bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Structural Equation Model of the Factors Affecting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the Perceived Benefits and Intention of Thai People to Use the China-Laos High-Speed Rail Service
Authors: Theerathitichaipa Kestsirin , Wisutwattanasak Panuwat , Se Chamroeun , Seefong Manlika , Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj , Champahom Thanapong , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs , Kasemsri Rattanaporn
Published: August 2024

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) policy, with the China-Laos high-speed railway being a part of the BRI project. As it is well known, Thailand shares a border with Laos and has significant cross-border trade with China. In terms of tourism, Thailand is a globally popular destination, with Chinese tourists being the largest group of visitors. This study takes place in Thailand, a developing country, to examine the opportunities that may arise if Thailand prepares to handle the China-Laos high-speed railway. The objective of this research is to study the relationship between factors affecting BRI and Thai people's perceived benefits and their intention to use the China-Laos high-speed railway. Data was collected through a survey conducted in key trade gateway areas along the Thailand-Laos border, using Stratified Random Sampling of 1,540 Thai residents living in border provinces along the BRI route. The research findings indicate that Perceived Emotional is the most important factor in explaining Thai people's perception. Additionally, foreign direct investment, tourism, employment, living standards and society, economy, and logistics transportation positively influence the perceived benefits of BRI. Furthermore, the perceived benefits of BRI have a positive relationship with the attitudes of Thai people. The results also reveal that perceived benefits, attitudes, and subjective norms positively correlate with the intention to use the China-Laos high-speed railway. These findings can be utilized to provide in-depth insights to relevant agencies and assist in formulating policies and measures that align with the BRI policy. This alignment will enhance development to sustainable changes.
Lightweight Monocular Depth Estimation Using a Fusion- Improved Transformer
Authors: Sui Xin , Gao Song , Xu Aigong , Zhang Cong , Wang Changqiang , Shi Zhengxu
Published: August 2024

The existing deep estimation networks often overlook the issue of computational efficiency while pursuing high accuracy. This paper proposes a lightweight self-supervised network that combines convolutional neural networks (CNN) and Transformers as the feature extraction and encoding layers for images, enabling the network to capture both local geometric and global semantic features for depth estimation. First, depth-separable convolution is used to construct a dilated convolution residual module based on a shallow network to improve the shallow CNN feature extraction receptive field. In the transformer, a multidepth separable convolution head transposed attention module is proposed to reduce the computational burden of spatial self-attention. In the feedforward network, a two-step gating mechanism is proposed to improve the nonlinear representation ability of the feedforward network. Finally, the CNN and transformer are integrated to implement a depth estimation network with a local-global context interaction function. Compared with other lightweight models, this model has fewer model parameters and higher estimation accuracy. It also has better generalizability for different outdoor datasets. Additionally, the inference speed can reach 87 FPS, achieving better real-time performance and accounting for both inference speed and estimation accuracy.
Segmentation of Breast Cancer Masses in Mammography Images Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN)
Authors: Hoseini Farnaz , Mirzaei Abbas
Published: August 2024

Mammography is one of the most important and effective ways to detect breast cancer, especially in the early stages of the disease. However, due to the complexity of breast tissue, the similarity between cancerous masses and natural tissues, the different sizes and shapes of masses, and the use of low-density X-ray radiation, mammogram images often have poor quality. Therefore, detecting lesions, especially in the early stages, is a challenging task. In this study, we address the improvement of breast cancer mass segmentation in mammography images. Accurate mass segmentation on mammograms is an important step in computer-aided diagnosis systems, which is also a challenging task because some mass lesions are embedded in natural tissues and have weak or ambiguous margins. The proposed method in this study presents an improved algorithm for segmenting cancerous masses in mammography images using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), which ultimately leads to mass classification into benign and malignant classes. Deep convolutional neural networks extract high-level concepts from low-level features, and are appropriate for handling large volumes of data. In fact, in deep learning, high-level concepts are defined by low-level features. Segmentation based on the proposed method with preprocessed images achieves more accurate delineation in high-resolution images, and ultimately improves the accuracy and sensitivity of mass tissue separation in the breast. In this study, we used three different architectures for deep convolutional neural networks. The proposed DCNNs were validated on mammography images of INbreast dataset. The reliability of the system's performance is ensured by applying 5-fold cross-validation. The proposed method has been evaluated based on accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and ROC criteria. The results obtained with an accuracy of 97.76% for the third proposed deep model indicate an improvement in the accuracy of the diagnosis as well as a reduction in the cost of the diagnostic process. Results showed that our proposed algorithm is significantly more accurate than other methods due to its deep and hierarchical extraction.
Abandoned croplands show higher insectivorous bat species and functional diversity than forest fragments in a communal land area of the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Meulen Khia R. van der , Richards Leigh R. , Shackleton Ross T , Cherry Michael I.
Published: August 2024

