bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis Detected by Neutrophilic Crown-Like Structures in Morbidly Obese Patients: A Multicenter and Clinicopathological Study
Authors: Fan Mengqi , Song Erfei , Zhang Yuying , Zhang Pengfei , Huang Bing , Yan Kaixuan , Yang Wah , Chakrabarti Subrata , Mahajan Hema , Yan Sen , Xu Ying , Hua Shuang , Liu Wei , Wang Cunchuan , Xu Aimin , Ye Dewei
Published: April 2024

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the progressive form of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and closely associated with a high risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Although enhanced neutrophil infiltration of the liver is a histological hallmark of MASH, the morphological pattern of hepatic neutrophils and their relevance to the definition of MASH remain unknown. This clinicopathological study aimed to determine the association of neutrophilic crown-like structures (CLSs) in liver biopsies and evaluate their relevance to the histological diagnosis of MASH. A total of 483 morbidly obese adults who underwent bariatric surgery were recruited. Neutrophilic CLSs in liver biopsies were detected by immunohistochemistry for neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3. All participants were classified into 4 histological subgroups: no MASLD (118, 24.4%), MASLD (76, 15.7%), borderline MASH (185, 38.3%), and definite MASH (104, 21.5%). In the discovery cohort (
n
= 379), the frequency of neutrophilic CLSs increased in line with the severity of liver disease. The number of neutrophilic CLSs was positively correlated with established histological characteristics of MASH. At a cutoff value of <0.3 per 20× microscopic field, the number of neutrophilic CLSs yielded a robust diagnostic accuracy to discriminate no MASLD and MASLD from borderline MASH and definite MASH; a cutoff at >1.3 per 20× microscopic field exhibited a statistically significant accuracy to distinguish definite MASH from other groups (no MASLD, MASLD, and borderline MASH). The significance of neutrophilic CLSs in identifying borderline MASH and definite MASH was confirmed in an external validation cohort (
n
= 104). The frequency of neutrophilic CLSs was significantly higher than that of macrophagic CLSs. In conclusion, neutrophilic CLSs in the liver represent a typical histological characteristic of MASH and may serve as a promising indicator to improve the diagnostic accuracy of MASH during histological assessment of liver biopsies.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) Improves Cognitive Impairment and Intestinal Microecological Dysfunction Induced by High-Fat Diet in Rats
Authors: Jin Kangyu , Chen Bing , Han Shengyi , Dong Jingyi , Cheng Shangping , Qin Bin , Lu Jing
Published: April 2024

Consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) is widely recognized to cause obesity and result in chronic brain inflammation that impairs cognitive function. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown effectiveness in both weight loss and cognitive improvement, although the exact mechanism is still unknown. Our study examined the effects of rTMS on the brain and intestinal microecological dysfunction. rTMS successfully reduced cognitive decline caused by an HFD in behavioral assessments involving the Y maze and novel object recognition. This was accompanied by an increase in the number of new neurons and the transcription level of genes related to synaptic plasticity (spindlin 1, synaptophysin, and postsynaptic protein-95) in the hippocampus. It was reached that rTMS decreased the release of high mobility group box 1, activation of microglia, and inflammation in the brains of HFD rats. rTMS also reduced hypothalamic hypocretin levels and improved peripheral blood lipid metabolism. In addition, rTMS recovered the HFD-induced gut microbiome imbalances, metabolic disorders, and, in particular, reduced levels of the microvirus. Our research emphasized that rTMS enhanced cognitive abilities, resulting in positive impacts on brain inflammation, neurodegeneration, and the microbiota in the gut, indicating the potential connection between the brain and gut, proposing that rTMS could be a new approach to addressing cognitive deficits linked to obesity.
Taxonomic Studies of Diospyros (Ebenaceae) from the Malagasy Region. X. Diospyros madagascariensis, a New Combination for the Malagasy Populations Previously Included in D. ferrea
Authors: Mestre Serra Edgard , Lowry II Porter P. , Meeprom Nattanon , Rakouth Hasina N. , Linan Alexander G. , Rabarimanarivo Marina , Puglisi Carmen
Published: April 2024

