bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health facility readiness to screen, diagnose and manage substance use disorders in Mbale district, Uganda
Authors: Aber-Odonga Harriet , Nuwaha Fred , Kisaakye Esther , Engebretsen Ingunn Marie S. , Babirye Juliet Ndimwibo
Published: November 2023

Background

Substance use disorders (SUD) pose a significant public health problem in Uganda. Studies indicate that integrating mental health services into Primary Health Care can play a crucial role in alleviating the impact of SUD. However, despite ongoing efforts to integrate these services in Uganda, there is a lack of evidence regarding the preparedness of health facilities to effectively screen and manage SUD. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the readiness of health facilities at all levels of the health system in Mbale, Uganda, to carry out screening, diagnosis, and management of SUD.

Methods

A health facility-based cross-sectional study was carried out among all the 54 facilities in Mbale district. A composite variable adapted from the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment manual (2015) with 14 tracer indicators were used to measure readiness. A cut-off threshold of having at least half the criteria fulfilled (higher than the cutoff of 7) was classified as having met the readiness criteria. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe readiness scores across various facility characteristics and a linear regression model was used to identify the predictors of readiness.

Results

Among all health facilities assessed, only 35% met the readiness criteria for managing Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Out of the 54 facilities, 42 (77.8%) had guidelines in place for managing SUD, but less than half, 26 (48%), reported following these guidelines. Only 8 out of 54 (14.5%) facilities had staff who had received training in the diagnosis and management of SUD within the past two years. Diagnostic tests for SUD, specifically the Uri stick, were available in the majority of facilities, (46/54, 83.6%). A higher number of clinical officers working at the health centres was associated with higher readiness scores (score coefficient 4.0,95% CI 1.5–6.5).

Conclusions

In this setting, a low level of health facility readiness to provide screening, diagnosis, and management for substance use disorders was found. To improve health facility readiness for delivery of care for substance use disorders, a frequent inventory of human resources in terms of numbers, skills, and other resources are required in this resource-limited setting.
Suppression of TNBC metastasis by doxazosin, a novel dual inhibitor of c-MET/EGFR
Authors: Kim Seongjae , Park Jung Min , Park Soeun , Jung Eunsun , Ko Dongmi , Park Minsu , Seo Juyeon , Nam Kee Dal , Kang Yong Koo , Lee Kyoungmin , Farrand Lee , Kim Yoon-Jae , Kim Ji Young , Seo Jae Hong
Published: November 2023

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by aggressive growth and a high propensity for recurrence and metastasis. Simultaneous overexpression of c-MET and EGFR in TNBC is associated with worse clinicopathological features and unfavorable outcomes. Although the development of new c-MET inhibitors and the emergence of 3rd-generation EGFR inhibitors represent promising treatment options, the high costs involved limit the accessibility of these drugs. In the present study, we sought to investigate the therapeutic potential of doxazosin (DOXA), a generic drug for benign prostate hyperplasia, in targeting TNBC.

Methods

The effect of DOXA on TNBC cell lines in vitro was evaluated in terms of cell viability, apoptosis, c-MET/EGFR signaling pathway, molecular docking studies and impact on cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. An in vivo metastatic model with CSCs was used to evaluate the efficacy of DOXA.

Results

DOXA exhibits notable anti-proliferative effects on TNBC cells by inducing apoptosis via caspase activation. Molecular docking studies revealed the direct interaction of DOXA with the tyrosine kinase domains of c-MET and EGFR. Consequently, DOXA disrupts important survival pathways including AKT, MEK/ERK, and JAK/STAT3, while suppressing CSC-like characteristics including CD44high/CD24low subpopulations, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity and formation of mammospheres. DOXA administration was found to suppress tumor growth, intra- and peri-tumoral angiogenesis and distant metastasis in an orthotopic allograft model with CSC-enriched populations. Furthermore, no toxic effects of DOXA were observed in hepatic or renal function.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the potential of DOXA as a therapeutic option for metastatic TNBC, warranting further investigation.
Removal of Pb(II) ions by cellulose modified-LaFeO3 sorbents from different biomasses
Authors: Ali Shimaa M. , El Mansop Mohamed A. , Galal Ahmed , El Wahab Soha M. Abd , El-Etr Wafaa M. T. , El-Abdeen Hanaa A. Zein
Published: November 2023

LaFeO3 perovskite is prepared by the cellulose-modified microwave-assisted citrate method using two different biomasses as a cellulose source; rice straw (RS) and banana peel (BP). The prepared samples are assigned as LaFeO3/cellulose-RS and as LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, respectively. Raman Spectra prove the presence of perovskite and cellulose phases, as well as biochar resulted from the thermal treatment of the cellulose. LaFeO3/cellulose-RS has a cauliflower morphology while, two phases are observed for LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, mesoporous cellulose phase and octahedral LaFeO3 nanoparticles as shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. LaFeO3/cellulose-BP has higher porosity and larger BET surface area than LaFeO3/cellulose-RS. Both samples are applied for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by adsorption. The adsorption follows Langmuir isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 524 and 730 mg/g for LaFeO3/cellulose-RS and LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, respectively. Cellulose precursors from different biomasses affect structural and morphological properties of LaFeO3/cellulose samples as well as the sorption performance for Pb(II) ions. BP is more recommended than RS, as a biomass, in the present study.
MCF2Chem: A manually curated knowledge base of biosynthetic compound production
Authors: Cai Pengli , Liu Sheng , Zhang Dachuan , Hu Qian-Nan
Published: November 2023