Deagrarianisation (cropland, field abandonment) is a widespread global phenomenon with high potential for carbon sequestration and for reversing biodiversity extinction debt thus promoting environmental sustainability and conservation. To date, much work on this topic has focused on plant succession and associated plant diversity, but few studies have considered faunal communities, particularly in Africa. Here we used passive acoustic monitoring to record insectivorous bat communities within forest fragments and former fields under communal land tenure in the Transkei region (Eastern Cape) of South Africa. Insectivorous bat diversity of fields, abandoned in the 1960s to 1980s, resembling late stages of succession, were compared to fragments of Transkei Coastal Scarp forest embedded within the landscape. We found that former fields hosted 14 species from 11 genera, comprising greater species richness, activity, Shannon-Weiner diversity, and functional diversity, irrespective of age, as compared to the forest fragments. Furthermore, the former fields exhibited comparable species richness to, and higher functional diversity than, three large neighbouring intact Transkei Scarp forests. Interestingly, the time since cultivation had ceased (35—64 years ago) had no measurable effect on species and functional diversity. Former fields are dominated by the invasive alien shrub Lantana camara and the indigenous pioneer tree Vachellia karoo, but nonetheless in terms of insectivorous bats, these landscapes have a conservation value as they are diverse both in terms of species and function. Mutual mechanisms to enhance both biodiversity conservation and the utility of the land to local communities should be further considered.
Structure and magnetic properties of epitaxial Sr-LaMnO3 thin films obtained by polymer assisted deposition
Authors: Vukmirović Jelena , Piper Danica , Šenjug Pavla , Pajić Damir , Miljević Bojan , Milanović Marija , Joksović Sara , Novaković Mirjana , S Vladimir V.
Published: August 2024

Epitaxial La1 − xSrxMnO3 (LSMO, where x = 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) films on single crystal SrTiO3 (001) substrate were obtained by water-based chemical solution deposition method, so-called polymer assisted deposition. The as-prepared films (heated at 750°C for 1 h) have thickness of ~ 30 nm, high uniformity, clear and well-defined interface and crack free surfaces. In addition, they are characterized by the formation of an imperfect crystal structure with some disoriented areas, small amount of non-stoichiometric phase and defects created just to support the epitaxial film growth. During multiple annealing at different temperatures up to 900°C epitaxial nature was preserved in all LSMO films and the structure rearrangement through elimination of defects and formation of unit cell closer to the corresponding bulk stoichiometric phase was observed. The magnetic properties of the LSMO thin film were measured using SQUID magnetometer in the temperature range of 5–400 K with the field applied parallel (in-plane) and perpendicular (out-of-plane) to the film surface. The angle dependence of the magnetic moment in the LSMO thin films at the room temperature was also measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer.
Dendrimer of aminoethylene carbonate as a potential retanning agent of hare skin
Authors: Maksimov Aleksei , Yarullin Bulat , Maksimova Ksenia , Latfullin Ilfat , Ostrovskaya Alla , Kharlampidi Kharlampii , Kutyrev Gennadii
Published: August 2024

The hare skin has weak leather tissue, which requires filling and tanning in order to prolong the period of use of products. To strengthen hare skin it was proposed to use aminoethylene carbonate dendrimer, which was first synthesized by the reaction of triethanolamine with dimethyl carbonate. The dendrimer was characterized by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, TGA, SEM and dynamic light scattering. The aminoethylene carbonate molecule contains 6 terminal hydroxyl groups and has a number-average molecular weight of 674 g∙mol-1. The hare skins treated with chrome tanning agent, with and without dendrimer, have close shrinkage temperatures. However, the experimental samples filled with dendrimer show better physical and mechanical properties, higher degree of thickening and ordered dermis structure compared to the control samples. This study shows the effectiveness of using aminoethylene carbonate dendrimer as a retanning agent for hare skin.
A shady business in Legumes: Lutein epoxidase enables α-xanthophyll cycling
Authors: Leonelli Laurie , Attri Komal , Harris Jake , Brooks Matthew
Published: August 2024

Leaves rapidly adjust their xanthophyll pool in response to changes in light to funnel absorbed excitation energy toward either photochemistry or photoprotective energy dissipation. In roughly 60% of species surveyed, α-xanthophylls are interconverted between photoprotective lutein (L) and shade-enriched lutein epoxide (Lx), forming the lutein epoxide cycle (LxL cycle). Despite its prevalence, the enzyme involved in the epoxidation reaction of the LxL cycle is unknown. Using pigment profiling and canopy-specific RNAseq, we detect Lx throughout the middle and lower canopy of soybean and link its accumulation to the expression of a mono-oxygenase we call lutein epoxidase (LEP). We confirm LEP activity in a transient assay in Nicotiana benthamiana. LEPs are distinct from zeaxanthin epoxidases (ZEPs) and are conserved across many legumes. The discovery of an enzyme involved in α-xanthophyll cycling in an agriculturally important crop presents us with a new target for optimizing plant productivity in the shade.
Characterization of Unconventional Sources of Starch: Physicochemical and Thermal Properties
Authors: Pérez-Pacheco E. , Ortiz-Fernández A. , Ríos-Soberanis C. R. , Estrada-León R. J. , Moo-Huchín V. M. , Pérez-Padilla Y. , Canto-Pinto Jorge Carlos , Dzul-Cervantes Mario Adrian
Published: August 2024

