bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution characteristics and influencing factors of information network in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Authors: Yang Zhichen , Wu Yuxi , Ma Zilong , Wang Fangfang , Chen Rongjian , Wang Yixuan , Tian Zaoli , Kuang Jiali , Chen Yisen , Chen Aichun
Published: May 2024

In the context of the digital information era, the impact of "The Internet Plus," "Big Data," and other technologies on urban social development has been far beyond any preceding era, under the influence of information technology, urban agglomeration space exhibits a new layout. Based on the search engine data of eleven cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2012 to 2021, this research constructs the inter-city information network strength linkage matrix to examine the evolution characteristics of city network structure and its driving causes. The results reveal that (1) the overall information linkage strength exhibits a pattern of steadily growing the radiating effect from the leading cities of Guangdong, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong to the surrounding cities, and a closer and more balanced information linkage network is gradually built. (2) Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area information linkage absolute control advantage, four cities Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Macao regional hub position steadily highlighted. The entire information connection network of the urban agglomerations tends to be flat and polycentric at the same time. (3) The regional core-edge hierarchy is well established, with the four cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong creating a northwest-southeast orientation. The core metropolis regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area increasingly exert a radiation spreading effect to the northeast and southwest. (4) The urban economy, transportation distance, and information infrastructure have substantial effects on the information connection intensity network of urban clusters.
Alpine salamanders at risk? The current status of an emerging fungal pathogen
Authors: Böning Philipp , Lötters Stefan , Barzaghi Benedetta , Bock Marvin , Bok Bobby , Bonato Lucio , Ficetola Gentile Francesco , Glaser Florian , Griese Josline , Grabher Markus , Leroux Camille , Munimanda Gopikrishna , Manenti Raoul , Ludwig Gerda , Preininger Doris , Rödel Mark-Oliver , Seibold Sebastian , Smith Steve , Tiemann Laura , Thein Jürgen , Veith Michael , Plewnia Amadeus
Published: May 2024

Amphibians globally suffer from emerging infectious diseases like chytridiomycosis caused by the continuously spreading chytrid fungi. One is Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) and its disease ‒ the ‘salamander plague’ ‒ which is lethal to several caudate taxa. Recently introduced into Western Europe, long distance dispersal of Bsal, likely through human mediation, has been reported. Herein we study if Alpine salamanders (Salamandra atra and S. lanzai) are yet affected by the salamander plague in the wild. Members of the genus Salamandra are highly susceptible to Bsal leading to the lethal disease. Moreover, ecological modelling has shown that the Alps and Dinarides, where Alpine salamanders occur, are generally suitable for Bsal. We analysed skin swabs of 818 individuals of Alpine salamanders and syntopic amphibians at 40 sites between 2017 to 2022. Further, we compiled those with published data from 319 individuals from 13 sites concluding that Bsal infections were not detected. Our results suggest that the salamander plague so far is absent from the geographic ranges of Alpine salamanders. That means that there is still a chance to timely implement surveillance strategies. Among others, we recommend prevention measures, citizen science approaches, and ex situ conservation breeding of endemic salamandrid lineages.
Analyzing the tourism efficiency and its influencing factors of China’s coastal provinces
Authors: Yang Changping , Xia Yongxing , Lam Johnny F. I. , Chen Hongxi , Chen Huangxin
Published: May 2024

Tourism efficiency has become an important role in promoting tourism competitiveness and driving sustainable development. It is particularly important to identify and agnalyze the factors and mechanisms that affect efficiency. This paper firstly evaluates the tourism efficiency of 11 coastal provinces regions in China from 2010 to 2020 by using the DEA-BBC model that includes undesirable outputs. After that, it investigates the internal driving mechanism of the efficiency change through the Malmquist index and its decomposition. Finally, it analyzes the external influencing elements of tourist efficiency by the Tobit model. The results show that: (1) Although the average value of the tourism efficiency was changed from 0.727 to 0.707, it does not achieve the target. Its trend shows fluctuating from 2010–2020, which indicates that the tourism efficiency of most provincial regions is not optimal. The main factor that restricts tourism efficiency is scale efficiency. (2) By analyzing the dynamic trend, it is found that the average increase of technical efficiency is 14.0%, the average increase of technical change is 9.5%, and the average increase of MI index is 25.4%. It indicates that the overall tourism efficiency of 11 coastal provinces region in China is on the rise. (3) The spatial difference of tourism efficiency is significant, but there is no obvious spatial correlation. (4) The influencing factors of tourism efficiency are consumer demand, industrial structure, labor force and urbanization.
Factors associated with parent-teacher hyperactivity/inattention screening discrepancy: Findings from a UK national sample
Authors: Chan Hei Ka , Rowe Richard , Carroll Daniel
Published: May 2024

Background

To fulfil the diagnostic criteria of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Fifth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), symptoms should be observed in two or more settings. This implies that diagnostic procedures require observations reported from informants in different settings, such as teachers in school and caregivers at home. This study examined parent-teacher agreement in reporting hyperactivity/inattention and its relationship with child’s, parent’s, and family’s characteristics.

