bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological analysis of the endemic freshwater halfbeak Dermogenys orientalis (Weber, 1894) in Maros Karst Region, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: UMAR MOH. TAUHID , BIN ANDY OMAR SHARIFUDDIN , HIDAYANI ANDI ALIAH , AL ASHAD ACHMAD NABIL , GAZALI MUHAMMAD , UMAR WIDYASTUTI , ANDRIYONO SAPTO , TENRIULO ANDI , MOORE ABIGAIL MARY
Published: December 2024

Abstract. Umar MT, Omar SBA, Hidayani AA, Ashad ANA, Gazali M, Umar W, Andriyono S, Tenriulo A, Moore AM. 2024. Morphological analysis of the endemic freshwater halfbeak Dermogenys orientalis (Weber, 1894) in Maros Karst Region, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 3056-3066. The viviparous halfbeak Dermogenys orientalis is a freshwater fish endemic to the Maros-Pangkep Karst Region in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Halfbeaks have a unique shape with a beak-like upper jaw considerably longer than the lower jaw. To date, research on the biology of this fish has been limited, in particular with respect to morphology. This study aims to analyze morphological (morphometric, and meristic) characteristics of D. orientalis populations in the Pattunuang, Bantimurung, and Leang-Leang rivers by sex. Morphological identification was carried out by comparing the morphology of fish originating from the Maros-Pangkep Karst Area based on the characteristics of the fish obtained and carried out in-situ. Morphometric analysis was performed using Stepwise Discriminant Analysis. Phenotypic distance between populations was inferred using Predicted Group Membership and Pairwise Group Comparison. Equality of Group Means Test was applied to discriminant morphometric traits and the t-test (?=0.05) to meristic traits. All statistical tests were performed using SPSS software version 22.0. The results showed that D. orientalis was sexually dimorphic and viviparous. In addition to the male andropodium, D. orientalis exhibited sexual dimorphism in body shape, and females were significantly longer (standard length) than males. The species characters identification found in this study were 13 and 19 characters for males and females respectively. The results of the t-test on the meristic character data that have been obtained, the mean values of three meristic traits (pectoral, anal and caudal fin ray counts) differed significantly between groups.
Redes de intercambio y tiendas gratis en berlín: dones y mercancías en experiencias de consumo «alternativas»
Authors: Sabaté Muriel Irene
Published: December 2024

Este artículo se basa en una etnografía de las prácticas de consumo «alternativas» en el centro de la antigua Berlín Oriental. Se han examinado las redes de intercambio no monetario (Tauschringe) y las «tiendas gratis» (Umsonstläden).
En los Umsonstläden, nos encontramos ante la ideología contemporánea del don «puro» (Parry 1986; Carrier 1995): los objetos se dan libremente y se alienan totalmente de sus propietarios. A su vez, los Tauschringe a veces conducen a prácticas de intercambio de regalos que implican una obligación mutua, como resultado de intercambios frecuentes que acercan socialmente a los participantes.
El material etnográfico que presento cuestiona la idoneidad de una división conceptual don/mercancía para examinar estas experiencias, dado que las diferentes modalidades de regalos se articulen a través de tendencias de mercantilización. Teniendo en cuenta esta complejidad, propongo una revisión del papel del don en las prácticas de consumo «alternativas» promovidas por los movimientos sociales en Berlín.
"Educación fiscal" y "Tax compliance" mejorados por Inteligencia Artificial como mecanismos de naturaleza holística integrantes de la Convención tributaria de Naciones Unidas
Authors: Andrés Aucejo Eva
Published: December 2024

El presente estudio tiene como finalidad promover la materia de la “Educación Fiscal y el Cumplimiento Tributario Voluntario”, mejorados por la inteligencia artificial, como partes integrantes de una futura convención marco sobre cooperación internacional en cuestiones de tributación, para ser aprobada en el seno de las Naciones Unidas con la participación del resto de partes implicadas o stakeholders, susceptible de ser desarrollada vía protocolo de desarrollo, como mejor opción, o bien de una declaración programática.
Optical, contact-free assessment of brain tissue stiffness and neurodegeneration
Authors: Binner Philip , Starshynov Ilya , Tejeda Gonzalo , McFall Aisling , Molloy Colin , Ciccone Giuseppe , Walker Matthew , Vassalli Massimo , Tobin Andrew B.
Published: December 2024