This study aims to explore and characterize unconventional sources of starch, specifically Brosimum alicastrum (Ramón), Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Parota), Melicoccus bijugatus (Huaya), and Talisia floresii Standl (Colok), collected in the Yucatán Peninsula in México. Various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were employed to evaluate the physicochemical and morphological properties of these starches. The results indicate that Ramón starch exhibits the highest crystallinity (38%), followed by Parota starch (37%), Colok (33%), and Huaya (22%). These structural differences significantly impact their thermal and mechanical properties. Parota and Colok starches demonstrated high thermal stability, making them suitable for applications in bioplastics and biodegradable packaging materials. Huaya starch, possessing lower thermal stability, is more appropriate for moderate-temperature applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. DSC studies revealed that Colok starch exhibits the highest gelatinization enthalpy, representing a highly organized structure. These unconventional starches show promising characteristics for various industrial applications, offering sustainable and biodegradable alternatives to traditional polymeric materials.
The associations of long-term temperature and precipitation with chronic respiratory symptoms: Projections for the changing climate
Authors: Koskela Heikki O , Kaulamo Johanna T , Lätti Anne M
Published: August 2024

Purpose
To clarify the associations of climatic indices with chronic respiratory symptoms, with a final aim to approximate the effects of climate change on them.
Methods
An e-mail survey was directed to the members of the Finnish Pensioners` Federation. The mean 20-years’ precipitation and temperature in each subjects’ home municipality were obtained from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, separately for summer and winter. Adjusted multivariate models were utilized to investigate the associations of the climatic indices with chronic rhinosinusitis, chronic cough, wheezing with dyspnea, and sleep apnea.
Results
There were 6189 responders from 283 municipalities. Chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough were most prevalent in the southeastern regions of the country, where the precipitation counts were highest. In the multivariate models, winter precipitation in the home municipality increased the risks of chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough (adjusted OR 1.79 (1.29-2.49) per 100 mm, p < 0.001, and 1.57 (1.19 to 2.07), p = 0.001, respectively). Wheezing with dyspnea and sleep apnea were not associated with the climatic indices.
Conclusion
Chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough were associated with long-term winter precipitation. Given the anticipated increase in winter precipitation in Northern America and Northern Europe, the prevalences of chronic rhinosinusitis and chronic cough may increase there.
Spatiotemporal cerebral blood flow dynamics underlies emergence of the limbic-sensorimotor-association cortical gradient in human infancy
Authors: Huang Hao , Detre John , Hyland Jessica , Sindabizera Kay , Kuschner Emily , Edgar J , Peng Yun , Ouyang Minhui
Published: August 2024

Infant cerebral blood flow (CBF) delivers nutrients and oxygen to fulfill brain energy consumption requirements for the fastest period of postnatal brain development across the lifespan. However, organizing principle of whole-brain CBF dynamics during infancy remains obscure. Leveraging a unique cohort of 100 + infants with high-resolution arterial spin labeled MRI, we found the emergence of the cortical hierarchy revealed by the highest-resolution infant CBF maps available to date. Infant CBF across cortical regions increased in a biphasic pattern with initial rapid and sequentially slower rate, with break-point ages increasing along the limbic-sensorimotor-association cortical gradient. Increases in CBF in sensorimotor cortices were associated with enhanced language and motor skills, and frontoparietal association cortices for cognitive skills. The study discovered emergence of the hierarchical limbic-sensorimotor-association cortical gradient in infancy, and offers standardized reference of infant brain CBF and insight into the physiological basis of cortical specialization and real-world infant developmental functioning.
Blockchain-Enabled Security Model for VANETs: A Novel Approach to Authentication and Position
Authors: Faisal Syed Mohd
Published: August 2024

Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET) is infrastructure-less networks that does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure and are inherently vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to their intrinsic openness. We proposed a new blockchain-based security model that is meant to make VANET safer by adding methods for authentication and position verification. The proposed model uses Road Side Units (RSUs) to verify the identification of vehicles and an iterative method to verify the vehicle’s geographical location by calculating the Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA). Blockchain technology is a key part of keeping track of safety event messages, location badges, and trust levels, which ensures compliance with local regulations. The proposed model was simulated under the OMNeT + + Veins, and SUMO simulators. In situations where there are no malicious nodes, the model has a better Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) than common protocols like ASC, LAKAP, and HEPPA. The proposed method constantly has a big advantage in PDR, even when there are malicious nodes present. This shows how reliable the proposed method is. We also examined End-to-End Delay, Transmission overhead, and Packet Loss Ratio, which shows that the model can make networks more efficient. The simulation results proved that the proposed model is a strong way to improve the safety and performance of communication networks, especially when it comes to self-driving and connected vehicles. These encouraging results pave the way for more study to improve how useful and effective blockchain implementation is in VANETs, which is in line with the dynamic landscape of connected vehicles.
Assessing Allura Red Concentration in Commercial Tropical Punch Kool-Aid: A Study
Authors: Rao Idhant
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the concentration of Allura Red dye in commercial Kool-Aid to determine whether its levels are within safe limits as specified by regulatory bodies such as the FDA. FD & C Red 40, also known as Allura Red, has been linked to adolescent hyperactivity [1] and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [2], raising concerns about its safety. In a randomized study using spectrophotometry and stoichiometry conducted in a high school laboratory, we measured and analyzed the concentration of Allura Red in various dilution levels of Kool-Aid. Our results indicate that the concentration of Allura Red in the prepared Kool-Aid solution from one Kool-Aid container exceeds the determined calculated, acceptable limit suggesting potential health risks associated with consumption.
Dynamic X-ray Microtomography vs. Laser-Doppler Vibrometry: A Comparative Study
Authors: Ivanovic Aleksandra , Cheng Jeffrey Tao , Schmeltz Margaux , Schlepütz Christian M. , Bonnin Anne , Anschuetz Lukas
Published: August 2024