Background

Microbes have been used as cell factories to synthesize various chemical compounds. Recent advances in synthetic biological technologies have accelerated the increase in the number and capacity of microbial cell factories; the variety and number of synthetic compounds produced via these cell factories have also grown substantially. However, no database is available that provides detailed information on the microbial cell factories and the synthesized compounds.

Results

In this study, we established MCF2Chem, a manually curated knowledge base on the production of biosynthetic compounds using microbial cell factories. It contains 8888 items of production records related to 1231 compounds that were synthesizable by 590 microbial cell factories, including the production data of compounds (titer, yield, productivity, and content), strain culture information (culture medium, carbon source/precursor/substrate), fermentation information (mode, vessel, scale, and condition), and other information (e.g., strain modification method). The database contains statistical analyses data of compounds and microbial species. The data statistics of MCF2Chem showed that bacteria accounted for 60% of the species and that “fatty acids”, “terpenoids”, and “shikimates and phenylpropanoids” accounted for the top three chemical products. Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolytica, and Corynebacterium glutamicum synthesized 78% of these chemical compounds. Furthermore, we constructed a system to recommend microbial cell factories suitable for synthesizing target compounds and vice versa by combining MCF2Chem data, additional strain- and compound-related data, the phylogenetic relationships between strains, and compound similarities.

Conclusions

MCF2Chem provides a user-friendly interface for querying, browsing, and visualizing detailed statistical information on microbial cell factories and their synthesizable compounds. It is publicly available at https://mcf.lifesynther.com. This database may serve as a useful resource for synthetic biologists.
Testing a non-destructive assay to track Plasmodium sporozoites in mosquitoes over time
Authors: Oke Catherine E. , Reece Sarah E. , Schneider Petra
Published: November 2023

Background

The extrinsic incubation period (EIP), defined as the time it takes for malaria parasites in a mosquito to become infectious to a vertebrate host, is one of the most influential parameters for malaria transmission but remains poorly understood. The EIP is usually estimated by quantifying salivary gland sporozoites in subsets of mosquitoes, which requires terminal sampling. However, assays that allow repeated sampling of individual mosquitoes over time could provide better resolution of the EIP.

Methods

We tested a non-destructive assay to quantify sporozoites of two rodent malaria species,Plasmodium chabaudiandPlasmodium berghei, expelled throughout 24-h windows, from sugar-soaked feeding substrates using quantitative-PCR.

Results

The assay is able to quantify sporozoites from sugar-soaked feeding substrates, but the prevalence of parasite-positive substrates was low. Various methods were attempted to increase the detection of expelled parasites (e.g. running additional technical replicates; using groups rather than individual mosquitoes), but these did not increase the detection rate, suggesting that expulsion of sporozoites is variable and infrequent.

Conclusions

We reveal successful detection of expelled sporozoites from sugar-soaked feeding substrates. However, investigations of the biological causes underlying the low detection rate of sporozoites (e.g. mosquito feeding behaviour, frequency of sporozoite expulsion or sporozoite clumping) are needed to maximise the utility of using non-destructive assays to quantify sporozoite dynamics. Increasing detection rates will facilitate the detailed investigation on infection dynamics within mosquitoes, which is necessary to explain the highly variable EIP ofPlasmodiumand to improve understanding of malaria transmission dynamics.

Graphical Abstract
A SNARE protective pool antagonizes APOL1 renal toxicity in Drosophila nephrocytes
Authors: Lee Jin-Gu , Fu Yulong , Zhu Jun-yi , Wen Pei , van de Leemput Joyce , Ray Patricio E. , Han Zhe
Published: November 2023

Background

People of Sub-Saharan African ancestry are at higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), attributed to the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene risk alleles (RA) G1 and G2. The underlying mechanisms by which the APOL1-RA precipitate CKD remain elusive, hindering the development of potential treatments.

Results

Using a Drosophila genetic modifier screen, we found that SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) play an important role in preventing APOL1 cytotoxicity. Reducing the expression of these SNARE proteins significantly increased APOL1 cytotoxicity in fly nephrocytes, the equivalent of mammalian podocytes, whereas overexpression of Syx7, Ykt6, or Syb attenuated their toxicity in nephrocytes. These SNARE proteins bound to APOL1-G0 with higher affinity than APOL1-G1/G2, and attenuated APOL1-G0 cytotoxicity to a greater extent than either APOL1-RA.