Dementia affects a large proportion of the world’s population. Approaches that allow for early disease detection and non-invasive monitoring of disease progression are desperately needed. Current approaches are centred on costly imaging technologies such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. We propose an alternative approach to assess neurodegeneration based on diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), a remote and optical sensing technique. We employ this approach to assess neurodegeneration in mouse brains from healthy animals and those with prion disease. We find a statistically significant difference in the optical speckle decorrelation times between prion-diseased and healthy animals. We directly calibrated our DCS technique using hydrogel samples of varying Young’s modulus, indicating that we can optically measure changes in the brain tissue stiffness in the order of 60 Pa (corresponding to a 1 s change in speckle decorrelation time). DCS holds promise for contact-free assessment of tissue stiffness alteration due to neurodegeneration, with a similar sensitivity to contact-based (e.g. nanoindentation) approaches.
All-optical perception based on partially coherent optical neural networks
Authors: Chen Rui , Ma Yijun , Zhang Chuang , Xu Wenjun , Wang Zhong , Sun Shengli
Published: December 2024

In the field of image processing, optical neural networks offer advantages such as high speed, high throughput, and low energy consumption. However, most existing coherent optical neural networks (CONN) rely on coherent light sources to establish transmission models. The use of laser inputs and electro-optic modulation devices at the front end of these neural networks diminishes their computational capability and energy efficiency, thereby limiting their practical applications in object detection tasks. This paper proposes a partially coherent optical neural network (PCONN) transmission model based on mutual intensity modulation. This model does not depend on coherent light source inputs or active electro-optic modulation devices, allowing it to directly compute and infer using natural light after simple filtering, thus achieving full optical perception from light signal acquisition to computation and inference. Simulation results indicate that the model achieves a highest classification accuracy of 96.80% and 86.77% on the MNIST and Fashion-MNIST datasets, respectively. In a binary classification simulation test based on the ISDD segmentation dataset, the model attained an accuracy of 94.69%. It is estimated that this system’s computational inference speed for object detection tasks is 100 times faster than that of traditional CONN, with energy efficiency approximately 50 times greater. In summary, our proposed PCONN model addresses the limitations of conventional optical neural networks in coherent light environments and is anticipated to find applications in practical object detection scenarios.
Continuous-wave operation of GaN-based laser diodes using stress-relaxed epitaxial lateral overgrown GaN on Si substrates
Authors: Murakawa Kentaro , Kawaguchi Yoshinobu , Usagawa Motohisa , Tanabe Yuichiro , Yokoyama Takeshi , Tonomura Mizuki , Aoki Yuta , Takeuchi Kazuma , Kamikawa Takeshi
Published: December 2024

A GaN layer grown using the epitaxial lateral overgrowth method (ELO-GaN) on Si substrates was evaluated in terms of dislocations. ELO-GaN grown by optimized growth conditions has no dark line defects that were previously observed. Analysis revealed that strain relaxation suppressed the dark line defects and suggested that the strain relaxation was caused by high carbon concentration in ELO-GaN. Laser diodes (LDs) with a cavity length of 100 µm were fabricated on this strain-relaxed ELO-GaN on Si. Continuous-wave (CW) operation has been demonstrated at a threshold current density of 5.6 kA/cm2 thanks to a significantly reduced threshold current.
Design and research on mode-selective couplers utilizing hollow-core negative curvature fiber
Authors: Yang Boyi , Guo Xiaojie , Guo Yinghao , Li Haisu , Ren Guobin
Published: December 2024

We propose a novel mode-selective coupler (MSC) using hollow core negative curvature fiber (HC-NCF). The coupling characteristics among the transmission modes are analyzed utilizing the finite element method. The results indicate that directional coupling conversion from LP01 mode to LP11 mode can be achieved by altering the distribution of the cladding tubes in the HC-NCF and adjusting the diameter of the fiber core within the 0.8-1.7 μm transmission wavelength range. At different core diameters, the coupling lengths can reach 1.81 cm, 2.03 cm, 2.19 cm, and 2.03 cm, respectively. This marks the first successful implementation of mode conversion in HC-NCF, eliminating the need for traditional fiber mode selection couplers based on the fiber material itself. Furthermore, its design is straightforward, making it highly conducive to manufacturing.
Sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, outcomes and short-term follow-up in COVID-19 patients with new onset hyperglycemia and pre-existing diabetes on admission in a tertiary-care hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Kakoly Nadira , Hasan S. M. Kamrul , Hoque Mohammad Mahfuzul , Ratul Rifat Hossain , Khan Md. Abdullah Saeed , Mitra Dipak Kumar , Billah Baki
Published: December 2024

Background

COVID-19 has been linked to hyperglycemia and diabetes, with noteworthy variation in outcomes. This study aimed to compare the sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital and short-term post-discharge outcomes between COVID-19 patients with new onset hyperglycemia and pre-existing diabetes patients in tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted among adult COVID-19 patients with new onset hyperglycemia or pre-existing diabetes admitted to the COVID-19 unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital between April 2021 and October 2021. Patients were conveniently selected from indoors. Bivariate analysis was used to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics at admission and short-term outcomes. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine factors associated with time to death in the hospital. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata Version 17.