Purpose: There are challenges in understanding the biomechanics of the human middle ear, and established methods for studying this system show significant limitations. In this study, we evaluate a novel dynamic imaging technique based on synchrotron X-ray microtomography designed to assess the biomechanical properties of the human middle ear by comparing it to laser-Doppler vibrometry (LDV).
Methods: We examined three fresh-frozen temporal bones (TB) using dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography for 256 Hz and 512 Hz, stimulated at 110 dB and 120 dB SPL. In addition, we performed measurements on these TBs using 1D LDV, a well-established method.
Results: The normalized displacement values (µm/Pa) at the umbo and the posterior crus of the stapes are consistent or within 5-10 dB differences between all LDV and dynamic microtomography measurements and previously reported literature references. In general, the overall behavior is similar between the two measurement techniques. Conclusion: In conclusion, our results demonstrate the suitability of dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography in studying the middle ear’s biomechanics. However, this study shows that better standardization regarding acoustic stimulation and measurement points is needed to better compare the two measurement techniques.
From Ecological Literacy to Ecological Culture: Integration of Education and Enlightenment
Authors:   St. Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education named after K. D. Ushinsky Saint Petersburg, Alekseev Sergey V.
Published: August 2024

The idea of the article is to analyze ecological culture as a goal and predictable result of environmental education and enlightenment, to consider it as a level education (environmental literacy, environmental education, environmental competence) and to study the ways to assess it. An attempt to comprehend the concept of “environmental literacy” in the context of the concept of the formation of functional literacy of students, to determine the contribution to the environmental culture of education and enlightenment is made. The options for determining environmental literacy in domestic and foreign literature are provided. The results of the Russian-Finnish LALAPETE project “Innovations in the field of reuse and environmental education” (2020–2021) are presented to make a comparative analysis of the awareness of Russian and Finnish respondents on the environmental and sustainable development issues. The article presents the results of a study of the features of the ecological culture formation of Russian and American students, conducted by P. O. Ermolaeva within the framework of a cross-cultural project. The results of the environmental awareness among schoolchildren (four comparable comparative studies conducted by A. Pavlov in 1902 (a sample of 100 respondents, students aged 11–15 years), S. Alekseev in 1991, 2012 and 2023 are presented in the article. The article also provides a comparative analysis of a number of provisions on the state of school environmental education obtained during the study, and the results of the study by S. V. Alekseev in 2022 in the education system of St. Petersburg. The development of a pilot project for the transition from environmental literacy to environmental culture on the basis of the eco-humanitarian model “6+1” has been carried out, which includes the principles of humanitarianism and environmental friendliness, scientific conformity and cultural conformity, uncertainty and manufacturability, the attractor of which should be the vector of security.
Improved Tomato Breeding Lines Adapted to Organic Farming Systems Have Enhanced Flavor, Yield, and Disease Resistance
Authors: Carvallo Lopez Ambar , Nix Marissa , Hickey Thomas , Dawson Julie C.
Published: August 2024

Most of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties currently used in organic farming were bred for conventional farming, often characterized by high-input use. These varieties do not perform as well in low-input organic systems, generating the need to develop varieties that are adapted to organic management systems. This project focused on improving flavor, disease resistance, and yield, all identified as key traits by organic tomato farmers in the Upper Midwest, USA. Ten advanced tomato breeding lines and two check varieties were developed and evaluated for 16 traits in organic high tunnel systems in 2020 and 2021. The line CSDE-F6.47 averaged 6.32 kg/plant and obtained high flavor intensity and overall flavor scores (3.78 and 3.69 out of 5, respectively). The line JBDE-F5.31 was another outstanding line, with a yield of 5.18 kg/plant, with good flavor intensity (3.32) and overall flavor (2.92) scores. Broad-sense heritability of marketable weight per plant was high (0.91), and the genetic variance was also high, which shows the opportunity to continue to increase the marketable weight in lines with excellent flavor. A significant positive correlation was found between overall flavor and °Brix (0.56), and titratable acidity (0.70), indicating that both measurements can be good predictors of overall flavor. The most promising lines will be further evaluated on-farm to evaluate their potential as releasable varieties.
Probing Deep Hydrogen Using Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Yoshino Takashi , Manthilake Geeth , Pommier Anne
Published: August 2024

