bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service-Learning and Digital Empowerment: The Potential for the Digital Education Transition in Higher Education
Authors: Aramburuzabala Pilar , Culcasi Irene , Cerrillo Rosario
Published: March 2024

In an era driven by technology and connectivity, where the sphere of learning goes beyond conventional classrooms, virtual service-learning merges the possibilities of technology with the principles of experiential education in a powerful blend. Service-learning (SL) is an educational proposal that has been recognized by UNESCO as an innovative educational tool through which to address the complex challenges of our society. The Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework around which to structure the SL projects and thus develop the skills needed to act on the full range of goals. Embedding digital service-learning means opening a debate on the intricate relationship between technology, education, and societal impact. This study aims to explore the perspectives of students, faculty and community partners on the combination of SL and digital empowerment (DE) under the sustainability education principles. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Data were gathered through two focus groups involving faculty, students and community partners. The focus group participants discussed the opportunities for innovation, the expected impact on them and on society as a whole, their needs, the pre-conditions for making SL and DE successful, and limitations or undesirable outcomes. The results are presented according to the six principles of sustainability education in the university environment, highlighting the transformative potential of combining these principles within SL and DE.
Unveiling the Impacts of Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance Disclosure
Authors: Binh Nguyen Thi Thanh , Lee Hung-Chang
Published: March 2024

Amidst heightened scrutiny of corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, this study employs threshold techniques combined with artificial neural networks to examine the impact of ESG disclosure on companies, emphasizing its pivotal role in promoting sustainability. Analyzing data from Taiwan’s 20 industries from 2012 to 2022, it finds that while ESG engagement positively influences financial performance, it also underscores the vital connection between corporate practices and sustainable development. This analysis explores the relationship between carbon emissions, operating expenses, and financial performance in the overall sample and a threshold sample based on a threshold variable. In the overall sample, carbon emissions significantly increase operating expenses, accompanied by other influential variables. Introducing a threshold value of firm size alters the dynamics, showing a positive and more pronounced impact in the threshold sample. The examination of financial performance metrics reveals significant positive associations with carbon emissions, particularly when the threshold is not met or exceeded. Intriguingly, subgroup analysis indicates a negative association between carbon emissions and financial performance within the larger-size subgroup, in stark contrast to a more pronounced positive relationship observed in the smaller-size subgroup. Furthermore, the developed ANN model exhibits robust learning capabilities, underscoring its efficacy in capturing complex patterns within the data. It suggests its potential as a reliable tool for accurately predicting carbon emissions across diverse scenarios, facilitating informed decision-making and policy formulation to mitigate environmental impact.
Enhancing Competitiveness through Strategic Knowledge Sharing as a Driver of Innovation Capability and Performance
Authors: Yuen Simon S. M. , Lam H. Y.
Published: March 2024

In an era marked by global challenges, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic, the pharmaceutical sector stands at the forefront of innovation, tasked with delivering therapeutic breakthroughs at an unprecedented pace. This study ventures beyond the well-trodden path by probing the intricate dynamics of knowledge sharing as a strategic catalyst for bolstering innovation capability and performance (ICP) within pharmaceutical firms. We argue that knowledge sharing transcends conventional utility, acting as a pivotal lever that amplifies innovation within a highly regulated and competitive landscape. Through meticulous analysis, we unearth a nuanced synergy among six pivotal domains—organizational culture, managerial commitment, technological infrastructure, trust, reciprocal benefits, and knowledge dissemination. Our research model, anchored in a robust body of literature, reveals that while these elements individually support ICP, their collective orchestration through knowledge-sharing networks yields a magnified impact on innovation outcomes. We present novel insights illustrating that the interplay between these domains and knowledge-sharing practices engenders a fertile ecosystem for innovation, where diverse stakeholders contribute to richer, more robust ICP. Our findings underscore the strategic imperative for pharmaceutical firms to cultivate an integrated knowledge-sharing culture, not merely as good practice but as a cornerstone for sustained innovation and competitive superiority in a rapidly evolving industry.
Unraveling the Mystery of Water-Induced Loess Disintegration: A Comprehensive Review of Experimental Research
Authors: Chen Yinfu , Li Peiyue , Wang Yuanhang , Li Jiahui
Published: March 2024

Loess disintegration is a significant physicochemical and mechanical dissolution process that occurs when loess comes into contact with water. This phenomenon contributes to geological disasters such as loess cave erosion, landslides, and debris flows. The disintegration of loess can be influenced by both internal and external factors. Research on internal factors of loess disintegration has been widely recorded, but the research progress on external environmental factors that affect loess disintegration is not well summarized. This review summarizes the impacts of external water environmental factors on loess disintegration and reveals that six external water environmental factors, namely the temperature of the aqueous solution, hydrodynamic conditions, solution pH, salt concentration and type in the solution, freeze–thaw cycles, and dry–wet cycles, can significantly impact loess disintegration. Furthermore, this review delves into three key research areas in loess disintegration under the influence of these water environmental factors: experimental research on loess disintegration, the disintegration parameters used in such research and their variations, and the water–soil chemical reactions and microstructural changes during loess disintegration. It concludes that current experimental research on loess disintegration suffers from inadequate studies, with existing research associated with poor comparability and weak representativeness, and a lack of comprehensive, systematic analysis of its regularities of influence and response mechanisms from both microscopic and macroscopic perspectives. This paper can provide valuable insights for the prevention of loess geological disasters and engineering safety construction.
Research on the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Railway Architectural Heritages Based on Heritage Database—Taking the Jinqin Section of the Peking–Mukden Railway as an Example
Authors: Liu Fuying , Lu Zuliang , Wang Yuan
Published: March 2024