Results

A total of 169 patients were included. Of these, 29 died in the hospital, and four left against medical advice. Out of the 136 survivors, 135 came for follow-up two weeks after discharge. At baseline, 30.18% of patients had new onset hyperglycemia, and 69.8% had pre-existing diabetes. The average age of patients was 56.38 ± 14.21 years, and 60.36% were male. A significantly higher proportion of COVID-19 patients with new onset hyperglycemia were smokers than those with pre-existing diabetes (p = 0.003). However, pre-existing diabetes was associated with higher lung involvement (p = 0.047) and comorbidities (p = 0.002). Age, income over 35,000 BDT (USD 335.5$), and a BMI over 25 kg/m2 emerged as significant predictors of prolonged hospital stay and mortality. Post-discharge follow-up indicated that new-onset hyperglycemia resolved in 8.89% of patients, whereas 19.26% continued to exhibit hyperglycemia, with smoking being a significant determinant of its persistence (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, our investigation illuminates the clinical trajectory of new-onset hyperglycemia in the context of COVID-19 and reinforces the necessity for diligent monitoring and management post-discharge. Therefore, close monitoring and follow-up of COVID-19 patients is recommended for the early detection and management of hyperglycemia and the prevention of diabetes development in the long run.
Cultural & region-specific adaptation of KAP (Knowledge, attitude, and practice) tool to capture healthy lifestyle within primary care settings
Authors: Alnuaimi Ahmed Sameer , Syed Muslim Abbas , Zainel Abduljaleel Abdullatif , Mohamed Hafiz Ahmed , Bougmiza Mohamed Iheb , Syed Mohamed Ahmed
Published: December 2024

Background

Non-communicable diseases contribute to a significant global burden of disease and are associated with modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption. These risk factors are closely related with lifestyles and eating patterns which are often culturally embedded and managed differently in various health care settings.

Aim of the study

To assesses the applicability and feasibility of the KAPS (Knowledge, attitude, and practice) survey in generating data about knowledge, attitudes, and practices about healthy lifestyles within eastern Mediterranean settings and providing foundations for testing other models or development of a newer model in this area which captures and influence behavior changes towards healthy lifestyles.

Methods

The KAP survey was tailored to capture the construct of healthy lifestyles (within the context of Qatar primary care settings) by reviewing existing surveys, adaptation to local context, expert consultation and feedback, pilot testing, feedback analysis, cognitive interviews and translation and validation.

Results

The study reports that most participants found the content comprehensive, relevant, easy to understand but considered it lengthy. Analysis of grading of the 73 questionnaire items (complete questionnaire included as supplementary document) included by the panel of experts (n = 13) demonstrated that more than half of questions (52.1%) have a CVR value of 1. Thematic analysis of overall perceptions of the service users (n = 11) pertaining to the feasibility of the KAP survey identified three important themes which included i) clarity & readability of the questions ii) relevance of the instrument and iii) factors influencing service users’ participation in survey.

Conclusion

A culturally sensitive and region specific KAP tool specifically designed for healthy lifestyles can aid in health advocacy, monitoring modifiable risk factors, capturing rich epidemiological data to design preventive interventions, surveillance of high risks patients and strengthening the existing health information systems. Further research is needed to explore evidence-based methodologies to formulate an age-specific and shorter version of KAPs survey without compromising the validity of the tool within specific regional primary healthcare settings.
Affective and social pain modulation in children—Experimental evidence using picture viewing
Authors: Hillmer Katrin , Kappesser Judith , Hermann Christiane
Published: December 2024

Background

Children frequently encounter pain. Their pain like adults’ pain is probably modulated by social-affective factors. Despite its clinical relevance, such pain modulation has not been explored experimentally in children, and little is known about specific factors accounting for it such as catastrophizing. We examined pain modulating effects of pictures varying in social-affective content and personal meaning (e.g., mothers’ vs. strangers’ faces) using subjective and psychophysiological measures (skin conductance, heart rate, corrugator electromyography) as outcomes.

Methods

Forty-two children (8–13 years) underwent tonic heat pain stimulation while viewing pictures (social-affective: their mothers’ faces with neutral expression, strangers’ neutral and happy faces; affective: positive and negative scenes). Furthermore, the contribution of children’s characteristics (e.g., anxiety, catastrophizing) and facets of the parent-child relationship to pain modulation was determined.

Results

Viewing mothers’ faces or positive scenes reduced subjective pain intensity and corrugator activity in response to pain. Viewing happy strangers’ faces lowered corrugator activity. Enhanced pain experience due to negative affective stimuli was primarily observed psychophysiologically. The correlation between children’s tendency to catastrophize and pain relief by mothers’ faces was mediated by induced arousal, likely reflecting the degree of motivational activation of seeking social support.