Electrical conductivity is perhaps the physical property of rocks that is most sensitive to the presence of hydrogen. Hydrogen enhances conductivity via proton conduction in minerals or by stabilizing highly conductive phases, such as hydrous silicate melts or aqueous fluids. Hydrogen might also be stored in the metallic core. Electrical conductivity measurements in the laboratory can be used to interpret magnetotelluric maps of the mantle in terms of hydrogen content and distribution. In active tectonic settings like subduction zones, anomalously high conductivities have revealed the distribution and migration pathways of H-bearing melts and fluids, illuminating the transport of hydrogen in our planet’s interior.
Index of Publications. The Bovine Practitioner 1985-1988 / Proceedings of the Annual Meetings 1985-1988
Authors: Bovine Practitioners American Association of
Published: August 2024

Author and suject indexes for the The Bovine Practitioner and the Proceedings of the Annual Meetings, 1985-1988.
Bovine Practitioner No. 31.2 (1997 May). Front matter
Authors: American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of Contents, and other editorial information.
Bovine Practitioner Vol. 36, No. 2 (2002 June). Front matter
Authors: American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
Bovine Practitioner Vol. 37, No. 1 (2003 February). Front matter
Authors: Bovine Practitioners American Association of
Published: August 2024

Cover, masthead, table of contents, and other editorial information.
Sistem Informasi Bimbingan Tugas Akhir Mahasiswa menggunakan Model SDLC Berbasis Iconix Process
Authors: Ana Wati Seftin Fitri , Fitri Anindo Saka , Vitianingsih Anik Vega , Najaf Abdul Rezha Efrat , Maukar Anastasia Lidya
Published: August 2024

The final thesis assignment plays a crucial role in enabling students to meet the graduation requirements from college. However, the process of scheduling guidance for the final assignment between students and lecturers still relies on several common applications such as WhatsApp or email, which are not specifically designed for this purpose. The accumulation of incoming messages and various types of message information poses a challenge in the guidance process, leading to missed messages between students and lecturers and a lack of recorded information regarding the history of the process and guidance materials. These are some of the current issues. This paper aims to evaluate the functionality, quality, and reliability of the system by conducting black box testing on the application developed for the student final project guidance information system. This application uses the Iconix process-based SDLC (system development life cycle) model, covering student and lecturer profile information, guidance information, proposal submission, progress of the final thesis assignment, meeting schedule, guidance material, discussion forum, survey evaluation, and contact information. The SDLC model is employed in this research because it can effectively and efficiently achieve project targets, enhance software quality standards, and assist in better risk management and adaptation to change. The model comprises planning, needs analysis, design using the Iconix process, implementation, system testing, and maintenance. The Iconix process is utilized for system design modeling and analysis. Black box testing is performed on the system to verify that the system’s functional requirements are operating correctly. The findings of this research can serve as a control for management in the service and administration of final assignment guidance in higher education.
Language Dilemmas in the EFL Class: Historical and Political Factors
Authors: Asmawati Asmawati , Hidayah Fithrah Nurul , Al Assad Hafez , Daulay Sholihatul Hamidah , Purnomo Maslathif Dwi
Published: August 2024

This research explains the complex and many-sided landscape of English language teaching (ELT) and how historical and political contexts influence it. By acknowledging the deep roots of ELT, this research highlights the importance of understanding the challenges and opportunities faced in teaching and learning English in various contexts. The authors conducted extensive library research to gather data and insights into the complexities of language learning in the EFL context, providing valuable solutions for addressing these challenges. Moreover, the article offers a historical review of the Dutch occupation of Indonesia and how it impacted education and English language teaching in the region. By exploring the historical context, the article highlights the significance of acknowledging the past and its influence on present-day ELT practices.
Evaluation of selected biophysical parameters of the teat skin of dairy cows
Authors: TASZKUN IWONA , WILKOŁEK PIOTR , MALINOWSKA ANNA , SZCZEPANIK MARCIN , WÓJCIK IZABELA , CISZEWSKA JAGODA
Published: August 2024

The aim of the research was to assess transepidermal water loss (TEWL), epidermal hydration (EH) and teat skin pH in Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy cows of various ages and with varying degrees of teat skin damage. The research was carried out on one farm in 3 groups of 18 animals each: B1 – cows in the 2nd or 3rd lactation with a teat damage score of 2; B2 – cows in the 5th or 6th lactation with a teat damage score of 3; and B3 – cows in the 5th or 6th lactations with a point assessment of teat damage of 4. The Burmeister classification was used (1). In each cow, the parameters were assessed four times throughout the summer. Measurements were performed using a 5-head Courage Khazaka Multi Probe digital camera with the Windows Adapter MPA 5 software (D-50829 Köln, Germany). The TEWL values were lowest in group B1 (average = 28.5 g/m2/h) and significantly higher in groups B2 (33.28 g/m2/h) and B3 (39.48 g/m2/h). The highest EH values were obtained in group B1 (24.85%), and they were significantly higher than those in groups B2 (15.63%) and B3 (15.39%). Skin pH values in all groups of cows ranged from 6.96 to 7.2. The research allowed us to conclude that TEWL, EH and pH are sensitive indicators of the condition of the epidermal barrier of the teat skin and its stability. The parameters tested in this study may be useful in clinical practice for monitoring the condition of teat skin and assessing the progress of skin lichenisation.
Implikasi Koalisi Partai pada Proses Pembentukan Kebijakan di Daerah (Studi di Pilkada Bangkalan Tahun 2018)
Authors: Holilah Holilah , Khaq Zimamul
Published: August 2024