Method

We used data from the 2004 United Kingdom Mental Health of Children and Young People survey, including 7977 children aged 4–17, to investigate cross-informant agreement between parents and teachers on the hyperactivity-inattention subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The characteristics of different patterns of informant agreement were assessed using multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Cross-informant agreement of parent and teacher was low (weighted kappa = .34, 95% C.I.: .31, .37). Some characteristics, such as male child and parental emotional distress, were associated with higher likelihood of parent-teacher discrepancy.

Conclusion

We found low informant agreement in the hyperactive/inattention subscale, as hypothesised and consistent with previous studies. The current study has found several factors that predict discrepancy, which were partly consistent with previous research. Possible explanation, implications, and further research on parent-teacher informant discrepancy in reporting hyperactivity/inattention were discussed.
PAI-1 mediates acquired resistance to MET-targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Thu Yin Min , Suzawa Ken , Tomida Shuta , Ochi Kosuke , Tsudaka Shimpei , Takatsu Fumiaki , Date Keiichi , Matsuda Naoki , Iwata Kazuma , Nakata Kentaro , Shien Kazuhiko , Yamamoto Hiromasa , Okazaki Mikio , Sugimoto Seiichiro , Toyooka Shinichi
Published: May 2024

Mechanisms underlying primary and acquired resistance to MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in managing non-small cell lung cancer remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanisms acquired for crizotinib in MET-amplified lung carcinoma cell lines. Two MET-amplified lung cancer cell lines, EBC-1 and H1993, were established for acquired resistance to MET-TKI crizotinib and were functionally elucidated. Genomic and transcriptomic data were used to assess the factors contributing to the resistance mechanism, and the alterations hypothesized to confer resistance were validated. Multiple mechanisms underlie acquired resistance to crizotinib in MET-amplified lung cancer cell lines. In EBC-1-derived resistant cells, the overexpression of SERPINE1, the gene encoding plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), mediated the drug resistance mechanism. Crizotinib resistance was addressed by combination therapy with a PAI-1 inhibitor and PAI-1 knockdown. Another mechanism of resistance in different subline cells of EBC-1 was evaluated as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with the upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins. In H1993-derived resistant cells, MEK inhibitors could be a potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming resistance with downstream mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation. In this study, we revealed the different mechanisms of acquired resistance to the MET inhibitor crizotinib with potential therapeutic application in patients with MET-amplified lung carcinoma.
In-silico formulation of a next-generation polyvalent vaccine against multiple strains of monkeypox virus and other related poxviruses
Authors: Moin Abu Tayab , Rani Nurul Amin , Patil Rajesh B. , Robin Tanjin Barketullah , Ullah Md. Asad , Rahim Zahidur , Rahman Md. Foyzur , Zubair Talha , Hossain Mohabbat , Mollah A. K. M. Moniruzzaman , Absar Nurul , Hossain Mahboob , Manchur Mohammed Abul , Islam Nazneen Naher
Published: May 2024

Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) virus and some related poxviruses including smallpox virus pose a significant threat to public health, and effective prevention and treatment strategies are needed. This study utilized a reverse vaccinology approach to retrieve conserved epitopes for monkeypox virus and construct a vaccine that could provide cross-protection against related viruses with similar antigenic properties. The selected virulent proteins of monkeypox virus, MPXVgp165, and Virion core protein P4a, were subjected to epitope mapping for vaccine construction. Two vaccines were constructed using selected T cell epitopes and B cell epitopes with PADRE and human beta-defensins adjuvants conjugated in the vaccine sequence. Both constructs were found to be highly antigenic, non-allergenic, nontoxic, and soluble, suggesting their potential to generate an adequate immune response and be safe for humans. Vaccine construct 1 was selected for molecular dynamic simulation studies. The simulation studies revealed that the TLR8-vaccine complex was more stable than the TLR3-vaccine complex. The lower RMSD and RMSF values of the TLR8 bound vaccine compared to the TLR3 bound vaccine suggested better stability and consistency of hydrogen bonds. The Rg values of the vaccine chain bound to TLR8 indicated overall stability, whereas the vaccine chain bound to TLR3 showed deviations throughout the simulation. These results suggest that the constructed vaccine could be a potential preventive measure against monkeypox and related viruses however, further experimental validation is required to confirm these findings.
Association between physical activity and adolescent mental health in the post COVID-19: The chain mediating effect of self-esteem and social anxiety
Authors: Feng Wanxuan , Zhao Liangyu , Ge Zhang , Zhao Xiuhan , Li Tuojian , Zhu Qiying
Published: May 2024

Background

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between physical activity and adolescent mental health in the post COVID-19 pandemic era, self-esteem and social anxiety were used as mediating variables to explore the potential mechanisms by which physical activity affects adolescent mental health.

Methods

The study used the HELP-II Health Promoting Lifestyle Scale, the SPIN Social Phobia Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale to administer questionnaires to 400 Chinese secondary school students, and SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS 3.3 were used to process the data.

Results

The findings showed that (1) physical activity was significantly and positively associated with mental health; (2) self-esteem and social anxiety played a fully mediating role between physical activity and adolescent mental health respectively; (3) self-esteem and social anxiety played a chain mediating role between physical activity and adolescent mental health.