This research analyzes the development and evolution of the Jinqin section of Peking–Mukden railway. Based on defining the scope of the study, the project to make “The List of Architectural Heritage of Jinqin section in Peking–Mukden Railway” is proposed. Data acquisition, data processing, and heritage information visualization are completed after the survey. ArcGIS was applied to build the database, which was used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution. The following conclusions were obtained after analyzing spatial distribution characteristics, spatial agglomeration, and spatial equilibrium: ① The overall spatial distribution of architectural heritage is characterized by significant “cohesion”, while the three major categories of heritage in three time sections show obvious spatial distribution direction. ② The integral architectural heritage is characterized by an agglomeration pattern of six points connected by railway. ③ Both the integral heritage and the three major categories have a large gap in distribution, a low degree of balance, and a high degree of agglomeration. The research can support the study of regional protection strategy and sustainable use of railway architectural heritage.
A Low-Latency Noise-Aware Tone Mapping Operator for Hardware Implementation with a Locally Weighted Guided Filter
Authors: Liang Qianwang , Yan Tianyu , Wang Nan , Zhu Zhiying , Ye Jiongyao
Published: March 2024

A tone mapping operator (TMO) is a module in the image signal processing pipeline that is used to convert high dynamic range images to low dynamic range images for display. Currently, state-of-the-art TMOs typically take complex algorithms and are implemented on graphics processing units, making it difficult to run with low latency on edge devices, and TMOs implemented in hardware circuits often lack additional noise suppression because of latency and hardware resource constraints. To address these issues, we proposed a low-latency noise-aware TMO for hardware implementation. Firstly, a locally weighted guided filter is proposed to decompose the luminance image into a base layer and a detail layer, with the weight function symmetric concerning the central pixel value of a window. Secondly, the mean and standard deviation of the basic layer and the detail layer are used to estimate the noise visibility according to the human visual characteristics. Finally, the gain for the detail layer is calculated to achieve adaptive noise suppression. In this process, luminance is first processed by the log2 function before being filtered and then symmetrically converted back to the linear domain by the exp2 function after compression. Meanwhile, the algorithms within the proposed TMO were optimized for hardware implementation to minimize latency and cache, achieving a low latency of 60.32 μs under video specification of 1080 P at 60 frames per second and objective metric smoothness in dark flat regions could be improved by more than 10% compared to similar methods.
Red Orange and Lemon Extract Ameliorates the Renal Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Ochratoxin A through the Modulation of Nrf2
Authors: Longobardi Consiglia , Damiano Sara , Fabroni Simona , Montagnaro Serena , Russo Valeria , Vaccaro Emanuela , Giordano Antonio , Florio Salvatore , Ciarcia Roberto
Published: March 2024

Background: The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in food and feed is a public health concern. OTA intoxication is caused by several mechanisms, one of which consists of the alteration of the antioxidant activity of the cell due to the oxidative stress (OS). In this context, the use of natural antioxidant substances could be a potential biological decontamination method of mitigating the negative outcomes induced by OTA. Methods: we aimed to investigate how a red orange and lemon extract (RLE), rich in anthocyanins, would affect OTA-treated rats. The current work sought to clarify the renal protective efficacy of RLE in an OTA-treated rat model (RLE (90 mg/kg b.w.); OTA (0.5 mg/kg b.w.)) by investigating, thorough Western blot analysis, the involvement of the Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. The OS parameters and inflammatory status were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The inflammatory infiltrates in the kidney were evaluated by immunohistochemical assays. Results and Conclusion: Our findings showed a significant increase in oxidative and inflammatory parameters after OTA exposure, while the OTA + RLE co-treatment counteracted both the inflammatory and OS damage through the modulation of the Nrf2 pathway.
Comparative Analysis of Cytomegalovirus Gastrointestinal Disease in Immunocompetent and Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Yeh Pai-Jui , Wu Ren-Chin , Tsou Yung-Kuan , Chen Chien-Ming , Chiu Cheng-Tang , Chen Chien-Chang , Lai Ming-Wei , Pan Yu-Bin , Le Puo-Hsien
Published: March 2024