Conclusions

Pain relief by positive affective and social-affective stimuli extends previous findings in adults, especially regarding reduced pain-related facial muscle activity. Moreover, the results shed light on the interplay between catastrophizing and social context on children’s pain experience. Clinically, our results imply that just looking at pictures of their mothers (or positive scenes) might help to alleviate pain in children.
Application of clown care in hospitalized children: A scoping review
Authors: Xin Guo , Yingping Fu , Yue Chen , Jiaming Wu , Xue Hu
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to provide healthcare providers with insights into relevant interventions by examining the timing, format, content, outcome measures, and effects of clown care interventions on hospitalized children.

Methods

This study utilized a scoping review methodology based on the framework by Arksey and O’Malley. The search for Chinese and English literature on the utilization of clown care for hospitalized children was conducted in databases including CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, China Biology Medicine Database, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. At the same time, the references and other grey literatures included in the paper were also manually searched. covering publications from inception to December 10, 2023. Screening of the literature was done based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with data extraction and synthesis carried out independently by two researchers.

Results

Out of 1084 articles screened, 18 were included. Clown care can be used with children who have burns, perioperative care, fracture rehabilitation, autism, puncture therapy, chemotherapy, respiratory pathologies and disabled children, according to a review of the literature. Clown care is feasible and available for these kids, and it has been shown to have favorable impacts. The main interventions used in clown care are guided imagery, cognitive coping, emotional reflection, distraction, and empowerment. Physical(reduced children’s pain levels), psychological(reduced anxiety, improved coping skills, quicker recovery), cognitive-behavioral(for example, the number of meaningful words that children with autism say in 10 minutes.), and other indications are the several types of clown care outcome indicators.

Conclusions

Clown care can lessen a hospitalized child’s pain, alleviate their worry, and divert their focus from illness and suffering. However, not all pediatric patients benefit from clown care. Every youngster is an independent individual with unique personality traits, and some may experience intense pain along with a terror of the clown role. Future research should concentrate on understanding the characteristics of hospitalized children to develop tailored clown care programs that can enhance clinical effectiveness.

Trial registration number

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B4KMV.
Factors affecting women’s access to primary care in the United States since the Affordable Care Act: A mixed-methods systematic review
Authors: Gilchrist Allison , Fernando Gunasekara Vidana Mestrige Chamath , Holland Paula , Ahmed Faraz
Published: December 2024

Background

In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded public and private health coverage, increased health insurance affordability, reduced healthcare costs, and improved healthcare quality for many. Despite ACA provisions, lack of insurance and other factors continue to affect working-age women’s access to primary care services.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-method systematic review to identify factors that affect women’s access to primary care services since the ACA. In January 2021, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched from 2010 to 2021 and an updated search was conducted in October 2023. We included 26 quantitative and qualitative studies reporting determinants, barriers and facilitators of women’s primary care access for women (18 to 64 years). Studies reporting measures of potential access, such as health insurance, and measures of realized access—healthcare service utilization, were included. The Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (2018) was used to rate the quality of studies. Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services Use guided the narrative synthesis.

Findings

We found consistent evidence that ACA provisions expanding state Medicaid eligibility led to improved insurance coverage, especially for lower-income groups. We found mixed evidence of associations between individual-level determinants, such as age, education, race/ethnicity, income, and different measures of access. Limited qualitative evidence suggests that insurance coverage, low-cost care, positive patient-provider relationships, social support, and translation services enhance access for immigrants and refugees. Barriers include lack of coverage, high healthcare costs, culturally unresponsive healthcare services, poor patient-provider relationships, and transportation issues.

Conclusion

Adoption of ACA’s expanded Medicaid eligibility criteria would expand insurance coverage to women living in non-expansion states. Innovative healthcare policies, programs, and interventions at the federal, state, and local levels are needed. Suggested strategies include interventions expanding primary healthcare service availability and patient navigation services, and promotion of health literacy, culturally sensitive services, and provider bias education/training.
Effects of core stability exercises on balance ability of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Junjie , Zhong Yecheng , Xu Wenhong
Published: December 2024

Background

Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are at risk of falls due to balance problems. One way to palliate balance deficits among this population is via core stability exercises. However, comprehensive studies that examine the effectiveness of core stability exercises in improving balance in this target population are lacking.

Objective

This study aims to summarise and quantify the effectiveness of core stability exercises in improving the balance of this target population.

Methods

This study followed PRISMA principles and conducted comprehensive searches in six academic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library) up to June 2023. The inclusion criteria were established via the PICOS framework. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and the certainty of the evidence was assessed via the GRADE approach. The meta-analysis was performed via RevMan 5.4, and for data that could not be pooled via meta-analysis, we used a narrative description of the results of each study.

Results

Six studies of 1078 subjects were included. The findings revealed that core stability exercises improved the dynamic balance of children and adolescents with ID but had no significant effect on static (Hedges’ g = 1.32, 95% CI [-0.41 to 3.06]) or static‒dynamic (Hedges’ g = 1.35, 95% CI [-0.02 to 2.73]) balance compared with the control groups. The quality of evidence based on the GRADE approach was very low.