The widespread and variable taxon currently recognized as Diospyros ferrea (Willd.) Bakh. is said to extend from West Africa through tropical Asia to northern Melanesia, but comparison of material from Madagascar with collections from the region where the type was collected (Southwest India) clearly shows that they represent different species. Examination of material from continental Africa and other parts of the range of D. ferrea s.l. further confirms that the Malagasy populations constitute a distinct entity endemic to this island nation, prompting us to establish the new combination D. madagascariensis (A. DC.) E. Mestre & H. N. Rakouth based on Maba madagascariensis A. DC. We summarize the main characters that distinguish D. madagascariensis from D. ferrea s. str. and provide information on its phenology, local names, and exploitation, primarily as a source of ebony wood. A risk of extinction assessment of D. madagascariensis based on the IUCN Red List criteria indicates that its status is “Least Concern.”
Evaluating Women's Economic Empowerment During COVID-19 Pandemic in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Shahrullah Rina , Syarief Elza , Nugroho Okky Chahyo , Firdaus Firdaus , Utami Penny Naluria , Sosiawan Ulang Mangun , Waluyo Djoko , Sanusi Ahmad
Published: April 2024

The factual condition resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has changed and impacted various aspects of Indonesian society. It also made women one of the vulnerable and affected groups, requiring them to face various challenges, including loss of livelihoods as family breadwinners, and gender-based violence. Outside of Java, the region with the highest number of COVID-19 cases is South Sulawesi Province, with a total of 62,672 cases. This had an economic impact on communities and families, particularly affecting women, especially domestic workers, and female heads of households. This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of government policies and programs in South Sulawesi Province regarding domestic workers and female heads of households. It directly conducted interviews with stakeholders from the government, women's organizations, and domestic workers and female heads of households. It found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted women who are heads of households and female domestic workers. The situation for women leading households worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic as they had to navigate the crisis on their own. The situation and conditions of female domestic workers during the COVID-19 pandemic were also dire. Some of them were unilaterally terminated, while others were forced to work daily at their employers' homes, risking virus transmission during their commute due to inadequate personal protective equipment. Those who were laid off by their employers faced a crisis, as they had no income, especially when their spouses, who also worked in the informal sector, stopped working simultaneously. It revealed that both the government of South Sulawesi empowered female heads of households by distributing productive business capital assistance and providing support for female SMEs to access people's business credit. However, in contrast to the reality faced by female domestic workers, this group of women did not receive any social and economic assistance from the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discover and Dream: Appreciating Women Entrepreneurs’ Innovation
Authors: Kangas Emilia , Viljamaa Anmari , Joensuu-Salo Sanna
Published: April 2024

The intersection of gender and innovation is increasingly explored in entrepreneurship research. However, the existing literature on women's entrepreneurship often focuses on challenges and gender disparities. Despite the growing participation of women entrepreneurs, barriers to their innovation persist. Previous studies highlight that gender operates as a limiting factor in innovation systems, and the overall construction of innovation carries masculine connotations. Our research seeks to delve into the personal meaning’s women entrepreneurs attribute to innovation. Specifically, we pose the question: How do women entrepreneurs conceptualise innovation? Employing Appreciative Inquiry (AI), we conducted interviews with 12 Finnish women entrepreneurs, emphasising strengths and positive aspects rather than problem-solving. The AI process included four stages: discovery, dream, design, and delivery. Each participant underwent two interview rounds, covering different stages. The analysis, conducted through discourse analysis, identified three discourses in women entrepreneurs' constructions of innovation: 1) Innovation is me, 2) Touch of something new, and 3) Vague concept. While prior research has often associated innovation with masculine traits, our results reveal a nuanced perspective. The positive approach of AI uncovered constructive views of innovation, such as the strong identity formation with innovation depicted in the discourse of "Innovation is me”. By providing rich qualitative insights, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of women entrepreneurs engaged in innovation, challenging conventional notions and highlighting positive constructions of innovation.
Criticize my Code, not me: Using AI-generated Feedback in Computer Science Teaching
Authors: Kunz Sibylle , Steffen Adrienne
Published: April 2024

Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can help teachers to tailor learning tasks for their students, combining learning objectives and storytelling to raise interest in the subject. AI-based learning task design can help to support competency-based learning, especially for girls in STEM courses like computer science, where otherwise the “Leaky STEM pipeline” (Speer 2023) leads to a constant loss of female students over school time. LLMs support many steps of the creation cycle of learning tasks. One important step is the feedback process between teachers and students during and after solving the tasks. Students need person-related as well as process-related feedback to make progress. Sometimes problems occur when teachers give feedback in a way that embarrasses or hurts the students. Especially female students often need more confirmation to make them aware of their progress, but studies show that boys demand and get more attention by teachers in this situation. This is one of the many reasons why girls lose motivation and interest in STEM courses over time. Since male and female teachers differ in expressing feedback without being aware of it, it is necessary to raise their consciousness. LLMs like ChatGPT can be used in two scenarios here. The first scenario is helping teachers to formulate objective feedback in a way that is adequate and understandable for the target group – e.g., young girls or boys - in a specific situation. The second scenario is training the teacher in a Socratic way, where the LLM simulates a student receiving the feedback and reacting to it according to established communication models like the Four Ears-model by Schulz von Thun (Schulz von Thun 1981) or Berne’s Transactional Analysis (Berne, 1964). This case study provides examples and prompting schemes for both scenarios and discusses the fragile balance between avoiding gender stereotypes in LLMs and giving more helpful and sustainable feedback for female students to foster self-esteem and competency-awareness.
"STEM in Genere”: an impact evaluation
Authors: Abbiati Giovanni Maria , Leggerini Chiara , Bannò Mariasole
Published: April 2024