Conclusion

This study reveals the relationship and influencing mechanism between physical activity and adolescent mental health in the post COVID-19 pandemic era. Appropriate interventions for physical activity, self-esteem, and social anxiety may be beneficial to adolescent mental health. The protective role of self-esteem in adolescent mental health should be the focus of future studies, and further investigations into the association between the COVID-19 and adolescent mental health are warranted.
Bacteriological analysis and antibiotic resistance in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Dhaka
Authors: Baral Poulomi , Afnan Nafisa , Ahmad Zahra Maftuha , Akter Baby , Rabia Prapti Shek , Muazzam Hossan Mohammed , Haque Fahim Kabir Monjurul
Published: May 2024

The primary objective of this study was to isolate bacteria from diabetic foot ulcers and subsequently assess their antibiotic resistance capabilities. Seventy-five patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers were investigated. A number of these patients (97.33%) had type 2 diabetes, with a significant proportion of them having been diagnosed for 1–5 years (29.33%). Notably, a substantial number of these individuals were on insulin usage (78.66%). Among the patients under examination, 49.33% reported having no use of tobacco products, alcohol, or betel leaf. The ulcers analyzed in this study were classified into grades 1–5 according to the Wagner scale. Wagner grade 2 diabetic foot ulcers had the highest number of culture-positive patients, at 33.33%. Pus samples collected from patients were cultured on selective media, and bacterial identity was confirmed by biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction. A total of 141 isolates were isolated. Among the isolates, 82.97% gram-negative bacteria and 17.02% gram-positive bacteria were detected. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common isolate. Proteus spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were also detected. Approximately 61.33% of the ulcers exhibited were polybacterial. In this study, it was observed that all bacterial isolates, except for Proteus spp., were primarily detected in patients classified under Wagner’s grade 2. Moreover, antibiotic susceptibility was also tested on these 141 isolates. Among them, Escherichia coli showed the highest multidrug resistance, 81.81%. Most of the gram-negative bacteria were resistant to ampicillin. All of the gram-negative isolates exhibited high levels of susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam, and these levels were Klebsiella pneumoniae (97.56%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (95.24%), Escherichia coli (81.82%), and Proteus spp. (80%). On the other hand, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus mostly showed sensitivity towards vancomycin and norfloxacin (79.17%).
Consumers’ risk perception, market demand, and firm innovation: Evidence from China
Authors: Cao Jing , Jiang Haiwei , Ren Xiaomeng , Shi Jinchuan
Published: May 2024

Major product safety incidents often cause widespread concern among consumers, and these product safety incidents will stimulate consumers’ psychology, change their risk perception, and affect the demand for products and services of risk consumers. The change in consumer demand will eventually lead to a change in firm innovation decisions. Using Chinese firm-level data, this paper employs the news reporting of the Bawang event as a quasi-natural experiment to study the impact of risk perception changes on innovation. The empirical results of this study show that increasing consumers’ risk perception caused by the negative news coverage of defective products motivates firms to increase their innovation. The effects are heterogeneous, where firms with private ownership and in developed regions are more likely to increase innovation activities. This study suggests that the relationship between consumers’ risk perception and firm innovation is primarily driven by market demand. Moreover, the positive effects of risk perception on innovation are more prominent for downstream firms and those having a smaller technological distance.
Microbiota in different digestive tract of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) are related to their functions
Authors: Long Chengxing , Wu Jieqi , Liu Jialin
Published: May 2024

Paddlefish has high economic and ecological value. In this study, microbial diversity and community structure in intestine, stomach, and mouth of paddlefish were detected using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the diversity and richness indices decreased along the digestive tract, and significantly lower proportion of those were observed in intestine. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla. In top 10 phyla, there was no significant difference in mouth and stomach. But compared with intestine, there were significant differences in 8 of the 10 phyla, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes increased significantly, while Proteobacteria decreased significantly. There was no dominant genus in mouth and stomach, but Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and uncultured_bacterium_o_Bacteroidales was predominant in intestine. In conclusion, the species and abundance of microbiota in the mouth and stomach of paddlefish were mostly the same, but significantly different from those in intestine. Moreover, there was enrichment of the dominant bacteria in intestine.
Consistent movement of viewers’ facial keypoints while watching emotionally evocative videos
Authors: Tripathi Shivansh Chandra , Garg Rahul
Published: May 2024

