bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengetahuan Orang Tua Pada Anak Sekolah Dasar Terhadap Kasus Kesehatan Persistensi
Authors: Rosdiana Rosdiana , Djunaedi Djunaedi , Aditia Donny
Published: September 2023

School-age children, especially children of primary school age (6-12 years) are a group that is vulnerable to dental and oral diseases because it is during this period that milk teeth begin to fall out one by one and are replaced by permanent teeth, with variations in milk teeth and permanent teeth together. in the mouth, marking the period of mixed dentition in children. Elementary school-age children are the mixed dentition period, that is, the transitional period when milk teeth fall out and permanent teeth grow and are an age that is considered vulnerable to dental and oral diseases. The purpose of this research is to explain the knowledge of parents in elementary school children with persistence cases. The type of research used is a literature study. The literature study method is a series of activities related to methods of collecting library data, reading and taking notes, and managing research materials. Results and conclusions that 1. Parents' knowledge of elementary school children with persistent cases is included in the less category where the better the knowledge the lower the child will experience tooth persistence. 2. Parents' knowledge will influence children's attitudes and behavior to maintain healthy teeth and mouth. Lack of parental knowledge due to lack of education. 3. Tooth persistence in children who are not treated immediately will cause other dental problems such as malocclusion, ectopic eruption and impaction. Tooth persistence in children can be prevented if parents have more knowledge about tooth persistence.
Pengetahuan dan Sikap Petugas Taruna Siaga Bencana dalam Pencegahan Kebakaran
Authors: Ramli Rahmat , Achmad Viyan Septiyana , Mahoklory Serly Sani , Nurhaedah Nurhaedah
Published: September 2023

Factors that affect the level of preparedness of an officer are years of service, level of knowledge, and preparedness training. The working period of an officer affects the level of preparedness of an officer. Officers who work longer have a better level of preparedness 3 than new officers. The level of knowledge also influences the officer's preparedness efforts, a person's level of preparedness can be formed by how often the person gets knowledge or information regarding prevention and preparedness. Preparedness training held in a company also affects the level of preparedness when a fire disaster occurs, officers who take part in training have better preparedness than officers who do not take part in training. The aim of the study was to describe the level of knowledge and attitudes of cadets responding to disasters in a fire disaster. This study uses a descriptive research method using a cross-sectional approach which is a study of several populations observed at the same time (Nursalam, 2017). By distributing questionnaires to research respondents, with the intention of knowing the description of the knowledge and attitudes of disaster cadet response officers in handling fire disaster preparedness in the province of South Sulawesi.
Fundamentals Of Research Methodology
Authors:   Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stella Mary’s College of Engineering, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, India, Sivaprakash Dr. M. , Rexy Dr. V. Arul Mary ,   Associate Professor & Head, Department of Commerce, Saveetha College Liberal Arts and Science, SIMATS, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Published: September 2023

This book is a step-by-step guide that aims to give its readers a solid grounding in the processes and fundamental concepts involved in research by organising them around research design methodologies in addition to other crucial elements of research. The book is complete after the author conducted a thorough literature review of materials aimed at both undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers and professionals at the doctoral level will find the book useful since it broadens their perspective on how fundamental research technique may be put to use in the real world. This book skillfully combines theoretical notions of research with practical examples that will be useful to students, researchers, and managers.
Feasibility Study of Drill Cuttings Slip Velocity Estimation using BBO DTM-Pade’ Semi-analytical Technique
Authors: Dbair Abdualhakim , Elfergani Mazen
Published: September 2023

The study reviewed  the use of DTM-Pade’ approximation method of Basset–Boussinesq–Oseen equation (BBO) in predicting particle slip velocity. A hypothetical example is used in the study with three different diameters, 3,5 and 7mm, of  spherical particle assumed to represent wide rang of drill cuttings’ sizes. In addition, the drilling fluid is assumed to be incompressible fluid in stationary mode. The Pade’ approximation (K=20, [8 8]) is used, based on literature, in calculating slip velocities through 2 seconds time span. It is concluded that this technique is a practical mean of particle slip velocity prediction at high Pad’ orders using Matlab for a short period of time, around (o.1 to 0.2 seconds). However, BBO equation application range such as, single particle fall in infinite incompressible fluid, small particle size rang (less than 3mm), low particle to fluid density ratio (higher than 0.38), limits its application in oil well drilling operations.  Moreover,  the necessity of more factors considerations in simulating drilling operations  including Non-Newtonian  fluids, wall effect, and wide range of irregular shaped drill cuttings densities and sizes urges for the use of  generalized BBO equation. In drilling operations, concisely, drill cuttings are usually mixed in the wellbore annulus and for more reliable predictions the application of more sophisticated techniques such as Machine Learning (MA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) become indispensable.
Studies of colostrum and milk composition and quality of Gidran mares
Authors: BARSI Brigitta , OLÁH János , POSTA János , KNOP Renáta
Published: September 2023