Conclusions

Using a Drosophila screen, we identified SNARE proteins (Syx7, Ykt6, and Syb) as antagonists of APOL1-induced cytotoxicity by directly binding APOL1. These data uncovered a new potential protective role for certain SNARE proteins in the pathogenesis of APOL1-CKD and provide novel therapeutic targets for APOL1-associated nephropathies.
SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors from the stem barks of Discoglypremna caloneura (Pax) Prain (Euphorbiaceae) and Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir (Fabaceae) and their molecular docking investigation
Authors: Djouonzo Paul Toukam , Mukim Md Sofequl Islam , Kemda Pamela Nangmo , Kowa Theodora Kopa , Tchinda Alembert Tiabou , Agbor Agbor Gabriel , Pan Cheol-Ho , Song Dae-Geun
Published: November 2023

The main viral protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 provides an excellent target for antivirals, due to its essential and conserved function in the viral replication cycle. We reported in this study, the SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitory effect of twelve compounds isolated from D. caloneura and P. erinaceus together with four derivatives. Among the effectively tested samples, two derivatized compounds displayed significant improvement on the activity from the starting material, friedelin (1) through the acetoreduced (2) to the acetoxy product (3) with respective IC50 values of 42.89, 29.69 and 19.39 µg/mL. The latter displayed the highest activity although lower as compared to that of baicalein, the positive control with IC50 0.41 µg/mL. The molecular docking study showed that an increase in the number of hydrogen bonds between compounds and active site of Mpro resulted in increased inhibition.

Graphical Abstract
Predicting object properties based on movement kinematics
Authors: Kopnarski Lena , Lippert Laura , Rudisch Julian , Voelcker-Rehage Claudia
Published: November 2023

In order to grasp and transport an object, grip and load forces must be scaled according to the object’s properties (such as weight). To select the appropriate grip and load forces, the object weight is estimated based on experience or, in the case of robots, usually by use of image recognition. We propose a new approach that makes a robot’s weight estimation less dependent on prior learning and, thereby, allows it to successfully grasp a wider variety of objects. This study evaluates whether it is feasible to predict an object’s weight class in a replacement task based on the time series of upper body angles of the active arm or on object velocity profiles. Furthermore, we wanted to investigate how prediction accuracy is affected by (i) the length of the time series and (ii) different cross-validation (CV) procedures. To this end, we recorded and analyzed the movement kinematics of 12 participants during a replacement task. The participants’ kinematics were recorded by an optical motion tracking system while transporting an object, 80 times in total from varying starting positions to a predefined end position on a table. The object’s weight was modified (made lighter and heavier) without changing the object’s visual appearance. Throughout the experiment, the object’s weight (light/heavy) was randomly changed without the participant’s knowledge. To predict the object’s weight class, we used a discrete cosine transform to smooth and compress the time series and a support vector machine for supervised learning from the achieved discrete cosine transform parameters. Results showed good prediction accuracy (up to $$95\%$$

95
%

, depending on the CV procedure and the length of the time series). Even at the beginning of a movement (after only 300 ms), we were able to predict the object weight reliably (within a classification rate of $$88-94\%$$

88
-
94
%

).
Improved perioperative narcotic usage patterns in patients undergoing robotic-assisted compared to manual total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Buchan Graham B. J. , Bernhard Zachary , Hecht Christian J. , Davis Graeme A. , Pickering Trevor , Kamath Atul F.
Published: November 2023

Background

Robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty (RA-THA) improves accuracy in achieving the planned acetabular cup positioning compared to conventional manual THA (mTHA), but optimal dosage for peri-RA-THA and mTHA pain relief remains unclear. This study aimed to compare pain control with opioids between patients undergoing direct anterior approach THA with the use of a novel, fluoroscopic-assisted RA-THA system compared to opioid consumption associated with fluoroscopic-assisted, manual technique.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis was performed on a consecutive series of patients who received mTHA and fluoroscopy-based RA-THA. The average amount of postoperative narcotics in morphine milligram equivalents (MME) given to each cohort was compared, including during the in-hospital and post-discharge periods. Analyses were performed on the overall cohort, as well as stratified by opioid-naïve and opioid-tolerant patients.

Results

The RA-THA cohort had significantly lower total postoperative narcotic use compared to the mTHA cohort (103.7 vs. 127.8 MME; P < 0.05). This difference was similarly seen amongst opioid-tolerant patients (123.6 vs. 181.3 MME; P < 0.05). The RA-THA cohort had lower total in-hospital narcotics use compared to the mTHA cohort (42.3 vs. 66.4 MME; P < 0.05), consistent across opioid-naïve and opioid-tolerant patients. No differences were seen in post-discharge opioid use between groups.