Conclusions

Core stability exercises may improve dynamic balance in children and adolescents with ID, but given the scarcity of studies included, definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. Although pooled analyses also highlighted improvements in static and static–dynamic balance with large effect sizes over active control groups, the results were not statistically significant and should be interpreted with caution given the wide confidence intervals. The heterogeneity among the identified studies and the limited number of eligible studies may reduce the reliability of the results, but these findings emphasise the need for additional research in this domain.
Enhancing unity-based AR with optimal lossless compression for digital twin assets
Authors: Hlayel Mohammed , Mahdin Hairulnizam , Hayajneh Mohammad , AlDaajeh Saleh H. , Yaacob Siti Salwani , Rejab Mazidah Mat
Published: December 2024

The rapid development of Digital Twin (DT) technology has underlined challenges in resource-constrained mobile devices, especially in the application of extended realities (XR), which includes Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). These challenges lead to computational inefficiencies that negatively impact user experience when dealing with sizeable 3D model assets. This article applies multiple lossless compression algorithms to improve the efficiency of digital twin asset delivery in Unity’s AssetBundle and Addressable asset management frameworks. In this study, an optimal model will be obtained that reduces both bundle size and time required in visualization, simultaneously reducing CPU and RAM usage on mobile devices. This study has assessed compression methods, such as LZ4, LZMA, Brotli, Fast LZ, and 7-Zip, among others, for their influence on AR performance. This study also creates mathematical models for predicting resource utilization, like RAM and CPU time, required by AR mobile applications. Experimental results show a detailed comparison among these compression algorithms, which can give insights and help choose the best method according to the compression ratio, decompression speed, and resource usage. It finally leads to more efficient implementations of AR digital twins on resource-constrained mobile platforms with greater flexibility in development and a better end-user experience. Our results show that LZ4 and Fast LZ perform best in speed and resource efficiency, especially with RAM caching. At the same time, 7-Zip/LZMA achieves the highest compression ratios at the cost of slower loading. Brotli emerged as a strong option for web-based AR/VR content, striking a balance between compression efficiency and decompression speed, outperforming Gzip in WebGL contexts. The Addressable Asset system with LZ4 offers the most efficient balance for real-time AR applications. This study will deliver practical guidance on optimal compression method selection to improve user experience and scalability for AR digital twin implementations.
Big data tax collection and management, enterprise financialization and enterprise innovation: Quasi-natural test evidence based on the "Golden Tax Phase III"
Authors: Zhou Deliang , Zhang Zexuan
Published: December 2024

In the era of digital economy, big data tax collection and management has become an important governance tool for digital government. In this study, the quasi-natural test environment provided by the "Golden Tax Phase III" policy launched in 2013 and the method of propensity score matching and differentiation (PSM-DID) were used on combination of the samples of A-share listed enterprises in Shanghai and Shenzhen during 2010–2021 to analyze and demonstrate the impact of this policy on the innovation of the listed enterprises. To ensure the robustness of these findings, various statistical techniques such as parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and the explained variable replacement were employed. Additionally, an influence mechanism test was conducted to examine the mediating effect of big data tax collection and management on enterprise innovation, revealing the reduction of enterprise financialization. Furthermore, moderating effect tests and heterogeneity analyses were also performed, and the results showed that the agency costs and financing constraints play a negative role in regulation, and the promotion effect of big data tax collection and management on enterprise innovation is more significant in enterprises with high information transparency and non-high-tech enterprises. Finally, in the further study and economic consequence test, it is found that big data tax collection and management can promote the high-quality development of enterprises while promoting enterprise innovation. The conclusions of this study are helpful for government departments to continuously promote big data tax collection and management, promote the implementation of innovation-driven strategic policies, and promote high-quality economic development.
The effectiveness of the combined PBL and Tencent Conference online teaching mode in the clinical internship teaching of cardiac surgery
Authors: Chen Xiuwen , Xiao Yao , You Yunhui , Zhu Jianxi , Liu Shiqing , Chen Huiqiong , Zhu Hong
Published: December 2024

Background

Educators increasingly emphasise the importance of clinical medical education reform, particularly the innovation of teaching models. Clinical internships in cardiac surgery are an essential stage in the development of medical students. Currently, it is still dominated by the traditional lecture mode. Therefore, exploring a new teaching model is a critical way to improve the quality of clinical internship teaching.

Objectives

To investigate the effectiveness of the combined PBL and Tencent Conference online teaching mode in the clinical internship teaching of cardiac surgery.

