bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le programme-cycle de l’éducation préscolaire : rupture ou continuité avec les programmes d’éducation préscolaire 4 ans et 5 ans ?
Authors: Moreau Daniel , Laurent Angélique
Published: December 2024

Cet article soulève la question de la continuité des orientations curriculaires en matière d’éducation préscolaire dans les programmes d’éducation préscolaire québécois. Une analyse de contenu lexicométrique a été réalisée sur un corpus de textes provenant du programme-cycle de l’éducation préscolaire (Gouvernement du Québec, 2020) et des programmes d’éducation préscolaire 4 ans (Gouvernement du Québec, 2017) et 5 ans (Gouvernement du Québec, 2001). Les résultats ont révélé une opposition entre ces deux derniers programmes d’études, respectivement attribuée à des idéologies reconstructionniste et progressiste. Également, ils révèlent davantage d’attentes comportementales de la part du programme-cycle (Gouvernement du Québec, 2020).
Évolution de la violence conjugale en contexte de pandémie de COVID-19 selon le personnel d’organismes intervenant auprès des auteurs de violence
Authors: Roy Valérie , Brodeur Normand , Fournier Claudia , Gasteau Florian , Laverdière Dorian , Meunier Valérie
Published: December 2024

Plusieurs organismes d’aide aux victimes ont signalé les risques accrus de violence conjugale (VC) pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Cet article apporte une vision complémentaire quant à l’évolution de la VC et des facteurs de risque à partir des observations du personnel des organismes québécois travaillant auprès d’auteurs de VC. Ces intervenant.es ont perçu une aggravation de la violence exercée et des facteurs de risque (isolement, difficultés de santé mentale, proximité involontaire, etc.), et une instrumentalisation du contexte pandémique dans l’exercice de la VC. Des pistes sont dégagées pour lutter plus efficacement contre la VC advenant un sinistre similaire.
Les répercussions de la COVID-19 sur la qualité de vie des étudiant.e.s de l’international fréquentant des universités québécoises : une perspective qualitative
Authors: Lévy Joseph , Guevara Espinar Miguel David , Frozzini Jorge , Bérubé Farrah , Côté Daniel , Dubé Jessica
Published: December 2024

Le confinement, à la suite de la COVID-19, a généré des situations qui ont affecté la qualité de vie des populations étudiantes du Québec, mais celle des étudiant.e.s internationaux.les (EI) reste encore mal connue. Cette étude qualitative vise à cerner l’expérience du confinement et ses répercussions sur la qualité de vie des EI fréquentant des universités québécoises. Quarante entrevues semi-structurées ont été menées auprès d’EI, hommes et femmes, provenant de France et d’autres pays. L’analyse des thèmes retenus (configurations résidentielles, santé physique et psychologique, activités sportives, vie religieuse, alimentation et consommation d’alcool et autres substances) montre des répercussions positives et négatives et permet de cerner les stratégies d’adaptation.
Les pratiques citoyennes de sensibilisation communautaire coproduites durant la
pandémie et les tensions liées à leur pérennisation
Authors: Ruelland Isabelle , Coget Léa
Published: December 2024

Au Québec, les pratiques citoyennes de sensibilisation communautaire, qui jouent un
rôle de mobilisation et de soutien aux interventions de proximité, sont en plein essor
depuis la pandémie, et restent, dans une large part, à documenter. Cet article veut rendre
compte d’une recherche qui propose de comprendre de telles pratiques mises en place dans
deux quartiers défavorisés du Nord de l’île de Montréal. Il s’agit d’analyser ces pratiques
à partir des expériences vécues par les citoyen.ne.s et les intervenant.e.s impliqué.e.s.
Les résultats identifient des facteurs favorables à l’émergence de ces pratiques de
proximité, tels que l’engagement citoyen et le respect de la mission des organismes
communautaires. Une discussion permet de problématiser des tensions vécues entre
l’engagement citoyen et l’activité de travail rémunéré ainsi qu’entre la santé publique et
les missions des organismes impliqués.
Recours aux services psychosociaux en ligne avant et pendant la pandémie de la COVID-19 par les personnes utilisatrices de substances psychoactives
Authors: Huỳnh Christophe , Blanchette-Martin Nadine , Beaulieu-Thibodeau Alexis , Ferland Francine , Song Yuan , Goyette Mathieu , Wagner Vincent , Brisson Jacinthe , Fallu Jean-Sébastien , Flores-Aranda Jorge , Gottin Thomas , Blier Christina
Published: December 2024

Cette étude documente l’utilisation des services psychosociaux en ligne durant la pandémie de COVID-19 auprès de 1159 adultes qui consomment des substances psychoactives. Pendant cette période, 38 % ont utilisé ces services. En se basant sur le modèle d’Andersen, l’utilisation de ces services est associée 1) aux facteurs prédisposants du genre (s’identifier comme femme) et de l’âge (avoir 18 à 24 ans comparé à avoir 65 et plus), 2) au facteur facilitant du recours antérieur aux services psychosociaux en ligne et 3) aux facteurs de besoin, c’est-à-dire la détresse psychologique élevée, la consommation pour gérer son anxiété et l’augmentation de la fréquence de la consommation durant la pandémie. La complémentarité des modalités de services psychosociaux en présence et en ligne est nécessaire, car ces services répondent notamment aux besoins de s’informer et de développer des stratégies de gestion de soi.
Le travail social face à l’État carcéral : rupture ou continuité à la suite des crises ?
Authors: Beaulieu Karl
Published: December 2024