Conclusions

Fluoroscopy-based RA-THA is associated with lower postoperative opioid use, including during the immediate perioperative period, when compared to manual techniques. This may have importance in rapid recovery protocols and mitigating episode burden of care.
Beamforming: a spatial de-noising approach for civil structural health monitoring
Authors: Wang Zihang , Ren Yuan , Deng Chao , Zhong Wenzhe
Published: November 2023

In the civil structural health monitoring fields, monitored data suffer from noise and sensor faults. In practice, redundant sensors are usually deployed to monitor structural condition to obtain more accurate and robust information. This paper proposes a beamforming-based spatial filtering method to improve the data quality by using the information redundancy within sensor networks. Data pre-processing is first implemented, including missing data imputation and thermal response separation. Subsequently, short-term Fourier transform is used to transform the measured time sequences into time–frequency domain to obtain more useful features. Finally, signals in the time and frequency domain are processed using the beamforming algorithm. In the beamformers, a linear filter is applied to suppress noise signals, which is formulated as a constrained optimization problem. Herein, interior point algorithm is used to optimize the allocation of the linear filter, wherein the objective function is to minimize the power of the noise component at the beamformer output. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by using signals from strain gauges installed on steel deck plates of the 3rd Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. Results through the case study show that signals after spatial filtering have a satisfactory de-noising, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed beamforming algorithm. We believe that the proposed beamforming algorithm has substantial potential applications, such as providing high quality data source for further investigations.
Metaverse in Medical Education: A Paradigm Shift
Authors: Farrukh Khadija
Published: November 2023

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8752

How to cite this: Farrukh K. Metaverse in Medical Education: A Paradigm Shift. Pak J Med Sci. 2024;40(1):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.40.1.8752
Exploratory Factors and Reliability Analysis of Active Learning Techniques Instruments to Assess Business Subjects of Secondary School Students in Malaysia
Authors: Rahman Azlinah Abdul , Sahid Sheerad , Nasri Nurfaradilla Mohamad
Published: November 2023

Active learning (AL) techniques invite students to participate actively, either physically or mentally, in the learning process so that they can change their behavior efficiently to achieve great achievement. Still, there is insufficient knowledge concerning the dimensions of AL techniques for business subjects of secondary school students in Malaysia. Thus, the research’s goal is to assist in the determination of the instruments’ reliability to measure the AL techniques measurement scale for business subjects’ students using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) as well as reliability analysis. Moreover, this research conducted a self-administered survey among secondary school students who have taken business subjects as their elective subjects. From secondary schools in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, 123 respondents were randomly chosen for the sample. To measure the AL constructs, the study retained 30 items developed because no items have been omitted since the factor loading turned out higher than the 0.50 cut-off point and was used as a tool for data collection. Essentially, this research empirically validates the dimension which helps lead to AL techniques in business subjects that are improved, and the findings are particularly beneficial to secondary school students in Malaysia.
“To Sing on Shabbat, Night and Day, Each Person at Their Table”: On the Formation of the Custom of Singing Shabbat Zemirot in Medieval Europe
Authors: Kohn Albert Evan
Published: November 2023

Abstract: This essay traces the development of the custom of singing table songs known as Shabbat zemirot during Shabbat meals in medieval Europe. Though a popular custom, its medieval formation has yet to receive scholarly attention. Informal Shabbat table singing was likely common for centuries, yet the earliest extant instructions to sing specific songs were written in thirteenth-century northern France and appeared shortly thereafter in Ashkenaz and Italy. The many manuscripts containing Shabbat zemirot reveal the custom's spread, growth, and popularity in these regions. Though preserved in writing, Shabbat zemirot and their tunes were primarily disseminated orally by families singing within their homes. Such orality encouraged flexibility and diversity in how the custom was performed. Once the songs were printed in the sixteenth century, a more rigid construction of the practice and its repertoire took shape. Included as appendices are lists of manuscripts containing Shabbat zemirot and tables of the most common songs.
Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of Vitex agnus-castus extract on cisplatin-induced hematotoxicity in female Wistar rats
Authors: Tripathy Aparna , Raghavendra Archana Parampalli , Dutta Babi , Surendran Sudarshan
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim: Cisplatin (CP) is a preferred drug for cancer treatment but it has dose-dependent side effects. Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) berry extract has antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study explored the mitigating effects of VAC extract (VACE) on acute hematotoxicity induced by CP in female Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats (n = 30) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6/group). The normal control (NC) group received no treatment. The CP control group received CP (7 mg/kg.b.w. ip, single dose) and the drug control group (VACE-650) received VACE (650 mg/kg b.w. oral, daily) for 7 days. Both groups received a single dose of CP (7 mg/kg b.w. ip), followed by 350 and 650 mg/kg.b.w. of VACE daily orally (CPVACE-350 and CPVACE-650 groups, respectively) for 7 days. Results: After a single dose of CP (7 mg/kg b.w.), the red blood cells (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets significantly decreased. In the VAC-350 group, the reduction in total WBC count was less than that in the VAC-650 group on the 3rd day. The RBC and HCT values of the VACE groups were better than that of the CP control, but the VACE-350 treatment group showed significant improvement only on the 3rd day. Conclusion: Our findings showed that VACE can mitigate CP-induced damage to peripheral blood cells at lower doses. Keywords: cisplatin, hematotoxicity, rats, Vitex agnus-castus.
Benefits of automated pig feeding system: A simplified cost–benefit analysis in the context of Kazakhstan
Authors: Dambaulova Gulmira K. , Madin Vladimir A. , Utebayeva Zheniskul A. , Baimyrzaeva Madina K. , Shora Leila Z.
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim: Automated pig feeding system is an emerging technology with the potential to considerably enhance pig farming. This study aimed to explore the benefits of automated pig feeding systems and provide a simplified cost– benefit analysis, which would serve as a valuable decision-making tool for the stakeholders.