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gastrointestinal (GI) diseases impact both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals, yet comprehensive studies highlighting the differences between these groups are lacking. Methods: In this retrospective study (January 2000 to July 2022) of 401 patients with confirmed CMV GI diseases, we categorized them based on immunological status and compared manifestations, treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors. Results: The immunocompromised patients (n = 193) showed older age, severe illnesses, and higher comorbidity rates. GI bleeding, the predominant manifestation, occurred more in the immunocompetent group (92.6% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.009). Despite longer antiviral therapy, the immunocompromised patients had higher in-hospital (32.2% vs. 18.9%, p = 0.034) and overall mortality rates (91.1% vs. 43.4%, p < 0.001). The independent factors influencing in-hospital mortality in the immunocompromised patients included GI bleeding (OR 5.782, 95% CI 1.257–26.599, p = 0.024) and antiviral therapy ≥ 14 days (OR 0.232, 95% CI 0.059–0.911, p = 0.036). In the immunocompetent patients, age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.006–1.159, p = 0.032), GI bleeding (OR 10.036, 95% CI 1.183–85.133, p = 0.035), and time to diagnosis (OR 1.029, 95% CI 1.004–1.055, p = 0.021) were significant prognostic factors, with the age and diagnosis time cut-offs for survival being 70 years and 31.5 days, respectively. Conclusions: GI bleeding is the most common manifestation and prognostic factor in both groups. Early diagnosis and effective antiviral therapy can significantly reduce in-hospital mortality.
Clinical Manifestations of Infections with the Omicron Sub-Lineages BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5: A Retrospective Follow-Up Analysis of Public Health Data from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany
Authors: Goller Katja Verena , Ziemann Janine , Kohler Christian , Becker Karsten , Hübner Nils-Olaf ,   on behalf of the CoMV-Gen Study Group
Published: March 2024

The Omicron variants BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5 caused several waves of SARS-CoV-2 in Germany in 2022. In this comparative study, public health data on SARS-CoV-2 infections from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, between January and October 2022 were examined retrospectively using Pearson’s chi-squared tests and Fisher’s exact tests for testing for statistical significance. Compared to BA.5 infections, BA.1 and BA.2 infections affected younger individuals aged up to 19 years significantly more often, whereas BA.5 infections occurred significantly more frequently in patients between 40 and 59 years of age when compared to BA.1 and BA.2. Infections with all three variants predominantly caused flu-like symptoms; nevertheless, there were significant differences between the reported symptoms of BA.1, BA.2, and BA.5 infections. Especially, the symptoms of ‘fever’, ‘severe feeling of sickness’, ‘loss of taste’, and ‘loss of smell’ were significantly more often present in patients with BA.5 infections compared to BA.1 and BA.2 cases. Additionally, BA.2 and BA.5 cases reported significantly more often the symptoms of ‘runny nose’ and ‘cough’ than BA.1-infected cases. Our findings indicate remarkable differences in the clinical presentations among the sub-lineages, especially in BA.5 infections. Furthermore, the study demonstrates a powerful tool to link epidemiological data with genetic data in order to investigate their potential impact on public health.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Babesia bigemina Attenuated Vaccine and Virulent Strains of Mexican Origin
Authors: Santamaria Rebeca M. , Estrada Karel , López María E. , Rojas Edith , Martínez Grecia , Alcalá Yazmín , Rojas Carmen , Álvarez Jesús Antonio , Lira José J. , Santamaria Tomás V. , Sánchez-Flores Alejandro , Figueroa Julio V.
Published: March 2024

Bovine babesiosis, caused by the protozoan Babesia bigemina, is one of the most important hemoparasite diseases of cattle in Mexico and the world. An attenuated B. bigemina strain maintained under in vitro culture conditions has been used as a live attenuated vaccine; however, the biological mechanisms involved in attenuation are unknown. The objective of this study was to identify, through a comparative transcriptomics approach, the components of the B. bigemina virulent parasites that are differentially expressed in vivo, as opposed to those expressed by B. bigemina attenuated vaccine parasites when inoculated into naïve cattle. The biological material under study was obtained by inoculating spleen-intact cattle with infected erythrocytes containing either the attenuated strain or a virulent field strain. After RNA extraction, transcriptomic analysis (RNA-seq) was performed, followed by bioinformatic Differential Expression (DE) analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment. The high-throughput sequencing results obtained by analyzing three biological replicates for each parasite strain ranged from 9,504,000 to 9,656,000, and 13,400,000 to 15,750,000 reads for the B. bigemina attenuated and virulent strains, respectively. At least 519 differentially expressed genes were identified in the analyzed strains. In addition, GO analysis revealed both similarities and differences across the three categories: cellular components, biological processes, and molecular functions. The attenuated strain of B. bigemina derived from in vitro culture presents global transcriptomic changes when compared to the virulent strain. Moreover, the obtained data provide insights into the potential molecular mechanisms associated with the attenuation or pathogenicity of each analyzed strain, offering molecular markers that might be associated with virulence or potential vaccine candidates.
Immunization with centrin-Deficient Leishmania braziliensis Does Not Protect against Homologous Challenge
Authors: Avendaño-Rangel Francys , Agra-Duarte Gabriela , Borba Pedro B. , Moitinho Valdomiro , Avila Leslye T. , da Silva Larissa O. , Viana Sayonara M. , Sharma Rohit , Gannavaram Sreenivas , Nakhasi Hira L. , de Oliveira Camila I.
Published: March 2024