Foals are born with intact but weakly functioning immune systems. Colostrum provides special immunoglobulins, which are essential for the development of passive immunity. The newborn foal is entirely dependent on antibodies from colostrum for protection against infection during the early neonatal period, meaning that after foaling, in a short time, they need to pick up a sufficient amount of colostrum in proper quality. The quantity and quality of colostrum cannot be influenced although it is well known that well-fed mares in good health typically produce enough antibody-rich colostrum for their newborn foals, the quality of colostrum can be determined by several methods. In 2022, I examined the gestation and lactation of 9 Gidran mares at Kismacs Experimental Station of Animal Husbandry of the University of Debrecen. I used a BRIX refractometer for measuring the colostrum IgG level, and a Lactoscan MCC Combo milk analyser for testing colostrum and milk.
Synergizing Thai Higher Education with Macro-marketing and Circular Economy Principles: A Paradigm Shift in Marketing Education for Sustainable Societal Progress
Authors: Kamkankaew Pongsiri , Thanitbenjasith Phithagorn
Published: September 2023

Background and Aim: Thailand's government is integrating macro-marketing and circular economy principles into marketing education to address urbanization, resource depletion, and sustainable development goals. This review academic article explores the benefits of integrating macro marketing principles and circular economy concepts into Thai higher education's marketing education system, identifies gaps, and proposes strategies to enhance the capacity for producing socially responsible and environmentally conscious marketing professionals.
Materials and Methods: In pursuit of these objectives, the academic article delves into a comprehensive analysis of academic databases, research articles, case studies, and best practices from around the world, aiming to establish a foundation for the integration of macro-marketing and circular economy principles into the Thai marketing education system.
Results: This academic article found that Thai higher education institutions must integrate macro-marketing and circular economy principles through strategic collaboration and innovation. This comprehensive system aims to produce skilled marketers, ethical decision-makers, and responsible global citizens. Strategies include curriculum redesign, faculty development, industry collaboration, and experiential learning.
Conclusion: The Thai marketing education system incorporates macro-marketing and circular economy principles, preparing students for sustainable business practices and societal challenges. This holistic approach fosters collaboration, interactive learning, and a culture of social responsibility.
Hypoparathyroidism in children and adolescents
Authors: Korkmaz Hüseyin Anıl , Ozkan Behzat
Published: September 2023

Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH) release from the parathyroid glands to maintain serum calcium level within normal limits and unresponsiveness of target tissues despite normal serum PTH level. Hypoparathyroidism is defined as low or inappropriately normal serum PTH level. In this narrative review, we discuss the etiology of hypoparathyroidism in children.
2022 Clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty of Korean children and adolescents
Authors: Kim Su Jin , Kim Ji Hyun , Hong Yong Hee , Chung In Hyuk , Lee Eun Byoul , Kang Eungu , Kim Jinsup , Yang Aram , Rhie Young-Jun , Yoo Eun-Gyong , Shin Young-Lim , Choi Jin Ho , Kim Soo Young , Lee Jieun ,   Committee of Central precocious puberty of Korean Children and Adolescents on behalf of Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (KSPE)
Published: September 2023

The Committee of Central Precocious Puberty of Korean Pediatrics and Adolescents of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology has newly developed evidence-based 2022 clinical practice guidelines for central precocious puberty in Korean children and adolescents. These guidelines provide the grade of recommendations, which includes both the strength of recommendations and the level of evidence. In the absence of sufficient evidence, recommendations are based on expert opinion. These guidelines have been revised and supplement the previous guidelines "Clinical Guidelines for Precocious Puberty 2011," and are drawn from a comprehensive review of the latest domestic and international research and the grade of recommendation appropriate to the domestic situation. This review summarizes the newly revised guidelines into 8 key questions and 27 recommendations and consists of 4 sections: screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcome of central precocious puberty.
Paraneoplastični sindromi
Authors: Matos Erika
Published: September 2023

Paraneoplastični sindromi so redki klinični sindromi, ki nastanejo kot posledica sistemskih učinkov tumorjev. Nastanejo po dveh glavnih mehanizmih: neimunološki in imunološki mehanizmi. Neimunološki mehanizmi so povezani s tumorskim izločanjem hormonov, funkcionalno aktivnih peptidov ali citokinov, imunološki mehanizmi pa so posledica navzkrižnih reakcij protiteles med tumorskimi in normalnimi tkivi. Prizadeti so lahko različni organi in organski sistemi. Skladno s tem je različna klinična slika. Najpogostejši paraneoplastični sindromi so: nevrološki, endokrinološki, dermatološki in revmatološki. Drobnocelični pljučni rak je najpogosteje pridružena maligna bolezen, sledijo limfoproliferativne bolezni, ginekološki raki in rak dojk. Paraneoplastični sindromi so lahko prva manifestacija maligne bolezni in zato pogosto predstavljajo diagnostični in terapevtski izziv. Izid zdravljenja bolnikov s paraneoplastičnimi sindromi je odvisen predvsem od učinkovitosti zdravljenja osnovne maligne bolezni.
Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Pemilihan Supplier Bahan Baku Digital Printing Dengan Metode Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS)
Authors: Imara Gumilar Nanang , Wahyu Setyaningsih Putry
Published: September 2023