Cet article articule une réflexion théorique sur les partenariats entre policiers et travailleurs sociaux à la suite des crises qui secouent nos sociétés. Je démontre que les luttes abolitionnistes et le concept d’État carcéral (Richie et Martensen, 2020) peuvent nous aider à comprendre comment le travail social s’engage avec ces partenariats, notamment dans un contexte de crise. Enfin, j’argumente que ces partenariats sont au centre des débats actuels qui divisent le travail social, alors que ces crises amènent le champ à se positionner en rupture ou en continuité à l’État carcéral.
La « compétence culturelle » : réflexion critique sur l’usage de cette expression dans le domaine de la santé et des services sociaux
Authors: Lenoir Annick , Vissandjée Bilkis , Doré Chantal , Belhadj-Ziane Kheira
Published: December 2024

Cette réflexion critique porte sur l’expression « compétence culturelle » utilisée dans le secteur de la santé et des services sociaux. Nous discutons des éventuelles conséquences dans un contexte clinique culturellement diversifié, induisant potentiellement des enjeux éthiques. La juxtaposition des termes « compétence » et « culture » produit une expression qui ne tient que peu compte, et ce, de façon inclusive de particularités des personnes/groupes. Ce rapprochement de deux concepts très spécifiques limite l’application effective de la personnalisation des soins et des services, le respect de la déontologie professionnelle d’accès à des soins de qualité et à un traitement équitable. Ces deux termes adjacents ont un potentiel de créer de l’insatisfaction par le personnel de santé et des services sociaux, liée à des attentes et doublée d’un sentiment d’impuissance à répondre aux diverses responsabilités de soins et de services de qualité.
« Compter sur », « compter pour » des adultes et des pairs
Authors: Kerivel Aude , Dheilly Cyril , James Samuel
Published: December 2024

À partir du constat de défaut de capital social des jeunes sortant de l’Aide Sociale à l’Enfance en France, notre recherche-action vise à faciliter le maintien et le développement du nombre de personnes sur lesquelles les enfants « peuvent compter » et « qui comptent pour eux » (Paugam, 2015), pour près de 150 enfants et jeunes placés dans des villages d’enfants d’une fondation. Après avoir dressé un état du contexte de la protection de l’enfance, et du défaut de capital social des familles dont les enfants sont pris en charge, cet article présente des situations d’enfants et de jeunes plutôt isolés ou plutôt entourés. Ainsi, nous montrerons en quoi l’accompagnement de l’Aide Sociale à l’Enfance peut contraindre le maintien et la création de liens des enfants et des jeunes et comment des actions peuvent rendre des opportunités possibles.
L’influence sociale des plateformes dans le monde de la philanthropie ou vers une philanthropie de plateforme
Authors: Boivin Jacob
Published: December 2024

Le domaine de la philanthropie se trouve aujourd’hui soumis à l’influence des technologies numériques et à l’opérationnalité algorithmique des plateformes. Cet article offre une réflexion sur l’effet structurant de ces dernières sous l’angle de la médiation de la technique comme condition de la reproduction sociétale. C’est ainsi le modèle de société et les conditions socio-économiques portées par ce qu’on nomme une « philanthropie de plateforme » se mettant tendanciellement en place qui sont interrogés. Ces dernières se révèlent inscrites dans et participant à des tendances hautement critiquables.
Cadena de valor del aceite de oliva virgen extra
Authors: Parras-Rosa Manuel , Vega-Zamora Manuela , Ruz-Carmona Antonio
Published: December 2024

La mejora de la posición del sector primario en las cadenas de valor agroalimentarias ocupa un lugar prioritario en la agenda pública  comunitaria, apuntándose el impulso de la cooperación y del movimiento cooperativo como instrumentos clave para conseguirla. Ahora bien, para poder implementar políticas públicas que fortalezcan la posición de los agricultores en las cadenas de valor, hay que realizar estudios rigurosos sobre las mismas, con una doble finalidad. En primer lugar, para evaluar y, en su caso, diseñar políticas públicas, esto es, para conocer la medida en que éstas están consiguiendo mejorar la posición de los agricultores enla cadena de valor y, en segundo lugar, y esta cuestión está poco tratada en la literatura, para que los agentes que operan en el mismo eslabón de la cadena adopten medidas para ser más eficientes, a partir de las señales que emite la propia cadena en costes, precios y márgenes.En este sentido, en este trabajo nos centramos en analizar la cadena de valor del aceite de oliva virgen extra, en dos campañas, la 2018/2019 y 2019/2020, para exponer la utilidad de la cadena de valor para el logro de los dos objetivos señalados. Los resultados muestran que el eslabón más débil de la cadena es el sector primario, sector olivarero, aunque también elsector de primera transformación, las almazaras, donde el cooperativismo es protagonista, sufren pérdidas en ambas campañas.
Principles of administrative responsibility: current issues
Authors: Pligin Vladimir Nikolaevich
Published: December 2024