Immunization with various Leishmania species lacking centrin induces robust immunity against a homologous and heterologous virulent challenge, making centrin mutants a putative candidate for a leishmaniasis vaccine. Centrin is a calcium-binding cytoskeletal protein involved in centrosome duplication in higher eukaryotes and Leishmania spp. lacking centrin are unable to replicate in vivo and are non-pathogenic. We developed a centrin-deficient Leishmania braziliensis (LbCen−/−) cell line and confirmed its impaired survival following phagocytosis by macrophages. Upon experimental inoculation into BALB/c mice, LbCen−/− failed to induce lesions and parasites were rapidly eliminated. The immune response following inoculation with LbCen−/− was characterized by a mixed IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 response and did not confer protection against L. braziliensis infection, distinct from L. major, L. donovani, and L mexicana centrin-deficient mutants. A prime-boost strategy also did not lead to a protective immune response against homologous challenge. On the contrary, immunization with centrin-deficient L. donovani (LdonCen−/−) cross-protected against L. braziliensis challenge, illustrating the ability of LdonCen−/− to induce the Th1-dominant protective immunity needed for leishmaniasis control. In conclusion, while centrin deficiency in L. braziliensis causes attenuation of virulence, and disrupts the ability to cause disease, it fails to stimulate a protective immune response.
Application and Evaluation of Stage–Storage–Discharge Methodology in Hydrological Study of the Southern Phosphate Mining Model Domain in Southwest Florida
Authors: Alshehri Fahad , Ross Mark
Published: March 2024

This hydrological study investigated a combined rating methodology tested on a 14,090 km2 area in Southwest Florida. The approach applied the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) over a 23-year period and was validated by 28 stream gauging stations. The regional hydrological complexity includes natural and agricultural areas, as well as extensive phosphate mining and urbanizing areas. This application is a novel and efficient methodology for generating stage–storage–discharge relationships using a geographic information system (GIS), empirical equations, and spreadsheets for 148,000 isolated and connected alluvial wetlands within the model domain. The validation metrics used to evaluate the applied methodology for populating the stage–storage–discharge relationship demonstrated the model effectiveness in simulating a range of hydrological events across various regions. For discharge prediction, the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values surpassed 0.7 at most stations, with an average of 0.67, and the average R squared was 0.74. This methodology, when applied, achieved a root-mean-square error of 4 m3/s for discharge prediction and 0.47 m for stage prediction. However, limitations emerged in simulating baseflow (low flows), highlighting the need for integrated modeling approaches to accurately capture groundwater–surface water interactions. The research provides an improved means for modeling regional water resources and lays the groundwork for enhanced hydrological modeling in watersheds with complex alluvial and isolated wetland systems.
Fault Tree Analysis of Trade-Offs between Environmental Flows and Agricultural Water Productivity in the Lake Urmia Sub-Basin Using Agent-Based Modeling
Authors: Emami Somayeh , Dehghanisanij Hossein
Published: March 2024

The recent problems of Lake Urmia (LU) are caused by extensive and complex socio-ecological factors that require a comprehensive approach to consider the relationships between users and identify failure factors at the basin level. For this purpose, an agent-based simulation model of farmers’ social interactions and economic interests (ABM) with various support scenarios and random supervision and training by the government agent is developed to evaluate its impact on independent farmers’ decision-making in the form of a complex adaptive system. Finally, a fault tree analysis (FTA) is created in the Cara-FaultTree 4.1. software to identify scenarios that lead to the non-development technology in irrigation management (non-DTIM) in the LU sub-basin. The assessment of the impact of government supervision and training revealed that the main causes of non-DTIM in the LU basin are a lack of demands from farmers and low awareness among residents of the basin, with failure probabilities of 0.90 and 0.86, respectively. Ultimately, the failure probability of the main event (non-DTIM) was 0.50. The paths of proper training and farmers’ requirements for sustainable agricultural water supply should become more stringent. The results confirm that appropriate measures to strengthen government supervision and training, as well as raise farmers’ awareness of the importance of long-term sustainability of water resources, can lead to greater resilience in the DTIM.
Aquatic Insects (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) Metric as an Important Tool in Water Quality Assessment in Hilly and Mountain Streams
Authors: Tubić Bojana , Andjus Stefan , Zorić Katarina , Vasiljević Božica , Jovičić Katarina , Čanak Atlagić Jelena , Paunović Momir
Published: March 2024