Perkembangan teknologi dan bisnis saat ini membawa dampak bagi kehidupan manusia terutama pada dunia usaha yang bergerak pada bidang jasa. Perkembangan usaha yang terbilang cukup pesat yaitu usaha pada bidang Digital Printing. Pada Godean Digital Printing mempunyai asset yang cukup berharga yaitu persediaan bahan baku oleh karena itu persediaan harus dapat dikelola dengan baik. Pada perusahaan produksi yang biasanya banyak dihadapkan dengan masalah bahan baku, kelebihan atau kekurangan nilai kualitas bahan baku dapat mengakibatkan terganggunya kelancaran proses produksi serta kualitas hasil produksi itu sendiri pada Godean Digital Printing . Sehingga dengan ini peneliti melakukan penelitian tentang menentukan persediaan bahan baku prduksi di Godean Digital Printing. Pada penelitian kali ini peneliti coba menggunakan metode Additive Ratio Assessment. Metode Additive Ratio Assessment. Sehingga peneliti mengambil judul “Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Pemilihan Bahan Baku Digital Printing Metode Addictive Ratio Assessment”. Hasil dari penelitian ini berupa sebuah sistem berbasis web yang digunakan untuk pemilihan bahan baku yang baik salah satunya memanfaatkan sistem pemilihan bahan baku digital printing dengan metode Additive Ratio Assessment. Hal ini diterapkan untuk mengurangi kesalahan pemilihan bahan baku yang sesuai kualitas dan jenis bahan yang akan dipergunakan.
Research Requirements on the Influence of Career Planning and Innovation and Entrepreneurship Courses on College Students' Willingness to Start a Business
Authors: Zhang Rongwu , Pang Liuyou , Qin Yongjia
Published: September 2023

As the world's largest developing country, China is facing increasingly fierce economic competition and employment pressure. In such a context, it becomes especially important to improve college students' willingness to start a business. Many factors influence college students' willingness to start a business, and this paper focuses on the influence of both career planning and innovation and entrepreneurship courses on college students' willingness to start a business and proposes corresponding strategies. By integrating career planning and innovative entrepreneurship courses, students can see entrepreneurship as a way to achieve their career goals and gain real-life entrepreneurial experience through the practical opportunities provided by innovative entrepreneurship courses. Providing career-oriented innovation and entrepreneurship education can help students clarify the place and value of entrepreneurship in their personal career development and foster innovative thinking and entrepreneurship. Emphasizing hands-on and internship opportunities will allow students to learn and grow in a real-world entrepreneurial environment and develop entrepreneurial skills and teamwork abilities. The implementation of these strategies will help stimulate college students' willingness and ability to start their businesses. Help college students overcome the challenges of the entrepreneurial process.
Exploration of the Practice of School-Enterprise Collaborative Nurturing Dual Creation Linkage Teaching Mode
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli
Published: September 2023

With the promotion of economic globalization and scientific and technological innovation, university education needs to be more closely integrated with the actual industry and market demand, to cultivate innovative and practical talents adapted to the development of the society. Under the new requirements for higher education and the changing needs of society, the application and practice of the school-enterprise collaborative education dual-creation linkage teaching mode has also received more attention. This teaching mode advocates close cooperation and collaboration between schools and enterprises, and realizes the sharing of educational resources and complementary advantages through joint teaching, scientific research, and practical activities. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore the practice of school-enterprise collaborative education and dual-creation linkage teaching mode, which can break through the boundaries of traditional education, promote the deep integration of university education and industrial development, cultivate high-quality talents with innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and ability, and make a positive contribution to the sustainable development of the society and innovation drive.
The Influence of Financial Innovation Education on the Employment Competitiveness of Accounting Students in Colleges and Universities
Authors: Sun Jingran , Zuo Jing
Published: September 2023

With the rapid changes and fierce competition in the global business environment, the employment competitiveness of accounting majors in colleges and universities has become particularly important. The traditional accounting education model can no longer meet the needs of enterprises for a new generation of accounting professionals. As a new educational model, financial innovation provides students with broader development space and more employment opportunities. This paper discusses the influence of financial innovation education on the employment competitiveness of accounting majors in colleges and universities, and puts forward corresponding promotion strategies. In order to give full play to the role of financial innovation education, we should strengthen the curriculum, promote students to participate in practical projects and internship experience, establish a platform and mechanism for cooperation with the industry, organize career development guidance and employment resources support, and carry out the implementation and effect evaluation of the strategy. Financial innovation education aims to cultivate students' innovative thinking, practical ability and problem-solving ability, so that they can meet challenges in a complex business environment.
Shuggie Bain: A novel of Child Abuse
Authors: Tiwari Janmejay Kumar
Published: September 2023

Rejected by almost thirty publishers in the United States and the United Kingdom, Shuggie Bain won the Booker Prize for 2020. From the opening chapter, the novel seizes the booklover by the throat and doesn’t let go until it has wrung out all the crazily vacillating emotions — ecstasy, mourning, annoyance, disappointment, enthusiasm, longing, jealousy, abhorrence and a strange, gleaming love. In fact the novel brings forward a mother-child relationship and child abuse. These various emotions and feelings make the novel exhilarating experience of reading.
खुदी मिटी कि खुदा बने (सूफ़ी-सम्प्रदाय में प्रेम)
Authors: उपाध्याय नितेश
Published: September 2023