Methods

This historical controlled trial was conducted from September 2022 to January 2023. A total of 34 participants from the graduating class of 2020 took the combined PBL and Tencent Conference online teaching mode. 42 participants from the graduating class of 2021 adopted the traditional teaching method and were enrolled as a control group. All participants completed a questionnaire designed by the researcher to assess teaching quality. The questionnaire was filled out sequentially according to the chronological order of pre-internship, during the internship, and post-internship.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between the group of Tencent Conference online teaching based on the PBL mode and the group of traditional teaching mode in terms of the degree of participation (experience, hands-on opportunities, etc.), the degree of teacher-student interaction (questions, communication, etc.), and the degree of acceptance and understanding (key points, difficulties, and other learning concerns) in the class learning process during the internship (p < 0.05). The results of the survey also showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the scores of the degree of mastery and use of history taking in cardiac surgery and the degree of mastery and use of ancillary tests (application and interpretation of each test) after the internship (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The traditional approach currently used by most educators does not enable cardiac surgery students to transform theory fully. The PBL teaching method can stimulate students’ interest in learning and cultivate their comprehensive ability to a certain extent. Future educators should flexibly adapt the teaching method to the learning situation, develop a reasonable teaching mode of clinical internship, and ensure quality.
Impact of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder on maternal antenatal depression
Authors: Ihara Nozomi , Sato Yoko , Ikeda Subaru , Matsufuji Hiromi , Kikuchi Kimiyo , Suetsugu Yoshiko , Hikita Naoko , Morokuma Seiichi
Published: December 2024

In this study, we aimed to determine the association of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) with maternal antenatal depression. This cross-sectional, online questionnaire-based observational study included 212 pregnant women between gestational ages 24 weeks and 28 weeks 6 days. PMS and PMDD were measured using the PMDD Scale, and maternal antenatal depression was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Baseline characteristics, clinical information, and associated factors were also included in the questionnaire. Analyses were conducted using a binomial logistic regression model with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale positivity (maternal antenatal depression) as the dependent variable. Having “PMDD” (odds ratio: 3.54 [95% confidence interval: 1.26–9.93], p = 0.02) and “PMS” (odds ratio 2.31 [1.10–4.87], p = 0.03) on the PMDD rating scale were significantly associated with maternal antenatal depression. Therefore, our results suggest that screening for a history of PMS or PMDD during the early antepartum interview may aid mental health care and prevent perinatal depression during the early stages of pregnancy.
The effects of exercise on neuromuscular function in people with chronic neck pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dirito Angelo Marco , Abichandani Deepa , Jadhakhan Ferozkhan , Falla Deborah
Published: December 2024

Background

Differences in cervical neuromuscular function are commonly observed between people with and without chronic neck pain. Exercise may improve cervical neuromuscular function of people with neck pain although the evidence for this has not been systematically reviewed.

Objective

To systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of exercises targeting the neck muscles on neuromuscular function in people with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted based on a registered protocol (CRD42021298831) with searches conducted on the following databases from inception to 21st October 2023: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, AMED, Google Scholar, Open Grey and Zetoc. Studies of interest were trials investigating neuromuscular adaptations to a program of exercise targeting the neck muscles (>2 weeks) in people with chronic non-specific neck pain. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and performed data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and rated the overall certainty of the evidence (GRADE).

Results

Fourteen articles from 2110 citations were included. There is moderate certainty of evidence that the use of craniocervical flexion training (either in isolation or in combination with resistance training) can induce neural adaptations within the neck muscles. A meta-analysis showed a reduction in sternocleidomastoid muscle activity after neck exercise interventions compared to control interventions.

Conclusion

The articles included in this systematic review confirmed that exercise can result in neuromuscular adaptations within neck muscles, as measured by electromyography. Specificity of training was seen to be relevant for the type of neuromuscular adaptations induced.
Unsafe containment: Public health risks of septic tanks discharging to drains in Dhaka Bangladesh
Authors: Mills Freya , Foster Tim , Moe Christine , Amin Nuhu , Liu Pengbo , Rahman Mahbubur , Evans Barbara , Willetts Juliet
Published: December 2024

Sanitation approaches in low-income urban areas are predominately on-site sanitation, with septic tanks promoted as an improved sanitation solution. While a septic tank system is designed to contain sludge in the tank and discharge effluent to a soil infiltration system, in many urban contexts effluent from tanks discharge directly to open drains or surface waters. This research addresses the paucity of data on pathogen removal and discharge from septic tanks as operated in low-income contexts and the significance of this public health hazard. This study assessed the performance and risks of “septic tanks” discharging to open drains in a low-income neighbourhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh, considering the influence of usage and tank operation on concentrations of Norovirus GII, Salmonella Typhi, Vibrio cholerae, Giardia, Shigella and E. coli in the effluent and receiving drains. While 66% of septic tanks were functioning within design limits, multiple pathogens were detected in all effluent samples, with a mean concentration of 7.6 log10 MPN/100mL for E. coli and 4.2–5.6 log10 genome copies/100mL for pathogens, excluding S. Typhi which was not detected. Children’s exposure to septic tank discharge in drains could result in an 18% risk of illness from Norovirus GII and 3% from Giardia annually. The pathogen reduction between the estimated septic tank inflows and measured effluent concentration ranged from 1.3 log10 MPN reduction for E. coli to 2.2 log10 genome copies reduction for Giardia. Increased coverage of septic tanks was significantly associated with reduced concentrations of Shigella in open drains compared to direct discharge from toilets, with increased reduction for septic tanks operating within design standards. Implementing septic tanks without sub-surface infiltration or treatment of effluent is a major concern. The potential health risk of exposure to septic tank effluent warrants increased attention to appropriate technical design, effluent management and alternatives such as networked sanitation.
Instruct, control and dominate: Discourse on the interrelationship between body and architecture
Authors: Liu Philip
Published: December 2024