Neuropsychological research aims to unravel how diverse individuals’ brains exhibit similar functionality when exposed to the same stimuli. The evocation of consistent responses when different subjects watch the same emotionally evocative stimulus has been observed through modalities like fMRI, EEG, physiological signals and facial expressions. We refer to the quantification of these shared consistent signals across subjects at each time instant across the temporal dimension as Consistent Response Measurement (CRM). CRM is widely explored through fMRI, occasionally with EEG, physiological signals and facial expressions using metrics like Inter-Subject Correlation (ISC). However, fMRI tools are expensive and constrained, while EEG and physiological signals are prone to facial artifacts and environmental conditions (such as temperature, humidity, and health condition of subjects). In this research, facial expression videos are used as a cost-effective and flexible alternative for CRM, minimally affected by external conditions. By employing computer vision-based automated facial keypoint tracking, a new metric similar to ISC, called the Average t-statistic, is introduced. Unlike existing facial expression-based methodologies that measure CRM of secondary indicators like inferred emotions, keypoint, and ICA-based features, the Average t-statistic is closely associated with the direct measurement of consistent facial muscle movement using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). This is evidenced in DISFA dataset where the time-series of Average t-statistic has a high correlation (R2 = 0.78) with a metric called AU consistency, which directly measures facial muscle movement through FACS coding of video frames. The simplicity of recording facial expressions with the automated Average t-statistic expands the applications of CRM such as measuring engagement in online learning, customer interactions, etc., and diagnosing outliers in healthcare conditions like stroke, autism, depression, etc. To promote further research, we have made the code repository publicly available.
Analysis of perturbed Boussinesq equation via novel integrating schemes
Authors: Vivas-Cortez Miguel , Arshed Saima , Perveen Zahida , Sadaf Maasoomah , Akram Ghazala , Rehan Kashif , Saeed Komal
Published: May 2024

To analyze and study the behaviour of the shallow water waves, the perturbed Boussinesq equation has acquired fundamental importance. The principal objective of this paper is to manifest the exact traveling wave solution of the perturbed Boussinesq equation by two well known techniques named as, two variables ( G ′ G , 1 G ) expansion method and generalized projective Riccati equations method. A diverse array of soliton solutions, encompassing periodic, bright solitons, singular solitons and bright singular solitons are obtained by the applications of proposed techniques. The constraint conditions for newly constructed solutions are also specified. To enhance comprehension, the numerical illustrations of constructed solutions have been represented using surface plots, 2D plots and density plots. The results delineated in this paper transcend existing analysis, offering a novel, well-structured, and modern perspective. The solutions obtained not only enrich understanding of shallow water wave models but also exhibit efficacy in providing detailed descriptions of their dynamics.
Enhancing detection of labor violations in the agricultural sector: A multilevel generalized linear regression model of H-2A violation counts
Authors: Jafari Arezoo , De Azevedo Drummond Priscila , Bhimani Shawn , Nishigaya Dominic , Ding Aidong Adam , Farrell Amy , Maass Kayse Lee
Published: May 2024

Agricultural workers are essential to the supply chain for our daily food, and yet, many face harmful work conditions, including garnished wages, and other labor violations. Workers on H-2A visas are particularly vulnerable due to the precarity of their immigration status being tied to their employer. Although worksite inspections are one mechanism to detect such violations, many labor violations affecting agricultural workers go undetected due to limited inspection resources. In this study, we identify multiple state and industry level factors that correlate with H-2A violations identified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division using a multilevel zero-inflated negative binomial model. We find that three state-level factors (average farm acreage size, the number of agricultural establishments with less than 20 employees, and higher poverty rates) are correlated with H-2A violations. These findings offer valuable insights into where H-2A violations are being detected at the state and industry levels.
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and ecological risk at waste disposal sites: An analysis of sanitary landfills
Authors: Podlasek Anna , Vaverková Magdalena Daria , Jakimiuk Aleksandra , Koda Eugeniusz
Published: May 2024

This study presents an analysis of soil contamination caused by Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, with a focus on ecological risk assessment. The approach aims to assess how different landfill practices and environmental conditions affect soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and associated environmental risks. Soil samples were collected from MSW landfills in Poland and the Czech Republic. The research included a comprehensive assessment of PTEs in soils in the context of global environmental regulations. The degree of soil contamination by PTEs was assessed using indices: Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Single Pollution Index (Pi), Nemerow Pollution Index (PN), and Load Capacity of a Pollutant (PLI). The ecological risk was determined using the Risk of PTEs (ERi) and Sum of Individual Potential Risk Factors (ERI). The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Radiowo landfill were as follows: Igeo = 4.04 for Cd, Pi = 24.80 for Cd, PN = 18.22 for Cd, PLI = 2.66, ERi = 744 for Cd, ERI = 771.80. The maximum values of the indicators observed for the Zdounky landfill were as follows: Igeo = 1.04 for Cu, Pi = 3.10 for Cu, PN = 2.52 for Cu, PLI = 0.27, ERi = 25 for Cd, ERI = 41.86. The soils of the tested landfills were considered to be non-saline, with electrical conductivity (EC) values less than 2,000 μS/cm. Varying levels of PTEs were observed, and geostatistical analysis highlighted hotspots indicating pollution sources. Elevated concentrations of Cd in the soil indicated potential ecological risks. Concentrations of Cu and lead Pb were well below the thresholds set by the environmental legislation in several countries. In addition, Ni concentrations in the soils of both landfills indicated that the average levels were within acceptable limits. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed common sources of PTEs. The identification of specific risk points at the Radiowo and Zdounky sites contributes to a better understanding of potential hazards in landfill environments. By establishing buffer zones and implementing regular maintenance programs, emerging environmental problems can be addressed in a timely manner.
Clinical use of polygenic risk scores for detection of peripheral artery disease and cardiovascular events
Authors: Omiye Jesutofunmi A. , Ghanzouri Ilies , Lopez Ivan , Wang Fudi , Cabot John , Amal Saeed , Ye Jianqin , Lopez Nicolas Gabriel , Adebayo-Tijani Faatihat , Ross Elsie Gyang
Published: May 2024