Research on labour market disparities between men and women has long since identified horizontal segregation in the educational system as one of the main factors driving the gender pay gap. One of the factors identified in the literature believed to be at the heart of horizontal gender segregation is the lack of representation and visibility of women in STEM fields. In this paper, we investigate the effectiveness of a program named “STEM in Genere”, developed within the Gender Equality Plan 2022-2024 of the University of Brescia (Italy), which is aimed at contrasting the underrepresentation and the stereotypical representation of women in science among primary and lower secondary school students. Students of participant classes will meet an educator for a total of 2 hours, in which counter-stereotypical thinking of women in science will be stimulated via learning games. Teachers of participant classes will follow in parallel a dedicated workshop about non-stereotypical science teaching. The effects of the program on students' gender stereotypes in science and study/job aspirations will be evaluated via a randomised controlled trial (RCT) conducted in primary and secondary schools of the Brescia province, an affluent province located in the northern part of Italy. In particular, we will randomise classes within participating schools to have a good balance between the statistical power of the experiment and potential contamination threats. The contribution of this evaluation is threefold. First, we will collect first-hand data on students' views and aspirations in a country - Italy - in which the population traditionally holds quite conservative views about gender roles. Second, we will provide robust, experimental evidence on the effectiveness of the program “STEM in Genere”, which is potentially scalable nationwide. Lastly, we will contribute to the methodological debate about question framing in survey methodology, by randomly varying the formulation of the questions in the surveys. Policy implications for educational and learning environments will be discussed.
Transgender Men and Non-Binary Individuals’ Right to Pregnancy
Authors: Gaskarth Sebastian , Reddington Sarah
Published: April 2024

Transgender men and non-binary individuals’ rights to conceive and bear children remain unimaginable through dominant gender constructs. Social reproduction and structural violence reinforce the gender binary and restrict transgender men and non-binary individuals from exercising their right to conceive, parent, and receive proper health support. This gender expectation is reified in Canadian historical, socio-economic, and legal contexts, creating significant barriers in relation to accessing trans-reproductive healthcare. This paper brings attention to the paucity of research to understand better the rights of transmen and non-binary individuals when wanting to conceive and raise a family. It highlights the underutilization of the social work profession and their critical role to support affirmative reproductive trans healthcare.
The Soccer-Playing Unicorn – Mitigating Gender Bias in AI-Created STEM Teaching Materials
Authors: Hess Claudia , Kunz Sibylle
Published: April 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly being used in education for various purposes. In particular, AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, with their user-friendly interfaces are being explored in education to co-create teaching materials, provide advice and guidance to educators, simulate classroom scenarios, and offer personalized recommendations to students on how to study and approach subjects. With all the enthusiasm for these new opportunities, one should be aware of the risks due to potential biases in the generated content or the responses. These biases can be associated with factors such as gender, race, religion, or political orientation. As a consequence, educators who are using AI chatbots to (co-)create teaching materials need to have the knowledge and the strategies to mitigate such biases. This paper focuses on one particular type of bias, namely gender bias, and on specific disciplines, namely Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Gender bias in STEM education is particularly problematic because it may reinforce existing stereotypes about girls and women in STEM and contribute to their underrepresentation in STEM fields. To raise awareness of these risks of gender bias in AI-co-created STEM teaching materials, this paper identifies risks of gender bias by analysing potential usage patterns of AI chatbots by educators when creating teaching materials. An example of such a risk is if the AI chatbot generates educational materials that primarily portray men as STEM professionals and underrepresent women. This would exacerbate the lack of female role models in STEM. Therefore, strategies are developed that educators can apply to mitigate these risks. These strategies will be demonstrated using practical examples. This will allow them to break the vicious cycle of perpetuating stereotypes in STEM education. In addition, these examples demonstrate how AI chatbots can be used to make STEM education more inclusive, which may include co-creating educational materials tailored to individual interests and learning styles.
Adapting Organizational Inclusivity Through Empowering Gender-Diversity
Authors: Nguyen Colton
Published: April 2024