Materials and Methods: This study conducted a literature review of automated pig feeding systems and explored recent advancements. We conducted a cost–benefit analysis to assess the economic feasibility of implementing an automated feeding system in pig farming. Finally, the case study site, a pig farm in Kazakhstan, has been introduced to provide key information.

Results: The results described an automated pig feeding system suitable for a farm with 500 pigs in Kazakhstan. The case study was further enhanced using a simplified cost–benefit analysis tailored to the farm’s needs and circumstances.

Conclusion: The designed automated pig feeding system is a marked advancement that seamlessly integrates the currently available automation and management technologies. Its distinguishing feature is the inclusion of remote control capabilities and real-time data provision, which utilize modern technology to transform pig farming management.

Keywords: automated feeding system, cost–benefit analysis, efficiency, pig farming.
Uncontrolled Overspeed
Authors: Andrew Phil
Published: November 2023

The major part of the design and specification of equipment for the arrest or prevention of overspeed, particularly the safety gear/overspeed governor combination, concerns itself with the performance when carrying rated load, or, in the event of upward overspeed, zero load in the car.  In particular, specification is concerned with performance of safety equipment in the face of suspension failure, however unlikely that might be.  This paper sets out to investigate the performance of overspeed protection when there is a partial load in the car, whether with a failed suspension or not, and to discuss the opportunities in this respect provided by the introduction of the so-called rope brake.
Beyond the Checkpoint: Severe Axitinib-induced Liver Injury
Authors: Yeo Yee Hui , Ayoub Walid , Yang Ju Dong , Kuo Alexander , Trivedi Hirsh D.
Published: November 2023

Understanding the potential adverse effects associated with oncological treatments is crucial in the clinical care of patients with cancer. We describe the first case report delineating severe acute liver injury secondary to axitinib. This is a case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with axitinib and pembrolizumab, complicated by a severe axitinib-induced liver injury, characterized by significant elevations of hepatocellular and cholestatic liver enzymes during initial treatment and rechallenge of axitinib. Remarkably, the liver chemistries normalized upon discontinuation of the medication.
Finite element analysis for built-up steel beam with extended plate connected by bolts
Authors: Ali Ahmed Ajel , Al-Shather Luay Mohammed , Abdul-Jawad Hayder Mahdi
Published: November 2023

Extended end-plate type connections are widely utilized in steel assemblies for easy production and assembly. The proper end-plate and bolt selection is paramount to confirming safety and economy in all connections and, consequently, steel buildings. This study presented an approach for refined parametric three-dimensional finite element analysis of bolted steel beam-to-beam extended end-plate connections. The model considers geometrical and material non-linearity to determine the impact of various factors on the connection’s performance. The proposed model was used to construct a parametric study. The study variables were bolt diameter and end-plate thickness, focusing on how thick and thin end plates affect connection conductivity. Numerical outcomes demonstrate that the connection's flexural strength and stiffness capability improved by increasing the end-plate thickness and bolt diameter. Finally, the analysis results were assessed, and the main conclusions were presented.
Der Euromarkt und die Internationalisierung der deutschen Banken
Authors: Kopper Christopher
Published: November 2023

The tax exemption of interest revenues and the high level of professional secrecy were the unique selling points of Luxembourg for the German banking community. From the 1960s to the 1990s, they were the main causes for the rise of Luxembourg to one of the biggest euromarket places. The government of Luxembourg used these institutional factors to foster and accelerate the economic transformation from an industrial to a post-industrial country. The German banks did not reduce or even discontinue their presence in Luxembourg after the end of tax exemption and strict banking secrecy. Instead, they specialized on syndicated loans, treasury functions and Private Wealth Management for wealthy clients.
Commercial Banking from Oil Crisis to Debt Crisis: The Case of Lloyds Bank
Authors: Altamura Carlo Edoardo
Published: November 2023