Studi ini meneliti koalisi partai dalam pilkada pada tiga arena sekaligus, arena elektoral, arena legislatif dan arena pemerintahan. Penelitian koalisi partai dengan tiga arena koalisi sekaligus belum pernah dilakukan peneliti sebelumnya. Untuk itu studi ini ingin meneliti tentang pertama, pola koalisi pilkada Kabupaten Bangkalan tahun 2018. Kedua, implikasi koalisi partai terhadap proses pembentukan kebijakan di Kabupaten Bangkalan tahun 2018-2023. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan jenis deskriptif, dengan teknik pengumpulan data wawancara dan dokumentasi. Informan yang di wawancari 15 orang dari tiga unsur, untuk memenuhi keabsahan data triangulasi sumber, yaitu anggota DPRD, orang pemerintahan dan LSM, Pengamat politik, Kyai, Tokoh masyarakat, akademisi dan Masyarakat Bangkalan. Teori yang digunakan terbentuknya koalisi dari arend Lipjhat  dan proses pembutukan kebijakan dari William Dunn. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pertama, di arena elektoral pola koalisi partai di pilkada Bangkalan tahun 2008 adalah Minimal-Winning Coalition (Koalisi Kemenangan Minimal). Kedua, di arena legislatif partai koalisi merupakan partai paling berpengaruh dalam proses pembentukan kebijakan dan memiliki hubungan yang harmonis dan konsisten mendukung proses pembentukan kebijakan/program bupati untuk realisasi visi misi. Bahkan seluruh partai di parlemen juga mendukung program bupati terpilih. Ketiga, di arena pemerintahan, realisasi program visi misi Bupati sudah dilakukan namun belum optimal karena terbatasnya anggaran daerah dan refocusing anggaran Kabupaten Bangkalan untuk covid 19 pada saat pandemi. Partai koalisi, khususnya partai yang memeiliki kursi paling banyak di parlemen tetap merupakan partai yang paling banyak mendapatkan program realisasi visi misi Bupati.
A multitude of objectives: Serving multiple stakeholders in Water Operators’ Partnerships
Authors: Blokland Maarten , Schwartz Klaas
Published: August 2024

Water Operators' Partnerships (WOPs) are usually presented as relatively simple partnerships between two or more operators. Through capacity development such partnerships then lead to improved performance of a water utility. In this article, we highlight how the context in which WOPs operate is much more complex than this definition suggests. Different actors, operating in different domains, have particular interests in how the water supply sector develops and how WOPs contribute to this development. As a result, in practice, these partnerships often pursue multiple objectives, which represent the interests of different stakeholders. The paper finds that in such settings, achieving these multiple objectives may well surpass the contextual realities and the capacity of the implementing water utilities that form the core of the partnership.
Is the Tigray region, Ethiopia also affected by fluoride in drinking water affecting public health?
Authors: Mesfin Berihu Teshale , Asgedom Abraha Gebrekidan , Zekarias Mekonen Tirfu , Gebretsadik Tesfamariam Teklu , Tesfay Amanual Hadera , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this study was to assess the levels of fluoride in drinking water and its health impact in Semema, Tigray, Ethiopia. Water samples were collected in February, March and April from three potential spring water sources, namely May Atkaru, May Sensela and May Liham. Each sample was analyzed for a variety of physicochemical parameters including fluoride using standard APHA procedures through double beam UV–Visible spectrophotometer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer and titrimetric methods. All the measured physicochemical parameters except hardness (345.78–368.35 mg/L) and alkalinity (231.3–354.6 mg/L) were recorded below the WHO permissible limit set for drinking water. The amount of fluoride in May Atkaru (4.00 mg/L) and May Sensela (3.89 mg/L) was significantly greater than the WHO permissible limit set for drinking water, 1.5 mg/L. Moreover, HQ > 1 from May Atkaru and May Sensela revealed the possibility of dental and skeletal fluorosis over extended exposure to fluoride irrespective of age and sex variations. This confirmed people in the area with mottled teeth are vulnerable to the excessive consumption of fluoride, which poses health risks. Therefore, it needs immediate interventions to minimize the debilitating effect of fluoride in drinking water by creating awareness among the community and policymakers to introduce low-cost defluoridation methods.
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in wastewater in Tunisia
Authors: Othman Ines , Bisseux Maxime , Helmi Amna , Hamdi Rawand , Nahdi Imen , Slama Ichrak , Mastouri Maha , Bailly Jean Luc , Aouni Mahjoub
Published: August 2024