With an increasingly diverse workforce, organizational efficiency needs to consider the measurement of sustainability through the empowerment of social identities. When organizational leaders intentionally foster a culture that values their gender-diverse stakeholders, organizational efficiency increases. This article reviews how organizational leaders are able to increase their productivity, efficiency and overall organizational sustainability through adapting to inclusive practices. Sharma (2019) notes that initiatives to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion can significantly enhance a company's performance, resonating particularly with newer generations of employees who seek meaning and purpose in their work.  The organization’s environment has the opportunity to facilitate a stronger stakeholder-focused culture which emphasizes inclusivity. Through the evaluation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity principles as well as analyzing the intersectionality of Gender-Diversity, this article highlights how organizational inclusivity must empower its stakeholders. Social Identity Theory presents how individuals are able to thrive through their authenticity. This leads to workplace leaders being presented with the organizational need of adapting to include equitable practices for inclusivity. As social identity is a prevalent part of employee’s psychological-safety, organizations need to measure their efficiency through efforts of inclusivity. Workplaces must value the psychological-safety of all of its stakeholders in order to thrive as an entire organization (Frazier et al.,2017). Current research demonstrates the need for organizations to practice alignment of stakeholders and collaboration for productivity (Zhenjing et al., 2022). However, the gap in current research presents that gender identity is not currently considered as a social identity that needs inclusivity efforts in the workplace. When organizations adapt their practices to enable all stakeholders to thrive through inclusive efforts, overall organizational efficiency increases. Stringer (1999) discusses how the facilitation and implementation of change as part of action research projects can help create systemic changes. This type of change to the systems of the workplace through equitable practices for gender-diversity would create change for future generations in the workplace.
Exploration of Girls’ Role Models: Are there Female STEM Role Models in Sight?
Authors: Steffen Adrienne , Hess Claudia
Published: April 2024

This study explores the presence and impact of female role models in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) education due to the underrepresentation of girls in STEM fields. The objective is to assess girls’ role models, particularly the role they play in their interest and in a career choice in STEM.A survey was distributed through an online panel and 546 valid answers from girls aged 14-20 in Germany were received. The analysis links to social cognitive theory and revealed that immediate family members (50,1%), musicians, actors and artists (12,4%), and media influencers (9,6%) were the top role model categories. Male role models dominated in teachers, entrepreneurs, and friends, while female role models were prominent in the family category. Female scientists and entrepreneurs who could serve as STEM role models, were found to be underrepresented. The study also showed that girls with STEM occupational role models in their immediate surroundings were more likely to have an interest in STEM subjects.
Diversity and inclusion in the South African telecommunications industry: An LGBTQIA+ employee perspective
Authors: Sibande Xolile , Gobind Jenika
Published: April 2024

Despite improvements globally in actions and campaigns supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who belong to the community continue to face immense backlash and challenges in their lives for their choices and beliefs. In Africa, there are still over 30 countries that criminalise acts of homosexuality. People who identify as LGBTQIA+ often face discrimination, harassment, and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender in social and workplace settings.  This study aimed to understand the experiences of employees who align with the LGBTQIA+ community and how they navigate diversity and inclusion in the workplace. While examining whether organisational culture may enable the seamless reasonable accommodation and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ employees in the workplace. The study focused on one sector at this time to further understand if the South African telecommunications industry is embracing diversity, equity and inclusion of employees who identify as LGBTQIA+. The two theories which guided the study were the queer theory and institutional theory. These theories assisted in providing a greater understanding of the concepts and phenomena studied. Providing a lens that enabled an understanding of how an individual’s unique experiences in the workplace may be perceived, as a deterrence for inclusion. Following a mixed qualitative methodology, data was gathered using a two-phase approach. The first phase entailed purposively selecting eight participants who engaged in a reflective diary. The second phase involved a set of interviews with fifteen participants. Data gathered from both phases were coded and thematically analysed enabling a triangulation of findings. Which revealed that diversity and inclusion measures are unmet. Employees who identify, as belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community are challenged each day with many resigning in an attempt to escape discrimination, harassment, and abuse. Participant's commitment to continue with the diary study for fear of being identified as the first limitation. The second limitation was the industry's reluctance to share their insights. Trust had to be built to continue with the research process. Recommendation for further research in this area and for studies to include other sectors with larger samples.
Attitudes Toward Gender Quota Legislation on TMT-level Positions
Authors: Oladottir Asta Dis , Christiansen Thora H , Gylfason Haukur Freyr , Benediktsson Haukur C.
Published: April 2024