In January 1998, the British weekly The Economist called the British bank Lloyds a “money machine”. Such an outcome was far from inevitable for a bank that had been one of the hardest hit victims of the 1982 sovereign debt crisis, when most developing countries found themselves unable to repay debts accumulated over the course of the 1970s. Having overextended itself in the developing world, it took Lloyds more than a decade to return to profitability. This result was the consequence of a complete transformation of the bank’s business and management model. Branches and international loans were sidelined, as was the investment banking business, deciding to focus its activities on domestic banking. The article analyses the reasons behind the transformation of Lloyds Bank from a national bank to an international power in the 1970s and, therefore, the reverse process between the 1980s and 1990s following the sovereign debt crisis. Thanks to the examination of archival documents recently opened for consultation, the article sheds new light on various issues analysed from banking and business history, in particular on how risk is calculated, how innovative decisions are made in a context of crisis and on the role of managers in shaping and changing the culture of these institutions.
Lockvogelangebote und Rabattschlachten: Der Bierverkauf des Lebensmitteleinzelhandels in den 1970er und 1980er Jahren
Authors: Bodden Nancy
Published: November 2023

Previously undiscovered market studies show that the sale of beer as a loss-leader offer was already used as a competitive tool in food retailing in the 1970s and became an important feature of aggressive competition among retailers in the 1980s. The article illustrates the specific assortment and pricing policies in beer retailing and makes clear that increasing beer sales at low dumping prices led to profit losses for the stores.

This highlights another facet in the development of the West German mass consumer society and the structural change in food retailing: the hallmarks of the growth and concentration process were not only the procurement and financing advantages of the large retailers, but also loss-leader offers and price undercutting in certain product groups, of which beer was demonstrably one.
War, Risk, and Gold: The Turkish War of Independence and Ottoman Empire
Authors: Hanedar Avni Önder
Published: November 2023

After the end of the First World War in November 1918, the Allies were involved in a military campaign in the Ottoman lands, leading to a national resistance by Turks that would end in 1923. It is relevant to provide actual information on the outcomes of the Turkish War of Independence, since it was a longlived event that paved the way for further problems on the belligerents’ economies. Using unique data for the value of the gold from 1919 to 1925 at the İstanbul bourse, our analysis complements the historical arguments as historians may find political risks difficult to quantify. We observe that in 1921 the Turkish victories created expectations on the part of traders that the war could end soon, as is manifested in exchange rate fluctuations. The Turkish economy would have experienced higher financial instability with the Allies’ occupation and resistance in 1920, creating a lower chance to return the pre-war gold content of the belligerents’ currencies.
Ultraviolet light scattering by a silicon Bethe hole
Authors: Lee Dukhyung , Lee Youjin , Kim Dai-Sik
Published: November 2023

Bethe’s theory predicts that scattering by a small hole on a thin perfect electric conductor (PEC) is presented as radiation by an in-plane magnetic dipole of the incident magnetic field direction. Even in the near-infrared range where metals are no more PEC, the magnetic dipole radiation of Bethe holes has been demonstrated. However, such Bethe holes’ nature has not been addressed yet in the ultraviolet (UV) range where conductivity of metals becomes severely deteriorated. Meanwhile, UV plasmonics has been elevating its importance in spectroscopy and photochemistry, recognizing silicon (Si) as an alternative plasmonic metal featuring the interband transition in the UV range. In this work, we expanded the Bethe’s theory’s prediction to the UV range by investigating Si Bethe holes theoretically and experimentally in terms of the scattering pattern and polarization. Simulation results showed that the scattered field distribution resembles that of an in-plane magnetic dipole, and the dipole direction at oblique incidence is roughly given as the incident magnetic field direction with a deviation angle which can be predicted from the Fresnel equations. Simulation with various diameters showed that the magnetic dipole nature maintains with a diameter less than the quarter-wavelength and multipoles becomes noticeable for diameters larger than the half-wavelength. We performed scattering polarization measurement at 69-degree incidence, which confirms the theoretical analysis. The features of Si Bethe holes demonstrated here will be useful for designing UV plasmonic metasurfaces.
ПРОТЕКЦІОНІЗМ ЯК ДЕТЕРМІНАНТА РОЗВИТКУ АВТОМОБІЛЕБУДУВАННЯ ВЕЛИКОЇ БРИТАНІЇ
Authors: КРЕХІВСЬКИЙ Олег
Published: November 2023