The aim of the study was to test the significance of the EPT index in the water quality assessment of three types of water bodies in hilly and mountainous region of Serbia. The aquatic macroinvertebrate community was dominated by the group of insects, of which 95 taxa represent the EPT group. We compared the obtained values of biological indices used for the assessment of water quality according to the national legislation with the overall status assessment represented by the ecological quality classes (EQC). The results of the Spearman correlation test showed a negative correlation of EQC with the EPT index, BMWP score, H′, total number of taxa and number of sensitive taxa, while a positive correlation was observed for the values of SI and Tubificinae %. The values of EQC and biological indices were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the parameters that contributed most to the differences were the EPT index, the BMWP score and the number of sensitive taxa. The results indicate that the EPT index is an excellent indicator of changes in water quality and an important tool for the ecological categorization of water bodies in mountain regions.
An Advanced Multi-Objective Ant Lion Algorithm for Reservoir Flood Control Optimal Operation
Authors: Ning Yawei , Ren Minglei , Guo Shuai , Liang Guohua , He Bin , Liu Xiaoyang , Tang Rong
Published: March 2024

Multi-objective reservoir operation of reservoir flood control involves numerous factors and complex model solving, and exploring effective methods for solving the operation models has always been a hot topic in reservoir optimization operation research. The Multi-Objective Ant Lion Algorithm (MOALO) is an emerging heuristic intelligent optimization algorithm, but it has not yet been applied in reservoir optimization operation. Testing the effectiveness of this method on multi-objective reservoir scheduling and further improving the optimization performance of this method is of great significance for enhancing the overall benefits of reservoir operation. In this study, MOALO is applied to the optimal scheduling of reservoir flood control. To increase the search efficiency of MOLAO, the advanced MOALO method (AMOLAO) is proposed by reconstructing the search distribution in MOALO using a power function. Taking the Songshu Reservoir and Dongfeng Reservoir in the Fuzhou River Basin in Dalian City as an example, MOALO, AMOLAO, and other two traditional methods are applied for solving the multi-objective reservoir operation problem. Results show that the AMOALO method has high search efficiency, strong optimization ability, and good stability. AMOALO performs better than MOALO and the two traditional methods. The study provides an efficient method for solving the problems in multi-objective reservoir operation.
Advancing River Health Assessments: Integrating Microscopy and Molecular Techniques through Diatom Indices
Authors: Kim Ha-Kyung , Cho In-Hwan , Hwang Eun-A , Han Byung-Hun , Kim Baik-Ho
Published: March 2024

This paper reviews the evolution and integration of diatom-based water quality assessments with environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques for advancing river ecosystem health evaluations. Traditional methods, relying on microscopy and diatom indices, have significantly contributed to our understanding of aquatic ecosystems but face challenges such as the need for taxonomic expertise and the labor-intensive nature of sample collection. Recent advancements in molecular biology, particularly eDNA analysis, offer opportunities to overcome these limitations, providing more accurate and comprehensive assessments. This study highlights the benefits of combining traditional microscopy with modern molecular techniques, enhancing the precision and efficiency of water quality evaluations. By addressing the challenges of standardizing methods and improving species identification through comprehensive reference libraries and advanced bioinformatics tools, this integrated approach aims to refine and advance the effectiveness of diatom-based strategies in monitoring and managing river health amidst environmental changes.
A Study on the Ice Resistance Characteristics of Ships in Rafted Ice Based on the Circumferential Crack Method
Authors: Huang Jiayu , Diao Feng , Ding Shifeng , Han Sen , Kujala Pentti , Zhou Li
Published: March 2024

In previous studies of ship–ice interactions, most studies focused on ship–level ice interactions, overlooking potential rafted ice conditions in extreme ice conditions. The purpose of this study is to develop a numerical model for predicting ship resistance in rafted ice regions. Numerical modeling of rafted ice was carried out using preset grid cells. By comparing the model test results, the accuracy and reliability of the numerical model are verified. On this basis, we undertook the analysis of the impacts of different ice thicknesses, ship speeds, bending strengths, and crushing strengths on the ice resistance of ships under level and rafted ice conditions. The results show that the ice resistance of ships is significantly higher than that of rafted ice under the condition of level ice; however, level ice and rafted ice have different effects on ship ice resistance. Compared with level ice, the ice resistance of ships navigating in rafted ice is more concentrated. The findings of the present research can serve as a technical reference for studies focused on predicting ship resistance in rafted ice regions.
Barriers for continuous medical education: a cross-sectional questionnaire study among Danish GPs
Authors: Ibsen Helle , Ahrenfeldt Linda Juel , Lykkegaard Jesper , Søndergaard Jens , Švab Igor , Kjaer Niels Kristian
Published: March 2024

Background

GPs’ participation in continuous medical education (CME) is essential for patient care, GPs’ wellbeing, and healthcare expenditure. However, one-quarter of Danish GPs did not use their reimbursement for CME in 2022. Knowledge of barriers for participating in CME is limited.

Aim

To analyse the barriers GPs face to participation in CME, and patterns in perceived barriers.

Design & setting

A cross-sectional questionnaire study design was used. The study population comprised all 3257 GPs in Denmark who, in May 2023, were registered as entitled to reimbursement for CME.