In 2010, Iceland became the second country in the world after Norway to enact a minimum 40% gender quota for corporate boards. The legislation did not pass without resistance, and concerns were voiced that gender quotas undermined competitiveness and merit-based selection. The legislation had the effect of improving the gender imbalance on corporate boards. Nevertheless, the expected trickle-down effect on the top management team (TMT) level has not materialized; women face apparent exclusion from senior executive positions, and men hold 22 out of 26 CEO positions at listed companies. Women hold 31.6% of TMT-level positions in listed companies, and women business leaders in Iceland have started calling for a gender quota on TMT-level positions. This study aims to measure public attitudes toward interventions to close the gender gap and ensure equal opportunities for men and women to reach top management positions. The study focuses on attitudes toward gender quota legislation on TMT-level positions, with a requirement of at least 40/60% gender balance, identified in qualitative interview studies with board members representing all listed companies in Iceland. We find gender differences in the attitudes toward the TMT-level quota in conjunction with beliefs about equal opportunities for men and women to be hired as CEOs, beliefs about the effect of gender quota legislation on merit-based hiring, and beliefs about the rate of progress toward gender balance. The study contributes to the literature on closing the gender gap by exploring public attitudes toward a legislative intervention that has not been the focus of research so far.
Barriers to Women Professionals’ Career Growth during Covid-19 in India
Authors: Chaudhari Sushama , Inamdar Shivani
Published: April 2024

The slow advancement of women in their workplaces remains a social concern for corporates and industry experts across the globe (International Labour Organisation Report, 2018). During the covid-19 pandemic, the advancement of women got significantly impacted owing to the increased burden of domestic responsibilities and other personal challenges. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy Report (2021), women in India were seven times more likely to lose their jobs during the pandemic and eleven times more likely to not return to work after the job loss. With the Covid-19 pandemic on the rise and spreading, companies were forced to redesign their work systems, initiate and adopt a remote-work setup option. While, a majority of companies continue with the hybrid model, some companies are slowly eliminating it and returning to the regular office norms as before. This change is likely to impact women, especially the working mothers, owing to the uneven distribution of child-care responsibilities, domestic work, etc. Additionally, conventional barriers such as discriminatory practices, mentoring, networking challenges and role conflicts are expected to persist or rather increase in the changed-working models – be it the hybrid, remote, or completely offline system. The present study focuses on identifying the constraints faced by the Indian women striving against the current for their career advancements, both during the Covid-19 pandemic disruption phase and post-pandemic scenario. The insights from the study will be helpful to gain a cumulative understanding about the challenges faced by women owing to the emerging work system and in addressing the future concerns more systematically.
Pedagogical Strategies for Female Students in IT Disciplines to Promote Gender Equality: The Case of Five European Universities
Authors: T. Pereira Elisabeth , Vukičević Ana , Urem Frane , Gomes Diogo
Published: April 2024

Once Female students in Informatics and Technology (IT) and Computer Science degrees at European higher education institutions, in the 21st century, represent a smaller percentage compared with male students, this paper investigates the main reasons that may explain this fact, as well as presents new pedagogical strategies for female students in IT courses. These strategies derive from understanding stereotypes, perceptions, cultural implications, and propositions for inclusive IT education; and are relevant for supporting IT students’ equality and success. Further, good lecturing in general together with positive reinforcement with students lays a crucial foundation for supporting all students in IT. The present research was developed in five European universities: Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, and Portugal. Starting from a literature review on the topic was developed a questionnaire that was applied to a sample of IT students in these five universities. The results were analyzed to define some new pedagogical strategies. These allowed us to conclude about the main reasons for the decision of female students to choose to study IT programs and higher education institutions develop pedagogical strategies more adequate and more attractive to female students, as well as to contribute to increased employability and successful integration in the labor market.
The Precarious Existence of Jane Austen’s Charlotte Lucas Across Time and Text
Authors: Baksi Yalcin Olgahan
Published: April 2024