The subject of the study is the concept of the principles of administrative responsibility, as well as the problems and trends of their provision in the context of active reform of domestic legislation on administrative responsibility. Taking into account the fact that the institution of administrative responsibility should be based on the general principles of public administration and legal responsibility, the author considers the principles of administrative responsibility as a fundamental element of public legal responsibility. The principles of administrative responsibility are studied by the author from the standpoint of highlighting the principles of establishing and applying administrative responsibility as principles of a more specific order. The subject of the study also includes the formation of a correlation of such concepts as: principles of administrative responsibility, principles of legislation on administrative offenses, principles of proceedings in cases of administrative offenses. They are studied by the author in the context of a comparative legal analysis of the provisions of the current Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation and individual drafts of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation. When working on the topic, the following research methods were used: comparative law, methods of systematic and comparative analysis, methods of legal formalization, structuring and classification. The main conclusions of the study are the following: 1) the list of principles of administrative responsibility can be recognized by a system in which different types of principles have been prioritized and significant in different historical periods; 2) with regard to the principles of administrative responsibility, the principles of establishing administrative responsibility and the principles of applying administrative responsibility should be distinguished (the first group of principles is addressed to the legislator, the second group of principles is enshrined in the legislation on administrative offenses and is used by bodies and persons within the framework of specific procedures for bringing to administrative responsibility); 3) as the basic principles of administrative responsibility, it is necessary to highlight: legality; equality of persons brought to administrative responsibility before the law; personalization of administrative responsibility; presumption of innocence; justice. A special contribution of the author to the research of the topic is an overview of the consolidation of the principles of administrative responsibility in the projects of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. It is concluded that it is necessary to consolidate the principles of administrative responsibility in the updated legislation on administrative offenses.
Biocontrol of Phytophthora infestans-induced late blight using Bacillus velezensis-derived iturin a based bioformulation
Authors: Prakash Rakesh , Shivakumar Neeta
Published: December 2024

Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease, poses a significant threat to tomato and potato crops worldwide. The present study investigated the potential of Bacillus velezensis-derived iturin A as a biocontrol agent against P. infestans, both in vitro and in greenhouse pot experiments. First, P. infestans was isolated and identified from infected leaf samples collected from fields. Concurrently, B. velezensis was isolated from the same soil and characterized through molecular techniques. Subsequently, the inhibitory activity of B. velezensis living cells and cell suspension against P. infestans was evaluated, showing significant inhibition rates of 85.4% and 95.6%, respectively. Extraction and identification of iturin A from B. velezensis revealed a concentration of 210 mg per gram of dried cyclic lipopeptides. Mass spectrometry and NMR analysis confirmed the presence and chemical characteristics of iturin A, validating its abundance in the B. velezensis strain. Antagonism tests of bioformulations containing varying concentrations of iturin A exhibited varying degrees of inhibition, with higher concentrations achieving complete suppression of P. infestans mycelium growth. Notably, bioformulations RPB4 containing iturin A (20 mg per ml) showed promising efficacy in greenhouse pot experiments, demonstrating the highest efficacy in reducing disease incidence and severity index, comparable to the chemical fungicide metalaxyl. Hence, the study deals with developing a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides.
Psychometric Properties of the Online Version of the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7): A Longitudinal Study in Pregnant and Postpartum Spanish Women
Authors: Gómez-Gómez Irene , Domínguez-Salas Sara , Rodríguez-Muñoz María F. , Rodríguez-Domínguez Carmen , Gómez-Baya Diego , Motrico Emma
Published: December 2024

Background: :
The use of online questionnaires to assess common mental disorders such as perinatal anxiety has spread due to the proliferation of Internet-based psychological interventions and research. This study analyses the validity and reliability of the online version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) in a sample of pregnant and postpartum Spanish women.

Method::
A total of 3082 pregnant ( = 1260) and postpartum ( = 1822) women were recruited via the Internet and underwent three follow-up evaluations during a six-month period.

Results::
A one-factor solution was assigned by Exploratory Factor Analysis and confirmed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis for both pregnant (CFI = 0.998; RMSEA = 0.035) and postpartum (CFI = 0.998; RMSEA = 0.038) women. The one-factor model showed strict invariance across groups. Validity was confirmed by assessing correlations between GAD-7, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the 10-item Posttraumatic Stress Disorder checklist at three time points. The reliability coefficient was .92 for the two groups.

Conclusions::
This study shows that the Spanish online GAD-7 version has good psychometric properties and can be used to assess anxiety symptoms during the perinatal period.
Fabrication of n-i-p perovskite solar cells based on strategy of buried interface modification
Authors: SHANG Wenli , WANG Likun , ZHANG Xiaochun , YUE Xin , LI Yifeng , WAN Zhenghui , YANG Huayi , LI Ting , WANG Hui ,   School of Physics and Electronic Techonlogy, Liaoning Normal Unversity, Dalian 116029, China,   School of Microelectronics, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China,   Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China,   Experimental Training Center, Dalian University of Science and Technology, Dalian 116025, China
Published: December 2024