Through the process of ‘instruct’, ‘occupy’ and ‘dominate’, this article delves into the intricate interplay between architecture and its user. Drawing on the concept of architectural drawing as a means of instruction, the first part of the article examines how the architect’s initial plans and drawings instruct the users and shape their understanding of the building. The second part of the article explores the experience of occupying the building and how the user’s perception of the building may change over time, potentially leading to changes in the spaces. Finally, the article examines how the user takes ownership of the building, evolves with it over time and eventually becomes the building. Through a critical examination of these stages, this article seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interrelationship between the architect, the user and the architecture they create as a procedural event. The findings and discoveries of this article will have implications for the future of architectural practice and space-making, potentially influencing the ways in which architects and users approach the creation and occupation of space.
The Chagossians in Francophone fiction: (Post)memory, trauma and reclaimed agency
Authors: Steemers Vivan
Published: December 2024

Beginning in the late 1960s, the entire population of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, part of a British colony, was deported in order to establish an American military base in this geostrategic location. Ignorant about their fate, most of the traumatized Chagos islanders were dumped in shacks on the island of Mauritius. This article analyses the representation of the Chagossians’ plight and eventual fight for justice through the prism of three fictional Francophone texts: Shenaz Patel’s Le Silence des Chagos (2005), Caroline Laurent’s Rivage de la colère (2021) and Jean-Michel Fillol’s Chago, l’orphelin de l’histoire (2014). The focus will be on the development of three prevailing themes, (post)memory, trauma and reclaimed agency, by engaging with an array of approaches to trauma theory, in particular as they pertain to a social and cultural postcolonial context. Therefore, the article aims to uncover how these narratives reflect the nostalgic and critical memories, the revolt and the legal battle against the Mauritian and British authorities by the Chagossians. The most significant function of the texts is to enable the Chagossian exiles and their descendants to process the traumatic event, thus empowering and healing them.
Investigating spatial-temporal variability of soil moisture in agricultural catchments
Authors:   , Li Tailin
Published: December 2024

The thesis focuses on the investigation of spatiotemporal variability of soil moisture and its impact on hydrological response in agricultural landscapes, based primarily on data from the Nučice catchment in the Czech Republic. Various methods were employed, including in-situ measurements, remote sensing, and numerical modelling using the MIKE-SHE model. The results reveal significant spatial variability in soil moisture despite uniform agricultural management practices. The correlation between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and soil moisture highlights the influence of vegetation on moisture distribution, although the MIKE-SHE model did not fully capture this correlation. The model demonstrated accuracy in simulating soil moisture, with a Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient exceeding 0.7, but was less accurate in simulating runoff (NSE above 0.45). The simulations captured rapid runoff events during vegetative periods but struggled with episodes in autumn and winter. The study also revealed seasonal patterns in vegetation indices and evapotranspiration, which peaked in spring and summer. NDVI showed a strong correlation with evapotranspiration (correlation coefficient between 0.6 and 0.9). Soil moisture was mainly influenced by evapotranspiration, indicating that crop water consumption is a key factor in soil moisture dynamics. A controlled fire affected the upper soil layers, improving infiltration and hydraulic properties, although these changes were only temporary. The fire reduced transpiration and increased soil water storage, but soil properties quickly returned to their original state. Overall, this study contributes to a better understanding of soil moisture dynamics in agricultural landscapes and provides a foundation for sustainable management and future scientific research.
A Combinatorial Approach for Optimizing Transportation System: Multi-Objective Decision-Making Framework
Authors: Coloma-Salazar Manuel-Enrique , Arzola-Ruiz José , Marrero-Fornaris Clara-Elena , Socha Vladimir , Asgher Umer
Published: December 2024