Rewritings of Jane Austen’s works are produced following particular literary conventions, philosophies, creative imaginations, and interpretations, which present new readers with fresh stories featuring distinct images. The journey of her works across centuries and continents, as well as their presence in such disparate cultures and historical periods, may well attest to the similarities as well as the important differences among various peoples across the world, despite the social, cultural, and ideological differences between countries. In the American author Seth Grahame-Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2009), a mash-up of nineteenth-century author Jane Austen’s still-popular novel, Charlotte Lucas is indisputably in a difficult situation, not only because of the socio-economic realities of her precarious existence in the novel but also because of the zombie bite she receives. Although Charlotte’s decision to marry Mr. Collins is justified, the mash-up version of the novel still turns her into a zombie, as if indicating a punishment for her marriage to Mr. Collins. However, in his movie adaptation, Pride and Prejudice + Zombies (2016), the American director Burr Steers lets Charlotte survive and remain contentedly married to Mr. Collins, although she is still presented as a vulnerable figure without combat skills who needs the protection of both her husband and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. By following Linda Hutcheon’s adaptation theory, particularly the process of “appropriation and salvaging” (2006), this paper aims to explore the representation of Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its film adaptation, Pride and Prejudice + Zombies, thereby contributing to the field of adaptation studies with a gender focus.
Gender Equality in ASDC: Unravelling Societal Challenge in Educational Attainment and Economic Empowerment, Inheritance Access, and Workplace Dynamics in Malaysia.
Authors: Othman Norashiken , Abdullah Ummi Noor Nazahiah , Abdullah Nazmin , K Ganesan Gogulasanti , Bakar@Samad Roshidi
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the nuanced intersectionality of gender equality within the context of Autism Spectrum Disorder Condition (ASDC) individuals. Contrary to Feminism, which advocates for gender equality and women's rights. While existing research has predominantly focused on the clinical aspects of ASDC, this study delves into the educational attainment and economic empowerment, inheritance access and workplace dynamics that impact individuals with ASDC, with a particular emphasis on gender-related disparities. The research encompasses ASDC in-depth analysis of access to resources, including property, inheritance, workplace, and sources of income, evaluating the extent to which individuals with ASDC, particularly women, face barriers in obtaining and managing. This study integrates a qualitative insight from ASDC, their families, teachers, and relevant stakeholders. 50 participants of ASDC individuals aged 14 to 57 years old contributed to the study and only 17 participants were selected for structural interview sessions. The study aims to contribute valuable perspectives to the existing literature on gender equality by unravelling the multifaceted challenges faced by women with ASDC in various societal domains. Finding underscore the critical need for targeted educational programs, innovative employment models, and curriculum adaptation within the Malaysian TVET program to enhance employability and independence for ASDC women. The study advocates for a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to remove systemic barriers and promote gender equality, emphasizing the potential of women with ASDC as agents of change in their communities.
Gender Bias in Succession in Family Companies: Theoretical Analysis With Application to a Portuguese Region
Authors: Tomé Eduardo , Gromova Elizaveta , Campos José
Published: April 2024

In this paper we analyse the problematic of succession in family businesses, and we specifically address the situation of women within that process. The problem is important because, in one hand. family business are among the most prevalent in the economy, and because, in the other hand laws, and rules define gender equality as a very important social rule. We first make a literature review on the topic using the SCOPUS database, and after we detail the results of study made in the Portuguese region of Madeira Island. We conclude that, rather surprisingly, women are discriminated in succession, and this reality has been described in theory and in same empirical studies, and is confirmed, sadly, in our study about Madeira Island. The implications of these results should be great – it is of no use having all the laws published if they are not enforced and women are still harmed and discriminated in such an important social matter. The limitation of this study is that the sample we use in the study is small, but we would underline that the findings of our study are very much aligned with previous ideas. It seems that the old fashioned sexism so well described by Beauvoir in the middle of last century (Beauvoir, 1949) is still a fact. With those results we wonder if that sexism, culturally ignited and learnt as it, can be eliminated. Finally the paper is original because we first make a literature review and then present a case study that illustrates this theory.
The Future of Women in Technology : Challenges and Recommendations
Authors: Oldfield Dr Marie
Published: April 2024

When only women turn up to a panel on challenges for women in technology, how do we then reach out to industry, academia and government to encourage them to listen to the current challenges experienced by women in tech. Technology is rapidly changing and we are seeing women disadvantaged by less training opportunities, lack of role models, perceived penalties for taking time off to have children or discharge caring responsibilities as well as the risk that their jobs are subject to more automation. Multiple workshops at the Institute of Science and Technology highlighted significant challenges for women in tech, the data from our empirical study illustrates these challenges in detail. With the workplace still male dominated and the landscape changing rapidly, women have a significant role to play and we need to ensure that role is not only facilitated but the existing challenges are mitigated. This is a discussion paper with empirical data that illustrates challenges currently experienced by women in tech and how we can move forward to ensure not only equal opportunity but remove some of the challenges currently experienced. In this paper we have not considered the same impact on men who take career breaks for reasons of caring responsibilities.
The Education Impact on the Innovativeness of Female Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Pereira Elisabeth T. , Manzo Martina
Published: April 2024