Method

The response rate was
n
= 1303/3257 (40%). Based on a question about use of CME, the responders were divided into ‘frequent', ‘partial', and ‘seldom’ users. Partial and seldom users answered questions about barriers related to CME (
n
= 726). The presence of barriers was quantified, and a latent class analysis (LCA) was used to stratify GPs according to their barrier patterns.

Results

The most frequent barriers were as follows: too busy (67%); fully booked courses (45%); and no substitute or locum doctor (39%). Based on the LCA, we found three distinctive patterns, clustering around the following: GPs from clinics with no tradition for CME (class 1, 17%); GPs who used time on professional work outside clinic (teaching, organisational work) (class 2, 43%); and GPs who were personally or professionally affected (class 3, 40%). Singled-handed and male GPs were slightly overrepresented among seldom users.

Conclusion

We have identified barriers for CME. We found three different profiles of GPs who perceived different patterns of barriers. Identified patterns in barriers should be considered in future CME initiatives.
Application of PCR-RFLP technique for determining the VEGFA rs3025039 (+936C>T) polymorphism
Authors: Ha Thi Minh Thi , Le Phan Tuong Quynh , Nguyen Thi Mai Ngan , Ngo Thi Dieu Huong , Nguyen Dac Duy Nghiem
Published: March 2024

Background: The VEGFA gene encodes vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), which plays a key role in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The VEGFA rs3025039 (+936C>T) polymorphism is associated with many diseases.

This study aimed to: (1) Apply PCR-RFLP technique to identify the VEGFA rs3025039 (+936C>T) polymorphism; (2) Primarily evaluate the distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies of the rs3025039 polymorphism in volunteers.

Materials and methods: DNA extraction was isolated from peripheral blood of 60 volunteers. Determining the VEGFA rs3025039 (+936C>T) polymorphism by PCR-RFLP technique. Confirming the results of the genotypes randomly by Sanger sequencing.

Results: All PCR-RFLP results of validated samples were in concordance with sequencing results. The distribution of CC, CT and TT genotypes by rs3025039 polymorphism accounted for 80%, 16.7% and 3.3%, respectively. The frequencies of C and T alleles were 88.3% and 11.7%, respectively.

Conclusion: Successfully applying PCR-RFLP technique to determine the VEGFA rs3025039 (+936C>T) polymorphism, which establishes the groundwork for further research into the association between this polymorphism and various disorders.

Key words: VEGFA, rs3025039, PCR-RFLP.
Development of an innovative method of teaching and learning tooth anatomy: application of shading technique in 3D drawing molar occlusal surfaces
Authors: Duong Bao Ngoc , Nguyen Phuong Nhi , Tran Thi Kieu Oanh , Tran Thi To Uyen , Hoang Anh Dao
Published: March 2024

Understanding the morphology of teeth is crucial in restorative dentistry in terms of restoring teeth’ anatomy, aesthetics, and function.

Objectives: (1) this study describes an innovative method of teaching and learning tooth anatomy that applied shading techniques to 3D drawing the molar occlusal surfaces; (2) the study aims to survey learners’ opinions about the method’s effectiveness.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 118 third-year dental students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, from March to May 2022. The 3D occlusal surface drawing was developed and applied in teaching, and feedback was received from students. All statistical analysis was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.

Results: Instructions for 3D drawing were detailed and explained step-by-step, from forming to shading the occlusal surfaces. Subsequently, 57.3% - 90.9% of students self-assessed their proficiency in comprehending the characteristics of the occlusal anatomy. 73.3% - 95.8% of students agreed on the utility. 73.1% of students agreed to be willing to apply the 3D drawing method in learning other subjects.

Conclusion: Instructions for 3D drawing were built step-by-step, from forming to shading the occlusal surfaces. After completing the course, a high percentage of students agreed on the advantages of this method. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 3D drawing method in clinical practice

Key words: tooth morphology, shading technique, occlusal surface.
Critical Aspects of a Higher Education Reform for Continuous Lifelong Learning Opportunities in a Digital Era
Authors: Mozelius Peter , Cleveland-Innes Martha , Hakansson Lindqvist Marcia , Jaldemark Jimmy
Published: March 2024

In the knowledge society today, there is a strong need for providing continuous lifelong learning opportunities. Recently, the Covid-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for technology enhanced learning, involving new challenges for higher education. The main focus for this study has been the ongoing reform of higher education for providing lifelong learning opportunities. This study is the second phase of a Delphi study on higher education reform. Data were gathered by email interviews with an expert panel, where all respondents have genuine knowledge in the field of technology enhanced lifelong learning. The interview answers were analysed according to the Grounded Theory concepts of open coding and axial coding.   The central main category for the axial coding was ‘Higher education reform for the provision of lifelong learning opportunities. This category was later found to be dependent on ‘Infrastructure’, ‘Multimodal delivery’, ‘Pedagogical change’, ‘Financial aspects’, and ‘Quality and organisation’, ‘Digital literacy’, ‘Accessibility’, and ‘Equity, diversity and inclusion’.
CITIES TYPOLOGY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF FINANCIALIZATION: PHENOMENON OF GHOST TOWNS
Authors: Stojanović Katarina , Sančanin Branislav , Penjišević Aleksandra
Published: March 2024