We have previously shown that polygenic risk scores (PRS) can improve risk stratification of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a large, retrospective cohort. Here, we evaluate the potential of PRS in improving the detection of PAD and prediction of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and adverse events (AE) in an institutional patient cohort. We created a cohort of 278 patients (52 cases and 226 controls) and fit a PAD-specific PRS based on the weighted sum of risk alleles. We built traditional clinical risk models and machine learning (ML) models using clinical and genetic variables to detect PAD, MACCE, and AE. The models’ performances were measured using the area under the curve (AUC), net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and Brier score. We also evaluated the clinical utility of our PAD model using decision curve analysis (DCA). We found a modest, but not statistically significant improvement in the PAD detection model’s performance with the inclusion of PRS from 0.902 (95% CI: 0.846–0.957) (clinical variables only) to 0.909 (95% CI: 0.856–0.961) (clinical variables with PRS). The PRS inclusion significantly improved risk re-classification of PAD with an NRI of 0.07 (95% CI: 0.002–0.137), p = 0.04. For our ML model predicting MACCE, the addition of PRS did not significantly improve the AUC, however, NRI analysis demonstrated significant improvement in risk re-classification (p = 2e-05). Decision curve analysis showed higher net benefit of our combined PRS-clinical model across all thresholds of PAD detection. Including PRS to a clinical PAD-risk model was associated with improvement in risk stratification and clinical utility, although we did not see a significant change in AUC. This result underscores the potential clinical utility of incorporating PRS data into clinical risk models for prevalent PAD and the need for use of evaluation metrics that can discern the clinical impact of using new biomarkers in smaller populations.
The force at the implant cannot be assessed by the mallet force–Unless supported by a model
Authors: Schlieker Peter J. , Morlock Michael M. , Huber Gerd
Published: May 2024

The implantation of uncemented prostheses requires the application of sufficient forces to achieve a press-fit of the implant in the bone. Excessive forces have to be omitted to limit bone damage. Force measurements along the force transmission path between mallet and implant are frequently used to investigate this trade-off. Placing a load cell at a position of interest (PoI), which might be the implant bone interface or the head taper junction, is technically challenging or even impossible so that nearby positions are chosen. Thus, a certain inertia and stiffness remain between the PoI and the sensor, and consequently the measured dynamic forces differ from those at the PoI. This experimental and numerical study aimed to investigate the amount of force reduction along the transmission path while joining femoral heads to stem tapers. Forces were measured in vitro at the tip of the mallet, directly above the polymer tip of the impactor and below the stem taper. Springs and masses were used to represent the responding tissue of a patient. A semi-empirical numerical model of the force transmission path was developed and validated in order to simulate a larger range of responding tissue properties than experimentally possible and to investigate the influence of different surgical instruments. A distinct attenuation was observed since the peak forces at the impactor reached 35% of the applied peak forces and 21% at the stem taper, respectively. The force curves were replicated with a median root mean square error of 3.8% of the corresponding mallet blow for the impactor and 3.6% for the stem. The force measurement position and the used surgical instruments have a strong influence on the measured forces. Consequently, the exact measurement conditions with regard to sensor positioning and used surgical instruments have to be specified and hence only studies with similar setups should be compared to avoid misestimation of the forces at the PoI. The proposed dynamic numerical model is a useful tool to calculate the impact of the chosen or changed mechanical parameters prior to executing experiments and also to extrapolate the effect of changing the applied forces to the resulting forces at the PoI.
Evaluation of knowledge and attitudes regarding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia among medical students in Palestine: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Abuawad Mohammad , Rjoub Ahmad , Dumaidi Yazan , Daraghma Motaz , Ghanim Mustafa , Rabayaa Maha , Amer Johnny
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Dementia, a major global health concern, is an acquired disorder that causes a progressive decline in cognitive abilities, affecting learning and memory, language, executive function, complex attention, perceptual-motor skills, and social cognition. Our study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes regarding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease among medical students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 medical students in Palestine from August 2023 to November 2023. The assessment of knowledge and attitude toward dementia was measured using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the mean between the groups with a 5% significance level.

Results

The overall mean score of the student’s knowledge of dementia measured by the ADKS was 18.91 (±3.32 SD) out of 30. The mean score of the student’s attitude toward dementia measured by the DAS was 91.68 (±3.32 SD). Clinical students had higher ADKS scores than pre-clinical students (p-value < 0.001). No significant differences in the knowledge and attitudes toward dementia were found between males and females. The medical students’ knowledge and attitude scores were positively correlated (ρ = 0.227, p-value <0.001).