सूफ़ी सम्प्रदाय के समूचे काव्य-चिंतन के केन्द्र में प्रेम का स्थान सर्वोपरि है। सूफ़ी सम्प्रदाय में पुरुष को आत्मा एवं स्त्री को परमात्मा माना गया है। सूफ़ी साधना में आत्मा (पुरुष)-परमात्मा (स्त्री) के प्रेम की अभिव्यक्ति आशिक और माशूक के रूप में की गयी है। विरह-मिलन की अनुभूतियाँ, प्रेम की तड़पन एवं छटपटाहट का मनोरम वर्णन सूफ़ी साधना में चहुँओर विद्यमान है। सूफ़ी साधना में प्रेम एक ऐसी संजीवनी है जहाँ जीवन की सब विरोधी शक्तियाँ स्वयं को मिटाकर एक हो जाती है। केवल प्रेम ही ऐसा क्षेत्र है जहाँ एकत्व और द्वित्व विरोध भाव में नहीं रहते। यही सूफ़ी संप्रदाय में प्रेम का मूल उत्स है।
भूमि उपयोग परिवर्तन एवं जैव विविधता ह्रास: जनपद उन्नाव के विशेष सन्दर्भ में
Authors: यादव दीपा , सिंह* आनन्दकर
Published: September 2023

आदिकाल से मानव एवं प्रकृति के मध्य सम्बन्धों में प्राकृतिक वातावरण मानव जीवनयापन के लिए संसाधनों का आधार रहा है। मनुष्य के जन्म से लेकर मृत्यु तक के समस्त उपादनों के सम्पादन तथा विभिन्न वस्तुओं के उत्पादन के लिए ‘भूमि’ आधारभूत तत्व है। पृथ्वी तल पर जनसंख्या एवं प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के वितरण में व्यापक विषमता देखने को मिलती है। मानव की विविध आवश्यकताओं- शहरीकरण, औद्योगीकरण, कृषि क्षेत्र के प्रसार, खनन, अवस्थापनात्मक सुविधाओं के विस्तार इत्यादि के कारण पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र पर दबाव बढ़ता जा रहा है। प्रो. स्टाम्प के अनुसार भूमि उपयोग के निर्धारण में प्रत्येक भूमि इकाई के अनुकूलित उपयोग को निर्धारित किया जाता है। अर्थात् जो भूमि जिस उपयोग के लिए सर्वाधिक उपयुक्त हो उसे उसके लिए ही प्रयोग किया जाना चाहिए। परन्तु सीमित भूमि संसाधन एवं तेजी से बढ़ती जनसंख्या और मनुष्य की अधिक पाने की भौतिकतावादी विचारधारा ने सामान्य भूमि उपयोग की अवधारणा को परिवर्तित कर दिया है।
पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश में वित्तीय संस्थाओं में विद्यमान क्षेत्रीय विषमताएँ
Authors: शुक्ल जैशराज
Published: September 2023

भारतीय ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था में कृषि कार्य, वाणिज्य, उद्योग तथा अन्य उत्पादकता गतिविधियों विशेषरूप से लघु व्यवसायों तथा सीमान्त कृषकांे, कृषि श्रमिकों, दस्तकारों और उनसे सम्बन्धित अन्य गतिविधियों को व्यावहारिक रूप में विकसित करने तथा सामाजिक आर्थिक विषमता को दूर करने में बैंकांे एवं वित्तीय संस्थाओं की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका होती है।1 वित एवं अर्थव्यवस्था के संदर्भ में वित्तीय संस्थाओं से अभिप्राय उन संस्थाओं से है, जो अपने ग्राहकों एवं सदस्यों को वित्तीय सेवाएं जैसे-ग्राहकों का धन जमा रखना, ग्राहकों को ऋण देना, बैंक ड्राफ्ट देना, निधि अन्तरण  आदि प्रदान करते हैं। किसी भी देश की प्रगति में वित्तीय संस्थाओं का महत्वपूर्ण योगदान होता है। वित्तीय संस्थानों का मुख्य कार्य देश में मुद्रा के प्रवाह को नियन्त्रित करना होता है, साथ ही साथ लोगों की आवश्यकताओं को पूरा करने के लिए विभिन्न प्रकार के ऋण प्रदान करते हैं।2 पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश में वित्तीय संस्थाओं के अन्तर्गत बैंकों तथा साधन सहकारी समितियों को सम्मिलित किया गया है।
अयोध्या मण्डल (उ0प्र0) में महिला साक्षरता का परिवर्तनशील प्रतिरूप
Authors: यादव राजकुमार
Published: September 2023

अध्ययन क्षेत्र अयोध्या मण्डल में महिला साक्षरता विगत पचास वर्षों से राज्य तथा राष्ट्र की तुलना में कम है। जनपद स्तर पर इसमे बड़ी असमानता देखने को मिलती है। मण्डल में महिला साक्षरता की वृद्धि दर भी कम है। महिला साक्षरता दर की कमी तथा असमानता के कारण यहाँ विकास की गति भी धीमी है। यदि मण्डल का सम्यक् विकास करना है तो महिलाओं की शिक्षा में सुधार लाना होगा।
प्रभा खेतान के उपन्यासों में पारिवारिक, आर्थिक एवं धार्मिक समस्याओं का विवेचन
Authors: श्रीवास्तव अर्चना
Published: September 2023