The women's education and its potential impact on entrepreneurship and innovation represent a growing interest in socioeconomic academic research (Paoloni and Manzo, 2023; Pereira, 2020; Bishu and Alkandry, 2017). The present paper makes a systematic literature review based on the topic of Gendered Education and Innovation in female entrepreneurship, considering the evolution over almost the last two decades and the current state of the art. The study is based on the Scopus database. It examines articles, books, and indexed conference proceedings that have focused on the influence of women's education on their entrepreneurial journey and innovative capabilities. The studies having in Abstract, Title, or Keywords "education " AND " innovation " AND " entrepreneur* " OR "enterprise*" AND "gender" are 257. Source types, year of publication, field of research, source title, keywords, country/territory, and language classify studies. After this, the most cited studies were analyzed to answer the RQs. The studies reviewed show a positive correlation between women's level of education and the likelihood of engaging in entrepreneurial activities. Education provides technical and managerial skills, boosts self-confidence and expands networking, facilitating access to resources and opportunities (de las Mercedes Barrachina Fernández et al., 2021; Gupta et al., 2009). From a theoretical point of view, the research contributes to gender studies about female entrepreneurship, focusing on the relationship between education and innovation. Analyzing how education influences women's entrepreneurship can help identify and address educational and socio-cultural barriers that limit women's access to entrepreneurship and active participation in innovation. From a managerial perspective, the results of such research can inform public policy, guiding government and organizational efforts in promoting specific educational programs that encourage women's entrepreneurship and innovativeness. Promoting women's innovativeness and entrepreneurship can contribute to overall economic development, as greater inclusion of women in the business landscape can lead to increased diversity, competitiveness and innovation (Minniti and Nardone, 2007; Morton et al., 2016; Pereira, 2019; Pereira and Salaris, 2019; ).
Comparison of MongoDB, Neo4j and ArangoDB databases using the developed data generator for NoSQL databases
Authors: Zaniewicz Norbert , Salamończyk Andrzej
Published: April 2024

NoSQL databases are gaining more and more popularity and are an important alternative to relational databases. Examples of such databases are Neo4j, MongoDB and ArangoDB. These databases are described in this article, compared with each other, and the performance results for adding an object to the database, deleting an object, searching and populating the database are presented. Results show that the fastest database is MongoDB, except for one measurement of removal.
Correction of the parametric model of the Day-Ahead Market system using the Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Marlęga Radosław
Published: April 2024

The paper shows that it is possible to correct the identification model of the Day-Ahead Market system by employing the Perceptron Artificial Neural Network. First, a simulation model of the DAM system at the POLPX has been built, and then it has been shown how the model can be corrected so that the weighted average electricity prices obtained are close enough to the exchange-quoted ones. Next, simulation, comparative and sensitivity studies of the model were carried out for forecast data for four characteristic hours: 6, 12, 18, and 24 of the following year. Many interesting research results were obtained, including a result of sensitivity testing it was shown that the obtained models can be used in forecasting studies.
Optimizing the placement of BLE transmitters for Indoor Positioning Systems
Authors: Pilski Marek , Aleksandrowicz Mateusz
Published: April 2024

The article presents the results of experimental research related to the optimization of the placement of BLE transmitters (beacons) inside rooms in order to locate the user. The experiments were carried out to check how far BLE transmitters can be moved away from each other so that the average localization error was at a level acceptable to the user. The value of the localization error was assumed based on the literature (less than 1 m). As a result of the conducted experiments, a mathematical formula was defined to calculate the required number of BLE transmitters for the exact location inside the rooms. The experiments used BLE transmitters, rooms inside the building of Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities and a mobile application with a database. In the study of the optimization of the placement of beacons, the fingerprint technique was used.
Selected issues of threat management in cyberspace
Authors: Barczak Andrzej , Barczak Michał
Published: April 2024

The paper describes the cyber threat management system. Three essential components of such a system are presented. With reference to such documents as ISO 2700, the NIST Cyber Security Framework, U.S. presidential executive orders, European Union regulations or STIX and TAXIS standards, norms, legal and standards regulations for managing cyber threats are described. The cyber threat management model is presented. Kill Chain and MITRE ATT&CK threat description methods are presented. A toolkit to support various stages of the cyber threat management process is also described.
Analysis of a web application supporting gym management in terms of control and systems theory
Authors: Tchórzewski Jerzy , Nabiałek Wojciech , Księżopolski Artur
Published: April 2024

An analysis of the web application supporting the management of the gym was carried out, which was designed in terms of the theory of control and systems. The obtained results of measurements of input and output quantities of selected subsystems were used to carry out the identification, as a result of which models of web application subsystems were obtained. On the basis of the obtained subsystem models, appropriate models were then designed in Simulink for the purposes of simulation and comparative studies of the behavior of subsystem models in relation to real systems that are web applications, including an appropriate analysis of the web application system model was carried out under the name of the gym on its selected subsystems, including in particular the subsystem called Generating a diet. In addition, testing and simulation studies were carried out to check the correct functioning of the web application management system model and the introduction of appropriate changes to the model was proposed, and the obtained research results were discussed, indicating the high accuracy of the obtained web application models.
The VR Therapy platform for social anxiety treatment
Authors: Bartyna Waldemar , Stępniak Marcin
Published: April 2024