Conclusion

Palestinian medical student’s knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is insufficient, with students in the clinical phase showing better understanding than pre-clinical students. The findings highlight a necessity for enhancing the dementia curriculum and conducting further studies to evaluate training’s impact on students’ knowledge and attitudes.
Factors influencing financial performance in South Africa’s food and beverage industry: An empirical analysis
Authors: Joel Ayotola , Doorasamy Mishelle
Published: May 2024

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the determinants of financial performance in the food and beverage sector of South Africa, focusing on 11 listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Methodology: The study employs panel data regression analysis using secondary data sourced from the Integrated Real-time Equity System (IRESS) Library, covering the period from 1988 to 2017. Return on assets (ROA) is used as the performance indicator, while the explanatory variables include debt ratio, cash conversion cycle, leverage, labour, and capital. Results: The study’s findings reveal that labour and capital are statistically significant determinants of financial performance in the food and beverage sector of South Africa. On the other hand, debt ratio, cash conversion cycle, and leverage have an insignificant impact on the firms' performance. Theoretical contribution: This study contributes to the literature on the determinants of financial performance in the food and beverage sector, particularly in the context of South Africa. The findings highlight the importance of labour and capital as key factors influencing financial performance in the sector. Practical implications: The study's results have practical implications for managers and stakeholders in the food and beverage sector of South Africa. It is recommended that firms in the sector pay more attention to labour and capital as these variables have proven to be strong determinants of financial performance.
Utilization of Corn Waste: A Learning Media Based on Madurese Local Wisdom to Stimulate Children's Symbolic Thinking
Authors: Adhani Dwi Nurhayati , Fitri Fitri , Nazarullail Fikri , Abdul Latif Muhammad
Published: May 2024

The utilization of corn waste in education, particularly in early childhood education, offers various benefits, including the development of learning media. This study aims to analyze the use of corn waste in stimulating symbolic thinking skills in children aged 5-6 years. The research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach. The subjects include children from group B and educators at TK Muslimat NU Siti Fatimah Bangkalan. Data collection techniques encompass passive participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. Data analysis follows the model developed by Miles and Huberman. The results indicate that symbolic thinking skills can be stimulated using magazines, posters, and educational toys. Additionally, corn waste media also stimulate children's symbolic thinking skills by utilizing corn kernels, husks, and cobs. This study provides an alternative child-friendly medium by leveraging natural resources such as corn to stimulate symbolic thinking in early childhood. Therefore, this research aids educators in developing affordable and environmentally friendly learning media. The use of corn waste not only offers a creative solution in learning but also supports environmental conservation efforts through the use of readily available natural materials. Using corn kernels, husks, and cobs as learning media demonstrates that materials often considered waste can have significant value in the educational context. Consequently, it is crucial for educators to continuously seek and develop innovative and sustainable learning media, harnessing the potential of local resources available in their surroundings.
TRADISI WA’A RAI SIWE DALAM PROSES PERKAWINAN MASYARAKAT DI DESA WORA KECAMATAN WERA KABUPATEN BIMA
Authors: Nurfah Nurfah
Published: May 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui alasan-alasan yang melatarbelakangi masyarakat Desa Wora Kecamatan Wera Kabupaten Bima melakukan adat wa'a rai siwe serta untuk mengetahui apa saja dampak dan bagaimana persepsi masyarakat terhadap tradisi wa’a rai siwe dalam proses perkawinan masyarakat Desa Wora Kecamatan Wera Kabupaten Bima. Eksplorasi ini merupakan konsentrat lapangan dengan jenis pemeriksaan yang subjektif. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan investigasi, khususnya penelitian lapangan yang menggambarkan informasi dan data di lapangan berdasarkan realitas yang diperoleh dari atas ke bawah dan kemudian menguraikannya secara menyeluruh. Teknik pengumpulan informasi yang digunakan adalah strategi persepsi, pertemuan dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa alasan laki-laki melakukan wa’a rai siwe didasarkan pada tindakan rasional instrumental, tindakan emosional dan tindakan tradisional. Hal demikian juga disebabkan oleh faktor keinginan menikah cepat, permintaan mahar yang tinggi, tidak adanya persetujuan dari orangtua gadis, dan kehamilan. Disisi lain, wa’a rai siwe dalam proses perkawinan masyarakat Desa Wora Kecamatan Wera Kabupaten Bima juga menimbulkan beberapa dampak yang cukup serius bagi orangtua dan keluarga pihak laki-laki dan perempuan seperti: Dapat menimbulkan keretakan hubungan dalam keluarga, menurunkan harkat dan martabat orangtua, serta dapat mempengaruhi status sosial orangtua dan keluarga. Dari beberapa variable tersebut sehingga memunculkan persepsi masyarakat, dimana ada yang setuju dan tidak setuju dengan wa’a rai siwe dalam proses perkawinan.
Peta Pikiran dalam Ungkapan Metaforis tentang Pandemi Covid-19 di Teks Berita: Kajian Linguistik Kognitif
Authors: Rahmasari Nadira , Subiyanto Agus
Published: May 2024