प्रभा खेतान ने पारिवारिक समस्याओं को प्रस्तुत करते हुए स्पष्ट किया है कि नारी का जीवन परिवार में यातनाओं से पूर्ण होते हुए भी वह निःशब्द समस्या युक्त जीवन को जीती रहती है। पारिवारिक समस्याओं के कारण बहुत सी स्त्रियाँ आत्महत्या तक कर लेती हैं और बहुत सारी स्त्रियाँ इन अत्याचारों को निःशब्द होकर सहती रहती हैं। प्रभा खेतान का मानना है कि आर्थिक रूप से समृद्ध बनकर ही स्त्री अपना स्वतन्त्र अस्तित्व स्थापित कर सकती है। इस सत्य को उन्होंने अपने कई उपन्यासों में व्यक्त किया है। धर्म की आड़ में स्त्रियों के हो रहे शोषण को प्रभा खेतान ने अपने साहित्य में बखूबी प्रस्तुत किया है। उन्होंने मारवाड़ी समाज में व्याप्त अन्धविश्वासों को प्रस्तुत किया है।
राजनीतिक दलों के व्यक्तियों का विश्लेषण
Authors: राय सुधीर कुमार , त्रिवेदी* शिवांगी
Published: September 2023

राजनीति ,मनोविज्ञान में एक नया क्षेत्र है। हमारे देश में इस क्षेत्र में बहुत कम शोध कार्य हुए हैं, जो शोध उपलब्ध हैं। उनमें से कुछ वोटिंग व्यवहार से हैं। राजनीतिक मनोविज्ञान के अन्य क्षेत्र अछूते हैं, पकोई शोध कार्य न तो हमारे देश में और न ही विदेशों में राजनीतिक व्यक्तियों के व्यक्तित्व के विश्लेषण पर किए गए थे। राजनीतिक व्यक्तियों के मनोवैज्ञानिक अध्ययन के लिए, मनोवृत्ति की, मतदान व्यवहार, दृष्टिकोण आदि का अध्ययन प्रासंगिक है, आधुनिक समय में सभी समस्याएं राजनीतिक रूप लेती हैं, भले ही यह सामाजिक, धार्मिक या आर्थिक हो। इस प्रकार, राजनीतिक दलों के व्यक्तियों का व्यक्तित्व विश्लेषण आवश्यक है।
The impact of COVID-19 on Occupational Therapy services in Gauteng Province, South Africa: a qualitative study
Authors: Uys Kitty , Casteleijn Daleen , van Niekerk Karin , Balbadhur Raashmi , d’Oliveira Jenna , Msimango Henry
Published: September 2023

The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services has been widely reported, but limited information is available on its impact on rehabilitation services in South Africa. This article reports on the impact of COVID-19 on Occupational Therapy services and programmes in public and private health care as delivered by occupational therapists.

A qualitative case study design was selected to explore the perceptions of occupational therapists in private and public healthcare settings regarding the impact of COVID-19 on rehabilitation services. Asynchronous on-line focus group interviews were conducted by a team of researchers. The data were thematically analysed.

Three themes emerged from the data. Theme 1, the ‘impact on the practice context’, revealed that infection prevention and control protocols were a barrier to achieving rehabilitation goals. An enabler was the therapists’ creativity and new ways of practice. Theme 2 described the ‘impact on the service-users’ where isolation and physical distancing curbed access to rehabilitation services. The struggle of vulnerable populations and socio-economic disparities in healthcare was evident in these data. Theme 3 referred to changes in the ‘professional and personal self’ of the occupational therapists. Challenges to ethical practices − for example, the uncertainty of the benefit of adapted services − resulted in stress and anxiety among therapists. Constantly adapting to changes in Regulations caused compassion fatigue, but therapists also reported healthy coping strategies and resilience.

Occupational Therapy rehabilitation services should be listed as essential in times of a pandemic. Better health and social support to vulnerable populations should be established, as their challenges escalated during COVID-19. Research is required to determine practice guidelines and effectiveness of novel rehabilitation practices that were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intersectoral collaboration before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Western Cape: implications for future whole-of-society approaches to health and wellbeing
Authors: Schneider Helen , Okeyo Ida , du Toit Alheit , Engelbrecht Beth , London Leslie , Pegram Elizabeth , Reagon Gavin , Cloete Keith
Published: September 2023

The profound health, social and economic impacts generated by the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated collaboration among societal actors in an unprecedented fashion, elevating the status of the health sector and positioning it to advance intersectoral action on health.

This chapter reflects on intersectoral collaboration in the Western Cape prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe forms of intersectoral collaboration that emerged in response to COVID-19; how these drew from a prior formative initiative in the province, referred to as WoSA (whole-of-society approach); and the lessons and opportunities these experiences offer for future intersectoral collaboration for health and wellbeing.

Three key mechanisms of intersectoral collaboration implemented during the period are considered: technical and logistical support from the health sector to other sectors to mainstream and optimise COVID-19 responses; inter-governmental Joint Operation Centres mandated by the Disaster Management Act; and collaborative district processes drawing on the whole-of-society approach and forming the basis of a COVID-19 Provincial Recovery Plan. The evidence from these experiences is that the trust relationships, governance structures and common data systems established in the COVID-19 period can be leveraged for future intersectoral collaboration. However, this will require a shift from disaster management to developmental mind-sets and from reactive to proactive approaches. Current governmental planning and accountability frameworks characterised by silos remains a challenge.