Normal (n-i-p) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received increasing attention due to their advantages such as high conversion efficiency and good stability. Tin dioxide is an ideal electron transport layer material for normal perovskite solar cells. Among various available electron transport layers, tin dioxide stands out because of its excellent stability, low density of defect states, and appropriate energy levels. The interface defects between tin dioxide and perovskite are the key factors restricting the improvement of the conversion efficiency in perovskite solar cells. Therefore, a method of fabricating normal perovskite solar cells based on the buried interface modification strategy is proposed in this work. By doping methylammonium bromide into tin dioxide to form a buried interface, the interface defects between tin dioxide and perovskite are reduced, the electron mobility of tin dioxide is enhanced, and the growth of high-quality perovskite materials is promoted. The conversion efficiency of the normal perovskite solar cells reaches 23.12%, providing an effective strategy for fabricating high-efficiency normal perovskite solar cells.
An annotated introductory reading list for neurodiversity
Authors: Zaneva Mirela , Coll-Martín Tao , Héjja-Brichard Yseult , Kalandadze Tamara , Kis Andrea , Koperska Alicja , Manalili Marie Adrienne Robles , Mathy Adrien , Graham Christopher J , Hollis Anna , Ross Robert M , Yeung Siu Kit , Allen Veronica , Azevedo Flavio , Friedel Emily , Fuller Stephanie , Giannouli Vaitsa , Gjoneska Biljana , Hartmann Helena , Korbmacher Max , Elsherif Mahmoud M , Zisk Alyssa Hillary
Published: December 2024

Since its inception, the concept of neurodiversity has been defined in a number of different ways, which can cause confusion among those hoping to educate themselves about the topic. Learning about neurodiversity can also be challenging because there is a lack of well-curated, appropriately contextualized information on the topic. To address such barriers, we present an annotated reading list that was developed collaboratively by a neurodiverse group of researchers. The nine themes covered in the reading list are: the history of neurodiversity; ways of thinking about neurodiversity; the importance of lived experience; a neurodiversity paradigm for autism science; beyond deficit views of ADHD; expanding the scope of neurodiversity; anti-ableism; the need for robust theory and methods; and integration with open and participatory work. We hope this resource can support readers in understanding some of the key ideas and topics within neurodiversity, and that it can further orient researchers towards more rigorous, destigmatizing, accessible, and inclusive scientific practices.
Most Beefalo cattle have no detectable bison genetic ancestry
Authors: Shapiro Beth , Oppenheimer Jonas , Heaton Michael P , Kuhn Kristen L , Green Richard E , Blackburn Harvey D , Smith Timothy PL
Published: December 2024

Hybridization is common among lineages in the genus
Bos
, often mediated through human management for the selection of adaptive or desirable traits. A recent example is the American Beefalo cattle breed, which was developed in the 1970s and defined as a hybrid between American bison (
Bison bison
) and cattle (
Bos taurus
). The American Beefalo Association typically require ⅜ bison ancestry to qualify as Beefalo. Here, we sought to characterize admixed ancestry among Beefalo as a component of a larger project to understand the role of hybridization in shaping present-day diversity in bison and cattle. We generated genomic data from 50 historical and present-day Beefalo and bison hybrids, including several important founding animals, as well as from 10 bison originating from commercial herds that represent potential sources of bison ancestry in Beefalo. We found that most Beefalo did not contain detectable bison ancestry. No individual Beefalo within our data set satisfies the ancestry requirements specified by the American Beefalo Association (ABA), although several Beefalo had smaller proportions of bison ancestry (2-18%). Some beefalo had detectable indicine cattle ancestry (2-38%), suggesting that hybridization of taurine and zebu cattle may contribute to morphological similarity between some Beefalo and bison. Overall, ancestry profiles of Beefalo and bison hybrid genomes are consistent with repeated backcrossing to either parental species rather than the breeding between hybrids themselves, implying significant barriers to gene flow between bison and cattle. Our results call into question the ⅜ bison ancestry targeted by the breed association and demonstrate the value of genomic information in examining claims of interspecies gene flow among
Bos
species.
PD-L1+ Neutrophils mediate Susceptibility during Systemic Inflammatory Response in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Barros Cleyson da Cruz Oliveira , Kanashiro Alexandre , da Silva Gabriel Victor Lucena , Cebinelli Guilherme Cesar Martelossi , Leiria Luiz Osório , Cunha Thiago Mattar , Alves Filho José Carlos , Cunha Fernando Queiroz
Published: December 2024

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a pathological condition affecting individuals worldwide. Patients with NAFLD are more susceptible to systemic inflammation, such as sepsis, which accelerates liver damage. However, the immunological mechanisms that trigger the hyper-inflammatory responses in individuals with NAFLD remain unknown. In the present study, we reported that short-term HFCD (Choline Deficient High Fat Diet)-fed mice, which did not show significative signs of hepatic damage and inflammation in the first two weeks, are more susceptible to mortality after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Mechanistically, endotoxemic mice show an excessive accumulation of NK-producing IFN-γ cells in liver tissue triggering the recruitment and polarization of a distinct neutrophil subset, characterized by high PD-L1 expression and massive TNFα production. Remarkably, genetic inhibition of IFN-γ or pharmacological blockade of PD-L1 effectively modulated the excessive recruitment of these neutrophils to the liver and TNFα release, thereby preventing hepatic damage and reducing the severity of host mortality. Thus, these results support the design of novel effective strategies to control hyperinflammatory responses in patients with HFCDs and consequently prevent hepatic damage and mortality..
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rev7 promotes non-homologous end-joining by blocking Mre11 nuclease and Rad50’s ATPase activities and homologous recombination
Authors: Badugu Sugith , Dhyani Kshitiza Mohan , Thakur Manoj , Muniyappa Kalappa
Published: December 2024