Pandemi Covid-19 merupakan pengalaman menubuh bagi manusia yang membentuk peta pikiran baru dalam pikiran manusia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggambarkan peta pikiran yang terungkap dalam metafora pandemi Covid-19 yang dapat dikonstruksi dari ungkapan metaforis yang terdapat dalam teks berita. Ungkapan metaforis yang terdapat dalam teks berita di media online merupakan data yang dikumpulkan dan dipilih secara purposif. Peta pikiran tentang pandemi Covid-19 ini merupakan bagian dalam studi linguistik kognitif. Peta pikiran digunakan untuk memvisualisasikan makna yang dikonstruksi manusia ke ungkapan metaforis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari ungkapan metaforis dapat ditemukan lima metafora dalam pandemi Covid-19, yaitu: metafora kasus, metafora pandemi, metafora perbuatan manusia, metafora fenomena, dan metafora dampak. Peta pikiran tentang Covid-19 dapat digambarkan sebagai berikut. Covid-19 merupakan fenomena yang berdampak pada tatanan kehidupan manusia di seluruh dunia. Covid-19 dirasakan sebagai kasus yang berkembang sangat cepat yang menuntut tindakan yang cepat pula untuk menanggulanginya sehingga kasus Covid-19 bisa lenyap dari muka bumi ini.
The Reality of The Father’s Archetype in Modern Indonesian Literature: Carl Jung’s Analytic Psychological Study
Authors: Hafi Isnaini Yulianita , Rahmawati Syukrina
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study is to describe the correlation between the results of literary research about the archetype symbol of the father complex with Jung's analytic psychological theory. Known literary works are concrete evidence of the existence of someone who tries to show his presence in the midst of social life which is full of symbols and myths. Based on the concept of the father complex that appears because of the archetypal characters, it has been clearly seen from the ancestors' time that an unconscious activity forms an adaptive psyche working system before the birth of consciousness and hereditary. This study uses a Literary Psychology approach. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with Jung's analytical psychology theory in studying the novels Koplak by Oka Rusmini and Ayah by Andrea Hirata. The research results can be seen through the four aspects of archetypes according to Jung: a father and a leader who is full of responsibility, a father and a wise man, a romantic and assertive father, and a brave father who is willing to sacrifice for his children. The concept of the father complex in the character of the father in the novel Koplak and Ayah has a difference in psychological conditions and social realities that are raised through stories. The implications of this research can be realized by realizing the concept of the father archetype which shows the existence of a basic personality in society in general.
Nilai Budaya Malu Masyarakat Jepang (Kajian Sosiologi Sastra pada Cerpen Yabu No Naka)
Authors: Rahmah Yuliani , Wibawanto Muhammad Naufal
Published: May 2024

Tujuan dari  penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji nilai budaya malu (Haji no Bunka)  dalam cerpen “Yabu no Naka” karya Akutagawa Ryunosuke. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif, yang mana proses analisis dilakukan untuk mengetahui nilai-nilai budaya malu yang tergambar dalam cerita “Yabu no Naka”. Dengan kajian sosiologi sastra dan teori budaya Jepang, sebagai hasil kajian diketahui bahwa dalam cerpen “Yabu no Naka” terdapat  tiga nilai budaya malu yaitu nilai haji, gimu dan giri. Ketiga nilai budaya malu tersebut tergambar dari beberapa unsur intrinsiknya, antara lain tergambar dalam karakter tokoh-tokoh utamanya, tema dan amanat cerita. Dari hasil analisis diperoleh kesimpulan bahwa cerita yang berlatar masyarakat pada masa Heian tersebut selain memegang teguh nilai-nilai dalam Haji no Bunka, juga masih menjungjung tinggi nilai-nilai Bushido yang menjadi jalan hidup para samurai. Selain itu bila dilihat dari gambaran nilai budaya malu yang terdapat dalam rangkaian ceritanya, maka cerpen berjudul “Yabu no Naka” ini penulis maknai sebagai pesan pengarang yang terkait langsung dengan Haji no Bunka. Melalui judul tersebut tersirat pesan bahwa haji (aib) merupakan hal tersembunyi yang sewaktu-waktu dapat dengan mudahnya terbongkar, layaknya menutupi  sesuatu hanya dengan “yabu” (semak belukar).
The Effects of The Changing Locus on Lasi’s Hibridity in The Red Bekisar by Ahmad Tohari
Authors: Asmarani Ratna
Published: May 2024

This paper deals with Ahmad Tohari’s English-translated novel entitled The Red Bekisar. The focus is on the effects of the changing locus on the female protagonist’s hybridity. To support the analysis, several concepts are used, namely, the concepts of hybridity, mimicry, and cultural identity in postcolonial literature. Using feminist literary criticism as the frame of analysis, the general research method used is qualitative research, supported by library research. For the literary analysis, the contextual research method is applied, in which, by considering the character, conflict, and setting, the focus is on the female protagonist’s hybridity and how her hybridity is regarded by people from different loci. The results show that the female character, Lasi, has a different life because of her Javanese-Japanese mixed blood. In the remote village of Karangsoga, her hybridity is scorned, but in the big city of Jakarta, her hybridity is highly appreciated. However, she is treated like an object, a valuable doll that can be transferred to different owners. Her resistance indicates that her agency as a human being emerges when she is cornered.
Standar Tekstualitas Wacana dalam Berita Online CNN Indonesia “Riwayat Hantu Golput dan Ancaman di Pemilu 2024”
Authors: Wafiq Chici Al , Santoso Bernadus Wahyudi Joko , Rustono Rustono
Published: May 2024