As the ‘universal recipient’ of failing societies, the health sector has a particular responsibility to overcome governance challenges to intersectoral collaboration and to advance whole-of-society approaches to health and wellbeing.
Intellectual property barriers to access to COVID-19 health products in South Africa
Authors: Vawda Yousuf , Tomlinson Catherine , Gray Andy , London Leslie , Paremoer Lauren
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of local, regional and global health systems and their inability to meet their populations’ health needs. South Africa also experienced severe shortages of health technologies, attributable to a lack of institutional capacity, corruption in supply chain management and procurement, inadequacy of local manufacturing capacity, and intellectual property barriers.

This chapter analyses the extent to which intellectual property barriers have impeded the availability, affordability and accessibility of health products, especially vaccines, needed to avert COVID-19 infection. Global initiatives to improve access, such as the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access facility, the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, and the waiver of intellectual property rights proposed at the World Trade Organization by South Africa and India, are appraised. A situational analysis of the relevant health product landscape, is also provided. The two-year delay in tabling a Bill to amend the Patents Act, and the limited use of legal flexibilities to circumvent patent and other barriers, are examined.

South Africa experienced significant shortages of diagnostics, personal protective equipment and other products; the country’s vaccine acquisition programme lacked urgency; intellectual property rights holders were unable to meet demand for vaccines and their failure to implement technology transfer prevented any prospect of scale-up or local production; and government has stalled on its commitment to patent law reform.

It is recommended that the government urgently give attention to, among others: accelerating its vaccine acquisition and administration; addressing the severely strained health infrastructure; eliminating corruption in procurement contracts and the distribution of supplies; and tabling of a Bill to reform patent legislation.
Perceptions of persons with disabilities on the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in South Africa
Authors: Hart Tim G B , Davids Yul D , Wickenden Mary , Majikijela Yamkela , Ngungu Mercy , Thompson Stephen
Published: September 2023

Persons with disabilities constitute one of the largest minorities in society and yet are often highly marginalised. In South Africa, between 12% and 20% of the population older than five years are estimated to have activity-limiting impairments. People may have difficulties with mobility, vision, hearing, communication, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, or combinations of these at varying levels of severity. Such limitations become disabling when society fails to adapt the environment to accommodate people with impairments. South Africa began the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in February 2021, focusing on frontline health workers, people older than 60 and, more recently, those older than 18. Despite some having increased health risks, persons with disabilities were not prioritised to receive the vaccine.

An online survey of people self-identifying as having disabilities was distributed in July and August 2021 to explore various aspects of their experiences during the pandemic. Here we analyse the data from the 402 responses to understand respondents’ attitudes to vaccination, their perceived vulnerability to the virus, their desire to be vaccinated, and perceptions about the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations for them. Quantitative data and some qualitative commentary from the survey are presented and discussed.

Of the 402 respondents, 70% perceived persons with disabilities as more likely to become seriously ill if infected with COVID-19 due to underlying conditions, yet only 10% of the participants had been vaccinated. As many as 75% of participants wanted the vaccine but have not yet had access to it. The remainder (15%) either did not want it or were uncertain.

To date, the government has not been disability-inclusive in its vaccination roll-out, despite high demand for the vaccine as a lifesaving and preventative measure for this significant minority group. Based on the findings, we recommend that this be addressed with urgency to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities to protection are realised, and that future pandemics can be planned for in a more disability-inclusive way.
Health and related indicators 2021
Authors: Ndlovu Noluthando , Day Candy , Gray Andy , Busang Jacob , Mureithi Linda
Published: September 2023

This chapter aims to provide a repository of data, focusing on the national and provincial levels, that describes the broad status of the South African health system (socio-demographic indicators and determinants and health status indicators, as well as health service indicators). Data were sourced primarily from national routine data sources, but also captured major surveys and global reports.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was viewed through multiple lenses. COVID-19 hastened the development of new or improved health information systems or modules to track both the disease and health system inputs and responses. Real-time reporting of incident cases, hospitalisations and mortality was enabled, including weekly estimates of the number of excess deaths associated with the pandemic. Ensuring that these innovations are retained after the pandemic will be important. COVID-19 has also emphasised the need to ensure that all data systems use a common unique identifier. COVID-19 has resulted in many collateral impacts on other aspects of health service delivery and outcomes, and selected examples were reported on, using routine data to illustrate the difference between expected and observed measures. Marked impacts were shown on the Primary Health Care utilisation rate and antenatal care, and on specific disease programmes, such as tuberculosis screening, testing and treatment initiation, HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy initiation and continuity of care. Less dramatic impacts on childhood immunisation coverage were evident from routine data.

Community Health Workers have been a vital cadre in the response to COVID-19 and in mitigating disruptions to health service delivery as a result of the pandemic, yet their role in the health system is poorly documented and managed, since they are not included in the mainstream information systems.

As South Africa transitions from a pandemic response to the means of managing COVID-19 as an endemic disease, a key task will be to retain what is most useful in health information systems and other innovations, and to ensure that these continue to contribute to the unfinished agenda of universal health coverage.
Décentralisation en Afrique subsaharienne francophone : difficultés des gouvernements, engagement innovant de la société civile
Authors: Dansou Dossa Hyppolite , Carrier Mario
Published: September 2023

Après plusieurs décennies de mise en oeuvre de de décentralisation, vu les ambitions initiales de gouvernance, de développement et le caractère toujours actuel de cette réforme en Afrique de l’Ouest, quel bilan peut aujourd’hui en être fait ? Comment les populations locales vivent-elles cette réforme ? Tout en tenant compte du cadre législatif régissant les relations États/collectivités territoriales (CT), cet article analyse la façon dont s’emboîtent les échelles de gouvernance pour fournir – ou non – des capacités de développement aux CT avant de mettre en exergue l’accroissement du nombre des OSC (organisations de la société civile) à la faveur de la réforme, leurs interactions et actions en faveur du développement territorial.