Recent studies have shown that, in human cancer cells, the tetrameric Shieldin complex (comprising REV7, SHLD1, SHLD2, and SHLD3) facilitates non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) while blocking homologous recombination (HR). Surprisingly, several eukaryotic species lack SHLD1, SHLD2, and SHLD3 orthologs, suggesting that Rev7 may leverage an alternative mechanism to regulate the double-strand break (DSB) repair pathway choice. Exploring this hypothesis, we discovered that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rev7 physically interacts with the Mre11–Rad50–Xrs2 (MRX) subunits, impedes G-quadruplex DNA synergized HU-induced toxicity, and facilitates NHEJ, while antagonizing HR. Notably, we reveal that a 42-amino acid C-terminal fragment of Rev7 binds to the subunits of MRX complex, protects rev7∆ cells from G-quadruplex DNA-HU-induced toxicity, and promotes NHEJ by blocking HR. By comparison, the N-terminal HORMA domain, a conserved protein–protein interaction module, was dispensable. We further show that the full-length Rev7 impedes Mre11 nuclease and Rad50’s ATPase activities without affecting the latter’s ATP-binding ability. Combined, these results provide unanticipated insights into the functional interaction between the MRX subunits and Rev7 and highlight a previously unrecognized mechanism by which Rev7 facilitates DSB repair via NHEJ, and attenuation of HR, by blocking Mre11 nuclease and Rad50’s ATPase activities in S. cerevisiae.
A computational framework for processing time-series of earth observation data based on discrete convolution: global-scale historical Landsat cloud-free aggregates at 30 m spatial resolution
Authors: Consoli Davide , Parente Leandro , Simoes Rolf , Şahin Murat , Tian Xuemeng , Witjes Martijn , Sloat Lindsey , Hengl Tomislav
Published: December 2024

Processing large collections of earth observation (EO) time-series, often petabyte-sized, such as NASA’s Landsat and ESA’s Sentinel missions, can be computationally prohibitive and costly. Despite their name, even the Analysis Ready Data (ARD) versions of such collections can rarely be used as direct input for modeling because of cloud presence and/or prohibitive storage size. Existing solutions for readily using these data are not openly available, are poor in performance, or lack flexibility. Addressing this issue, we developed TSIRF (Time-Series Iteration-free Reconstruction Framework), a computational framework that can be used to apply diverse time-series processing tasks, such as temporal aggregation and time-series reconstruction by simply adjusting the convolution kernel. As the first large-scale application, TSIRF was employed to process the entire Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) ARD Landsat archive, producing a cloud-free bi-monthly aggregated product. This process, covering seven Landsat bands globally from 1997 to 2022, with more than two trillion pixels and for each one a time-series of 156 samples in the aggregated product, required approximately 28 hours of computation using 1248 Intel® Xeon® Gold 6248R CPUs. The quality of the result was assessed using a benchmark dataset derived from the aggregated product and comparing different imputation strategies. The resulting reconstructed images can be used as input for machine learning models or to map biophysical indices. To further limit the storage size the produced data was saved as 8-bit Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs (COG). With the hosting of about 20 TB per band/index for an entire 30 m resolution bi-monthly historical time-series distributed as open data, the product enables seamless, fast, and affordable access to the Landsat archive for environmental monitoring and analysis applications.
Use of integrated population models for assessing density-dependence and juvenile survival in Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)
Authors: Lewis William B. , Nater Chloé R. , Rectenwald Justin A. , Sisson D. Clay , Martin James A.
Published: December 2024

Management of wildlife populations is most effective with a thorough understanding of the interplay among vital rates, population growth, and density-dependent feedback; however, measuring all relevant vital rates and assessing density-dependence can prove challenging. Integrated population models have been proposed as a method to address these issues, as they allow for direct modeling of density-dependent pathways and inference on parameters without direct data. We developed integrated population models from a 25-year demography dataset of Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) from southern Georgia, USA, to assess the demographic drivers of population growth rates and to estimate the strength of multiple density-dependent processes simultaneously. Furthermore, we utilize a novel approach combining breeding productivity and post-breeding abundance and age-and-sex ratio data to infer juvenile survival. Population abundance was relatively stable for the first 14 years of the study but began growing after 2012, showing that bobwhite populations may be stable or exhibit positive population growth in areas of intensive management. Variation in breeding and non-breeding survival drove changes in population growth in a few years; however, population growth rates were most affected by productivity across the entire study duration. A similar pattern was observed for density-dependence, with relatively stronger negative effects of density on productivity than on survival. Our novel modeling approach required an informative prior but was successful at updating the prior distribution for juvenile survival. Our results show that integrated population models provide an attractive and flexible method for directly modeling all relevant density-dependent processes and for combining breeding and post-breeding data to estimate juvenile survival in the absence of direct data.
On a Corrective Decile-based Confidence Interval Estimator of Mean for Normal and Skewed Distributions
Authors: Islam Khairul , Shapla Tanweer J
Published: December 2024