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mendeskripsikan bagaimana standar tekstualitas wacana berita online CNN Indonesia yang berjudul “Riwayat Hantu Golput dan Ancaman di Pemilu 2024”. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deksriptif kualitatif. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan ialah metode agih. Dalam menganalisis, peneliti menggunakan teori de Beaugrande dan Dressler mengenai tujuh standar yang membuat sebuah teks dianggap dapat diterima atau tidak dapat diterima dari segi tekstualitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya ketujuh standar tekstualitas pada wacana berita yang dikaji. Terdapatnya kohesi yang terdiri atas pengulangan, paralelisme, pro-form, ellipsis, konjungsi koordinatif, konjungsi subordinatif, dan konjungsi korelatif. Koherensi pada wacana yang selaras, hubungan logis, dan terurai dengan baik. Intensionalitas dan keberterimaan yang dapat dilihat dengan sikap penghasil teks yang dihasilkan bersifat konstitutif (wajib) untuk mencapai teks yang kohesif dan koheren sehingga dapat diterima oleh pembaca, dengan mengakses berita, komentar, serta terdapatnya maksim kuantitas, maksim kualitas, dan maksim relasi. Selain itu, terdapat pula informasi yang beragam dengan situasional yang terlihat berkategori selusur politik sesuai kondisi saat ini mendekati pemilu, serta adanya intertekstualitas dalam wacana tersebut dikarenakan adanya faktor-faktor pengetahuan dan informasi mengenai golput dan pemilu yang mengedepankan pengetahuan pembaca, sehingga pembaca dapat menikmati dan menghasilkan respon.  Dengan demikian, wacana tersebut dapat dinyatakan memiliki ketujuh standar tekstualitas yang menjadikan wacana tersebut menjadi komunikatif.
Faktor Penyebab Terjadinya Alih Kode Dalam Lirik Lagu BTS Album Map of The Soul
Authors: Reswari Dewi Ardana
Published: May 2024

Bahasa merupakan alat yang digunakan manusia sebagai alat komunikasi sehingga berperan penting dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Dikarenakan di era globalisasi seperti sekarang ini semakin banyak budaya asing yang masuk dan berpengaruh terhadap budaya kita, termasuk juga dalam berbahasa akan terjadi alih kode, maka mau tidak mau kita harus bisa menguasai dua bahasa. Orang yang bisa menguasai dua bahasa disebut bilingualisme. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan, menganalisis, mencari tahu jenis-jenis wujud alih kode dan penggunaan alih kode yang terdapat dalam lirik lagu BTS album map of the soul. Data dari penelitian ini di ambil dari lirik lagu BTS album  map of the soul diantaranya  ada 8 judul lagu versi jepang. Penelitian ini merupakan kajian sosiolinguistik, metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif kualitatif. Pengumpulan data pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode Simak. Metode Simak digunakan dengan cara meneliti bahasa dengan menyimak dan mendengarkan lagu sacara berulang-ulang, lalu menggunakan teknik lanjutan yaitu mencatat lirik lagu pada objek yang akan diteliti, menerjemahkan lirik lagu dan dikategorikan sesuai jenis wujud alih kode. Dalam lirik lagu BTS album  map of the soul menunjukkan bahwa terdapat alih kode 2 jenis wujud yaitu intersentential switching (terjadi antar kalimat), intrasentential switching (terjadi di dalam kalimat). Adapun juga penggunaan dari alih kode pada lirik lagu BTS album  map of the soul yaitu sebagai perubahan situasi, perubahan topik pembicaraan., mengutip (peryataan) orang lain, penegasan, mengisi atau penghubung antar kalimat kalimat yang rumpang, mengklarifikasi isi tuturan, menguatkan atau memperhalus permintaan atau perintah, tidak ditemukannnya padanan kata yang tepat.
The Monomyth in Momoiro Clover Z's Narrative
Authors: Khirana Astera
Published: May 2024

This study explores the distinctive narrative of Momoiro Clover Z, a Japanese female idol group that defied traditional idol conventions. Central to Momoiro Clover Z's identity was their deliberate departure from the typical kawaii idol image, portraying themselves as strong women. Their narrative closely adhered to the monomyth or Hero's Journey framework, chronicling their transformation from ordinary individuals to celebrated idols. This storytelling strategy resonated deeply with fans and was pivotal to their meteoric rise. Despite having only few members and abolishing interactive events like handshakes, Momoiro Clover Z used the concept of kyara to distinguish members and engage fans. They cultivated a family-friendly image, appealing to diverse demographics while avoiding objectification and the sexualization often associated with idols. In summary, Momoiro Clover Z's success can be attributed to their unique narrative approach, differentiating them from traditional idols, and their emphasis on their journey to stardom. By incorporating elements of the monomyth framework, they solidified their identity as strong women and earned their status as one of Japan's most influential female idol groups.