L’analyse repose sur les hypothèses suivantes : d’une part, les pratiques (mise en oeuvre des lois et objectifs de la décentralisation) des gouvernements centraux ne permettent pas encore d’atteindre la gouvernance et le développement escomptés. D’autre part, la décentralisation favorise l’émergence de plus en plus d’OSC innovant dans le développement des territoires. Et nos conclusions confirment ces hypothèses.

Exclusivement basé sur une collecte documentaire, l’article part du cadre théorique sur la gouvernance multiniveaux proposé par Goldsmith et Page (1987 ; 2010), repris par Poupeau (2019), et des indices de développement humain (IDH) des huit pays francophones de l’Union économique et monétaire Ouest-Africaine (UEMOA), pour produire une analyse comparée de cette réforme dans ces pays à travers ses objectifs de départ.
A mechanosensing mechanism controls plasma membrane shape homeostasis at the nanoscale
Authors: Quiroga Xarxa , Walani Nikhil , Disanza Andrea , Chavero Albert , Mittens Alexandra , Tebar Francesc , Trepat Xavier , Parton Robert G , Geli María Isabel , Scita Giorgio , Arroyo Marino , Le Roux Anabel-Lise , Roca-Cusachs Pere
Published: September 2023

As cells migrate and experience forces from their surroundings, they constantly undergo mechanical deformations which reshape their plasma membrane (PM). To maintain homeostasis, cells need to detect and restore such changes, not only in terms of overall PM area and tension as previously described, but also in terms of local, nanoscale topography. Here, we describe a novel phenomenon, by which cells sense and restore mechanically induced PM nanoscale deformations. We show that cell stretch and subsequent compression reshape the PM in a way that generates local membrane evaginations in the 100 nm scale. These evaginations are recognized by I-BAR proteins, which triggers a burst of actin polymerization mediated by Rac1 and Arp2/3. The actin polymerization burst subsequently re-flattens the evagination, completing the mechanochemical feedback loop. Our results demonstrate a new mechanosensing mechanism for PM shape homeostasis, with potential applicability in different physiological scenarios.
Cholinergic input to mouse visual cortex signals a movement state and acutely enhances layer 5 responsiveness
Authors: Yogesh Baba , Keller Georg B
Published: September 2023

Acetylcholine is released in visual cortex by axonal projections from the basal forebrain. The signals conveyed by these projections and their computational significance are still unclear. Using two-photon calcium imaging in behaving mice, we show that basal forebrain cholinergic axons in the mouse visual cortex provide a binary locomotion state signal. In these axons, we found no evidence of responses to visual stimuli or visuomotor prediction errors. While optogenetic activation of cholinergic axons in visual cortex in isolation did not drive local neuronal activity, when paired with visuomotor stimuli, it resulted in layer-specific increases of neuronal activity. Responses in layer 5 neurons to both top-down and bottom-up inputs were increased in amplitude and decreased in latency, whereas those in layer 2/3 neurons remained unchanged. Using opto- and chemogenetic manipulations of cholinergic activity, we found acetylcholine to underlie the locomotion-associated decorrelation of activity between neurons in both layer 2/3 and layer 5. Our results suggest that acetylcholine augments the responsiveness of layer 5 neurons to inputs from outside of the local network, possibly enabling faster switching between internal representations during locomotion.
Improved MobileNetV2 crop disease identification model for intelligent agriculture
Authors: Lu Jianbo , Liu Xiaobin , Ma Xiaoya , Tong Jin , Peng Jungui
Published: September 2023

Using intelligent agriculture is an important way for the industry to achieve high-quality development. To improve the accuracy of the identification of crop diseases under conditions of limited computing resources, such as in mobile and edge computing, we propose an improved lightweight MobileNetV2 crop disease identification model. In this study, MobileNetV2 is used as the backbone network for the application of an improved Bottleneck structure. First, the number of operation channels is reduced using point-by-point convolution, the number of parameters of the model is reduced, and the re-parameterized multilayer perceptron (RepMLP) module is introduced; the latter can capture long-distance dependencies between features and obtain local a priori information to enhance the global perception of the model. Second, the efficient channel-attention mechanism is added to adjust the image-feature channel weights so as to improve the recognition accuracy of the model, and the Hardswish activation function is introduced instead of the ReLU6 activation function to further improve performance. The final experimental results show that the improved MobilNetV2 model achieves 99.53% accuracy in the PlantVillage crop disease dataset, which is 0.3% higher than the original model, and the number of covariates is only 0.9M, which is 59% less than the original model. Also, the inference speed is improved by 8.5% over the original model. The crop disease identification method proposed in this article provides a reference for deployment and application on edge and mobile devices.
Optimization of oil industry wastewater treatment system and proposing empirical correlations for chemical oxygen demand removal using electrocoagulation and predicting the system’s performance by artificial neural network
Authors: El Jery Atef , Salman Hayder Mahmood , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Sammen Saad Sh. , Maktoof Mohammed Abdul Jaleel , A. Z. AL-bonsrulah Hussein
Published: September 2023