This study presents a comprehensive multi-objective transportation model aimed at optimizing complex vehicle routing problems, which are nondeterministic polynomial time NP-hard due to spatial, temporal, and capacity constraints. In this study, the multi-objective transportation model integrates decisionmaker preferences with hybrid optimization techniques, including the approximatecombinatorial method, ant colony optimization and evolutionary algorithms. it seeks to minimize transportation costs, time, and emissions while accounting for real-world constraints such as fleet composition, customer demand, and servicelevel agreements. The techniques like multi-criteria decision-making methods are employed to refine the solution set, balancing objectives like cost, time, environmental impact, and service level. The novel optimization model is applied to a fuel distribution case study involving 18 customers and a heterogeneous fleet, where it optimizes vehicle routes to meet delivery requirements efficiently. The multiobjective transportation framework generates multiple feasible solutions, which are further narrowed down using decision-making frameworks to ensure alignment with organizational goals and decision-maker preferences. The integration of quantitative optimization techniques with qualitative decision-making processes makes this model robust and scalable, offering a practical tool for enhancing operational efficiency in transportation systems. This approach effectively addresses real-world logistics challenges, demonstrating significant improvements in route efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability.
Asymmetric Orienteering Problem with Profitable Penalty
Authors: Mocková Denisa , Teichmann Dušan , Sekničková Jana , Kuncová Martina
Published: December 2024

This paper solves a modified version of the asymmetric traveling salesman problem with the possibility of omitting certain nodes and with a defined time limit for the total travel time, also referred to as the asymmetric orienteering problem (AOP). This problem belongs to the class of NP-hard problems. A proposed mathematical model maximizes the total score gained from visiting nodes within a predefined time limit. The possibility of exceeding the time limit, which results in a penalty to the total score, is also considered. The profitable penalty is examined, i.e., whether accepting the penalty can be advantageous for increasing the total score. The problem is demonstrated in a case study from the ski adventure race, organized in the Jizera Mountains in the Czech Republic.
Espiritualidades como instrumento para un Desarrollo Humano Integral
Authors: Sepúlveda del Río Ignacio
Published: December 2024

Durante buena parte del S. XX el desarrollo se entendió como crecimiento económico, comercio, instituciones modernas, etc. La idea era que los países subdesarrollados debían seguir el sendero de la modernidad marcado por los países desarrollados. Frente a esta mirada economicista del desarrollo (y también colonialista), han surgido varias propuestas que hablan de un Desarrollo Humano Integral. La Iglesia Católica, a través de su Doctrina Social, ha insistido profusamente, por casi 60 años, en este tema. El desarrollo no puede ser meramente económico, sino que debe mirar la totalidad del ser humano. En relación con esto, las espiritualidades pueden ser un aporte a un Desarrollo Humano Integral que tenga en cuenta la liberación de la opresión, el bien común y la búsqueda de trascendencia.
Secularidad y enseñanza de la religión en España
Authors: León Azcárate Juan Luis de , Ruiz Pérez Francisco José , Uriarte González Luzio
Published: December 2024

La relación entre el fenómeno religioso y el marco de la secularidad o la postsecularidad se hace presente en el ámbito de la escuela pública y, en cierta medida, reproduce las tensiones que tiene la sociedad a la hora de situar esa relación. El objetivo de este texto es presentar y valorar esa relación en el caso español, el cual posee un modelo de tipo confesional de la enseñanza de la religión en la escuela pública. La descripción del modelo debe tener en cuenta el contexto histórico particular y su aplicación, que ha tenido variaciones significativas a lo largo del período democrático según los gobiernos de turno. Se trata de una opción muy controvertida que requiere una valoración ponderada, de tal manera que el texto sumaría los aspectos positivos y las dificultades que suscita el modelo en general y, en particular, la concreción española. La controversia tiene aspectos más coyunturales y otros de mayor calado, cuyo tratamiento sugiere una reflexión de tipo antropológico y teológico, la cual se realiza de manera incipiente.
Empowering marginalised students in access programmes: A gendered and Afrocentric approach to a decolonised academic literacy curriculum
Authors: Sparks Linda
Published: December 2024

Reading during academic literacy (AL) courses may improve academic skills and empower marginalised students’ access to education. However, reading curricula might not address the interests, cultural background, and gender context of South African students. Calls for the decolonisation of the curriculum and gender equality remain largely unaddressed. This research aims to address this gap by assessing whether students experience a decolonised, Afro/gender-centric, intensive reading curriculum as beneficial and empowering. Student interest in reading is crucial for acquiring reading skills and from these, AL skills which are key to student success in a multilingual context. A secondary objective is to explore students’ perceptions of reading skills improvement, including reading interest. An interpretivist approach embedded in critical theory was used to guide this research. A mixed-method approach measuring students’ perceptions revealed that exposure to decolonised and gender-inclusive texts was empowering and beneficial for academic skills.
Higher Education for Good: Teaching and Learning Futures.
Authors: Agherdien Najma , Rahiman Fatima
Published: December 2024

Cronin, C. and Czerniewicz, L. (eds.). 2023. Higher Education for Good: Teaching and Learning Futures. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers.