bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flawed Players in a Complex Game: Popular Audiovisual Explanations of Economics in the United States
Authors: Davidson Roei
Published: August 2023

This article analyzes Money, Explained, a five-episode video series produced by the American explanatory journalism organization Vox and distributed globally by Netflix, as an exemplar of the recent proliferation of digital media content explaining economic issues to a general public. Such content reflects the increased prominence of news-about-relations in economic news coverage, a news form that aims to explain why current trends and events occur while also echoing early twentieth-century corporate pedagogic films and more recent personal finance journalism that instructs audiences on proper capitalist behavior. The Vox series considers several financial topics all centered on economic problems that individuals experience, involving get-rich-quick schemes, gambling, retirement saving, credit cards, and student loans. It focuses on individuals' psychological flaws as a cause for the problems they encounter and suggests that viewers can change their disposition and modify their individual behavior to surmount these problems. The series identifies some aspects of the economic system as unfair but does not consider the capacity of individuals to act collectively to restructure it.
Competitive Distribution of Europium and Samarium Based on Reaction Rate-Limiting Process in Nitrilotriacetamide Extractant-Impregnated Polymer-Coated Silica Particles
Authors: Miyagawa Akihisa , Hayashi Naoki , Iwamoto Hibiki , Arai Tsuyoshi , Nagatomo Shigenori , Miyazaki Yasunori , Hasegawa Kenta , Sano Yuichi , Nakatani Kiyoharu
Published: August 2023

Since in the nuclear fuel cycle, multiple lanthanide and actinide ions are separated by chromatography, understanding the mass transfer mechanism in the solution with multiple ions, which is generally difficult, is important for effective separation. In the present study, we have elucidated the mass transfer mechanism of Eu(III) and Sm(III) in a solution with these ions in single nitrilotriacetamide (NTA) extractant-impregnated polymer-coated silica particles. The rate-limiting process of mass transfer was the reaction of ions with NTA molecules, in which the NO3− ions were not involved, which was consistent with that obtained in a single ion distribution system. In a two-ion distribution system, the competitive reaction of Eu(III) and Sm(III) with NTA molecules was observed. The forward and backward reaction rate constants of Eu(III) and Sm(III) were determined to be $k_{1}^{\text{Eu}}$ = (1.8 ± 0.7) × 102 M−2 s−1 and $k_{ - 1}^{\text{Eu}}$ = (6.1 ± 5.3) × 10−4 s−1, and $k_{1}^{\text{Sm}}$ = (1.9 ± 0.5) × 102 M−2 s−1 and $k_{ - 1}^{\text{Sm}}$ = (5.8 ± 4.6) × 10−4 s−1. The obtained result indicates that in the near future the mass transfers of several ions in the particle can be analyzed with the present method.
Advancing Biomolecule Delivery in Plants: Harnessing Synthetic Nanocarriers to Overcome Multiscale Barriers for Cutting-Edge Plant Bioengineering
Authors: Miyamoto Takaaki , Numata Keiji
Published: August 2023

The delivery of functional biomolecules, including DNA, RNA, and proteins, into plants presents a unique opportunity to manipulate plant traits and address challenges related to global food security and environmental issues. However, the current methods of biomolecule delivery in plants face various limitations, such as dependence on specific plant species, low delivery efficiency, and complex procedures. In this context, nanocarriers have emerged as promising systems for biomolecule delivery, harnessing the power of chemistry and nanotechnology to overcome these limitations. They offer new possibilities for plant-related research and have the potential to revolutionize plant bioengineering. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of nanocarrier-mediated biomolecule delivery within plants. It highlights strategies to overcome the biological barriers encountered in plants and discusses the future directions for nanocarrier design and application, expanding the scope of plant bioengineering.
Codetecção de dengue e chikungunya durante a gestação: relato de caso
Authors: Viana Taís Saraiva , Barreto Francisca Kalline de Almeida
Published: August 2023

Introdução: A tripla circulação de arboviroses no cenário nacional, traz uma constante preocupação para a saúde pública. Relato de caso: Gestante,38 anos, primigesta, apresenta infecção aguda com quadro de febre, artralgia e mialgia, alteração de níveis pressóricos, elevação de enzimas hepáticas,plaquetopenia e elevação de LDH que gerou quadro grave, resultando em parto de emergência e hemorragia pós-parto maciça. Após suspeição e realizaçãode exames sorológicos, foi constatado codetecção por dengue e chikungunya. Considerações finais: A codetecção de dengue aguda e chikungunya gerouquadro de pré-eclâmpsia e hemorragia pós-parto. Após conduta oportuna, gestante e RN seguiram bem e em alta. Tal situação serve de alerta para vigilânciaepidemiológica.
The Logarithmic Stochastic Tracing Procedure: A Homotopy Method to Compute Stationary Equilibria of Stochastic Games
Authors: Eibelshäuser Steffen , Klockmann Victor , Poensgen David , von Schenk Alicia
Published: August 2023

We introduce the logarithmic stochastic tracing procedure, a homotopy method to compute stationary equilibria for finite and discounted stochastic games. We build on the linear stochastic tracing procedure but introduce logarithmic penalty terms as a regularization device, which brings two major improvements. First, the scope of the method is extended: it now has a convergence guarantee for all games of this class rather than just generic ones. Second, by ensuring a smooth and interior solution path, computational performance is increased significantly. A ready-to-use implementation is publicly available. As demonstrated here, its speed compares quite favorably to other available algorithms, and it allows us to solve games of considerable size in reasonable times. Because the method involves the gradual transformation of a prior into equilibrium strategies, it is possible to search the prior space and uncover potentially multiple equilibria and their respective basins of attraction. This also connects the method to established theory of equilibrium selection.

History: Accepted by Antonio Frangioni, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms – Continuous.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0360 .
Literature for Children and Youth as a Digital Text in the Modern Educational and Informational Environment
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyzylova Vitalina
Published: August 2023

The article characterizes the Reading Development Strategy for the period up to 2032 «Reading as a Live Strategy», which has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, outlines its goals and objectives. Attention is paid to their solution in the context of digitalization of modern society. The need for readers (children and adults) to master digital technology skills has been actualized. The concept of digital text has been clarified. The potential of literature for children and youth as a digital text has been determined in the context of implementation of the reading development strategy, the possibilities of its use in modern educational and information environment have been revealed. The results of a sociological survey on the compliance of modern online content with the needs of secondary school students, their parents, and teachers have been described. The most popular digital resources in the educational environment, which present materials on literature for children and youth (books, information about writers, educational, methodological and scientific materials), have been characterized. The quality of the presented content has been determined. Mobile applications with Ukrainian and foreign artistic works in text and audio formats have been analysed. Perspective directions of work on promoting children’s reading and ensuring digital accessibility of Ukrainian fiction books have been identified.
The Application of Cloud Technologies in the Educational Process of Higher Education Institutions
Authors:   Khmelnytskyi Institute of Social Technologies of the Open International University of Human Development ", Dobrovitska Olena ,   Ukraine", Luchko Yuliia ,   Khmelnytskyi Institute of Social Technologies of the Open International University of Human Development "Ukraine"
Published: August 2023

The article highlights aspects of the implementation of cloud technologies in the educational process of a higher education institution, which are significantly changing education nowadays, forming the latest approaches. They have been revolutionized the way students and lecturers interact with information and collaborate with each other. Cloud technologies allow users to access information and software from any Internet-connected device and have transformed traditional classrooms into interactive and collaborative learning spaces. A number of advantages in the use of cloud technologies by students have been considered, in particular: unimpeded access to educational materials; joint cooperation on group projects and tasks online; formation of teamwork and communication skills; cost savings; backup and data management capabilities, etc. The shortcomings are outlined as well. The positive aspects of cloud technologies for teaching staff have been presented. It allows sharing course materials with students, collaborating on lesson plans, assessing the level of educational achievements and monitoring student progress in real time, identifying weaknesses, and providing individual feedback to adjust own learning strategy, to better meet the needs of students.
Foreign Language Learning Environment for Cadets of Higher Military Educational Institutions: Features in Terms of Informatization
Authors:   Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy, Romashko Olha
Published: August 2023

The article is focused on the peculiarities of creating a foreign language learning environment for cadets of higher military educational institutions in terms of informatization. It has been determined that basis for the formation of a foreign language learning environment are of strategic importance for the development of cadets’ personality, as they are aimed at interaction, communication, and cooperation. Various aspects of the organization of a foreign language learning environment in higher military educational institutions and the processes of modern education in the context of new means of acquiring knowledge, strengthening of domestic and international communication in the educational and scientific sphere, creation of new educational content and new forms of education have been characterized. On the example of the organization of the Department of Foreign Languages and Military Translation of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy (Lviv), the organizational features of the foreign language learning environment have been simulated and the directions of cadets’ language training have been determined – Foreign Language for Professional Purposes and Military Special Language Training.
Preparation of Future Primary School Teachers for Modeling an Innovative Educational Environment in the Process of Studying Primary School Didactics
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Cherviakova Nataliia
Published: August 2023

The article presents theoretical and methodological principles of training future primary school teachers to model an innovative educational environment. The relevance of the investigated issue in the context of modern requirements for the primary school teacher, in particular it’s projective and prognostic competences are proven. The substantive and practical components of training future primary school teachers for modeling an innovative educational environment in the process of studying primary school didactics have been determined. The essential aspects of the substantive component of the specified training are revealed: mastery by future teachers of the relevant conceptual and terminological apparatus (environment, environmental approach, educational environment, innovation, innovations in education, innovative educational environment, model, simulation); representation of modern psychological and pedagogical approaches to modeling the educational environment, principles of modeling stages. The principle of anticipation is characterized in the context of the implementation of modeling tasks of an innovative educational environment. Forms and methods of appropriate training are revealed - work with conceptual apparatus (tree of concepts, concept map, etc.), SWOT analysis, brainstorming, mini-projects, case method, etc.
Scientific Substantiation of Pedagogical Conditions for the Formation of Students' Social Competence
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Nazmiev Anton
Published: August 2023

At the article, it was primed that it was appointed pedagogical conditions for the formation of social competence. The importance of improving the quality of professional training of students (scientific-pedagogical, practical, psycho-physiological, psychological) is evidently up to new skills in society, directed at the formation of social competence, as well as changing roles from the functions of a curator, curator and clerk from the traditional role of an expert mentor to the innovative role of a facilitator – the leader and participant in the educational process. It is described the creation in the student government of a special body that accepts the formation of the social welfare of students on the basis of the coordination of the students, the administration of the university, various social institutions, the development and implementation nominative social programs and projects included in various types of social practices. Propionated by the organization of the bodies of student government to the club «Startup» with the method of goal-directed formation of students’ social compe tence in the totality of social values, motives, knowledge, understanding, psychophysiological and psychological qualities.
Ketogenic diets and neurological conditions
Authors: Winter George
Published: August 2023

To what extent can a dietary approach influence neurological disease? Here, George Winter considers a growing evidence base showing that a ketogenic diet may confer significant benefits on certain conditions.
Post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: diagnosis and management
Authors: Tsiamita Olga , White Katie
Published: August 2023

Post-thrombotic syndrome and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are two distinct clinical syndromes associated with adverse patient outcomes following a venous thromboembolism. Clinical manifestations of post-thrombotic syndrome include persistent pain, swelling and ultimately venous ulceration following a deep venous thrombosis. Patients experiencing chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension may have symptoms ranging from exertional dyspnoea to overt right heart failure. From a physician's perspective, the most effective preventative strategy is good quality anticoagulation for prophylaxis of primary and secondary venous thromboembolism. The treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome mainly involves lifestyle modifications alongside the use of elastic compression stockings while patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension should be offered targeted surgical and medical treatment options available at expert centres. Further research is warranted for both conditions to determine the role of direct oral anticoagulants when used with a preventive or therapeutic intent.
The Role of the Copula 是 si 7 In the Construal
Of Focus Structure in Early Southern Min
Authors: Lien Chinfa
Published: August 2023

The paper explores the role of the copula 是 si 7 in the interpretation of the focus structure in early Southern Min playscripts. I examine the configuration of 是 si 7 with respect to a range of functional/lexical categories such as kinds of adverbs, types of modals, voice (featuring causativity and passitivity), aspect, and negation as well as verb and noun phrases. I also put forward tree structures showing how focus vis-à-vis topic in cleft and pseudo-cleft clauses with 是 si 7 as the pivot are derived. In a nutshell, the syntactic position of 是 si 7 is versatile and yet constrained. There is an asymmetry of the distribution of subject and object focusing with respect to the position of the copula 是 si 7 . I posit with Rizzi (2013) that the focus feature in the FocP triggers merging the focus constituent to the head Foc in FocP in CP. Apart from bearing the assertive force in the clause typing, the copula 是 si 7 plays a supporting role of scoping over the focus constituent. I capture the syntactic behavior of the copula 是 si 7 by construing it as an indispensable pivot in the derivation of focus structure.
Design of an optical illumination system for a long wave infrared scene projector based on diffraction characteristics
Authors: Du Zongyu , Sun Gaofei , Yang Songzhou , Zhang Jierui , Meng Yao , Liu Qiang
Published: August 2023

This study proposes an optical illumination system design based on vector diffraction characteristics and the Scheimpflug principle to determine an optimal relationship between illumination uniformity, energy utilization, and system size in an infrared scene projector. We investigate the influence of digital micromirror device (DMD) diffraction efficiency at different incidence angles on energy utilization rate and establish a two-dimensional diffraction grating model to determine the optimal incidence angle of the DMD beam. We demonstrate that the optical illumination system of a long-wave infrared (LWIR) scene projector based on diffraction characteristics can simulate an infrared scene with a compact structure, high energy efficiency, and high uniformity.
Large mode-field area multi-element silica glass fibers for gigahertz ultrafast lasers
Authors: Tao Yingge , Wang Fan , Shao Weilin , Yu Wei , Lin Haowei , Lu Qinhuan , Yu Chunlei , Cheng Huihui
Published: August 2023