During the period of online learning related to the pandemic situation, a cooperation was established between the Institute of Computer Science and the Institute of Pedagogy at Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities to create a therapeutic environment in virtual reality for the treatment of social anxiety or shyness. Anxiety disorders are classified as the most common mental disorder in children and adolescents, their prevalence is estimated at 2-10 percent of the population. The phenomenon hasincreased due to the pandemic situation. The aim of the project is to develop a low-cost and user-friendly technological solution using virtual reality and biofeedback elements for social anxiety therapy, dedicated to children and adolescents aged 12 to 19.
An indoor campus navigation system for users with disabilities
Authors: Pilski Marek , Mikułowski Dariusz , Terlikowski Grzegorz
Published: April 2024

While supporting navigation outside buildings is currentlywell solved through GPS-based systems, only a few solutions support indoor navigation and user positioning in large buildings. In this paper, we propose a solution to support such navigation by creating a dedicated hierarchical map of the building and associating it with the infrastructure of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) transmitters installed in the building. Then a user equipped with a smartphone can easily read the signals of these transmitters and, thanks to the map, can determine their position in space.We use our method in a system that supports navigation and user safety, emphasizing users with special needs, which we are implementing on our academic campus. We describe the idea, architecture, and implementation of this system.
Selection of the programming environment for neural modelling of the power and electricity demand generation systems in terms of unmanned factories
Authors: Tchórzewski Jerzy , Rosochacki Sebastian
Published: April 2024

The work concerns the selection of the programming language and environment for the needs of neural modeling of the power and electricity demand generation system in terms of uninhabited factories. Therefore, the main goal of the conducted research is to obtain the best possible Artificial Neural Network, i.e. to teach it a model of a real system, which is a system for generating demand for power and electricity based on numerical data on parts of the power system operation in terms of uninhabited factories. The learning capabilities of artificial neural networks were checked by comparing the MSE error and the Regression Index R2. In each of the examined programming languages and related programming environments, i.e. Matlab, Python and Wolfram, an Artificial Neural Network with the same structure and properties was designed and implemented, i.e. with the same number of input and output neurons, the number of hidden layers and the number of neurons in them, the activation function of neurons and the learning method. In addition to the ANN training of the system model, testing and validation as well as comparative studies were carried out.
A DDD-Analysis of Antibiotic Therapy in a Multidisciplinary Hospital During a COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Кенденков О.И. , Гавриленко Л.Н.
Published: April 2024

Пандемия COVID-19 внесла изменения в потребление антибактериальных препаратов в стационаре в сторону существенного увеличения их натурального количества за счет увеличения разовых дох и количества пациентов, которым данные препараты назначались. Максимальный прирост дала группа резервных антибактериальных препаратов, а именно меропенем, дорипенем, имипенем/циластатин, эртапенем, колистин, а также ванкомицин и тейкопланин. Это связано с указаниями по ведению осложнений COVID-19-инфекции во временных рекомендациях Министерства здравоохранения Республики Беларусь и неизбежным ростом вентилятор-ассоциированных осложнений на фоне тяжелых ковид-инфекций, а также с широким использованием агрессивной антибактериальной терапии. Частое использование резервных антибактериальных препаратов в стационарах во время пандемии COVID-19 вызывает обоснованные опасения касательно глобального влияния на рост устойчивости к антибиотикам. Это подчеркивает необходимость разработки и внедрения стратегий, нацеленных на разумное применение данных препаратов.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the consumption of antibacterial drugs in the hospital in the direction of a significant increase in their natural quantity due to an increase in single doses and the number of patients, to whom these drugs were prescribed. The maximum increase was given by the group of reserve antibacterial drugs, namely meropenem, doripenem, imipenem/cilastatin, ertapenem, colistin, as well as vancomycin and teicoplanin. This is due to the guidelines on the management of complications of COVID-19 infection in the temporary recommendations of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and the inevitable growth of ventilator-associated complications on the background of severe COVID-19 infection, and as well as with the widespread use of aggressive antibiotic therapy. Frequent use of back-up antibacterial drugs in hospitals during the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic raises legitimate concerns about the global impact on the rise of antibiotic resistance. This emphasizes the need to develop and implementation of strategies aimed at the judicious use of these drugs.