Розглянуто тарифну політику щодо імпорту, яку було запроваджено у Великій Британії з початком Першої світової війни і яка діяла протягом близько 60 років. Спираючись на історичні факти і цифри, обґрунтовано на прикладі автомобільної індустрії, що так звані мита Маккенна в довгостроковій перспективі вплинули на зростання виробництва, зайнятості, надходжень до бюджету; обумовили зниження цін на внутрішньому ринку, скорочення імпорту і збільшення експорту, сприяли іноземним інвестиціям і трансферу передових технологій, ширшому залученню до бізнес-процесів місцевого потенціалу. Унаочнено, що запущені нині урядом Індії захисні мита для регулювання імпорту товарів, випуск яких визначено її урядом пріоритетом (зокрема, ідеться про виробництво електромобілів), є віддзеркаленням заходів, що реалізовувала Велика Британія на початку ХХ ст. Наголошено, що захисні тарифи на ці товари в Україні є суттєво нижчими. Показано, що США в цілях національної безпеки також використовують імпортні мита.Беручи до уваги положення ГАТТ/СОТ і Угоди про асоціацію з ЄС, а також сучасні приклади їх застосування, цілком очевидно, що Україна в нинішніх умовах зовнішніх і внутрішніх викликів та інституційних обмежень може в період повоєнного відновлення скористатися перевагами політики протекціонізму для розвитку індустрії, базуючись на своєму праві визначати «найважливіші винятки з міркувань безпеки» задля забезпечення соціально-економічної та фінансової стабільності країни і добробуту нації. З огляду на це, необхідно переосмислити поточну політику України щодо автомобілебудування, зокрема в частині зовнішньоторговельного регулювання, і сформувати нову політику, яка спиратиметься на положення теорії ефективного протекціонізму і розрахунки ефективної ставки захисту, оцінки поточного стану і перспектив підприємств, результати фахової дискусії щодо пріоритетів галузі: чи вона має залишатися на стадії великовузлового складання, чи націлитися на повноциклове виробництво з високим рівнем локалізації.
Exploring the challenges of curriculum advisors in schools in the Vhembe-West district, Limpopo province, South Africa
Authors: Mouton Nelda , Malumbete Phamela
Published: November 2023

Monitoring and supporting teachers in the classroom, as well as the implementation of curriculum changes, pose problems in South Africa. This is due to an array of challenges such as a lack of resources, communication barriers within the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as well as a lack of proper infrastructure. In the research reported on here we investigated the challenges that curriculum advisors in the Vhembe-West district face and provides insight into some of their daily challenges. This could assist the international platform, especially as developing countries and other Third World Countries can benefit from the outcomes of this research. A qualitative research approach was used where 12 interviews were conducted with curriculum advisors in the Vhembe-West district. The interview questions were e-mailed to them beforehand so that they could familiarise themselves with the questions to be answered. Within a period of 2 weeks thereafter, interviews were conducted and recorded for analysis on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The data were grouped and are presented in 5 different themes with the aim of highlighting the challenges as well as providing recommendations to deal with the challenges that curriculum advisors experience. The data reveal that curriculum advisors experience that they receive minimal support from their superiors and that the resources at their disposal also prove to be minimal. This study highlights the lack of resources, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of effective communication from management needed for proper curriculum implementation at schools.
Task as Context: A Sensemaking Perspective on Annotating Inter-Dependent Event Attributes with Non-Experts
Authors: Li Tianyi , Wang Ping , Shi Tian , Bian Yali , Esakia Andy
Published: November 2023

This paper explores the application of sensemaking theory to support non-expert crowds in intricate data annotation tasks. We investigate the influence of procedural context and data context on the annotation quality of novice crowds, defining procedural context as completing multiple related annotation tasks on the same data point, and data context as annotating multiple data points with semantic relevance. We conducted a controlled experiment involving 140 non-expert crowd workers, who generated 1400 event annotations across various procedural and data context levels. Assessments of annotations demonstrate that high procedural context positively impacts annotation quality, although this effect diminishes with lower data context. Notably, assigning multiple related tasks to novice annotators yields comparable quality to expert annotations, without costing additional time or effort. We discuss the trade-offs associated with procedural and data contexts and draw design implications for engaging non-experts in crowdsourcing complex annotation tasks.
BackTrace: A Human-AI Collaborative Approach to Discovering Studio Backdrops in Historical Photographs
Authors: Lim Jude , Mohanty Vikram , Dodson Terryl , Luther Kurt
Published: November 2023

In historical photo research, the presence of painted backdrops have the potential to help identify subjects, photographers, locations, and events surrounding certain photographs. However, there are few dedicated tools or resources available to aid researchers in this largely manual task. In this paper, we propose BackTrace, a human-AI collaboration system that employs a three-step workflow to retrieve and organize historical photos with similar backdrops. BackTrace is a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system powered by deep learning that allows for the iterative refinement of search results via user feedback. We evaluated BackTrace with mixed-methods evaluation and found that it successfully aided users in finding photos with similar backdrops and grouping them into collections. Finally, we discuss how our findings can be applied to other domains, as well as implications of deploying BackTrace as a crowdsourcing system.
Rethinking Quality Assurance for Crowdsourced Multi-ROI Image Segmentation
Authors: Lu Xiaolu , Ratcliffe David , Kao Tsu-Ting , Tikhonov Aristarkh , Litchfield Lester , Rodger Craig , Wang Kaier
Published: November 2023

Collecting high quality annotations to construct an evaluation dataset is essential for assessing the true performance of machine learning models. One popular way of performing data annotation is via crowdsourcing, where quality can be of concern. Despite much prior work addressing the annotation quality problem in crowdsourcing generally, little has been discussed in detail for image segmentation tasks. These tasks often require pixel-level annotation accuracy, and is relatively complex when compared to image classification or object detection with bounding-boxes.