This study addresses an issue with the decile t-confidence interval (dt-CI), which fails to achieve the desired coverage probabilities for large samples or skewed distributions (Mokhtar, Yusof & Sapiri, 2024). The article proposes a new corrective decile t-confidence interval (cdt-CI) that resolves these issues by modifying the decile standard deviation. Simulations using normal, chi-squared, log-normal, and gamma distributions show that the cdt-CI outperforms existing methods, particularly for skewed data, in terms of coverage probability and robustness. The real-life data sets analyzed in this study also support the conclusions of the simulation study.
Phytochemical Profile and Bioactive Compounds in Aqueous Leaf Extract of Anacardium occidentale: A GC-MS Analysis
Authors: Amarachukwu Ikenna-Ukomadu , Sunday Ezekwe Ahamefula , Gift Wokocha Peter
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the phytochemical composition of the aqueous leaf extract of Anacardium occidentale (cashew tree) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The aqueous extraction yielded a crude leaf extract rich in bioactive compounds. Major compounds identified include γ-Terpinene (13.62%), known for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and Securinine (2.08%), which exhibits anticancer and antiviral effects. Additionally, dl-α-Tocopherol (5.6%), a potent antioxidant, was found. Other notable compounds, such as 1,2,3-Benzenetriol (6.53%), demonstrated strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while Naphthalene (1.78%) exhibited antimicrobial activity. These compounds, among others identified in the extract, suggest that Anacardium occidentale leaves have a rich phytochemical profile with significant medicinal properties. The results underscore the plant’s potential for treating oxidative stress-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and bacterial infections. This research highlights the therapeutic promise of Anacardium occidentale and emphasizes the need for further studies on the synergistic effects of these compounds. These findings could serve as a foundation for developing new, plant-based therapeutic agents for managing chronic diseases and infections.
Assessment of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) Based Intercropping System under Varying Planting Patterns
Authors: Patidar Arvind , Birla Jinendra , Patidar Girish , Singh Shivpal
Published: December 2024

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), one of the main grain legume crops grown in tropical and subtropical countries, is mostly grown under rainfed conditions. After chickpea, pigeonpea is India's second most significant crop in terms of area and yield. It makes up 23 per cent of all pulse production (3.33 million tons) and 1.76 per cent of the nation's gross planted land (3.88 million hectares). When grown as a lone crop, pigeonpea is not a highly efficient crop Willey et al., 1980 due to its low harvest index and delayed start growth rate. It is therefore grown as an intercrop, helping to increase productivity and profit by making efficient use of available resources. The field experiment was conducted at the Rajola Farm, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalay Chitrakoot, Satna, Madhya Pradesh-4853 (M.P.) during the kharif season of 2014. In the treatments, cropping patterns and intercropping systems could be combined in seven different ways. The experiment was set up using a randomized block design with three replications. Our study revealed that in all intercrop cropping systems, the pigeonpea equivalent yield (PEY), LER, and ATER were significantly higher than under the pigeonpea sole system. PEY was found to be significantly maximum under T6: PP + Sesame alternate row (20.75 q ha-1) followed by T7: PP + Sesame paired row planting (19.54 q ha-1) and T4: PP + BG alternate row (19.51 q ha-1). However, LER and ATER were calculated significantly higher under T4: PP + BG alternate row (1.74 and 1.32, respectively), T2: PP + GG alternate row (1.73 and 1.31, respectively) and T6: PP + Sesame alternate row (1.71 and 1.29, respectively). The lowest values of PEY, LER, and ATER were found under pigeonpea sole system.
Knowledge and Practice of Antimicrobial use for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections among Female Medical Students in Enugu, Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Odoh Chikaodili Erica , Ochiobi Iheoma Amara , Obiakalusi Chukwuebuka , Amara Linda Uzo , Onwasigwe Chika N.
Published: December 2024

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a significant clinical problem empirically treated with antibiotics that could worsen the spread of antibiotics resistance.
Objective: We described the knowledge, attitude, and treatment practices of UTI among female medical students in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey involving female medical students at Enugu State University of Technology, in Enugu, Nigeria was conducted in October 2023. Overall, 180 students were enrolled. The questionnaires were constructed after systematically reviewing the literature. The data were analyzed by calculating frequencies and means.
Results: Our study sample includes 174 female medical students (Response rate, 96.7%). Most of the students are aged 20–24 years (63.2%), with mean (standard deviation) of 23.5 (± 4.6) years, single (86.8%), Igbo (97.1%), and Christian (97.7%). Most students (166 students, 95.4%) had adequate knowledge of UTI, but a minority of students (45.5%) sought treatment from a trained healthcare provider for proper laboratory investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of their previous UTI episodes. Among those that did not seek care with trained healthcare providers, most, 27 (75.0%), self-treated. Most students (27 students, 90.0%) positively practiced completion of their prescribed drugs. The most commonly drugs used for self-medication of UTI were Amoxicillin, Canesten cream, Ciprofloxacin, and Gentamycin.
Conclusion: Although our study shows female medical students have adequate knowledge about UTIs, their treatment practices reveal that strengthening educational efforts on antibiotic stewardship is essential to ensure that medical students not only understand the theoretical aspects of UTIs but also apply best practices in their treatment. Our study suggests the need for improved education on antibiotics stewardship to address the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and ensuring effective treatment of UTIs in the future.
Effect of Floating and Sinking Formulated Feed on Growth and Production of GIFT Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Earthen Ponds
Authors: S.Paulpandi  , S.Sathya  , K.Velmurugan
Published: December 2024

Tilapia farming is a significant sector in global aquaculture, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) being one of the most widely cultivated species. However, the continued increase in tilapia production raises concerns about genetic deterioration. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types of farm-made and floating feeds on the growth performance of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) tilapia in an on-farm trial (OFT) conducted in a farmer’s pond in Namakkal District, India. GIFT tilapia fingerlings with an average weight of 3.25 ± 0.15g were stocked at a density of 50,000 fingerlings/ha across three feeding treatments. In Treatment 1 (T1), fish were fed low-cost handmade feed, while Treatment 2 (T2) used TNJFU feed, and Treatment 3 (T3) involved a commercially available floating feed with 34.53% crude protein. Fingerlings were initially fed twice a day at 18% of their body weight for the first 15 days, after which the feeding rate was gradually reduced to 1.8% until harvest. Growth was measured biweekly using a measuring board and balance. Water quality parameters, including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, ammonia (NH3), nitrite (NO2), and nitrate (NO3) concentrations, were monitored, as these factors significantly influence fish growth, feed intake, health, and survival. Results cleared that final mean weight and weight gain were significantly (P≤0.05) better with (T3), while lower values were recorded with (T2 and T1), Feed intake was significantly decreased with (T3). FCR values were significantly better with T3 than T2 and T3. Survival rates insignificantly affected and ranged between 96 ± 0.88 (T3) and 85 ± 0.88(T2) 72± 0.58(T1). The Production and net profit showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in gross production and net profit per hectare across the treatments. Treatment (T3) resulted in the highest production (7247.47 ± 9.63 kg/ha) and net profit ($203,740), followed by Treatment (T2) with 6588.88 ± 38.14 kg/ha and $195,080, and Treatment (T1) with 5354.36 ± 23.61 kg/ha and $2,567.73. Based on results obtained in this study and on the economical evaluation, it could be concluded that feeding floating pellets were better than feeding sinking other types of pellets, in addition to the increasing of protein percentage in diet was best in terms of economic efficiency compared with other treatments.
DINÂMICA DA ENERGIA EÓLICA NAS BACIAS HIDROGRÁFICAS – UMA REFLEXÃO SOB A ÓTICA DA JUSTIÇA DA PAISAGEM
Authors: Rêgo Geovana , Angelo Antonio
Published: December 2024

Os parques eólicos avançam continuamente sobre as serras baianas. Este trabalho objetiva apresentar a dinâmica das eólicas no processo de ocupação das paisagens e apontar lacunas, observando a produção de paisagens (in)justas. O método aplicado foi pesquisa documental, espacialização de dados e trabalhos de campo. Como resultados observou-se que os parques se distribuem no norte, centro e sudoeste do Estado, e que ao longo do tempo o Estado e Empresas utilizaram estratégias duvidosas para a ocupação. A concentração nas bacias do Estado, mostra que 2.663 aerogeradores estão localizados na Bacia do Rio São Francisco, 142 estão localizados na Bacia do Rio Paraguaçú, 137 na bacia do Itapicurú e 130 na Bacia do Rio de Contas. Conclui-se que as lutas por uma paisagem justa devem ser bem direcionadas e ter o Estado como aliado na proposição de ações que protejam suas populações das lógicas espaciais imperiosas.
DETALHAMENTO DO FATOR HIDROLÓGICO: UM NOVO PARÂMETRO PARA SE AVALIAR ANOS HIDROLÓGICOS EXCEDENTES, ANOS HIDROLÓGICOS NORMAIS EXCEDENTES, ANOS HIDROLÓGICOS NORMAIS DEFICITÁRIOS E ANOS HIDROLÓGICOS DEFICITÁRIOS, ALÉM DOS IMPACTOS NAS VAZÕES À JUSANTE DE BAR
Authors: Gonçalves Mário Jorge de Souza
Published: December 2024

O Fator Hidrológico é um parâmetro desenvolvido por GONÇALVES (2014), que avalia os anos hidrológicos com excedente hídrico, os anos hidrológicos normais e os anos hidrológicos com déficit hídrico, além dos impactos nas vazões à jusante de barramentos. O Detalhamento do Fator Hidrológico além de avaliar os anos hidrológicos com excedente hídrico e anos hidrológicos com déficit hídrico detalha os anos hidrológicos normais em anos hidrológicos normais excedentes e anos hidrológicos normais deficitários, além dos impactos nas vazões à jusante de barramentos.
Reformbedarf im Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht
Authors: Exner Markus
Published: December 2024

Der Verfasser gibt einen Überblick über den aktuellen Stand der Gesetzgebungsvorhaben zur Fortentwicklung des Gemeinnützigkeitsrechts sowie über Vorschläge der Literatur und der Verbände.
93. Berliner Steuergespräch: Reformbedarf im Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht
Authors: Koglin Erika
Published: December 2024

Das Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht soll an verschiedenen Stellen reformiert werden. Der Reformbedarf ist bei den Berliner Steuergesprächen diskutiert worden. Frau Erika Koglin, Abteilungsleiterin Recht beim Deutschen Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband Gesamtverband e.V. hat die Sicht von betroffenen Körperschaften dargestellt. Der vorliegende Beitrag ist die schriftliche Zusammenfassung ihres Vortrags.
Maître en droit, Hamburg — Zeitenwende auch im Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht? Über echten und vermeintlichen Reformbedarf in den §§ 52 ff. AO
Authors: Runte Julia
Published: December 2024

Die Diskussionen über eine (weitere) Reform des Gemeinnützigkeitsrechts reißen nicht ab. Teilweise mit der gesetzgeberischen Brechstange werden Reformen geplant, über deren Nutzen im Non-Profit-Sektor, der Steuerberatungspraxis und der Wissenschaft mit gutem Grund erhebliche Zweifel bestehen. Andere Reformwünsche aus dem Dritten Sektor werden nicht oder nicht hinreichend umgesetzt. Die Entwürfe eines Jahressteuergesetz 2024 (JStG 2024) und eines Steuerfortentwicklungsgesetz (Ste- FeG, ehem. JStG 2024 II) mit Stand Anfang Oktober 2024 geben Anlass für grundsätzliche Überlegungen.
Tagungs- und Diskussionsbericht zum 93. Berliner Steuergespräch am 7.10.2024 „Reformbedarf im Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht“
Authors: Richter Andreas , Welling Berthold
Published: December 2024