Financialization is a global phenomenon. This paper studies how this phenomenon has reflected upon the urban areas and the emergence of accelerated “production of space”. These relationships are considered for the period from the beginning of the 21st century till present. Also, research is aimed to identification of one of characteristic urban typologies - “ghosts towns”, which are subject of the comparative analysis. Analyzed examples are developed at various locations within approximate time context, while social, economic, political, cultural, and many other contexts are different. However, the phenomenon of financialization also occurs in developed and underdeveloped countries. Meaning, impact and consequences of the described process, and thus the identification of the causes, present possibilities to prevent possible negative consequences or to point them out in order to improve quality of urban life.
INTEREST GROUPS BETWEEN AUTONOMOUS AND NATIONAL INTEREST
Authors: Ruzin Aleksandar
Published: March 2024

Whether approached from an empirical or theoretical scientific point of view, the concept of interest groups covers a reality that is extremely difficult to understand and define. Although the formation of interest groups is a phenomenon that is common to all societies and the term is constantly used in the public debate in the form of “interest groups”, “pressure groups” or “lobbies”, it shows various sociological, ideological and economic heterogeneous aspects. Interest groups can take many different forms (unions, professional, religious organizations, associations, collective movements, etc.). An interest group, to be considered as such, must rely on a permanent organization, which distinguishes it, for example, from a one-time protest movement or social movement. Analyzing interest groups means discovering the logic of the construction of these collectives and their causes, their modes of existence and their means of existence, also studying the repertoires and modalities of action that “they implement the constraints and possibilities shaped by the spaces in which they are inserted.
TENDENCIES IN IMPROVING THE APPLICATION OF LEGAL RULES OF NATIONAL MINORITIES AND ETHNIC GROUPS
Authors: Logarušić Dejan , Škorić Sanja
Published: March 2024

In the paper, the authors discuss the tendencies of development and improvement of legal guarantees of international and national regulations of individual countries and definitions of the term national minority and ethnic groups. We start from the hypothesis that international and national legal rules are well established, with the aim of improvement, but in practical application at the local level, the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, which represents the first comprehensive regional international agreement and legally binding international instrument, are bypassed or omitted, dedicated to the protection of national minorities. The definition of new and special rights and freedoms of man and citizen, that is, the scope and application of human rights and freedoms can be classified into different groups. The work will deal with the analysis of the rights and freedoms of ethnic groups and national minorities, the rights and freedoms of foreigners and stateless persons, the position of law in the field of governance, the constitutional duties of man and citizen in accordance with the criteria of the mutual relationship between the individual, that is, the citizen and the state. Researching the right to education, freedom of scientific and artistic creation represents freedom of thought as one of the spiritual freedoms. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia guarantees the freedom of scientific and artistic creativity, the publication of scientific and artistic works, guarantees moral and material rights to authors, and more. The essential part of the analysis refers to the research and strict application of the rights of members of national minorities, that is, the detailed elaboration and respect of minority rights, the prohibition of discrimination of national minorities, equality in the management of public affairs, the prohibition of forced assimilation, the right to preserve uniqueness and develop the spirit of tolerance, as well as the right to association and cooperation with compatriots. The Framework Convention of the Council of Europe on the Protection of National Minorities - represents the first comprehensive regional international agreement and the first legally binding international instrument, which is entirely dedicated to the protection of national minorities.
CLASSIFICATION OF COGNITIVE STRESS AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL INDICATOR THROUGH MACHINE LEARNING
Authors: Pejanović Vladimir , Radaković Milan
Published: March 2024

In this study, we explored the potential of Support Vector Machine (SVM) method for classifying levels of cognitive stress using EEG (Electroencephalogram) signals. The goal is to develop accurate models that would enable the prediction and understanding of not only the current mental state of the subjects, but also potential real-time interventions. In medical fields, the application can be seen in the treatment of attention, focus, hyperactivity, autism, and depression disorders. Additionally, there is an extremely high potential for application in areas such as psychology, sociology, education, economics, neuromarketing, security, and in enhancing workplace stress management, anxiety treatment, digital marketing, economicfinancial forensics, as well as improving user experience in virtual environments and video games. The results have shown that it is possible to differentiate high and low levels of cognitive stress with satisfactory accuracy, opening the way for the application of these findings in various fields. Cognitive stress represents one of the fundamental cognitive processes that causes individuals to behave and think differently in certain situations than in their usual state of consciousness. Predicting, analyzing, and understanding the level of cognitive stress from EEG signals is of great importance in various fields, including neuroscience, psychology, education, professional sports, human-computer interaction, and many other areas. Machine learning represents a subgroup of artificial intelligence that uses statistical models, and functions to ‘learn’ and ‘train’ data resulting in corresponding output values. The brain-computer interface, through which data on cognitive stress, among other parameters and psychological categories, is collected, is based on the functioning of EEG devices. The prediction of cognitive stress represents the application of machine learning, recording and using brain EEG signals or extracted characteristics from EEG signals as input values, in order to predict the level of output values of cognitive stress, of high or low degree, reflecting the mental state of the subjects in real time
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SCHOOL AND CLASS CLIMATE
Authors: Božović Svetlana G. , Stojanović Tamara M. , Simić Mirjana M.
Published: March 2024