In this paper, we focus on image segmentation annotation via crowdsourcing, where images may not have been collected in a controlled way. In this setting, the task of annotating may be non-trivial, where annotators may experience difficultly in differentiating between regions-of-interest (ROIs) and background pixels. We implement an annotation process and examine the effectiveness of several in-situ and manual quality assurance and quality control mechanisms.

We implement an annotation process on a medical image annotation task and examine the effectiveness of several in-situ and manual quality assurance and quality control mechanisms. Our observations on this task are three-fold. Firstly, including an onboarding and a pilot phase improves quality assurance as annotators can familiarize themselves with the task, especially when the definition of ROIs is ambiguous. Secondly, we observe high variability of annotation times, leading us to believe it cannot be relied upon as a source of information for quality control. When performing agreement analysis, we also show that global-level inter-rater agreement is insufficient to provide useful information, especially when annotator skill levels vary. Thirdly, we recognize that reviewing all annotations can be time-consuming and often infeasible, and there currently exist no mechanisms to reduce the workload for reviewers. Therefore, we propose a method to create a priority list of images for review based on inter-rater agreement. Our experiments suggest that this method can be used to improve reviewer efficiency when compared to a baseline approach, especially if a fixed work budget is required.
Accounting for Transfer of Learning Using Human Behavior Models
Authors: Malloy Tyler , Du Yinuo , Fang Fei , Gonzalez Cleotilde
Published: November 2023

An important characteristic of human learning and decision-making is the flexibility with which we rapidly adapt to novel tasks. To this day, models of human behavior have been unable to emulate the ease and success with which humans transfer knowledge in one context to another. Humans rely on a lifetime of experience and a variety of cognitive mechanisms that are difficult to represent computationally. To address this problem, we propose a novel human behavior model that accounts for human transfer of learning using three mechanisms: compositional reasoning, causal inference, and optimal forgetting. To evaluate this proposed model, we introduce an experiment task designed to elicit human transfer of learning under different conditions. Our proposed model demonstrates a more human-like transfer of learning compared to models that optimize transfer or human behavior models that do not directly account for transfer of learning. The results of the ablation testing of the proposed model and a systematic comparison to human data demonstrate the importance of each component of the cognitive model underlying the transfer of learning.
Humans Forgo Reward to Instill Fairness into AI
Authors: Treiman Lauren S. , Ho Chien-Ju , Kool Wouter
Published: November 2023

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our daily lives, assisting us with decision making. During such interactions, AI algorithms often use human behavior as training input. Therefore, it is important to understand whether people change their behavior when they train AI and if they continue to do so when training does not benefit them. In this work, we conduct behavioral experiments in the context of the ultimatum game to answer these questions. In our version of this game, participants were asked to decide whether to accept or reject proposals of monetary splits made by either other human participants or AI. Some participants were informed that their choices would be used to train AI, while others did not receive this information. In the first experiment, we found that participants were willing to sacrifice personal earnings to train AI to be fair as they became less inclined to accept unfair offers. The second experiment replicated and expanded upon this finding, revealing that participants were motivated to train AI even if they would never encounter it in the future. These findings demonstrate that humans are willing to incur costs to change AI algorithms. Moreover, they suggest that human behavior during AI training does not necessarily align with baseline preferences. This observation poses a challenge for AI development, revealing that it is important for AI algorithms to account for their influence on behavior when recommending choices.
Mercury presence in cassava farming, Manihot esculenta Crantz, in the vicinity of artisanal gold exploration areas in Southern Amazonia
Authors: Malvino Jamille Braga , Antônio de Andrade Ednaldo , Dênis Battirola Leandro , Lopes Tortorela de Andrade Ricardo
Published: November 2023

Cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae), a native plant to Brazil, is one of the main sources of carbohydrate in the diet of Brazilians. In gold-mining regions, such as the south of the Amazon, it is inevitable that crops will come closer to Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mines (ASGM), creating risks of production contamination by mercury (Hg). Due to the importance of cassava in the population’s diet, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the proximity of ASGM on Hg concentrations in soil and cassava samples and to assess the risk of human exposure to Hg through consumption of this food. Samples were collected in two areas along the BR-163 highway, in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Forty-two samples of cassava (roots, stems and leaves) and soil were collected. It seems there is no effect of ASGM on Hg soil concentrations. The highest concentrations of Hg in the leaves were observed in the area close to ASGM, indicating higher atmospheric deposition. In the mining area, the higher bioconcentration factor indicates the outcome of Hg from the atmosphere also on the concentrations in the roots. Daily intake and health risk quotient estimation were performed for cassava and cassava flour, with the highest values observed in the vicinity of ASGM, however, all below the established limits, indicating that, currently, the consumption of these foods by the population is safe. The cassava crop can be used as a bioindicator of atmospheric pollution by Hg caused by ASGM.