Mit Rücksicht auf die laufenden Gesetzgebungsverfahren zum JStG 2024 und dem SteFeG ist das 93. Berliner Steuergespräch vorgezogen und in großer Besetzung durchgeführt worden. Die Referenten Markus Exner, Hessisches Ministerium der Finanzen, Wiesbaden, und Erika Koglin vom Paritätischen Wohlfahrtsverband, Berlin, eröffneten das Steuergespräch. RAin, StBin Dr. Julia Runte, LL.M. - Maître en droit, Partnerin der Sozietät Esche Schümann Commichau, Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Tibor Schober, FG Berlin-Brandenburg, Cottbus, sowie Prof. Dr. Birgit Weitemeyer, Bucerius Law School, Hamburg diskutierten als Podiumsteilnehmer. Spontan verstärkt wurde das Podium durch Prof. Dr. Stephan Schauhoff, Flick Gocke Schaumburg, Bonn, der zum JStG 2024 als Sachverständiger an der Anhörung des Finanzausschusses teilgenommen hatte.
A SOX9‐AS1/miR‐5590‐3p/SOX9 positive feedback loop drives tumor growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma through the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Zhang Wei , Wu Yanhui , Hou Bingwu , Wang Yadong , Deng Dongfeng , Fu Zhihao , Xu Zongquan
Published: August 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent solid tumor with a high global death rate. SRY box 9 (SOX9) has been reported as an oncogene in HCC by several studies, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unexplored. Here, we confirmed upregulation of SOX9 in HCC tissues and cell lines and validated that SOX9 facilitates proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC. We subsequently identified that the long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) SOX9 antisense RNA 1 (SOX9‐AS1) is a neighbor gene to SOX9; SOX9‐AS1 is also upregulated in HCC, and its expression is positively correlated with that of SOX9. In addition, SOX9‐AS1 appears to have prognostic significance in HCC patients. We showed that SOX9‐AS1 aggravates HCC progression and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that SOX9‐AS1 sponges miR‐5590‐3p to elevate SOX9 expression, and that SOX9 in turn transcriptionally activates SOX9‐AS1. Moreover, we verified that SOX9‐AS1 regulates SOX9 and its known downstream Wnt/β‐catenin pathway so as to facilitate epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition. The results of our rescue assays suggest that SOX9‐AS1 regulates HCC progression through SOX9 and the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that a SOX9‐AS1/miR‐5590‐3p/SOX9 positive feedback loop drives tumor growth and metastasis in HCC through the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, suggesting SOX9‐AS1 as a novel potential prognostic and treatment target for HCC.
Semi‐Infinite Programming
Authors: Papp Dávid
Published: August 2019

Semi‐infinite programs are optimization problems with either infinitely many constraints or infinitely many variables (but not both). This article reviews the fundamental duality theory and optimality conditions of such optimization problems and the most popular algorithmic strategies for their numerical solution. Easily implementable general methods are presented first, which require the solution of a sequence of conventional (finite) nonlinear optimization problems. Conic optimization problems, for which more efficient specialized methods are available, are also discussed.
Kriging
Authors: Harris Trevor , Li Bo
Published: August 2019

Kriging is a method for spatial interpolation based on correlation modeling between observations. This article describes how correlation is used to assign weights to observed data for interpolations, and how correlation is used to assess the uncertainty of interpolation. In addition, the article describes how auxiliary and prior information are used in kriging interpolation and how such information constrains the weights assigned to the observed data, followed by a description of the impact of measurement error and short‐scale variability on kriging interpolation. Finally, the robustness and limitation of kriging interpolators are discussed. An illustration is provided to demonstrate the process of kriging starting from raw data to fitting a variogram and creating an interpolation map with uncertainty quantification.
Geographic Epidemiology
Authors: Bithell John F.
Published: August 2019

Geographic analysis of epidemiologic data may be useful in modeling risk as a function of covariates that vary geographically, testing hypotheses, mapping disease patterns, identifying areas of high risk, or detecting clusters. Distinctions are drawn between case dependence and independence (the latter not requiring a spatially correlated error structure) and between areal and continuous data. Various models and methods are described, and attention is paid to disease mapping (involving data smoothing) and clustering.
Project Management: A General Overview
Authors: Frame J. Davidson
Published: August 2019

Although humans have been carrying out projects for millennia, the practice of project management (PM) did not begin until the immediate post‐WW II era. Initially, project management was carried out on large military and construction projects, but beginning in the 1980s, it was adopted by a wide range of work efforts, including those in IT, training and education, R&D, telecommunications, aviation, finance, and a wide‐array of service industries. At the outset, the chief focus of what can be called PM 1.0 was on addressing the triple constraints of time, budget, and specifications. A broad array of tools emerged to help project teams work in accordance with the triple constraints. From the 1980s onward, project management matured to where it entailed articulating global standards and certifications and accommodated setting up project management offices, configuring project portfolios, working agilely, focusing on stakeholder requirements, and recognizing that the enterprise's strategic goals are best achieved through project management. Mature project management as practiced today is qualitatively different from PM 1.0 and can be designated PM 2.0.