Wastewater-based genomic surveillance can improve community prevalence estimates and identify emerging variants of pathogens. Wastewater influents and treated effluents from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Tunisia were analyzed between December 2021 and July 2022. Wastewater samples were analyzed with reverse transcription solid digital PCR (RT-sdPCR) and whole-genome sequencing to determine the amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and assign SARS-CoV-2 lineages. The virus variants detected in wastewater samples were compared with COVID-19 prevalence data. The quantitative results in wastewater influents revealed that viral RNA concentrations at the treatment plants corroborate with locally reported clinical cases and show an increase before the increment of clinically diagnosed new COVID-19 cases between April and July 2022. Delta and Omicron variants were identified in the Tunisian wastewater. Interestingly, the presence of variant BA.5 was detected in samples prior to its inclusion as a variant of concern (VOC) by the Tunisian National Health Authorities. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in wastewater effluents, indicating that the wastewater treatment techniques used in the majority of Tunisian WWTPs are inefficient in removing the virus traces. This study reports the first identification of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in Tunisian wastewater samples.
Flood modeling using HEC-RAS 2D and IBER 2D: a comparative study
Authors: Djafri Sid Ali , Cherhabil Sonia , Hafnaoui Mohammed Amin , Madi Mohammed
Published: August 2024

Floods have become a major risk in urban areas. Identifying areas at risk of flooding has become crucial to reducing this risk and protecting lives and property. Various softwares are used to identify areas at risk of flooding. In this work, a comparative study was made between two well-known software in flood modeling, HEC-RAS 2D and IBER 2D. The comparison included water depth, flow velocity, and the extent of the flood risk areas of El Bayadh City in Algeria for the return periods 50, 100, and 1,000 years. Despite the existence of some differences in the results of the water depths and the flow velocities compared, the results showed a good agreement between the two softwares. The HEC-RAS software gave higher values than the IBER software for three return periods in estimating water depth, and the IBER provided higher values than HEC-RAS in flood velocity estimation. The results of the flooded areas are almost identical, and the relative deviation of the compared areas varies between 1 and 3%. A flood risk map was produced to identify areas most vulnerable to flooding. This map can be used to help mitigate the risk of flooding.
Handgrip Strength and Clinical Evolution of People Living with HIV: A Mini Narrative Review
Authors: Gouvêa-e-Silva Luiz Fernando , de Morais Lorhoâne Eduarda Simão , de Souza Gonçalves Giovana , Siqueira Morganna Alves , Lima Vitória Souza , Cardoso Ludimila Paula Vaz , Fernandes Eduardo Vignoto
Published: August 2024

:

HIV infection is a worldwide epidemic. Antiretroviral therapy allows people living
with HIV (PLHIV) increased longevity and a better quality of life. Among the various ways of
monitoring the clinical evolution of PLHIV, handgrip strength (HGS) is a promising strategy, as
this test can be used to assess the health condition quickly and at a low cost. In this sense, the present
study aims to describe, through a literature review, the relationship between HGS and the clinical
evolution of PLHIV, especially with morbimortality. Initially, it is highlighted that aging,
HIV infection, and excess body fat are related to the loss of HGS in PLHIV. Furthermore, PLHIV
is more likely to present cardiometabolic diseases that can be aggravated by reduced HGS. Thus,
in people without positive HIV serology, low HGS indirectly, through the presence of risk factors
or cardiometabolic diseases, or directly increases the chance of mortality. In conclusion, the lack
of studies on this topic for PLHIV is highlighted, and more longitudinal studies, including control
groups, are needed.
Comprehensive Review on Cervical Cancer: Global Health Burden
Authors: Aziz Namra , Abbot Vikrant , Bajpai Aishwarya , Wal Pranay , Wal Ankita , Verma Rakesh , Sharma Mukesh Chandra
Published: August 2024

Cervical cancer is one of the four most common cancers that affect women worldwide,
along with breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical cancer. It is a major public health concern that mostly
affects women. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
Patients must be screened and immunized to prevent this disease, although developed and
developing nations have different rates of cervical cancer incidence. Palliative chemotherapy continues
to be the go-to therapy for patients who are not candidates for radiation therapy or curative surgery.
To counteract chemotherapy's low effectiveness, other treatment approaches are being developed.
The main goals of this review study are to advance knowledge of cervical cancer, promote
awareness and educated decision-making, and investigate cutting-edge approaches to the disease's
treatment. A literature review was done from databases like Google Scholar, PUBMED-MEDLINE,
and Scopus using standard keywords “Cancer,” “Cervical Cancer,” “Human papillomavirus,”
“Chemotherapy,” and “Treatment Therapies” from 2010-2023. The Government of India intends to
initiate a three-phase vaccination drive against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls aged 9-14,
aiming to mitigate the risk of cervical cancer. The vaccine also offers protection against the HPV
strains that cause cancer of the anus, vagina, and oropharynx. Although cervical cancer is still a tough
foe, we are getting closer to a time when it may be prevented and treated, even in the most underprivileged
areas, due to continuous advancements and steadfast dedication.
Nursing Coaching Can Improve the Quality of Life and
Immune-Endocrine Condition in Hospitalized Cancer Patients
Authors: Vitale Elsa , Motamed-Jahromi Mohadeseh , Parvaresh-Masoud Mohammad , Lagattolla Fulvia , Cormio Claudia , Romito Francesca , Massafra Raffaella
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

Any cancer diagnosis induces fear and shocking emotional experiences
accompanied by anxiety, depression, unpredictability, and distress. The emotional effect of a
cancer diagnosis and the rigidity of cancer treatment negatively impact the quality of life (QoL)
of patients, and this may continue after treatment. Additionally, emotional distress induces neuroendocrine
stress activation systems and raises stress hormone secretion by causing immunological
dysfunctions. The present narrative review aims to describe nursing coaching approaches
that improve QoL perceptions among cancer patients during their hospitalization.

