improve English pronunciation. However, to optimize the application, a better understanding of EFL learners’ satisfaction with ELSA Speak is essential. The novelty of this study is assessing how English major students were satisfied with using ELSA Speak to enhance their pronunciation and explore key factors that contributed to positive users’ experience. Two hundred and five English major students at a Vietnamese higher education institution were surveyed by a 23-item questionnaire classified into four variables: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, confirmation, and satisfaction. The findings recorded a high level of satisfaction among participants. Moreover, although both perceived ease of use and confirmation showed a considerable impact on learners’ satisfaction, confirmation was reported to be the determining antecedent of satisfaction. Perceived usefulness was directly influenced by perceived ease of use and had a stronger influence on confirmation compared to perceived ease of use. However, perceived usefulness did not have a directly significant correlation with learners’ satisfaction. These results can add evidence of learners’ satisfaction with using ELSA Speak, explain some elements affecting satisfaction, and suggest employing ELSA Speak in pronunciation courses with careful consideration of the content and teacher support as a facilitator.
Hepatitis B virus genotypes A1 and A2 have distinct replication phenotypes due to polymorphisms in the HBx gene
Authors: Zhang Min , Mouzannar Karim , Zhang Zhensheng , Teraoka Yuji , Piotrowski Jason , Ishida Yuji , Tateno-Mukaidani Chise , Saito Takeshi , Abe-Chayama Hiromi , Chayama Kazuaki , Liang T. Jake
Published: January 2025

HBV genotype A has two major subtypes, A1 (commonly in Africa) and A2 (commonly in Europe) with only 4% nucleotide differences. Individuals infected with these two subtypes appear to have different clinical manifestations and virologic features. Whether such a difference results from the virus or host has not been established. Using HBV generated from molecule clones of subtypes A1 and A2 in cell culture (HBVcc), we demonstrate that HBVcc of subtypes A1 and A2 can be passaged in vitro and in vivo and respond equally well to human IFN-α treatment. HBVcc passaged in human liver chimeric mice (HBVmp) infected human hepatocytes more efficiently than that of the original HBVcc. Subtype A2 showed a much higher viral replication level than that of subtype A1. Mechanistic investigations using constructs with chimeric A1/A2 sequences and specific mutations indicated that subtype A2 has an inherently higher replication phenotype due to specific polymorphisms in the HBx gene resulting in amino acid variations. Studies of HBx expression demonstrated that A1 HBx is expressed at a much lower level than that of A2 HBx. Mutagenesis studies identified two HBx amino acid variations responsible for the observed phenotypic difference. Using AlphaFold2, we generated structural models of HBx proteins of A1 and A2. Superposition of the two models reveal that the overall structural motifs are similarly aligned, except for the C-terminal peptides diverging between the A1 and A2 models, possibly explaining their functional difference. In conclusion, using various in vitro and in vivo models, here we show that subtype A2 has an inherently higher replication phenotype due to polymorphisms in HBx that result in possible differences in structure and expression level of the two subtype HBx proteins. This genotypic difference potentially explains the reported clinical differences between the two subtypes as well as providing a previously unrecognized association between viral sequence variations and clinical manifestations of HBV infection in humans.
Hamka's Thoughts on Taqwa Democracy
Authors: Herdiawanto Heri , Subekti Valina Singka , Noor Firman
Published: January 2025

The phenomenon of Western democracy as an ideal political system, has been continuously debatable among Muslims. Muslim societies respond to Western democracy with three groups of attitudes, namely acceptance (“pro”), rejection (contra, “con”) and critical accommodation. The main argument of the contra camp is the rejection of secularism as the main characteristic of Western democracy. On the other hand, the pro and critical accommodative camps consider democracy to achieve Islamic goals. One of the prominent Indonesian thinkers in the critical accommodative camp was Hamka or Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah. Hamka (1908–1981), one of the leading Islamic intellectuals in Indonesia in the modern era, was known for his monumental work, Tafsir Al Azhar. Hamka was well-known as an Indonesian ulama (cleric), Muhammadiyah activist, and Masyumi Party politician who was directly involved in the ideological debates in the Constituent Assembly in Bandung (1956–1959). This paper presents a descriptive-analytical research report conducted in 2015–2019. This aims to explain Hamka’s view of democracy through Islamic perspective. Hamka believes that democracy is the way to achieve Islamic goals. Tauhid and shura are the basis of Hamka’s thoughts about democracy. In contrast to secular Western democracy, Hamka coined the Islamic concept of democracy, which was named “Taqwa Democracy”.
Social Mobility in the Balkans: Border Policing Practices Are Potentially Letting Through Mostly the Members of the “Elite Club”
Authors: Bardóczy Tibor
Published: January 2025

Countless articles and books have been written so far about migration and its effect on countries. This topic is currently one of the most important ones among scholars from different fields of study, especially among social scientists. Although it has been almost eighty years since the end of the Second World War, certain regions are not peaceful even now. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian War are causing migration waves, which will inevitably force people to leave their homes in the hope of better faith. Because of its actuality, this book with its approach might provide interesting and useful lessons about migration, even beyond the Western Balkans. Naturally, migration cannot be narrowed down to one discipline, it equally concerns economics and sociology, as well as criminology and police science. Even though the Western Balkan and the south-eastern region of the Schengen area, which is the gate of Europe, is a hotspot when it comes to migration, there are not many papers focusing on this region. This is why the book Border Policing and Security Technologies: Mobility and Proliferation of Borders in the Western Balkans is highly relevant and actual, as it attempts to fill this gap.
Recurrent Bacteremia and Cholangitis From Eroded Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Coil Into the Common Hepatic Duct: A Rare Indication for Liver Transplantation
Authors: Wang Mark C. , Bui Aileen , Tintara Supisara , Etesami Kambiz , Kim Brian
Published: January 2025

Liver transplant may be necessary to manage infectious complications from severe structural biliary disease. In this report, we describe a 71-year-old woman with history of coil-embolized hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm who subsequently developed biliary obstruction resulting from coil erosion into the common hepatic duct. Resultant complications included recurrent cholangitis, bacteremia, and numerous hepatic abscesses. Because of lack of improvement with medical management, the patient underwent liver transplantation and coil removal as the definitive treatment modality. Altogether, this report explores a unique case of liver transplantation as source control for a patient with an active disseminated infection.
The Effects of Acculturative Stress on School Adjustment of Adolescents in Multicultural Families: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Parental Efficacy
Authors:   Multicultural Education Studies, Lee Hyejin , Kim Yeji , Kim Gyeonghyun , Kim Hansol
Published: January 2025

This study aims to examine the moderating effect of parental efficacy in the relationship between acculturative stress among mothers in multicultural families and adolescents' school adjustment. The analysis utilized the third wave (2021) data of the second panel of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS) provided by the National Youth Policy Institute in Korea. PROCESS Macro Model 1 was used to verify the moderating effect. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the acculturative stress of mothers in multicultural families had a significant negative effect on adolescents' school adjustment. Second, the moderating effect of parental efficacy in the relationship between mothers' acculturative stress and adolescents' school adjustment was statistically significant. Specifically, adolescents’ school adjustment was relatively higher in groups with high parental efficacy compared to those with low parental efficacy, even when mothers’ acculturative stress was high. Based on these findings, the study discusses strategies for alleviating acculturative stress among mothers in multicultural families and enhancing enhancing overall parenting efficacy.