The alarming pace of environmental degradation necessitates the treatment of wastewater from the oil industry in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of human civilization. Electrocoagulation has emerged as a promising method for optimizing the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater obtained from oil refineries. Therefore, in this study, electrocoagulation was experimentally investigated, and a single-factorial approach was employed to identify the optimal conditions, taking into account various parameters such as current density, pH, COD concentration, electrode surface area, and NaCl concentration. The experimental findings revealed that the most favorable conditions for COD removal were determined to be 24 mA/cm2 for current density, pH 8, a COD concentration of 500 mg/l, an electrode surface area of 25.26 cm2, and a NaCl concentration of 0.5 g/l. Correlation equations were proposed to describe the relationship between COD removal and the aforementioned parameters, and double-factorial models were examined to analyze the impact of COD removal over time. The most favorable outcomes were observed after a reaction time of 20 min. Furthermore, an artificial neural network model was developed based on the experimental data to predict COD removal from wastewater generated by the oil industry. The model exhibited a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.12% and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.99, indicating its high accuracy. These findings suggest that machine learning-based models have the potential to effectively predict COD removal and may even serve as viable alternatives to traditional experimental and numerical techniques.
Cessation of exclusive breastfeeding and predictors among infants aged 0–6 months in Ararso district of the Somali region, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ibrahim Kalid Hassen , Ali Abdulkarim Mohammed , Wondimagegne Zelalem Tafese
Published: September 2023

Background

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the gold standard of child feeding practice in which the infant only receives breast milk without any additional food or drink, not even water and it lasts up to 6 months after delivery. In the study area, there is a lack of data on the prevalence of cessation of EBF.

Methods

Community-based cross-sectional study design was used among 292 mothers of infants aged 0–6 months. The data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out. An odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to measure the strength of the association. Statistical significance was declared at P-value <0.05.

Results

The prevalence of cessation of EBF was 57.3% with 95% CI [50.9–62.6]. This study showed being employed (working outside the home) (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI [1.32–4.53]), being rural residence (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI [1.05–3.32]), and inadequate knowledge of EBF (AOR = 2:02; 95% CI [1.19–3.43]) were independent predictors of cessation of EBF.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Our data identified a higher prevalence of cessation of EBF in the study area compared to most studies in Ethiopia and elsewhere. Efforts on improving knowledge of the importance of EBF particularly in rural areas and support for breastfeeding-employed women are recommended.
Claw shape variation in oribatid mites of the genera Carabodes and Caleremaeus: exploring the interplay of habitat, ecology and phylogenetics
Authors: Kerschbaumer Michaela , Schäffer Sylvia , Pfingstl Tobias
Published: September 2023

Background

Claws are a commonly observed biological adaptation across a wide range of animal groups. They serve different functions and their link to evolution is challenging to analyze. While there are many studies on the comparative anatomy and morphology of claws in reptiles, birds and several arthropods, knowledge about claws of soil-living oribatid mites, is still limited. Recent research on intertidal oribatid mites has shown that claw shape is strongly correlated with microhabitat and is subject to ecological selective pressures. However, the selective constraints shaping claws in terrestrial oribatid mites are still unknown.

Methods

In this study, 300 specimens from 12 different species and two genera were examined. Geometric morphometrics were used to quantify claw length and curvature, and to analyze two-dimensional claw shape. In combination with molecular phylogenetic analyses of investigated populations phylogenetic signal was quantified within genera using Blomberg’s K and random replicates. Additionally, ecological information on the investigated species was gathered from previous studies and compiled into tables.

Results

The claw shapes of Carabodes species vary moderately, with the three species C. reticulatus, C. rugosior and C. tenuis deviating the most from the others. These three species are only found in a small number of habitats, which may require a more specialized claw shape. Our results show that there is a phylogenetic influence on claw shape in Carabodes but not in Caleremaeus. Additionally, habitat specificity and lifestyle were found to have ecological impact on claw shape in both genera. The present results demonstrate that characteristics of the claws of terrestrial oribatid mites are correlated with ecology, but this correlation is apparently weaker than in intertidal oribatid mites that are prone to strong external forces.
DeepMethylation: a deep learning based framework with GloVe and Transformer encoder for DNA methylation prediction
Authors: Wang Zhe , Xiang Sen , Zhou Chao , Xu Qing
Published: September 2023

DNA methylation is a crucial topic in bioinformatics research. Traditional wet experiments are usually time-consuming and expensive. In contrast, machine learning offers an efficient and novel approach. In this study, we propose DeepMethylation, a novel methylation predictor with deep learning. Specifically, the DNA sequence is encoded with word embedding and GloVe in the first step. After that, dilated convolution and Transformer encoder are utilized to extract the features. Finally, full connection and softmax operators are applied to predict the methylation sites. The proposed model achieves an accuracy of 97.8% on the 5mC dataset, which outperforms state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, our predictor exhibits good generalization ability as it achieves an accuracy of 95.8% on the m1A dataset. To ease access for other researchers, our code is publicly available at https://github.com/sb111169/tf-5mc.