Methods:

This review was carried out using the PRISMA methodology until the end of November
2023 through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases. Researchers
systematically collected all the currently available literature. The search terms and boolean operators
used to combine keywords were: “QoL” AND “hospitalization” AND “cancer patients”
AND “nursing coaching”.

Results:

Four manuscripts were selected in the present review. One manuscript belonged to the
British Nursing Database and was a mixed-block-randomized study; one belonged to Scopus,
which was also in the PubMed, WoS, and Medline and was a study protocol for an RCT and
two manuscripts belonged to the PubMed database and were all RCTs.

Conclusion::

Nursing coaching improved QoL perceptions in cancer patients during their hospitalization.
Patients were found to prefer in-person interventions to nurse-led ones, which improved
QoL perceptions. However, further interventional studies need to be performed in order
to better address coaching nursing interventions during the hospitalization of cancer patients.
China Against Drug Resistance (CARE) Point Prevalence Study: A Tool for Evaluating Hospital Acquired Infections and Antimicrobial Prescription at Patient Bedside
Authors: Xiao Yonghong , Wang Qiang , Yang Jing , Zhang Jingping , Lin Hongyi , Yang Wenjie , Feng Changwen , Chen Yukun , Huang Wenxiang , Vincelot Pascal , Liao Qizhi , Gong Stanley , Xia Yijun , Jarlier Vincent
Published: August 2024

Background

China Against Drug Resistance (CARE) project was launched for improving antimicrobial use and infection control in Chinese hospitals. The first step was developing a Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) tool for assessing at patient bedside risk factors and rates of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and quality indicators of antimicrobial usage and testing its workability.

Methods

After a pilot phase (2016), the CARE PPS tool was deployed in 2018-9 in eight large Chinese hospitals. Each hospital selected 3-5 adult departments (intensive care, surgery, medicine). The questionnaire in English and Chinese, on paper and tablet computer, was filled out directly at the patient's bedside by local infection control teams, microbiologists, pharmacists and clinicians.

Results

The number of patients visited per day and per investigator team increased from 20-30 during the pilot phase in the first hospital to 40-50 in the eight other hospitals. The main characteristics of the 1,170 patients included (ICU 138, medicine 430, surgery 602) were: median age 60 years; Mac Cabe score 1 74.7%; catheters: central vascular 14.3%, peripheral vascular 50.9%, urinary 19.8%; surgery during stay 31.8%. HAIs prevalence was 6.3% (mainly respiratory tract, surgical-site; main bacteria: Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella). 54.4% of the patients were receiving antimicrobials for therapeutical use (≈3/4 single drug): from 36% in surgery to 78.3% in ICU, mostly large spectrum beta-lactams. Examination of patient records at the bedside found the reason for the treatment (53%), treatments based on microbiological results (9.3%), and prescription reassessment (30.7%).

Conclusion

The study showed that antimicrobial policy and HAI prevention could be improved by using Care-PPS in Chinese hospitals. Although obtained on a limited number of patients, the results demonstrated that there is room for improvement in antimicrobial policy and HAI prevention in the participating hospitals.
The Frequency of Aminoglycoside and Vancomycin-resistant Genes in Enterococci Isolated from Chicken Meat in Qom City, Iran
Authors: Dehghani Sanij Somayeh , Shakib Pegah , Morovvati Abbas
Published: August 2024

Background and Purpose:

Considering the emergence of antibiotic resistance in enterococci and the possibility of transmission of resistant strains to humans, their spread in natural reservoirs is of particular importance. The food chain is known as a source of entero-cocci that is resistant to antimicrobial agents, and these bacteria are present in foods of animal origin, such as meat and milk. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the fre-quency of aminoglycoside- and vancomycin-resistant genes in Enterococcus spp isolates iso-lated from chicken meat in Qom City, Iran.

Methods:

After collecting and culturing 200 chicken meat samples from September 2021 to August 2022, enterococci were isolated and identified using biochemical and microbial stand-ard tests. Antibiotic sensitivity and resistance of the isolates, aph(2")1c ، aph(2")1b ،
aph(2")1d ، ant(3') ، aph(3')IIIa ، ant(4')1a ،ant(6') و aac(6'), vanA and vanB genes were de-termined.

Results:

From 200 chicken meat samples, 40(40%) isolates of Enterococcus faecalis and 60 (60%) isolates of Enterococcus faecium were isolated. Resistance to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, neomycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, and ampicillin were 33, 30, 33, 20, 69, 38, 28, and 45, respectively. Frequency of aph(2")1c, aph(2")1b, aph(2")1d, ant(3'), aph(3')IIIa, ant(4')1a, ant(6') and aac (6'), vanA and vanB were reported to be 13%, 2%, 3%, 45%, 20%, 7%, 19%, 21%, 7%, and 6%, respectively.

Conclusion:

To reduce the infection with this organism and to prevent and control its spread and mortality, investigating the epidemiology and determining the frequency of resistance to aminoglycosides are important.