Multi-gigahertz ultrafast fiber lasers are critical for many significant applications, including bioimaging, optical communications, and laser frequency combs. The gain fiber which is expected to simultaneously satisfy large mode-field area, highly gain coefficient and resistance to photodarkening, will effectively protect mode-locked materials/devices that generally possesses low damage threshold (<10 mJ/cm2) and enhance stability in the centimeter-scale fiber lasers. However, the gain fiber still remains a significant challenge. In this study, multi-element Er-Yb: silica glass fibers with large mode-field area are fabricated. Benefiting from the multi-element design, normalized frequency V-parameter of the silica glass fiber with a core diameter of around 10 µm is <2.405. Using the large mode-field area fibers, ultrafast fiber lasers with 1.6 GHz fundamental repetition rate are proposed and demonstrated. The signal-to-noise rate of the radio-frequency signal reaching up to 90 dB and the long-term stability are realized. The results indicated the fabricated large mode-field area fibers are demonstrated to be ultrafast fiber lasers with short resonant cavities, which could be extended to other rare-earth glass fiber device for exploration of high-power amplification systems.
Highly efficient electroluminescence from SnO2 nanocrystals and Er3+ co-doped silica thin film via introducing Ca2+
Authors: Zhao Jingjie , Zhang Yangyi , Wang Lixiang , Chen Jiaming , Li Dongke , Qu Enze , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji
Published: August 2023

Efficient and stable near-infrared silicon-based light source is a challenge for future optoelectronic integration and interconnection. In this paper, alkaline earth metal Ca2+ doped SiO2-SnO2: Er3+ films were prepared by sol-gel method. The oxygen vacancies introduced by the doped Ca2+ significantly increase the near-infrared luminescence intensity of Er3+ ions. It was found that the doping concentration of Sn precursors not only modulate the crystallinity of SnO2 nanocrystals but also enhance the luminescence performance of Er3+ ions. The stable electroluminescent devices based on SiO2-SnO2: Er3+/Ca2+ films exhibit the power efficiency as high as 1.04×10−2 with the external quantum efficiency exceeding 10%.
Extensive topographic remapping and functional sharpening in the adult rat visual pathway upon first visual experience
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Fernandes Francisca F. , Shemesh Noam
Published: August 2023

Understanding the dynamics of stability/plasticity balances during adulthood is pivotal for learning, disease, and recovery from injury. However, the brain-wide topography of sensory remapping remains unknown. Here, using a first-of-its-kind setup for delivering patterned visual stimuli in a rodent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, coupled with biologically inspired computational models, we noninvasively mapped brain-wide properties—receptive fields (RFs) and spatial frequency (SF) tuning curves—that were insofar only available from invasive electrophysiology or optical imaging. We then tracked the RF dynamics in the chronic visual deprivation model (VDM) of plasticity and found that light exposure progressively promoted a large-scale topographic remapping in adult rats. Upon light exposure, the initially unspecialized visual pathway progressively evidenced sharpened RFs (smaller and more spatially selective) and enhanced SF tuning curves. Our findings reveal that visual experience following VDM reshapes both structure and function of the visual system and shifts the stability/plasticity balance in adults.
NCoR1 controls Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in myeloid cells by regulating the AMPK-mTOR-TFEB axis
Authors: Biswas Viplov Kumar , Sen Kaushik , Ahad Abdul , Ghosh Arup , Verma Surbhi , Pati Rashmirekha , Prusty Subhasish , Nayak Sourya Prakash , Podder Sreeparna , Kumar Dhiraj , Gupta Bhawna , Raghav Sunil Kumar
Published: August 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) defends host-mediated killing by repressing the autophagolysosome machinery. For the first time, we report NCoR1 co-repressor as a crucial host factor, controllingMtbgrowth in myeloid cells by regulating both autophagosome maturation and lysosome biogenesis. We found that the dynamic expression of NCoR1 is compromised in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during activeMtbinfection, which is rescued upon prolonged anti-mycobacterial therapy. In addition, a loss of function in myeloid-specific NCoR1 considerably exacerbates the growth ofM.tuberculosisin vitro in THP1 differentiated macrophages, ex vivo in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), and in vivo in NCoR1MyeKOmice. We showed that NCoR1 depletion controls the AMPK-mTOR-TFEB signalling axis by fine-tuning cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) homeostasis, which in turn changes the expression of proteins involved in autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. Moreover, we also showed that the treatment of NCoR1 depleted cells by Rapamycin, Antimycin-A, or Metformin rescued the TFEB activity and LC3 levels, resulting in enhancedMtbclearance. Similarly, expressing NCoR1 exogenously rescued the AMPK-mTOR-TFEB signalling axis andMtbkilling. Overall, our data revealed a central role of NCoR1 inMtbpathogenesis in myeloid cells.
The AAA-ATPase Yta4/ATAD1 interacts with the mitochondrial divisome to inhibit mitochondrial fission
Authors: He Jiajia , Liu Ke , Wu Yifan , Zhao Chenhui , Yan Shuaijie , Chen Jia-Hui , Hu Lizhu , Wang Dongmei , Zheng Fan , Wei Wenfan , Xu Chao , Huang Chengdong , Liu Xing , Yao Xuebiao , Ding Lijun , Fang Zhiyou , Tang Ai-Hui , Fu Chuanhai
Published: August 2023

Mitochondria are in a constant balance of fusion and fission. Excessive fission or deficient fusion leads to mitochondrial fragmentation, causing mitochondrial dysfunction and physiological disorders. How the cell prevents excessive fission of mitochondria is not well understood. Here, we report that the fission yeast AAA-ATPase Yta4, which is the homolog of budding yeast Msp1 responsible for clearing mistargeted tail-anchored (TA) proteins on mitochondria, plays a critical role in preventing excessive mitochondrial fission. The absence of Yta4 leads to mild mitochondrial fragmentation in a Dnm1-dependent manner but severe mitochondrial fragmentation upon induction of mitochondrial depolarization. Overexpression of Yta4 delocalizes the receptor proteins of Dnm1, i.e., Fis1 (a TA protein) and Mdv1 (the bridging protein between Fis1 and Dnm1), from mitochondria and reduces the localization of Dnm1 to mitochondria. The effect of Yta4 overexpression on Fis1 and Mdv1, but not Dnm1, depends on the ATPase and translocase activities of Yta4. Moreover, Yta4 interacts with Dnm1, Mdv1, and Fis1. In addition, Yta4 competes with Dnm1 for binding Mdv1 and decreases the affinity of Dnm1 for GTP and inhibits Dnm1 assembly in vitro. These findings suggest a model, in which Yta4 inhibits mitochondrial fission by inhibiting the function of the mitochondrial divisome composed of Fis1, Mdv1, and Dnm1. Therefore, the present work reveals an uncharacterized molecular mechanism underlying the inhibition of mitochondrial fission.
A picogram BA-ELISA quantification assay for rLj-RGD3, a platelet fibrinogen receptor antagonist, in the rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Wang Yuping , Liu Zhien , Han Guozhu , Yu Ping , Yang Xiaobo , Wang Jihong , Lv Li
Published: August 2023

rLj-RGD3, a new member of the RGD (Arginine-Glycine-Aspartate)-motif toxin protein family obtained from Lampetra japonica by means of recombinant DNA techniques, has been demonstrated to be a platelet fibrinogen receptor antagonist and holds potential as a drug candidate for a specific indication. The present article reports an innovative validated highly sensitive and specific biotin-avidin enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (BA-ELISA) to provide a bio-analytical method for pharmacokinetic (PK) studies of rLj-RGD3. The concentration of picogram level rLj-RGD3 in rat plasma was measured using the developed double sandwich BA-ELISA assay, which used two mouse anti-rLj-RGD3 monoclonal antibodies that recognize different epitopes for capture and detection. This method was verified to be highly specific (blank plasma did not interfere with detection), precise (RSD <15%), and accurate (86%-113%). Absolute recovery was in the 94%-119% range. The calibration curve showed good linearity within the 50 to 1600 pg/mL range. The LOQ was as low as 50 pg/mL. The above validated assay was successfully employed to assess PK of rLj-RGD3 in rats. After i.v. and s.c. dosing with 30 μg/kg, the rLj-RGD3 plasma concentration declined bi-exponentially with time. This decay was best fitted to a two-compartment model. In conclusion, the BA-ELISA method described here meets all requirements for PK studies of rLj-RGD3 with an effective pharmacological dose in the μg/kg BW range.
Postural control telerehabilitation with a low-cost virtual reality protocol for children with cerebral palsy: Protocol for a clinical trial
Authors: Gatica-Rojas Valeska , Cartes-Velásquez Ricardo , Soto-Poblete Alex , Lizama Luis Eduardo Cofré
Published: August 2023

Objective

To establish the feasibility and effectiveness of a rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality aimed at improving postural control in children with cerebral palsy—spastic hemiplegia. It also aims to compare the effectiveness of this programme under two delivery modalities, telerehabilitation (TR) and face-to-face (FtF).

Methods

This is a registered randomized controlled clinical trial protocol (ACTRN12621000117819). Eighteen sessions of low-cost virtual reality therapy will be provided through both, FtF and TR modalities using a Nintendo Wii balance board. Each programme will last for 6 weeks and will consist of 3 sessions per week of 25 minutes each. Twenty patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy—spastic hemiplegia will be recruited for each group: FtF or TR (n = 40). Participants will be assessed at baseline, by the end of weeks 2, 4, and 6, and at weeks 8 and 10 (post-intervention follow-ups). The primary outcome will be the Center of Pressure sway area (CoParea); secondary outcomes will be standard deviation and velocity of the CoP in the mediolateral and anterior-posterior directions; tertiary outcomes will include the Modified-Modified Ashworth Scale for lower limbs, Modified Ashworth Scale for upper limbs, timed up-and-go tests, the timed one-leg standing and 6-minute walk test.

Results

This study provides an assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of an affordable rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality aimed at improving postural control in children with cerebral palsy.

Conclusion

The designed rehabilitation programme using low-cost virtual reality may improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy—spastic hemiplegia. The TR modality is likely to be as effective as the FtF modality. The TR programme has been designed to overcome access barriers to physiotherapy services for children with cerebral palsy in low-resource settings, remote areas, and in restricted mobility contexts.
Correlates of low birth weight and preterm birth in India
Authors: Jana Arup
Published: August 2023

Background

In the 21st century, India is still struggling to reduce the burden of malnutrition and child mortality, which is much higher than the neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Shri Lanka. Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) predispose early-age growth faltering and premature mortality among children below the age of five. Thus, highlighting the determinants of LBW and PTB is necessary to achieve sustainable development goals.

Objective

The present study provides macro-level estimates of PTB and LBW and aims to highlight the nature of the association between various demographic, socioeconomic, and maternal obstetric variables with these outcomes using a nationally representative dataset.

Methods

Data on 170,253 most recent births from the National Family health survey (NFHS-5) 2019–21 was used for the analysis. The estimates of PTB and LBW are measured by applying sample weights. The correlates of LBW and PTB were analyzed using logistic models.

Results

There were cross-state disparities in the prevalence of PTB and LBW. In India, an estimated 12% and 18% of children were LBW and PTB, respectively, in 2019–21. Maternal obstetric and anthropometric factors such as lack of antenatal care, previous caesarean delivery, and short-stature mothers were associated positively with adverse birth outcomes such as LBW and PTB. However, a few correlates were found to be differently associated with PTB and LBW. Mothers belonging to richer wealth status had higher chances of having a preterm birth (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.11–1.20) in comparison to poor mothers. In contrast, the odds of having LBW infants were found to be increased with the decreasing level of the mother’s education and wealth quintile.

Conclusions

In India, PTB and LBW can be improved by strengthening existing ante-natal care services and evaluating the effects of the history of caesarean births on future pregnancies.
Development and evaluation of the Measure of the International Learning Environment Status (MILES) in international higher education
Authors: Xu Xiaoming , Schönrock-Adema Johanna , Bos Nicolaas A.
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an instrument to assess international students’ perceptions of the international learning environment called ‘Measure of the International Learning Environment Status’ (MILES). We based the development of the MILES on a solid theoretical framework from Moos by addressing three domains to measure the quality of the international learning environment, namely goal direction, relationships, and system change and system maintenance. We have designed and constructed the instrument in three steps. Firstly, we have collected items from relevant existing instruments and grouped them into the three domains via content analysis. Secondly, we applied a Delphi procedure involving international higher education experts from different stakeholder groups and from different cultural backgrounds to identify and reach consensus on the items comprehensively covering important elements of the international learning environment. Thirdly, we carried out an initial questionnaire evaluation. The final MILES consisted of 47 items with 13 in the first domain, 17 in the second and 17 in the third domain. The content of the domains was clearly in line with Moos theoretical framework and we interpreted the sets of items as goal direction, relationships, and supporting services, respectively. This study provides a comprehensive and systematically developed instrument for future research to better understand international students’ perspectives towards the international learning environment that are supported by stakeholders from a range of cultures.
Mapping small mammal optimal habitats using satellite-derived proxy variables and species distribution models
Authors: Marston Christopher , Raoul Francis , Rowland Clare , Quéré Jean-Pierre , Feng Xiaohui , Lin Renyong , Giraudoux Patrick
Published: August 2023

Small mammal species play an important role influencing vegetation primary productivity and plant species composition, seed dispersal, soil structure, and as predator and/or prey species. Species which experience population dynamics cycles can, at high population phases, heavily impact agricultural sectors and promote rodent-borne disease transmission. To better understand the drivers behind small mammal distributions and abundances, and how these differ for individual species, it is necessary to characterise landscape variables important for the life cycles of the species in question. In this study, a suite of Earth observation derived metrics quantifying landscape characteristics and dynamics, and in-situ small mammal trapline and transect survey data, are used to generate random forest species distribution models for nine small mammal species for study sites in Narati, China and Sary Mogul, Kyrgyzstan. These species distribution models identify the important landscape proxy variables driving species abundance and distributions, in turn identifying the optimal conditions for each species. The observed relationships differed between species, with the number of landscape proxy variables identified as important for each species ranging from 3 for Microtus gregalis at Sary Mogul, to 26 for Ellobius tancrei at Narati. Results indicate that grasslands were predicted to hold higher abundances of Microtus obscurus, E. tancrei and Marmota baibacina, forest areas hold higher abundances of Myodes centralis and Sorex asper, with mixed forest—grassland boundary areas and areas close to watercourses predicted to hold higher abundances of Apodemus uralensis and Sicista tianshanica. Localised variability in vegetation and wetness conditions, as well as presence of certain habitat types, are also shown to influence these small mammal species abundances. Predictive application of the Random Forest (RF) models identified spatial hot-spots of high abundance, with model validation producing R2 values between 0.670 for M. gregalis transect data at Sary Mogul to 0.939 for E. tancrei transect data at Narati. This enhances previous work whereby optimal habitat was defined simply as presence of a given land cover type, and instead defines optimal habitat via a combination of important landscape dynamic variables, moving from a human-defined to species-defined perspective of optimal habitat. The species distribution models demonstrate differing distributions and abundances of host species across the study areas, utilising the strengths of Earth observation data to improve our understanding of landscape and ecological linkages to small mammal distributions and abundances.
Emotion regulation in children (ERiC): A protocol for a randomised clinical trial to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) vs Treatment as Usual for school-age children with mixed emotional and behavioural difficulties
Authors: Midgley Nick , Mortimer Rose , Carter Mark , Casey Polly , Coffman Lisa , Edbrooke-Childs Julian , Edridge Chloe , Fonagy Peter , Gomes Manuel , Kapoor Anoushka , Marks Susannah , Martin Peter , Moltrecht Bettina , Morris Emma , Pokorna Nikola , McFarquhar Tara
Published: August 2023

Background

The majority of children referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the UK will present with mixed emotional and behavioural difficulties, but most mental health treatments are developed for single disorders. There is a need for research on treatments that are helpful for these mixed difficulties, especially for school-age children. Emotion Regulation (ER) difficulties present across a wide range of mental health disorders and mentalizing may help with regulation. The ability to mentalize one’s own experiences and those of others plays a key role in coping with stress, regulation of emotions, and the formation of stable relationships. Mentalization Based Therapy (MBT) is a well-evidenced therapy that aims to promote mentalization, which in turn increases ER capacities, leading to decreased emotional and behavioural difficulties. The aim of this study is to test the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of MBT compared to treatment as usual for school age children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. If effective, we hope this approach can become available to the growing number of children presenting to mental health services with a mix of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Materials and methods

Children referred to CAMHS aged 6–12 with mixed mental health problems (emotional and behavioural) as primary problem can take part with their parent/carers. Children will be randomly allocated to receive either MBT or treatment as usual (TAU) within the CAMHS clinic they have been referred to. MBT will be 6–8 sessions offered fortnightly and can flexibly include different family members. TAU is likely to include CBT, parenting groups, and/or children’s social skills groups. Parent/carers and children will be asked to complete outcome assessments (questionnaires and tasks) online at the start of treatment, mid treatment (8 weeks), end of treatment (16 weeks) and at follow up (40 weeks).

Trial registration

Clinical trial registration:ISRCTN 11620914.
Molecular investigation of Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis infection in ticks in northern, western, and northwestern Iran
Authors: Esmaeili Saber , Latifian Mina , Mahmoudi Ahmad , Ghasemi Ahmad , Mohammadi Ali , Mordadi Alireza , Ziapour Seyyed Payman , Naddaf Saied Reza , Mostafavi Ehsan
Published: August 2023

Tularemia and Q fever are endemic diseases in Iran; however, little information is available on the prevalence of the causative agents, Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis, in Iranian ticks. This study investigated C. burnetii and F. tularensis among hard ticks in this country. We collected ticks from livestock and other mammals in Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan (northern Iran), Kurdistan (western Iran), and West Azerbaijan (northwestern Iran) provinces. Genomic DNA from collected ticks was extracted and screened for C. burnetii and F. tularensis using Real-time PCR. A total of 4,197 ticks (belonging to 12 different species) were collected, and Ixodes ricinus (46.4%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (25%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (19.1%) were the most collected species. Of 708 pooled tick samples, 11.3% and 7.20% were positive for C. burnetii and F. tularensis, respectively. The genus of Rhipicephalus had the highest (18.3%) C. burnetii infection among the collected tick pools (P<0.001). Furthermore, the most positive pools for F. tularensis belonged to Haemaphysalis spp. (44.4%). Kurdistan had the most significant percentage of C. burnetii-infected ticks (92.5%), and there was a meaningful relationship between the provinces and the infection (P< 0.001). The ticks from Golestan exhibited the highest F. tularensis infection rate (10. 9%), and the infection showed no significant relationship with the provinces (P = 0.19). Ticks collected from grasslands had a higher Coxiella burnetii infection rate than those collected from animals (39.4% vs. 7.9%; p<0.01). However, ticks collected from animal surfaces had a slightly higher rate of Francisella tularensis infection than those collected from grasslands (7.6% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.24). Here, we demonstrated the presence of both pathogens in the north (Guilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces), the west (Kurdistan province), and the northwest (West Azerbaijan province) of Iran. The public health system should pay particular attention to tick bites in veterinary medicine and humans.
Airway and Oral microbiome profiling of SARS-CoV-2 infected asthma and non-asthma cases revealing alterations–A pulmonary microbial investigation
Authors: Sekaran Karthik , Varghese Rinku Polachirakkal , Doss C. George Priya , Alsamman Alsamman M. , Zayed Hatem , El Allali Achraf
Published: August 2023

New evidence strongly discloses the pathogenesis of host-associated microbiomes in respiratory diseases. The microbiome dysbiosis modulates the lung’s behavior and deteriorates the respiratory system’s effective functioning. Several exogenous and environmental factors influence the development of asthma and chronic lung disease. The relationship between asthma and microbes is reasonably understood and yet to be investigated for more substantiation. The comorbidities such as SARS-CoV-2 further exacerbate the health condition of the asthma-affected individuals. This study examines the raw 16S rRNA sequencing data collected from the saliva and nasopharyngeal regions of pre-existing asthma (23) and non-asthma patients (82) infected by SARS-CoV-2 acquired from the public database. The experiment is designed in a two-fold pattern, analyzing the associativity between the samples collected from the saliva and nasopharyngeal regions. Later, investigates the microbial pathogenesis, its role in exacerbations of respiratory disease, and deciphering the diagnostic biomarkers of the target condition. LEfSE analysis identified that Actinobacteriota and Pseudomonadota are enriched in the SARS-CoV-2-non-asthma group and SARS-CoV-2 asthma group of the salivary microbiome, respectively. Random forest algorithm is trained with amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) attained better classification accuracy, ROC scores on nasal (84% and 87%) and saliva datasets (93% and 97.5%). Rothia mucilaginosa is less abundant, and Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum showed higher abundance in the SARS-CoV-2 asthma group. The increase in Streptococcus at the genus level in the SARS-CoV-2-asthma group is evidence of discriminating the subgroups.
Physiology of gamma-aminobutyric acid treated Capsicum annuum L. (Sweet pepper) under induced drought stress
Authors: Iqbal Babar , Hussain Fida , khan Muhammad Saleem , Iqbal Taimur , Shah Wadood , Ali Baber , Al Syaad Khalid M. , Ercisli Sezai
Published: August 2023

There is now widespread agreement that global warming is the source of climate variability and is a global danger that poses a significant challenge for the 21stcentury. Climate crisis has exacerbated water deficit stress and restricts plant’s growth and output by limiting nutrient absorption and raising osmotic strains. Worldwide, Sweet pepper is among the most important vegetable crops due to its medicinal and nutritional benefits. Drought stress poses negative impacts on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuumL.) growth and production. Although, γ aminobutyric acid (GABA) being an endogenous signaling molecule and metabolite has high physio-molecular activity in plant’s cells and could induce tolerance to water stress regimes, but little is known about its influence on sweet pepper development when applied exogenously. The current study sought to comprehend the effects of foliar GABA application on vegetative development, as well as physiological and biochemical constituents ofCapsicum annuumL. A Field experiment was carried out during the 2021 pepper growing season and GABA (0, 2, and 4mM) concentrated solutions were sprayed on twoCapsicum annuumL. genotypes including Scope F1 and Mercury, under drought stress of 50% and 30% field capacity. Results of the study showed that exogenous GABA supplementation significantly improved vegetative growth attributes such as, shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight, as well as root shoot ratio (RSR), and relative water content (RWC) while decreasing electrolyte leakage (EL). Furthermore, a positive and significant effect on chlorophyll a, b, a/b ratio and total chlorophyll content (TCC), carotenoids content (CC), soluble protein content (SPC), soluble sugars content (SSC), total proline content (TPC), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity was observed. The application of GABA at 2mM yielded the highest values for these variables. In both genotypes, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content increased with growing activity of those antioxidant enzymes in treated plants compared to non-treated plants. In comparison with the rest of GABA treatments, 2mM GABA solution had the highest improvement in morphological traits, and biochemical composition. In conclusion, GABA application can improve development and productivity ofCapsicum annuumL. under drought stress regimes. In addition, foliar applied GABA ameliorated the levels of osmolytes and the activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in defense mechanism.
Prediction and optimization of employee turnover intentions in enterprises based on unbalanced data
Authors: Li Zhaotian , Fox Edward
Published: August 2023

The sudden resignation of core employees often brings losses to companies in various aspects. Traditional employee turnover theory cannot analyze the unbalanced data of employees comprehensively, which leads the company to make wrong decisions. In the face the classification of unbalanced data, the traditional Support Vector Machine (SVM) suffers from insufficient decision plane offset and unbalanced support vector distribution, for which the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is introduced to improve the balance of generated data. Further, the Fuzzy C-mean (FCM) clustering is improved and combined with the SMOTE (IFCM-SMOTE-SVM) to new synthesized samples with higher accuracy, solving the drawback that the separation data synthesized by SMOTE is too random and easy to generate noisy data. The kernel function is combined with IFCM-SMOTE-SVM and transformed to a high-dimensional space for clustering sampling and classification, and the kernel space-based classification algorithm (KS-IFCM-SMOTE-SVM) is proposed, which improves the effectiveness of the generated data on SVM classification results. Finally, the generalization ability of KS-IFCM-SMOTE-SVM for different types of enterprise data is experimentally demonstrated, and it is verified that the proposed algorithm has stable and accurate performance. This study introduces the SMOTE and FCM clustering, and improves the SVM by combining the data transformation in the kernel space to achieve accurate classification of unbalanced data of employees, which helps enterprises to predict whether employees have the tendency to leave in advance.