Although there is no generally accepted definition of school climate and a single position on its dimensions, most authors agree that school climate is a multidimensional and complex construct, which refers to the quality and character of school life. Educational reforms that want to improve the quality of learning, but also improve the educational effect of the school, should not ignore that the school climate is one of the most researched school phenomena that affects the behavior and life of all participants in school life. In addition to the definition of school climate and other terms that conceptually overlap with school climate or other aspects of school life, it is necessary to define school climate and classroom climate. In contrast to school climate, classroom climate refers to social interactions in the classroom, student expectations for behavior, and school performance, but also to the physical characteristics of the classroom or the “intellectual, social, emotional, and physical environment in which students learn”. Classroom climate refers to the perception of the classroom environment, and school climate refers to the perception of the entire school. Classroom climate affects the perception of school climate as a more comprehensive phenomenon. The school climate’s perception depends on individual factors and the classroom climate. Teachers are the ones who represent one of the main factors in shaping students school experiences. A study conducted by Hallinan (2008) indicated that the teacher-student relationship predicts student commitment to school. Two special dimensions of that relationship are social and emotional support for students and teachers expectations of students. Students and teachers perceive the school climate more favorably when they feel safe and when aggression and victimization are not frequent. Students who feel safe at school are better adjusted, exhibit less delinquent and aggressive behavior, and report higher self-esteem. By improving the school climate, and especially the relationship between teachers and students, by establishing fair rules in the school and respecting diversity, the students behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement in school is affected, which further affects various areas of the student’s life, such as student well-being or and their academic achievement.
Akut Pankreatitte RDW ve MPV Hastalığın Şiddeti ve Mortalitesinin Bir Prediktörü Olabilir mi?
Authors: Tan Vedat , Ebik Berat , Bacaksız Ferhat , Üzel Ali , Akkuzu Mustafa Zanyar , Yavuz Ahmet , Karabulut Ümit
Published: March 2024

Amaç: Akut pankreatit (AP) tanısıyla hastaneye yatırılan hastalarda yatıştan itibaren hastalığın şiddetini belirlemek tedavinin planlaması için büyük önem arz etmektedir. RDW (Eritrosit Dağılım Hacmi) ve MPV’nin (Ortalama Trombosit Hacmi) pankreatitin şiddetini öngörebilme özelliğinin olup olmadığını araştırmak amacıyla bu çalışmayı yaptık.
Materyal ve metod: 2019-2022 yılları arasında AP nedeniyle hastaneye yatırılan 262 hastanın verileri retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastalar Atlanta kriterleri referans alınarak pankreatitin şiddetine göre gruplara ayrıldı. Daha sonra RDW ve MPV değerlerinin pankreatitin şiddeti ve prognozuyla ilişkisi istatistiksel olarak incelendi.
Bulgular: AP’li hastaların %83.9’u (n=220) hafif; %16.1’i (n=42) şiddetli pankreatit idi. Ortalama RDW indeksi hafif AP’li hastalarda 42.5±6.9 fL iken, şiddetli AP hastalarında 42.0±6.6 fL idi (p=0.625). Ortalama MPV seviyesi açısından da her iki grup arasında anlamlı bir farklılık saptanmadı (9.7±1.0 fL vs 9.8±1.3 Fl, p=0.687). Yapılan ROC analizi pankreatitin şiddetini saptayacak anlamlı ve kritik bir MPV ve RDW eşik değerinin olmadığını gösterdi (AUC (MPV): 0.499; AUC (RDW):0.453).
Sonuç: AP nedeniyle hastaneye yatırılan ve takipleri sırasında Atlanta kriterlerine göre şiddetli pankreatit gelişen hastaların RDW ve MPV seviyesinin hafif pankreatitli hastalardan farklı olmadığını belirledik. AP’li hastalarda MPV ve RDW seviyesinin pankreatitin şiddetini ve prognozunu öngörmede yeterli ve güçlü bir parametre olmadığını söyleyebiliriz.
Obtención y contralor del gel de aluminio para uso medicinal
Authors:   , Macia Rodolfo Jorge
Published: March 2024

La circunstancia de que hasta la fecha no se haya podido obtener una sustancia que reúna las condiciones ideales de un antiácido de utilización terapéutica, nos indujo al estudio de uno de los que más recientemente han sido introducidos en el tratamiento de la hiperacidez y la úlcera péptica.